Faculty Meeting (Friday after classes)

[bigdamnprincipal]

After the student council cleared out, Zoe got the council room set up for yet another meeting, hoping all the teachers had gotten her handwavey email. Sure, classes had only been in session for a week, but she figured it was a good idea to check the new teachers for shell shock early. There were warm food and drinks set out (not the leftovers from the student council... at least, not totally) but nothing alcoholic. If people wanted to go that route, they would have to bring their own this time.

"Hello there, come on in and have a seat if you'd like," she said. "I thought it might be good for everyone to have a chance to get together without students around, and be inside where it's warm. I hope everyone's had a good first week. If you haven't, well, now you have a room full of people to vent to." It was the little things that helped make this job better.

[Open to all staff and OCD free!]

Comments

[bigdamnprincipal]

"I have to admit, I don't always choose the teachers. We have an eclectic school board that helps to make that happen," Zoe said, sighing before she could help it. Stupid school board. "But the environment works well, I think. I feel I should point out that Anakin has been a big help throughout the years. I may have the principal title, but he helps keep things running smoothly as much as I do."

She might have been laying it on a little thick, but she was also telling the truth, so she didn't see much trouble in it.

[saddeserthermit]

Obi-Wan shot her a look that was equal parts amused and annoyed. "Did he put you up to this?" he asked.

[bigdamnprincipal]

"No, he didn't. I just thought it might help to know how well he's doing here," she said. "Since you knew each other before, apparently."

[saddeserthermit]

"To put it mildly," Obi-Wan said. "I've raised him since he was nine."

He cast a glance in Anakin's direction. "But he's hardly a child now."

[bigdamnprincipal]

Don't mind Zoe filing that information away, thank you. "No, he's quite the adult now, with children of his own. You must have done something right."

[saddeserthermit]

Oh, Zoe...

"Perhaps," Obi-Wan said diplomatically. "He is calmer than he was when he was younger. I am glad to see that, if nothing else. You've worked alongside him for all that time?"

[bigdamnprincipal]

"Actually, he was a student when he first got here. That might be different for you, that's one of the strange ways this place works," Zoe said. "When he came back, he was an adult, and we've worked together for many years."

Was she leaving something out? No, not at all.

[saddeserthermit]

"Yes, I believe I would have remembered sending Anakin away when he was younger," Obi-Wan said. It seemed an odd idea to him now, being aware of Anakin's troubles with abandonment as he was. "He's been a good teacher all that time?"

[bigdamnprincipal]

"Anakin has been a very good teacher."

Mmm, specificity was a good thing. "You might want to talk to him about his time here. That's a story that's probably better from the source."

[saddeserthermit]

"I was hoping for an outside perspective," Obi-Wan said.

Since he wasn't sure to what extent he could trust Anakin's description of his time here. Even if he wasn't doing anything out of evil intent, well, Anakin had never been past making things look nicer than they were simply out of a need for validation.

[bigdamnprincipal]

Zoe sighed softly, but nodded nonetheless. "My perspective is that Anakin has made some mistakes in the past. Big, epic mistakes, and when he came back he was not someone who could be trusted," she said. "But things change over time, and so has he. Now, he's someone I trust with my life, on a fairly regular basis. But I also try not to dwell too much on the past. That's just the sort of person I am, I suppose."

[saddeserthermit]

"It is the Jedi way to let go of the past," Obi-Wan said lightly. "Sage advice."

Except the trouble was that his past had involved blind faith in Anakin - and that had led to disaster. He couldn't trust his feelings on the matter now, which made him cautious.

"Thank you."