Guidance Counselor's Office, Wednesday

[electrocynic]

Electroclash was sneezing a lot today.

She had not been sneezing a lot yesterday. Or even this morning. Or, in fact, any time before she'd come into her office. So, naturally, the only logical explanation was to assume that there was something she was allergic to right here in the office.

Now, other people might have taken this as their cue to leave. Electroclash took it as her cue to turn everything upside down, trying to find whatever the fuck was causing this incredibly annoying reaction, so she could maybe electrocute it or throw it out the window, or perhaps set it on fire. There was no satisfaction in just leaving. Revenge was where it was at.

Sorry, kids, your counselor was a bit busy pulling open all the drawers and getting paperwork strewn all about. But enter if you dare.

[ooc: Open! Only method RP as far as the sneezing goes.]

Comments

[electrocynic]

Many curse words with the occasional bit of insight thrown in, probably. "Yeah, the administration sends those out for random check-ups," she rasped, sifting through some of the stuff before shaking her head and plopping herself back in her chair.

"So, standard question: how high is your level Fandom-induced emotional trauma so far?"

[justbeingbay]

"It's ... fine?" Bay tried. "I mean, the place weirds me the heck out, but since the dungeon it hasn't been trying to kill me too hard. So, hey, points for that."

[electrocynic]

"Fair enough." That dungeon thing had not been anyone's favourite. "And at least you're not throwing post-traumatic stress tantrums at the mere question, so that's good. Not that I was expecting you to. I don't think I ever see the ones that get damaged worst by all the utter shit the island throws out."

Which may have been the best for everyone.

[justbeingbay]

"Well, that's depressing," Bay said, slumping a bit. "I dunno, after all the crap real life throws at most of the kids here, maybe it's kind of a vacation to know that whatever's going on, it'll end. The ones who get all PTSDy about flying jalapenos maybe had it easy at home."

[electrocynic]

"Or they might have had some truly disturbing visits to their local Mexican restaurant."

Yeah, Electroclash looked like the idea was highly amusing.

[justbeingbay]

Bay grinned back. "Or they're vegetarians, and now they're going to be guilty about eating vegetables too."

[electrocynic]

It had now been decided that this kid was maybe okay.

She snorted. "Dunno, I think those buggers deserved it. But I can see how it might upset some people's delicate fucking sense of justice."

[justbeingbay]

Bay shrugged. "My sister used to know this guy who worked at a slaughterhouse and she still won't eat chicken 'cause he grossed her out so bad. But she loves seafood. Figure that one out."

[electrocynic]

Electroclash waved a hand dismissively. "Seafood is revolting. Clearly she's not right in the head."

[justbeingbay]

"Obviously," Bay agreed. "I just don't get it. If you aren't going to eat animals because it makes you sad when they die, how are you not sad when shrimp die?"

[electrocynic]

"Some animals are cuter than others," Electroclash guessed, shrugging. "It's bloody hypocrisy, is what it is."

[justbeingbay]

"No surprise, given how everybody's a hypocrite about something," Bay said. "And then they complain about everyone else being a hypocrite."

[electrocynic]

Electroclash half smirked, leaning back in her chair. "Well, the only real solution is to just own up to being one. Then you can complain about everyone else and they can say fuck-all back to you because you've already owned it."

[justbeingbay]

"I love that attitude," Bay decided. "So ... I can just start talking about whatever and you have to listen, right? Is that how this works?"

[electrocynic]

"Well, I object to the notion that I have to do anything." She didn't object too hard, though. She could've been expected to do more demanding things than listening. "But yeah. That's pretty much it."

[justbeingbay]

"Right," Bay said, and found her sneakers very interesting as she added, "So, my birth mom's in rehab and I haven't talked to her at all in a month."

Just saying it made her feel guilty.

[electrocynic]

Electroclash gave that a thoughtful little shrug. She was so not here to judge.

You should have seen her with her parents.

"Why not?"

[justbeingbay]

"Just don't know what to say," Bay muttered. "I mean, she was sober 13 years, she meets me, I go to boarding school, and wham, she's drinking until she passes out again? I'm glad she's getting help and everything, but Hallmark so doesn't have a card for that."

[electrocynic]

"Sucks." Electroclash was the queen of being concise. But she did sound sincere about that, at least. "D'you think she wants you to talk to her?"

[justbeingbay]

"Maybe just to know I'm not mad at her," Bay said, twisting a piece of hair idly. "She's proud, she wouldn't want me falling all over myself to feel sorry for her, but I think she'd like to know I'm not judging her."

[electrocynic]

"And are ya?"

Okay, it turned out Electroclash was actually pretty good at these prompting questions. Who knew?

"'Coz I'm not going to support lying to anyone to make them happy ––" Because let's be real here, she wasn't that fussed about other people's happiness. "–– but if you're not pissed off at her then it probably wouldn't hurt to tell her."

[justbeingbay]

That was a tough question, and Bay fidgeted with her nails as she figured out the answer. "I'm mad she lied to people who asked if she needed help," she said. "Not really about the drinking itself. But .... yeah, it wouldn't hurt to tell her I hope she's feeling better."

[electrocynic]

Electroclash shrugged. "Then do that. If she doesn't appreciate it, that's her fucking problem."

[justbeingbay]

"Thanks," Bay said genuinely. "That's actually really good advice."

It might take her a few days to take it, but it was still good advice.

[electrocynic]

Electroclash raised an eyebrow, maybe a bit more surprised than she should have been. Sure, she thought her advice was good. People just didn't tend to agree.

"You think so?" she asked, before smirking. "Well, there you go, sweet'eart. Consider yourself counseled."