Motivation (Sean)

[Michelle Reed]

Michelle had never thought to come by Dr. Neville's office before. To tell the truth, it had never come across her radar until senior year. With a few years under her belt at Hammel, she figured she had everything planned out pretty well. No real emotional stress to talk about; she had opened up and made a small, but meaningful group of friends during her stay. Her social anxiety had gotten a lot better in comparison to where it had been a few years ago, which Michelle chalked up to a small boost in confidence.

Sure, she was still a little afraid and unsure, but who wasn't?

She tried her best not to dwell on the negativity, though. Graduation was coming up soon and everything was on track. Michelle had even thought about opening a store on Etsy to sell some of her homemade trinkets to earn some extra money. Then, after graduation, she wanted to move back home. Although she had friends here, Michelle felt that there wasn't something a connection; something holding her to Pilot Ridge like her other classmates. Once back in Vancouver, she'd go to university and live with her parents. Life was perfectly planned out.

Except for one aspect.

Powers training; the bane of her existence. What Michelle hated most. In her mind, there was no ability worse than psionic blasts. What use was it unless metas decided to go to war against humans or something? The only thing she could do was train herself to avoid doing it or lessen the side effects. More often than not, she chose to ignore it. Ignore the problem that was there. Which itself was a problem.

And that's why she was here; to talk about a lack of motivation on her end to straighten things out. Michelle wasn't a loose cannon, but she wasn't exactly in the best shape to graduate come spring if her powers training didn't progress. Taking a deep breath, Michelle knocked twice on the door, signalling her presence. Nervous, for what this meeting would hold.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Despite the fact that every student’s file crossed Sean’s desk when they first came to Hammel, and then again prior to graduation for final review, not every student came by the psychiatrist’s office. That was for the best, both for his workload and because it meant that those absent students had enough of a handle on this lives, emotional and mental states, and peer groups that they didn’t require professional advice or intervention. Given how many students needed his help, every student who didn’t counted double tat times.

However, even the ones with strong senses of self, strong support networks, stable family situations, and no psychiatric diagnoses occasionally crossed his office for other reasons. Guidance regarding college or careers or potential internships.

Or powers.

Sean wasn’t a trainer. He had no ability to teach most students how to control their powers, with the exception of psychics. He could talk to psychic students across the board about mental shields, and about the stresses caused by their powers, both psychologically and socially, or about side effects. For the telepaths, he could help even more, because he had been there before.

Although that wasn’t an official part of his job, he made this known to the student body, so that anyone in need could seek him out, no questions asked.

He heard the double knock at his door and knew that Michelle stood outside. He called out, “Please come in, Michelle.” She could get the door, and then they could begin.

[Michelle Reed]

Self-consciously, Michelle lingered a few seconds longer by the door before collecting her thoughts and taking a deep breath. There was no need to feel anxious; at least, that's what she kept telling herself as she opened the door with a timid smile. "Hello Dr. Neville." She greeted, closing the door behind her as she took in the sight of the office.

She had never been before, so everything was new to her. All of the seating options. All the typical stuff one would expect to see an office. Slowly, she made her way into the room. gaze wandering. "Uhm, is there anywhere you'd like me to sit?" She asked.

Michelle knew that Dr. Neville usually didn't talk to students about powers or powers training, or at least what she assumed. But she really needed someone to listen and could offer advice that wasn't her trainer. Although they helped out with the side effects, Michelle knew that her motivation was the one thing she needed to work on in particular. And she hoped to leave the meeting with a better understanding of her ability and a new sense of hope.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

There was no reason to feel anxious. Sean reiterated this to students again and again: that he didn’t bite, that he was there to help them not to judge them (apart from when they were sent to him for skipping class, getting into fights, or breaking curfew), and, rather than something imposing or terrifying, telepathy had its benefits. Yet, between his size, his age and position of authority, and his powers (which, despite his best efforts, many people found uncomfortable or inherently invasive), his reassurances often fell by the wayside.

He rose when she entered his office, since this was her first time, and he offered her a smile. “Hello, Michelle.

Then he shook his head a single time in response to her question. “You can sit anywhere you like; I can move to accommodate you,” he assured her. She wasn’t here because of a fight, and thus she needn’t sit tethered to his desk. If she wanted to sit there, she could, of course, but she also had the option of taking one of the more comfortable chairs near the back of the office, or of choosing the sofa.

“Make yourself comfortable,” he added. He wanted her to feel at ease while they talked.