Professional Interest (Sean)

[Vincent Meian]

If he thought moving had been stressful, Vincent really should have remembered what being a teenager was like.


So many things had happened in the last week that the forty-three year old didn't really know what to do with himself. Mikey (as the boy insisted on being called) had almost destroyed a training room because he'd been pushed too hard, and Lei... well, just everything that had to do with Lei at the moment was on the brink of getting out of control. The possibility of rumors (which the staff had quite possibly heard already), the revenge tactics, their first training session (which, while it hadn't gone according to plan, was still at leas a partial success)... everything just seemed to be piling up.


In addition to everything else, he still needed to talk to Sean again. Mostly, this was a staff-to-staff visit; he was updating the older man on his progress with the students since the good doctor had last spoken to them, and they would review any needs the boys would need regarding their visits. However, the telepath seemed to know about everything that went on in this school; even if there were no rumors, chances are he would still have an idea of the subtle shift in perceptions. It was part of his work, after all.


During classes was usually the best time for staff members who didn't have specific courses to talk to one another, as trainers usually had their hands full during free-periods and before or after school hours. He'd scheduled some time with Sean during first period, hoping that it would be enough time for the psychiatrist to wake up for the morning and too early for most students to cause trouble. In either case, as the bells rang for class, the former soldier left his office and walked down the hall to meet with his co-worker. He arrived as the last of the tones died away into echo and the sounds of shuffling students faded cut off as they scurried into classrooms.


He briefly thought of the files and reports in his hands, but then dismissed them. The trainer had brought them for the purposes of professionalism, but he didn't really need them at this point - he knew the boys' training files well enough to quote them, if the situation arose. Nevertheless, they reminded him of what he had come here for. So, raising one hand, he knocked sharply on Dr. Sean Neville's office door.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean arrived at Hammel before first bell as a matter of habit and productivity. Arriving to work early allowed him to settle in for the day: preparing his paperwork, saying hello to anyone in the faculty lounge when he went to brew his coffee (if James had not beaten him there), and being available in case any student had suffered from nightmares the night before.

Additionally, being at Hammel early gave him additional opportunities to meet with other staff about any pertinent matters. So when Vincent Meian had contacted him to make an appointment, he had set aside that time. The psychiatrist had woken that morning, made breakfast for him and Josh, and then arrived at the school with plenty of time to settle in and brew coffee before Vincent was due at his office.

The telepath had an idea of the reasons behind this meeting. Sean had met with two of the trainer’s students recently, one through Vincent’s recommendation and the other of his own volition. Michael...would take time, but the situation was less complex, despite the sheer destructive potential of his powers.

Leiken was another situation entirely.

The telepath’s interaction with him had been less than successful, at least in terms of the boy’s apparent goals for coming to him in the first place. Sean was also aware of the developments between the student and Vincent, which were complicated in their own right.

It was difficult to keep secrets in a school the size of Hammel. It was more difficult to keep secrets from a telepath in Sean’s position.

But he was prepared for that discussion. And when he heard the knock at his door and sensed the other man’s presence outside his door, the telepath called out, “Please come in, Vincent.”

Sean had already migrated to the back of his office, near the armchairs and sofa. There was no reason to have this discussion at his desk.

[Vincent Meian]

Even with the conscious knowledge that Sean was telepathic, it still came as one of those many surprises when the other man called out for him to come in by name. He paused for a moment, chiding himself for forgetting that fact when it was one of the reason he'd come to the doctor in the first place, then opened the door with a sigh. The trainer had expected to see Sean behind his desk when he entered, but noticed that the other man had switched to one of the armchairs near the door instead. So, closing the door behind him, he stood behind the other chair for a moment.


"Good morning, Sean," he greeted, the given name flowing off his tongue more easily now that he'd had a few months to practice the custom. "Thank you for meeting with me today."


He shifted around to sit in the plush chair, slightly surprised and grateful that it was made for people his height. Then again, the psychiatrist himself was in the same grouping for such things - they both were not quite six and a half feet tall - so it would be reasonable to assume that the chairs would fit his tall frame. Either way, it was a pleasant surprise.


Though he was not one for small talk, jumping straight into business with Dr. Neville was somewhat like trying to catch a cat; it took more work than was strictly necessary and tended to make both parties uncomfortable. "Are you well this morning?"


He wondered about mentioning the croissants he'd seen in the staff lounge that morning and asking if Sean's partner Josh had made them; the younger man had eaten one and found that it was much better than he had thought. Normally he wasn't one for buttery treats, but they had been sprinkled with sugar so he couldn't really resist. They had been delicious, though, and he wanted to thank whomever had made them. "Did you bring the pastries in the lounge today? They were delicious."


Though the simple conversation with the psychiatrist was relaxing in its own right, Vincent chafed slightly at skirting the point. He'd never been very good at it in Japan where it was common practice, and he'd always preferred wasting little time with pleasantries. He enjoyed talking in a relaxed manner with people, but... well, for some meetings, it was better to cut ot the heart of the matter.


"As I mentioned previously, I'd like to discuss my students with you," he stated, tapping the files in his lap absently. "Specifically Leiken and Michael. I am concerned with their progress and would like to know your opinions on the matter."


From his perspective, the trainer had found that both boys had deep-seated anger issues, though Lei was more prone to panic and hysteria deep down. When he'd pushed them, Mikey had lashed out subconsciously with his powers whereas Lei had plotted revenge in a calculated manner. While expected, it was still a matter of concern; he'd gotten a good (if rocky) start on gaining Lei's trust though it was far from ideal, and he wasn't sure exactly how to get through to the younger boy. Neither of them talked at length about why they acted the way they did, and the soldier suspected that Sean might have a better idea of how to reach them.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“Good morning, Vincent,” Sean replied with a nod and a smile of greeting. He sipped his coffee, letting the caffeine perk him up this morning. While he had brewed coffee at home before breakfast with his partner, working at Hammel had taught him that one could never have too much coffee. Particularly when there was enough cream and sugar to prevent it from remaining bitter on his tongue.

“You’re welcome. I hope you know that I’m always happy to meet with you,” he remarked, before taking another sip of coffee. He considered Vincent his friend, which made meetings all the more pleasant. Even if they weren’t friends, he was always willing to meet with any other staff members regarding either work or personal matters.

Particularly involving students, since they shared a common goal.

The telepath then nodded in response to the question about the baked goods, as well as about his mood. “I did, and I am.” He and Josh had enjoyed a leisurely supper the night before, followed by watching part of Period of Adjustment a movie which, while not great, had some significance given Sean’s job and position within their circle of friends. It had been a pleasant night, which always put him in good spirits the next day. “And how are you?”

He listened while the other man described his mood and then segued into his reasons for scheduling their meeting. The telepath nodded his acknowledgement, and then said, “Who would you like to start with? Since Michael and Leiken are in rather separate situations.”

[Vincent Meian]

He had guessed that the psychiatrist had brought the pastries; he tended to share anything and everything his spouse baked with the school (which was good, because Josh was a very good baker). He didn't have to, so it was only right that he was shown gratitude for the generosity. "Thank you for sharing them," he added.


"I am well, although..." He struggled with the right words for a moment before adding, "I am concerned with my students. I forget some days that they are not yet adults and no longer children." He let out a dry laugh that showed he wasn't really amused and shook his head. It had been so long since he was a teenager that it was harder to see from their perspective than he had thought. He could do it but... well, sometimes things seemed so much more important when you were that young and involved.


The trainer pondered who they should discuss for a moment before setting on an answer; Lei's situation was of more concern at the moment. "Leiken Do Chu, if we may. His situation is... more unique." This wasn't to say that Mikey wasn't a priority or even a concern; the other student was just somewhere to start. And Vincent had a lot on his mind when it came to the older boy.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“You’re welcome,” Sean responded with a light smile. He was glad to be able to share Josh’s baked goods with others, since his partner had developed the skills nicely these past eleven months. He was doing so well that he was even beginning to believe Sean and others when they told him that he was a good baker. “Baked goods are for sharing.” Considering the amount he had eaten before Josh had taken up the hobby, the least he could do was pay it forward.

The telepath nodded his understanding; teenagers were in a twilight state in terms of interaction and expectations. Not children but still not fully formed adults. It could be difficult at times, particularly in the high-intensity area of training.

Sean had expected that the other man might want to begin with Leiken. His situation was certainly unique – that was a good euphemism – and he was also older than Michael. Michael’s difficulties were rather standard, powers aside, and the psychiatrist was working on learning more about his family and expectations, to see what he could do for the boy.

Leiken was another issue entirely. With another sip of his coffee, he asked, “Where did you want to begin?”

[Vincent Meian]

Where did he begin when it came to that boy? There were so many things that Lei had said in his office that concerned the trainer, not to mention the fight he'd gotten in with Odion or even the situation with Lucy. It would also be a good idea to figure out exactly what the teen was capable of; he'd rarely kept a trainer for more than a few weeks, according to his records. Vincent wanted to know why. Though, of course, it was always best to start at the beginning.


"I have realized that Lei is not particularly trusting of the trainers here," he began, opening up the folder in his hands to scan the notes he'd made in the file. "There are a number of transfers, many after only a few weeks and some after days. I have experienced his disrespect for authority myself, but that cannot be the entire story." Vincent looked back to Sean and caught his gaze, his own questioning. "I expect it is involved with his penchant for pranks, but I do not wish to assume."


"There is also the matter of an incident in my office two days ago," he added, though his tone was more stating fact and less worried. "The matter has been taken care of and his punishment dealt, though I have the impression that I should be more aware of any valuables held in such a public place. He has already used one possession as a tool for his mischief and I do not wish to see it desecrated again." Though the Japanese man kept a tight lid on many of his emotions, a sharp flicker of scorn and anger rose in him at the thought of the ancestral blade being abused as a form of revenge. He didn't want to take it home as that would be conceding a sort of victory to Lei's threats; however damage to the weapon was unacceptable. "I have filed a report for the damaged lock on the room's window to be fixed, so it will not be so easy for him to enter without permission, however the boy is strong-willed. If he desires it, he will find a way."

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean listened attentively as Vincent described much of the boy’s considerable backstory. It was unfortunate, but the attitude was not unheard of. Katurian came to mind as a more recent example of such an attitude; before that, there had been Jacob and Gabriel – although he, like Anastasia, had been more subtle yet always there when trouble occurred. There were Sam Rixon and Vincent Verax as well, but that was different. Sam was problematic because of his poor power control and his substance abuse but, underneath it all, he meant well. Vincent Verax was...Vincent. But not malicious.

“Between his general distrust and his behavior, I would imagine that it’s difficult to build the necessary rapport for effective training,” the telepath remarked. That would lead to a student bouncing between trainers rather often. “If I had taken the same attitude, I never would have graduated.”

Of course, the notion of behaving that way, deliberately, with Robert Hopkins was nothing short of laughable. Sean would never, both due to his own temperament, as well as his near-reverence for his trainer.

He was also particularly sympathetic to the damage to the trainer’s ancestral blade. Long ago, Sean had stopped keeping anything valuable in his office. The risk of accidental damage was too great, and he was too sentimental about certain photographs of presents to want to put them in the path of potential destruction. “We can have security tail him, if you’d like. That isn’t an ideal solution, but it might provide an additional obstacle. But the behavior isn’t acceptable.”

[Vincent Meian]

Vincent nodded in agreement. "Nor would I," he added. "Though, that is not to say he cannot learn to trust someone. He has become more open recently, if not less... petulant." He hesitated, not wishing to break the confidence he'd gained the other day, so he chose his next words very carefully. "I believe we have come to an understanding, however there is still the feeling that I must watch him carefully. He will not accept my help easily, of that I am sure, and I do not know what he is fully capable of."


Granted, the Japanese man had never been a particularly easy student either; it was one of the reasons he was given students like him when he'd taught at Eisai. His own temper and attraction to violence had caused more than enough problems until he found someone who could beat him at his own games repeatedly without losing his own temper. He suspected such a tactic could work when working with Lei, but Vincent refused to play the boy's games for the most part and reacted little to the disrespect. He suspected it was one of the reasons his student found it entertaining to taunt him regularly.


He shook his head at the idea of the campus security following Lei around. At best he'd view it as a challenge; at worst, he'd see it as his trainer trusted him so little as to have him watched all the time. It seemed like a bad idea. "I will simply have to take it home with me at the end of the day until the lock is fixed," he stated. "At this point, involving more staff will be detrimental, given his views on those older than he."


"I should make you aware, however, that he was also recently in a fight with another student; a physical one," he added, remembering the other day clearly. "I do not know what caused it, only that they came to blows in the library and were forced to be separated. I also do not know the other student's name, though I will know him if I see him again." The memory of the fight had come to the surface as he spoke, including the use of physical force needed to pry the two boys apart. "He will likely have bruises on his arms, as Lei seemed to let his control on his power slip during the argument."


Not to mention that the boy had meager control over his power anyway. That certainly hadn't helped the process.


After a moment, the ex-soldier realized that he was twisting the silver wedding band on his hand absently, one of his many habits when thinking and usually when it concerned his relationships. He stretched his hands and relaxed them, struggling with how to broach this portion of the topic. "I have an... additional concern," he stated slowly. He wasn't exactly sure how to verbalize it, but he tried speaking to the psychiatrist regardless. "I am sure you are aware that Dr. Kenjutsushi was called to my office the evening of the prank as well. Lei is not aware of the fact the she was there; he had fallen unconscious due to a power manifestation attacking him, and I asked for her aid in ensuring that he would be all right. According to her examination, there was no lasting physical damage."


There was more to say, but the trainer was not sure how to continue. He remained silent, struggling to translate memory and emotion into words, and those words into a language Sean would understand. He was not succeeding.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean nodded, both to demonstrate that he was listening to Vincent’s assessment as well as to show that he agreed with the underlying point that caution was necessary. “Some students require us to tread lightly,” he remarked, before taking another sip of his morning coffee.

Trust could be ever-lasting, if it was cultivated properly. Yet reaching that point took hard work, particularly in the case of someone like Leiken who was so certain that everyone would betray him that he failed to accept a gesture at face value. The open palm went ignored while he searched for whatever might be up one’s sleeve. “But any sort of understanding would seem to be progress.”

The telepath was sympathetic to Vincent’s reasons for wanting to keep personal items in his office, and not wanting to involve anyone else in what should be a simple right at any workplace. Still, this illustrated one of the differences between the two men, as Sean would go the path of least resistance and keep the blade at home. Traveling with a blade every day was more than he would want.

Then again, the only blades he had ever owned belonged in the kitchen.

“That’s your decision, of course,” he remarked, which was all he would say on the subject. If Vincent changed his mind, it was quite easy to get in touch with security or with another faculty member. And if Leiken’s behavior got out of hand and a weapon was involved, the situation was open to other staff, regardless of Vincent’s preferences.

They could all hope that that situation would never arise.

Sean’s expression became carefully bland at the mention of a fight. Those weren’t as common at Hammel as they were at other schools, although that was largely due to the small population rather than inherent maturity. Fights were to be avoided, and the telepath had no tolerance for them, as he had no tolerance for bullying, harassment, or violence in general. “Can you picture the other student right now?” He asked. While the trainer might not know his name, if he could identity him by appearance – as Vincent claimed he could do – then picturing him in his mind would reveal his identity just as easily to the telepath. That was better than waiting for a report either from Walter or Nik.

When the conversation switched – as it had by tone and feel, even if they were still discussing Leiken in one way or another – Sean lifted his head from his mug, watching the trainer through blue eyes. “I was aware,” he said, because he was privy to most rumors that came through Hammel. He was also aware of the takeaway point from that situation. “I heard that there were some conclusions drawn.”

[Vincent Meian]

"Yes, of course." Taking a breath to steady himself, the trainer thought back to the incident in the library. He remembered the struggle, of moving past the tables to break up the fight. In his memory he saw the boy; young and copper-haired, almost certainly a student, with an accent Vincent couldn't really place and a sneer. This was the student on top of Lei, trying to beat the other boy senseless, and in his memory he'd grabbed the back of said boy's shirt and pulled him away before the redhead had huffed some disrespectful remark with a sneer and stormed out. He couldn't recall much else, due to his attention focusing back on making sure his student was all right, but he'd seen the boy clear as day; Odion Martins, even though the name wasn't registered in his thoughts.


Looking back into the therapist's face, he searched the older man for some sign of recognition. "Do you know this boy?"


When Sean mentioned conclusions, the military man nodded, averting his eyes slightly at the memory. While the contact from his perspective had been completely platonic and very much just one person comforting any other in a time of need, he could see how things could have been misconstrued. He'd already spoken to Lucy about this, though was almost sure by her attitude during the meeting that she didn't believe him. Struggling with how much to say and how much to leave alone, the trainer sighed irritably and rubbed at his temple with one hand.


"It is a mess," he explained. "Leiken awoke fearing that his powers had caused me harm. When he saw that it was not the case, he... needed comfort." It would be difficult to explain why that was without going into the boy's emotional state in more detail, but both Vincent's body language and thought process made it clear that such things were agreed not to be discussed with anyone else. "Miss Serrano simply entered the wrong office at the wrong time. There was no illicit behavior, I assure you."


Vincent well knew that should this get out of hand, he could lose his job. He'd already dealt with a situation like this once before at Eisai, but that was a different circumstance with a much more emotionally stable individual. Right now, he had to walk carefully. If Lei's trust hinged on a more serious relationship than Vincent could give him, they were in some trouble.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

The easily recognizable image of Odion Martins popped into Sean’s mind, complete with his red hair and tell-tale expression. The psychiatrist supposed he shouldn’t be surprised that there had been an altercation at Hammel that involved Odion; he made enough of a habit of starting trouble with others. Still, from what Vincent described, Odion was on the receiving end of this altercation.

Sean would have to make sure that he was all right.

“I do. And I’ll talk to him after this. I also trust that you’ll make sure Leiken doesn’t fight with any other students.”

Because if Vincent was unable to prevent that, then Sean would have to get involved. He had no tolerance for violence at Hammel or anywhere else. And at Hammel, he had the authority to intervene.

With that, the telepath settled in to listen to Vincent’s perspective on the matter. He took allegations of student/teacher relationship quite seriously, particularly in light of what had happened with Brendan and Vincent Verax earlier this year.

Even with students who had reached the age of consent, there remained an insurmountable imbalance of power between the two parties, and any relationship was a violation of Hammel policy, as well as highly unethical, even if it wasn’t criminal.

There could be no further instances of that.

On a personal level, Sean was particularly sensitive to the matter. He had shared a close relationship with his trainer, an emotional understanding that few others had ever had with him, the result of one telepath to another. That relationship had been wholly platonic, could never have been anything but platonic, but when relationships moved into the romantic realm, they cast suspicion on those platonic relationships as well. That, in turn, created potential problems for students who needed the additional support.

It was with that level of seriousness that he absorbed the trainer’s explanation.

He trusted Vincent, because the other man had demonstrated himself to be a man of integrity. He wanted the younger man to realize that. “I trust you when you say there nothing illicit, and I also trust it will remain that way.”

[Vincent Meian]

The trainer nodded. It was a crucial part of his training program that those in it learn to control their tempers. He'd be keeping a close watch on Lei while he was at school to make sure that something like this didn't happen again, or if it did that the boy had the ability to control the situation himself. "I apologize for the lack of control on my student's behalf," he stated calmly, resorting once more to a familiar cultural response to such things. "In time, I hope our training teaches him some restraint in that regard."


There was something else that was out of his control, though; the feelings that Lei had for the trainer. Vincent hoped it was a simple understanding of two people who had been through much of the same things, the more experienced giving the young comfort in times of doubt and need. Still, the sudden need for closer contact was not something that usually applied to Lei, and the openness the student had displayed was also worrisome. It could have been relief that made the boy talk so much... but the soldier didn't know if he could just leave it at that. There was something else going on here.


Sean's expression of trust relived him somewhat, and the long-haired man nodded, relaxing once more from his tightly-wound state. He'd known the other man would understand if he were to look at the situation; the fact that he didn't have to gave the trainer confidence. "Such things do not escalate rapidly," he replied, more of the normal firmness returning to his voice now that some of his concerns had been salved. "I will be sure to watch him carefully for any signs of intent, though I do not think he would step so far. His pride seems to dictate the need to be in control."


And control was something they were working on. If Lei were to offer up an affection, there was risk for refusal. Major risk. He doubted the boy would be so brazen, especially when the two of them had barely known each other for two weeks. If something were to happen, he would come to Sean - until then, other things were of equal concern.


"I believe that we have covered all of my concerns with Leiken," he added, seguing into another conversation. "May I ask what you have learned with Michael? His anger is something to behold, but he is even more unwilling than Lei to speak of his reasons. Have you had any progress?"


Michael was a case that Vincent had taken back in early November. Much of the boy's powers were destructive, and the fact that the trainer pushed him to not use them and focus on his own problems in a more productive manner seemed to grate on the child. Enough so that he'd shattered one of the training room mirrors less than a week ago. Concerned, the Asian man had scheduled an appointment with Sean to see if the telepath would have better luck getting through to the boy.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“I hope so as well,” Sean replied, and he meant that regarding everyone. The point of high school was to prepare children for the outside world, as well as to educate them; Hammel was no different, aside from the added layer of power training and the necessary survival skills for being a meta-human in a baseline human world. In the outside world, violence was met with police intervention and the criminal justice system; students needed to learn better. Fighting was no substitute for proper discussion.

But Leiken had also demonstrated complete contempt for proper discussion, when he had met with him briefly. That was all the more reason why Vincent needed to succeed in getting through to him.

“And please do. Likewise, if I meet with him again, I will let you know.” As long as it did not break confidentiality.

Sean was prepared to switch topics to Michael as soon as Vincent finished discussing his present concerns with Leiken. At the beginning of this meeting, the trainer had said he wanted to discuss both of his students, and the telepath was in a position to speak about one just as easily as the other.

Despite their anger and their lack of control over their abilities, Michael and Leiken had little in common, as far as Sean was concerned. Despite the nature of Michael’s abilities, he seemed the easier of the two. “After speaking with Michael, I think he would benefit from weekly sessions with me.”

The psychiatrist sipped from his coffee before setting down the mug. “I see a little bit of myself in him, although he lashes out more than I did. He strikes me as being a bit isolated.” Sean had never lashed out while at Hammel, but he did have similar power problems, and from what little he had learned in their first session, they also had more similar backgrounds than Michael realized.

“It isn’t easy to be at a new environment like this, at such a young age,” he added. And that was all that he could divulge, given that their session had been confidential, and Michael had not given him permission to discuss specifics with anyone, not even with his trainer.

[Vincent Meian]

Vincent nodded, understanding somewhat. It was difficult to relate to someone who didn't have your experiences. Perhaps that was why Lei was progressing so quickly with him... and Michael was not. If Sean believed that weekly sessions were in order, he'd set them up himself; his students were of primary concern, after all.


"I will make sure to reschedule our training sessions around your own, then," he replied. "Perhaps with your meetings at the beginning of the week so that your discussions remain fresh?" The Japanese man was acutely aware of how talking to someone could benefit their situation, even if they didn't believe it themselves. If it was what his student needed, he'd do everything in his power to make sure it was done.


"No, it is not," he agreed, understanding that concept easily. Moving into a new place was difficult when one was young. The trainer had quite a bit of experience with it, but in the opposite direction; his life had been one shift after another until he went to Eisai, not because of it. Isolation was part of that, especially when one was shy or particularly anti-social. "He does not speak much of friends outside the classroom - perhaps suggesting an after-school group would help?"


Like-minded individuals in terms of hobbies had helped many people he knew in school. Maybe meeting people with the same interests would help Michael branch out and expand his world a little.