Game Plan (Tristan)

[Faye LaBeau]

Faye was passionate when it came to her students. She cared deeply about how well they did and knew that being away from their families was sometimes a hinderence to their academics. After all, she'd once been a student here too and knew what it was like. So when she noticed Olivia Baker start to act differently, it concerned her. Olivia wasn't normally one to have an attitude in class or let her grades slip, and though they hadn't slipped much, she noticed that there seemed to be something bothering her that were effecting her academics. 

So she contacted the family. It wasn't normal that she had a family member able to come in, but hearing the news, and knowing that her oldest brother would be in town the parents suggested that he come in and meet with her to discuss tutoring options as well as to see what was going on with Olivia. It made sense to the family to have the person closest to her help with the plan, that way Tristan could be involved. 

Faye sighed as she finished her coffee, her class had been out for five minutes and he would be there any minute. She got up to open the door, before spotting a man who she could only assume was Tristan Baker. "Hello Mr. Baker." She greeted with a friendly smile. "I'm Miss LaBeau." She extended a hand to shake. 

[Tristan Baker]

Not even a week in the state and he was already being called in for something his impeccably stupid little sister had done. As if he should be surprised that she caught the attention of the teacher, the girl was clearly an attention whore. Parents, teachers, everyone just had to focus all on her, God forbid anyone else get the spotlight for even a second. It was safe to say, he was a little bitter towards his sister. Who could really blame him though? After nearly five or so years he slowly lost the attention of his parents. And though it was his brothers that had come first (all except Michael) it was her that ruined everything.

Tristan had a few things he had needed to get done earlier in the day so by the time he arrived at Hammel School for Meta-freaks, he was still dressed in a gray pin-striped suit with a bright red tie. It was rare that he ever dressed in anything less than a suit when he was out in public. The only time he ever felt comfortable enough to wear relaxing clothing was if he was in the comfort of his own home or perhaps working out. After all, he worked out in dress clothes? No one.

It took him a short bit of time to figure out where exactly this classroom that he had to report to was. However, he made it there on time. Tristan stopped in front of the door and before he could knock, it opened. What if this woman was some kind of mind-reader? He sure hoped not. "Pleasure, Miss LaBeau," He said in a clipped, yet professional and polite tone as he took her hand and gave it a soft shake. After releasing it, he stepped in further and took a look around. It was like any other high school classroom he'd ever been in. But yet, he knew this school was much different than what he was used to.

"May I ask, why you needed me to meet you here, Miss LaBeau?" He asked as he turned back towards her.

[Faye LaBeau]

Faye raised a brow at Tristan's appearance. She had a hunch about Olivia's family coming from well means, but this was a bit much. Pilot Ridge was a much more laid back town than most other places and Tristan looked to her, frankly out of place. She couldn't help but wonder if that was how she appeared to everyone else. She often was the most dressed up person in a room and was never seen in anything other than heels. 

"Come in." She said closing the door behind him. "Thank you for coming." She still wasn't used to being so professional with students parents. It wasn't often that she had someone in their office, but with Tristan being in the area it seemed the best choice at the time. 

"Yes. Well you see Olivia, your sister seems to have been struggling with focus in my class over the past couple weeks. She hasn't let her grades slip too much yet, but they have slipped." She told him. "You see this is very unusual for Olivia as she's usually incredibly dedicated to her studies and it's caused some concern." She quite frankly thought the girl was struggling from anxiety, but she couldn't say that as she was not a therapist. "I'd like to formulate a study plan for her as well as inquire about any changes I might want to know about to further help her excel in my class." 

Very professional. 

[Tristan Baker]

As he looked her over, he couldn't believe that teachers could dress so casually. It was a work setting, wasn't the whole point to dress up? Heels were dressy, sure, but if paired with something casual, it wasn't nearly as nice to look at. Perhaps it was coming from New York that made him so well-dressed. However, he tried to look past her casual clothing and instead appraised her other features. A nice looking girl. Pretty enough maybe.

Tristan focused back on her words and his typically bored expression stayed planted on his face. Talking about Olivia was not one of his favorite things to be doing. After all, he wasn't here in Vermont to make things better with her. Why should he have to? They were siblings, sure, but they didn't need to be close. She had three other brothers that she could be close to. But he'd be lying if he said that he was completely indifferent towards his sister. Truly he was protective of her, but only because he had to be. At least, that's what he told himself to justify it.

"Anxiety? Well, the only thing that I know of that has changed in her life is my presence in the state. And our parents are also visiting soon, but otherwise I'm as clueless as you are. Now as far as study plan, I believe that she just needs to get over whatever it is that is bothering her and focus on her studies. Or she needs to talk to someone about this problem of hers and get it taken care of, whatever it may be." Tristan shrugged and folded his hands behind his back.

[Faye LaBeau]

The frankness in his voice was infuriating to the blonde. He didn't care did he? She honestly hated this part of her job. She hated when she had to contact the family in thoughts that it would benefit a student and just find out just why they might be struggling. She'd known Mr. Baker for less than five minutes and had already decided that he was no less than an asshole. 

"I see." She said folding her arms across her chest. "I'm not going to assign her to go to therapy, I don't believe it's that severe of a problem." She stated with as much frankness as he had used. Had she thought she needed therapy she would have already contacted Sean. "Well. I'll just sort something out with Miss Baker myself then. No need to bother you or the rest of your family with petty high school things." She had seen enough. She could see right through this suit. She'd seen plenty of them in Boston and was not by any means impressed. 

"If you do n't mind me asking Mr. Baker... What did bring you to Pilot Ridge?" She asked raising a brow. "It doesn't seem like the place for you... you seem so very... metropolitan." 

[Tristan Baker]

Tristan was a very indifferent man. Very rarely did he ever display anything more than indifference and frankness. If other people didn't like it, well that was very much their problem and not something he let bother him. After all, why should he change for other people? Wasn't that what they always tried teaching children? He could care less about any other people besides himself. That was what he'd been taught growing up in a household so focused on the younger siblings. She could think he was an asshole as much as she pleased, she however, did not know him.

"Very well, if it's not a severe problem then I'm not sure why I'm here. I'm fairly sure with it being such a mild thing, you as a teacher should be able to handle it without contacting family. Firstly, it causes unnecessary worry and secondly, I'm a very busy man and don't like having my time wasted." It all seemed so simple to Tristan that he didn't understand why he was here. Did she not know how to do her job? It was sad really, pathetic. A successful woman should know her job through and through, not rely on others to help her.

Tristan frowned at her question, "Quite frankly, Miss LaBeau, I don't think it's your place to ask. But I suppose I will humor you. I'm here to finish my PhD in Anthropology and my interests are focused on Meta Behavior. Seeing as Pilot Ridge is the meta center of the United States, this was my only choice." He shrugged again and gave her a lazy-eyed look.

[Faye LaBeau]

Had Faye cared what he thought of her she might have flinched when he stood there and insulted her for about a full minute. Man this guy liked to hear himself talk and she hoped that this would be the last time she'd ever have to stay in a room with him. Just from this display she got more than she needed to figure out how to best handle her struggling student. The fact that he didn't care at all that his sister was indeed starting to struggle, and lacked the mental capacity to understand that it's better to address things early rather than later was entertaining to her. She couldn't help but let out a smirk. "You're right Mr. Baker. You are a very busy busy man and I was so very foolish to have contacted you." It was so condescending but she didn't need him to like her. In her anger the room had dropped about 10 degrees but Faye was getting rather warm and took off her blazer revealing her perfectly toned shoulders and arms. 

"I hope that Pilot Ridge welcomes you with open arms to help aid you in your research." Had she not been at work, she may have added a few more choice words. But as of right now she wanted him to leave and to add 5 points extra credit to Olivia's last essay. She took a seat at her desk, she had dismissed him as far as she was concerned and wouldn't give him the satisfaction of walking out without her consent. "Thank You Mr. Baker."

[Tristan Baker]

Her smirk only fed into his criticism of her. She really should learn how to let things not get to her. After all, he was merely pointing out things that he saw and observed. That being said, they were his opinions, she didn't have to appreciate everything he said. Maybe just take his advice into consideration. Maybe it wasn't the nicest way of putting it, but that was the way he often spoke. Talking down to people was his specialty. Tristan returned her smirk with a condescending smile of his own.

She dismissed him and he put his hands in his pockets before turning to walk out, before he did however, he stopped and looked back at her. "You know, Miss LaBeau, perhaps when dealing with someone you're not quite fond of, you don't let it affect your professional attitude towards them. The temperature difference wasn't the only thing that tipped me off just so you're aware."

"And I'll tell you this much, you don't know the relationship I have with my sister, you don't know me, so try not to draw too many of your own conclusions," And with that he opened the door and made leave, fairly sure that she wouldn't stop him. And Tristan Baker didn't just leave with words left to be said, so he felt quite content with the way things ended with them. He hoped this woman would get the a that he wasn't interested in being called in to babysit his sister.