xp_logs | Leo & Haller, Tuesday afternoon

x-leosamson.livejournal.com posting in

Leo and Haller meet to discuss students for the month.

Fumbling with his planner, files, notepad and the cell phone he couldn't find the holder for, Leo knocked on Haller's open door, and peeked his head in. "Jim? You ready to go over the kids for this month?"

"Hm? Oh, sure -- come in."

Jim got out from behind his desk and waved Leo towards the chairs so they could talk. Aside from seeming impolite not to move for a peer, the desk was still heaped with parental contact information. The telepath gave the binders a hopeless glance before turning back to Leo. "I just keep telling myself I'm lucky I wasn't around for the interdimension jaunt," he sighed, shaking his head. "Anyway."

"Dinosaurs," Leo returned succinctly with a shake of his head. Sitting in one of the chairs, he glanced down at his files. "So, how shall we do this? Alphabetical or in order of headache intensity?"

He said the last with a wry grin. "Oh, and I was thinking we should consider some group work--perhaps draw in some of the more reticent students? They might be more open with peers than with either of us."

"True . . ." Jim considered this for a moment. "I guess it's probably a good idea to tackle those who were actually in the city independently of those who were at the mansion -- different experiences and everything. Is this going to be optional or mandatory? For the kids, I mean. Some people react badly to anything they 'have' to do. Or just aren't into the idea and get hostile." He was trying to picture Noriko or Inez getting anything out of this experience beyond impatience and vocally expressed boredom. It wasn't working.

"Optional, definitely." Leo winced slightly, imagining the reactions of certain students, "I have no desire to relive my days doing mandated group counseling with court-ordered clients."

He leaned back in the chair, thinking. "In terms of the group, I'd like to offer it as an open group to the students--I suppose the questions are: one group for those in the city, one group for out? And open to the under 21's who were in the city, or only the under 18's? I definitely think for any individual sessions, let's prioritize by who was in the city. But as for the group--Laurie was in the city, and is under 18, and might attend--but Kyle was in the city as well, and is over 18, but I think he could offer some good insights."

"You could ask Kyle and Laurie to come and help out rather than as a formal part of the group," Jim suggested, rubbing the scars on his right hand thoughtfully. "It gets into a weird area with the younger X-Men -- you've 'graduated' but you're still being singled out for your age, that kind of thing. Not that they'd necessarily take it like that, but I think a few would. But if you ask them in to talk to, say, the New Mutants group, they might get something out of it anyway. They had different experiences, but they were all in the city."

The telepath settled back and rubbed his temple, trying to consider Leo's other question. It was hard; he suspected that Leo was as tired as he was, but was bearing up much better. Jim forced his brain into activity. "This may just be personal bias, but I'd say keep the formal focus on the under 18's -- anyone older may be irritated. But you're right, we probably should check on them . . . personal informal check-ins, you think?"

"That sounds like a plan," Leo agreed. "That will allow Kyle and Laurie to bring a little insight into the group--and they may gain from that experience as well." Leo thought a moment, considering the current dynamics of the two in question. "It might also address some of the conflict between the two of them. Of which I have been completely unaware, of course," Leo added wryly, "as it well known I am often far behind on reading the journals. And yes--definitely personal check-ins."

Glancing down at the list of students, he continued, "I think there are a few we should divide out based on which of us has a stronger therapeutic connection, but the others we can probably divide fairly evenly." He looked back up at Haller. "Any preferences off the bat?"

"I can probably handle most of the younger X-types," Jim said, forehead furrowed with thought. "Hopefully being approached by another teammate isn't going to put them on the automatic defensive. Well -- barring Kyle. You've worked with him longer. When we ask them about participating I'll take Laurie if you take him. Are there any you think you might need me to corral?"

"I'm fine with Kyle," Leo said, and then glanced down at the younger students. He looked back up at Haller with a slightly pleading expression. "Would you think less of me if I requested you handle the Stepfords? I had a rather grueling session with them before all this, and I'm not quite sure I'm up for another just yet. If you could, I can handle the rest of the team two New Mutants--and I haven't had a good check-in yet with Catseye or Meggan. Is there anyone you have good rapport with on team one? I can probably handle the majority of them since I've regular sessions with most already."

Jim rubbed the back of his head. "I knew Cats briefly before she left, though we never did proper sessions. I'm embarrassed to say I haven't even properly met Meggan yet. Aside from that, I'm pretty comfortable with Angel, and Yvette -- although Yvette might be dealing with things a little better than it looks from the spikes. It's still stress, but it's the kind she grew up with. A lot of the other kids have never experienced anything like this -- this level of destruction on home soil, I mean." He gave Leo a wry smile. "And yeah, I can handle the Stepfords. Although I may ask Charles for a consult, considering the last time they decided to repress trauma we ended up with an imaginary sister."

"Yes, I think Yvette is doing a little better than the others," Leo responded, "And thank you for the Stepfords, I greatly appreciate it. Hmm...if you take Angel and Yvette, I'm fine with most of the others--the only ones you might have a better connection with are Inez and Noriko--have you been able to establish a rapport with either of them, or would you prefer I keep them?"

"I think Noriko might think I'm insane, but that seems to be her standard opinion of half the school. She seems like the knee-jerk anti-authoritarian type, though, so I'm not sure either of us would have a good shot . . ." Jim thought about it for a moment. "Maybe I'll ask Julio to check on how she's doing, and if it seems bad have him suggest she go to whichever of us seems more tolerable. It's kind of underhanded, but I definitely foresee problems if we try to push with her, though I admit she's seemed weirdly mellow this week. Inez . . . we haven't really spoken, but I might be able to use the issue of Cain leaving as an icebreaker, so I could give that a shot."

Leo grinned. "I have no issue with underhanded, David. Unethical, yes--but underhanded? I prefer to think of it as using all the resources at our disposal...or, taking 'a holistic approach.' That sounds like a good plan for Noriko--I haven't really had much success at connecting with her."

He gazed away for a moment, thinking about Cain. "As for Inez--if you're willing--I'm definitely concerned about how Cain leaving will affect her, so if she opens up at all to you, that's great. I wish Cain the best, I really do, but I think his absence will affect a number of the students. He provided a great deal of stability in this place."

"Yeah -- I've already had that talk with Kyle." To be honest, Jim suspected Cain's absence was going to affect a number of the staff, too -- up to, and perhaps especially, the professor. Though he hadn't said it, Charles seemed to have known of Cain's departure even before Jim had handed him the letter. Jim knew that Charles, too, didn't begrudge Cain his decision, but it had certainly made the mansion feel . . . emptier.

"Still, we'll make do," Jim said aloud. The younger man gave Leo a faint, slightly sardonic smile. "That's what we're here for, I guess. When you can't spare -- repair."

Leo smiled softly in return. "Yes. And we're still here, David. That's not perfect--but it's what we have."