Office Hours - May 16

[bigdamnprincipal]

Zoe didn't usually come into the office on Saturdays, but then, she didn't usually get calls about late students being admitted to the school either. Wanting to make sure that the girl got settled in without trouble, Zoe waited in her office for her to arrive.

[For one, please!]

Comments

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Clutching the letter Belikov had given to her when he dropped her off, Rose glared at the office door she'd been directed to for a moment before knocking harder than she needed to.

[bigdamnprincipal]

Oh, such angry knocking. This could be interesting, Zoe thought. "Come in," she said, sitting back in her chair and getting her most polite look ready.

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Rose pushed the door open, looking around with an instant glare. "Headmistress?" she asked, settling her gaze on the Principal as her hand clenched on the paper of the letter.

[bigdamnprincipal]

"I suppose that's a way of putting it. I'm Principal Winchester. Are you Rose?" she asked.

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"Rose Hathaway," she agreed, stomping across the room to push the letter she'd been holding at her. "I'm supposed to give you that."

[bigdamnprincipal]

Zoe took the letter and read it carefully:

Principal Zoe Winchester,

I write to you to apologise for asking you to admit a late student to your school. Rosemarie Hathaway has been a student at St. Vladimir's Academy since she was five. She has a well-deserved reputation at our school for both rebellion and rambunctiousness, but until recently we had few other problems.

She recently returned to our school after a two year absence. She facilitated the running away of one of our most protected students, the Princess Vasilisa Dragomir. Princess Vasilisa and Miss Hathaway managed to evade our Guardians for two years, but just recently they were able to track the girls down and return them to our school. The danger is too great, of course, to do anything but keep the Princess at St. Vladimir's, but we can no longer allow Miss Hathaway to succeed at her rebellions.

This is where I must ask your assistance. I have heard that your school excels at managing the rebelliousness and stubbornness of your students, and I would ask that you allow Miss Hathaway to attend for your summer session. If she completes the session with a good report, I am willing to consider her re-admittance to St. Vladimir's as we find ourselves falling short of Guardians - especially female ones with the admitted talents of Miss Hathaway.

Your assistance is greatly appreciated, and if there is anything I may do for you in the future, you only have to ask.

I remain,

Ellen Kirova
St Vladimir's Academy
Headmistress

"Well, it sounds like you've had quite an interesting time lately," she said, peering down at the letter again. "What is it that Guardians do?"

[Letter written by guardianborn for the record, la la la.]

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

She looked surprised at the question, and it was something that was just understood in her world. "We protect the Moroi," Rose said, relaxing a little bit. "The Strigoi want to kill them or eat them or turn them evil, and we stop it, keep them safe."

[bigdamnprincipal]

"That sounds like an important job. Was getting this princess away from the school as important as that?" Zoe asked. There was no judgment to the question, just honest curiosity.

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Rose's face froze, her jaw clenching. "I was protecting her," she argued. "I kept Lissa safe, and now she doesn't have anyone."

[bigdamnprincipal]

"Protecting her from what?" Zoe asked. "Was the school not safe?"

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

She crossed her arms, not trusting Zoe nearly enough to talk about it. "Not for her."

[bigdamnprincipal]

Zoe gave Rose a bit of a solemn nod as she set the letter down. "I'm going to assume that you have even less of an interest in being here than you did in being at the academy."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

It wasn't like the thought hadn't occurred to her, and Rose shrugged, eyeing Zoe. "It's not my top choice of vacation destinations."

Sometimes she thought she was funny.

[bigdamnprincipal]

"Perhaps not at the moment, but you might find yourself happier here than you expect," Zoe replied. "As your headmistress seems aware, we get our fair share of rebellious students here, but we also understand that sometimes, acts of rebellion have very good causes."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Rose frowned as she watched the Principal, fairly obviously trying to figure out where the catch in that was. "It's not about me being happy," she said finally. "It's about Lissa being safe. And I can't protect her from here."

[bigdamnprincipal]

"From the sound of this letter, if you do well here for the summer, you can go back to protect her," Zoe said.

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Her eyes widened. "Well according to who?"

[bigdamnprincipal]

"I would assume well according to me," Zoe said. "Lucky for you, I'm an easy woman to impress."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

For some reason, Rose didn't quite believe that, but she was ready to take what she could get. "I'll do my best," she said, looking half-worried and half-determined.

[bigdamnprincipal]

"That's all we ask of our students," Zoe said, trying to sound reassuring. After taking a moment to sort through the folders on her desk, she found the one she was looking for. "This should have all of the information you'll need to get settled in: your room number, your class schedule, and some information about what can be found in the town. If you run into trouble, or you have more questions, I will be happy to help."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

"Thanks," Rose said, having absolutely no intention of taking Zoe up on that offer. She glanced through the folder for a moment, surprised at how few classes she was supposed to take. "It'll be good, I think." She turned, looking slightly uncertain for just a moment, not sure how to rebel against the lack of lectures. "I'll go find my room."

[bigdamnprincipal]

"I think that would be a wise idea," Zoe said. "Welcome to Fandom High, Rose."