Log: Kids Can Be Cruel

[trustandfireworks]

Who: Theta Ai (native), Delta Ai (Native), Omega Ai (Native) and various teachers, students and parents
What: Called into school after a fight
Where: Theta's school, Principal's office
When: Tuesday 11/24 lunch time
Warnings: Past violence, shouting

Theta's arms are wrapped around his stomach as he tries to not start crying again. His eye hurts enough and crying had only made it worse with the tears trying to push their way out from between the swollen eyelids. There's other aches in different places that are worse that when he falls off the skateboard. His knuckles on his right hand hurt, but that's a better ache; satisfying in a way he'd notice more if it wasn't drowned out by everything else.

He wants to curl up in a corner under a blanket, or at least bring his legs up to his chest, but there's a rule about no feet on the chairs, so he can't. There's a blank sheet of paper and a pen on his lap, left there after he refused to take them, but he's not uncurling until his brothers get here, and he knows they will, that's the protocol. It's just never been needed for him before.

Maybe the other kids' parents have arrived, he hasn't looked up to check and the sound of the door opening and closing or normal volume voices are beyond him now. His fist tightens around the mangled piece of plastic and wire until he feels it digging into his palm. He's not sure where the other one is, maybe one of the bullies still has it. If it's not broken, maybe he can get it back. Maybe Delta and Omega can get them to give it back once they get here. He hopes they'll be here soon so they can take him home.

Comments

[trustandfireworks]

'Please watch your language around the children,' the other teacher says, the first thing he's said since the older Ais entered the room. His voice shakes a little despite his attempt to sound authoritative.

WHEN CAN WE GO? Theta asks, keeping his eyes on his brothers and so unaware of the uproar among the parents that's erupted at Delta's insistence.

[baruthumos]

"Right," Omega says. "Because that's the biggest problem in this room. My language. Not that you stood by while a child was assaulted, while one of your students was humiliated and hurt. God forbid I accurately describe the situation, right?"

WHEN WE'RE DONE, Omega signs back. THEY WANT US OUT OF HERE AS SOON AS THEY CAN GET RID OF US SO THEY CAN BLAME YOU.

[protective_logic]

SOON, Delta reinforces for Theta before turning toward the teacher in the room.

"I don't think anyone wants us asking what exactly the teachers were doing when they were supposed to be watching the children," he snaps. "We won't watch our language at all. Not in the face of violence."

[trustandfireworks]

'There is no need to make the situation worse,' the teacher insists, though he sounds even less confident as he did the first time.

BECAUSE I HIT BACK? He rubs his sore knuckles with his other hand. Is it supposed to hurt that much when you hit someone? He'll have to ask Nida.

[baruthumos]

BECAUSE THEN IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT AND THEY AREN'T TERRIBLE PEOPLE, Omega signs back, not really caring if anyone gets the gist of what he's telling Theta.

"Make the situation worse?" he repeats incredulously. "Are you saying my insistence that Theta be respected as a full and worthy member of society is somehow making this worse? My unwavering committment to make sure he is not treated as a second-class citizen is somehow a detriment to you?" He gets up in the teacher's space, crowding him back a step. "Do you have a problem with taking responsibility for your actions?"

Because Omega's spent plenty of time around kids. He knows that while they're more than old enough to know better, the teachers share a hefty amount of blame.

[protective_logic]

These kids are more than old enough to know better as well. This is something that should have been stopped before it could get this far, and Delta is not going to expect more from people who failed. He'll expect far less.

"I have a feeling most of the people here have a problem with it," Delta sighs, shaking his head. "Let's go home, Omega. They can deal with lawyers."

[trustandfireworks]

Oh. But it is their fault, right? They started it. He would say so, but Omega's turned and is crowding up Mr Lennox. It looks like he's shouting and Theta looks down agin, biting his lip before the stab of pain reminds him that that's not a good idea right now.

'You can't leave yet, we haven't resolved the situation,' the headmaster insists. 'We need to settle the consequences of this matter, one way or another.'

[baruthumos]

"Them, expelled. The parents, paying for the replacements. And the teacher that stood by and let it happen, gone." Omega ticks them off on his fingers. "I really don't think it's too much to ask for what they broke to be repaired, and to make sure it never happens again. Do you?"

Asshole. Omega can outstubborn him. But that doesn't mean he'll waste the time gladly.

[protective_logic]

"Those things, and speeding up the agreements, because I want to get Theta to someone who can deal with all the ways he's been hurt," Delta snaps. "Not to mention starting on restoring his hearing as soon as possible. That isn't a short process."

[trustandfireworks]

'We don't have a one chance policy,' the headmaster insists. 'Unless any of the children are on record for previous serious fights, suspension is as far as we can go unless weapons were involved, which they were not.'

'Do you not have insurance to cover the hearing aids?' the other teacher asks, trying to move sideways along the wall he's been backed up against to get away from Omega.

[baruthumos]

Oh, that was a mistake. Because that question makes Omega angry under the best of circumstances. He leaves the headmaster to Delta and stalks that chucklefuck down the wall. "Of course his insurance covers it," Omega snarls. "Do you think we're as negligent and incompetent as this school? But I'm sure even you have heard, you break it-" he smacks the wall "you buy it!" He smacks the wall again to make his point, and smirks a little when the cockbite jumps.

[protective_logic]

Well, Omega has that one caught up, so Delta focuses on the Headmaster. "If these children had damaged school property to the price of the implants, they would be expelled without a question. Are you really going to teach them that respect of personal property only applies to people with authority over you? In this case, you HAVE a one chance policy."

[trustandfireworks]

'If you have insurance then... surely there's no need to... pay?' The teacher's gone white, his voice trailing off towards the end in fear.

The headmaster, for his part, is gaping at Delta like a man caught in a storm, and he's gone about the same color as he tries to form a counter. The parents have started protesting again, with the exception of the one mother.

[baruthumos]

"Co-pays," Omega hisses. "And of course, the things they won't cover because the hearing aids were supposed to last for years yet, the fitting and calibration. I'm not entirely sure they'll cover even new devices. Perhaps because they were maliciously destroyed, they'll file suit against you to recoup the costs."

He turns around to look at the parents. "Against all of you," he says. "Since most of you seem not to care the harm your children have done to my brother, perhaps you'll care about the incredible cost of what they destroyed!"

[protective_logic]

"These children actively assaulted an impaired child," Delta reminds the headmaster, turning even to encompass the other parents in a glare. "If Theta was in a wheel chair and they destroyed that by, I don't know, throwing it off the top of a building, they would be expected to recoup the cost to us, and they WOULD be tried for wanton destruction of private property. But by all means, if they have an issue, I have the nearest police district's number. I can call them. Your children can and would be arrested for destruction of private property. Not to mention the fact that one of them seems to be missing. If any of them have RETAINED that item, they are also there for theft."

[trustandfireworks]

The teacher doesn't have a reply for that, although at this point, anything more strenous than standing up against the wall might make him faint.

The parents are still protesting, but the headmaster gradually quiets them down, rubbing his temples hard enough to leave white lines for a few seconds. 'If any child here still has one of Theta's hearing aids, please return it now,' he says once there's enough quiet.

[baruthumos]

Satisfied the teacher is thoroughy and properly cowed, Omega goes back to hover over Theta. It's a good thing he can't hear what's being said about him and his ears. But Delta knows first-hand, so while Omega doesn't like the hammering on Theta's disability, he trusts Delta's judgement in the matter more than his own.

At least this time they'll have a car to get to Theta's appointments, and Omega can leave work early to take him. So that will be easier than last time around. Small comfort.

[protective_logic]

Nothing? Good, Delta wants this to be scarier than it already is. They need to know that this is something REALLY bad. Jail worthy. Even if it's only a minor crime in a lot of ways.

"I suggest you have one of your staff go to where the fight occurred and look for the hearing aid," Delta says simply. "I doubt their parents would let them be searched."

[trustandfireworks]

'Damn right, we wouldn't,' one of the parents snaps, his arm around his daughter's shoulders.

The teacher, meanwhile, sees his chance to escape and takes it, trying not to look so obvious as he bolts for the door with a jabbered excuse that he'll go look for the missing aid himself.

[baruthumos]

"Funny how your kid gets to protect her privacy and not have things removed from her by force, and my brother doesn't," Omega snarks. "I bet one of those brats still has it."

[protective_logic]

"Privacy is more important for people who don't have to deal with the difficulties that Theta has to," Delta says dismissively to the parents. "Of course. Their children are more important and more valuable than my brother."

[trustandfireworks]

Theta's tentatively touching his bruised eye, quickly pulling away again when it hurts more. How long does it have to hurt for? When will the swelling go down?

'You have no right. We could have you down for child molestation, since you're so keen to press charges,' the same parent continues.

[baruthumos]

Omega levels his third-best death glare. "I have not touched a child, unlike that one," he says with ice in his voice. He bets that one's body would break the window easily. "So let's call the police, have them sort out what exactly your spawn did. Do you really want to bet they find my brother's right to safety less important than someone else's right to...whatever the hell it was behind this incident? Or do you think those are magic words that will make everyone shut up and take me away? Because I have news for you, shit for brains. That doesn't work for real victims. It sure ain't going to do anything for you but make them wonder why that's your go-to defense. A bit of projection, maybe?"

[protective_logic]

"Here," Delta says, pulling his datapad out and prodding the number into active position. "Would you like to just call?" Because his attention needs to be back on Theta.

[trustandfireworks]

The parent glares furiously at Omega and looks ready to snatch the datapad from Delta's hands and break it in two. He doesn't though, only sits there and seethes while Theta shifts uncomfortably now that both Omega and Delta have moved away from him.

The door opens, revealing the teacher. He steps into the room, but stays close to the door so he'll be able to get out quickly and without inching around the room again. 'There's no sign of them,' he says, clearing his throat.