A Meeting for personal matters (Angel) on Cascade Hall

Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

April 29, 2012 8:39 PM

A Meeting for personal matters (Angel) by Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

Kiva had always known that being a professor at a school would mean meeting children with different backgrounds. Not all of these backgrounds were bad. There were quite a few students who came from decent ones. She certainly didn’t always agree with certain parenting methods that some had, but if they weren’t abusive to their children, there was little that she could really do about it. However, those rare times when something was wrong, it was her duty as the Headmistress to step in to ensure the safety of her students.

This was one of those situations.

Angel Shield was an Orphan who was being raised by a Guardian. If Kiva remembered correctly, the Guardian had once been his Healer. Kiva had read his medical files and knew the boy was seriously ill. He would need a proper home in order to stay at his healthiest. It was scary to read and she couldn’t imagine the difficulty it was to live with all of the potions he needed to take to keep himself alive.

Normally, a situation like this was just sad and possibly more common than people realized. What had forced Kiva to look into the matter was everything that had been told to her by Dulce Garcia, the 7th year who was tutoring Angel. Dulce had reported that over the summer she had witnessed verbal and emotional abuse along with neglect. With Dulce’s confession, Kiva had pulled Angel into her office and asked about his life at home. It was Angel’s testimony that had prompted the investigation. Kiva had sent a representative to Lady Cynthia’s estate and when the representative came back with the older woman’s reactions, CPS became involved.

The investigation was over and Kiva was left numb to it for a brief period of time. She was horrified and shaken that such a woman could be so cold to a small child. Angel was a victim of a family’s insanity. He did not deserve to be treated as though he were a monster any more than he deserved to feel like one. She was a Healer, her duty was to care for the weak and the ill. She only put him down and acted as though he were a demon. It was deplorable and had Kiva the energy, should would have taken the woman to court to have her license revoked so that she could never care for another human being for as long as she lived.

Kiva had spent days discussing what to do with her Husband. With Angel’s health issues and risk of exposures that would surely kill him, having him in an orphanage or a random home could mean his death. Ultimately, Jeff and her agreed that his best place would be with them. Kiva could keep an eye on him and make sure his potion supplies were filled at all times. With Jeff’s career and her position, they could afford the supplies and make sure he had everything he needed. There was plenty of room in their home now that they bought the new place. The was no reason why they shouldn’t do this, except that perhaps the school board would frown upon her taking in a student. But she would deal with them if she had to. For now, she needed to tell Angel about his new home.

“Angel…” Kiva started, looking at him from across her desk. She stood up and walked around so that she could see him better. “After our talk a couple of weeks ago, I had a Representative of the school visit your Guardian. Unfortunately, her reaction to the Representative prompted an investigation by the board as well as by Child Protective Services.” She paused there to make sure he was still following her. She knew he had trouble with communicating.

Kiva kneeled down next to his chair, her voice soft and warm, “Angel, Child Protective Services found your home to be unsuitable for you. They are removing you from Lady Cynthia’s care.” She felt the best way to go about this was telling him straight. “We felt that due to your health issues and care needs that your best option was to live with my family. You’ll stay with us during holidays and summer. You’ll have your own room and space.” She took a breath, waiting for his reaction to all of this news. In her current position so close to the ground, Kiva noticed his bare feet. Surprise registered more so than anything else. “Angel, where are your shoes?”

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Angel

April 30, 2012 11:56 AM

…is…ok? by Angel

Angel sat nervously in the seat. A few weeks back the Headmistress had asked him many questions about his life outside of school, and though truth mingled easily with lies as the young albino tried to give her the answers he thought she wanted to hear, it was still enough to cause the woman to contact CPS. That had been terrifying to the young Teppenpaw, Lady Cynthia’s vicious words about how he would be dead in days lingered in his mind. According to her, no one else would be as generous as she had been, and no one would want to spend the time and money needed to keep an abomination like him alive.

Cringing at her words, Angel’s head dropped even further than normal as he bit his bottom lip worriedly. They’ll let you die, and it’s just what a little freak like you deserves. After everything I did for you, this is how you repay me? You’ll die, just as you should have all those years ago The Lady’s words burned though him, and he knew he’d been wrong to talk to the Headmistress, that he should have said everything was good, the Lady was right, he was ungrateful. And now the government would take him away, and he would die.

Then Kiva kneeled next to him, her voice wasn’t the icy tones he had expected. Crimson eyes were like tiny frightened mice as they stole up to glance at her before skittering away in fear. Her next words earned a longer, startled glace as she said he would be living with her. “Not…die?” The words were so faintly spoken that if she hadn’t been kneeling right next to him they would have gone unheard. When she questioned his shoeless state, Angel’s pale toes curled slightly, ducking shyly back underneath the edge of his too long robe.

“I no shoe. Has spells to making…tough?” He hesitated over the last word, unsure it was the correct one but unable to think of a better one. In truth he had the spells, but he rarely used them. Only outside when there was snow and ice. He didn’t even have shoes at the school. Last term he had a pair that the Lady forced him to pack, but he couldn’t stand the cumbersome things and seems no one appeared to notice his unshod state last term he simply didn’t pack them again this term. For the young albino, who’d spent his life without shoes, the footwear hurt, rubbing at his skin and making his normally sure steps clumsy as they threw off his balance, resulting in falls that left splotched bruises on his too white skin.

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Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

April 30, 2012 9:05 PM

Are you? by Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

”Not…die?”

His question made her heart freeze in her chest. She had to resist the urge to just hug him. Hug him and never let go until he understood that the world wasn’t a terrible place. Kiva had no idea what the older woman had done to him to scare him so that the very idea of him leaving would mean certain death, but she hoped there would come a time when he no longer had such thoughts. Besides, she and Jeff would do everything they could to make sure he was as healthy as he could be considering all his health issues.

“No, Angel, you will not die.” She told him, hoping that he knew that was true. “My husband and I will do what we can to keep you safe and in good health. You just have to trust us.” She advised, knowing that trust for him was probably a word he did not know or understand. Maybe… someday.

There were people that who would love him. She and her husband would love him. Her children would love him. All they needed was time for adjustment and time to get to know one another and then they would be a family. Kiva wasn’t sure if his placement with her would be a permanent one, but she knew that he would be with him for a long while, which meant that he would eventually grow to understand what an actual family is like. She didn’t know and would never know what went on in that home, but she knew her home was a good one and, if nothing else, Angel would never be abused again.

”I no shoe…”

Kiva looked at him for a moment while she grasped what he had just told her. He didn’t have shoes but he used charms? “Angel, Dear, you can’t walk around the school without shoes. It’s dangerous and the school could get into trouble. I could get into trouble.” She advised him. She stood up from her position beside his chair and went to her closet. She found a pair of slippers that she had bought to help her feet while in high heels, but she never wore them. She transfigured them down in size to fit him. “Wear these for now. The rubber sole is enough to say they are shoes for the time being.” She handed the slippers to him. “I’ve asked for any of your belongings to be sent to the house. Jeff, he’s my husband, he’ll set up your room until we can go home and fix it to your liking. Is that alright with you, Angel?” She asked him, leaning on her desk and waited to see how he felt.

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Angel

May 01, 2012 7:36 AM

…don’t know… by Angel

Another small glance was offered when she assured him that he wouldn’t die. He wasn’t sure what to believe any more, but the Lady never spoke so kindly to him, and Kiva was the one who helped get him a proper tutor. Still feeling nervous, and uncertain of what the future would hold, Angel gave a tiny nod of acceptance. There wasn’t really any choice in the matter, so he could only go with the flow and hope for the best.

His admission of not having shoes resulted in the unhappy appearance of a new pair. These were not like his old ones, instead they were much softer and didn’t have tight laces. “Must?” He asked forlornly as he accepted the shoes, before she could answer Angel slowly bent down and slipped the slippers on, already knowing what she would say. There had been times that the young albino took advantage of the fact that the Lady thought him mentally defective, and shoes had been one of those moments of passive aggressiveness. He simply played the fool whenever she tried to make him wear them. If she told him to go put his shoes on, he would wander away and come back again still unshod, and if she checked and stood over him to make him put them on, he would simply take them off again the first moment he was out of her sight. It had taken nearly six months, but he won the fight out of sheer stubbornness.

But, should he do that now? Angel peaked at her shyly though the veil of ash white bangs. If he didn’t wear shoes she could get into trouble, and if that happened she wouldn’t want him anymore. “I not make trouble to you.” Angel promised softly as he stood. There was one last thing that he needed to do, to see the truth of her. Carefully the pale boy took one shuffling step forward, his normally fluid stride hampered by the new slippers. Bone white fingers reached out as Angel gave her the full force of his crimson gaze for the first time. He studied her face intently as he began the test, needing to see any hint of disgust or hate no matter how carefully she might try to hide it. Angel reached out to stroke his fingers lightly down her cheek. The slow, hesitant motion gave the older woman plenty of time to react, to show her disgust at the thought of being touched by something like him…to reject him.

Would she be like the Lady? She, who would fall into an angry tirade any time Angel touched her, even by accident? Was he just an obligation that Kiva felt she had no choice but to accept, just as the Lady was forced to take him after his mother died? These questions and more tumbled chaotically though his mind as he moved, waiting for the soft touch of skin on skin, or the bitter sting of rejection.

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Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

May 03, 2012 10:56 PM

Hopefully, you'll know someday... by Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

“Yes, must.” Kiva advised him when she held out the shoes to him. She couldn’t really blame him though. Shoes were sometimes a nuisance, but they were also mandatory. What if something had broken and Angel had stepped on the glass before it could be cleaned up? Or, he stepped on something rusty and obtained tetanus? The school couldn’t handle that sort of liability. Sure they were easy fixes with the medic, but Americans were sue happy and although parents expect some mishaps with spells, they do not enjoy finding out their child has a deadly disease due to the school being unfit. It was just something that Kiva couldn’t allow. Both for the safety of the student and liability of the school.

“Good.” Kiva commented with a smile as she watched him put the slippers on, albeit, begrudgingly. Kiva liked to be at home with her shoes kicked off, relaxing with a nice glass of wine. She understood that shoes could be uncomfortable, but if she let him get away with not wearing any, she would have to allow the whole school to do that and it just wasn’t something she could do. At least these were just rubber soled slippers instead of laced up dress shoes. “I’d rather not have to deal with trouble.” She commented to him, there was no trace of threat in her voice, just fact.

She watched him with curiosity when he moved toward her, his hand outstretched aimed at her. She neither flinched nor looked away when he came at her, as his fingers found her face. It was almost as if she were watching a film happening and she was not a part of it. This was the first physical contact he had ever made toward her or anyone that she was aware of. Ms. Garcia also told her how Angel never liked to look directly at her, so his gaze was hypnotic. It wasn’t until a split second after Angel touched her that she shook herself from his gaze and gently took his hand in hers. He reminded her a little of Emery when he was younger. He had a need to touch things. Always so tactile.

Giving into impulse, Kiva pulled him into a hug. It was firm, but not as long as it might have been had they not been on school grounds and he still trying to get to know her. She didn’t want to overwhelm him so soon. She felt that he needed a hug, something solid, something he could count on. She doubted he ever had hugs before, or, if he had, how rare they must have been. For someone so small and so fragile, love was the only way of survival. Well, and a very good support team. Pulling away from him, but still keeping him in arm’s length, Kiva looked down at him. He was so small. So very small. “That’s settled then. I’ll let CPS know that you’ll be with my family now.” Kiva released him and looked at the clock, “Dinner will be soon, you can go now, if you’d like unless you wanted to talk some more?”

0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau Hopefully, you'll know someday... 0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau 0 5

Angel

May 06, 2012 3:14 AM

... by Angel

Angel carefully watched her face, even when the urge to look away became almost overwhelming. Alabaster finger tips gently, so gently they could hardly be felt, trailed a soft line down her cheek as Angel forced his eyes to remain riveted on hers. There was no sign of disgust, or hate, Kiva’s lips didn’t curl into a sneer of fury at his touch, but still when her hand reached up and caught his, Angel froze. His crimson gaze widened slightly in worry, what if he’d misjudged? What if she was about to punish him with something sharper and more painful than words?

Instead she tugged him lightly forward and infolded him in a hug. The young albino stiffened further as her arms came around him, still unsure of her intentions. But after a few seconds, when all he felt was the gentle but firm pressure of her embrace, Angel melted into the hug by slow degrees. He was still too worried about messing things up to actually attempt to hug her back, instead he stood with his arms limp at his sides. He couldn’t stop his soft hum of joy as her warmth seemed to fill him with sunlight. The heady feeling of being safe and protected in her hold was enough to keep him from worrying about the fact that she could probably feel the sharp ridge of his spine, and the hard curve of ribs pressing harshly against his pale skin without enough flesh between skin and bone to hide them.

Hugs were not something the Teppenpaw expected to experience. They were something normal kids enjoyed, and he’d seen other kids hugging but he knew that they were not something anyone would want to share with him. The hug ended with Angel still stunned at the close contact. Kiva held him at arm’s length, but still didn’t release him. A tear slipped soundlessly down one bone pale cheek. Startled, Angel reached up to touch the streak of dampness, even as another tear fell. Confusion flickered in his ruby colored eyes as he looked at his wet fingers. “Not hurt.” He whispered, unable to understand why he was crying, even as more tears burned hot lines down his white cheeks.

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Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

May 06, 2012 7:13 PM

Back to silence, hm? by Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

Hugging him, Kiva was able to feel just how sickly he was and it made her scared for him. She would send him to healers over Midterm to be sure that his health was as good as it could be and that the potions he has was enough. He felt like a skeleton beneath her. If she hugged him too tightly, he could break. Kiva, before her days as a teacher, had worked in jungles, in third world countries, in all sorts of environments when she researched animals and had met many people. She had seen death in the eyes of children who were so starved they had only days to live. Those were horrifying times for her and her group, despite being there for the animals, stayed on occasion to help when they could. Angel reminded her of those children. He did not have death in his eyes, but his body was so malnourished that he might as well have been.

He didn’t embrace her back, but Kiva had figured that. He was from an abusive and neglected home. Affection was something she was sure he lacked a great deal of. She wasn’t worried though. Her family was more than enough and they were quite good with hugs. The sound he made though, allowed Kiva to know that he at least appreciated it. If he didn’t want to be hugged or have any other form of affection brought onto him, Kiva would respect that. She was not the sort who would force anything onto another being, no matter how much she felt it would help. Since he had neither pushed her away or embraced her, she was still trying to sort it out. They had a long time to work on it though.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Angel, dear, I didn’t mean for you to cry.” Kiva said lightly, trying not to make a big deal out of him showing the emotion. She didn’t know if he was crying because he was overwhelmed with everything or because he was upset or happy or any number of things. His declaration of not being hurt at least gave her a sort of confirmation that she hadn’t , indeed, hurt him while hugging him. So, that was something. “Here you go.” She grabbed a tissue and gently wiped the tears from his cheeks. “It’ll be okay. We’ll work on it together, how does that sound?”

0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau Back to silence, hm? 0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau 0 5

Angel

May 07, 2012 9:59 PM

... by Angel

Angel startled slightly when she gently wiped the tears away with a soft tissue. The touch was unexpected, but didn’t hurt and she wasn’t angry with his crying so Angel held still and let her dry them. “Don’t…I…why?” his lower lip quivered a bit as overwhelming emotion crushed his ability to speak coherently. Angel’s limited vocabulary wasn’t up to the challenge of trying to express himself while he was swamped with such new feelings so he just ducked his head as he fell silent.

Why. That was the one word that he kept running against, why did she care, why did she want him, why was she doing this when she didn’t have to? The Headmistress had no obligation to him, she hardly knew him, so he couldn’t understand why she would go so out of her way to help him when everyone else he’d known barely tolerated him. One pale hand came up, and Angel began chewing on an already ragged nail. The nervous habit helped him rein in the spiraling emotions that made no sense. Glittering, crystal like tears clung to his white lashes as he nodded in agreement, unable to attempt more words.

A small trembling breath escaped his lips as Angel shifted to leave. He could tell that eating would be unadvisable as his stomach twisted into a hard knot under his hollow ribs in response to the stress. That and the emotional upheaval sapped at his energy, leaving the young albino exhausted. Now he just wanted to go back to his room and rest. Angel started to shuffle towards the door, his steps careful in the new slippers.

When he was about to pass Kiva, Angel stopped and in a terribly awkward motion he shifted until he leaned lightly against her for an instant. He wanted another hug, but was too afraid she might refuse. Instead he huddled against her, almost like a stray kitten trying to take shelter from a storm. The halting motion showed just how unfamiliar Angel was with physical contact, it was clumsy and painfully hesitant. “Sorry….thank you.” The soft words, the first time he’d offered them without prompting from Dulce fell quietly from his lips as he started to move again towards the door.

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Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

May 21, 2012 8:25 PM

Well, alright then. by Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

Kiva was uncertain with what Angel was trying to convey to her as she wiped away his tears. She knew that it had been an emotional time for him, but she could in no real way understand what he was going through. Kiva had grown up with both her parents. They were stable, in love, happy, and loved her deeply. Losing her father as an adult had been a devastating experience for her and it had nearly ruined her mother. It had taken years for the two of them to overcome their grief. That deeply intense love, Kiva was sure that Angel had never known and may possibly never be capable of having. A sadness hit Kiva at this acknowledgement and she inwardly grieved for this small little boy.

Perhaps because she was a mother herself of two children and hoping for another to come along, or perhaps it was because she had worked with children for so long, but there was something inside of Kiva that wanted to protect all of them. She wanted to see them smile, hear them laugh, watch them grow up to be wonderful individuals. She needed to have those things for them and wanted to be sure that they obtained them. Maybe it was too late for Angel and Kiva was wasting her time hoping to give him some stability and normalcy. Maybe. But what harm could it do to give him a warm place to live for the next few years? Maybe it would be enough to touch him. Maybe it wouldn’t. But she and Jeff were willing to try and she was sure that was more than what most would do. Angel was not a cheap child and Kiva was lucky to have connections, but she was sure they still would have done it even if they had to pay the full price of everything.

At first, Kiva had assumed that Angel was just been walking by her, but his pause and lean made her realize that he was looking for a form of affection. Emery did this sometimes when he was too embarrassed to actually hug her in public. She did not look forward to his teenage years, but she embraced him in those moments where he still needed his mother. She took that moment with Angel too and wrapped an arm around him for a half hug and gave him a tight (but so tight as to hurt his fragile body). “You’re welcome, Angel.” She said quietly, letting him go so that he could leave.

0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau Well, alright then. 0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau 0 5