Teaching Respect.
By C S Sinclair.
Chapter Eight.
"Hello, anyone in…? Oh, I'm sorry - I must have the wrong room."
Xu retreated back into the corridor and had almost shut the door, when she heard Quistis call from within:
"Is that you Xuse? You were right, come on in."
Xu hesitated a moment, before cautiously opening the door to the classroom once more. Peering round the edge, she saw Quistis sitting by the light of a lamp on her desk. The classroom was mostly in darkness, as the curtains were drawn. The only other occupants were the two girls that Xu had just spoken to, seated next to each other near the back.
"Er… do you have a moment Quis? We agreed to meet up about the… the thing you remember?" She whispered, looking over at the two girls with discomfort.
Quistis looked up from her notes, and smiled in welcome:
"Yes, that's why I suggested here. I thought we'd go through a few things, so we don't have a repeat of last time's blunder. Fujin…"
Xu leapt forward in what she quickly realized was a very silly 'hop and shush' pose, interposing herself between Quistis and the girls' view.
"Quis!" she hissed quietly, but with alarmed outrage. "There are people here!"
Quistis leaned round her side. She smiled and waved the girls forward.
"Take a seat closer to the front, girls. You'll be able to see the blackboard better."
Xu looked round, and saw them pack their things up and move towards them. Both were about 17-18 maybe - 3rd years probably. One of them seemed quite shy and quiet, and was hanging behind the other girl.
The lead girl was a different story. She was wearing an almost impossibly short skirt, and was fully done up in make-up. Her brown hair was tied back in a pony tail, hung roguishly over one shoulder. She also sported the unmistakable badge of the Trepeies proudly on her lapel.
As they busied themselves sitting down again, Xu whipped round to face Quistis.
"You cannot be serious Quis?! You're going to talk about… "
She leaned forward, and whispered almost directly into Quistis ear (to her friend's great amusement):
"You want me to talk about me and Jinny in front of them? I… I can't!"
Quistis took hold of her hand, and squeezed it soothingly.
"Shh, calm down Xusie" she whispered back. "Everything's fine. Marcie and Jeanette are Trepeies. They won't repeat anything about a friend of mine to anyone, unless I tell them to."
Xu looked about. She had the distinct impression that the lead girl didn't like her at all. She was wearing a very sour expression on her face as she looked back at Xu. Xu looked down at where Quistis was squeezing her hand. Oh, this was just great…
"But why do they have to be here at all?" she pleaded. "What business is it of theirs?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
Xu had the familiar feeling that she had totally missed something rather simple. Love and relationships - it was just so difficult to get her head round. Quistis saw her struggling and continued:
"My Trepeies are extremely well informed about the love lives of others. They have to be, to keep tabs on who is interested in me."
Xu's puzzled expression started to fade. Hang on a second…
"Yes, you're getting it now, aren't you? If they help you with Fujin…"
"… then they can scratch me off their list of potential… enemies" finished Xu.
"That's right. I've told them me and you are just close friends, but they are very protective of me. I think we should let them stay Xuse."
Xu sighed and nodded, defeated once again by the irrefutable and borderline insane logic of the art of relationships. She turned and walked over to one of the front rows, where she collapsed into the nearest seat, unable to quite believe how all this was turning out.
At the front, Quistis finished her notes, and stood up. Xu was struck by how tall she seemed, standing behind her desk in her teacher's uniform. She looked so strong and in control, much more confident than she might have expected.
She looked round to see what the two girls were doing. The quiet girl was sitting side on to her friend, clutching to her for support it seemed. She seemed like a small, nervous thing. Xu felt quite sorry for her, although she had no idea why or what for. The other girl was sitting forward in rapt attention, her hands clasped together in front of her and looking like she might burst with excitement at any moment.
"Face the front please, Miss Xu!"
Xu jumped at Quistis' sharp, clear voice. She saw up straight, and placed her hands on the table, before realizing that she wasn't actually a student anymore… and she even outranked Quis! Appearing to follow this train of thought, Quistis explained:
"In the classroom, it is essential not to get crossed wires I find. If you don't mind, I think this'll go easier if we treat it like any other lecture. Is that alright, Headmistress?"
Xu swallowed hard, feeling singled out. She nodded and tried to give her consent, (but it came out more as a small, embarrassed squeak than anything coherent). Nevertheless, Quistis seemed satisfied, and turned to face the blackboard, where she began writing with the chalk.
Absently mindedly tapping the buttons of the computer terminal in front of her (it was off, she was just nervous), Xu noticed that the pony tailed girl was starting at her, although she averted her gaze when Xu looked round. The look she had been given said it all – she was outraged with the mere suggestion of Xu having authority over Quistis. Xu sank down in her seat, trying to meld into the darkness.
"So, good afternoon class" Quistis began, turning back to face them. Her voice was warm and motherly, but with a hint of sharpness still.
"Good afternoon Miss Trepe!" called the pony tail girl excitedly. Her friend had probably spoken too, but was drowned out utterly.
"Good afternoon Jeanette" replied Quistis with a smile. "And to you too, Marcie" she said turning her attention to the quieter girl.
A silence seemed to engulf the room. Xu (who had been tapping the buttons again) looked up, and saw everyone staring at her.
"Oh…good afternoon" she managed, feeling a little foolish.
A gasp of horror from behind her, told her she had slipped up.
"Good afternoon… Miss Trepe" she added quickly.
Quistis nodded and smiled an understanding smile at her. Xu breathed a sigh of relief and looked back at Jeanette. She was looking scandalized, but Xu suspected this was more an act to win Quistis' favour than anything.
"So…" Quistis began, "Let's start with the basic facts. Subject A (she indicated the words SUBJECT A on the blackboard, and then pointed in Xu's direction) is in love with subject B."
She tapped the chalked SUBJECT B, and clicked on an overhead projector that showed a photo of Fujin. Xu noted with delight that Fujin looked very uneasy in the photo, and had a look of such innocent discomfort. She wanted to reach into the photo and gather her all up…
"Are you with us, Miss Xu?"
Xu looked up, and realized she had been staring dreamily into the photo, with her head cupped in her hands. She sat back, smoothing her hair and pointedly not looking at the others (who she could hear tittering).
"Now, would anyone like to hazard a guess as to what is strange about this case? What about this situation is odd, and how can it be resolved?"
Xu was… she didn't know what she was. Odd? Strange? What was Quistis trying to say exactly? She had a mind to…
"Yes, Marcie?"
A shy, timid voice whispered something Xu couldn't make out. She looked over, and saw Jeanette leaning over and offering encouragement. The voice sounded again: still quiet, but loud enough to hear this time:
"The two subjects are so well suited. It… it's strange that they haven't gotten together…sooner." The voice trailed off, as the girl buried her face in her friend's shoulder.
"Excellent, Marcie" beamed Quistis.
Xu couldn't help but smile. Oh thank goodness, that's what they meant. Yes, it was kind of odd, but she'd always been with Seifer and Raijin and…
"Now obviously, we are not talking about the past. Everyone knows that with overprotective brother figures like Raijin and Seifer, nobody could really get close to Fujin…"
Oh… wrong… again. So what then… the fact they hadn't gotten together since she came back was odd? Well, perhaps, but Xu felt she had very good reasons, moral high ground, right timing etc.
"Now, Miss Xu will probably give various excuses about morality and propriety. But can the class think of any other reasons why the subjects haven't gotten together."
Xu wondered if her seat had some sort of mind reading probe attached somewhere. Although a silly idea, she quietly began feeling along the seat and under the desk.
"Yes, Jeanette?"
"Miss, it's because Subject A is a prude."
Was that something… no. It was just… hold on a second!!!
"WHAT??!!!"
Howling in indignant fury, Xu leapt up from her seat and rounded on Jeanette. Jeanette flinched at this, and looked quickly to the front for support.
"WHY YOU LITTLE…"
"Miss Xu, please sit down" came the command from the front.
Xu looked around to see Quistis standing closer to the seats, with a stern expression on her face.
"But Quis… she…"
"THAT IS ENOUGH, MISS XU! YOU WILL KINDLY HAVE THE COURTESY TO REFER TO ME AS MISS TREPE, WHEN YOU ARE IN THIS CLASS. NOW SIT DOWN! "
An invisible weight seemed to push Xu down, and she felt like she had been slapped across the face into the bargain. Quistis' face betrayed no emotion; just bore a firm look of discipline. Xu knew she was just conducting this in a businesslike manner, but still… that had been quite scary.
She stole a quick glance at Jeanette. She now had a look of malicious triumph on her face, and was leaning forward again. It may have been her imagination, but Xu could also swear she had pulled her skirt up further under the table. This girl took tackiness and cheap behaviour to a whole new level, Xu thought mutinously to herself, aware that she was being rather petty herself…
"You were saying, Jeanette? Although please do not use words like 'prude' to describe my friends. Give us an example of what you mean instead, if you please."
Xu calmed down a bit at that. She might have missed some of the finer details at times, but she was sure that was an apology of sorts from Quis.
"Well, Subject A is effectively the owner of a magical flying castle, Miss. It shouldn't be hard for her to impress girls, so she must be holding back…"
Xu shot her hand into the air. Two could play at this game…
"Yes, Miss Xu?"
"Ultimecia had a flying castle. Are you saying that Fujin would have wanted to date her as well? What about you or me, or Miss Trepe? How did we resist her wondrous flying machine…?"
Satisfied, Xu allowed herself to gloat a little. This soon evaporated however:
"Yes, Jeanette. Do you have a response to Miss Xu's statement?"
"Yes Miss." (Xu groaned inwardly) "First of all, Ultimecia's castle wasn't a machine. Secondly, the fact is that, no, Subject B would not have wanted to date Sorceress Ultimecia. But many would, and did find her a very alluring and powerful woman. Power has a well documented aphrodisiac effect. The 'Evil Sorceress' image is one that has attracted a substantial cult following, particularly in men, over the years."
Xu's jaw almost hit the floor. With a horrible feeling of inner turmoil however, she realized that Jeanette was probably right. She was reminded of her conversation over wearing the more authoritarian skirts to try and appeal to Fujin. And now she thought about it, she was the owner of a flying castle – how was it so hard for her to get dates?
"Jeanette makes some valid points. But the most important is that Subject B – Fujin would not want a partner like Ultimecia. This is because, despite appearances, she is more interested in finding someone who will love her for who she really is, than finding someone powerful she can respect."
Quistis returned to the front, replacing the projection with a picture of Fujin, Raijin and Seifer.
"Subject B has always attempted to fit in with boys, to appear strong and capable so as to be considered 'worthy' company. She respects male power because she has always been taught to."
By her father, yes, the wretched little man, thought Xu to herself.
"But this didn't make her happy in here." (Quistis motioned to her heart). "She simply felt that this was the best kind of happiness she could hope for. Someone like Ultimecia would fulfill Fujin's need for strong figures in her life. BUT, she wouldn't care for the real Fujin, who wants to be loved and cared for by someone who thinks she is a good person.
"This" Quistis indicated the picture of Fujin in her old gang, "is therefore the life she thought she must live, not the life she wanted. Only subject A can give her that. Does the class know why? Yes, Marcie?"
"Because Subject A cares more about Subject B's happiness than her own, and because she sees the real Fujin, whereas most just see what Subject B wants them to see?"
Xu put her hand up.
"So… so you're saying that it'll work out…"
"…if you both stop being so stupid and grab hold of each other, yes" finished Quistis.
She could hear Jeanette muttering 'Well duhh' behind her. Little brat… But anyway… when you said it like that, it seemed really simple. So why did it never seem to go like that in practice? Why wasn't it as easy as just walking up to Fujin, picking her up and carrying her away in her magical, moving castle?
"Anyway, we have strayed from the point of this session, which is to tackle Subject A's response when Subject B asks her to dinner. Thoughts, anyone?"
Xu put her hand up. She had it now – it was simple after all.
"I accept straight away, showing her how much I love her and want to be with her!" she almost shouted in a proud voice.
"Wrong. Anyone else? Jeanette?" replied Quistis, crushing Xu completely and leaving her a quivering mass of confused indecision - not so much back at Square one, as off the board, and back in the box.
With a dreadful inevitability, she looked over at Jeanette, thinking murderous thoughts.
"She appears flattered and happy, but arranges the date for a few days time" came the worryingly clear response.
"Correct."
"But…"
"Hand, Miss Xu."
She raised her hand impatiently.
"But… why?! Why on earth do I have to wait again?! What happened to just grabbing her?!"
Quistis thought for a moment, then moved back to her desk for a moment. She disappeared underneath and seemed to be rooting for something. She finally reappeared holding a small box.
"NO!!!"
Xu almost smashed the monitor screen in front of her in alarm, as the scream echoed through the classroom. Looking about in bewilderment, she saw Jeanette had risen from her desk. To Xu's astonishment, she suddenly ran to the front of the class and tried to snatch the box. Quistis moved it away, tucked it under an arm and tried to calm her down:
"It's just to help me explain. I won't… Jenny, you have to calm down."
"But… but I made them for you!" cried Jeanette, clearly teary eyed and distraught. "How could you. I hate you!"
And with that, she ran sobbing from the classroom, with Clara running close behind, calling her name.
Xu was stunned. What…
"What just happened? Did I say something to upset her?" (She actually rather hoped she had, but dismissed this rather cruel thought as unworthy of a Headmistress).
Quistis walked over and sat down heavily on the desk by Xu. She looked cross and unhappy, but wore a resigned smile on her face nonetheless.
"Don't worry about it. Jenny's highly strung and very protective. I'll be extra nice to her in class this afternoon. She'll come round. Anyway…"
Xu was still on edge after the previous few minutes. It took her a moment to remember what they were talking about. Oh yes, why she had to wait.
"You see Xuse, anticipation is a powerful force. If the hero and his, sorry her girl, get together immediately… well, it isn't playing the game…"
"This isn't a game! I love her, Quis."
"I understand that, but if you accept right away, you open yourself up to all kinds of problems. No time to prepare, think of surprises, where you'll go etc. Everyone needs a bit of prep time to get it just right. And during that time, your excitement and desire to be with them goes through the roof."
"Quis, I hit the roof about a week ago. I'm somewhere in space by now! Is this really necessary?"
Quistis pulled the box onto her lap, and reached inside. Xu couldn't help but be curious. She rummaged about, with the look of an enigmatic magician, before finally producing something fluffy and white. It was a rather badly made, but nonetheless utterly adorable rabbit doll. Xu felt a smile break out on her face.
"Aww, look at her! Look at those big floppy ears! Oh, it's so cute! "
She knew she was probably setting the world's worst example for Headmistresses, and indeed women everywhere, but the doll really was very endearing. She actually began to regret not having her own fanclub…
"This is Miss Rabbity Xu" declared Quistis. Xu choked on her own delighted laughter.
"Hey, does that mean…?"
Quistis nodded, and reached into the box. She produced another doll - a grey, velvety mouse, with a sad expression and a face to die for.
"Is that…?" She reached out involuntarily, and was relieved when Quistis handed her the mouse.
"Yes, meet Miss Mousey Fu."
She grinned broadly and kissed it on the end of the nose.
"Awww, she looked so sad. I bet I know what you want though, baby mousey…"
She reached out for the rabbit, but Quistis sprang up and out of reach, causing her to cry out in outrage.
"Quis! Come on! Look at Miss Mousey! She wants Miss Rabitty, anyone can see that!"
Quistis nodded, smiling.
"You see: what you're feeling now?"
"What, homicidal rage?! Give her here Quis, please!"
"No silly, it's anticipation. You want them to be together, and you know because I'm your friend, I will give Miss Mousey to you in just a few seconds. It makes you want it to happen sooner all the more, see?"
She danced the rabbit about just out of Xu's reach. Xu half rose trying to get at the rabbit. "So close, just hang on, baby mousey" she thought. "Just let me slap evil old Miss Trepe if she doesn't…"
"Okay, okay, I get it" she cried in frustration. "It's a nice kind of pain… sort of. Oh! Stop waving her ears around – it's mean!"
And with that, Quis leaned over and gave her the rabbit. The relief and joy she felt was almost indescribable. She sank back into her seat, forming a cradle with her arm. She placed the dolls together, and draped one of Rabbity Xu's ears over Mousey Fu. She almost cried with delight - it was like the world was suddenly perfect, free of all pain…
She felt Quistis lean in and kiss her on the head.
"You see? It hurts now, but soon you're both going to be happier than you ever thought possible."