Another Chapter

He shook his head, but remained silent for a moment. He needed to tread more carefully from now on, he didn't want to upset her again with a comment too blunt. What to do to make her more comfortable? What did young girls like, again...?

Richard reached over the desk to nudge the biscuit platter.
"Have a chocolate." he said. "I insist."

After that, he sat back in his chair and looked at her thoughtfully, placing his elbows on the armrests of his chair and interlocking his fingers.
"In my humble opinion..." he began, then trailed for a second. "...he is just afraid."

She went for it. A little chocolate never hurt anyone. The smooth texture on her tongue, she gave into it's tastyfulness. Afraid huh. She could see that. Jami was a very powerful woman. She was not bad looking and she wasn't one to hide in the crowd. She herself felt like her top was to big for her small size, not that some men minded. Just something else to annoy her.

"Why don't you tell him that. Ask him somehow about helping... I don't know." She took another chocolate.

Richard smiled with satisfaction. Good, she was pleased with the chocolates. He was no expert on sweets - or food in general, seeing as he only ate once in a blue moon, but the price tag was rarely a bad criterion. It's not like money was an issue.
"Sure." He nodded, then shrugged. "I can slip him a word. But I have a feeling he won't believe it, not unless it comes from you."
Besides that, he was rather adverse to influencing things that, unless absolutely necessary. He wanted to help students straighten their problems out for themselves, not solve their problems for them. Owen and Jami simply needed to talk, and no amount of Richard's intervening... or meddling, was going to change that.

Jami nodded her head. Yeah Owen wouldn't really listen to anyone in general though, she would say in a way he was hopeless, but that was mean, and her thoughts couldn't stay on that train of though long enough to let it settle. She could easily tell Owen, but what if he ave her a strange answer or suddenly went awkward.

So many things Owen might do to avoid the subject...

As Jami seemed to get lost in thought, he remained silent for a while, letting her have a moment to sort it out. He glanced briefly at the platter of sweets, considered taking one, then decided against it. Not worth the bother. Across the room, the fireplace crackled happily, the flames bright and warm. Richard crossed his arms as he looked at it thoughtfully. From that distance, the flight reflex wasn't as strong, but it was there. Thankfully it was bearable, at least enough for him to survive having to light the fire from time to time until the weather became more agreeable.
He turned his gaze to the girl again and cleared his throat.
"Well... are you going to try?" he asked. "I do believe the possible benefits outweigh the risks."

Jami pooped another chocolate into her mouth and chewed as she thought. She could try, but all of her controlling attempts since forever would be in a way, wasted. If she didn't though she risked the highly dangerous occasional outbursts. Ugh why was this such a dilemma. Jami swallowed tyhe sweet and clasped her hands together, resting them on the desk.

"I'll try, but I'm a magnet for trouble. I hold you responsible if I mess up. And I'm not asking."

Magnet for trouble... really, it was a bit of an understatement. But it was the next thing she said that alarmed him. He didn't want her marching back in here, saying it was his fault if Owen was too troubled to cooperate. Which was, frankly, rather likely. He raised his hands. "Hold on a second. You can't hold me responsible for your own decisions." He glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. "Even if they were made under the influence of my advice. Not because I'm afraid you will fail... but because shifting the blame to others is an easy habit to pick up, but very hard to drop."
Richard shook his head.
"It's your choice to make. Whatever you choose, stick with it and bear with its consequences." He risked an encouraging smile. "I know you're strong enough."

Darn it. He was right and she knew it, but some strange reason made her think she could get away with it. Guess not. She crossed her arms and looked up to the ceiling in protest as he talked but she would agree in the end with him, of course.

"Fine, but I at least want you to help if I get into trouble, I'll fix it, but i need your guidence. That's what teen have parents for..." She honestly wouldn't need Richards help, but she wanted to get him involved in to this some how. She had to make him get, embracing her nature was gonna be hell.

He smiled. Jami was a reasonable person and he found himself taking a liking to her. She had her issues, but tried to find a solution for them. She didn't accept defeat, but wasn't too proud to admit she was wrong. If only more of the students were like her...

"Of course." he said, spreading his arms in a shrug and smiling amiably. "You can count on that. It's my job to be a replacement for them... however inadequate I might be at it."
He chuckled. If he had told the Richard from two hundred years ago where he would end up later, he would laugh until he cried. But this was not a bad occupation at all. It was interesting, and definitely new to him.
Parenting...

"You've got to promise me one thing, though." he said.

Ah Jami felt she was always conforming to others ideals to make them happy. Yet we all know that is one hundred percent false. She just knew how to make some people believe she was on their side. Would he really be replacing her parents? Wouldn't be more like, being a better step father?
Ah there was always another thing to add, a compromise. "What is it?"

He steepled his fingers. "It's about what you said earlier. If you ever decide to leave the island... promise you'll come to me before you go. I won't necessarily try to stop you, it's your life, but I'd like to know."
He shrugged lightly. Hopefully she'll never seriously consider doing that, he thought it was plain stupid and resolved exactly nothing. But he wouldn't share his opinion on the subject unless she asked.
"Can you promise me that much?"

Tell him if she left? "Richard, can I call you Richard? I can agree to that, but why?" Jami rubbed her eyes, the fatigue that had been absent earlier was catching up to her. Something that happens t anyone who stays up so late. Funny it would be to talk to someone though.
Jami looked sown at the sweets and decided no more for tonight. She should really be getting to bed now.

He waved the question away. "Whatever makes you feel comfortable is fine by me. I'm just worried that if it came to that, you would take a French leave."
He furrowed his brow. "Ah, but you're weary. I deeply regret I am forced to make you stay up late to talk to me." He smiled. "But I hope it's not going to prevent you from visiting me again."
Oh, he was awfully curious about how this situation would progress, alright. The drama was so thick it almost made up for the lack of a TV.

Jami stood up, and spoke holding out a hand, "Well, it was very nice to chat. I will assure you, I'll visit before I do anything rash." She gave a small smile and ended up yawning. She waved as she left to go back to her dorm and sleeps.