The Counselors Office (Open)

Edgar answered, letting the boy inside. He had recieved the email regarding the childs punishment, but he didn't really take it seriously. The kid likely had issues, he knew, but they couldn't be worse than anyone elses problems in this hell hole. He took a seat behind the desk and would give a small smile at the boys antics.

"Nah. Spanking isn't my style."

He would lock his computer and hold a hand out to the couch.

"Have a seat, Mr.Huntsman."

He would wait until Austin would reply before he would get started.

Edgar started laughing.

"What? No. Just gonna have a little talk."

Edgar would continue to wait. He remembered this boy- he was the one who spray-painted the symbol in the middle of the cafeteria, and tried to leave a student there before Edgar had taken the broken boy to the infirmary. He was more that interested in the child and what he planned.

"Why not start with your little group. What did you call yourselves? Apex Warriors?"

Edgar leaned back in his seat, no longer concerned with the couch. If the boy didn't wat to sit, it was no skin off his nose.

"Well, tell me about them. Why come to 552? Why the symbol in the cafeteria? Why beat people up to send a message? Just...fill in some gaps about it for me, for curiosities sake."

He watched the boy move and adjust and how he carried himself. He seemed supremely confident, and arrogant to the point of obstinance, but it was likely his youth shining through. The boy found a family with this little gang of his, and so wanted to impress on others that he had no reason to be afraid. Edgar simply wanted to find out why that was the case...so that he could understand there was plenty to be scared of.

Edgar listened with respectful silence, taking his cup of coffee in his hand and sipping from it once before setting it back down. When Austin lit up, he would reach over to a switch on his wall and turn on a little fan, similar to one in a bathroom you used to remove a smell, that would take the smoke up and blow it out through the roof. It was almost silent so it wouldn't get in the way, and since this kid broke the ice by pulling one out, he would pull out a smoke and light up as well. He would, by the end of Austin's little phrasing about fear, offer a rather casual grin.

"I see. I understand the desires you express. For power. Strength. A sense of true ownership for something you have worked for."

That was the counselor nonsense people expected him to spout. Now it was time to inject his own little flavor into what the boy said.

"While it's true, the Pillar system has done some small good, you are right when you say it isn't enough. Having a larger task force capable of more control is far more effecient. The problem with the idea is your premise."

He flicked a little ash off into the tray next to him.

"You see, fear is a flash manner of control. It jolts the people into subjugation and hermitism, nobody wanting to step out of line because they know the consequences. But with power through that manner of control comes rebellion. It's human nature to fight against a loss of free will. Though, short term, you may get what you need, it will only be a matter of time before the people band together and fight back which, inevitably,  will lead to your collapse."

He took another long puff from his smoke. If the boy was truly interested in having control of something and not just growing stronger through sheer force of fear or numbers, his scale had to be more broad. So Edgar would give him some advice. Whether this child, who knew nothing of true war, was smart enough to take it was unknown.

"This is the unquestionable result of rule by domination. If you want true power, you have to make the people believe they are the ones who put you in power. You have to make them think it was their idea. That they want to help you because you help them. Meanwhile, you take what you need when you need it, and consolidate your position. Doing that silently, while maintaining popularity- that is a lasting power. The key to it is one simple thing. Hope. A small flame of hope will last as long as it is maintained- fear runs hot and big and bright but quickly burns itself out. The sooner you realize that, and plan for it patiently....the more likely you are to really get a grip that can't even be felt."

He leaned back in his chair, cold blues staring at the boy on the couch. Lets see how this little boy took it...

Edgar brushed off a little more ash and gave a wide smirk.

"Most people with power believe those without it to be nothing but tools. Those controllers are idealists. I am a realist. I know the world is violent. I know governments are made and fall on it. I don't see the school system in the same way the rest of the people here do."

Another puff, gaze unwavering from Austins own.

"Students and teachers both have a role to play. So do you. I'm not here to interfere with what you need to do. I am here to talk to. Get advice from. I'm just a school counselor, kid. What you do with what I tell you is up to you."

Definitely true, but with hidden meanings. He was calling Austin just another student, but giving him advice on how to truly take over....which indicated that Austin was no mere student. So when he called himself just a counselor...well, he kept what was left of the smoke in his hands, waiting for something.

Edgar remained silent as the boys gears seemed to be turning. Like he was trying to find out some hidden meaning in everything Edgar had said so far. Edgar, however, revealed nothing, and though his eyes seemed cold, they weren't telling lies. Edgar hated liars- they were cowards in his eyes. But he also had his own plans, ones he didn't plan on sharing with the boy.

"You rest on the wrong thoughts, Austin."

He would put out his smoke with a light sizzle, having breezed through it quite quickly. He had to lean forward to do so and would sit back in his seat afterward.

"If a man offers you a million dollars without any strings attached, do you ask why he gave it to you? Maybe he's wanting to appear charitable to his wife. Maybe you remind him of a son he used to have that died in a war. Maybe this or maybe that- but in the end, what does it matter? You'll still have a million dollars."

He picked up his cup and held it there.

"Just think about what I said."

He would point at the door with his cup.

"You can go anytime."

Yup. That was all the service that "knuckles" had to deal with...unless Austin was interested in more. Edgar felt this was a good counseling session for his first time, and smiled inwardly at that thought.