The Counselor's Office

[Anti-Cosmo]

Anti-Cosmo was not pleased with the aesthetics of this small office. If he was to be stationed in here for who knows how long, he should be able to do with it as he pleased. Of course it had to be "friendly" to the students, since he was supposed to be helping them, but the place didn't need to look drab as it did.

The anti fairy snapped his blue fingers, watching as the walls turned to his favorite shade of blue, the furniture black. His chair was more throne worthy now, cushioned and fancy leather. He sat down, starting the Newton's Cradle, with the balls looking more like miniature explosive bombs.

With the reputation of this school he knew to expect some annoying misfit to enter into his office - someone, hopefully, he could manipulate to do his evil deeds for him...subconsciously.

He grinned, his sharp fangs glistening in the light of the fireplace he had created nearby. The room's only source of light was by flame.

[Joseph]

Counseling. Why did he need counseling? Sure, Joseph had gone through some pretty tough times, and there probably weren't many teenagers here who'd gone through the sort of things he had, but there were plenty of students here that he knew were far more needed in the counseling office than he'd ever be.

But nonetheless, he'd been sent here by one of his teachers. They'd said it was because of Joseph's odd "home life", but the Hebrew boy knew better. He had been dumb enough to tell the teacher about one of his infamous dreams, and now he was being sent here with hope that he wouldn't be coming back.

Because they all thought he was crazy.

Stepping cautiously into the office, Joseph caught one look of the counselor and nearly groaned out loud. Why couldn't there be any normal people here? He didn't even know just what this teacher was; some sort of...fairy? Whatever. Regardless of what he was, maybe he'd be able to help the boy.

Taking a seat nervously, Joseph cleared his throat. "Uh...hi. I'm Joseph, Joseph Kingston. My...teacher sent me here?"

[Anti-Cosmo]

Anti-Cosmo had been drinking from his "wine" glass when the young man stepped into his office. He swallowed, frowning. He looked Joseph over, wondering what was the matter with this kid. "So they have," he answered, tone flat. "My name is Anti-Cosmo. Why exactly did your teacher send you here for?" He would have preferred if he was talking to Timmy. The boy was much more fun. Sure, teenagers were interesting, but this kid looked so average Anti-Cosmo couldn't imagine him being the least bit interesting.

[Joseph]

Joseph bit his lip, frowning as he looked away from the teacher. What reason should he give? Well, obviously his teacher had sent him for some reason. There had to be something wrong with him, right? And what was that something?

Dreams.

Joseph had always known that his dreams weren't "normal", ever since he'd made the mistake of telling his parents and brothers about them. And now, he'd made the mistake again, like the idiot he was, and had gotten himself sent to the office.

"Well..." Joseph said, clearing his throat again. "They...they said it was because of my...home life. But I know that's a lie, since I haven't caused them any problems because of my 'home life'..." Joseph shook his head, closing his eyes for a moment in a phase of anger.

"I...I have weird dreams," he admitted, sighing.

[Anti-Cosmo]

Anti-Cosmo looked at him blankly for a moment before he raised an eyebrow. "You have weird dreams. That's why they sent you here? Do I look like a psychologist?" he said more to himself than to Joseph. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Right, well, what kind of dreams have you been having, then?" Dreams were always weird - why was his so special that it would bring him to the counselor's office? What an odd human.

[Joseph]

Joseph sighed, rolling his eyes up to the ceiling in exasperation. For a very small instant, he had for some reason hoped that this counselor just might know how to stop these dreams of his, but his reaction had completely shot down that idea.

"Um...I can't really explain them," Joseph began, still staring at the ceiling as though it might hold some sort of answer for him. "They're usually symbolic. I mean, they don't usually make any sense, but they use different objects to represent things," Joseph said, hoping that what he was saying didn't sound crazy.

"And...I've been having them as long as I can remember. I just made the idiot mistake of telling someone about them," Joseph said, rolling his eyes.

[Anti-Cosmo]

Anti-Cosmo's brows furrowed. "Really? That's it? They send you here for having dreams that may hold meaning? And they think that is crazy?" He almost laughed at the ridiculousness of it. He shook his head, taking another drink of his red liquid before thinking it over. "These teachers of yours may find that odd, but I say allowing an anti-faery to counsel their students is even more insane, honestly. Everyone's a hypocrite."

Anti-Cosmo studied Joseph for a moment longer before leaning forward against his desk and narrowing his eyes at him. "Tell me one of your dreams. I'm not judging you. After you tell me this dream, I'll let you go and fill in a paper that says you are fine and should get back to your studies. Is that all right with you?"

[Joseph]

Joseph stared back at the teacher for a moment. So, all he had to do was tell him one of his dreams, and he was free to go? Well, this teacher was clearly not the kindest in the school, but he seemed to be rather understanding, to say the least.

Then again, he hadn't heard any of the specifics of the boy's dreams either. But hey, what did he have to lose? So what if just one more person were to find him crazy? What did their opinion really matter, anyway?

Sighing, Joseph straightened up, preparing for the worst. "Alright. Once, when I was...back home, I dreamed that I was out in my father's field. My brothers and I were sheathing corn, and suddenly, my stalk grew taller than all my brothers, and became more ripe and fresh looking. And then, all their corn stalks...they, they bowed to mine. And, then I woke up." Joseph sighed once more, focusing his attention on the dark carpet. Sometimes, even he didn't understand his dreams. This was one of those times.

[Anti-Cosmo]

Anti-Cosmo cleaned his monocle, putting it back on once Joseph was done telling his dream. "Well, that was certainly interesting. In a metaphorical sense I think the dream means that you will be better off than your brothers - but I'm not one to understand dreams myself. Since they think your dreams are so odd, their dreams must be terribly boring." The Anti-Fairy pulled out a black pen and a sheet of paper, writing down Joseph's excused absence as well as a short letter that he is capable for school and should not be sent here again unless it is much more serious than "dreams". He gave a very thin smile to the boy and handed him the papers. "Give those to your teacher and you should be fine." Why he was actually helping Joseph was a mystery, but he just told himself it was just to get the kid out of his office.

[Joseph]

Joseph listened to what the counselor had to say intently, frowning a little to himself. Better off than his brothers? That's what his father had believed it to mean; and, that little notion earned him several good beatings from his brothers. Reuben had told him he'd best watch himself when speaking of dreams, on the risk of getting worse treatment from the others.

"Thank you, sir," Joseph said quietly, taking the papers with his head down. He had a feeling that this teacher didn't really like him, and to be honest, Joseph couldn't really say that he felt any better towards him. But, he had to care at least a little, if he was willing to help the boy. Joseph had to credit him for that.

Standing up from the chair, Joseph shuffled his feet to the door, trying to think of just what he was going to tell the teacher had occurred, if she was to ask. Giving a small wave over his shoulder, Joseph pulled open the door, taking a deep breath as he stepped out into the hallway.

Someday, he'd make sense of his dreams. And he'd understand what they meant. And so would everyone else. Of that, Joseph was sure.