Chapter Text
Stannis grinds his teeth. He takes a step, one carefully hand-polished dark leather loafer after the next. In the fluorescent lights of the hallway, his deep green suit seems almost black. Without noticing, he bumps into a big burly woman--about two Shireens wide--wearing a powder blue seersucker shirt. She turns and looks at him, large blue eyes wide in a sea of freckles and wide horseteeth, shaggy blond hair falling almost to her shoulders.
"Excuse me, ma'am. I have to attend to my work." Stannis is in no hurry to start a conversation.
She disregards his statement. "Would you mind telling me where the school board room is? I have a meeting."
He didn't realize that she worked at the school. "Down and to the right. You must be our new gym teacher." He walks away without waiting for an answer.
"I am." The woman responds, her long strides catch up to Stannis quicker than he would've liked. "I am excited to work at your...establishment. And to meet my co-workers of course. Would you introduce yourself?"
"Baratheon. Social Studies. I must apologize in advance for my co-workers. They are a sorry lot." Stannis adjusts his bag. "and your name?"
"Miss Brienne."
"Teachers usually are not addressed by their first names. It isn't proper. Unless Brienne is your-"
"I'd like to be down to earth with my students, not with all that high-and-mighty stuff."
"Do as you will." Stannis holds open the door.
Sitting around a molded plastic table are a sundry lot of educational workers, each in a different state of sleep. Stannis guides Brienne to the last empty seat. A small man with graying blond hair and a garish red embroidered vest begins to speak.
"Welcome, and welcome back to another year at Westerbrook High. We have--"
"--Even less funding than last year." most of the people in the room drone in unison.
"An astute observation. I assume you all have recieved your student lists and curriculum?" the room is filled with nodding heads. "Contacts?" Nodding again. "Well, that's great. We do have a new teacher this year, so, old hands, let's welcome Miss Brienne Tarth, here all the way from the Jersey shore!"
Someone claps. Brienne smiles softly and nods her head.
"Well, since Miss Brienne is new, I'd say some introductions are in store. I'll go first! I'm Kevan Lannister--"
"--head of faculty at the illustrious Westerbrook High school." most people say in unison.
"Indeed. Mr. Baratheon, why don't you tell our new hire about yourself?" Kevan strokes his gloriously curled mustache, green eyes glinting.
Stannis sighs. "We've just met. I do not need to introduce myself again, Lannister."
The man next to him looks excited. He's squat and heavyset with a coarse red-and-gray beard covering his thick neck. "I'm Tormund, but kids call me Coach T. You'll be with me in the P.E. office." He grins and vigorously shakes Brienne's hand. She is then introduced to Mr. Bolton and Mrs. Dustin of the English department, Mr. Stout from Home Ec, Mr. Stark of Math, Mr. Lannister, (Kevan's nephew, called by his name Jaime to reduce confusion) Mr. Thorne, also of P.E., and Mr. Qyburn, the small and stooped older man who gave at the same time a fatherly and disquieting aura. Everyone gets up to leave when Kevan stops them.
"I forgot something. After that...disaster with the lunch ladies last year, we now need two of you to watch the kids in the lunchroom while they eat each day. I'll post the schedules daily on the bulletin board, but here are the pairings for this week." Stannis groans as he is handed a piece of paper. He's got lunch duty. Twice.