Francis took Elaine's hand when she offered it, the gesture already making him feel more at ease. It wasn't like he was coming in to question Elaine's judgment, not really, and she obviously respected him enough to at least be cordial with him, which was something he only reserved for people he found important. Whether or not Elaine's handshake proved she found him important or not was still up for interpretation, and Francis knew he didn't have the time to ponder it. He'd come to her office for a reason.
"Hi." He did take a seat when it was offered, settling into the vaguely uncomfortable chair where he imagined many a delinquent kid had faced down their permanent record. In fact, he wondered if it was the same chair that had sat there when he was in school, but he couldn't remember. The principal's office wasn't something he'd been familiar with as a teenager.
Elaine broke that train of thought by presenting him a variety of documents; all that clearly supported her decision for immediate and strict action taken against Dietre. Some of Francis' nerves stirred in his stomach again, but he forcefully ignored them as he took the papers and folders, looking through them half-heartedly.
"I know Abendroth. He wouldn't vandalize shi— anything," Francis said, glancing away from Elaine briefly, "just for kicks. I think he deserves punishment," he added slowly, "but if I can suggest in school suspension over expulsion or being sent home for however long, that would put me more at ease. I don't think he'd see it as punishment." He could just imagine Dietre playing piano for seven straight hours while the rest of the town was working and going to school.