entranceway | Video; open to action

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[Well. It seems it's that time again.

Bedelia sits in an armchair a few feet from the camera, much as she was the first time she made an announcement over the network. One leg is folded over the other, a red high heel just visible. She adjusts the end of one of her jacket sleeves before looking up at the camera.]

Hello.

[She's seen what's been happening. She would have to be blind not to. But she's been careful, managed to stay away from nearly everything suspicious and everyone unfamiliar. She hasn't come away entirely unscathed, but you won't find any hollow look of distress behind her eyes. The fortunate consequence of keeping to oneself and making few friends. This is not her first rodeo.

And she is, definitely, absolutely, not enjoying this. ]

I should start by saying that I am aware of the losses many of you have suffered recently, and that I’m sorry. [She drops her gaze, the picture of sincerity.] It has occurred to me that there may be quite a few people left shaken by what has happened here over the last few days. For those who may still be unaware, I want to extend my services as a psychiatrist.

I’m opening up my availability to accommodate for any influx in people who need someone to speak to. Walk-ins to my office will be accepted at the same times as always--9 to 5--but I will also make myself available at any hour to those who contact me. If you would rather not visit my office to speak, we can meet elsewhere, or speak over the network.

[She pauses a moment, thinking. Then she gathers herself, uncrossing her legs and leaning forward, hands resting together on her lap. She stares pointedly into the camera, speaking to whomever may most need to hear this.]

We all suffer, and we are all alone in it. Know that you do not need remain that way. Whatever has happened to you, whatever you have done, you don’t have to be alone.

[No, she is not enjoying this at all. That would be a highly inappropriate response. Were anyone particularly perceptive to look closely at the video feed, very close, you definitely would not see the smallest glint of eagerness behind all that practiced sincerity. Nothing to see here.]

Thank you all.

(ooc: This will be the main therapy post for this month. I will accept video, text, audio and action, and will match prose or brackets. Feel free to PM me if you'd prefer a closed log.)

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[Therapy. It's bizarre to exist in a world where that isn't mandated for him anymore.]

what do you specialize in?

[Interesting. No one here has bothered to ask that before.]

I have experience dealing mainly with patients with personality disorders, as well as those who are recovering from trauma.

[Does it...count as a personality disorder? God, he's not even really sure.]

does it matter what trauma it is? Like if it's something you're not maybe legally allowed to talk about

["Legally" and not "ideologically" sounds...way better, doesn't it?]

If you would prefer to keep the source of your trauma out of the conversation, I can work with that. As long as you are aware that our conversations can only go so far and be so helpful without certain information.

I assure you I have dealt with quite a few unusual situations in the past.

how unusual are we talking

[Goddamnit. He should know better than to ask questions like that. He sighs, and sends a hasty text of amendment.]

nevermind. patient confidentiality and whatever. but i think i could be interested yeah.

[She is thinking of how to respond to the first message when she receives the second.]

It's true it would be unethical to divulge too much information. We will both have to trust each other to be as open as we are "legally" aloud to be.

[She uses quotes to show she means that in much the same way as she assumes he does. There are no laws in this place which would prevent either of them from divulging any information they wanted. But that isn't the point. Everyone has their own reasons to keep quiet.]

I would be happy to talk with you. Would you feel comfortable coming to my office? Room 35 on the 8th floor. I have some time this afternoon, if you're available.

["Legally," hah. Yeah, looks like she's got his number. Well, whatever, right? He's not gonna talk about the stuff that'll get other people hurt, but he's not sure how much he's willing to hold everything inside him.

Doesn't have to talk about everything, after all. Just the stuff that - that a person like her would be good at helping him with.]

yeah sure. i'm pretty new here but i think i can find it

Perfect. I'll be in my office.

[Bedelia sets the device aside, gets up from the chair in her office, and goes to open the door to the waiting room. It's her sign that she is available to anyone who enters the waiting room from the hallway. Then she returns to her place near the window to go through some notes while she waits.]

(ooc: More info on her office is here. If you have any questions feel free to PM me!)

[The time rolls around quickly enough. He's used to waiting patiently (ha, patiently) for appointment times to free up. He goes through a third of the fresh pack of cigarettes he scrounged up from the closet in the room he's reluctantly chosen to be "his" in the meantime before he remembers that this probably isn't the best first impression to be making to someone who, ideally, will be his next psychological professional.

Maybe she'll be better at helping him sort out his problems than literally any other therapist has.

Or maybe not. Kinda depends on him, doesn't it?

He locates the place without trouble and raps knuckles against the door as he tries not to look as nervous as he feels.]

[The smell of cigarettes is the first thing Bedelia notices upon opening the door, but she makes no indication of it. She cracks the door just a bit at first, then, upon seeing the anxious young man in the hallway, opens the door wide to reveal the waiting room. Beyond that, her office is just visible through another open door.

She smiles, and holds out a hand.]

You're the person I've been texting, correct? It occurs to me that I never caught your name during our conversation.

[He almost crams his hands in his pockets before it strikes him that this might make things weird, especially since she holds out a hand and everything, so he takes it and gives a firm shake, once, and then he shoves his hands in his pockets.]

Right, right. Yeah. That was me. Tim.

[He winces, as if the mere act of forgetting to introduce himself is an imposition on her - like, as an individual, or something.]

Sorry about that.

It's a pleasure to meet you, Tim. And it's no trouble. Please, come in.

[She steps aside and beckons him to follow her into her office. There are two black chairs in the center of the room, facing each other at either end of a low coffee table. She gestures toward the chair nearest the door, an open-handed invitation for him to sit, before picking up her notes and taking her own seat.]

So, am I correct in assuming you're fairly new to Wonderland, Tim?

[He enters and sits obediently, trying not to drum his fingers on his knees, his arms, the surface of the table. That'd probably be rude, or something. People don't like nervous fidgeting, it makes it seem like you've got something to hide. Which, yeah, he does, but he doesn't need anyone picking something like that up.]

Yeah, pretty much. Showed up with everyone else and then just kinda...stayed, I guess.

Ah.

[She looks up at him over her notes. She had heard that some of the arrivals from earlier in the month had stuck around, but she had yet to meet any of them.

He's nervous, it's clear in the small movements he's obviously working to control. They can begin with some simple conversation. No need to dive right in to what he is so obviously reticent about.]

That must have been...disorienting. How are you adjusting to your new surroundings?

I guess, yeah.

[No more or less disorienting than waking up anywhere else with no memory of where he got there. So he supposes he has that minute advantage, the knowledge that he's just - used to it. Figures.]

No worse than anyone else, I think. People here've caught me up on how things work. How stuff...happens here. [He shrugs tiredly.] It's weird, but what part of this isn't?

True. I personally found that the novelty of this place and all it's odd occurrences wore off rather quickly. A consequence of being constantly inundated by it, I suppose.

[Still, Tim appears more unconcerned by his surroundings than she had been at this point, almost to the point of seeming bored. It is one thing to grow accustomed to this place with time, and quite another to arrive prepared for it.]

Was it weird in your world as well?

[Yeah, he'd kinda figured. Most of the people here seemed to discuss the way Wonderland was with a sort of world-weary resignation, like they'd just accepted their lot in life and accepted that it was to be surrounded by a bizarre, eclectic, surrealist nightmare.]

Not really, no. Not unless you got anything against Alabama.

[Though maybe that's not entirely honest of him, is it?]

[Bedelia smiles at that.]

I haven't personally had the pleasure of visiting Alabama, though I think it would be a bit too hot for my taste.

[She makes a conscious decision not to push him on this front. If he would prefer to be evasive at this point, there is likely a reason. Better to try a different approach.]

What was it that made you want to contact me, Tim? What are you hoping to discuss?

I've never not had someone who's kinda, uh...mandated. I guess.

[The answer comes out easily. It's not wrong. It's not dishonest. It's not complete, sure, but when has he ever laid his cards on the table with no strings attached?

He makes a vague gesture near one of his temples.]

Got some "issues," it turns out.

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action; sorry for the slow tags! Feel free to drop if you need to.

no worries! i backtag indefinitely :3

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