Video; open to action

[participatory]

[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.)

Comments

action;

[endingpoint]

[ With a quick goodbye, Jane showers and pulls herself together before going to Bedelia's. She feels like a lot has happened, but at the same time, only one huge singular event happened. She's not that sure where it leaves her, honestly. Once she knocks, she waits for the door to open and smiles a little when it does. ]

Thanks for seeing me today. I appreciate it.

action;

[participatory]

[Bedelia returns Jane's smile as soon as she sees her, stepping aside to allow her to enter.]

My door is always open to you, Jane. I hope you've been doing well since the last time we spoke.

[As is her usual way of welcoming, she shuts the door behind them and gestures for Jane to enter the office ahead of her.]

action;

[endingpoint]

[ Jane waits until they're both sitting and takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly. ]

I think I'm doing okay. But something did...happen.

[ There's no way to really ease into this conversation, so: ]

I was murdered when...when everyone thought we were either mutant or human. I was a mutant and someone killed me. Someone not here in Wonderland anymore.

[ So, by 'doing okay' she just means she thinks she's handled it fairly well. ]

action; sorry I've been so slow on this!! If you need to drop I totally undertand

[participatory]

[That is certainly not what Bedelia expected to hear in the first moments of their conversation, and the shock of it shows in her eyes for a moment before she consciously returns her face to it's usual look of calm interest.]

I see. That was a difficult time for a lot of people, it seems.

[None of her patients have brought it up, but she paid enough attention to know some of the...complications that had come up at that time.]

I hope you will accept it as a compliment when I say I'm surprised you can talk about it so easily.

action; i'm cool with it! Though if you need to drop that's fine too

[endingpoint]

[ Jane thinks about that for a moment before slowly shaking her head. ]

Not talking about it doesn't help. I'm...still having nightmares, I have a hard time wanting to be around people, especially more than two or three at a time. And I was never...anxious in the dark before. Now I need a light on, even if it's just the bathroom light with the door cracked open.

[participatory]

[She nods, an old idea surfacing in her mind. Is it paranoia if someone really is out to get you? It seems to her that those whose lives have been threatened in the past do themselves a service by being cautious. It all depends on the degree to which is disrupts their daily lives.]

I will say, that sounds like a normal reaction to such a traumatic experience. I cannot say I would be responding any differently, were I in your shoes.

But you've dealt with trauma before. Do you find that this is different somehow?

[endingpoint]

[ Jane raises her eyebrows as she lets out a breath. ]

Well. I didn't die before. Not like this. My heart's stopped, I've stopped breathing, but in seconds or minutes, CPR brought me back. This was...I was dead. For twenty-four hours. Just...a body. I had a hole in my head and one in my chest.