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Post by Callypso on Oct 7, 2010 22:58:43 GMT -5
 Walking through the door would be one of the hardest things she’d ever done. Until she gave birth, that is. Iso still wasn’t much for fantasies and she certainly didn’t entertain the thought that something magical lay beyond the threshold. A requirement to receiving help from her Great-Aunt had been seeking help. Whatever that meant. Polina knew there was something hurting her relative and she didn’t have the training to get to the bottom of it. The badger had a vague idea that it had something to do with the death of her own brother, Iso’s grandfather, but… that was as far as it would go. Pride. It was something that Iso had thought herself above being susceptible to, but here she was. Hesitating in front of a door. A door. Because of what lay beyond, because of everything she had tried to bury underneath years of purposeful apathy and drug abuse. It hurt to even think about that, and this time there was no escape. She couldn’t keep making excuses for herself. There was no handy vial to run to this time. Polina had made sure of that. With a deep sigh of regret, over everything, getting to this point, having to be here, she pushed open the door. The receptionist was kind and mild-mannered. The woman handed her a clipboard with forms attached for her to fill out before being seen by the therapist. Iso scanned the documents and raised an eyebrow. They weren’t very subtle, these types, though she supposed they couldn’t afford to be. Still, she rolled her eyes as the form issued statements such as “I have trouble sleeping” and “I have wanted to end my life” with a sliding scale. It was repulsive. She was half-tempted to randomly fill out the bubbles, even though she didn’t care much for games like that. And she had made a promise - she would fill out the ridiculous paperwork. Relief flooded her as she returned the clipboard to the woman behind the desk. It was nice to be rid of something so ghastly. Iso found her seat again and tried to keep the agitation, embarrassment and panic from her visage. She tried to not look around at the others in the reception area. She didn’t want to look into one of the… tortured faces… and find herself. Not that any of the other patients looked particularly disturbed, but she was a scientist. This “therapy” bologna didn’t sit well with her. And so she waited... |
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Post by Kari Muffin on Oct 8, 2010 20:35:16 GMT -5
Rosewood had a recent influx in clients. He wasn't particularly sure what to think about the matter. It was nice to know that he had a fantastic reputation thanks to his higher level clientèle. Though it meant less time for his "hobby" which gave him a good amount of pocket change. The swan rearranged his papers and scribbled a final note down. "All right, That's enough for today. Please allow me to escort you out." Rosewood offered his hand to the woman in the chair. She blushed slightly and accepted it. She brightly thanked him before hurrying over to the receptionist. He glanced down at his list for today. The person at this alloted time was someone he had never had the pleasure of meeting. Hopefully they would range on the nicer side of his clients. He didn't enjoy the people who came and wanted a quick fix, which was part of the dread involving new clients. "Is Iaso Price here?" he asked cheerfully and waited for a response from the crowd. |
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Post by Callypso on Oct 11, 2010 2:30:19 GMT -5
Fidgeting wasn’t something Iso normally engaged in, but for some reason she felt the need to distract herself from where she was. Her emotions flickered from being annoyed, to angry, to skeptical, to resigned, to bored and back again, which was frustrating in and of itself. Iso was not yet equipped to handle the constant shift in moods and became sullen that she was having to deal with them at all. There was a reason she had favored painkillers. Well, it was partially an accident – she froze. That sudden realization had been unexpected. Not having complete control of her actions was not something the ferret wanted to admit.
She had half made up her mind to leave (despite the looming mental image of a very angry and disappointed Polina – a “disappointed” Polina was not one to be trifled with) when two Cards entered the reception area via a door behind and off to the side of the reception’s desk.
It quickly became obvious which of the two Cards was a patient and which was therapist as the biped Swan glanced down at a clipboard. He was a Tulgey. Of course. It wasn’t that the doctor had a particular dislike of the realm, rather that is was a rather obvious (and unnecessary) reminder of why she was here. Figures. Iso rolled her eyes and waited for what she knew would soon be coming.
Yes, I’m here. She sounded less than enthusiastic, but she slid out of her chair anyway, her protruding belly impeding her movements a bit, and padded briskly over toward the man with a resigned expression.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Oct 13, 2010 0:52:29 GMT -5
Rosewood had met very few people who didn't have a prejudice against the Tulgey Wood. After all it was a strange and frightening region, and he honestly couldn't blame a soul for having a bit of hostility towards it.
"It's nice to meet you Ms. Iaso," Rosewood said as he made sure to make proper eye contact with the woman. He always like to make a good first impression when it came to being a psychiatrist, and his ability helped a good deal with that. "I'm Rosewood." He gave the ferret a gracious smile as he lead her into his office.
It was a comfortable setting. There was a small couch and two plush seats for Rosewood's clients to take. There were various pictures on the wood paneled walls as well as his degrees. The swan took a seat, switching to a different clip board.
"Before we begin would you like a glass of water?"
Tulgey Weird: It's odd but when you make direct eye contact with him, he's nigh on impossible to distrust...
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Post by Callypso on Oct 16, 2010 23:02:09 GMT -5
Iso tried her damndest not to scowl when the swan introduced himself, but she found herself meeting his odd pink stare. Her predisposition to dislike him was eased away, though she couldn’t place why. It was as though he reminded her of someone she knew… someone she was fond of, though she still felt a slight apprehension over the process in general.
Rosewood, the ferret repeated, and nodded as he led the way through the door behind the receptionist and into his office. There were two separate seats and a small couch, and Iso opted for the seat she deemed farthest away from the man, though it was by mere inches. Iso settled into her chair as the Tulgey reached for a separate clipboard and took in her surroundings. It was a basic office, everything neat and tidy, everything in there designed to calm and relax the patient. Iso was anything but relaxed...
The ferret shifted awkwardly, from both nerves and the constant changes her body was undergoing as she eased into her pregnancy. Everything felt as if it were too much, lately. She felt weary and paranoid, as though she couldn't handle any more surprises. Yet here she was, in the office, tackling the biggest surprise of all: her own mind. Working through her feelings and all that nonsense was the last on her list of worries, but Polina had insisted if she didn't "get herself mapped right", nothing else she ever did would come to fruition. Well, arguing with her badger Great-Aunt had never been a desirable option, and she needed her help more than ever (which was why the damned woman had conditioned her help on Iso going to therapy in the first place).
So now she was stuck here, in this place, with this stranger. And she had to talk about herself.
Yes, please. Water would be nice.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Oct 18, 2010 21:44:45 GMT -5
Well she was full of cheer wasn't she? The swan gave a small smile as he poured the ferret a glass. He set it down on the table closest to her before returning to his seat. This was going to be a mildly painful session, unless he was misjudging her actions. Generally when someone took the seat that was far away from him he knew what was coming. It was one of the reasons why he arranged his office the way he did.
"Since this is your first time visiting I would like to start with my usual disclaimer for all new clients. I can't help you if you don't want to be helped," He he crossed his legs and picked up his clipboard yet again. "So let's begin. What would you like to talk about first? Since this is your first time here I know nothing about you... and we can talk about anything you like."
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Post by Callypso on Oct 19, 2010 12:13:01 GMT -5
Iso eyed the swan warily as she accepted the glass of water. She had the feeling she was being sized up, even if the Tulgey wasn't overly obvious. It wouldn't be entirely unheard of if the biped held some reservations of his own, since Iso was making it rather clear that she wished to be elsewhere. The ferret palmed her glass thougtfully before taking a sip and studied one of the scattered paintings before addressing the man. For her, the practiced disclaimer was evidence that she wasn't the first patient to be dragged in against their will. Still, he had a point, and since Iso was obligated to be here she might as well get something out of it. A conversation, at least.
The Corvie wasn't sure what she expected from this exercise, considering she thought it was a load of bunk. There weren't enough words in all the world to."cleanse"away what she had been through. Finally, she opted for honesty, as no other options presented themselves. Iso had never been one for games, and she certainly wasn't going to start now that she was sober.
Rosewood, I'll be frank. I don't want to be here. My therapy was a condition requested of me in exchange for assistance with childcare. You see, doctor, I'm a recovering...addict... and I'm pregnant. It's quite a lot in a short amount of time, and I came off my attachment without anyone's guidance but my own. So you tell me how this is going to help. I have to be here, so here I am.[/color]
Iso finished with a resignation that was both tired and annoyed. She hated feeling like she was on display table for this stranger's inspection, but she couldn't quite shake off the feeling that the swan genuinely wanted to help. This was a problem in itself. It had been difficult enough to seek out Polina for help, and here she was being forced to ask it of someone she had no connection to. Even if her response had been bitter and angry at least, in her own strange way, she was trying.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Oct 20, 2010 14:10:44 GMT -5
Rosewood felt his annoyance bubble up. Why didn't people realized that if they didn't want help they wouldn't change? And really, no one was holding a knife to the woman's throat. The bird set his clipboard and quill down. His expression remained neutral, along with the tone of his voice.
"Like I said I can't help you if you don't want to be helped. Preforming miracles is not in my job description, and if you aren't here of your own free will then you're wasting your own time as well as mine." The swan had dealt with plenty of clients who didn't want to be here, and he was at his limit. As much as he loved his job that was becoming one of the most tiring excuses he had heard in recent years. "You are obviously a highly intelligent individual with a strong will if you're capable of dropping your addiction like you say you did. Therefore I doubt someone truly forced you into this situation. And if this is truly about child care you could easily hire a live in nanny with the money you would be wasting on these sessions."
He gave the woman a small smile. "Now, Miss Iaso, why are you really here?"
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Post by Callypso on Nov 4, 2010 11:59:55 GMT -5
((Woo, finally back! Sorry to keep you waiting!))
Iso couldn’t help but bristle at the Tulgey’s remarks, but old habits kept her face impassive while she scrutinized the bird who was giving her a look that she wasn’t quite able to decipher. She looked up at the ceiling – mostly in avoidance of the swan’s piercing pink gaze – and attempted to gather her thoughts. The fowl was right, of course. It wasn’t exactly as though Polina had threatened harm upon her; she just couldn’t bear to disappoint the badger.
The truth was that Iso knew she needed therapy and recognized that her past behavior simply wasn’t natural. As natural as it was possible for a Corvie to be, anyway. It certainly wasn’t unheard of for one of her Realm to form interesting habits, but most could more or less function among Cards, with varying degrees of success. Iso simply would not or could not engage, and in refusing to do so she had found herself here. Afraid, uncomfortable and pregnant, and she had no desire to repeat the experience.
As poignant as the swan’s point had been made, Iso was left torn between annoyance and a blossoming respect for Rosewood’s no-nonsense attitude. True, she was most displeased by his ability to see through her pathetic excuses, but it was clear that he knew his work well and wasn’t about to waste time playing games. It seemed perhaps her money hadn't been put to waste. Well, then.
The ferret sighed. I’m really not certain why I’m here. I know that the way I was living wasn’t… wasn’t really what I wanted, wasn’t right. Sobriety has brought forth this surge of feelings and memories that I don’t feel I’m adequately prepared to cope with, and I would like to sort through these issues before… she trailed off to glance down at her abdomen and raised her paws in defeat.
I'm not prepared for this. And I don't want my offspring to suffer for it.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Nov 4, 2010 23:06:34 GMT -5
At least she wasn't going to give him any of those excuses anymore. Or at least he hoped. People did have the tendency to defend themselves during sessions. He had very few clients who were actually willing to give him the whole truth without a complicated mask of excuses. He doubted Iso was going to be one of the rare exceptions to the rule.
And he was sure that hormones would just add to the ordeal.
"I'm afraid parenthood is a terrifying thing to face regardless of a person's sobriety." He slowly made to pick up his quill and clipboard. "But clearly if you intend to bring them to term than you're willing to take a big leap. So what makes you think you're not ready for a life change when you've already changed so much? Why do you lack confidence in raising children when you've managed to kick a habit that most people couldn't dream about quitting?"
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