melodiesoflife | Someday the Dream will become Reality

Characters: Parasraya Purana and you.
Where: Aqures Ixen, Psychiatry Office.
When: May (all month long, any day from Monday to Friday).
Summary: A regular day in the life of a normal psychiatrist who wants nothing more than to help her dear patients. If you read that far, you're welcome to try and take an appointment with the psychiatrist-- What could go wrong?
Warning: Shadows hiding beneath the self.

Discreet as it might have been, a psychiatry office had opened a couple months ago in Aqures Ixen. Not a lot of people in this world were aware of what psychology was, let alone ready to trust someone who claimed she could help healing the pains and sufferings of the soul. But being a Hero of Light had its advantages! It brought the attention of curious natives, and a few but loyal people came by the office.

And so with regular patients, Parasraya could continue her work to help the people of Aqures Ixen, and the occasional Heroes of Light who felt they needed psychological assistance. And out of all those in Aqures Ixen, they were by far those who needed help the most, right? Even though most of them would never admit it. Too proud and wary of others. Too afraid to admit their fears and failures.

No matter. The psychiatrist was sitting in her office, the Moogle ready to take not before the next patient-- Or client, came in.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ales found these regular visits to the psychiatrist the past few months to be helpful. He still didn't trust the majority of the Heroes to not be out for his blood, but he wasn't holing himself in him room like he did for most of February. It was an improvement.

Today was another of his monthly - which used to be biweekly - meetings with Purasraya to talk about his feelings. He had learned not to hurt himself over his personal philosophies and that he shouldn't jump ship due to the chance the others might stop trusting him, but the main reason he looked forward to the meetings was to have someone who would listen to him patiently. Ales didn't have many people he could call friends during his life, but he appreciated anyone who he could talk to. And today, he had plenty to talk about.

The door to the office opened just enough for Ales to slip through.

"Afternoon, doctor. Sorry I'm late, work got busy."

"It's no problem at all."

She smiled. The strangest thing about the office is that it looked as though nothing had been touched or disturbed prior to his arrival. It was nearly as if she had appeared in this chair only moments before he slipped through the door. That was very unlikely though, so odds were that she just was very careful with her office and the things belonging to her.

"As a matter of fact, I still find myself surprised."She paused. "Most Heroes of Light are too sure of themselves to come here at all. Yet you have come back-- Many times at that matter. I would say this is a sign of wisdom, to an extent at least."

Most doctors Ales had met were incredibly messy, yet Purasraya put effort in keeping her office immaculate. He couldn't complain; the clean room helped with keeping his mind focused on the conversation. Besides, a messy room worked in a private workshop, not a professional meeting area. Either way, he was thankful for a clean, quiet space.

He walked up to the other chair, which has a short footstool to help him climb up. "Oh, don't worry. It's not that I'm not sure of myself, but having something willing to listen to me is worth my time. There are some things I can't bring up in front of anyone else--oh! Which reminds me that I have some things to tell you today."

Once settled into the chair, Ales removed his hat, which had the locks of his wig sewed on the inner edge, and rubbed the top of his head. Talking to Ellie about his past lifted so much weight off of his chest, and progress had to be reported.

"Am I your first client today?"

"Indeed, but certainly not the last."

After all, even if the Heroes of Light believed themselves above needing psychological counsel, the people native to this planet were far more honest about what they were, or in that case, weren't. Even so, she kept smiling at him as he climbed up to the chair before steppling her fingers.

"Pray tell me, what is it you want to share?"

All the better that Purasraya remained in business.

"Remember when we were talking about sharing my feelings with coworkers and other Heroes? Just over a month ago, we were transported to the southern half of the continent and I was stuck with four others. I ended up talking about myself with one of them late at night, and just as you said, I felt incredibly relieved!"

Not once had he ever spoke about his childhood with anyone, other than a few details here and there with Purasraya. His distaste of magic stemmed from being bullied for being a non-magical Teensie and seeing how lazy the residents of his world became due to an overreliance on magic, but Ellie went deeper with that.

"It does feel good to know that there's someone willing to take me back to their world if everything goes to hell on this one."

"Of course. Hiding our true self only serves to weaken us-- And ultimately leads to our undoing. I am also glad to hear you might find a place to call home after all this, even if this shouldn't be your former home."

She smiled and paused.

"Pray tell, should you not mind, who is this companion who accepted your tale? I am afraid to say, I have met with much closed-mindedness here hence it is a relief to hear there are more who are open."

A sound was caught in Ales' throat right as the first syllable escaped. There was nothing wrong with talking about himself with a psychiatrist - and a good one at that - but remembering Ellie stopped that. She was sworn to secrecy, revealing any details about her could endanger her plans. If that were the case, then he could be in trouble once the other Heroes took offence to the Brigands.

Then again, this was only about her world, and the fact the two were close didn't signify anything important. It could be dangerous, but not by itself.

"I don't want to give their identity away. It's not that I don't trust you, but they wouldn't be happy about this kindness going public. However," he sat up on the couch, "If this is all going to be a professional secret, will you not share this as well?"

She didn't do anything about his confession after the future vision out of professional conduct, but he had to be sure this was covered as well.

"Anyone working in my profession is sworn to secrecy."

She nodded.

"Should one come and confess any sort of things to me, I would still be in the obligation to remain silent and let none know of his deeds. This oath exists so that I, and those like myself, may help all those who need it, without them having to fear any retaliation." She paused and smiled. Most of this didn't apply to Ales anyway, but it was worth clarifying. "Therefore worry not, her identity won't go public."

Ales let out a sigh. He didn't like being worried for another person. Concern that letting Ellie's true intentions be known and leading to her retaliating against him was a reasonable fear, but at the same time, there was a sliver of something else. Betrayal. Just the act of deceiving her didn't feel right. She promised to take him to her world once they managed to escape, so that should have been his reasoning.

But that thought wasn't at the forefront of his mind, and it was clear that it worried him.

"It's strange. It's been a long while since I was concerned for someone's safety, but this is different."

Someday the Dream will become Reality

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject