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[doctorize]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, DOCTORIZE FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 018.07.154.55 *** DOCTORIZE has posted an AUDIO MESSAGE. If you wish to listen, type LISTEN01. <USER> LISTEN01 AUDIO MESSAGE PLAYING... <doctorize> This is the line for Dr. Daniel Dickens. If you'd like to leave a message, please do so here. I'll try to get back to you as soon as possible!

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[hantale]

[ There's a little pause as they turn about, temporarily distracted looking over the front of the house and twisting to face Danny once more. Fran's head bobs. ]

Mhm. I hope it's alright if he tags along. I can get him to wait in by the door if you'd prefer?

[ Whatever works, that's the instruction given to Newf before the kelpie enters, stepping aside and giving Danny a somber smile. ]

Mmh- I- Think I might need your help a bit... As a professional.

[ Wow there really was no easy way to ask, was there? It still felt incredibly awkward. ]

[doctorize]

... Ah, I see.

[Danny nods in understanding, before he ushers both Fran and his animal companion inside. Newf can sit by the door if preferred, but Danny's office does at least have some nice chairs that Fran is welcome to sit in while Danny goes around to his desk, retrieving pen and clipboard as he speaks.]

Is there anything I can get for you while we're here? Something to drink maybe?

[hantale]

[ With a nod right back, they followed, bringing Newf inside and whispering quiet words into the canine's ear. Something about being good while in someones home. Without any real instructions, they just let the service dog follow. ]

If you have tea, that'd be lovely. But I'm fine otherwise.

[ This... Might actually be their first time visiting, come to think of it. The kelpies head dips as their eyes scan the office, mostly following Danny for now. Once they find the seats, though, they do get comfortable. Newf sits beside them resting his chin on their knee. ]

Oh- Uhm... Have you been well?

[doctorize]

[Once Danny has found his pen and clipboard, he busies himself with putting a kettle on a small burner he has in the office so that they can have some tea here.

Danny's office is cozy enough with it's chairs, his desk, the counter for the burner, some cabinets, and a few bookshelves filled with different subjects. At the question, Danny looks up from what he's doing.]

Hahaha, well... I'm about as well as one can be here, I think?

[Someone that Danny was actually fond of recently died horribly, and while there is still some anger and grief that lurks under the surface of it, he's... definitely better now than he was during the tail end of July. Especially now that Aunamee's alive again, so he can shrug it off and hide how he feels with an awkward smile instead.]

[hantale]

[ With a light shuffle, the kelpie curls up slightly on the seat, feet drawn up to tuck to one side and resting against one of the arms. Most people might find an office space, even a cozy one, to be quite boring. Fran is not one of those people. Perhaps something about not having an entire childhood of average experiences with boring offices helped. ]

Oh? That's good to hear... It's been a long few months, hasn't it?

[ Truly an understatement for most. ]

[doctorize]

Indeed... somehow the months will just seem to feel longer and longer when you least expect it.

[Wow, that's totally a comforting thing to say Danny.]

[hantale]

[ A very comforting therapist, it's fine. Fran's been here a year, they're more used to gloomy talk than a normal person should be by now. ]

Mmh- Sometimes they can. [ Their head tips as the click of a boiling kettle broke the flow of the conversation. ] No sugar for me, thank you.

[doctorize]

Alright.

[Danny prepares the tea, one with no sugar for Fran, before bringing it to the small table set in front of the chairs, along with his clipboard to take notes with as he slides somewhat into the more professional "therapist" tone.]

Once you're ready, you can begin speaking whenever you'd like. It can be about anything you want, or whatever you feel the need to get off your chest the most here. And everything said here is confidential, which means that it doesn't leave this office.

[hantale]

[ Their hand tests the mug, deciding whether it's too hot or not before eventually cradling the warmth between their palms. ]

Mmh, the beginning is often the hardest part...

It's probably no secret that I've always had issues with... People? Cities?

[They pause, thinking over the wording. ]

Crowds, mostly. They say old habits die hard, but I cannot help myself when there's more than a few humans around. I've been here nearly a year, and I barely enter the towns, let alone the cities... [ A glance towards Newf. ]

I relied on my friends for stuff like that, mostly... But there's so few of them here still. I'm quite lucky to have Newf to help.

[ At that, they pause, not really, asking anything, just explaining what's currently happening, waiting for Danny's reaction or prompt to continue. ]

[doctorize]

[Danny nods along. This doesn't surprise him too much, given Fran's choice to live outside of the city.]

It's not uncommon for people to have service companions like your dog when accompanying you around crowds. There are those that live in the city or in heavily populated areas will have them travel along when going to the store, or even recreational places like theaters back home where I'm from.

[Danny makes a note of something, before he asks.]

Whenever you do make the trip to a town or city, what kind of stores or places do you usually go to?

[hantale]

[ Fran nods a few times, blinking back up to Danny when he asks about the travel. ]

Usually to buy food, minor things, meeting people that live in the city, and to hand my work in to the labs.

[doctorize]

Is there anything that you have wanted to do while visiting the city, but haven't done before?

what an Icon.

[hantale]

[ There's a long pause as Fran considers, picking up their tea and taking an experimental sip. ]

Hmmm... I'd like to... Visit a restaraunt again... I've only been to one. The food was nice. Very crowded though.

[ Of course, they had a companion with them to help with that. ]

hehe

[doctorize]

I see. [Danny seems to be considering something for a moment before he speaks.]

Then... what if we made that a goal for you to work toward? Becoming confident enough to come into the city to visit one of the restaurants here more often? I can look up which ones are the best to go to, especially during whatever hours may be the least busy. That way, there are less crowds for you to deal with before working your way up toward comfortably being around more people.

[hantale]

[ Fran blinked, head tilting a little as they mulled over the idea. It certainly seemed... Reasonable. Exposure therapy was probably one of the most effictive ways to deal with fears, possibly anxiety too? ]

That- Would be nice, yes. Perhaps starting with somewhere outside the city? I've been trying to be out a bit more but-...[ Their hand twitched, eyes quickly glancing towards Newf before returning to Danny. ] It can be very hard...

[doctorize]

Yes, that's fine! If you want, I don't mind accompanying you during the first few visits to these places if it will help put you at ease?

[hantale]

Oh- You don't have to! I wouldn't want to cause any trouble... [ Their head tips in their palm, only pausing a moment before adding. ] But that would be very nice, if you had the time.

[doctorize]

Of course! It's no trouble at all. Just let me know what days work best for you, and we can organize these visits accordingly.

[hantale]

Oh! [ Their head perks up, blinking at that. ] I'm free most days, since my work is more just traveling... Are there any days that tend to be quieter for restaurants?

[doctorize]

Mondays and Wednesdays, at least based on my past experiences with visiting restaurants. Would either of those days work for you?

[hantale]

I could do Wednesdays, most of the time.

[doctorize]

Wednesdays it is! I'll start looking into making reservations after our session here.

[Danny makes a few notes of something as he smiles.]

Was there anything else that you wanted to discuss today?

Slowly wrap for new threads?

[hantale]

Hmm. Not that I can... Think of-?

[ Their voice trails off, trying to remember if they had any other concerns. Concerns that they wanted to ask Danny specifically about, at least. ]

Not unless you wanted to ask about other things.

[doctorize]

Well, I could ask how your job is going, or if anything new has happened--even something as small as finding a new tea you tried or whatever happened around the house is fine. But that's only if you want to talk about them: I can't force you to answer anything during these sessions, after all.

[But even if it's not really concerns they're talking about, small talk over tea until Fran is ready to leave is fine too.]

[hantale]

Ah- I don't mind answering stuff like that. It's more like our normal chats than anything else.

[ Few and Far between, there was always something to catch up on. Especially in this eventful land. ]

I do appreciate your company, Danny... I'd be lying if I said I didn't get lonely sometimes, in the treehouse by myself. [ Which is pretty much all the good doctor might see when he takes a look. Except for a week or so from this day, when he might catch Fran's changes. ] Do you ever feel the same way? Lonely, I mean.