Therapy Session - Julie

[Goldbolt]

<Doctor`Covenant> His last 'patient' for the day is an interesting one. He'd been contacted, and sent the necessary files from Cobalt. Interesting history, what he'd been given, anyway. Of course some of her records were deemed unnecessary for therapy, so he wasn't given access. Still, what he'd been given looked... promising. He's currently seated in his office reviewing the files behind his desk. Bob and Sherry are, as always, at their usual positions in the reception area. Sherry vacantly, happily typing away at the appointment calendar, Bob reading some magazine in a chair across the room, where he can see anyone that enters or exits the office.

And that patient was being escorted by someone who didn't look like he wanted to be the one with this job. He was wearing gloves even, tentacles tucked away. Kevin knew she needed both skin contact and a willing victim but he was not going to be caught unawares by her again. He didn't raise to any bait she laid out or comments she made. He was here for one reason alone. Drop her off at this Doctor`Covenant guy, and bring her back to campus. With maybe seeing about making an appointment himself. He'd seen Gabe and been really impressed with the changes! Thankfully the office was in Crowley's so Kevin didn't have to hold up a disguise for long. He walked up to the desk, Julie still with him, looking bored. This was a waste of her time... "I'm here to bring in Julie Leon for her appointment."

<Doctor`Covenant> Sherry looks up from her desk and smiles vacantly. "We've been expecting you! You can go ahead and show Ms. Leon into Dr. Covenant's office, but you'll have to wait in the lobby." She smiles again, then buzzes the good Doctor on the intercom. "Ms. Leon is here to see you, Doctor!" "Excellent, send her in." Sherry nods to the two of them, and Bob looks up at the pair, eyes narrowed slightly. The hulk of a man doesn't seem to like anyone. Covenant moves to his preferred seat, one of the two leather chairs facing each other in the center of the large office, and waits.

<Kevin> "Of course, ma'am." Julie took a little prodding but she stalked into the room, Kevin remained outside to wait

<Doctor`Covenant> As Julie enters, Covenant stands from his seat and smiles broadly, pouring on the charm. He strides over and puts both hands on her shoulders, immediately making eye contact. "Julie, good to see you. I'm sorry it's not under better circumstances, but I promise this won't be too painful." He leads her to her chair, directly across from his, then sits again and picks up his notepad. He clicks the pen twice, then taps the tip against the pad, and resumes eye contact. "Have you ever been to a therapist before, Julie?"

* Julie`Leon flinched at his touch, not a flinch of pain - more like one of annoyance. "Yea right... Why are you doing this anyway? What do you get out of this? Hearing a bunch of sob stories and all that insanity? Plan on a book or something?" She sat down with her arms folded, the look on her face was clearly been there, done that. "Pfff... probably."

<Doctor`Covenant> "I already wrote one. National bestseller." He smiles broadly, keeping his eyes on hers at all times. He frowns a little, and writes something on the notepad. "Julie, I know you don't want to be here. I understand that. I don't like having to do a session like this, but sometimes I have to." He clicks the pen, taps it twice. "But it's okay, I promise. You can trust me." His smile returns, that charming, trustworthy smile. "So why do you think you're here, Julie?"

* Julie`Leon shows how little she knew of this guy, which displeased her further. "Good for you." Eyes narrowed at that pen scratching away, but gradually lifted from that unhappy angle. "Of course I don't want to be here. I didn't want to go to Cobalt either. Not the school, and certainly not the nuts that pass as councilors and that preachy Power Ethics professor. He failed me even though I answered his tests correctly. Something about putting down what I know rather than what I believe." Some of her edginess left, she shifted in her seat to get more comfortable. "Here? I'm guessing because I zapped a few security guards and others back to diapers. Backwards and forwards" Zing at Jack!

<Doctor`Covenant> "Julie, I don't want to know why they think you should be here." He smiles again, keeping eye contact. Her natural distaste for him was a barrier, but it'd start breaking down soon. It always does. "I want to know why YOU think you're here. You're a strong, independent woman. I've read your files. I don't really think they could have forced you to be here if some part of you didn't want to go." He clicks the pen twice, and taps the tip against the paper. " But we can come back to that. Is there anything bothering you lately, Julie?"

<Julie`Leon> "Here is better than a META prison, by a slim margin mind you." She was trying to turn away from him but something held her back and so her rant was continued, she could blow a little steam off here. "That IS why I'm here. I turned that squidboy out there backs and forwards so many times it's started messing up his insides." She didn't sound repentant or sorry at all about it. "Yes, the first time was drug related, but have you ever had Pulse?! Addictive! And the rush it gives your powers... He couldn't even fight me back. He was helpless." Julie grinned. "All of them, the rush I got with the Fausto incident... But it hurt me too... glad to be off that stuff and have my own age at a good point. And I still don't want to be here, I've been to enough people telling me using my powers like that is bad. And I want to use them for good, open my own spa. But people are such idiots! That Cat especially." Referring to Oliver. "Yes something's bothering me... being on campus with the freaks who made me use my powers on them and getting sent here."

<Doctor`Covenant> "I've heard of it." He says, referring to Pulse, then smiles and nods, never breaking eye contact as she speaks. He writes something on the notepad. "That does sound unfair, Julie." His smile broadens a bit. "But I'm sure they're only trying to protect themselves. That's what people do when they're scared, Julie." He clicks the pen twice and taps it against the paper, then asks another question. "Do you resent people that make you use your power, Julie?"

<Julie`Leon> "Of course it's unfair! I've got laser scars, scratch scars, even tentacle scar from all the help the campus ever gave me, and I don't heal easy..." She pulled up a sleeve to show off some of those mentioned scars, human scratches, rather small looking sucker marks, human bites, and something that looked like it had needles instead of teeth bite marks on a hand. "Of course they were proteting themselves." She snickered. "But you haven't seen what I did to them... Hmmm... resent those that make me use it? No, they learn their lesson soon enough, except the squid, the cat, and that awful zombie... Not to mention that Indian girl who's always threatening to throatpunch me. SHE should be here for anger management..."

<Doctor`Covenant> He reaches forward again, putting one of his hands on top of hers. It's such a comforting, trustworthy gesture. He keeps his eyes locked on hers again, and pushes. "You shouldn't worry about them, Julie. They just want to help." He leans back again, smiling. There, now she can shut up about her 'issues' already. What does she think this is, therapy? He clicks the pen and taps it again. "So you want to open a spa? You can control people's ages, correct? How much control do you have?" Another smile, another push. Time to get down to brass tacks.

* Julie`Leon she seemed less tense now, maybe getting all that off her chest was what she needed, and Doctor`Covenant had such lovely and helpful looking eyes. His touch too. "I know they want to help me... but they hate me and don't give me a chance. They don't trust me..." Did she want trust? Maybe, eyes were still on Doctor`Covenant she no longer tried to evade their stare. "Yes.. a spa, people would pay thousands, even millions to stay young forever. I can and have many times over. Complete control, as long as they are willing or I catch them unawares. The youngest I zapped someone was three, the oldest was close to seventy."

<Doctor`Covenant> Interesting, he thinks to himself. Maybe not suitable for the plan, but good distraction material. He writes something down on his notepad, nodding and smiling as she answers, never looking down. He tilts his head slightly while keeping his eyes on hers. "I know a lot of people that are afraid of getting older. It's probably the most common issue I help patients with, next to sexual inadequacy, of course." He smirks a bit. "Living forever sounds like it would get lonely, though. Do you get lonely, Julie?"

<Julie`Leon> "very lonely... and my memories don't carry most of the time. I don't know how old I am, but at least I have my journals... Living this long gets hard, but I don't remember most people who were friends anyway." Her evasiveness was waning, same for defense.

<Doctor`Covenant> Hook, line, sinker. He smiles again, and writes something down in his notebook. "Everyone needs friends, Julie. Even if we don't remember we have them sometimes. You saw my assistant Bob in the office, didn't you Julie?" It's hard to miss the brute, after all.

* Julie`Leon she briskly nodded to the doctor. "Yea, I saw him. Hard to miss the guy." It was like she could tell his thoughts, but yes seriously that was a large guy. "But I prefer going alone, no one to care about, nothing holding me back if I just decide to vanish and begin agian with a new identity. I know I've done it before... But someone with me would be nice."

<Doctor`Covenant> "Bob's a friendly guy, Julie. He's a good friend of mine. Sometimes I think he's everybody's friend." He smiles again, and his eyes flash, just for a fraction of a moment, as he puts his hand on hers again. "Bob's your friend too, Julie. He's a good friend."

<Julie`Leon> "He is! A very good friend, thank you for introducing us."

<Doctor`Covenant> He checks his watch, but doesn't actually look at it. Not that she'd notice at this point. "He is a good friend, Julie. And you're a good friend to. Friends help each other, Julie. If Bob asks for you, you'll help him, won't you?" He clicks the pen twice, always twice, and taps it on the paper before jotting down another note.

<Julie`Leon> "Of course I will! What are friends for, after all?" She smiled. It looked kinda creepy. Though people who knew her might find it horrifying.

<Doctor`Covenant> "I think we're just about done here, Julie. We had a good session. I was very helpful." He smiles again, then writes something else on the pad. "But there's one thing I'd like you to do for me, if you don't mind?" He smiles his most charming smile, and it's impossible to refuse him at this point.

<Julie`Leon> "Yes, you were very helpful and so knowledgeable, you did an excellent job! I feel great. What would you like me to do? Does Bob need anything?" She was such an eager thing right now.

<Doctor`Covenant> "Just a simple thing, Julie. One little thing." He leans forward and gently touches her hand again, eyes always locked on hers. "I want you to try to be less combative on campus, Julie. Can you do that for me? Be friendlier on campus for me, Julie." Because I don't want you turning any of my patsies into grannies and toddlers, bitch.

<Julie`Leon> "I can do that! I'll age Oliver back to where he belongs! A shame I can't do the same for Demitrius or that goat monster, they both left the campus. Also such a shame I can't correct Officer Duncan either, his body's developed a sensitivity to my powers last I checked." Gasp! Not only was she not calling Kevin the squid but she was using last name and job title! "I'll be friendly and helpful to the campus, maybe volunteer my healing at the infirmary."

<Doctor`Covenant> "That's great, Julie." He smiles, and before she even knows it he's shaking both of her hands in his. "I'm proud of you, and you should be proud of yourself." He stands, still holding her hands. "Come on, I'll help you out." He leads her to the double doors leading into his office, and helps her through them, into the lobby where Sherry, Bob and Kevin are waiting. He continues to speak to Julie as they walk. "I think we made a real breakthrough here today."

<Julie`Leon> "Thank you Doctor!" Creepy Julie, she was all cheerful and smiles and very nearly skipped out of the office after the helpful man. Doctor`Covenant was ever so helpful. Kevin was reading a magazine as he waited, water bottle held in a tentacle as he took a drink from it. "Yes we did. Doctor Covenant was quite helpful. And I want to apologise for how I've treated you, Mr. Duncan." The water bottle fell right from his grasp as he spotted Julie and the Doctor... Some thing just didn't fit here. Something was wrong. The squid man looked at Julie then to the Doctor. A What did you do?! look on his face.

<Doctor`Covenant> Briefly, he narrows his eyes slightly at Kevin, and then he grins. Pouring on the charm, he strides forward and takes one of Kevin's hands in both of his, staring the man straight in the eye as he shakes vigorously. "You look tense, friend. You should relax. Nothing's wrong."

* Kevin colors flashed that alarmed red and black stripes. "What did-" Hand was grasped and roughly shook colors faded to their default, Doctor Covenant would probably feet a squish as he clenched that boneless hand. Oversized eyes stared into the Doctors, he calmed, not having the same utter loathing for others that Julie possessed he seemed to accept this new message with ease. "Sorry about that. Not sure what happened there. You're pretty good at your work, I saw what you did for my friend, Gabriel. Might I make an appointment for later." He wasn't even paying his usual crazy attention to Julie.

<Doctor`Covenant> "You do that." He smiles that winning smile of his. "I'll keep a spot open just for you."

<Kevin> "Thank you, I look forward to it, Dr. Come Julie. Back to the campus." He didn't seem to find anything wrong with Julie's behavior right now, but at the same time he kept his gloves on and avoided skin contact.

* Julie`Leon Julie would say a friendly goodbye to Bob, her friend

<Doctor`Covenant> After Kevin and Julie leave, Covenant crosses his arms and smiles. "Just a few more, Bob. Then we can get this ridiculous farce over with." Bob simply grunts in response, then goes back to his magazine. Covenant turns to Sherry. "Sherry? Act like a duck for the next fifteen minutes." Command given, he retires to his office while Sherry quacks her way around the receptionists' desk.