You’ve all been very nice

[xp_bright]

But how do we um, go about talking to someone?

I think I could still reach out to the person the Underground had me talking to but I wasn’t sure that was okay?

I’m not really okay right now.

Comments

[xp_darcy]

If you would like, I can ask my therapist if he has any slots available for a new patient. He's aware of things that happen here, so you could speak freely.

If you would like to speak to someone in a non-professional capacity, then I'm obligated to let you know that there are fluffy blankets, pillows, and plushies in my suite and that my cat Crookshanks is extremely old but still an excellent listener, especially if bribed with a bit of chicken. The kittens are also good listeners, but as they are still babies they tend to be a bit more active instead of just plopping in a sunbeam and enjoying it while people talk. You are welcome to come talk to him (or me, though I'm aware we don't know one another well and you might wish to speak to an adult you are comfortable with instead).

[xp_bright]

Oh! Do you have his professional details? I’d want to give them to Mum and Dad, just so they know.

Not that there’s a lot of choice, I guess but I want to make sure.

[xp_darcy]

I've sent you an email with details for both Dr. Stearne and his work associate Dr. Grim, who have both seen residents from here in their professional capacity. If you'd prefer to talk to a woman - or someone who doesn't identify within the binary of "male" or "female" then I can reach out to some connections and see who is available and able to pass our in-house security clearances. Otherwise, you'd need to be able to talk around the specifics, and I personally find that if I cannot be honest, then therapy is a waste of my time and money.

[xp_bright]

Thank you so much! I’ll send it to Mum and Dad. They’re usually good with me making choices but they like to know what’s going on.

I haven’t really told them about the whole virtual reality kidnapping thing yet. I figure it’s more an in person convo and they’re still looking at places in Salem Centre to move to.

[xp_daytripper]

If you'd like some back up talking to your folks, I can come along. Your dad and I have chatted enough about his family's magic, after all. And while being kidnapped in your first week wasn't exactly supporting the whole "the mansion is a safe place" selling point, if you want to stay, I can support you if your parents freak out.

[xp_bright]

Oh, that’d be great actually. I was thinking maybe seeing them this weekend if that’s not too soon?

[xp_daytripper]

Not too soon at all. Let's get that band-aid ripped off sooner than later. ;) Let me know when and I'll take you over in the Broomstick.

[xp_bright]

Broomstick? Do we actually do that? I don’t think I can do that. Um, the flying thing, I mean.

[xp_daytripper]

Sorry, personal joke. The Broomstick is what I call my car. ;) No flying involved.

[xp_darcy]

That makes sense. My family still likes knowing what's going on in my life, and I like knowing what's happening in theirs even though we're all adults now.

It is probably best in person, yes. I am sure one of the adults in charge of you lot will be willing to talk to them as well. It is part of the job when you act in loco parentis.

[xp_daytripper]

In this case, the parentis who is in loco is me. Em is one of the magically-inclined ducklings. But I'd like to come talk to you about your therapist friends, get a feel for what they know about magic and the like?

[xp_darcy]

I've sent you a text and email, because this isn't the place to get into the specifics.

[xp_daytripper]

Of course. That's why I said I wanted to come talk to you.

[xp_mimetic]

I don't get it, you don't know how to talk? Did you forget? Are you under the influence of an anti-mutant cult that wants to use your voice to power a weapon? Or maybe a telepath removed your ability to speak as punishment for offending them??? (This is unethical, telepathy is creepy.) Or did you you swap powers with Terry and overused your vocal cords? Or maybe you were in the Danger Room training and tripped on a Sentinel and fell and bruised your throat? Oh wait - I don't think there are actually sea witches but just checking - you didn't sell your voice to one of them did you?

Or wait, do you have a cold or something?

[xp_bright]

Are those…does that happen often here? The um, cult stuff and the telepaths stuff? I didn’t think we were allowed to use our powers on others?

I can talk! It’s more, I guess a way of saying that you want to see a professional talker type person who went to school for talking and knows how to help you think about things in the right way.

[xp_mimetic]

Those were just things I thought could be possibilities. It could really be anything (except not because apparently you can talk)! It's all normal stuff. Just be careful of telepathy for real though.

This world is so weird, there's a whole job that's just talking professionally??? Wow. I'd be amazing at that if I weren't going to be an X-Man.

[xp_bright]

Wait. I didn’t know there were other worlds? Are you an alien? Does that mean all that stuff about Area 51 is real?

Are there really Men in Black? Because the song is really catchy.

[xp_mimetic]

Of course I'm not an alien - that's silly. I'm just from another dimension where we know a lot more stuff and have better equipment and things like that.

I LOVE THAT MOVIE!!! We have the tape at home. I wish they made another one.

[xp_bright]

There’s other dimensions? Does that mean there’s other us’s all over the place?

It’s such a great movie? But they did make more! Or is this your ‘I didn’t like the others so my headcanon is they don’t exist’

Because MIB International was really good and has Chris Hemsworth in it and that man is eye candy for days.

[xp_mimetic]

Yep! The Jean and Scott here are my grandma and grandpa in my world. Except not them and also older and the ones here don't have my dad so there's no me. It's kind of complicated actually now that I think about it. Uncle Hank explained it to me once but I don't have enough string to make the model.

THEY MADE MORE MEN IN BLACK MOVIES??? Sorry Emily I hope you find someone who can help you talk but I have to go now

[xp_madin]

Probably not the time or place but you know what? I decided that I'm going to be an x-man too.

[xp_bright]

What do the X-men do? I haven’t had a chance to ask anyone about much beyond the basics.

[xp_madin]

They... Solve problems, basically. stopped a lot of the recent stuff in New York from going a lot worse than it did.

They stopped Magneto and the Brotherhood doing a lot of things that would have been pretty terrible if they'd gotten away with it.

[xp_madin]

Yeah, you can probably still talk to them if you need to. Just WhatsApp the guy and set up an appointment.

Are you okay now? Do you need anything? Company or anything? I know being here is a lot.

[xp_bright]

If you’re not to busy, that would be great. It’s not that this place is scary or anything. Everyone is so nice but just the whole other stuff is a lot.

Do you drink tea?

[xp_madin]

Yeah, look, I've finished work for the day.

Come down to our suite and we'll watch a movie or something? If you're struggling at night you can sleep on the couch or something later.

[xp_liono]

I have a therapist I met through Kyle, if the other options aren't right. because not every therapist is right for everyone

[xp_bright]

Thanks Liam, that’s awfully nice of you.