Private Finished Don't Do Dopamine, Kids

Konpeitō exited the hospital with pink eyes. His face had been thoroughly washed of all tears, but the eyes he couldn't do anything about. Not right now. Not when his emotions were too high and any slight change in his appearance could bring unintentional ones. But his eyes were the least of his problems. His body was redder than usual, with his pupils slits, his canines sharpened, and his tail trashed low in irritation. Most people around him saw him and looked away, viewing him as a patient who got bad news or something who was bad news.

He found a garden with benches further away from the crowd of the front lobby. His tail curled around him as he sat and pulled out his phone to see how he looked. Bad. Walking back home with this appearance was sure to garner some questions. He needed to calm down. Clear his head. Maybe cry a little more if he could get away with it.

Serena's presence was known, but he didn't think much of it. He saw many other hospital staff around. Several had greeted him when he first came in for his sudden appointment. To see one pop up here and there going about her business was normal.

What wasn't normal was hearing her mumble stuff as she walked towards him, the words she was saying becoming clearer which each step. He looked up from the game he was playing on his phone to give her a discomforted look.

"I don't know if I want to. Sounds like everyone's taking turns pointing out whatever problem I have. Were you following me?"

That was a little more reassuring. The last thing he needed was a co-worker following him around for an impromptu therapy session.

"It's hard to imagine you at a bar, buuuut I've been frequenting one often despite rarely drinking anything alcoholic. I enjoy the company." With his reply came a forced smile. Alone he could let himself look as angry, sad, or however he wanted. Right now he was with someone else. Someone he knew and saw at work once in a while, at that. There was a role he had to put on.

"Anyway, I don't think a talk's going to get me sorted out. My therapist can barely do that and I've been with him for over a year." That got a more genuine laugh out of him. One tinged with self-derisiveness but was mostly prideful.

"You're right there. Therapists are like politicians if they had a good heart. They have to be careful with what they say and sometimes lie to get the result they think is best, even if it isn't in reality." He stopped hunching over his phone to pocket and lean back into the bench.

"I've found opening up to friends to be a bad idea. The people here tend to not appreciate my way of thinking, no matter how legal they are. I have a reputation to uphold anyway. It's part of why I'm here." He gestured to the garden around them. "I'm trying to calm down."

Konpeitō wasn't completely convinced about people having to lie to protect. It was true, but when it came to therapists, he didn't see it as protecting. When it came to himself... well, in that case, he was protecting himself.

Speaking of protecting himself... "I got a charm to block that stuff. I don't... There was a while where I didn't want anyone in my head. I still don't, but I don't... mind it so much anymore. I don't like it happening without me knowing, is the best way to put it."