Private Finished Returning Patient 2: Attack of the Oluremi Boogaloo

Keen

Keen

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Remi considered canceling this appointment. She already had so much to do, from school to work to this month's Year of the Gods event. Another therapy session was the least exciting thing on that least and most emotionally exhausting.

But at least living with Eon let her be more flexible with her appointments. Still, when Dr. Bryndísarson let her in, she looked exhausted. It was clear from her face to her body language that she considered this appointment an annoyance at best. She didn't even attempt to keep up her usual cutesy or laid-back attitude that she tried so hard to maintain. Even the clothes she wore were a bit blander than usual.


 
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Romi

Romi

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Remi was... out of it. No question about that, and Valli stepped out of the way, beckoning her in.

"You look like you've had a week," he said, waiting for her to enter before he closed to door, moving over to his usual chair. "Do you want to jump right in?"
 
Keen

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Remi sat down into her seat silently, leaning back and looking over to the wall like it was much more interesting. All in all, she acted like an annoyed teenager who was forced here by her nag of a mother, rather than an adult who chose to come here by her own volition.

"Sure. A lot's been happening, yeah. School, work, and I'm participating in this month's Year of the Gods event. School's really fun, at least, and work lets me spend some more time with my family too."

By now, her leg was shaking, was her brows were furrowing in frustration. Both at herself and, for whatever reason, Dr. Bryndísarson.

All of a sudden, she leaned forward and locked eyes on her therapist, like she was trying to gauge who was the better predator. "What do you think about relationships? Mostly romantic ones, but whatever."
 
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Romi

Romi

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The Year of the Gods. Valli hadn't participated, but he'd have been lying if he said he wasn't keeping an eye on it. Considering he himself was a sort of god (a demigod, technically), he couldn't help but be interested at least a bit. He didn't think he'd participate all that much (It was almost definitely not his thing), but he was leaving his options open.

Remi was... something. She was definitely focused, anxious about something, but Valli didn't have enough information on what, even when she suddenly leaned forward, locking eyes with him. Valli blinked, making a conscious effort to not get into a staring contest. He wasn't a predator. He wasn't someone trying to compete. He was just there.

"That's a very general question," Valli said, "and hard to answer. What makes you ask?"
 
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"Really?" She hadn't meant to be harsh, but the question seemed clear as night to her. "Some drunkard got me thinking about what's the right way to view relationships. He said some shit, like, 'You're more than your relationships. Be happy in yourself or no one will be happy with you.' Which I think is bullshit, 'cause, like, everyone is defined by their relationships, even if they got none. And relationships can make you happy in yourself. Not like I should put too much credit in what he was saying."
 
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She was obviously angry, and it was obviously a subject which she was very passionate about, which meant he was going to have to tiptoe carefully through the conversation.

"I think you have a philosophical difference in opinion," Valli said. "That said, his idea is a common one, and generally accepted, even in my own field. Defining yourself exclusively by your relationships can leave you vulnerable, and can cause you to stay in relationships which are extremely unhealthy for you simply because you can't imagine yourself without them."
 
Keen

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Remi's eyes narrowed at Dr. Bryndísarson, then she huffed and shrugged. "Relationship standards are all screwy here. I've never had this problem back home. It's important for us to be real close to each other to make us stronger. Means you always got someone to support you. So, really, if you got good and strong relationships, you're a good and strong person."

Then she went silent, really considering Dr. Bryndísarson's last sentence. "Well, like, people can change. I think everyone can get better, so leaving an 'unhealthy' relationship can cut off a really good future, I think."
 
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Valli wasn't used to Remi being so argumentative, which was... interesting. Most likely it meant she was really worked up about what had been said, which tended to mean that it had struck too close to home.

"Everyone can change," Valli agreed. "But not everyone wants to change. Some people are happy how they are, and it's not the responsibility of those around them to make them change. An old human saying is that you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink. You can want someone to change, but the change has to be something they themselves desire. Staying with someone because they might one day change and become a better person is like staying in a burning house because it might one day be rebuilt."
 
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Remi had a sneaking suspicion she would have no luck convincing that Dr. Bryndísarson. He had years of experience at talking and getting people to see his side, while Remi was only just starting her experience.

"I mean, of course. But, like, I have a long life, and so do most of the people I'm around, so most of them gotta change sooner or later. And you can just leave the house and rebuild it later and..." She glanced off around the room. What she was saying was making little sense. What was her point again? Why was she even arguing?

"N-Never mind. I just..." A long sigh left her. There was so much she wanted to say, so little time, and worst of all, her mind just wasn't working. She couldn't think of how to explain her problem... or problems.

"I think the relationships I have now are just fine. Like, I have Koda, Travis, Eon, Jii, Destra... I have a lot is what I'm saying. And my family's been nicer too. I've been thinking of moving back in, actually. So I've been happy because my relationships are good. I think it's fine to define myself by my relationships then. If, uh... that makes sense..."
 
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"It's fine to be happy because of your relationships," Valli said, "but that isn't the same thing as defining yourself by your relationships."

Not at all, and Valli paused for a moment, mentally working out how he'd address the issue. The fact was that he didn't need to convince her. All he needed to do was get her on the right track and give her a push, and then... well, hopefully it'd take. The metaphor generally derailed as much as the patients did, but that was alright.

"Defining yourself by your relationships means that you're deciding your value based on how others react to you. But that ignores that different people want different things. Some of them will contradict. It's important to have solid ground to stand on, and that means defining yourself on your own terms."

He was going to get back to moving back in before long, but he was dealing with a larger problem right then and there.
 
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