Sadie Thompson, Geokinetic (likepetrichor) wrote in invol_rpg, @ 2012-10-15 23:11:00 |
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“Is there anything in particular you’d like to talk about today?” The question was so routine that it was almost difficult for the counselor to maintain a look of interest; luckily for her, the smile and concerned quirk of her eyebrow was as routine as the words. “Yes,” the reply came quickly, decisively, which was a surprise. Sadie Thompson was normally resigned to her counseling sessions - not recalcitrant, but not volunteering more than she absolutely had to. “I want to talk about Robbie.” This was even more of a surprise. In the first few weeks, the American girl talked freely about her son, though ‘talk’ was generous - mostly she cried, and the counselor made soothing noises. After those initial sessions, Sadie had tried her best to avoid the topic, and only gave perfunctory answers when she absolutely had to. When pushed, she’d admit that she was trying to move beyond her misery and enjoy what she could, which the counselor assured her was healthy. Nevertheless, she didn’t respond with much enthusiasm to the assertion that her sessions were a safe place where she could confront her complicated feelings. “All right,” the counselor said amiably, careful not to show any of this surprise on her face. “Let’s talk about Robbie.” Sadie took a deep breath, her features set with determination, which made her look older than she was. Or perhaps it was a shift that came whenever the topic turned to her baby, a perception added on to soothe the counselor’s own cognitive dissonance. Teenage mothers were not something she’d encountered in her life before IVI, privileged and set apart from lower middle class America as it was. “I want him here. At IVI,” she hesitated, then pressed on mulishly before the protests she was expecting could materialize. “It’s dangerous out there, I mean, I know it always has been, but with all this news - the killings, and the kidnapping, and the Human Preservation Society and everything, it just feels like... like he’d be safer here. I know he’s just a baby, but people hate Vols and probably their babies, and even putting aside the Vol thing, it’s just... I’d feel better knowing I could be there to help if I could, okay?” The counselor considered her for a long moment. Sadie’s struggle with her guilt and shame was well-documented in her notes, highlighted with highs and lows - running for Student Council, breaking down over a broken egg. There had been a few times when she’d asked to go back, but never to bring him here. “I know it’s hard being so far away from your son, Sadie,” she started gently, leaning forward and giving the girl a sympathetic smile. “But that just isn’t a possibility. The Institute isn’t set up for infants, and it’s a dangerous place for a baby to be, with so many other students still gaining control of their abilities.” “There’s someone here that can turn into a baby! It’s fine here for him!” Sadie retorted hotly, her cheeks burning even as she flung out her prepared arguments. “And IVI can give other students a rock wall, and a stupid lake, why can’t I get a freakin’ crib and a private room?!” “Please don’t take that tone with me.” “Sorry.” And she was, too, but not sorry enough to defuse her anger, the counselor noted, glancing down at Sadie’s white-knuckle grip on the arms of her chair. “Let’s talk about why you feel this way, hmm? Why the sudden need to have Robbie close by, when he’s been safe and happy with your mother and grandfather for the past while.” “That’s not what I want to do, I want to talk about why IVI can’t make this one small exception, okay.” She changed tactics. “Well, let’s discuss whether or not this is really what you want. You’ve built a new life here, Sadie. You’re back in school, you have new friends - unless you’ve told them about your baby,” she put just the slightest emphasis on the syllables, for Sadie to interpret as she would, “That might change your relationships with them.” Sadie stared. “So? I don’t care about anyone here, not like that, not so much to give up the chance to have Robbie again.” “Of course not,” the counselor demurred. “It’s just something to think about. Especially since it’s not so long until you see Robbie again for the Christmas break. Have you thought about that?” And there it was - that small crack in her anger and righteousness, the shadow of doubt. Sadie would continue to be obstinate, but she wouldn’t push the issue further. She checked to see that the tissue box was close at hand - this was a session that would undoubtedly end in tears, but she would be here, telling her it was all okay, these feelings were natural, she just needed to be patient. |