✯ Seventh Session ✯ [Voice]

[byakkoyagirl]

[Through the weeks Paprika has been noticing more people coming through, signalling another cycle. It seems that most of the arrivals have already come and still no Atsuko. Well, that's probably for the best anyway. She can't say she would be happy to see the woman stuck here. For some reason she's been thinking about it. Probably because of the rain. The cold, dim demeanor reminded her of her creator. Kind of sad actually.

In the morning, she flips open the journal and begins. She has something she wants to address and given the rain, more people will probably be inside reading to see it.]

So, I see we got some new arrivals in the village. I'm sorry that you all got stuck here. ...Well, only half-sorry. If you actually want to be here, that's fine too. [A small smile.]

My name is Paprika and I'm a psychotherapist. For anyone who doesn't have 'people doctors' in their world, psychotherapists help people cope with certain issues they feel they can't resolve on their own. Like mental stress or the like. Specifically, my specialty is dream therapy. Psychotherapists are known for having interpersonal relationships, so it's like getting to know the person inside and out and not just talking to them for an hour a week.

I'll get to the point: if any of you have things you want to talk about, but don't feel like you have anyone who will listen or want to keep a matter private from others, I'm willing to lend an ear. Everything we speak about is confidential between us and I won't force it on you. I already learned to make unhackable filters on this system. Or, if you prefer, we can talk in person.

It's just an offer I'm willing to give to anyone who needs it. We have plenty of medical doctors, but sometimes the deepest wounds come from within the psyche. This goes for current residents too. Luceti can be a stressing environment and no one would blame you for getting stressed to a point where you need help, if you can acknowledge you need it. I'll be here all day to answer in.

[ooc: replies come when I wake up.]

Comments

[byakkoyagirl.livejournal.com]

Not really. I don't even know what it's like to have dreams of my own at this point.

[Not that she ever did have her own dreams, but she was distracting Atsuko from having them. Atsuko seemed to miss it though...]

[consultmybooks]

But what about the nights when you aren't in anyone else's dream?

[byakkoyagirl.livejournal.com]

It's still hard for me to dream, because my subconscious is displaced. Either that or the dreams I've seen leak in and replace what would be my dream. When I go into someone's dreams too often I end up merging with their subconscious sometimes and not of my own volition.

[consultmybooks]

"Displaced"?

...you make it sound as though your mind isn't fully connected to your body.

[No, they never had this conversation.]

[byakkoyagirl.livejournal.com]

[She smiles.]

That's because it isn't. Like I said, the side-effects could be dangerous.

[consultmybooks]

[...just give Giles a second to process that. He sounds a little shaky when he does reply.]

So you're...a soul? Or, or a ghost?

[byakkoyagirl.livejournal.com]

Ghosts are spirits of dead people, Giles. I'm not deceased.

[consultmybooks]

Well, I'm glad to hear that.

But besides a disembodied spirit, that's as far as my experience goes with beings that can cross through dreams.

[byakkoyagirl.livejournal.com]

Sounds like something from a fantasy or sci-fi movie. Cool, but I'm no ghost or spirit. My subconscious just tends to wander around on it's own.

[consultmybooks]

So when you say you have an active imagination, you mean it very literally.

[byakkoyagirl.livejournal.com]

[A short laugh.]

Precisely! In dreams I can be whatever I want.

[consultmybooks]

A talent many people wish they had, I'm sure.

[byakkoyagirl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but anyone can do it. Especially in dreams. I don't even have to do it, but it's for fun you know?

[consultmybooks]

Sometimes you would have to, though, certainly.

What about if you needed to defend yourself?

[byakkoyagirl.livejournal.com]

If I need to defend myself I find a way to. I've had to do so back home a couple times. Crazy people just can't get enough of me~! [A short laugh.]

[consultmybooks]

...you know, you probably would have fit in quite well back in Sunnydale.

[byakkoyagirl.livejournal.com]

Should I be flattered or worried at that judgment?

[consultmybooks]

I meant it as a compliment, if that's any help.

[byakkoyagirl.livejournal.com]

I figured as much. Sorry, but I have to turn down the offer. I actually enjoy living a mundane life sometimes. Sunnydale sounds too intense for me.

[consultmybooks]

Considering that Sunnydale is gone, it wasn't really an offer.

[byakkoyagirl.livejournal.com]

Wait, what? Back up a little Giles, when did Sunnydale get destroyed?

[consultmybooks]

Nearly two years ago.

Before you ask, the remaining civilians were long gone.

[byakkoyagirl.livejournal.com]

Wow, you were really gone a long time. Guess you're not sad to see it go.

[consultmybooks]

I've been away for nearly four.

And no, I can't say that I was terribly sorry to see the sinkhole it left behind. We actually managed to close the Hellmouth in the bargain. If we hadn't been so exhausted at the time, we would have celebrated.

[byakkoyagirl.livejournal.com]

You can celebrate now, right? A lot of people from Sunnydale are here, aren't they?