Hiding Out || Peri

[veronica c. laccy]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 305px; height: 200px; border-left: 5px solid #FC9D9A; border-right: 5px solid #FC9D9A;background:#f1e8e8; border-top-right-radius:40px; border-bottom-left-radius:40px;] Veronica Laccy Hiding Out Therapy sessions were never something Veronica wanted to do, and so after each one she had a hard time coping. She had only been here for just over a week and wanted to go home already. Why wouldn’t they just let her eat what she wanted? It was her body and she thought that she should be able to do anything she liked with it. Instead of going back to her dorm, if you could even call it that, she went into the girl’s bathroom. It was a bit disgusting in here, but at least she was alone. She went into one of the stalls and set the seat down before sitting down on it, placing her head in her hands. She couldn’t have been in there for more than five minutes before she heard a noise coming from somewhere in the bathroom. Maybe it was footsteps? “H-hello?” she called out nervously, hoping it wasn’t a doctor or something trying to find her. Maybe she was just hearing things. Hoping it was that, even if it meant her being crazy, she stood up and pushed the stall door open a crack. Word count:191

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[PERIDOT L. FAULKENER]

Confident footsteps echoed off the marble tiled floor, a faint humming joining this sound in a rather complacent tune. Peridot's fingers gripped the handle of his briefcase while his mind busily replayed the events of his previous therapy session.

A young boy, sixteen if he remembered, exhibiting a textbook example of severe anxiety, but was admitted for anger problems. A twang of irritation sounded off in his brain, Peri once more being reminded of the quasi incompetence some people displayed, despite having earned a degree for the opposite. He stamped the sudden ill-will down, however, not wishing to dampen his mood. he'd made progress (if getting the kid to stop pulling his hair out constituted) and that's all he could hope for. Baby steps.

Suddenly, a streak of blonde crossed Peri's vision, the slender figure of a teenage girl scurrying, mouse-like, into her respective bathroom. Footsteps faltering, he pondered on the moment he'd had to take in her body language, and agreed that she had seemed at least mildly distressed. And while he wasn't one to pry, there were a number of people in the building that, given just a few minutes by themselves, were more than willing to inflict some permanent damage on themselves.

Deciding that yes, it was best to be a nosy therapist instead of being filled with regret later, Peridot surreptitiously glanced up both ends of the corridor before swiftly pushing open the door and stepping over the threshold.

Sweeping his gaze around the room, Peridot walked forward, suddenly feeling momentarily awkward. He was saved the necessity of calling out a greeting when the individual responsible for the situation called out, followed by the sight of one stall slowly peeking open. Mouth automatically forming into a trusting grin, Peridot kept his distance and held his arms open in a welcoming and harmless gesture.

"Hey," he replied, head tilting to one side in a display of simple curiousity instead of accusation; this was her territory, after all, and he'd have to watch himself if he didn't want to get a door slammed in his face (or even better, a scream which would only attract more people and wow he really didn't think about getting caught in the women's restroom).

Clearing his throat, Peri lowered his hands to rest against the sink top behind him, leaning his weight backwards. Adopting a sheepish smile, he jerked his head towards the door leading to the hallway.

"I saw you heading in here in kind of a hurry. This probably seems really strange and," he let out an embarrassed breath of laughter, "it kind of is, actually, but I guess I was just a little worried about you." Peridot looked at the girl with a kind expression. "Everything okay?"

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been a long cold 453 words. lonely winter finished. feels like years mdizzle/veronica. since its been clear sorry this took so long >3< also, i took liberty with veronica's hair colour >3>. its alright REAL SLIM SHADY !? @ caution 2.0[/color].[/size]

[veronica c. laccy]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 305px; height: 200px; border-left: 5px solid #FC9D9A; border-right: 5px solid #FC9D9A;background:#f1e8e8; border-top-right-radius:40px; border-bottom-left-radius:40px;] Veronica Laccy Hiding Out The last thing Veronica was expecting when she looked out of the stall was to see a man. Her eyebrows came together and she took a step back. For a moment she was terrified until she recognized him. He wasn’t going to hurt her, or at least she didn’t think so. She had remembered seeing him around and was sure he was one of the doctors. Even though doctors were people too, she wasn’t getting any bad vibes from this guy. But why would he bother following her in here? She wasn’t going to try to drown herself in a toilet or something. He said hey, and his head tilted to the side like a curious dog. She pressed her lips together and took in a small breath, leaving the door as it was. Maybe she would open it fully soon, but not yet. Right now the door was her security and she liked it that way. She also wondered if someone was going to wonder why he was in the girl’s bathroom. When he asked if everything was okay she didn’t know how to answer that. Of course she could just tell him the truth, but she didn’t want to. Veronica didn’t know him, and wasn’t prepared to share what was going on in her life with him. Plus he was a doctor, it’s not like he was going to agree with her or be on her side anyway. “You’re in the girl’s bathroom,” she said, attempting to sound stronger than she felt. Why would he be worried about her? He didn’t even know her. All of the staff were constantly worried that she was going to off herself and she was sick of it. If she wanted to, she would have done it by now. Her eating habits weren’t trying to kill herself. She just wanted to finally be skinny. She wanted her mother to approve. Taking in another deep breath, she stepped forward so she was closer to the stall door, her hand gripping the side. “I’m not hurting myself in here,” she mumbled, unsure as to what else to say. He seemed to care for her at least, or something. Word count:364

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[PERIDOT L. FAULKENER]

Twinkling blue eyes held the girl's green gaze while Peridot mentally checked his body language. Relaxed posture, safe distance, open expression. He had to make sure he didn't appear to be a threat; it'd do no good for her to be scared of him. At her continued reluctance to trust him (seriously, he was asking kind of a big feat here, intruding on hallowed ground and all), the brunette kicked himself. Maybe it would've been best if he'd alerted a psychiatrist of, say, the female variety before tripping over his own feet in an attempt to rescue someone.

When told, point blank, just where he was (and truly the implications of why it was wrong were not lost on this man), Peri let out another laugh, head ducking in a display of honest modesty. He nodded, seeing no reason to disagree. But at least the girl hadn't shrieked (and thank god for that, because seriously, he was all-too sure that tile caused echoing), and it even looked like she was perhaps feeling a little stronger in her stance, for she took a step forward. One dainty hand gripped the door, as if for safety, and she verified that she wasn't hurting herself. Peridot made sure to rehearse his next line before saying it.

"Well I believe you," the brunette nodded his head in assent, despite the fact that he couldn't see past the door blocking most of her body, "but I'd be a pretty terrible therapist if I left somebody clearly in distress all alone, wouldn't I? I think helping people's actually in the job description, believe it or not." Here he let out another polite laugh.

Thinning his lips together, Peri drummed his fingers thoughtfully on the granite surface behind him. Adopting a gentle expression, he inclined his head towards her, appealing for her to help him help her.

"Now I understand if you don't wanna talk about it, god knows people just don't wanna talk sometimes. And if you really want me to leave, I will," he nodded his head to back up his statement, "but I want you to know that just because I leave doesn't mean I'm gonna quit worrying." He leveled with her. "Look, you're clearly upset about something, and, I shit you not, even though my job clearly says that I have to help you, I want to help you, and I think that's a much more powerful incentive than money." Give the patient control, but stay earnest. With luck they'll feel secure and protected enough to open up. At least Peridot sincerely hoped so.[/color]

been a long cold 429 words. lonely winter finished. feels like years mdizzle/veronica. since its been clear baaaah finally done. its alright REAL SLIM SHADY !? @ caution 2.0[/color].[/size]

[veronica c. laccy]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 305px; height: 200px; border-left: 5px solid #FC9D9A; border-right: 5px solid #FC9D9A;background:#f1e8e8; border-top-right-radius:40px; border-bottom-left-radius:40px;] Veronica Laccy Hiding Out She watched him, and he seemed rather harmless. Still though, she didn’t plan on coming out just yet. She wasn’t stupid, and knew he was trained to know what to say and do. He was a doctor. He wasn’t her friend and she had to keep reminding herself of that. Her eyes continued to flicker over him though, taking in each motion and breath. Why did he follow her in here? Any other staff wouldn’t have noticed she was upset. Most would have probably thought she was in a rush to go to the bathroom. She rubbed her arm uneasily and slipped the door open a little more so she could see his entire face. He didn’t look like he wanted anything from her. Why were his arms open like he wanted a hug or something though? Her lips twitched and she almost smiled from her own thoughts. He apparently believed her. Of course he did he could clearly see that she wasn’t doing anything. Also, he had to say that. What else was he going to do, burst the door down? Well, she supposed that he could, but that wasn’t what happened. “I guess,” she replied without much emotion. She didn’t know how to talk with him. She would love to have joked around with him or have been charismatic, but she didn’t know how. She didn’t want to talk with him. His laugh echoed through the bathroom and her lips twitched again in an almost smile. At least he was a nicer doctor. The one she had to talk to wasn’t fun or anything. They were grumpier than anything. His fingers drummed on the countertop and she opened the door a little more to look at the source of the noise. “You don’t have to leave,” she said, not wanting to talk about it yet. Of course she wanted to tell him. She wanted to tell him everything and she didn’t want to keep everything bottled up inside anymore but didn’t know how to start or where to begin. She was fat and her mother thought so too. There was nothing to talk about with that. Also, deep down she was starving and it was horrible and taunting. When he swore a light giggle escaped her lips. She had never heard a doctor swear before. It was funny to her. “You’re allowed to say that?” her eyebrows were raised slightly. The door was almost completely open now, but her hand was still on the door and she was inside the stall, prepared to dart behind the door again if needed. “You want to help me?” she was interested by this. “Everyone says that.” Word count:445

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[PERIDOT L. FAULKENER]

Peridot held the girl's gaze, imploring her to see how willing he was to provide a source for her feelings to vent at. He understood being young and confused, and he was all-too aware of that, combined with such little privacy, the resulting feelings can be overwhelming. So when she opened the sanctioned stall door, if only a little, the therapist felt his lips tugging into a relieved smile.

If she didn't want him to leave immediately, it was progress. Peri watched as she seemed to battle with herself for a moment before a girlish laugh bubbled from her lips. At her surprised question, he wondered how long it had been since the girl had interacted with someone who spoke naturally. Nodding his head in affirmation, Peridot shrugged modestly.

"I've never heard a rule against it," he laughed again, running a hand through his brown locks, "I doubt anybody encourages it, but it's not like people don't swear in the real world."

Taking in the girl's appearance, Peri mentally set aside the way her clothes fell off her thin frame a little too much in the "analyze later" category. Her face seemed a little too gaunt as well, as though she might be ill. Intuitively, he knew better, but the man wasn't about to be tactless. Best to stay on a casual level if possible. Or as casual as a psychiatrist can be to a patient anyway.

Chuckling, Peridot slipped a finger into the knot of his tie, loosening it slightly. "Well I dunno who this 'everyone' is, but they sound pretty nice. I'd listen to them if I were you." Peri waggled his eyebrows genially.[/color]

been a long cold 272 words. lonely winter finished. feels like years mdizzle/veronica. since its been clear so shorrrt i'm sorry i'm such failure ;3;. its alright REAL SLIM SHADY !? @ caution 2.0[/color].[/size]

[veronica c. laccy]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 305px; height: 200px; border-left: 5px solid #FC9D9A; border-right: 5px solid #FC9D9A;background:#f1e8e8; border-top-right-radius:40px; border-bottom-left-radius:40px;] Veronica Laccy Hiding Out He was holding her gaze and she was trying her hardest not to get weak and look away, though she did rather quickly. Her eyes flickered to the floor and she started to count the tiles. They were a little dirty and people should probably be cleaning them. She swallowed and kept her eyes on the floor as he talked. Apparently there wasn’t a rule there against swearing and she guessed that made sense. “Oh, I’ve just never heard a doctor say that,” she replied, feeling a bit foolish now. She licked her lips and stepped out of the stall, still holding the door in her hand. Mentally she made a note to wash her hands after this. She was touching the things in this bathroom way too much for it to be at all sanitary. “They never actually want to help though. They just want to do their job well so they get a raise or something. Not like they care about you,” she mumbled, walking over to the sink and turning the cold knob on. She lathered some soap in her hands before washing them under the cool water. It made her fingers feel numb. She dried off her hands with a paper towel and dropped it carefully in the trash, not wanting it to miss and fall onto the floor or something. Her eyes flickered back up to the doctor and she wondered if he wanted her to go with him or something. She didn’t want to talk again though, and had already talked enough. She shifted awkwardly on her feet, shyly looking at the floor. Maybe he would just do all the talking for her, or this would get really awkward really fast. Her eyes flickered up to the door, and then to him for a split second before going back to the door. One thing was for sure; she wanted to get out of this bathroom. It was too disgusting for her taste, and just the smell alone was making her want to vomit. That wasn’t something she liked to do either. Word count:346

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[PERIDOT L. FAULKENER]

Peridot's gentle gaze followed the girl's slender frame as it peeked out into the open. As noted, her build didn't seem to quite match her weight, as though there wasn't quite enough fat to balance with her bones. It was a sad truth, one that Peri had held witness to many times. Swallowing against the tightness in his throat, the psychiatrist smiled at the girl's approach.

He nodded his head, having heard the (almost cliche) feelings of being misunderstood. Not that Peri blamed any teenager for feeling that way; he himself hadn't known any better at that age, and to some degree the mentality wasn't completely misled. It was all too common that those that should be doing their job for others turn out doing it for themselves.

"Well sure; human nature tends to dictate most of what we do. Scratch that," Peri stepped to the side as she began washing her hands, "human nature's really just nature. Survival of the fittest or something, right?" He winked, shaking his head with a laugh. "But I digress." Here he relaxed his features, tilting his head to the side.

"Some people really just wanna help other people. I read in a book one time that when you do something for somebody else, your brain releases dopamine, a happy little organic chemical." The brunette clicked his tongue knowingly and tapped his temple. "Science."

Noticing her obvious discomfort, followed by a shifting of eyes to the door and back again, Peri took mercy on the poor girl. He gestured towards the door leading to the hallway, smiling again.

"Probably should get outta this bathroom, shouldn't we?" he asked, feet already moving towards the exit. Pausing, the man glanced back and offered a surprised, but thoroughly amused expression.

"So what's your name?"[/color]

been a long cold 293 words. lonely winter finished. feels like years mdizzle/veronica. since its been clear <3. its alright REAL SLIM SHADY !? @ caution 2.0[/color].[/size]

[veronica c. laccy]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 305px; height: 200px; border-left: 5px solid #FC9D9A; border-right: 5px solid #FC9D9A;background:#f1e8e8; border-top-right-radius:40px; border-bottom-left-radius:40px;] Veronica Laccy Hiding Out She could feel his gaze and knew what he had to be thinking. He was thinking about how disgusting she looked. No one liked looking at her, and they always stared. She hated how she looked and she just knew that he was looking at her. She could just feel it and it made her want to run and hide back in the stall. Her eyes were looking straight down at the floor, counting the tiles instead of looking back up at his face again. She didn’t want to see how disgusted he was with her. Apparently he was agreeing with her, or at least she thought. Of course there were some people that wanted to help but most of it was just personal gain. There were some really good people out there in the world and maybe he was one of them. She bit down on her lip, tugging at it between her teeth. “Yeah, some people are like that I guess,” she agreed, unsure as to what else to say to him. It was really uncomfortable being in here with him. He gestured toward the door and she forced a smile. “Yes, I want to get out of here,” she said, looking up at him and slipping out of the door. For a second she thought that maybe she could get away form the doctor, but that was a silly thing to hope for. “Veronica,” she answered, looking down at the floor as she walked. For a moment she glanced at him, wondering what his name was. “What should I call you?” She wasn’t sure how things worked here. Was she supposed to call him doctor or did he have a name or something. She stopped in the hallway, unsure as to where she was supposed to be going. “Where am I going?” she asked, unsure if he wanted to diagnose or talk to her or something. Word count:319

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