Therapy Session Take #1

[perfecttune]

WHO: Mari and you (OTA, characters are free to interact with others as well)
WHAT: Mari is hosting a therapy session! Come if you would like, or if you want to argue against it feel free to show up as well! This is more informal than it seems although she did invite some guest speakers.
WHERE: One of the large buildings that was most likely a common area for everyone, or just a super large bedroom.
WHEN: After First Crossing
WARNINGS Talk about death and violence, specific CWs will be in the text.

A message goes out on the server from Mari: Sorry for the delay everyone! I thought it best to wait a bit till after the meeting Kel thoughtfully put together for all of us! If you would like to come for the Therapy Session, please come to building X. If you would like to bring anyone or anything along please do! Special guest speakers/appearances include Makoto Naegi, Daniil Dankovsky, and Soo Won.

Mari put her tablet down and went back to straightening the chairs she was able to gather in a circle. Surely this would be welcoming? This way they could all see each other and seek comfort if needed... but just in case, she had set up private areas using curtains as a makeshift divider in case others felt the need for a one on one talk...

It still felt strange to her to not have refreshments so she had cups filled with water just in case, surely even if they didn't need to drink it still helped to make the session feel welcoming?

As people filtered in she would call out a greeting. "Welcome and thank you for coming! If you feel comfortable taking a seat please do so! There are also refreshments over there."

Comments

[marblenest]

Dankovsky shows up late and takes a stand in the middle of the chairs. He takes out a notebook that he's prepared with some notes on a lecture that he's made just for the occasion. Aren't you all so lucky.

"As most of you know, my name is Daniil Dankovsky. I am a Bachelor of Medicine. My major area of study is in Thanatology and I have also worked as a physician. I have no experience in the emerging study of psychology or psychotherapy, but as the only person here with any sort of professional knowledge in the field, I have been asked here by Mari to give an educational speech of sorts."

He goes on to give an incredibly dry speech about the works of Sigmund Freud and the diagnostic process as it applies to disorders such as neurosis, schizophrenia, shell shock, and hysteria. He stresses that he himself cannot diagnose any of these disorders, nor can anyone here, though if anyone here suspects that they have one of these disorders they still shouldn't hesitate to reach out to him. Dankovsky stresses that it's better to talk about it rather than keep it a secret.

That's probably the best and most valuable thing he says during his entire speech.

For the rest of the therapy session he won't offer any personal antedotes but he will be around to answer any questions if need be.

[blindluck]

"Frued's contributions to psychology are considered of more historical than practical relevance, nowadays," Nagito says immediately upon Dankovsky finishing. His face is impressively blank. "Neurosis is an outdated term, the way you're using it. So is shell shock. Hysteria is, well, just plain sexist!"

He seems to get his feet under himself as he speaks, and so he smiles cheerfully as he says, very loudly, "Do you still think you aren't dead, by the way?"

[marblenest]

Dankovsky narrows his eyes at Nagito. He looks like he could attack the other man right about now. He's really tempted to. He might be three seconds away from it in fact. Though he really does not want to do so in front of the children.

"I do not believe I asked for your opinion on the matter." He says, adjusting the pin on his cravat as he says so, "I can hardly help if you were born one hundred years in the future and it's not as if I was given supplemental medical texts. Unless you've seen some around. If you have, I would certainly be more than happy to read them."

He's ignoring the dig about not being dead, but his fists tighten at the remark. It does piss him off.

[blindluck]

"This is a group activity, isn't it?" Nagito chirps back. "Perhaps you could ask Ferryman-san for some updated books! It may have been a good idea to do that beforehand, but oh well, we're here now, right?"

[marblenest]

Dankovsky cracks a smile. It is not a friendly smile. His patience with Nagito has finally worn entirely too thin.

"You are quite the insufferable fellow, have you been told this before?" Dankovsky remarks, "Are you quite capable of saying a kind thing about your fellow man, or are you simply inept at doing so? Perhaps you could take the time to practice. I'll wait!"

[blindluck]

Nagito's smile brightens, if anything, as he leans into passive aggression with a passion. "Oh, I've made no secret of being a wretched individual! I make sure to never forget it, in fact, so that I don't make the mistake of thinking I have capabilities I don't have and accidentally harm the whole group! Are you capable of that, Dankovsky-san?"

[marblenest]

"I have always been very forthcoming about my medical knowledge, in fact, I proceeded my talk on psychology by saying that I am not an expert, if you can recall." Dankovsky says, his own smile widening in retort, "I am however, a practiced general physician and I highly doubt medicine has changed so drastically that I would be unable to set bones, treat lacerations, and so on and so forth. Though if I need help I will surely call upon you, Komaeda... what was your degree in again?" He asks, knowing entirely that Komaeda has no medical degree to speak of.

[blindluck]

"As I've said, I'm worthless and useless in nearly any situation!" Nagito isn't lying about his opinion on himself, but he's also very comfortable wielding that opinion like a weapon. "If it was me Mari-san had gone to asking if I could talk about psychology, I would have told her that it would be unproductive for someone who doesn't know enough about what she wanted me to talk about to say anything at all!

Of course, I do trust your ability to set bones and such, even if you don't have a doctoral degree."

[marblenest]

He drops his smile at this, and furrows his brow instead.

"I have told you that I have a bachelor's degree. This is more than sufficient for my line of work."

His voice wavers. He is very defensive about this is particular. It's genuinely not his fault that he was robbed of the chance to get his doctorate in a country where he couldn't leave and where there was no chance of entering a masters program for medicine.

[blindluck]

Oh. Nagito had assumed Dankovsky's bachelor's degree to be only a difference of timeline, but it seems like the lack of further degrees means something more to Dankovsky than that. Nagito leans in a little. "But surely it's not fair to call yourself a doctor in that case. If you had talent, then that would be a different matter, of course, but you're an average person."

[perfecttune]

Mari clapped politely once Dankovsky was done talking. He really did bring up some great points and it was as educational as she had hoped. Despite the fact that he said he didn't have an experience in psychology, he still shed some light on the subject.

"That was a great speech Mr. Dankovsky. Thank you again for being willing to speak."

She extended a hand to him, and smiled.

[marblenest]

He tentatively and quickly shakes her hand.

"You must be Miss Mari, then? A pleasure to make your acquaintance." He says quickly, still feeling on edge after arguing with Nagito. But he doesn't want to take that out on a young girl.

[perfecttune]

"It's a pleasure to make yours as well." She glanced towards Nagito, a small smile on her face. "I wouldn't worry too much about what Nagito said. After all, we all come from various walks and times of life it seems."

She smiled brightly towards the Bachelor. "Knowledge, no matter from what time period, can still be of great use to all of us."

[marblenest]

He bristles a bit at that. The wound is still obviously there. But he nods. Tries to be graceful about it.

"Indeed." He says, trying to act as if he's not affected. It doesn't work. "I am starting to come to the conclusion that most are from a time that is the future... according to my perception of things at least."

Which does bother him quite a bit. He's supposed to be educated, advanced, brilliant, not behind. While Nagito did upset him quite a bit he is seriously considering asking the Ferryman for some textbooks to study to brush up on his knowledge. It would be something to keep him busy, at the very least.

[perfecttune]

"It does beg the question... why are we all from different times? After all, we all passed at various years so wouldn't it make more sense for us to be acquainted with those from similar times as us?"

She was merely talking out loud, now curious about the current standings so to speak...

"Do you think that it's like some sort of statis?"

Others had come before them but were they too from various times? Could some of them have been from the same places as well?

[marblenest]

"I don't know..." And he says this with so much sadness that it's palpable. This is really not a discussion he likes having, not in the slightest, "I suppose it could be theoretically possible, to freeze a human in some sort of way and then thaw them out, but there are so many things that could go wrong."

It is more likely that many would die from such experiments, Dankovsky thinks to himself.

[perfecttune]

"T-true..." The chance of a successful outcome of such an experiment was unlikely... coupled with the fact that it was most likely illegal to a degree... Mari inadvertently shuddered. She sure hoped that wasn't what happened to them...

"R-regardless... we are here now so trying to find out why or how isn't the most productive..." Although Mari had been the one to bring up the topic...

[marblenest]

"I suppose not, yes." He agrees.

Though he does think it's important, ultimately, he's glad to change the topic. It's a thought that looms on the edges of his mind, trying to pick it apart. All his theories make no sense.

If they are dead, this place is hell, Dankovsky decides.

"My apologies, I didn't mean to startle you." Daniil says, voice a touch kinder, "Thank you for organizing this meeting, Miss Mari."

[perfecttune]

Ah it's quite alright!

[She waved her hand in the air as if clearing away smoke.]

I was the one to bring it up after all! Water under the bridge and all that! And of course! I hope it's something that's able to help and maybe something we can continue in the future.

[She didn't know if either of those were possible but if she had to hope... maybe it could become a regular meeting? Even if all they did was offer companionship to those who came and didn't quite touch on the issues it was still something right?]

[protectorofkouka]

Soo Won quietly watched the argument unfold. Well, they did encourage everyone to speak their minds so a clash of opinions was bound to happen. He considered getting involved but he was also curious to see how Makoto would handle things. He was a valuable asset to the group.

As was Dankovsky as the doctor of the group. It would be problematic if the argument damaged his reputation so he offered his own thoughts once Makoto had deescalated the situation.

"That was quite the informative speech. While it is true that we seem to come from different times and have different views, there is still knowledge to be gained from the past so thank you for your insights. It's relief to have a knowledgeable scholar of medicine in our group."

[marblenest]

Dankovsky tenses up at first, waiting for Soo Won to finish speaking. Despite their previous positive repertoire he still isn't sure how everyone else will reach to his speech due to how negative Nagito was about it.

He does breathe a bit of an internal sigh of relief, and wonders when he grew to care so much about the approval of others. He used to give lectures for hundreds and be booed at when things didn't go according to plan. This was nothing in comparison, so why...?

Perhaps it was because this was all he had left. This ragtag group of people. More of half that likely hated him.

At least he wasn't being publicly dragged through the mud again.

"Thank you." Dankovsky says, "It would certainly help to have a psychologist amongst our ranks but in the meanwhile I will do what I am able. You are all my responsibility, after all."

Despite being beaten down by Nagito, he's still very serious about taking care of everyone. This does include Nagito himself.

the snail returns! sorry I'm late

[protectorofkouka]

It wasn't easy to have the things you dedicated your life to become obsolete was it? Soo Won could relate in a way. He dedicated his life to protecting his kingdom. Without that purpose he felt lost. Not that he would admit it though and he clung to the stubbornness he had in life and turned his focus towards the mysteries of this place instead.

He hid how Dankovsky's plight stirred his own feelings behind a grateful smile.

"You have my thanks and I will leave myself in your care should the need arise."

you're okay i got sick so you're good

[marblenest]

And Dankovsky stays ignorant of Soo Won's similar feelings, wrapped up in his own. It's so often that he doesn't observe what is right in front of him simply because he's too absorbed in his own turbulent emotions.

This happens more than the Bachelor even realizes.

"Please do." Dankovsky says, giving a slight nod at this, trying to calm himself down still, ground himself to the current conversation, not think about Nagito, "I should hope that it won't be horribly necessary given the circumstances, but, well, we never know."

I hope you're feeling better!

[protectorofkouka]

In Dankovsky's defense Soo Won hid his true feelings behind a polite smile that few saw past. As king he always put his kingdom first and while he didn't have that same burden here, old habits die hard. Although this place was slowly chipping at those walls.

Soo Won nodded in agreement. "I hope it won't be necessary either but it's better to be prepared in case the need arises."

I am!! <3

[marblenest]

"One doctor is certainly better than none." Dankovsky is quick to agree.

He's seen what happens to places with very few medical resources during an emergency. He has been the person who had to step up and organize during a crisis. The Bachelor doesn't even want to think about what that situation would have been like with no doctors trapped in that forsaken little town.