genessia | [Action | Closed] Horticultural therapy

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[Action | Closed] Horticultural therapy

Who: Pt.1 Trahearne and Tannusen > Pt.2 Trahearne and Amberdrake
What: Tannusen oh-so-kindly suggest Trahearne get therapy. Trahearne gets therapy.
Where: Trahearne and Tannusen's apartment > Amberdrake's office
Warnings: Angst

The apartment was dark when Trahearne got home, Tannusen was asleep on the couch and Cookie brushed against his legs with a soft, content "prrb". Trahearne moved through the dark apartment, silent with bare feet and years of practice of slinking around far more dangerous areas than a living room at night. He slipped into the kitchen, moving carefully as he opened cabinets and pulled down a glass and a bottle of wine. Most days he tried not to drink much, if at all. It was irresponsible and a bad habit to get into.

Tonight he didn't want to think much and there was a lot of painful things on his mind. He sat at the small breakfast table and eased the stopper out of the bottle of wine with a faint pop. Tannusen was still asleep. Good. Cookie looked up at him, a dark blob in the dark, his pulsing yellow glow reflecting off her large, amber eyes.

The bottle was empty by the time he got up and shuffled to his room. He swayed as he walked, his bright eyes narrowed to slits. Cookie trailed after him, tail swishing back and forth. She darted forward into the bedroom once he opened the door, dashing to the cat tower to find Brian and curl up with the silver tabby.

Trahearne closed the door behind him and leaned against it a while, waiting for the room to steady itself. Mmm. There was still too much on his mind and a heavy lump in his chest. He pushed himself away from the door and towards the bed. Maybe he could sleep it off...

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"It's actually something I've considered before. There's someone here that-" Trahearne sighed and nodded, feeling like his brain was banging around his skull as he did so.

"I will, thank you Tannusen. I- truly appreciate it." He was still sad and miserable... but at least someone cared.

Well, you know, somewhat. Due to Trahearne being somewhat a person, and all.

But hey, he was more a person to the tiger than anyone else on this world so far!

He gave the shoulders under his hands a careful pat-pat, and then withdrew from the bed and the room.

Trahearne sank down, the leaves on his back making a squeaky sound against the headboard. It would be funny if he was in the mood to laugh. Instead, he gulped down more of the water and ran a hand down Brian's back. The cat raised his head to butt his forehead against Trahearne's hand.

He rested for a while, until he was awake enough to get up, shower, and trying to ease his hangover with blood magic. Healing magic really was something he should practice more.

-----

Days later, he stood outside Amberdrake's office, Sadullos Kestra. He didn't understand what those words meant or, fully, what all Amberdrake's profession entailed. Amberdrake was a therapist, he knew that, and one that came exceptionally well recommended for how little time he'd been on this world. Trahearne had done more research on various therapist in multiple cities that he was willing to admit to anyone, especially Tannusen.

It was bitterly cold outside, a thin layer of snow coating Attleton, and Trahearne was early. Heading inside to wait was tempting, his jacket didn't do much against the wind. He waited a while longer, anxiety churning in his stomach. It was so much easier in the short term to pretend everything was fine and only sink to crying himself to sleep every so often.

When both a fae and his commander had suggested he speak to someone, however... This shouldn't be so frightening, he'd faced worse! Shoving his fears down, he stepped inside and breathed a sigh of relief at the sudden warmth. And, wow, it was much more colorful in here than he expected. Dimly lit and soothing, welcoming, a cluster of birds nearby peered at him from their perches. How adorable.

Edited 2016-12-04 12:00 (UTC)

Amberdrake stepped out of one of the work-rooms at the sound of the bells at the door -- not that he needed them, of course -- and smiled at his new guest. "Trahearne, I would guess?"

People did walk on in here without an appointment sometimes, so it was best to check.

Trahearne's first thought was that Amberdrake would fit in well in the Grove. His second that the man had a calming aura to him, strangely so, but not unpleasant. There was more to it that nagged at him, yet he couldn't put his finger on it.

It wasn't important right now. He smiled, a gesture that made him look no less inhuman. He'd come to Drake in part because he supposedly was friendly to non-humans. Drake hadn't given him that surprised, wary look so many others gave him, that was nice.

"Yes. I over-estimated how long it would take me to walk here, I didn't mean to get here too early." He bowed his head briefly in greeting. The anxiety was still there, gnawing away, though none of it showed on his face. It would be hard enough to tell how tired he looked.

"Your timing is fine, I was just making sure it was you," Amberdrake inclined his head a little, one of the bells in his hair chiming at the motion. "This way, please," he gestured into the room he'd just come out of, which was set up with dim lighting and many comfortable cushions around a low table. There was a lit candle in the center of the table, adding a little more warmth to that dim lighting. "Do you like tea?"

"I wouldn't object to some," Trahearne replied as he followed. He scanned the room, curious and grateful for that interest, it took his mind off what he might have to say soon. The dim lighting was soothing and, unfortunately, was low enough for his glow to show, a soft, pulsing yellow. His eyes shone even brighter than before, cat-like.

"May I?" he asked, gesturing to the cushions by the table.

Amberdrake smiled, and went to prepare tea at one of the counters along the side of the room. "Of course, that's what they're there for."

Even with the glowing, Drake didn't seem at all perplexed by Trahearne's appearance. Had he ever dealt with someone who appeared to be made of plant material? Nope. Did that bother him? Nope. At least this was new territory... and not inherently dangerous! How novel, these days.

He had plenty of curiosity about Trahearne's physical makeup, but that could wait. The stranger had come to him for a reason, after all, and he doubted it was to add to Amberdrake's extensive knowledge of nonhuman anatomy spanning five different worlds.

Drake finished with the tea -- he'd had water already heated, of course -- and brought a tray over with the pot and a pair of clay mugs. Perfect for wrapping one's hands around to absorb the warmth without getting burned. He sank down gracefully onto the cushions beside Trahearne's chosen spot, rather than directly across from him, and set the tray down. Then, of course, he poured for them both and took his mug in his hands accordingly.

Ideally, all of this would give Trahearne some time to adjust to the setting a little, maybe calm his nerves... maybe not. As for Drake's seating choice, he didn't want the anxiety-filled new client to have to look directly at him if he didn't want to! It was all very thought-out.

It all gave Trahearne something to think about other than himself, which was as good as calming him. After taking in the room itself he mostly watched Amberdrake, there were many questions he wanted to ask the therapist and that was a much more appealing prospect than talking about himself! He could feel a memory of his commander's disapproval when he considered it. Maybe not, that wasn't the point of the visit.

He looked away when Amberdrake turned back to him with the tea and took his mug as well. Hard lines of yellow light showed where his fingers gripped the cup. The warmth was soothing after the walk in the cold. The chill wasn't near so sharp for him as it was for a human but anything to alieve it was welcome.

He let out a sigh and some of the tension left his shoulders. This wouldn't be too bad. He hoped.

"Thank you." It could just be for the tea or for all the effort gone into the soothing atmosphere. Both.

Amberdrake felt that curiosity like a heat wave, and smiled a bit. Curiosity was better than pure anxiety, at least.

"Perhaps we should just talk, for a while, before addressing your reasons for the appointment." Drake did not charge by the hour, so why not try to soothe those frayed nerves a bit, first?

"Ah- alright. I don't really know what to do, as is." The closest he'd come to getting emotional help before was talking to the Pale Tree. Her advice was more pragmatic than soothing.

"Ahmm, I'm not sure what to talk about. My life revolves around study lately, that can be a very dry topic." He wasn't embarrassed by that, it was just a fact, as far as he was concerned. There wasn't much to share about what he sank most of his life into studying, there's no context to it.

"Well, what do you study?" Drake felt it was a natural enough question. He took a sip of his tea, and offered another little smile.

"Various things," he said, vague as he watched Amberdrake's face. No change. Well, it was his job to listen to his clients. Trahearne really wasn't sure what he expected, a lot more worrying right off the bat for one.

"I've found there are many analogues to many different species between worlds. I'm doing what research I can to determine the similarities and difference between them. Dragons in particular, it might come in useful whenever I return to my own world. I've been working on recreating a style of crafting from my world as well, it takes a great deal of experimentation with various magical regents to get anywhere with that. I'm studying similar crafts that are more readily available here, to see if I can bridge the gap." Trahearne was always happier when he got to talk about whatever he was working on at the time. He always put so much time and work into it! And few really wanted to listen if it wasn't strictly relevant... He was pleased, if still cautious.

"How many worlds have you been on?" Amberdrake asked, interested. Usually, he didn't find people studying such things until they'd been on several, if they even studied them then. Well, the species bit, at least.

"Two, if you count my own." He was just proactive! There was so information he could take back to Tyria!

"Is it common to visit many once draw into... whatever this is?" The wave of deep concern, and the brief spike of fear, was pushed aside quickly. Even if that were true, he'd just keep working, keep studying. It would give him more time to prepare.

"Common? No, but it can happen," Amberdrake set his tea down on the table, folding his hands in his lap. He sat on his chosen cushion with ease, as used to this as any armchair. Maybe more-so. "If we're counting our original worlds, I am on my fifth. I've yet to meet anyone else who has gone to so many."

And remembered it, at least. But, no need to worry his new client over something no one had any control over.

"I can help with that first bit, at least. I did the same thing, starting on the first new world I ended up on." So at least they were nerds of a feather, as it were.

Trahearne perked up visibly at that offer, his head canted to one side. Anxiety was easiest to ignore when he was presented with a lot of potential information! He was very curious all the sudden. One didn't need to be an empath to tell, but it helped when it came to reading such an alien face.

"Is that so? If you have anything at all to share, I'd welcome it." Even with his very sylvari curiosity piqued his voice was still mild. Pleased but not noticeably excited.

"I would imagine you've seen far more than I ever will, provided I don't get shuffled around near as much as you have."

"I haven't copied anything out on this world, because it could get into the wrong hands," Amberdrake tapped his own temple, "it's all up here. I can tell you, for example, that the humans of every world seem remarkably alike. Different magical aptitudes; different technology levels; rarely any real difference anatomically."

Anything more exotic, and he'd need to know where to even start to tell Trahearne things. This wasn't like a book, or something else he could just... lend out.

"Are you hoping to stay here, then? Or to go back to your world?"

"From what I've observed and read, I've found that to be true as well. They are, by far, the most prevalent. Not a bad thing, of course, but curious." As just an imitation of a human, he couldn't really complain. His species wouldn't exist as they didn't without one in particular.

"As for if I wish to stay, well, it's not a matter of what I want so much as I am needed on my world." He shook his head, he didn't particularly like explaining why anymore. "I can't say I mind it here but I still have to be prepared to return. Whenever that might happen. If I had a choice in the matter, I would have already returned."

Worry worry worry.

"Ah yes, duty," Amberdrake smiled a little, "that always complicates things. If it helps, our original worlds generally do not advance in time without us there. No one even knows you're gone, and nothing has happened. If you were to wake up tomorrow back on your world, it would be a seamless transition."

"Yes." While this was technically what Trahearne wanted to hear, he wasn't happy to know it. It's exactly where he was needed but where he left off was so- So very potentially lethal. That scene played itself over and over in his dreams.

"That's for the best." He wasn't sure if it was proper to explain why. What did one say to a therapist?

It was such a typical response, though, that Drake thought little of it. How many of his clients were in the middle of trying to save the world when they got hauled to another world? Quite a few!

"If I have any say, you'll go back in better shape than you left. So," Amberdrake inclined his head, and lifted his tea again, wrapping his hands around the mug. Another nice thing about the thick clay; it really held in the heat. "What did you need to talk to me about? Is it just those responsibilities?"

"Whatever that leaves me in better shape like you say." Trahearne paused to take a sip of his tea and then continued, "This, talking to someone, was suggested to me by my housemate. And a dear friend, some time ago. I am adjusting as well as I can to this life but the strain is more than I would have expected. I feel it's, ah, knowing what I'll go back to, at any time. I must live yet I must be ready to return."

If he slipped too far on any one thing that could be enough to get him torn apart. His mind was most important of all, if his mental state was poor when he returned, it could give the dragon a chance to rip his will from him.

Trahearne's gaze had wandered to the candlelight. Warm, bright movement, he'd take anything to keep his mind off that fear.

"And what is it you're going back to?" Amberdrake asked, because he really should know as much as he could if he was going to be of help.

Well, Trahearne had come here to actually talk about those problems, so...

"The last I remember, my airship had been sabotaged... along with most of the fleet. I either blacked out sometime during the crash or I was teleported here at the time. If I will- did- survive the crash, I risk being severely injured deep in hostile territory. It takes a lot of explaining to fully get across the severity of the situation." He moved the fingers of one hand back and forth over the surface of the cup in place of his habitual neck rub motion.

"It is dire and I can't know how much was lost until I return. If I am able, at all."

As he spoke his emotions were more muted and his tone more business-like. It was too easy to fall into despair if he didn't keep tight control of him. Losing control wasn't acceptable, not with the risk of a dragon tearing at his mind should he be swept back to Tyria.

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