So, let's talk about your self-esteem.

[piper90npcs]

Who: Jorgmund therapists and patients.
What: One of the benefits of Jorgmund health insurance? Mandatory grief counseling!
Where: Side rooms of the medical bay.
When: In the days following Planker's death.
Warnings/Notes: Likely to delve into the personal issues of various characters, which may get dark or go into sensitive content.

In the days following Planker's demise, some of the hires get tapped for extra counseling, on the basis of being "excessively perturbed" by the passing of their most beloved trainer. Rather than be assigned to chore shifts, these unlucky hires are sent to a room adjacent to the med bay with a small fountain of smooth-flowing water over rocks and the general scent of patchouli for an hour a day.

It's a healing space. Breathe deep. Abandon your pre-conceptions and negativity.

Comments

[piper90npcs]

"Ah, well, as much as I think there's nothing in here that would upset you, we have a policy against showing patients their own files. Some people get very particular about how they're received. Some people like to argue with the impressions they've made."

She gives a nod to him taking the chair; clearly, she's happy he's settling in, at least for the moment.

"Are you taking the grief particularly hard?"

[walkingballpit]

“That’s okay. I’ve seen enough tv to know doctors don’t show you your file.” Robbie’s not sure if that’s true here, but he tries to be agreeable with most staff and isn’t interested in getting actual treatment from Jorgmund. “Arguing with your counsellor doesn’t sound healthy or productive.”

Yup. That’s him. Mr. Healthy and Productive.

“I don’t know. I wouldn’t say we were very close, but you get used to seeing people, you know?” This whole show of calling him in for grief counselling is worrying, because Robbie can’t figure out what they’re playing at. He wants to say the right thing and strike a balance between appropriate grief and not getting a follow up session. He just has no idea how to swing that, so he’s choosing words with a bit more care than normal. He’s more muted and less jokey when he speaks, but that’s all to the good, right? The man died - this wouldn’t be the time to joke. “One day, they’re gone, and you’re suddenly aware of how much you were used to seeing them. Training sessions will be different.”

He’s hoping for less psychotic, personally. “The people who worked with him for years must be so upset.”

[piper90npcs]

"Training sessions will be different. I don't want to introduce more uncertainty into your life, but we aren't sure yet if Mr. Lubitsch is equipped to handle the entire daily regimen. We may need to bring in someone new." Dr. Fust jots down a note.

"You've been here about a year, Robbie. Would you say that that's made you upset?"

[walkingballpit]

“I hope that’s a note about me and not about Mr. Lubitsch. I’m not trying to get anyone in trouble.”

There’s never a lot of time to answer questions in a therapy session. Drag your feet with a response, and it can look like something is a Thing. She has to know he’s here against his will. Saying he’s not upset just makes him a liar. “I miss my family and friends. I know that it’s just a year and there are worse things, but I still miss them.”

He doesn’t look at her when he says it, looking around the room at anything else. “A year’s a long time.”

[piper90npcs]

"Missing important people is a very natural response. The important thing is that you're able to continue missing them without crossing over into grieving them as if they'll never return." Dr. Fust sets her pen down. "Would you bring them here, if you could?"

[walkingballpit]

"Absolutely not." It's firm, but not harsh. In fact, Robbie's smiling widely. "Maybe a few of them would be okay here, but I come from fancy Whole-Foods-McMansion stock. My mom would hate the decor, she'd hate that she couldn't remodel, she'd hate that the Rig didn't have a theater company, and she'd probably almost get killed by a giant caterpillar because I know she'd tie herself to one of those giant redwoods that aren't even endangered here."

This is safe territory. He's not saying anything really bad about anyone, and he can make jokes. Yes. "I love her, but she's not really cut out for hard work and bunk beds."

[piper90npcs]

"It sounds like you're very different from your mother." Dr. Fust adjusts her glasses. "Where do you think you got your more...tenacious streak from, if not from her?"

[walkingballpit]

“Um… I kind of just said my mom would tie herself to a giant redwood tree?” While he doesn’t always agree with his parents, and they want nothing to do with him, Robbie will still defend them to the end. “She’s tenacious. So is my dad. They’re just tenacious in a different way.”

He shrugs. “Maybe I’m still rebelling against suburbia. I’m not too old for that, right? Do you guys even have burbs?”