* heather.

what sparked you to come to therapy, and what would you like to get out of it? *heather glenn.

@DexNo_DexYes she was willing to help him find that kind of purpose, that sense of self. he just had to let her in. "since?" heather carefully asked.

@AdviserHeather Dex shook his head some. He let out a breath. "I haven't thought so in a while. Not since—" Since Julie. or Ray. But he could come to terms with the fact that he might be worth it again. Maybe find some kind of purpose. Sense of self.

⁀➴ 𖣠 starter for @AdviserHeather ⁀➴ 𖣠 Dex was sitting at the table, zoned out. Waiting. Felt like he did all his time waiting these days, on one thing or other. Always in the same place. At least this time, he was waiting with some kind of purpose and not just for a cup+

@ACEMATTORNEY she beamed right back at him, before heather took her own glass and reached it out towards matts, allowing their glasses to clink together for to toast. "to us." she countered, then took another sip of the incredible wine.

@AdviserHeather « him, and it was just as he recalled. Then, he raised his glass in her direction for a toast. “To a lovely dinner and an even lovelier companion then.” He beamed.

@AdviserHeather He gave a nod and crossed the room with an easy grace. Cool water danced over his fingers after he turned on the tap and washed his hands. “Could you help me get a pot from the shelf?” he asked over his shoulder, already patting his hands dry with a towel. “I’ll get the pasta.”

@DexNo_DexYes "everyone deserves to be helped." heather stated softly, keeping up the eye contact with him. "and yes, even you dex."

@AdviserHeather Dex tapped his fingers against the table, but he made sure not to look away. "I didn't think I'd find another one like her, so I never bothered looking." He gave a small shrug. "Maybe it's time I let someone help."

@ACEMATTORNEY she hummed softly, then lifted the glass towards her lips and taking a small sip. another hum left her lips at the taste of the wine before placing the glass down again. "yeah, just like i said." heather chuckled softly. "tastes amazing, special."

@AdviserHeather Once again, no trace of surprise flickered across his face. He reserved this specific brand for special occasions only. It always tasted richer that way. He moved to pour himself a glass as well and set it on his side of the table. “I’m glad to hear that,” he replied suavely.

@DexNo_DexYes she looked over at him, compassion visible in her eyes. her brows were slightly furrowed together, too. "well, then i'm thankful that you seem to let me help you." heather then smiled warmly at him.

@AdviserHeather Considering what she had already done, he didn't have much trouble believing her this time. "I know you won't. Wish I would've had someone like you before now." He paused, swallowing hard. "My... My last therapist, Dr. Mercer... She was a lot like you. I never got another."

@ACEMATTORNEY heather watched him pour her a glass with the red wine, smiling warmly before reaching out to take the filled glass from him. "i'm sure it is. it already smells amazing." she looked over at their plates. "just like the food."

@AdviserHeather « in a smooth, slow arc into a waiting glass. Just as the wine crept near the rim, he drew back with a subtle flick of his wrist and presented her with the glass. “I hope it’s to your taste.”

@ACEMATTORNEY "oh? red wine is perfect." she chuckled, then moved to sit down in front of one of the plates. the smell of their cooked food caused her to hum, then reach for the fork.

@AdviserHeather « quipped. “Unless you aren’t into red wine.”

@DexNo_DexYes "don't worry about that," she started, nodding her head before continuing to speak. "i'll make sure you'll never be on that stuff again." she then promised, genuinely meaning her words.

@AdviserHeather A nod. "It is progress. Any progress is good. In this situation." He made a soft sound. He felt better, not being on all of that shit, even if the cost wasn't having a quiet mind. He liked being able to function better. "I don't ever want to be on that shit again."

@ACEMATTORNEY "no, thanks love. i'm all good." she spoke, placing their plates down onto the table, letting a fork and a spoon settle next to them for each of them. "do you have any wine?"

@AdviserHeather “You won’t regret it.” Cue a cheeky grin as he coaxed the pasta through the rich, simmering sauce. She should know her way around by now. This wasn’t her first time here anyway, but still, he asked, “Do you need help with anything?”

@DexNo_DexYes "but that is a progress, isn't it?" she asked, leaning her head to the side as she gazed over at him. heather wanted him to realize that it was indeed a progress, that it was good that he seemed to be able to function without all of the pills, only needing some.

@AdviserHeather Dex made a soft sound, nodding some. "Yeah, I feel it, too. Nowhere near as disjointed and hazy as I was." He tipped his head. "Even this much feels so much better than it did. Now I just need things to do with my hands to keep the noise down." He hadn't missed that part.

@ACEMATTORNEY "i'm taking your word for it." she countered, then watched how he allowed the pasta to slide into the pan with the sauce. she then went and prepared the table for them.

@AdviserHeather “We can—during dinner. Unless you prefer it cold.” He joined in her laughter. With deliberate care, he then tipped the contents into the waiting pan of simmering sauce. The strands slid in with a soft sigh, embraced instantly by the rich, bubbling mixture.

@DexNo_DexYes "lucky you, indeed." she winked over him, then moved slightly to lean back into her chair. "well.. i am glad to hear that it had worked, you do look a lot more.. alive."

@AdviserHeather A shake of his head. "No. I guess they didn't want to risk it with 'my therapist' looking over their shoulders, as it were." He gave her a small grin. "Lucky me."

@ACEMATTORNEY "can't have a romantic moment in this household, can we?" she chuckled, then shook her head. "i already finished the tomato sauce, it's in the pan next to the pasta."

@AdviserHeather Likewise, this wasn’t something he heard every day. His smile bloomed into one mirroring the deep gratitude that stirred within him. After a moment, he patted her hand and straightened his posture. “Alright, let’s get back to cooking. What do you want to go with our pasta?”

@deadlypitch she raised a brow, curious before taking a couple of steps closer towards him, albeit not approaching fully. teasing.

@AdviserHeather “Good, I’m glad to hear it.” He smiled as he looked back at her, reaching out and gesturing for her to come closer. “You’ve got a real glow to you, Doc.”

she wonders if @deadlypitch is alright, she's found herself thinking about him lately.

@deadlypitch she moved the flowers a bit until she deemed them arranged enough in the vase, smiling slightly while she turned around to face him. "i do agree, don't worry." she grinned slightly, leaning her head to the side.

@AdviserHeather “Yeah definitely.” He nodded and half smiled at her, looking across at her as she filled the vase and arranged the flowers. “You don’t agree?”

@deadlypitch she blinked, not having expected such words. albeit, she did appreciate the compliments. "yeah?" heather asked, allowing water to pour into the vase before placing the flowers inside. "is that so?"

@AdviserHeather “You’re looking good though.” He said with a smile, looking her up and down softly. “Very good.”

@ACEMATTORNEY her eyes wandered over towards their hands when she felt him place his hand over hers, smiling warmly. "of course, i'll always believe in what you do." she started, giving a soft squeeze to his hand. "and in you in general. and.. thank you. haven't heard those words in a bit."

@AdviserHeather It was a simple gesture, but it meant a lot to him. A gentle smile touched his lips as he laid his free hand gently over hers. “I thank you for believing in what I do,” he said with quiet sincerity. “And if no one's told you this already, what you do matters, and you’re enough.”

@ACEMATTORNEY she placed the plates down, then turned over to be able to properly look at him. heather gave a small smile, before reaching out and placing her hand on top of his — wordlessly, simply showing that she was there.

@AdviserHeather “I sure hope so.” He drew in a deep breath, his eyes fluttering shut for a moment. “I always try to remind myself of all the clients I’ve been able to help. Their triumph helps me keep my head held high and continue fighting even more injustices in this world.”

@DexNo_DexYes she looked over at him as he spoke, giving a small nod of her head. she definitely understood, and she did not want him to have severe withdrawal symptoms. "they have not tried to get you off them fully immediately, or?"

@AdviserHeather Dex shrugged a shoulder. He nodded right after, though. "Better than I did. The drugs have to run their course from my body. They couldn't cold turkey some of them without severe withdrawals, so they're still giving me tiny doses of them to wean me off."

@deadlypitch "hanging in there." she shrugged her shoulders, trailing behind him and grabbing a vase to put the flowers in.

@AdviserHeather "I'm glad you like them." He smiled a genuine smile and slowly stepped into the office, making his way over to the chairs. "How have you been?"