‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ ‍ 𝐃𝐑.𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍

⠀ ⠀ I love to watch you go, and I love to watch you crawl back to me. There is no exit, there are only Trials. ⠀

Oh. I'm a bit tipsy already, I ... I couldn't possibly. Ahah.

...you're the director and the head behind this project.

I work through the night, unfortunately, but you can sit in if you'd like. It's usually nice and quiet. Soundproofed.

...because you're my superior, the director of Sinyala, and you're the one who gives me my tasks and duties.

Emboldened, he sits up a little higher. “Because this place doesn’t give ‘love’. It drags people through a meat grinder and then tells them that a pat on the back is the same thing as a father’s love. It’s not- It’s nothing. It’s just torment for a profit,”

“I..” Trailing off, watching the way smoke curls up and into the air. Blake shifts in his seat, clearing his throat. “I don’t feel loved.” It’s blurted out like a confession; secrets spilling into the space between them. “Not once- Not while I’ve been here. Never.”

Then please, let me be part of this, and don't tell me to shut up when I make valid comments that fit my job description close to perfectly now, will you ?

Rather thin, actually, if you'd like me to be honest.

" should i bring him back a clump of hair too as a prize? " spiteful as the pen is snatched. scratching out a note before tossing it back into his lap.

You've said it yourself, I'm a therapist. You complain about something that has a clear impact on your mental health, the topic I've studied to get a degree, which leads me to wanting to assist you in getting better. Isn't that what you tend to say ? "Getting better together" ?

Awfully long way to walk. I'm always happy to see you, sir. Nice to know there are still some checks and balances present.

oh. oh. eyes snapping shut. do not hit your boss. do not hit your boss. this is how you end up back in the sleep room. deeeeeep breathe. " if those had been my designs, i think i would break every rule set to personally press your head into that shredder. " —

Wh- what did I even do ? I was just giving you advice on how to handle your clear exhaustion. You cry about being tired from working so much, losing your hair from it, and when I bring up solutions that would help you, you get upset. My gods.

...Hendrick ?

i'm not leaving empty-handed, doctor.

Ah. Thank you, sir. You've been awfully active around the medical wings, lately.