surprised it took this long

[Asano Anri]

Anri smiled, unable to resist the feeling of fondness relatable registering on their face and reaching their eyes, knowing how love looked. Their smile faltered for a moment when the memory of warm laughter reaches their mind. A slight panic erupts in hopes that they didn't project just then, maintaining a professional composure. There's a breif cough to clear their throat before they speak. "It sounds like you had fun on that date still." Glancing down at the file they had on them, they placed it onto their desk as Zoe spoke, keeping attention all the while as they looked back. The frown that Zoe had reflected back on something else unmentioned, Anri watched. Another smile. The sudden optimistic tone Zoe took on began to mirror on their own, edging along their words. "You and Devyn have been dating for some months now, yes? She makes you happy." An observational comment. Anri leans in just a bit, pen balancing still in between fingers. "How would you describe her?"

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe nodded: they had been dating for a while. "We met shortly after I got here," she explained, though she did realize that probably sounded a little bad, so she flushed. She waited while Anri continued, asking about the relationship, how she'd describe Devyn.

Zoe chewed at her lip, looking up for a moment while she tried to think about it. "She's very protective," she said, "almost violently so. Quite passionate in, well, um, everything," another quick flush there, with Zoe looking away for a moment. "I know she likes me and, well, finds me attractive: she's been quite clear on that. We were actually friends before we became something... more. I told her I loved her a while ago, though it, uh, didn't go well,' another look away, some lip chewing and squirming, "she hasn't said it back."

Which worried Zoe more than she cared to admit, though she wasn't sure she should really admit that to Dr. Anri. Was it relevant? The doctor probably wasn't there to play matchmaker or couples counselor or anything like that.

[Asano Anri]

Anri didn't really know what to say in response to that. It takes a moment for Anri to regain their focus on the current situation, to do something else other than think thoughtlessly and smile. Softer tones voice, softer smile. "You should work it out between the two of you. I wouldn't worry too much about the actual words so much as what she's saying both wordlessly and verbally articulating." They feel a bit distant from their body for a moment, unable to correlate their current existence and feelings to what was taking form in their mind right now. It feels very strange, almost reminiscent. "You'll know when you can see and hear it in her, and not just from her. .. If you understand what I mean?"

Anri feels like they're talking to the person they were almost ten years ago with that sort of advice falling from their lips. It makes Anri just a bit nervous, their fingers twirling with the pen occupying their hands. They second guess themself for a moment--I took my medication today, haven't I?--knowing full well that they had proceeded through the entirety of their day without issue. So why were they beginning to break face now? It wasn't that they felt obligated to say what they said like that--like advice, because they weren't really good with this sort of thing--but it just sort of.. erupts out of them unexpectedly. Whether it was because they could relate and understand, or otherwise, was yet to be completely processed. It's strange, for the most part. They don't seem too bothered on the surface for the most part.

".. I feel that's great progress that you've been moving past the Lesbian Pikachu incident, especially if you feel that the public is beginning to forgive you too." Anri comments, tries to distract themself temporarily, "it means progress not only for yourself, but perhaps for how the public may view mutants in general, for those who wish to be able to focus on more important aspects of their lives--like their relationships and the like," Anri interjects. "Instead of this.." They try searching for the right word and thinks that they could pinpoint it somewhere. "Controversy. I'd suppose. Your thoughts on the matter, Zoe?"

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Dr. Anri's advice had the ring of personal experience within it, a modulation that Zoe heard though she elected not to comment on for the time being. Know when she saw and heard; that had her nodding, even smiling a little. She knew that Devyn cared for her, cared deeply, though even Zoe couldn't say with any real certainty whether that caring had become something more. She'd have to look a little deeper the next time they were together, see if there was possibly something more there, something underneath it all.

Dr. Anri's other comments drew Zoe's attention to other things. She found herself nodding yet again as Dr. Anri complimented her upon moving past, even allowing herself another real smile. Progress all around. Zoe waited until Dr. Anri finished, a little surprised at the next question. She sat there, looking at the doctor, blinking a few times, wondering how exactly she should continue.

"I, um, I'm not sure?" she tried, fidgeting a bit. "I think that most of the public knows that we're not really violent or anything, after the attack," she looked away. Zoe hadn't been present or part of that attack; she'd already been in the infirmary recuperating from her own encounter. Devyn had been there, been part of the strike time, "distracting" guards with guns. Zoe hadn't really asked about that, and she wasn't sure Devyn would've talked about it if she had.

"I just know that people don't seem to hate me any more. And I got a new camera from home, along with something saying that the rest of my stuff might follow," she offered. Zoe didn't want to think about the fact that they were sending things instead of coming to see her. She simply wasn't sure what to make of all that, and she didn't really want to bring it up with the doctor until she knew for certain one way or the other.

[Asano Anri]

"That's a bit good too. Your family is reaching out to you after the incident as well." Anri commented, noting how Zoe seemed to ease back into expressions of being uncomfortable with the topic being mentioned, doubt clear and troubled even more so present. Anri decides not to push it too much considering her reactions earlier. They decide to change the focus of the topic again. If Zoe would like to continue sessions, they could perhaps get deeper into her relationship with her family, but for now.. "I find it interesting that you were sent a camera. Are you into photography?"

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe nodded. Yes, her family, or at least someone in her family, was attempting to reach out to her. It lifted Zoe's spirits just to think about it, and knowing that Dr. Anri thought it to be a good thing as well buoyed her further still. Perhaps it wouldn't be too foolish to hope that something might be restored once again.

The conversation moved slightly, and Zoe looked up at Dr. Anri, blinking slightly, her head tilted. "Yes, my main hobby is photography," she replied. Didn't that end up in her file too? Maybe Dr. Anri just wanted to hear it from Zoe, or maybe the doctor liked hearing it from her patients or something. "I actually take pictures and then write poetry on them, usually about the passing moment in time or about the people in the photograph," Zoe nodded, then considered something a moment before saying it: "The school has actually offered to buy some of my film so long as I take regular pictures for them," she said, smiling. It was another good development, and Zoe certainly wanted to linger upon those as much as she could.

[Asano Anri]

"A quite creative hobby." They commented briefly, hands shifting around slightly. Anri found the fact to be quite interesting. It wasn't the typical hobby, though rather a combination of two, photography and poetry. It seemed suited to Zoe's person, not for any logical reasoning, but from how it now became associated with her existence now in Anri's mind. Where Zoe, who was defined by their medical history and what incidents they were involved in that were documented on paper in their file, changed and shifted over to a more realistic young woman who slightly troubled by some issues and was seeing them for it. Seeing Zoe's slight confusion at the question, Anri doesn't say anything about it as Zoe continued on. School and her film, regular pictures and profit. It seemed like quite the promising situation. Things seemed to have taken on a rather positive development in Zoe's life. There was still something to be considered in Zoe's past in Anri's mind, but it was Zoe's business for now. "What kind of pictures have you taken for the school so far?" Anri smiles, interest invested in trying to see and understand the entirety of who this young woman was in front of them. "If you wouldn't mind me asking." They quickly add.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe smiled at the compliment of her hobby. Easy to accept compliments about it; she'd been working hard, and she knew it showed. Zoe was tempted to continue, to tell Dr. Anri that she hoped to actually make a career out of photography, one way or the other. However, the doctor took the conversation in a slightly different direction, one that still had Zoe smiling, though this time with an added shrug.

"Nothing too outrageous. It's mostly been shots of the school and the students, well, being themselves," Zoe gestured toward the window, as if her subjects would suddenly line up and smile. "Sometimes I ask them to pose or what have you, othertimes I catch them in the middle of just being themselves. I've also taken some pictures of various people using their powers, usually for art and the like. I can bring some to you, if you'd like? The school doesn't take all of them."

And as Zoe used traditional film, she certainly had a few copies of everything. Most of them were mosaics on her wall, but that didn't mean she couldn't grab something. It struck her that this probably would be an excellent idea. Zoe seemed to recall seeing therapists and the like looking at the art of their subjects. So in that respect, Zoe was actually ahead of the game, and it felt nice to be somewhat prepared, though she did immediately worry about therapy being one of those things she had prepared herself for.

[Asano Anri]

Anri couldn't help but be quite happy, if words were to be suited best to how they were feeling right now, about how Zoe's nervousness seemed to have melted away as she talked about her photography-poetry hobby. It certainly brought out a bit of more confident face than what she had been wearing for the most of the early part of this session. It brought a slight comfort to Anri's mind. "I'd like that, if you'd like to bring them to another session or whenever you may have the time, Zoe. It certainly seems to make you happy too." They comment. A slight chuckle that breathes out of them; a broad smile on Anri's face. The pen in their hands stops twirling as another train of thought comes to mind. It's a moment or two before Anri straightens up their posture from where they had eased into, forgotten in conversation, remembering something as it hits them.

"In fact, speaking of sessions," their hands reach for the papers in the file that they haven't touched until now. They find what they're looking for, and pick up to extend it a bit towards Zoe. "If you'd like to continue having sessions, you could fill out some paperwork to see me regularly. If you feel that you may need it, that is. Seeing as you're eighteen, it would be your decision alone and wouldn't require any paperwork of approval from your guardians and or family." Anri pauses, finishes a thought and considers how this may work out. "If you were to ask me, I'd encourage it to help you understand how to approach the situation with your past and your family. It would seem that there's a bit of tension there."

Anri had a slight idea of what could have left the two parties in be in such an estranged state, when considering the picture of how Zoe's relationship with another young woman could possibly relate to Zoe's relationship with her family, but Anri didn't want to conclude too quickly. "Of course, it'd be up to you, Zoe, to decide the schedule and the like. I'd be paid by your insurance, most likely. But I don't want to force you into therapeutic sessions if you feel uncomfortable with the idea." Anri smiles, a bit gently and rather prepared to understand if Zoe were to decline. Having forced an appointment to meet with the girl already, it'd be very much so understandable.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe nodded assuredly, smiling as she spoke: "I'd love to. If you wouldn't mind, I'd love to take pictures of you as well. You're quite striking," Zoe paused to look at Dr. Anri, her skilled eyes taking in the doctor, noting cheekbones and the way the light hit her and everything. Yes, the doctor certainly looked like an excellent subject, even as they spoke of various sections. Zoe's attention went to the papers then, nodding and reaching for them. Eighteen, offered, and it did sound good. Zoe thought she had some kind of insurance plan still in place from her family, or possibly something through the school. If nothing else, the school had agreed to pay for any necessary bills following her shooting; they pretty well had to, all things considered.

This, Zoe figured she should share; "The school has actually volunteered to pay any costs," she frowned a little, "as, well, I was shot while under their protection," for the first time in a while, a bit of malice crept into Zoe's tone. She should've been safe; she'd been on or near school land, with a school guardian... but she was safe; she was sitting there, more or less whole, with only a slight physical scar and just more mental scars overlaying her already scarred landscape.

"I'd certainly appreciate more sessions," she said, focusing back on Dr. Anri. "I think... that I'll be able to... talk more when, if I get to know you a little better,' she flushed then, looking away. Probably not the best thing to say but, well, Zoe was shy; she'd just met the doctor. Hard to unload heavy personal stuff, even to someone trained to hear it.

[Asano Anri]

"It takes time to be able to talk about it." Anri smiles, nods. "I understand." It wasn't that they expected for Zoe to open up immediately, because granted, being able to get through such incidents took time to not only heal from them, but to make sense of them as well. This was their job. They'd suppose that opening that can of snakes should be done at Zoe's own pace, seeing as it was her own can.

Processing what Zoe has told them, it shows through a brief moment of their eyes' focus flittering on Zoe's face and her manner, before stopping to glance down at the file and then their desk to find their planner. A black book, velvet on its covers and lined pages and dates on the inside. They look up from the bland planner, new and hardly used just yet, towards Zoe again with the smile still present, pen in hand. "I'm not very aware of how your schedule works throughout the week just yet. I'm available during school hours as long as school is open, but I also do house-calls and depending if you and I think that it would be suitable, outside and in the town as well for public therapy, of sorts." Rattling off what they managed to know what was possible for Zoe to schedule in, Anri twirled their pen around off mindedly, eyes still watching Zoe. "I'd suggest every week, or whenever."

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe waited patiently while Dr. Anri processed everything. She leaned back in the chair, almost surprised to find that she felt more relaxed now than she had when she'd walked in the door. The doctor seemed to listen, and there was something about them that had Zoe intrigued and ready to listen further. Soon Dr. Anri started talking again, and once more Zoe found herself leaning forward, listening intently.

"I'm sure I can make adjustments for whenever works best," said Zoe. She paused, realizing that perhaps she should be more assertive, or at least offer some sort of suggestion or recommendation. "I'd prefer to meet on Fridays, I think. that would give me a whole week's worth of stuff to encounter and sort through, and, well, I usually have Fridays free..." unless Devyn wanted to do something. Though Zoe could just tell her girlfriend that she'd started getting weekly therapy. Though Zoe was fairly certain that Devyn's response would be something along the lines of "you need it."

"Would---would that work?" Zoe asked Dr. Anri, nerves over having to explain this to her girlfriend momentarily trickling into the present.

[Asano Anri]

Anri noted a quite significant change in how Zoe seemed to carry herself just now, the fluctuation between relaxation and nervousness differed from the topic at hand of course, but in the more shorter moments of breaks in conversation, Zoe's body language was clear in how she seemed to be thinking. Pauses at specific moments; thoughts followed by doubt immediately after. It was certainly helpful, Anri would think, that this session has given Zoe more room to breathe. They'd hope that such progress, while Zoe had already made such significant gain on independently, would continue.

"Fridays are fine." They nod. Maroon red. Anri resists the urge to blink rapidly to clear their vision which, while they'd know to be futile, seems to be on instinct regardless. Their hands scribble down Zoe's name on the first week available to remind themself on the appointment. "We can do a session an hour after you go through your day's classes. Once the school curriculum's classes end for summer break, we can decide on what to do then. Seeing as these sessions will be decided per the week to see if you feel that you can continue with them." Anri looks up from their book, remembering how therapy had worked for them, having found it quite helpful and unrestricting. Their pen jitters just a bit in their fingers from inactivity. "Seeing as this session has lasted almost an hour, we could schedule an hour out of our Fridays per the afternoons to do this again. Is that okay with you?"

Anri pauses, lets the information sink in. "I should also note that each session could change up a bit per the week. It would range between just talking--like today-- to something like simulating therapy, such as working with the arts or possibly interacting with a new environment." Their pen goes back to balancing movements in their hands. Anri adds, "If you're comfortable with that." They smile, waits a moment. "Any questions?"

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe shifted to pull out her phone, wanting to get all this down. She quickly punched in the buttons, plugging things into her schedule. Fridays an hour after school, that should work. There weren't any club meetings or anything along those lines during that time, so nothing would distract Zoe or make her worried.

"That sounds great," she said, nodding and looking up. "Err, should I be saying that about therapy? It feels a little... off." Though then again, perhaps even needing therapy counted as "a little off" in the grand scheme of things. Zoe didn't want to think overmuch about that. This was one of the better things to happen to her, and she already felt better with just the one session.

Dr. Anri continued though, and Zoe soon found herself nodding again. Change them up, sometimes talking, sometimes something more stimulating. Zoe smiled at the latter, nodding yet again. "I think I'd actually prefer those sessions, honestly," she said. She tapped her hand against her phone for a bit, considering. "So those would likely involve my painting or sketching something, I imagine? The art ones, I mean; I'm sure there's plenty of other sessions."

Zoe paused then, considering the situation and trying to think if she had anything else she felt needed to be said. Well, besides her last few questions there. it all felt very cut and dry to her. Except maybe: "What would you like me to call you?"

[Asano Anri]

A quick nod to some statements before they had continued on in the procession of information here and there, a noted pause in between to take in how Zoe was reacting still. Anri doesn't catch Zoe's brief statement about therapy feeling slightly off, and it doesn't sink in until afterwards when they finish talking. However, it's tucked away when the question about as to what to refer to themself as breaks their train of thought. It startles a pause in response, and Anri takes a moment to consider. "Referring to me by last name or with my doctorate title, either or, is fine. Anri is fine between us. Dr. Anri would probably be more.." They tilt their head slightly, staring off at seemingly nothing, further thinking into their statement. They search for a specific word. "Professional. I'd suppose." There's a strange smile that comes along from it. They repeat, "Either or is fine." They follow up with, "Are you fine with me continuing to refer to you by Zoe?"