The Doctor Is [IN]

[ari_v_2_0]

There is, at the top of the main staircase, a heavy oak door with a frosted glass panel, like a monochrome sunset, over the frame. On the door, at eye level, is a brass nameplate. “Ariane Emory, Pysch.,” it says, in deeply engraved letters

Comments

[sweariwontdie]

He knocks on the door timidly. He just had a few questions, honest.

[ari_v_2_0]

Ari finishes turning her page and looks up. "Hello! Come on in."

[sweariwontdie]

Armand enters, still acting a bit shy since he feels he's being intrusive. "Bonjour, Mlle. Emory. I'm Armand St. Just... I wanted to ask you a few questions if you had a moment."

[ari_v_2_0]

"I've got plenty of moments. What did you want to ask?"

[sweariwontdie]

"You work with the mind. Do you know much about memory loss?"

[ari_v_2_0]

"As much as anyone does," Ari says easily, leaning forward a little, "It's not a subject where you can make many reliable generalizations."

[sweariwontdie]

He bites his lip, still not coming far into the room. "I've lost a large chunk of my memory. I don't really want to get everything back. I think some of it... isn't good. Some things came back but someone told me that it was wrong or a sign that I was sick that it didn't come back. Is it? I think I'm happier like this. Is that okay?"

[ari_v_2_0]

“That depends,” Ari says, “Most memory loss that doesn’t have an organic cause is some form of repression - in many cases it’s the mind protecting itself from experiences it doesn’t currently have the resources to handle. Sometimes that can lead to problems later, when the traumatic experience reasserts itself, but it doesn’t necessarily.”

[sweariwontdie]

"I don't want to try to remember." Some of it he truly doesn't want to remember. "But if I don't remember, is that safe? I mean, if I never do."

[ari_v_2_0]

"I don't know if it will be or not," Ari says patiently, "Every case is different. Sometimes it's never a problem, sometimes it becomes one. It all depends on factors so individual that there's really no predicting which it will be."

[sweariwontdie]

It's more than obvious Armand doesn't like that answer. He steps backward, almost leaning against the doorjamb with his head to his chest. "Is there any way to tell before it causes problems?"

[ari_v_2_0]

"No," Ari says, slightly less patiently.

[sweariwontdie]

"I'm sorry for bothering you then."

[ari_v_2_0]

"No trouble. Feel free to come back if you have problems."

[sweariwontdie]

"I hope I don't." His voice is almost wistful, though his expression is dark. "It's peaceful like this."

[ari_v_2_0]

"Glad to know it."