4.03: A child psychiatrist's lot is not a happy one.

[nofileext]

*tak*tik*tak*tik*tak*tik*tak*tik*

Newton's Cradle desk ornaments are supposed to be calming. Phong has placed his directly in the child's line of sight, in hopes that this really is effective. Certainly, nothing else has worked in that regard

Comments

[a1enzo]

Matrix is not finding the Newton's Cradle soothing.

"Are we done?" This is really not what he expected when he decided to change his image.

[nofileext]

Oh, how Phong would love for them to be done. However, this is a problem, and while it may be only a small one compared to the rest of what they're facing, it's a rather distracting small problem and they really can't afford that. He rallies for another attempt.

"Well... uhhhhhm... Enzo..."

[a1enzo]

"Matrix."

[nofileext]

"Right! Right, Matrix, well..." The child never used to scowl so. "Uh, this has been a nice little chat." I do not get paid enough for this.

[a1enzo]

You couldn't pay Matrix enough for this even if anyone were inclined to. Fed up, he grabs the Cradle (stopping that crashed clicking) and leans forward with an aggression befitting his new look. "Are we done?!"

[nofileext]

"Done?" In the face of this belligerence, totally unprecedented coming from little Enzo, Phong finally gives in. He's out of ideas, and he has another appointment anyway. "Yes. But..."

[a1enzo]

Alphanumeric! An out! "See ya!" Matrix sprints for the door and out, dashing right past...

[mend_and_defend]

...Phong's 'other appointment,' who blinks in surprise and then turns back into the room.

"Phong? You wanted to see me?"

[nofileext]

"Ah, Bob." Phong manages to keep his voice calm, although in truth he's been dreading this meeting even more than the previous one. "Uh, please, uh, take a seat."

[mend_and_defend]

Bob isn't exactly looking forward to it either. He sits down in the plaid bucket chair in front of the desk (Bob swears the old sprite must see in monochrome, the way he decorates his office), and looks at Phong expectantly.

[nofileext]

When you're old enough to remember when 8-bit colour was the Latest Thing, you see the world a bit differently.

Feeling a need to stall and collect his thoughts, Phong grabs at random one of the inkblot cards still lying on the desk from Enzo's session. "Uh, what do you make of this?" (He can always go all mysterious and claim Bob's answer told him something terribly significant, if necessary.)

[mend_and_defend]

Bob takes the card and studies it for a moment.

"Oh, that's easy. It's, ah, it's Dot... with that haircut she used to have when we first met..." Bob wiggles his fingers downward in front of his forehead, as though to suggest bangs. "And she's smiling."

He hands the card back to Phong.

[nofileext]

Phong looks at the card. Huh. He's right. "Oh! Oh, I see it now."

Okay, no more putting this off. He steels himself to address the issue at hand.

[mend_and_defend]

Bob, meanwhile, is busy inspecting one of the various chemical flasks littering Phong's desk. What in the 'Net is all this stuff and why does he have it lying around?

...he might also possibly be trying to distract himself from what he knows is coming next.

[nofileext]

Enzo-flavoured Jell-O!

Phong takes a deep breath and examines the datapad detailing the Bad News. "My son... I've been going over your scans and I'm afraid there is something terribly wrong."

[mend_and_defend]

"Merging with Glitch didn't work."

It's not a question. Just a statement of fact.