[video]

[myownbestfriend]

[When last Emma graced the network, she had been looking for a salon, and either found one or is making do brilliantly, because she's as put together as ever, though this time her expression is more serious.]

It's come to my attention that the late Dr. Lecter was a psychiatrist. If any of his patients want to continue counseling, I'm a licensed therapist. [Sex therapy totally counts.] I don't actively practice anymore--I'm a schoolteacher--but I'd be willing to hold sessions if there's a need.

[She pauses and her expression gets a bit wry.]

It's entirely understandable if the man damaged anyone's opinion of the profession, but I assure you, we're not all serial killers.

[History of supervillainry and general manipulativeness aside, Emma is in fact a perfectly good therapist if she isn't trying to break up your marriage.]

Comments

audio;

[amonfire]

I wasn't all-too familiar with the field in the first place to allow his...stunning deposition of the Emperor to cloud my opinion of his professional ilk.

[ There's a pause because admitting he doesn't know a thing is always going to take him a minute. ]

To be honest, modern psychiatry is new to me period.

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[myownbestfriend]

[Emma switches to audio; like hell is she video-chatting with a blank screen.]

I'm a therapist, not a psychiatrist--psychiatrists are medical doctors. I'm simply trained in psychology.

[But she can basically command your brain to produce dopamine if she wants, so that's a thing.]

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[amonfire]

Still, I defer to your knowledge on the subject. [ Slowly, veeeeery slowly he bites the bullet. ] If you're already willing to take on Lecter's caseload, would you be willing to add one more to the pile? I...owe it to someone to entertain the idea.

video; batcrypted 100% (I promised a bat brat, and here I deliver.)

[demon_brat]

No, he is merely the last confirmation in a long line, from 'the profession.'

[ There is a little grump, there, well, as grumpy as having Taraja around is letting him, anymore. But a she, a blonde, and a psychiatrist? Damian is sufficiently suspicious already. ]

Especially with somebody who considered finding a salon the most important thing, upon finding herself in a new place.

[ Oh, yes, he saw that, too. Not the first impression of somebody who is supposed to be relied on. ]

video; batcrypted 100% damian u lil shit

[myownbestfriend]

[Emma's better with computers than she bothers to let on; in her line of work, there's generally someone even better around on whom she can pawn off any tedious programming work. But it does mean she notices things like perfect encryption.]

That's a very impressive bit of encryption, young man. Did you do it yourself?

[Not sarcasm. There are a lot of creepily smart kids where she's from.]

video; batcrypted 100% Right here!

[demon_brat]

Of course not.

[ ... Some things don't get exactly delegated. Damian has his own encryptions - this one simply wasn't meant to be... kept away from family. Not even as an attempt. ]

I have been allowed to use it.

Why are you interested in interfering with people's heads?

[ For a little bit, Terrence Ward almost convinced Damian that there might be some reason for that. But, in the light of the latest 'actually a psychopath' shrink around - well. He is suspicious. ]

[angermanaging]

I still can't believe he was a psychiatrist. [Bruce can't help looking somewhat disgusted, but he's comfortable, unstressed, as he sits back in his chair in front of the console.]

Well... I can believe it. The last one I met was-- not that bad, but not trustworthy. [He doesn't often think about Samson, but with what Betty had told him (the other Betty)...

Bruce refocuses. Apparently sincerely, he adds,] It's a kind offer for you to make.

[myownbestfriend]

[The man is familiar, though Emma doesn't know her universe's Banner well enough to make the connection, at least not immediately, and she switches to social autopilot while she sorts through memories and psychic impressions with cool and invisible efficiency.]

It's an unusual career for sociopaths, high-functioning or otherwise. Usually they can't fake empathy on the long term, and most of the ones smart enough to stay out of jail end up in business or investment banking. Bad psychiatrists tend to be more or less psychologically normal, just unethical.

[She smiles, not very warmly, more an acknowledgment of the compliment.]

It's not my preferred profession, but it looks like I'm the only qualified therapist here anymore, and god knows people seem to need one, assuming they haven't written off psychology entirely.

[When not under the influence of crushing survivor guilt or immensely powerful malevolent psychic entities, Emma's actually an ethical therapist, but getting people back home to believe that has been something of an uphill battle. I can't imagine why.]

[angermanaging]

I've never put that much thought into sociopaths before. Or psychology. [He has enough problems without trying to start getting into the psychology of it. Maybe that's been a mistake, but it's a mistake Bruce is steadfast about maintaining.

That doesn't mean he thinks everyone else should be ignoring their mental health, and those around them. His circumstances are just unique.]

Yeah, I-- think you'll have a monopoly on it. But I hope you have a good poker face. Some of the other worlds that are represented here are... incredible. [He doesn't say incredible like it's a compliment, but like it's truly not credible.]

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[iguanasolution]

I wasn't a patient of his [Even though he considered it when he lost his voice, and now he shudders at the thought] but I'm sure those who did will appreciate the offer. If they aren't scared for life.

What's your specialty?

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[myownbestfriend]

[If he ever loses his voice again, that's no big deal when your therapist is a telepath!]

Unfortunately, the best way to avoid being scarred for life by a bad therapist is to find a good one.

[Minds, how do they fucking work.]

I specialize in adolescents, trauma, marginalized populations, and sex therapy.

[One of these things is not like the goddamn others, Emma.]

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[iguanasolution]

Well, then I'm sure you won't have a shortage of patients around here.

[Because he did notice that last one, but he's not going to ask. And he's really happy with his girlfriend but not quite there yet.

But then, after a pause.] 'Marginalized populations'?

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[isnotokay]

[ Annie's not from a place where therapy is a thing, but what she does get out of this seems worth comment on. ]

If one murderer makes a difference where it comes to doctors, you have bigger problems. Or maybe it's just human nature, deciding something like that so arbitrarily.

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[myownbestfriend]

Ninety percent of the iceberg is underwater and all that.

[She waves a gloved hand airily, then becomes serious.]

Despite what we tell ourselves, we are not rational creatures.

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[isnotokay]

[ 'Iceburg'? She's not sure what that reference is. Her faint puzzlement is put off to the side. ]

It sounds difficult, dealing with a situation where people have decided you're something dangerous. Being a school teacher seems like a much better choice in that case.

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[iwannabeadragon]

In my experience I've found that it's generally not a good thing when you have to reassure people that you're not a lunatic.

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[myownbestfriend]

Do you often find yourself forced to reassure people you're not a lunatic? Perhaps you'd like to discuss how that makes you feel.

[Emma is a god-tier troll too, Hawke. She's just more refined about it.]

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[iwannabeadragon]

[A battle of the trolls? So be it Emma.]

Not really, I find all I have to do is look around and everyone else does it for me.

[Video]

[spideyfanone]

[He's just chiming in to chat, really. Emma's is the only familiar face here that isn't his own (which is just awkward), and he's pretty copacetic with otherworldly variants. Besides, she's definitely easier to get along with than Emmeline.]

That's kinda a big workload there, Miz Frost. Get a bunch of weirdos from a million realities together an' pretty much everybody's messed up.

[Video]

[myownbestfriend]

[Oh, hello baby Kurt.]

I doubt I'll be overwhelmed. Getting most people into therapy is like pulling teeth.

[spideyfanone]

Huh. Well, I guess if it's anything like the counselor's office, that makes sense.

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[relatable]

He was a good psychiatrist, whatever else he did. [Mind you some of his best techniques weren't... exactly legal.]

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[myownbestfriend]

[Emma could probably bump that encryption a little higher, but she doesn't see the need.]

Are you defending him out of a sense of fair play, or is it something else?

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[definingfuture]

Very convincing. Although I'm not sure the timing is in your best interest.

[Just saying.]

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[myownbestfriend]

[Well, she certainly can't improve that encryption.]

Your paranoia is showing, Anthony. Very unbecoming.

[As though Emma doesn't already suspect the worst of everyone.]