A Scheduled Consult [Arkham]

[sophie]

Sophie huddled in the back seat of the car, hugging her stuffed friend tightly. They were going somewhere...Mom and Dad hadn't said where yet..but they had said they were going to see a doctor. From the conversation she could pick up from between the two, they had apparently missed the pre-arranged visit...and they were going to meet the doctor at his work instead.

The weather outside the car matched her feelings...rainy and gloomy. It was late evening...she didn't understand why they had to go so late...she didn't want to be out at night..too many things happened in the dark. Scary people, scary things. She hadn't had her medicine in about 2 hours...but it usually lasted three or four. She hoped Mom wouldn't forget...
~~~~
Sophie stared as they pulled up to Arkham..the rain and gloom only made it seem that much more foreboding...she had a sudden flashback to years before..when they had brought her to an institution, after she had been in the hospital. But that was before they had gotten better medicine...she was okay now. But still, the nagging feeling that she was going to be left here was too strong to dismiss...she didn't want to stay here..

She sat with her parents, one on either side of her, hugging her Penguin until one of the orderlies told her to follow him. She looked at her parents, and then stood, following him to a room. It had two chairs and a table. She waited until the orderly left, and then scooted one chair into the corner, sitting on it and curling up as much as she could. Penguin was held close as she stared at the door. Someone was coming....

[Jeremiah Arkham - Black Mask]

“Arkham, there's a Sophie Leanne here to see you. She's in consultation room 32. Her parents are in the waiting area.”

Jeremiah glanced up frim his work at his computer. He smiled and pressed the button on his office phone. “Thank you. I'll be on my way there shortly.” Yes, Ms. Leanne. They had been unable to make the other appointment elsewhere and so he'd asked them to come to the Asylum, since it was the only place he could see her on such short notice. He stood from his office chair and pulled on his labcoat. He then grabbed his tape recorder, made sure the tape inside was unused, and subsequently left his office.

He had to have a quick word with the parents before he made his way to the session room.

Jeremiah knew how uncomfortable the young woman felt being here, in an asylum. He was aware of her prior institutionalization and had hoped to have had at least their first meeting outside the obviously clinical environment, but things such as they were, it was now unavoidable. He would have to tread carefully and treat the girl delicately. There was no need for her to be afraid of him or the hospital. With that in mind he turned on his tape recorder before he knocked on the door, gently rapping before he opened it and peered inside.

To find Sophie curled into the chair which she'd moved to the corner was not surprising. It gave her control and the penguin clutched in her arms gave her comfort. He slowly entered the room and smiled pleasantly.

“You must be Sophie,” he entreated gently, moving not towards her, but instead taking the seat at the table that was meant to be his. “You can stay over there as long as you like. You can come over here whenever your comfortable. I'm Dr. Arkham and I've been looking forward to meeting you.” He folded his hands atop the table. “There's no need to be frightened, I'm here to admit you. You won't be going to the hospital. I just had to meet you here. I know you don't like hospitals and I'm sorry about that.”

[sophie]

Sophie had closed her eyes, as if taking a nap, hugging Penguin close. The moment right before the the knock on the door, before it opened, she knew someone was there. Her eyes opened, and she watched the person walk into the room. White coat, glasses...nothing different from the last one. His voice, however...it was different. She watched this man, this doctor, curiously, but wary. What was he going to do next?

She hugged Penguin closer, looking at the doctor as he spoke. He was being nice, that much she could tell. He wasn't like the others, who told you to talk to them, tried to make the person interact. He was simply telling her what he felt she should know.

Dr. Arkham...like the name of this place? She filed this away for later, keeping her eyes on the man who was sitting down at the table. She drew her legs in closer, re-settling. She wasn't sure she wanted to say anything yet. If she did, he might expect more from her, some sort of proof for the reason she had been brought here. She didn't want to go there yet..

[Jeremiah Arkham - Black Mask]

Jeremiah watched the young woman open her eyes. Her parents had been correct, she certainly looked much younger than her nineteen years, and she did look frightened, but he could see just a little openness in her gaze, but it was out of intrigue. He offered a small smile and a nod.

“Well, hi there, I see you’ve at least decided to look at me,” he chuckled, “I know I’m not much to look at, just another doctor, but please, Sophie, no need to speak to me if you don’t wish to. We can spend this session with you not saying anything if you don’t wish to. I just wanted to meet you. That’s it. Your parents told me you moved here recently and that you’d be needing another doctor.”

His tone was friendly and he felt friendly. There was no faux kindness in his voice. “They also told me you were set to attend Gotham University? That’s very good, it’s a nice school. I went there a long, long time ago. I’m kinda old if you’ve not noticed.” He snickered at himself and shuffled a few papers about. “I guess I can just explain what will be happening from now on, alright? You can just nod; I just want to make sure you understand.” He wanted her to be sure she understood what would happen now that she was his patient. He didn’t want to take her off guard with anything.

[sophie]

Sophie curled up a bit more in the chair, keeping her gaze on Arkham. He was making her curious, but she wasn't about to get any closer to him at the moment. The memories of the last time she had been in a room with one were still in her head.

She listened to him speak, tilting her head just a little, watching him over Penguin's head. Her chin rested on the fluffy stuffed head, supporting and comforting. He was telling her what he knew, what he understood so far, and he wanted her to show she understood him. Content just to listen, she nodded, as he asked. She did want to ask him one question, though...but not yet. The matter of her medicine could wait a bit longer..she had become accustomed to the feelings of it wearing off, so she would know when it was no longer working.