(no subject)

[purple_reign]

WHO: Inanna and YOU
WHERE: Various, mostly Maurtia Falls
WHEN: Throughout March
WHAT: March Catch-all w/open prompts. Lemme know if you want something specific.
WARNINGS: Discussions of depression, violence, emotional abuse/manipulation

A. The Hotel Castille Lounge
[Inanna's draped themself across one of the opulent chairs that dot the hotel's lounge. There's a brightly colored, sparkling drink set on the table beside them; something they wandered away from the bar with. Are drinks supposed to stay in the bar? Probably, but the chairs at the bar aren't nearly as comfortable to sprawl across. In addition to the drink they've got a few folders stuffed with papers sitting on the seat beside them and one spread open in their lap that they're reading through. Whatever's written on the pages looks very dense and probably boring.]

B. Maurtia Falls Park
[It's a wonderful evening; clear, bright, and still just too cold for Inanna to spend a night outdoors. Instead, they've found a cafe with a massive front window to enjoy the evening from. There's bar seating running across the length of the window, and Inanna's picked out a spot right in the middle of it to nurse a cup of coffee at while they watch the stars slowly make their way across the sky outside.]

Comments

For Chilton

[purple_reign]

[It's a crisp morning when Inanna appears at Chilton's office—quite literally, in fact. They shimmer right into the waiting room in their typical cloud of purple and white stardust and, after a few minutes spent chatting with the receptionist that may or may not have ended with making a date, manage to check in for an appointment. That done, it's just a matter of waiting to be called back.]

[slightlyoffchilt]

[When Inanna was called into his office -- by that same receptionist, after Chilton had buzzed to indicate he was ready -- the doctor was at his formidable wooden desk, his spine straight and both hands folded together on top of the desk. He cocked his head, his focus on Inanna. The smile on his mouth was a sincere and interested one.

Two seating options displayed in wait: one was an uncomfortable, oaken chair and the other was a soft blue sedan. Both were angled to face Chilton's desk and high-backed leather seat.]

Please -- make yourself comfortable.

[purple_reign]

[Inanna, of course, picks the soft blue option, lounging on it with an easy, comfortable air. As comfortable as one can be in a first meeting with a therapist, anyway. There is a little tension in their shoulders and at the corners of their eyes, but Inanna's doing a fairly decent job of masking it.]

Does anyone really ever choose the other chair?

[slightlyoffchilt]

A few.

[He said, his eyes flickering over the rejected chair. Typically those who proved to be defiant, those patients who were too stubborn to work with Chilton... Those who required a leather clad hand.

His little test.]

But I would much rather talk about you, Inanna. I appreciate your presence here -- as a primer, why don't we discuss how you have been feeling about your relationships as of late?

[purple_reign]

My relationships?

[They give him a blank look while a dozen different answers flit through their head. It wasn't what they'd really come to talk about, but it was a good way to get things started.]

Well...my boyfriend isn't here, unfortunately, so that's it for romantic relationships. As for my friendships... [They trail off with a thoughtful hum.] The most significant feeling I've had about them is worry lately, I suppose. They all have a... Quite a lot going on in their lives.

—Although I think I've settled one of Persephone's problems, finally. We were having some difficulty with the Nonah ambassador that was becoming a serious problem, but I visited him for a talk and I think he has a better understanding of us now. Hopefully we won't have to worry about him again.

[slightlyoffchilt]

You seem to be something of a steadying force for your friends. A problem-solver. [Phrased neither as compliment nor judgement, just a piece of observed factual information.] A mediator. And I know they must appreciate you for that.

[Inanna, at least to Chilton's determination, was too confident and self-aware to let someone take advantage of them. If they weren't appreciated for their devotion and care, if they felt slighted, they would do something about it.]

That being said, do you feel that you are being heard? Concerning the things going on in your life?

[While Chilton did not doubt Inanna's capability to stand up for themselves, this dynamic was worth discussing.]

There is more, I imagine, than your state of worry.

[purple_reign]

Well, I try to be... [It didn't always work out that way, of course. Some problems were just too big or complicated to handle alone, even for a goddess. Sometimes, unfortunately, all there was to do was to offer a comforting shoulder.

At the next question they offer up a somewhat sheepish smile.]

I...think that I am when I talk about them. They're always happy to hear when things are going well for me, and Persephone's tried a few times to talk about my...problems. But... [That smile fades a bit, and they rub the back of their neck in a nervous gesture.]

I don't like to talk about it with her. Or any of my friends, honestly. They have so much to deal with already. I don't want to add to it.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Of course, that only makes sense. You are quite conscious of their respective situations.

[A smile to fit that easygoing mood; Inanna wasn't an obstinate patient, they knew why they wanted to be there. Just a little guidance was necessary, that's all. Chilton leaned back in his chair, his shoulders relaxing. The pale blue accents of the office seemed more vibrant in contrast with the black and gold, more soothing and comforting.

More open.]

What problems? The problems you mention, you can discuss them here if you'd like. With me.

[purple_reign]

It's complicated.

[They sigh and lean back in the chair, glancing up at the ceiling to gather their thoughts. And maybe to steel themselves for the discussion this was going to trigger.]

We—The Pantheon. We had a matriarch. Someone who found each of us and gave us guidance, cared about us, understood us when humans couldn't. And in the end she...betrayed us. [To put it lightly.]

For Dooku

[purple_reign]

[Inanna's been looking forward to meeting with The Count again after their last talk. It'd taken a little while to find the time for it, especially with the sudden extra work they've had to prepare for their new show, but they finally managed to clear their schedule for tonight. The goddess managed to get reservations at a rather classy Mediterranean restaurant, even securing a quiet table near the back of the establishment of the building for it. Dooku had seemed to want a little privacy for the talk, and Inanna wanted to do their best to respect that.

Now Inanna's sitting at the booth in question, chatting brightly with a passing waitress while they wait for Dooku to arrive.]

[dun_moch]

[The Count arrives punctually, mildly surprised to see Inanna chatting with such engagement with a server. He never talks to wait staff more than is strictly necessary, and is used to surrounding himself with wealthy people of a similar disposition. But Inanna is different. At the least, they seem to have good taste in restaurants- Dooku looks around approvingly at the surrounding decor before taking a seat.]

Good evening, Inanna. I trust you are well.

[purple_reign]

Count! [Inanna brightens when the spot him. They knew he'd show, of course, but it's always nice to see someone you've been waiting to meet. They're quick to wrap up the chat with the waitress now that Dooku's arrived, sending her off with their number of course.]

I'm lovely, thank you. It's good to see you again.

[dun_moch]

[Something in Dooku cringes from the brightness and friendliness in Inanna like a vampire before a cross. But it's deep inside, well-hidden, far beyond the smile he shows.]

The pleasure is mine, I assure you. You've chosen a fine restaurant for us, this evening. I look forward to seeing if their meals match their decor.

[He does not particularly care about the food or the decor. But a Count learns at a very early age that this kind of empty small talk is almost as important as the actual content of what meetings like this are supposed to discuss.]

[purple_reign]

[It's a brightness he'll have to get used to. Even once Inanna calms down for some casual talk, that genuine warmth never really fades.]

I haven't been here before, but all the reviews I read had good things to say. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[dun_moch]

[Ugh. The things he puts up with for the pursuit of power.]

I'm sure you're right. We can look forward to a fine meal. Shall we order right away? Or begin to discuss business?

[He'll let Inanna take the lead on this little decision before they move to the bigger ones.]

[purple_reign]

I suppose we should get the ordering done so we don't have to worry about any interruptions.

[That seemed like the proper etiquette, they thought. Probably. To be perfectly honest they had no idea, but it sounded like the sort of thing Baal would have done.]

[dun_moch]

As you wish, then.

[The Count quickly scans the menu, not feeling terribly picky tonight.]

I believe I will have the Riviera Salmon tonight. And yourself, Inanna?

[fourlevels]

[ Viktor had called Inanna a day or so ago to see if they were available and if they still wanted to see Viktor skate, and so here he was lacing up his skates just minutes before his booked private session began when the rink officially opened at 8am. He's just finishing with the first when he hears the doors to the rink area open, glancing up and waving to Inanna.

Viktor looks just a bit thinner than Inanna remembers, but it has been a while since they last saw or spoke in person. Maybe Inanna's just misremembering. Or it could be the clothes he's wearing too, seemingly too thin to provide much warmth in a literal ice box; the black, half-sleeve v-neck shirt also does nothing to hide the wrapped, white bandage on one forearm either, but it doesn't appear to impede Viktor's movement at least. ]

Inanna! Hi~

[purple_reign]

Viktor! [Inanna smiles—beams, is more like it—in a return of Viktor's warm greeting. There's a slight quirk to the corner of their mouth as they take in his appearance before deciding it must be the oddly light clothing confusing them. Nothing to worry about.

That bandage on the other hand... They tilt their head and gesture at it.]

How's your arm?

[fourlevels]

Ah, mostly healed, thankfully. I just put this on so the antibiotic cream won't dry out or chap the skin around it.

[ That and he forgot to do his laundry so he didn't have any clean shirts with long sleeves to cover it instead, but shh. ]

[purple_reign]

Oh, that's a relief. I admit I had wondered about it when you invited me to watch you today. I wasn't sure how serious it had been.

[And based on Yuuri and Viktor's mood the last time Inanna had seen them it could have been anything from superficial but alarming to an actually serious wound.]

[fourlevels]

Fortunately, it was just a flesh wound; no muscles or tendons cut, just a bit of tightness as it heals and an unpleasant scar to come.

[ Plus the unseen scar from the shock of the event, but Viktor's certainly not going to mention it. He felt he said too much already to Inanna at the time.

He leans over to start lacing up his other skate. ]

But thanks for agreeing to this morning. I wasn't sure if you'd be up as early as I usually am just to watch someone dance on ice.

[purple_reign]

[They saunter up to the dividing wall to lean against it while Viktor finishes getting himself ready.]

I am the morning star. And the evening. I can be up whenever you'd like me to be.

[fourlevels]

[ Viktor laughs, the sound carrying easily over the ice in the cold air. ]

That's true, isn't it? I hadn't thought of it like that. Do you even need sleep?

[purple_reign]

A little. I do get tired if I stay awake for too long, but I've never tried to see how far I can push it before.