Open

[what_he_needs]

Who: Michael (Michael Brodric) and you
Where: The theater, his office, outside his home, the diner, the asylum, and maybe some other places
When: The duration of the event October 24-28
Rating: PG, will update if necessary
Summary: Michael's new background, and patient list can be found here, plotting post, and the town registry for those that need it. This is an open post for the event.


Option One: Office Hours

[Michael's office is attached to his home, a newly added on section to the house, and after knocking on the door, you'll enter to find one a single room. It's not overly decorated, and the furnishings are simple, and unobtrusive; which allows him to focus, and keep the patient's focus on themselves. His licenses are hung in frames on the wall, and he'll greet you at the door, lead you inside, and gesture towards the couch. If you are new, or a recurring patient, it won't matter. He'll greet you the same.

Then you'll talk.]

Option Two: Weekly Group Meetings

[Once a week, Michael holds a group therapy session at Regan Run's theater. It's a simple setup, much like his office, and the open space lets everyone feel more at ease and less confined. If you come to his group session, anyone at the meeting is allowed to talk, and can share their opinions with the other people in the room.]

[ooc: For this one, it's a bit looser in form, and any comments that are posted can be responded to by any one else that would be at that meeting. Michael will respond to them all, and try to make sure none of the group harrass or make the other members uncomfortable. Basically, this one will be an anyone can jump in and comment, kind of thread.]

Option Three: Day by Day

Day One:
[Michael's life was easy, simple, and he had everything functioning in a well, organized fashion. There's just one problem. His brother. They aren't on bad terms, not necessarily fighting or not getting along, but Michael can't wrap his head around the fact that someone with so much talent, had squandered it all.

It upsets him, and his once typical, and happy, life has met with one kink after another.

If you stumble across Michael today, he may be just coming out of his home, and walking towards his car, or getting out of the car and going into the diner. And his demeanor is that of someone less than pleased, though he'll still be polite.]

Day Two - Three:
[He's feeling better now, strangely and out of the blue, but he welcomes it with a sigh of relief. Michael is starting to think that maybe everything is going to work out, that Gabriel will find a way to be happy, and maybe someday, they'll both be living the lives that Michael hopes for them.

He usually volunteers at the asylum, and he can be going in or coming out when you see him. If you ask, he'll explain why he helps here. Why it's important to him.]

Day Three - Four:
[Michael was walking, just about to reach his house when he felt it. He couldn't explain it if he tried, what it felt like, or even what time it was when it happened, only that he was suddenly two people.

He remembered two separate lives, and each were so bright and vivid that he couldn't tell them apart. Was he Michael Brodric, therapist and resident of Storybrooke, or was he the Archangel Michael. He knew which one sounded less believable, but the memories flashing in front of his eyes were entirely too bold to just brush aside as some sort of mental break.

Michael leans forward and rests his palms on the fence in front of his house, trying to regain control of himself. He needed to find his brother. He needed to find anyone.]

[ooc: I've posted generic starter comments, so that I can keep track of everything. If anyone wants a starter for something specific, or if they have one in mind, let me know.]

Comments

Office Hours

[what_he_needs]

[New or recurring patients are welcome. Just knock, and he'll let you in.]

[vampdetective]

[He doesn't want to be here. There are no words for how much he doesn't want to be here, but after getting thrown in the drunk tank after his third bar brawl this month, anger management has been mandated. He knows he's not the only one who's had the cuffs slapped on him when it comes to this kind of crap -- Liam is pretty damn sure his usual drinking buddy is required to go through this as well, but like hell he's talking to him about it.

He sighs, paperwork in hand, and knocks. Better to get this over with as quickly as possible. Put in the time, have the shrink sign the sheet, stay out of jail for another week.

Or, knowing him, until he picks his next fight.]

[what_he_needs]

[Michael stands at the knock, puts on his professional face, and opens the door.]

Hello.

[He sees the familiar paperwork, it's not his first time with court referred patients, and he nods in understanding. Michael reaches out for the papers with one hand, extending the other to be shaken.]

I'm Michael. Why don't I take those, and you come inside?

[vampdetective]

Liam.

[It comes out sharp, curt, but he relaxes a tiny bit as he hands the papers over, glad to be free of them before he reaches to take the offered hand, giving it a firm shake.]

Thanks.

[He steps through at Michael's request, quickly appraising the place as he heads over to help himself to a seat.]

Nice office.

[what_he_needs]

Thank you.

[Michael moves over to his desk, setting the papers down at its center. He gestures towards the seating arranged around his office. A couch, a few chairs of varying sizes, which allowed his patients to get comfortable.]

If you want to choose a seat, we can get started.

[vampdetective]

[He settles in, having already planned to help himself even before the invitation, and leans back in his chair just far enough that he's slouching rather than sitting up straight, his arms outstretched and taking advantage of the chair's armrests.]

Think this'll do.

[He shifts a little, surliness barely restrained.]

I'm sure they already called ahead and filled you in on everything.

[Barfights weren't terribly significant on their own, but slamming someone's face into a wall and breaking their nose had been the straw that broke the camel's back this time around.]

[what_he_needs]

[He sits down in tandem with the other man, nodding slightly. Michael had spoken to the judge, given his opinions on how long Liam's therapy should go, and had been filled in on the events that had brought the man here.

But, it wouldn't be therapy if the other person didn't talk, and he didn't listen.]

They did. But, I'd like to hear your side of the story. Get a clearer perspective on what happened.

day 3, before memories are completely returned

[strategisch]

[Surprisingly, this is the first time Arthur has ever been to a therapist. He could certainly use one, his life is, frankly, one long depressing stretch of bullying, paranoia and loneliness-- which is why his school counselor finally referred him here.

He really doesn't know what to expect. He's not well versed in psychology; it's not a subject that's ever interested him. But it's still a type of science, so he trusts it to a degree.

He shyly opens the door.]

[what_he_needs]

[The meeting was scheduled beforehand, and Michael was anticipating his arrival. The paperwork gave him the basics, so he could be prepared, and, while he knew his name, he wouldn't take away the opportunity for them to greet each other.

It was important, and would set the tone for their relationship.]

Hello.

[He stands, turning when the door is softly pushed open, and he smiles kindly.]

I am Michael.

[strategisch]

H-hi.

[He shuts the door behind him. Okay. First impressions mean a lot, so... He takes a deep breath.]

I'm Arthur Arlert.

[He lifts his hand to shake. However, he doesn't make eye contact; he looks at the floor. He doesn't even realize he's doing it.]

[what_he_needs]

[Michael grasps his hand, shaking it, firm but not over powering.]

Welcome, Arthur.

[He pulls upward on his hand a little, a look up gesture, then releases his grip. If the other chances to glance at him, he'll see he's smiling, polite.]

Why don't you sit down.

[strategisch]

[Arthur glances at the comfortable-looking couch, and carefully picks his way to to sit down. It's not the first time he's been in an adult's office, but it still feels odd. He can't relax, and only sits on the edge, hunched over instead of leaning back.]

[gadjos]

Technically speaking, Andrew's a "graduate" of anger management therapy- as much as anyone is ever really finished with therapy. He's only human, of course, and he still has the occasional slip up, but it's generally agreed upon that he's leaps and bounds ahead of where he used to be. He's practically a functioning adult, and as such, it's a little out of the ordinary that he schedules an appointment with one of his most influential mentors. At least, most influential since he was a kid.

He shows up on time, head ducked, posture withdrawn, and tap-tap-taps on the door with a knuckle.

[what_he_needs]

[He was concerned when Andrew scheduled an appointment, as it had been so long since he'd needed to see Michael in such a formal setting. But, any concern he feels he keeps hidden. Pulling the door open, he smiles kindly, gesturing with his arm.]

Andrew. Come in.

[His office is well lit, and he steps aside to let the younger man past.]

I'm glad to see you.

[Even if it meant something had happened, or that something might be wrong.]

[gadjos]

[He slides into the office passed Michael, eyes glancing around uncomfortably. Not because he isn't used to it, not because he doesn't like Michael, but he's accepted it as a fact that weird clinical settings definitely aren't for him. Jails, interviews, doctor's offices, they bring forth something skeeved out and unpleasant in him. He's able to mostly dismiss it here, though- a few months of regular visits and reinforced positivity will do that. It's been a while, though.

And not much has changed, it looks like, not that he was expecting it to. Stability was always one of the guy's best qualities.

After a beat, he pushes down his discomfort and plasters on an unphased smile, masking the whole situation with dry humor.]

Bet you say that to everyone who pays to rent your couch.

[Totally just a joke, but it's easier than jumping straight to the point.]

[what_he_needs]

Andrew.

[His tone is that of someone held somewhere between the role of a parental figure and a friend. Michael smiles, shaking his head, and would have rolled his eyes if he were the type to do that.

He nods towards the chairs, knowing that Andrew will sit wherever he chooses, and goes to his desk, pulling his seat back out. Once comfortable, he'll fold his arms over his chest, and tilt his head to the side, watchful.]

How have you been?

[That's an easy enough opener, he thinks.]

[gadjos]

Mike.

[He responds, a good-natured smirk on his lips. It's not defiant, he's just the mouthy type. Always poking, just a little. He flicks his hair out of his eyes and, rather than immediately sitting, moves to study the frames on the wall. He's seen them a thousand times already, but for whatever reason, he always looks.

After the question, his head ducks, and he scratches the back of his neck.]

Can't complain. I mean, I could if I were an asshole, but...

[Finally he moves, sitting down on the arm of the couch rather than on the cushions. His legs splay on either side of it, and he balances himself with two palms pressing down on the couch fabric between them.

Ah, hell. He's been doing this forever now, beating around the bush is just bullshit when he's the one paying for the time. His face drops into something serious.]

You remember Lori?

[The girl he's been dating since a little before his mom passed. A few years younger than him, almost but not quite eighteen where he's turning twenty. A shoplifter, a girl just about as troubled as him, but one that gave a shit. Stuck by him when Lynda died and a girl who he became arguably overly attached to as a result.]

[what_he_needs]

[It was on the tip of his tongue to tell Andrew that a person could talk about what was wrong in their lives, without it making them an asshole, when the other's question threw him off.

He remembered Lori, and thousand things went through his mind when he brought her up. Andrew looked serious, more than what was typical, and Michael couldn't help but feel a little worried.]

Yes, I remember her. Is..everything alright?

[Was she hurt, pregnant, were they breaking up. It could be numerous things, and Michael leaned forward, taking on an expression as serious as Andrew's.]

[gadjos]

She's fine. We're... we're fine.

[He says, but it's more to himself than Michael. He nods slowly, absently, licks his lips as he hesitates.]

Better than fine. I was... thinking about asking her to marry me.

[He says finally, looking up at Michael to gauge his expression.

Lori's a good girl, but she is in fact a girl. She'll be eighteen soon, and he's planning on waiting until after her birthday for the real deal. But he's been having these... thoughts lately that he's going to lose her like he's lost... other people if he doesn't do something to keep her.

He's a man, there's no doubt about it, after everything he's been through, he's well passed the teen idiot asshole he used to be. The same might not be true for Lori, but he doesn't seem to give a shit about that.

She was there for him, she always has been.

A small part of him isn't sure if it's a mistake. Another small part of him is belligerently determined to do it anyway, and he's... conflicted. He's probably looking for permission, for confirmation that he should follow through with it, because he can't find that permission in himself.]