victory_road | (no subject)

[There is, like. A couple minutes pause.]

Have you ever been to therapy yourself?

[DANGER DANGER]

No. But I don't need it. Some of my friends have gone though and it's been really good for them. Ragh learned to accept his sexuality and Adaine got meds for her anxiety.

[But therapy is absolutely not for Riz, no sir, no way, and he for sure does not need it.]

I see. I am earnest in that I am glad you have never needed such a thing, but I am slightly disappointed. I feel that I would be a hypocrite, were I to send any of my companions off to therapy, when I myself have not done so either.

I know that my lovers have encouraged the idea, of course, and I do trust in their judgment. However, I have remained hesitant all this time here in these lands. I had hoped to speak to those who knew of it, that were outside my own family.

Its not being a hypocrite if it is something you don't need. I mean, I knew Ragh needed someone to talk to even if I don't

[these are all lies, Riz desperately needs to go to therapy.]

Or like. What if one of your pokemon gets fucking... I dunno, poke-cancer? Are you not gonna treat them just because you haven't had it before?

[So, small hiccup here-]

I apologize, I do not know what cancer is.

[It just... hasn't come up in the time he's been here. And Fodlan is just... Like That.]

Still, I suppose I understand what you mean. I should do my best to ensure that they have truly recovered from their experiences in Team Rocket, even if they seem content in the moment.

It's a disease. It's not super important. Point is that you can recommend treatments to people you don't need yourself. It's super fine and not hypocritical. You are just looking out for them.

I know that to be true. Certainly, I have always made sure that those in my team have been regularly looked over and cared for.

However, what if I do need such care?

Therapy, you mean? Well, if you think you do, there is no harm in checking it out, right? Like I said, it changed Adaine and Ragh's life. Even Shellford has been coming out of his shell more. This is funny because he is a turtleperson, a fact which I realise you don't know. But yeah man, just try it. I don't think you'll find anyone as good as Jawbone here but Jawbone is pretty one of a kind.

I think I very much do need it, but it is worrying. I feel I have always been open about my flaws, but some I have held closer to my chest.

To tell such things freely, especially when they strike to a deep and vulnerable spot of me, it feels uncomfortable. I think of such things and wonder how on earth I could bring the words forth to a stranger.

But then, I would be asking the same of those Gyarados as well, wouldn't I?

I'm basically a complete stranger, right? You probably wouldn't recognise me if you saw me on the street. But you've already admitted you need help to me. I'm pretty sure Jawbone would say that is the first step and all the rest get easier. But also, therapists can't talk about what you tell 'em in private, and can't use it as blackmail against you. And if they do, you can use that fact as blackmail against them. You are protected by mutually assured destruction.

Is it normal to think of a process that is associated with healing as "mutually assured destruction"?

Not the process itself, just... if you are worried about revealing private things to another person (which, by the way, I don't think it's paranoid, people should be concerned about these kinds of things!) know that they also have reasons for why they wouldn't reveal anything you said beyond just being a good person (presumably)

I see. Thank you. I do not think it is paranoid, but it is not often the sort of talk I hear spoken about people in fields such as those. When my lover has spoken to me on the subject, it has been in a slightly different manner.

[Presumably to not spook Dimitri about it.]

I will see about therapy for all three of us, then. I know that you posted this initially as a call for assistance with your own matters, but I do appreciate your help.