#baronyofthesilverwolf

Bluebell smiles beatifically over at Gwen. "All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with the swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.”

It sounds like she's quoting something... if Gwen has read 'Watership Down', she may well recognize it!

"Watership Down, many, that's the only rabbit movie Briar respects .No offense, but hard core animation"

She wonders the reference, "I Hope... well, yes I maybe making an enemy here, a dangerous one"

Bluebell turns onto the main highway - oh, this car runs SMOOTH. It's like the purr of a wild animal, restrained but not tamed.

"Perhaps? Or perhaps not. Things are not always as terrible as they seem, even in a world filled with enemies. After all, I have lived many a year in a wolves den, and you see, I am not yet quite devoured."

"I'm not as smart as you are Bluebell, but then, Rabbit medicine isn't my medicine I don't think. Wolf has good medicine too"

A blush "Sorry, didn't mean to go all native, it's just... well, sometimes I wonder where I'll stand. I know I'll learn soon. I just.... when I find out, is it fixed? What if i don't like who I am when the naming is done?"

"You are wise in your own ways. Why, you can speak a language I've never been able to decode. Perhaps I am not tall enough."

Bluebell smiles over to Gwen reassuringly. "You will be who you will be. Whoever that is, that is still Gwen. If I like you now, and you procure a silly hat? Why, I may not think the hat suits you, or I may not think that the hat suits me were -I- to wear it... but I still like the girl under the hat. It's the same, you will see."

A smile "Thanks, Bluebell"

"So, you wish to find a speaking stick for your mortal friends." Bluebell sounds intrigued by this. "You have become very fond of them, even more protective then perhaps your height warrants! Perhaps there will be some silver to add to your blue. Tell me, do you fancy an oak, or is that just for Dru?"

"A Liam?" She looks uncomfortable "I like Ivory, I do. But they're oathbroken and... have no protection. NO I think.. it's not just Chuck, though he's a big part of it. It's that...for good or ill, I butted in. I need to set things right some more, make sure they'll be okay, then let them go, but I want them on solid ground. Also..." One nice thing about being with a pooka "I don't LIKE how Dame Calanthe was affecting Mrs. Chesterton. She was pumping some ugly stepford wife stand by your abusive asshole of a man shit going into Chuck's mom's brain"

"My own dad was an abuser, a drunk and an abuser. He killed mom. I don't have to be a Liam to consider that personal"

A slender hand reaches over to lightly press on Gwen's arm. Were she not driving, it likely would have been a hug.

"I understand." She says simply, and the truth can be heard despite her whiskered nose and long ears.

"You always do" A smile "Even if I am half lost with pooka, sorry" a bit of a grin

"Half lost is half found! Which is better than many." Her nose twitches.

They pull off the highway and onto a road, and soon they are pulling up in front of the address Gwen provided. "Shall I come along?"

"Well, maybe? I ... don't know the cover story I'm going to use"

“What do you seek?”

"Honest therapists who aren't associated with Dr. Greene, who can really help them"

A thoughtful scrunching of her whiskered nose. "Dr. Greene, I hear, runs a tight practice. She does not often share or refer patients... I expect one might find that few in this business may even have heard of her."

"Come then, sister, we can inquire?" Despite their obvious differences - Bluebell is slender and delicate, Gwen is tall and sturdy - they might actually pass as siblings. After all, to the undiscerning American eye, they are both (sic) 'Indian', and both have skin in shades of light brown.

"Sure... mmm " She moves "I could try the honest approach. And say I was looking for a friend? I am after all"

The person behind the desk smiles, the short-haired, slender figure has a nametag on that says "Leah", and a pin that shows that their pronouns are "She/Her".

"Sorry about the buzzer, I know it's not welcoming - but it helps us keep out anyone who shouldn't be here. Now, I know we don't have an appointment for the next hour, and I don't recognize you, but you don't look like troublemakers." A smile. "So, how can I help you?"

"Looks can be decieving" Gwen blushes "This is going to sound VERY Intrusive.. and I'm sorry. It's just, I have a friend.. "A blush "A boyfriend really ,and his family is in a rough patch. Rough enough that they have to ... ah, get therapy?" Yup. Honesty

"That is very true. However, most troublemakers in our business are upset parents, or spouses. We do counseling for teens and adults who are not certain if they fit in the body or gender they were born into, and that means that some families - well. They worry that we are somehow trying to influence or change their children, rather than the truth of helping them find out for themselves who they are.

We also do marriage, couples, and divorce counseling, which can cause some spouses to be upset. Despite all best efforts, there are those who accuse of taking sides." A sigh, but she turns it back into a smile.

"I've learned to read people a bit. You look a little nervous, but not upset, or angry, so I get to make judgement calls on the buzzer. Don't prove me wrong, okay?" Lee grins.

She blushes "Ah, sorry. I guess I am nervous. It's a ... well, abusive asshole tears wife apart for years, she finally stands up to him, older son defends her... jerk thrown out. Court order therapy kind of thing. Would you be able to help her and her sons?" a bite of her lip "I know you just said you don't take sides, but ... one therapist practically told her to stand by her man and be glad she had him... I won't name names, but I worry she'll get that again"

"In that sort of case, that's beyond couples therapy. Unless she chose to want to reconcile with her partner, what they recommend in such cases is family therapy tailored to helping children understand the changes, and helping abused spouses find their way with a sudden vacuum in their life. Even when it is a good thing that a family is separated and an abusive member removed from the situation, there are changes that can be hard on everyone. That's what we help with."

"That is to say, unless your friend's mother choses to bring her partner in for counseling and reconciliation, our goal will be to help her reach a healthy realization of what lead to the split, and who she is without him - and that person being a strong, independent person who can care for her family."

Lee reaches over and plucks a few brochures to offer to Gwen. "You can share these with them if you'd like, it outlines some of our processes. For court mandated therapy, there are also social programs to help mitigate the cost."

"It would be court mandated" She nods "Thank you for understanding. I know I sound like a buttinski, and in fact I AM one but.. I hope to give them good options"

"Buttinski - I like that! That's not a bad person to be, if it helps your friends get help. Frankly, it's an odd duck to be someone who doesn't need therapy." A smile. "But maybe I'm biased. Was I able to help answer your questions?"

Bluebell smiles at Gwen.

"I think so.." Gwen nods then "Can I look around" SHe wants to ken about "Not into someone's private session or anything.. just the rooms and if I meet a therapist say hi?"

A bit of a skeptical look. "Tell you what, I can show you one of our counseling rooms, and..."

She checks something on her computer screen. "Looks like Denny is free, just doing paperwork. He's one of our senior counselors, and you could meet with him if you'd like. Keeping in mind, a counselor is a very personal thing, and it's quite possible someone who clicks with you might not be a good fit for your friend."

"Yes maam and thank you. I'll remember. Heck, maybe I'll come here myself, though, I'm in a good place now myself " grateful look to Bluebell

A grin and a nose-wiggle - though only Gwen sees the latter.

As promised, Lee leads Gwen on a short tour of the counseling center, Bluebell trailing along after. The rooms are well lit and decorated neatly - no desks that a stern doctor sits behind and judges you from, it looks like there are chairs and couches for a more comfortable discussion, sitting together as friends might.

A hint of something catches her attention as she kens... glamour? Coming from one of the rooms.

She looks at that direction

A large toy, big enough for even a child - or childling to hug, and big enough for smaller children to nestle into it's 'lap'.

A smile fills her and she gives a nod of respect to the toy

It does look very huggable - a sign on the table next to where he sits says, "My name is COURAGE. Sit with me if you need a boost, and I'll help you through! I'm here for you to try talking to."

She brushes the Lion's mane "I hope you're one of the good guys. I think you must be."

There is something comforting, welcoming about the toy. Though he doesn't move - or doesn't move for her, perhaps, it has a feeling that is not unlike a pooka effect. Calming, friendly, and encouraging to talk.

She puts a bit of glamour into it. A risk But if it helps the toy heal others. the better

The toy looks even MORE plush and lovable now. Did the tail just swish as she blinks! Yes, it twitches once more, and the lion smiles. His mouth is still just a stitched string, same as used to pick out his whiskers - but then again, he needn't talk, he's there to listen. With the boost from Gwen, it seems he'll be even better at that.

A triumphant light in the troll's eyes and she nods

adn confesses "I just want someone who can help Chuck's mom and little brother. She's shaken, fragile, and.. the litle brother is... suddenly acting like dad was a hero"

The lion looks sympathetic, and pats her on her hand. It's soothing, maybe even more so than Bluebell's company, because there's no worry about misunderstanding. One paw raised, the comfort toy points down the hall. She can hear a voice talking, on a phone?

"No, thank you. We appreciate the notice, and have no problem rescheduling..."

As he approaches, the toy goes still once more - still fuzzy, but no longer animated.

And...she kens that way

Nothing of note in that direction, but around the corner comes a middle aged man, professionally dressed but in more of a business casual. He looks a bit surprised to see Gwen.

"Hello there. You're a few years older than most of our patients in this area."

"Apologies, Sir. Just noticed the Lion. I'm Gwen" She offers her hand

He shakes her hand with a friendly smile. "I'm Mr. Gladmore, but please call me Denny. I'm one of the therapists here."

"Nice to meet you, Denny. I'm the buttinski tryinng to help her boyfriend's family "

Her ggrip is firm her manner warm

"Oh, Lee mentioned you." His hand is warm, and he has a firm, confident shake. Nothing banal, just a regular old vanilla mortal. "It's nice to see kids these days looking out for each other. Mental health is like any other health, and you wouldn't ignore a friend with a broken leg, now would you?"