Fandom Island Counseling Services and Psychiatry, Monday

[sharp_as_knives]

Vacation had been lovely, but Hannibal was pleased to be back at home, too. His patients seemed glad to see him, too. Some of them far too enthusiastically. He'd blame it on the island, but some people seemed to just be like that. And there hadn't even been any invasions while he'd been gone!

Nevertheless, he was in his office, seeing people, working on another set of wedding invitations, and open to working in friends or colleagues who might want to see him.


[Open post; the doctor is in! No OCD.]

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[sharp_as_knives]

"Of course it is." He took her hand and led her in to sit on the couch. "I'm always pleased to see you. How have you been doing?"

[that_oldsaying]

She smoothed her skirts down as she sat like a little lady.

"I've been well," she said earnestly. "Sparkle got a fish! He's keeping it at the store and I've named it Milady."

Sparkle hadn't approved of this name yet, mind. Though Shannon has.

[sharp_as_knives]

"That's a lovely name. Is she a very ladylike fish?" Hannibal asked.

[that_oldsaying]

"She's pretty frilly," Alluka said thoughtfully. "Her finny bits are all floofy."

... Alluka didn't know much about fish.

[sharp_as_knives]

Fortunately, that wasn't a particularly important life skill.

"I look forward to meeting her," Hannibal said. "Are you helping Sparkle to care for her?"

[that_oldsaying]

"I, I guess so?" she said, all big eyes. "Sparkle left it at the shop, so that means it's partly my job to look after it too, right?"

She didn't know. She hadn't seen Sparkle yet.

[sharp_as_knives]

"I imagine it would. But don't worry," Hannibal told her, "I'm sure he'll say if there's anything you need to do beyond keeping her company."

He frowned faintly. "Your roommate has left, hasn't she? How are you doing now you're on your own again?"

[that_oldsaying]

Alluka looked at him reproachfully.

"Mabel still writes me," she said, staring at her toes. "And, and my toys like all the space."

And she had a lot of space, since she and Mabel had gotten bunk beds put in, so that if Kathy came back there'd be room for her. Alluka had four beds all for her.

... It would be lonelier if she weren't so used to having lots of space and no one around.

[sharp_as_knives]

"I'm very pleased she writes," Hannibal said. He reached for her hand again. "You know you're always welcome to visit me and Jono, if your room should get a little too large and quiet."

[that_oldsaying]

Oh, hey, a hand. She was going to cling to that hand a bit.

Alluka didn't like to think too hard about the bad things, since they made her feel icky.

"It's okay," she said. "I'm used to the quiet."

[sharp_as_knives]

"There are times that quiet is good," Hannibal said. "But you don't have to have quiet here, unless you want it. Besides," he added, "somebody has to play with Joni."

Because she was so terribly neglected otherwise.