The monk is in

[fistsofchange]

Who: Bai Lin and YOU /points at camera
What: Various things
When: Throughout July
Where: Around campus
Warnings: Morning people

-1: Cram sessions-

As has been pointed out, Lin is NOT actually an accredited therapist. She just gets along with people and is good at calming them down. She still got the job, somehow, and she's determined to do it RIGHT, dammit.

This means taking online classes herself and reading lots of books on psychology. She spends a lot of her spare time in the library, and often has a book propped up in front of her during meals in the cafeteria. Cerebral pursuits like this don't come easily to her compared to more physical activities, but Lin still fights at her own perceived inadequacy with just as much determination as she does at physical physical foes in battle.

-2: The doctor is always in-

Lin's job, on paper, is student counselor. She takes it very seriously. Her office hours are technically posted as 2-6pm on weekdays, but unlike Professor Andersen she is ever so flexible. She will answer any call from a student as long as her life is not in danger, or at the very least call you back within the next few minutes. Or you can just flag her down wherever you find her, or stick your head into her office, or even knock on the door to her apartment at 2am on a Thursday.

-3: Morning people are the worst-

Lin's morning routine is like clockwork. Up every day at 6am, stretch, jog around campus, grab breakfast in the cafeteria, shower, meditate somewhere for a while (sometimes in weird places, like on rooftops with no obvious access point.), and be ready to face the day by 7. And not only does she do all this every damn day, she does it all while looking bright eyed and bushy tailed, with every sign of enthusiasm. Absolutely disgusting.

-4: Wildcard!-

Message me on Discord (overbringer#2743) or plurk (overbringer) if you want to scheme up with a starter for your character with me. Or just throw a scenario at me! I'll probably just roll with it!

Comments

2

[strings_theory]

[As much as she doesn't want to do this, there's not many options that aren't hardcore deal with whatever the fuck place Toki's in and those doctors there. That's a little too much for her and she's not entirely sure how Lin's going to react to her being there in the first place. It's been... a couple of days into spring break and she's not too keen on talking about why she's back from her home so quickly.

With a slightly annoyed noise she's knocking on that door, arms crossed in an attempt to hide the burns again. She can try, but that's a lot to try and hide.]

[fistsofchange]

[Lin opened the door and froze, tensing slightly as if expecting an attack (which was exactly what she was expecting, to be honest.).

After a few seconds of the attack not coming, she slumped her shoulders slightly in relief and stood aside so Jolyne could come in if she liked.]

I have to admit, I wasn't expecting to see you again any time soon.

[strings_theory]

[Yep, that's the reaction she expected from her and she's immediately frowning. Everyone seems to think she immediately goes for attacks now, huh? Great, grand.]

Wasn't in the cards, really. But it's either that or talk to those fucks in Soleil and like fuck if I want to do that shit.

[She's just going to make her way past her, looking a good bit more on guard than she normally does. Different from the constantly wanting to aggro everything.]

This shit doesn't get out, right?

[fistsofchange]

[Lin noted the reaction and resolved to guard her reactions better when dealing with students. It was a useless resolution: Lin was a TERRIBLE liar.

The office was sparsely decorated. Lin didn't really have a lot of STUFF. There was an electric kettle in the corner, next to a water tap and a collection of different kinds of tea, a bunch of books about stuff like computers or psychology on the bookshelf, a filing cabinet, and the kind of laptop all teachers could get standard issue from the school on her desk, along with a bunch of papers and a few files.]

Of course. Whatever you tell me will stay between the two of us unless I think your life is actively in danger. I take this very seriously.

[strings_theory]

[It's about what she expected for the room, but it at least doesn't feel almost clinical, which is fine enough by her. This whole thing is still chewing away at her mind and she's just going to quietly take a seat wherever the hell she wants her to and scrub at her face.

Yep, good look at those burn scars at least.]

Probably not my life you should be worrying about.

[fistsofchange]

[Lin bit back a sarcastic retort and, after glancing to make sure it was okay, gently took Jolyne's hands in her own so she could get a better look at the burns.

If she was perceptive, Jolyne would probably notice that Lin's hands also had some burn scars on them, though they looked old and healed by now.]

...Why don't you sit down and tell me what happened? I'll make tea.

[For herself at least, if Jolyne didn't want any. There were two other chairs in the room besides the one in front of her desk. One was red and one was green but other than that both were equally old and threadbare looking, though still sturdy and comfortable enough.]

2: the 24th

[yokeye]

[Toki has been back on campus for only two days, but he's already here at Lin's office at 2:07. It's as punctual as he gets. There's no outward signs of nervousness as he knocks on the door; softly and politely.]

[fistsofchange]

[Lin looked blank for a moment when she answered. She actually had never met Toki in person, and it took her a moment to connect his real life face to the little photograph in his file. When she did place him, her face lit up very slightly.]

Tokidoki, I believe? How can I help you?

[strings_theory]

[She's a little tense and ready to bolt the second those hands come near her, but it's over as soon as it started and she's just letting her take a look at them. Despite herself, she is noticing those scars on her hands, huh. Jolyne's look... recent, probably a few weeks old at the most.]

... Right. [Green. Green is always the one to go with and she's picking it to sit down in at least.]

Goddamn, where to start... [Probably the burns thing.]

So, um. After prom I... kind of jumped another student, fucked his shoulder up with Stone Free's help. Kinda... got set on fire for a little bit from him protecting himself, was in bandages until kinda recently.

That's... the first awful thing to happen recently. There's... there's more. [But she'll let her process or ask questions on that shit first.]

[fistsofchange]

[Water into kettle. Plug into wall. Pick tea. Cinnamon spice chai sounds good. She held up the box of teabags towards Jolyne in a "you want some?" gesture, but otherwise remained silent, waiting for Jolyne to get the rest of her story out.]

[yokeye]

Yes, uhh, hello.

[It feels weird talking to her in person when his only conversations had been short and blunt text messages.]

I just... I came back from Soleil a couple days ago and then I posted a message to the Network for people to air their grievances with me and such, and I... I wasn't ready for some of the responses that went off topic and I'm... I guess having issues with adjusting and coming back to this environment again...

[He's not sure if that's explained sufficiently, but it's a start.]

[strings_theory]

[She's nodding slowly to that gesture, might as well.

Continue, right.]

... Dunno if you heard that I went back home for a few days. Mostly to see my mom and chill a little. Ended up... tracking my ex down and cutting his goddamned tongue out with my strings. I don't... really know if anyone cared that much that I did it. At the time felt like it was the right thing to do, now I don't have a fucking clue.

[fistsofchange]

[Lin didn't check the network very often, not being very comfortable with technology. She stepped aside so Toki could come in, if he wanted.]

What did they say?

[fistsofchange]

[Holy shit woman. Lin looked a bit shaken, but did her best to keep her voice steady.]

For revenge? What did he do to you?

[strings_theory]

[LOOK, IT MADE SENSE AT THE TIME.]

He was the prick that put me in prison. [Blunt. To the point. And in an oddly low volume for her.]

[fistsofchange]

[It did say in her file that Jolyne had been in prison before coming here.]

Did it help?

[She did her best, but couldn't entirely hide the disapproval in her voice. Jolyne would just have to deal with that.]

2

[buddinghopes]

[Who's got two thumbs and actual willingness to talk about things bothering her? This girl right here.

She'll poke her head into Lin's office during office hours at some point with a sheepish smile.]

Do you have a bit?

[strings_theory]

[O o f, she's well aware of that tone and is looking down at her hands.]

It did at the time. That's... I guess why I'm here now? I thought that'd be the end of it, that I'd be satisfied with that. But I'm... not, just kinda feel empty instead.

[yokeye]

[Toki enters the office and looks around idly.]

It's not exactly what was said that bothers me, but that I hadn't realized I was trying to control the conversation by making it specifically about what I asked for. I ended up being very... dismissive of someone who used to be a good friend and then I apologized later, but... In Soleil, this was easier because the therapists were predictable and I could stop when it got to me, and friends... aren't. I just... want to be able to have a normal conversation, I guess. I think I used to be able to that.

[fistsofchange]

Of course!

[Lin waved her in to the sparsely decorated office.]

How can I help you?

3

[opheliaafterdeath]

[Nekane is very much not a morning person, but they are also not an afternoon or evening person either. Who would have thought that going without sleep for as long as possible makes you grouchy?

If they didn't eat in their apartment Nekane tended to pick places on campus where people generally didn't go. Even if it meant breaking into places they weren't supposed to be. So like Lin, Nekane also manages to get up on the rooftop...although they stop when they see her.]

Guess I wasn't the only person with the same idea.

[fistsofchange]

[The office was sparsely decorated. Lin didn't really have a lot of STUFF. There was an electric kettle in the corner, next to a water tap and a collection of different kinds of tea, a bunch of books about stuff like computers or psychology on the bookshelf, a filing cabinet, and the kind of laptop all teachers could get standard issue from the school on her desk, along with a bunch of papers and a few files.]

Everyone makes an ass of themselves sometimes. Why can't you have a normal conversation?

[That question could VERY easily sound like an accusation, but from Lin it does not. She doesn't know Toki's life, and honestly just wants to get a better grip on his troubles.]

[yokeye]

[Lin's office is much like his side of the dorm room. Nothing too personal, only useful items and books.]

I don't know.

[That's all he says for a moment, because he doesn't know. He does okay for a while, but then something is said he doesn't understand and the clarification is also confusing, and it falls apart from there.]

I don't think I'm smart enough to keep up with them.

[fistsofchange]

There's countless smug saying about revenge, and how little it helps, but I think if I shared any of them you'd try to hit me again.

[The kettle started whistling, so Lin picked it up and poured herself and Jolyne some tea.]

I've known that urge. When someone takes their own guilt and turns it around on you, and you can't help but want to just ruin them so they never forget what they did to you and what it cost them.

[Wait she has?]

I got my revenge, too. But afterwards I realized I didn't get any satisfaction from hurting him. I got satisfaction from undoing the damage he had caused.

[strings_theory]

Not in much of a violent mood right now. [Now that is fucking new.

She does quietly listen to her talk now, however, she'd hoped maybe it was just because it wasn't worth it. But fixing the damage he'd caused? She's not... too sure if that's even possible at this point.]

I don't... know if it's possible to undo that damage. The records are still there as far as I'm aware and everyone here practically hates me anyway. One exception and only one, as far as I know, so what's really the fucking point?