[color=darkgray]

Calliope set foot in the office waiting area. The familiarity of it was a comfort in a way. Gladys sat at the reception desk, her computer screen reflecting off of her glasses to show she was doing today's Wordle rather than her actual job. That was a comfort also.

Calliope cleared her throat and Gladys looked up. [color=white]"Oh, Calliope. I am so sorry. Lost in my own thoughts. Maybe my husband is right. Here for your appointment?"[/color] Calliope nodded and Gladys gave her a warm smile before pressing the intercom button. [color=white]"Dr. Trinh? Ms. de Leon is here to see you."[/color] Calliope took a seat to wait, but the door opened quickly. An asian woman in her early 50's stepped out. [color=white]"Calliope. Nice to see you. Please."[/color] Dr. Trinh gestured to her office and Calliope walked in.

Calliope took a seat on the larger couch while Dr. Trinh sat in one of the single chairs nearby. She had her clipboard in front of her, but it was more there for show. Early on in their work together, Calliope had made it known she didn't like seeing her therapist write notes directly in front of her. It made it feel clinical or like she was just another figure. So Dr. Trinh obliged her.

[color=white]"So it's been a little under three weeks since we last saw each other. If you remember, we discussed trauma and its impact on present-day symptoms. Tell me, how have your panic attacks been?"[/color] Calliope clenched her fist without thinking before she remembered and unclenched it, allowing her muscles to relax. [color=F796A9]"Better. I haven't had a full episode for more than two months. Some anxiety has shown up, but nothing to lead to a panic attack."[/color] Dr. Trinh nodded. [color=white]"That's good. You know the difference between anxiety and panic attacks, correct? We discussed that?"[/color]

[color=F796A9]"Anxiety attacks have no known cause to them whereas panic attacks have a known reason."[/color]

[color=white]"Very good. Have any of your triggers shown up since?"[/color]

Calliope closed her eyes. Her triggers were varied, but so far she had managed to keep them at bay. [color=F796A9]"No, none. I haven't spoken to my parents in years now. And I have a good support system."[/color]

Dr. Trinh gave a small smile. [color=white]"Ah yes. Your team at the school you attend. Blackjack was it? And I believe we discussed a certain young man who you've been seeing for..."[/color] She checked her notes, [color=white]"Going on 5 years now. Impressive. How is all that going?"[/color]

[color=F796A9]"I feel like I belong with Blackjack. Even those I do not know very well have a part to play. And Andrew. Well he's been a rock for me. Two messed up people with messed up pasts who found each other and didn't let go. Before you ask, he knows about all of it."[/color]

[color=white]"I take it he is a Hyperhuman also? Is it mutual support or do you feel you put more into the relationship than you get out. And as a reminder, if you do feel that way, it's not necessarily a bad thing."[/color]

[color=F796A9]"At first, I felt there were times I cared more, but then I felt guilty. After all, our relationship started off as a lie. I wanted something to get revenge on my father and what better way than a man who my father would probably die knowing I had been with. And a Hyperhuman like myself? But it grew more. I felt like I was being seen, not as a Senator's daughter or some Hyperhuman freakshow, but as Calliope. And ever since then he has gone above and beyond to show he cares. Sometimes I think he's too good for me and then he does some fucked up thing or says something to someone and pushes buttons and I'm reminded he's a weirdo. But he's my weirdo."[/color]

Dr. Trinh smiled more this time. [color=white]"You deserve happiness Calliope, even if some days it feels like you don't. There will be moments when it seems life is throwing nonstop hurdles in front of you. Remember that even little steps towards progress is still progress. Now, let's do a free thought activity. Say the first thing that comes to your mind."[/color]


[CENTER][COLOR=F796A9][sup]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][/CENTER][center][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1224910842424725665/1226328034244690040/callibanner_copy.jpg?ex=66245dfb&is=6611e8fb&hm=42038bf9149c2fd18f9fe5a7beb03c512a29dddcff93fc7f7973016b25484d8f&=&format=webp&width=710&height=302[/img][/center][indent][sub][COLOR=F796A9][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]Southern Plateau[/I] - [I]Pacific Royal Campus[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=F796A9][b]Welcome Home #1.70:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Set The World Ablaze[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][COLOR=F796A9][SUP][sub]____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][indent][sub][color=F796A9][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR][I] Banjo ([@Hound55]), Mei ([@Garden Gnome]), Harper ([@Qia]) [/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=F796A9][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [COLOR=GRAY][I]Fractured[/I][/color][/right][/SUP][/indent]

The drive to the Tria set-up was quiet. She felt bad not speaking to Banjo, but she knew she needed time to cool off. And he at least respected that much. Still, he was a comfort. The others were in various stages of unrest or worry or downright refusal that this was happening. 

Once at the Southern Plateau, they got out and began getting set up. She stayed near Banjo, not really willing to be alone just yet. Rory had all but shot out of the Minotaur like a rocket.

[color=darkgoldenrod]"Geez, he's like a bloody kelpie, ain't he?  Where's he off to?"[/color]

Before Calliope could even begin to hypothesize as to Rory's intentions, Rory had taken a tent. She assumed he was getting his own set up, but apparently not.

[Color=04cf3a]"Yo, lovebirds... picked out a nice spot for ya. Try not to keep us up all night!"[/color]

Calliope felt her cheeks burn. It wasn't like it was a secret that her and Banjo were intimate, hell she had just said she wanted to start a family with him, but to have it so loudly broadcasted was not ideal. Still, should she be surprised that Rory opened his mouth and put his foot in?

[color=darkgoldenrod]"Y'know, this is what happens when you let these drongos know we might be interested in startin' a family together..."[/color]

[color=F796A9]"We [i][b]might[/b][/i]?"[/color] Calli had noted that Banjo had not stated one way or the other if he was actually interested in a family. In hindsight, it probably should have been a conversation they had at the beginning when things began getting serious, but perhaps it was her naivete that pushed her belief that he would want a family also. She wanted one [b]because[/b] hers was so rotten growing up. She wanted to bring children into the world and shower them with love and acceptance for whoever they were. She assumed Banjo would want the same, but his was a hard life also. The world was difficult at the best of times.

[color=darkgoldenrod]"[i][b]We[/b][/i] might."[/color]

[color=darkgoldenrod]"If anyone knows how garbage family can be - someone who's actually gunna be driven to do it right.  It's you and me, hun.  No half measures.  Thing about startin' my own solo practice, I'd be able to control my own hours.  When it comes time.  It's time.  Shutter it short-term.  Hell, I could probably get JP Qual or the equivalent and work as a notary public from home lookin' after the little tackers.  Have pimple faced teens come in lookin' for me to sign stat decs so they can get work."[/color]

It warmed her heart that he had considered this and was willing to step up. She didn't want to put her career first while her kids existed. In a perfect world she would have an established career that allowed her the time to be a mom when she needed to be. Showing up to her children's school functions, taking part in PTA stuff, talking to her children when they had questions about life or wanted to talk about their crushes or when she would need to console them when they had their heart broken. She wanted all of it.

[color=F796A9]"You wouldn't get bored?"[/color]

[color=darkgoldenrod]"Oh, I'd go absolutely barmy."[/color]  He grinned.  [color=darkgoldenrod]"But I'd do it.  Our kids would be so sick of dear old Dad they'd be beggin' me to stay out of their lives."[/color]

[color=F796A9]"I'm not going to be one of those moms that works too much either though.  We're both in."[/color]

[color=darkgoldenrod]"But anyway, speakin' of the kids..."[/color]

Sure enough, their other "children" had all gotten out and went to their respective areas. Calliope had admittedly started to feel better about everything. So much so that when Rory spoke up. [Color=04cf3a]"So, Barnes... you want to sleep together tonight?"[/color]

[color=F796A9][I]"God, they really are like our children, aren't they?"[/i][/color] She shook her head and left Rory and Haven to deal with whatever the hell was going on there. She walked up to Tad to find out what she would be doing.

[color=white]"Calliope, Robert has you along with Harper and Mei taking care of the inner theatrics. Basically setting the tone of the Trials look nice with a theme and programming in the puzzles and obstacles for the freshmen to overcome. Based on the last few years, I think that fits squarely in your wheelhouse."[/color]

[color=F796A9]"I should be able to scrounge something nice."[/color] She tried to hide her contempt but she knew her tone didn't match her words. She was expected to make something nice for the school not letting her have a degree?

[color=white]"Tone aside, I can understand being upset regarding recent events. Still, the Trials are happening whether you graduate at the end of the year or not, so why not make it something to be remembered by? Let's try to start the new students on a positive note and leave them wanting more. I'd hate to see you not only regretting but wasting your potential by not giving this a sincere try."[/color]

Calliope thought about it and knew he was right. It wouldn't serve her or anyone if the students got punished because she had a chip on her shoulder. [color=F796A9]"I hadn't thought of that. I'll get right on it."[/color] She turned, leaving Tad to dole out the others before she went in. She began brainstorming ideas but she wanted to wait for Mei and Harper to join.

Sure enough, the two girls appeared. [color=F796A9]"Hello team. Ready to brainstorm theme ideas?"[/color][/color]