Insanity
-Piper-
omg Captain America 2 spoilers btw (kind of)
DISCLAIMER: RR OWNS DIS
Percy plopped down on my bed and took a can out from the mini fridge beside it. He comes here quite often, especially if he is having a bit of a downer and just needs some comfort which the supervisors here can't give. I'm proud of him: he has been taking his medicine a bit more than usual and I know how much he hates it. Annabeth tugged at her jacket somewhat awkwardly, still standing by the door. She's gonna be great for us and I really think that we'll be great for her too. It's a learning curve working here and once she catches the bug, she'll never leave.
"Annabeth, make yourself comfortable. Jason, will come and get us when it's our turn for the room" I attempted to put across my most charming smile, but judging by Percy's snort in the background it probably came off as slightly unhinged.
"Thanks" she said, sounding relieved and promptly cozied herself into one of the bean bags in my corner.
We idly chit chatted, she about how she had just moved here from a big hospital in the city and I about my annoyance at this new fashion movement 'hipsters'. Thankfully, she completely agreed with me and I didn't have to explain why I found them wearing feather headdresses completely inappropriate (which may or may not have caused me to punch one of them once when they tried to defend it). I could feel Percy's eyes on us the entire time, making little observations. That was his hobby (besides painting). He would often drag me out onto the little balcony at the very top of the building and we would just watch the crowds go by as he occasionally guessed what each person was doing. We could sit there for hours, providing no one caught us, that is. See, Percy isn't really supposed to be out his room much, never without a supervisor's permission anyway. But I think Annabeth has some common sense: she will let him out more. Of course, I'm not deluded into thinking that it's perfectly safe to have Percy out of his room all the time. I know that he has to be kept in his room, for his own (and everyone else's) safety.
Jason came back faster than we expected and told us that Silena was already waiting for us in the room. He always let's Silena go in first so she can get herself comfortable, but he does make her relinquish control where everyone else sits. She won't get better if we don't, and if she didn't get better, what would be the point in coming here?
We walked into the room one by one, and I smirked when I realised that Silena had rearranged the room so no matter where we sat, it would be completely symmetrical. Percy huffed and sat in the chair nearest the door, inching it closer to Silena's and breaking her meticulously arranged room. Percy likes to challenge other's and enjoys being challenged, he is always the first to stop Silena's control. Silena let out a breathy whimper, but didn't protest because she knew he wasn't doing it to be spiteful.
Annabeth cleared her throat and the session started.
"Hi. Well, normally I would start with introductions but it seems like you all know each other pretty well, so we can skip that part if you want."
Thank god. Intros are boring, awkward and long.
"So I'll begin with what I want you all to achieve through these group sessions and how I plan to help you become as healthy as possible" she finished with a smile
I sent a side glance towards Percy. This is usually when his pessimistic side came out. When he stayed silent I returned my gaze to Annabeth with my eyebrows slightly raised.
"Because you all seem quite comfortable with each other, I'll keep these sessions in groups unless otherwise requested. I want you all to learn that sharing with other's can often make all the difference. I have written down here, that these take place three times a week so we can change the topic of conversation week by week or session by session. The rules here are, I will not accept any harassment or abuse aimed at anyone. Not that I expect any, but I am obligated to tell you all this, even though I'm sure you've heard this a dozen times before."
Yes we have. She listed a bunch of other rules, which I could recite by heart almost immediately now.
"This is a personal rule of my own, but it's worked pretty well in the past so I'll stick with it here."
She proceeded to bring out a red beanie from her pocket. I think that was the first time I actually thought the phrase 'lol, wut?'.
"This is Bucky the beanie. If we are having a controversial discussion and everyone has a very strong opinion, to avoid unnecessary conflict, you have to be wearing Bucky to speak."
"What if you have to intervene and you aren't wearing Bucky?" Percy asked
Annabeth smiled and reached into her pocket again. "Then I bring out my other friend Steve."
She was a holding a blue beanie. Who the fuck carries about two beanies with them? And names them?
"Bucky and Steve… as in The Winter Soldier and Captain America?" Silena questioned
"SPOILERS!" cried Percy eyes screwed shut and hands clamped over his ears.
Annabeth flushed as red as Bucky the red beanie "I was drunk and emotional after I bought them okay? I was hoping that no one would make the connection."
Silena smiled smugly and Percy glowered at her.
"I can't believe you just ruined that for me. I'm not talking to you anymore."
"Oh calm down Percy, the comics have been around for 50 years. I thought you knew anyway, didn't Jason tell you the other day?"
"Yeah, but I had almost forgotten and you reminded me." he whined
"Ok, enough about Captain America. Do you mind if I talk to you all about your personal targets together?" Annabeth questioned
We all nodded: personal targets were never particularly personal.
"Piper, do you have anything that you would like to achieve by the end of this week?"
Uhh…
Uhh…
I can't really steal anything except pens if I'm in here. And that got really boring fast. I don't know. I suppose I could say I won't steal anything but that's unrealistic and what is the point in setting a target I know I won't make. Oh!
"My parents are coming for a visit at 3pm tomorrow afternoon, my target is to not yell at them."
As soon as the words came out my mouth, I realised that that was almost as unrealistic as my first thought.
"That's great!" Annabeth smiled "Do you have some problems with your parents?"
"Yes."
"That's a good target: it's a challenge but if I show you some calming down techniques you should be able to make it."
I feel like all I have been doing this session is raising my eyebrows in surprise. But I did it again anyway. I was expecting her to say that it was too easy.
"Silena?"
"I'll spend a couple of hours in Percy's room."
"Fantastic! Would two hours over maybe 3 or 4 days be okay for you?"
"I should be able to do it." She grimaced
I tried to hold in my laughter, I really did, but then I saw Percy's face. He has 3 or 4 days of Silena's agitated lecturing, fidgeting, touching his stuff and cleaning ahead of him.
"Percy?"
"My target is to not break any CDs this week."
"Any particular reason?" Annabeth nodded in approval
"I'm running out."
Annabeth laughed and bent her head as she wrote all our targets down.
"If you all manage to make these targets I'll make sure you each get rewarded in some way. I hate sounding like a primary school teacher, but these are all pretty challenging and it's gonna be hard for you all. You deserve a reward if you can do these."
Shit. Now it's a competition. I will be victorious. Judging by Percy's set jaw and evilly glinting eyes, he had decided the same thing. The dinner bell rang in the distance. Annabeth's head whipped around in confusion as we all stood up.
"That was the dinner bell." Explained Silena
"Ahh. Okay well, I'll talk to you all later. When is your curfew?"
"It depends. It's usually between 10:30 and 11:00pm."
"Great, that's plenty of time." Annabeth smiled
A/N: Bonjour ma petite croissants! How are we all? You can all thank [un Reveur perdu] for this update because they reminded me that I hadn't updated this since November /I am so sorry I'm a terrible person/. As an apology this chapter is twice as long as the last one :) Don't know if many of you saw but I have put my fic 'Scars' up for adoption- message me if you will want it!
MockingScout's new and improved update schedule: -Insanity-Liar, Liar- Firelight- The Silver Line-
*Hopefully* I will be updating like this from now on :D
Thanks to everyone who followed, favourited and reviewed in my (accidental) absence
MockingScout x