Asami knocked on the door, "Hello? Doctor Qin?"
A woman stepped into the lobby, smiling, "I am Dr. Qin. How can I help you?"
"You're…A woman, Bolin said that Dr. Qin was a man…"
"Dr. Qin is my husband. I am Qin Yang, his wife, and his partner. We run this practice together."
"I set up a meeting with Dr. Qin yesterday, I thought that I was going to see him. I'm Asami Sato."
"Yes, I know. You're right on time. My husband cannot be your doctor, unfortunately, since you have a close relationship with Bolin. But there's nothing stopping you from having Dr. Qin being your psychologist," she laughed at her own joke, "It's good to meet you. Why don't we step into my office?"
"Right, heh," she followed Dr. Qin through one of the three doors that connected to the lobby. There were overstuffed chairs, a desk, a book shelf, a piece of modern art, and a box of toys in the corner. Asami raised her eyebrows.
"What's with the toys?"
"I am a child psychologist as well. I also do family sessions. Keeping children occupied with toys helps spur their creativcity,a nd gets them to say things they might not ordinarily say. You'd be surprised how many adults play with them, too. They often go through them and pick out toys that are familiar to them through their childhood. I also have a four year old."
"I see," Asami smiled, "Boy or a girl?"
"Little girl. We've got a twelve year old boy, too."
"A twelve year old? You're not that old, Doc."
"It's a long story," Dr. Qin waved her hand, Please, take a seat, relax. Pick out a toy, maybe, whatever makes you comfortable. What did you hear from Bolin?"
"Just that Dr. Qin was a lot of help sorting out his thoughts. He recommended me, and I had some free time today, so I thought I'd give it a chance," Asami squatted next to the toy box, rummaging through them.
"What did you want to talk about?"
"Not sure. I've never done this before. I was hoping you'd tell me, honestly."
"Well, what's been on your mind a lot, Asami? Family? Work? Friends? Romance?"
Asami let out a short laugh, "Romance. Right."
"Seems that's what's on your mind, then."
"Not really. Well, not my romance, anyway. I'm worried about Bolin. He's got this crazy ex-girlfriend. Like,s he's already really creepy, but he breaks up with her, right, and she chases after him across the Southern Ocean. Without a boat. It's got Bolin totally wired and worried that she's going to appear in Republic City and eviscerate him. I want to help, but other than giving him security guards I don't know how to help him. Bolin was there for me when I needed a shoulder to cry on, now he's in danger, and I can't help him, until it's already too late and he's been attacked."
"Of course you can help him. You can be his friend, and listen to what he has to say, the way he was for you. That's what friends do."
"No way!" Asami dumped the toybox over and picked out an action figure, "You have a Bending Action Aang! I had one of these when I was a kid! I've got the whole set, but htye're all in boxes! I wanted to preserve them, you know, keep them as they were, in perfect condition to be admired, so I never played with any of them. This is so cool!"
Asami twisted the crank on the back of the action figure, and set it on the table. The Aang figure turned on one foot, its foot kicking in the air and its arms flailing outward.
"Hehe, so cool!" Asami bit her tongue, "Sorry, I couldn't resist."
"It's a popular one," Dr. Qin said, "There's no shame in indulging our inner child."
"Yeah, I'm barely an adult, myself. Nobody thinks I can do it, run Future Industries, but I'm showing them. With Varrick's help, anyway. I've got this idea, see, for the planes, where we seat, like, thirty people on them, and then they can fly from here to Ba Sing Se in just a few hours. Even faster than Airship, you know?"
"Sounds like a plan. You're under a lot of stress at Future Industries, I would think."
"Yeah, like you would not believe. Then I've got to be part of Team Avatar. I don't know what they would do without me."
"Saving the world and bringing tomorrow to us today, that about right?"
Asami blinked, "Can I use that? That's a really good motto."
"Go right ahead," Dr. Qin laughed, "There's no shame in being stressed, Asami. It happens to the best of us, and it's perfectly normal. What matters is dealing with it."
"I'm always so busy," Asami agreed, "I don't know how I do it, and find time for myself. It all just clicks together. I guess I'm really good at scheduling my time, huh?"
"Something's still gnawing at you, though, I'm guessing?"
"Yeah. None of my dad's backers believe in me. They all pulled out, wen tot Cabbage Corp. I'm totally reliant on Varrick for investment right now, other than my own fortune. Between the two of us it's enough, but…It weighs on me. I've proved myself already. Why do I have to do it again? I've invented, I've kept most of our manufacturing going. Yeah my friends believe in me, but none of my business partners do! It's infuriating! But you know what, I'll do it without them, and they'll be left behind, you hear me?"
"I hear you, Asami. You've got what it takes, and they're the ones losing out."
"Right! And Varrick, I don't know where he got his wealth, but I don't see how he got where he is. I mean, he's a total nutjob! He never gets anything done! He's good at spending money but I don't see how he got his start. I just can't wrap my head around it!"
"So you're frustrated that nobody believes in you, despite that you've already succeeded, but you don't believe in Varrick, who's proved himself time and time again?"
Asami blinked, and bit her lip, suddenly ashamed, "That…That's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?"
"I…Well, I guess you're right. I just don't see myself in Varrick."
"Varrick is in a different line of business from you, Asami. It's a different kind of personality. Are you sure you could do what Varrick does? Could he do what you do?
"No, I guess not. I suppose his eccentricities might be strength for him. I'm always in my lab, tinkering with something new when I'm not out saving the world or trying to sell my stuff. I just haven't seen him work."
"How did you come into a partnership with him? What brought you two into business?"
"Well, I went to the South Pole to meet with him, and I brought Bolin. Varrick just sort of stared intensely at me, and decided to make a deal. Then he and Bolin started hanging out, it was all so very sudden. I felt like I hadn't actually done anything, but Varrick seems to believe intensely in my and Bolin's inherent honesty."
"Have you been honest with Varrick?"
"Yes, of course! I've always been completely honest with him, I just felt like I haven't done anything to earn his trust, you know? He takes so much on faith, and I can't do that."
"Just another one of your differences?"
"Yeah. Yeah, definitely. I mean, I like Varrick, he's got an eye for innovation, I just don't understand his work ethic. And that assistant of his! How does she do it! He drags her around by the nose and not a peep of complaint! I could never treat my personnel like that."
"You don't approve?"
"Not at all. She works hard to accommodate his every whim without a word. I want to say something, but…It wouldn't be appropriate. But if Zhu Li ever decides to quit her job, she's got one with me."
"You've made quite a few judgments about Varrick. Why do you think that is?"
"Well, my dad taught me to take a measure of people through their actions and how they treat others. So by those measurements, Varrick doesn't rate very high."
"So you have a value system that Varrick doesn't measure up to."
"Exactly."
"Has it gotten in the way of your relationship with him?"
"No, not yet. But I'm afraid it will. Regardless of how he got where he is, Varrick is a very successful man, and I need him to keep Future Industries afloat. I don't want to snap at him one day and put that all in jeopardy."
"Would you like some advice?"
"Please."
"You said that Varrick likes honesty. You also said that you don't understand him. Use that to your advantage. Ask Varrick about how he got where he is, and try to understand his morals, and his way of seeing the world. That will get you some perspective of how he became successful, and how he operates today. Don't be afraid to look to others for guidance, Asami. We all have mentors and heroes, and it seems to me that you're looking for one, and Varrick's the closest you've gotten. I'm not saying you have to like Varrick or agree with him, but if you need a working relationship with him, open up to him. You'd be surprised what people are willing to share. Unfortunately for us, that's all the sharing we can do for today, your time is up."
"Wait, really? So soon? Can I pay for more time?"
"No, I have to compile notes and then I have an appointment. We can schedule a double for next week, though, maybe?"
"Yeah, okay. I'll see you next week, then, Dr. Qin. Thank you so much."
"Not a problem. Have a good day, Miss Sato!"