Chapter 2202: Chapter 2202 Washing an Old Wound

--- Kat ---

Kat sat in the corner, snuggling with Lily while she waited for the idiots to stop arguing. Originally, she was going to help with unpacking the equipment, but when she brought it up that just made the argument WORSE. They couldn’t decide if it was better to set everything up downstairs where it was safer, even if they were going to set up the wards above... or if they should leave everything upstairs where there was space and clean separation so that everyone had their own workstations.

Now that was all wrapped up in the same argument over which would be better, which would be more or less work and frankly? Nobody seemed to be able to agree on either of those things. Even now that they’d seen the basement area it apparently hadn’t made things any clearer for them. It was somewhat annoying and Kat really just wanted to tell them to stop being idiots... but it’s not like she knew anything about enchanting. She had no idea which was the better idea or how to argue for one side or the other... plus this did give her time to snuggle Lily.

*Ah it’s so nice to be back together. Sure we’ve been chatting mentally but it’s just not the same. I could do without the background noise... but this is just great.*

[Yeah it is. I... I do think I’m somewhat glad for the break we had though. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I had to look you in the eyes after the whole... incident with Greaves. It’s still a bit tender but I can at least acknowledge it. Though now that we’ve had this time apart you’re right. I just want to snuggle and I wasn’t even thinking about it until I brought it back up myself like an idiot.]

*Meh, I hadn’t thought about it in ages.*

[It really hasn’t been that long since it happened Kat.]

*Yes and it is basically irrelevant to me. The only reason it matters is because it still bothers you. It’s really not going to bother me. I’ve had serious injuries pretty regularly and I never felt worried I was going to die during the process. Maybe if there was some level of emotional betrayal mixed in it would’ve bothered me... but there wasn’t. So it’s fine really.*

[Blegh.]

*Do you want to keep talking about this? I feel like my attempts to reassure you aren’t exactly helping but I’m more than happy to repeat it as many times as you need to hear it... Kat glanced up at the arguing group. We’ve certainly got the time.*

[Once again, ’blegh’. I don’t know. It’s not like this giant gaping wound that hurts if I so much as think about it. I meant what I said before. I’m somewhat over it... but not entirely and like... I don’t know. It didn’t help to think about it when I was off doing stupid stuff...]

*Hey, enjoying yourself exploring a bit isn’t stupid.*

[I didn’t even tell you though!]

*Right, and while I perhaps should be upset about that, and there are good reasons to share when you’re doing something dangerous... I’m not your boss. I’m not your mother. I’m your girlfriend. I want to know what you’re doing because I love you and like hearing about your day. I do not NEED to know. Perhaps if we were up against things that I thought could hurt you I’d be more worried but with your strength not restricted to Rank 2 like my own, I’m just not that worried.*

[Sigh.]

*Did you just mentally project the WORD sigh at me?*

[Well getting a mental sigh to work right is kinda hard. Plus... it felt appropriate. I guess I’m just still trying to get you to yell at me or something.]

*Would be angry about it help?*

[I don’t know? Maybe if you were I could get angry back with the whole ’why are you angry at me it needed to be done’ type of deal? Then I wouldn’t be so sad about it.]

*I’m pretty sure suppressing your trauma with anger... via more anger through me is not a healthy way to manage your mental health.*

[Oh, well I guess I’ll just tell my therapist then. I’m sure the magic won’t make me seem crazy.]

*Demon therapists are a thing. We have specialists in fact. If you think it’s a good idea, I’ll be happy to sign you up for some sessions, or both of us if that would make you feel better.*

[Oh... right. I... I wasn’t thinking about that at all. Do you think I need therapy?]

*Not to sound like a dumb inspirational book or commercial but... only YOU can decide if you need therapy or not.*

[Blegh, I say, blegh]

*I hope you aren’t turning into a vampire... or wait is that even a bad thing? I wouldn’t care about the blood loss... hmmm...*

[Your joke there is a bit of a stretch.]

*Well yeah but I didn’t want to poke you more about either the therapy or the incident so I was giving us a smooth transition. One you’ve decided to hold hostage.*

[Ah... ok fair. Perhaps it wasn’t the most graceful transition but I understand what you were attempting now. Though... I don’t think I mind talking about the therapy topic. It’s... hmm... I don’t think I’d have thought to sign up for it and now I’m wondering if I should or not.]

*On the one hand, I think you’re fully capable of dealing with this on your own. On the other hand... medicine is pretty advanced in the Hub. What are the chances that therapy has had some advances as well? Plus there’s probably magic to help. Though maybe it wouldn’t be good to use it?*

[Ah, yeah the trap with like memory erasure or something?]

*Well I was thinking more ’mind magic’ in a general sense but yeah, removing the memories of your trauma never seems to go well in stories. It just removes the memories and not the trauma, making it harder to work through. Though if that’s the case in real life as well I’d assume the demons figured it out. Or maybe it works on demons? Hmmmm... that’s a worry.*

[I feel like surely they’d assign me to someone that knows how to work with... huh I was going to say ’humans’ but that’s not correct either is it? I’d need someone familiar with beastkin, or maybe both wouldn’t I?]

*I’ve got no idea how differently wired the various sentients are, nor if that would necessitate an entirely different kind of therapist...* Kat was going to continue but...

Lily jumped in to rightly point out. [Kat, they have different therapists for kids, adults, veterans. There are all sorts of specialisations for humans already, even if not every therapist bothers to do so. There’s no way there aren’t specialist therapists on the Hub... though maybe they’d still be by ’type’ of trauma? I’m now less sure your point was ill-thought out.]

*I mean I wasn’t really thinking too deeply about it but I’m happy to be correct. Though my point stands, how differently would everyone think? Even amongst demons, Sloth demons have very different wants and needs to Wrath ones.*

[Yeah but they’ve mostly separated themselves already right? I imagine there’s a focus on each of the primary guilds at least. Then maybe more specialised stuff for common things to see on Contracts?]

*Indeed. Do we want to circle back to the question of if you want to go or not?*

[I don’t think there’s much holding me back anymore, at least, not from therapy. Going consistently might not be something I’d enjoy but the idea of potentially seeing therapy magic, or just finding out what sort of techniques they might use is fascinating in and of itself. I’d be willing to go just for the experience regardless of if I really need it.]

Kat pointedly didn’t respond to that but she was happy that Lily would be going. Of course, that now raised the question of... *Should I go as well? I don’t feel particularly traumatised but you’re right, if the price isn’t too high it might be worth doing anyway. Probably wouldn’t see the same therapist for a number of reasons... but it might be worth looking into together. Plus I can sign up for a guild properly. I think I might already be part of Lust technically, but not sure I ever properly locked that in.*

[One more thing to do once we finish up here isn’t it?]

*Yeah I guess so. Do... do you think we’re getting towards the end? This has been the longest round of the tournament by far. People aren’t really finding rule changing tokens and the middle has to open eventually... right?*

[It does... but the plan was always for us to destroy those pieces remember. Still think that’s the best idea?]

*Oh fuck right. I wasn’t really considering that angle. Tactically... yes we should. Probably. Less supplies for Greaves. Emotionally? I guess I’m not too wrung out. Though I hope everyone else is doing well.*