[Text/Action]

[belphe]

[Had it not been for the public text post on the network that morning announcing the affair in the park today, it might have gone unnoticed entirely.]

My place of employment will be holding a Memorial Day picnic in the park today, open to the public. People are welcome to come by for a free meal. If anyone feels they are in need of counseling due to recent events, please come and find me. I would be glad to arrange it off-the-clock for numbered individuals. I will be at the table with the lemonade cooler.


[She had nearly gotten out of it...it had been debated among the mental health wing whether Belle counted as proper staff or not when the event was still a few weeks away. As of two nights ago, however, a phone call from Dr. Korai informed her she would, most certainly, be welcome to attend the yearly Memorial Day outreach. In other words, she was expected to be there.

To her left, the cardiology staff was hosting a walk-a-thon around the perimeter of the park, and to her right, the OB-GYN staff handed out pamphlets and small pink and blue teddy bears to those who were interested.

As for her department...so far Belle had sat in the sun for two hours at a table that offered a cooler of lemonade and a bucket of free pens to fill out an anxiety/depression questionnaire with...something that, if anyone had been interested in taking, she was meant to evaluate for them. So far, the only questionnaires that had been used had been by a group of kids that had promptly folded them into fans and continued on their way.

At least the lemonade had been popular so far...]

Comments

[Action]

[dominateartimus]

[Xander had read Belle's post on the network and debated for quite a while if he should inquire for some counselling. Instead of leaving a comment, he decided to show up in person. There wasn't much harm in knowing who he might be possibly talking to in the future, right?

He made his way through the park, stepping out of the way of other civilians and children while keeping an eye out for Belle's table with the cooler. When he finally located what he was looking for, he was uncertain on how to approach the subject that he was one of the network without blowing his cover. Sure, he could show the post on his phone, claim it being a text or e-mail about the event. But what if she wasn't the person who made the post in the first place? It would make things a lot more awkward and complicated.

Except, he had already stepped up to the table before he even considered those thoughts. He clears his throat, hoping to get her attention before giving a small smile.]

...Hi.

[Action]

[belphe]

[She had seen him when he'd begun to draw near the table, but had not looked up to make eye contact until he'd been close enough that his intentions to approach were apparent.]

Hello. How are you today?

[The question is polite, and carried on a gentle tone of voice. Until she knows for sure whether he is someone from the network or simply a curious passerby, she deigns to keep the conversation neutral.]

[dominateartimus]

I'm fine. Yourself?

[His tone is rather neutral as he maintains eye contact for a few moments before turning his attention down to the papers on the table, causing the chain and identification tags to move slightly. The questions on the questionnaire didn't really surprise him, but he wasn't sure if he should go through with filling it out.]

[belphe]

I'm well, thank you.

[she observes as he eyes the questionnaires, giving him a moment to consider taking one before she speaks again]

I think you're the first person not to immediately ask about the lemonade today. If you like, I could tell you a bit about our counseling programs.

[A general offer of information to the average person, but a veiled reference to her earlier text post to someone with a number. She waits to see if it fetches a reaction from him.]

[dominateartimus]

[He nods to her comment about being well, but pauses at the statement of being the first to not go for the lemonade. That wasn't too unusual, right? Sure, he was a little thirsty from his walk here, but he could do without it for the time being. So, he raises his gaze and an eyebrow as he speaks.]

Is that so? [Then he briefly pauses, considering the offer of information.] ...I'd like to hear about that, please.

[His previous smile had turned in to a slightly strained one.]

[dead_black_eyes]

[Of everyone present, L looks the most explicitly like he belongs there... even if he knows that he's technically not really welcome around the plaza, since he's not supposed to be seeing Belle in a counselor's capacity anymore.

Alas, there's something he really must ask her, and it absolutely cannot wait, even if one of her superiors might see them talking and subsequently grow suspicious.]

Belle?

[A two-fingered tug on her sleeve. When she turns toward him, she'll see a blue and pink teddy bear under each arm.]

The automatic soap dispenser is out of soap. I can't replace the batteries. You need to help me.

[belphe]

[the strained edge his smile has taken on is not lost on her as she gives a single nod and reaches for Dr. Korai's vacated chair to drag it over to his side of the table, if he'd care for it.]

Well, to begin, my name is Belle Goldman, and I'm one of Oakwood's twelve on-site counselors.

[Oh god, she's not good at this. Nonetheless, she tries to keep things rolling with minimal pauses or hemming.]

The mental health wing offers pediatric counseling, grief counseling, addiction medicine specialty, along with family and couples programs. I specialize in one-on-one community counseling and would like to make myself available to those who have been effected by the strange happenings in the city.

[belphe]

[She almost wonders if Lazarus standing before her with small stuffed toys tucked into either armpit complaining about batteries is a trick of her brain after sitting in the sun for the last couple of hours.]

...what soap dispenser? [she asks, at length]

[dominateartimus]

[He moves slightly out of the way when Belle brings over a chair, even though it was offered to him, he was used to standing.]

It's nice to meet you, Ms. Goldman. [His tone was polite again and he offered a hand, hoping he didn't accidentally address her wrong.] I take it that Oakwood isn't too far from here?

[Although he doesn't interrupt her as she lists off what she deals with. Grief counseling was something he could do, dealing with a foreign memory of someone who sounds exactly like his twin brother. The same could be said about the family program, tension caused by more foreign memories involving a look-a-like of his father and a fear of that he might do something he may regret due to his echoes, but his parents live in Minneapolis now. So, it would be impossible to have them come down to Locke constantly. A bit of a chuckle escapes him when she mentions 'strange happenings in the city'.]

Like the destruction in the business district?

[dead_black_eyes]

[And, in answer, he's unslinging his blue canvas backpack from his shoulders and plopping it onto the table in front of them, unzipping it and withdrawing an electric antibacterial soap dispenser. The one from their bathroom.

He's also very helpfully brought batteries and a screwdriver.]

[belphe]

[She accepts his hand, offering a cordial smile in return] Not far at all. It's about a three minute drive from here.

[Saying so, she moves aside some questionnaires to fish out one of the general information pamphlets about Oakwood Medical Plaza that were haunting every table at this get-together, which she sets before him.]

There are some suggested driving routes in here, and some general information about the rest of the facility. ...though to get back to your earlier question, yes, exactly like the business district.

[The smile slips into a furrowed look of faint concern.]

The strangeness on an individual level, too, is something that worries me. The world seems to be wondering what "Locke City's Heroes" can do for them, and not nearly enough seem to be considering the strain they may be under.

[belphe]

I see. And when did we get a battery-powered soap dispenser in the bathroom?

[Because, as of this morning, it hadn't been there.

Nonetheless, she's picking up the screwdriver and turning the contraption over in her hands until she finds the hatch and begins to work at opening it.]

[dead_black_eyes]

The other one was out of soap and I dropped it, and it broke. So this one's new, and better. I don't have to twist my hand around to pump it; it's ultimately less work and far more convenient.

[Even if this rather implies that L broke the other one on purpose, he's pretty sure he has a good point there.]

[belphe]

[The soap dispenser surgery is well-underway as the battery hatch comes off and she uses the edge of one nail to free the batteries from inside and pop in the new ones]

Though, I suppose it still needs to be mounted on the wall?

[dominateartimus]

Good to know. [It would probably take double the amount of time to get there by foot instead of taking a vehicle. He releases her hand and let's her pull out a pamphlet.]

Does that include suggested bus routes as well?

[Whoops. He didn't mean to interrupt, so he utters a small apology before falling silent as Belle continues. Once she was done, he gives a nod while folding his arms across his chest, but a finger starts to tap out a song on his sleeve.]

I agree. With everything that has happened and what they've seen... You'd think they want some help, but some of them are stubborn and believe that they can tough it out.

[Like he was one to talk. He falls right under the same category he just mentioned.]

[belphe]

Please, don't be sorry. You can cut in any time if there's something you'd like to know. [she assures]

There are two different routes that go by the plaza, one of which drops off right in front of it. Their numbers should be under the driving directions.

[dominateartimus]

[He gives a silent nod about interjecting if he needed to know anything.]

I'll keep that in mind, thank you.

[Well, he had no other questions to ask regarding her profession. So, he reaches down to take a pamphlet and stash it away in to his pocket after folding it up.

Now, how could he bring up the topic of being a network member? It was too late to mention a text or e-mail about the post. He could be rather blunt about it by focusing on the heroes.]

...Has any of "Locke's heroes" came to you for help so far?

[belphe]

A couple of them have. Or those who claimed to be.

[It was undoubted that they were, really, as she'd made first contact with them through the network...]

But, foremost, they're people who are reaching out for help, and 'heroes' second. It's not my place to question their abilities, only to help with what they've asked of me.

[dominateartimus]

[Just as he's about to open his mouth to question about needing proof, he remains silent as Belle continues her explanation. Unable to help himself, a few chuckles escape him and he quickly covers his mouth. Damn that quirk of his that he has no control over.]

Of course.

[His words came out a little muffled due to his hand being in front of his mouth. Once he was sure he wouldn't laugh again, he slowly pries his hand away.]

I won't take up any more of your time, Ms. Goldman. But thank you for answering my questions.

[belphe]

[One of the first things she'd been taught was not to react negatively to anything someone she was speaking with as a doctor may say or do. Laughter and tears accompanied a wide range of emotion, after all, though it's hard to shake the idea, given recent events, that she had said something deserving of being laughed at.

The fact Dr. Korai has returned and is eying the interaction disapprovingly from nearby certainly didn't help the appearance, either...

Who have you upset THIS time, Belle? His gaze is clearly asking to someone who'd seen it many times before.]

It's no trouble. I hope that someone at Oakwood can help you find what you're looking for.

[Her smile does not waver but a wary look is cast at her supervisor.]

[dominateartimus]

[Xander gives Dr. Korai a brief glance out of the corner of his eye before returning his attention on Belle. He nods and unfolds his arms before extending a hand out to shake again.]

I hope so. Also, I'm sorry about laughing, it is.. a bit of a tic.

[He forces a small smile to his lips again.]

[somesayinfire]

[when it came to hospitals, Brooke tended to spend her time taking care of their mistakes. but, well, she also needed some help, and she knew it. the therapist Ravi had recommended to her was good and all, but it was difficult to talk to her about things that were explicitly numbered in nature, and lately that seemed to be all that was bothering Brooke. so what the hell. she sauntered up to the lemonade table like the text post indicated, wearing a long-sleeved white button-down despite the weather.]

You're the one who made the post? About the numbers?

[belphe]

[Ordinarily she would check to make sure there was enough distance between them and the rest of the crowd to talk safely, but there had not been anyone near her table ever since the sun had gone behind some clouds and the need for lemonade was not quite so dire.]

I am. [she offers Brooke a smile.] Thank you for coming.

[somesayinfire]

[Brooke returns it warmly.]

Thanks for making the offer in the first place. We have a lot of people, but never really the ones we need the most. My name's Brooke. I'm a mortician for the city. [she offers her right hand—which has been painted to look like flesh, even though it and the rest of her arm is made of stone.]

[belphe]

If it can't be helped, then there's nothing to apologize for.

[For the moment, Dr. Korai allows his attention to stray from them to the tabletop, straightening up the stacks of papers]

I hope that the rest of your day goes well for you.