Beneath The Mask

chapter 35 RD

M:
::next day::
how did u figure so much about this George Ellington?
J:
Same way I know you have a date tonight, by looking.
M:
but u believe thats essentially his entire life?
## lol ignoring it
J:
::shrugs::
Essentially.
#yep#
M:
good, that sets us up for phase 2.
J:
::waiting for her to say what that it::
M:
do u know what fool's gold is?
M:
Yeah
M:
What makes the difference between real gold and fool's gold?
J:
...its more brittle. Its harder.
...
M:
And yet they are both 'just' minerals?
J:
Yes
M:
but are either of them of better use to u?
J:
Well u can use gold like currency
M:
But if u r only glancing at gold and fool's gold, can u tell which is which?
J:
At a glance, probably not -Oh
::smirks::
I get it
M:
::smiles::
What do u get?
J:
You're saying I dont know everything I need to from a glance, right?
M:
Correct.
how could u find out more?
J:
Ask?
::as in ask the person for more::
M:
::nods::
That works.
Questions are like testing the minerals to see if its fools or real gold.
J:
::says nothing::
M:
What sort of things could u ask Mr. Ellington to get to know him and his history more?
J:
::shrugs::
M:
What kind of questions did Cameron ask to get to know you better?
J:
...she asked about my family. ...what I like to do.
M:
::nods::
Any other sort of things she asked? Maybe things that seemed insignificant?
J:
She asked my favorite color, music I listen to. ...she just expected me to tell her stuff
M:
::smirks::
Do u regret telling her those things?
J:
Well no
M:
why not?
J:
Cuz....I have no reason to regret it
::not really getting the point of that question::
M:
Are u glad u told her those things?
J:
Uh...well it doesn't really matter
M:
Do u think you would be in a good relationship with Cameron had she not asked u?
J:
I don't know. I don't see why not.
M:
::thinking::
has she told u similar things, regardless if u asked her?
J:
...yes
M:
would things have been different if she hadnt told?
J:
...I don't think so
U said u've talked about music. Have u listened to or danced to music together or maybe given eachother music suggestions since?
J:
We've danced a few times
M:
would u say those were some of ur more special moments together?
J:
...yeah
M:
Do u think those times could happen if u hadnt known about what sort of music she liked?
J:
...no
m:
if they hadnt happened, do u think it eould have affected your relationship with her?
#especially since their first kiss was from dancing#
## change to
J:
...yeah I guess it wouldn't be the same as it is now
M:
how would it have changed?
J:
...I don't know maybe she wouldn't be as comfortable with me
M:
How would it have been different for *you*?
J:
...
M:
::waits for him to answer::
::or to show understanding in his face::
J:
::just kind of blank, not really sure::
M:
Would u have been able to get attached to her? Or would she still b a mind game for u to conquer?
J:
...probably still a game
M:
::oh, she wishes he hadnt signed those papers::
::she's dying to tell Cameron this::
Do u like that idea *now*? The possibility of her being only a game to u?
## lol dying to tell
J:
...no
M:
I hope u've left the opportunity for further communication with Mr. Ellington because I want u to find out more about him. Perhaps u'll find things u have in vommon with him and maybe even things u werent expecting.
## change to
J:
...are you serious?
M:
I am.

J:
::@@ sigh::
M:
I did say this it the easier part.
Im sure u'll do well.
Would you like some suggestions on things to find out about mr. Ellington?
J:
No.
M:
::smiles::
Alright.
I expect to hear all about what u've learned about Mr. Ellington tomorrow. I'll see u again at 2. Have a good rest of the day, Jim.
J:
Sure
::gets up::
Enjoy ur blind date
::leaves::
## he can be correct if u dont mind lol
M:
::when hes gone is just like....::
::how?::
::looks carefully at evrything::
::no idea how he knew::
::writes in his progress report::
::learned that to know someone requires more than a glance::
::used gold vs fool's gold as an ex::
J:
::leaves and goes home::
::what is she giving him bloody homework?::
::waits til cameron will be off work to contact her::
C:
::curious about what happened but knows better than to ask per privacy law/policies::
::is off work and will head home::
J:
::calls::
C:
::he's prompt today::
::answers::
Hello
::cheery, happy to hear him::
::been over 24hrs since::
J:
Hey
::not as cheery::
C:
::catching this::
whats up?
J:
Nothing
Im making too much food, u wanna come over for dinner?
C:
Sure. Whats on the menu?
J:
Um everything
C:
::chuckles::
ok, im on my way Love
::hangs up b4 she realizes....she called him Love::
::....hopes he's ok with that::
...
::txts ray::
[wont b back til l8]
J:
...
::love?::
::...hm::
-
R:
[Ok]
C:
::arrives and knocks: :
J:
::radio on, can be heard from outside::
::comes and opens door::
Hey
C:
hi
whats the occasion?
::cuz the music::
J:
Oh
::turns it down::
No reason just felt like it
::there's all kinds of food out::
::chicken, baked potatoes, soup, two different casseroles, biscuits::
C:
I still think thats the best reason
::smiles::
::sees all the food::
....u werent kidding about having cooked everything
::chuckles::
J:
::smirks::
Yeah little carried away
C:
Why did u make so much?
::genuinely wanting to know::
J:
I was just thinking and not exactly paying attention
C:
Ah...
...what had u so distracted?
J:
...saw Jonathan today
C:
oh?
::wanting him to cont::
J:
Outside your building
C:
what did he want?
J:
He wanted to know what was going on. Why I've been... distracted.
C:
::@@::
He just doesnt like that u've been making positive changes.
thats basic psychology, uk. People dont like it when u change regardless the reasons.
J:
Mm.
::takes tea off the stove::
Well u didn't tell me that.
::puts on table::
U also didn't tell me I'd be getting homework.
C:
::chuckles::
I wasnt expecting her to.
I simply told her we needed the documents.
::shrugs::
But what can I say?
we're a psychotherapists. We cant help it.
J:
::@@::
::everything is ready::
C:
::sits dwn to eat::
So what homework did she give u that ur not liking?
J:
She's trying to get ne to make a friend
::sits::
C:
R u sure that's what she said?
J:
Well she wants me to get to know someone
C:
I dont see whats wrong with that
J:
You dont?
C:
Im sure sooner or later I would have asked u to do the same thing in some way or another
J:
No its not that
Its the whole thing
C:
...I'm not understanding, then. Can u explain?
J:
Am I expected to become some kind of... 'regular person'?
C:
What?
No.
No no no.
no.
Not at all.
That would mean taking away ur intelligence and everything else that makes u special.
J:
Ok
::spoons some stuff on his plate::
Then why am I doing any of it? Can't I just keep doing what im doing and she can write her paper or whatever?
C:
Well, u *could*
::clearly she has more to say about it::
::also getting food from the buffet::
J:
...but?
C:
It would tell the courts ur not willing to even try.
Maria couldnt write that its a true disability if u dont put in the effort to overcome it.
All she is trying to do is give u tools to use in life and teach u how to use them. But its up to u how u choose to apply them.
J:
::@@::
So basically ur telling me to go along with it or else its a wash, right?
C:
::draws brows::
Why are u so against it?
J:
::shrugs and quietly proceeds to eat::
C:
Srsly, I want to know.
I've never understood why so many people refuse to just try a therapist's suggestions.
i mean, I've been through therapy more times than I can count in my life and I've always enjoyed it and learning new things from them.
::clearly genuine: :
J:
I don't know
Maybe just...stubbornness
Maybe cause I'm used to being in control, in charge.
C:
::slowly nods::
::because that makes sense::
Then it may help for u to know that u *r* in control of what happens.
She is there because *u* chose to give her a shot in attempt to appeal to the courts. *u* r the one employing her to have the documents written. U know she is a proffessional and that she knows what she is doing. But it is up to u if u will let her do the job ur paying her for.
J:
::nods kinda::
C:
...
::feels a bit awkward now::
::takes a bite::
...this is good.
J:
::half laugh::
Good thing, there's certainly enough of it.
C:
::chuckles::
I'll wager there'll b plenty of leftovers.
## ditto
J:
::chuckles::
C:
::smiles::
So what did u tell Jonathon?
J:
I told him to take a hike
C:
::laughs::