I8: Return of the Crazy

[Andre Jacquard]

Andre approached the door to Mr. Webster's office, breathed out, and knocked.

[Croyd Webster]

Croyd closed a book he'd been reading and used his powers to open the door for Andre while still seated.

"Come in," Croyd announced.

Upon entering Andre would see that most of the furnishings were the same as when Miles was working out of it. The differences were the photos, trophies, plaques, and other things strewn around the room.

[Andre Jacquard]

He came in and nervously took a seat. Meeting the new shrink always made him nervous.

[Croyd Webster]

Croyd sat up and offered Andre his hand.

"Mr. Jacquard, correct?" Croyd asked. "I'm still working on keeping everybody's names straight. I'm Croyd Webster. I prefer Croyd, but I also accept Mr. Webster, Dr. Webster, and hey you with the tie."

[Andre Jacquard]

Andre nodded and returned the gesture with his red right hand. "And I prefer Andre."

[Croyd Webster]

"Now I understand that the last counselor has been gone for a couple of weeks," Croyd said, "How're you feeling?"

[Andre Jacquard]

"Better than I expected."

[Croyd Webster]

"Why do you think that is?" Croyd asked.

[Andre Jacquard]

"I dunno, maybe I'm starting to get a hang of this dimensional viewing... thing."

[Croyd Webster]

"What do think helped you do that?" Croyd asked.

[Andre Jacquard]

"Time, fewer reality breaches to muck things up... perhaps concentrating a bit too much on my art."

[Croyd Webster]

"You need to be careful not to turn your art into a crutch," Croyd said, "Eventually it wont be there to lean on, and you wont know how to compensate. I'd recommend trying some of the breathing exercises the previous counselor recommended. It is something you can do anywhere at anytime without any need for equipment."

"I'd say I'm getting a bit ahead of myself though. What makes you think you've been concentrating to much on your art."

[Andre Jacquard]

"I tend to... lose track of time when I really get into it."

[Croyd Webster]

Croyd was writing on a note pad with one hand without looking while he continued to talk to Andre.

"What have you been working on recently, Andre?"

[Andre Jacquard]

"A painting of one of those other realities. A jungle... underground."

[Croyd Webster]

"Seeing more copies of the people you know?" Sean asked.

[Andre Jacquard]

"Sometimes."

[Croyd Webster]

"What have they been talking about? Have they been noticing you at all?" Croyd asked.

[Andre Jacquard]

"Assorted things I usually have absolutely no context for, and no... it's still only that one other me that has."

[Croyd Webster]

"So you've only encountered yourself the one time then?" Croyd asked. "At some point we'll have to set up a test for this to see if your powers are manifesting during these dreams or they are in fact entirely psychological."

[Andre Jacquard]

"When it started, it was always riding shotgun in another me's head. And... I... the idea that this whole thing is in my head... terrifies me more than anything I've seen."

[Croyd Webster]

"Our own conscious is not always a pleasant place to be," Croyd said, "In fact I'd say few people's minds are filled with rainbows and bunnies. The key is how you deal with the situations inside your mind, how you cope with it, and so on. People who come to me like yourself are people who generally do not have the skills they need to cope with the things in their own minds whether those are emotions, thoughts, or past experiences."

"Encountering a person who is you, but entirely different is not something people are generally equipped for. The important thing is to come to terms with that it isn't you as a complete person, but either a different entity or a facet of your personality that you've cut off from your own."

[Andre Jacquard]

"And if this is somehow all in my head?" he asked, still obviously nervous about the idea, "What then?"

[Croyd Webster]

"We'll take a different approach," Croyd said, "We'll practice coping methods that use both cognitive and physical approaches. I generally prefer not to prescribe prescription drugs as anything other than a last resort.

If it's a power issue I'll help you with that as well. In that case we'll try various approaches to control both technological and mental."

[Andre Jacquard]

"...technological?"

[Croyd Webster]

"There are dampening devices, focusing devices, total power inhibitors, shielding devices," Croyd said, "Truly the variety is rather endless. However, they are best used as a stop gap rather than a solution to a problem."

[Andre Jacquard]

"It... might be useful to help me get a decent nights sleep at least..."

[Croyd Webster]

"I'll write you up something for a night time use power damper," Croyd said, "It'll work till we can get at the heart of this. Will that work for you?"

[Andre Jacquard]

"Yes," he nodded, "It does."

[Croyd Webster]

"Alright," Croyd said grabbing a prescription pad which he scribbled some instructions onto. "Give this to one of the pharmacists in the medical building. They'll issue and calibrate a power damper for you."

Croyd slid the piece of paper across his desk towards Andre.

"Now, is there anything you feel you should mention to me? This is meant to be mostly an introductory session for you and the other students who were having sessions with the last counselor."

[Andre Jacquard]

"This likely will sound strange, but... while things I see don't usually come true... be extra wary of buses when crossing the street this week. Just in case."

[Croyd Webster]

"I'll keep that in mind, Andre," Croyd said with a slight smile.

[Andre Jacquard]

"So... what now?"

[Croyd Webster]

"Well we'll set up a schedule for when and how often you want to see me," Croyd said, "For busy college students I don't expect you to make time for an appointment every week. I do like to keep it bi-weekly but that is completely up to you and your comfort zone."

[Andre Jacquard]

"I'll try my best to show up."

[Croyd Webster]

"Good. I'll do my best to be flexible, Andre," Croyd said, "I do take walk-in appointments, but I can't make any promises."

Croyd took a card out of a drawer and handed it to Andre.

"My mobile number is on the card, as is my e-mail address. You need help give me a call."

[Andre Jacquard]

He pocketed the prescription and card. "I'll keep that in mind."