Irreparable

“Oh.. yeah.. an experiment. I mean yeah, it sounds pretty complex and hella dangerous. Have you made the participants sign whatever clause to prevent them from suing you for some emotional damage? I hope so. Some people can be really nasty with lawsuits. But I’m sure you got your arses covered. Is the research still ongoing or you’re just writing it out?”

“It’s, uh... m-mandatory for there to be legal documents stating that they fully agree to our practices and that we’re not liable for any emotional damages following the series of analyses.” He nodded once. “Ongoing-- however, I-I type up new notes on a daily basis... It’s a little overwhelming. It’s for a theses I’m hoping to publish for the mental health community.” He shrugged once. 

“Dude… you’re talking about brain-washing and all that kinda stuff? I used to know someone who went through that. Like holy shit, that must be traumatising to experience ya know?”

“W-Well... we don’t necessarily brainwash. We simply analyze the childhood memories of young adults, and implant false memories to see how far the human psyche can be manipulated. I-In some cases, people are flooded with real memory, however, we use hypnosis towards the end of a trial with a patient in order to allow the test subject to cope... They’re all volunteers or patients believed to already posses false memories that haunt them to this day. I-I-It’s... complicated...”

“Nothing wrong with it really. I mean I only like being indoors when I am tinkering with my gadgets so there ya go. What are you writing about again?”

“False memory in adolescents and young adults.” He sputtered quickly. 

“Well my dear you can’t win them all you’re good at different things to me and it would be boring if we we’re both the same after all,” Medusa’s smile was warm and genuine hiding a hint of mischief about it,  The man was intriguing to her for a number of reasons and most prominent of these was is total lack of understanding on social norms, sure Medusa thought to herself he could read people but he didn’t understand flirting which was a juxtaposition she could live with.

After all she was enjoying talking to Theodore, it’s not everyday you talk to a psychotherapist about anything that doesn’t involve the human psyche. Medusa has had some experience with that aspect while she was detained in Mexico on some trumped up murder charges, she noted the cerebral nature of psychotherapy sometimes, she was fortunate and glad to not have to go though that every time because it would just drive her insane. She wasn’t keen on the idea of people figuring out she wasn’t all that she seemed and she made it her mission to keep away from anything that would draw attention to herself from the psychotherapy community

She smiled intently at Theodore noticing how uncomfortable he was, “I was about to go into my apartment, was wondering if you wanted a cup of coffee or anything like that?”

“O-Oh, I don’t go into the apartments of strangers...” He mumbled, twiddling his thumbs in an awkward manner. “I-I-I mean, I appreciate the offer, but... I really should be getting on. I’ve got a lot of work to do-- rain check?”

“Does this also mean you hate being outdoors?”

“That would be coined the term agoraphobia... and yes, I-I do have a very slight form of it.”

“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.”

“Are you one of those people who love watching rain and find it relaxing to do something productive?”

“I-Indeed! Pluviophilia, to be exact.”

“Oh, that is nice. To be honest with you I didn’t think I liked kids until—” Avery froze for a moment as she suddenly thought of Gia and Valentina. She didn’t want to start crying and seem like a freak, so she focused her thoughts on something else. “Can you eat popcorn? I swear I saw a popcorn stand somewhere.” She blinked and smile, trying to clear her thoughts. “It’s nice to meet you, Theo. I’m Avery, and this is Madison,” she mentioned as she placed her hand on her abdomen.

Theo noticed the slight twinge of pain in her expression after she paused, but he simply slid his hands into the deep pockets of his trousers after adjusting his glasses. “Popcorn? Y-Yeah, I mean... all types of corn are gluten free.” He nodded once. 

“Well, uh... hey, Madison.” He forced a slight smile; one that only close friends would detect as such. It was a still a smile, nonetheless. Coming from Theodore Anderson, that was a huge gesture nowadays-- but children were his one weakness. 

Avery tried to pay attention to him as much as she could but in the middle of his explanation she ended up thinking about how Darcy would look while wearing a french fries costumes. Shaking her head, she watched the stranger as he drank some water, wondering if he was all right. “I don’t think it’s pathetic. Do you know what’s pathetic? Coming here only to eat since that is the only thing I can do while I’m pregnant.” She sighed. “What stuff do you usually eat?”

Theodore scanned her from head to toe briefly once she mentioned her pregnancy before mumbling. “Congratulations.” Offering her a slight smile, he shrugged. “I-I love kids. I used to be a child psychologist full-time back in the states, b-b-but now I, uh-- mainly conduct research studies.” 

What stuff do you usually eat? 

In all honesty, Theo usually forgot to eat unless it was right there in front of him, at least for the past year and a half or so. “Well... I’m gluten intolerant, I-I have a, uh, peanut allergy, shellfish allergy, chocolate allergy, um... red food dye gives me hives...” He paused and furrowed his eyebrows. “I guess I just eat a lot of fruits, veggies, and red meats?”

Riley had lost track of time wandering. It was funny how she rarely stopped to play any games or go on any rides. She preferred to keep moving, to let the noise and the people bustling around her be all the excitement she needed. Eventually though, she grew hungry, stopping outside one of the many food stands set up at the carnival. People in front of her were huffing, grumbling under their breath, shooting out occasional “Come on man”s to the person at the front of the line. When Riley caught a bit of his conversation with the vendor, she moved from the line, coming to stand beside him. “There’s a food stand down by the teacups that is completely gluten free, I can show you.”

“Really? Wow, that would be, uh-- amazing.” He nodded, twiddling his thumbs nervously before sputtering a quiet ‘sorry’ towards the people behind him. Grimacing a bit, Theo introduced himself. “I-I-I’m Theodore. Thanks for, y’know, saving my buttox. Coming between people and their unhealthy carnival food isn’t a good idea.” He stifled a single laugh.