Give Me Courage (Sean)

[Hugo Banks]

 Hugo walked as slowly as possible, prolonging his journey. Right now, he honestly just wanted to turn tail and go hide in the library, but he wouldn't. He'd promised himself he'd do this. With his head down he made his way through Hammel, not paying attention to the people passing by. Even with his his mind set, he still wasn't too keen on the situation. Hugo wasn't one for meeting new people. He liked to, just, starting conversations isn't something he's good at. He let out a small sigh as he spotted the office door. Even with his slow pace, he reached his destination fairly quickly. He read the label by the door to make sure he was in the right place.

Dr. Sean Neville
Psychiatrist

 It wasn't like he wanted to see a psychiatrist, but he was getting desperate. He was also sure his mom was worried he barely mentioned friends. He wanted to be a confident person, someone people like to be around, and a brave person, so he could defend others when he needs to. He wanted to 'man up' as his father would say. He also didn't want to be lonely anymore. Though he tried to make friends on his own, everytime he was going to go talk to someone, he chickened out. At least he'd made it this far.  Hugo raised his hand to knock, took a deep breath, and rapped his knuckles against the door.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

Sean Neville prided himself for his accessibility and for his patience. The former resulted from the latter, as the psychiatrist was patient, which allowed him to find the time and volition to make himself available for the students, irrespective of what their individual concerns might be. Medication checks, acute emotional distress, protracted stress and self-esteem problems, adolescent drama, difficulty with family, just wanting to chat for a bit...all of those were treated as equally important, because they were equally important. All of the students were equally important.

As the Hammel psychiatrist, Sean had access to student records for all of the students across the board. Certain students he flagged as those he assumed that he would need to meet with, or as students that he intended to take the initiative to meet with first. Others went by and only came in contact with him as the result of misbehavior, or otherwise through their own volition.

Hugo Banks was a student of which Sean was aware, but who hadn’t been flagged. He didn’t have psychological diagnoses that required tracking or treatment. He had a fairly average upbringing. His powers were kinetic rather than psychic. He wasn’t a trouble maker.

Still, the psychiatrist was aware of him. Thus, when he heard the knock, and, with his mind, heard that it was Hugo, Sean quickly pulled his file before calling out, “Please, come in.”

[Hugo Banks]

 He opened the door and walked in. "Uh, Good Afternoon, sir." Hugo greeted. Of Dr. Neville he knew little. What he had heard was that most students found him helpful, and that he always knew what was going on inside your head. Literally. He sat down in the chair across from the doctor and looked at his feet. Cursing himself for being rude, but not finding the strength to look up he contemplated his position. He got here. Good. Great. Fantastic. Now what? What to say? He didn't know how to phrase it. Taking a metaphorical 'leap of faith', he started to speak. "I was wondering-hoping really-if you could possibly help me to be more confident." Hugo rushed to get the words out, once he started everything needed to come out. "You see, sir, I don't have many friends, and I can't approach anyone and I..." Hugo took a breath. So much for his composure. At least everything was out in the open now, and not just rolling around in his head.

[Dr. Sean Neville]

“Good afternoon, Hugo,” Sean greeted the boy as soon as he pushed open the door and stepped inside. The psychiatrist turned a warm smile towards Hugo, but he did not rise to greet him. Through experience, he had learned that his height could be intimidating, and he saved such measures for students who came because they had been acting up for other staff. When he wanted his office to be a safe, comfortable atmosphere, he saw no reason to undermine that with a mostly-forgotten social custom.

The boy had not introduced himself, but the psychiatrist knew who he was regardless. Sean kept files on most of the students, and the school was small enough that no student could truly disappear into the background. Besides, he was a telepath and possessed an excellent memory.

“You don’t have to call me ‘Sir,” Sean said; in fact, he preferred that nobody refer to him that way. Such a title made him feel as though they were in the military, and he considered it unnecessarily anachronistic and formal. “It’s ‘Doctor Neville,’ or ‘Doc,’ if you want to be casual.” The psychiatrist had no preference either way; whatever Hugo felt more comfortable saying was fine.

With that introductory matter out of the way, he waited for the boy to elaborate on what brought him to this office.

Then it came. Social isolation was hardly a new concept, although he wished that he could make it easier for the students.

“It can be difficult,” he replied, his voice and expression sympathetic. “How do you get on with your roommates?”