Doctor, Doctor, gimme the news~

[rungout]

WHO: Rung and whoever wants to stop in!
WHERE: The good doctor's office
WHEN: It's an all day affair at Rung's office~ A few days after he discovered his new abilities.
WHAT: Therapy sessions and go!
WARNINGS: Dark pasts, etc?


Yep, it was that time again.

Now that things were somewhat back to normal for the resident therapist, Rung had put out the word that he would be taking patients again. He had missed it, helping others, and it was time to get his mind off everything that had happened to him over the past few weeks.

His office had been cleaned up and rearranged a bit, the therapist just wanting to change the atmosphere a bit.

Make it more personable than it had been before.

Satisfied with what he'd done, the front door had been propped open and he was settled at his desk, going over some files as he absently toyed with a ball of light.

Comments

[rungout]

"...The junk pile...Max, you--aren't you lonely?"

Because that, first and foremost, is Rung's biggest worry. That the other is lonely and downplaying it which makes him distance himself even more. The other is so convinced that he'll hurt whoever he gets near that he's resorted to this.

"There are plenty of things that could use breaking before building has to occur, Max. And there's always the police force."

You were a warden after all, big guy.

[warborn]

Lonely?

"..."

The hesitation may be enough of an answer, but- how can he be lonely? He's able to determine his own life, his own hours, whether or not he interacts with others, it's all in his control, and so long as he makes sure he keeps control it'll be...just...

"...I'm fine. And - Prowl's on it."

That should say enough.

[rungout]

"...Yes, that is a good point," Rung says with a bit of a dark look that's gone rather quickly.

Yeah, he's not a fan of Prowl either. At all.

"But no one should be alone all the time, Max. Social interaction is a very important thing for everyone. I need it, you need it--there's no reason to distance yourself."

[warborn]

"I get social interaction." No, really. He does. Honest! "Just because I don't go out much doesn't mean I'm not - you know. Talking with anyone."

Besides.

"There's always the comm chatter."

[rungout]

"Not just comm chatter, though. Real interaction with others that isn't through a screen or radio."

You need to be near others, touch others, really interact with them and build relationships.

He can't bring himself to say that outloud because he doesn't want to pressure the other and make him uncomfortable. But Primus it's on his mind and lingering there.

"...What's the real reason behind you distancing yourself, Max?"

[warborn]

It's clear Max is already getting a little uncomfortable. With the way he's working his hand and looking down at it, it's also clear that he'd rather be anywhere but here.

But here he is. Silent, but here.

"..."

How does he answer that? No, really? It's- "Safer," he says quietly after some time. Safer for them, for- him as well. To keep things to a minimal.

[rungout]

Rung's gaze softens.

"Max, you aren't a danger to anyone. You are just as good a being as anyone else here, I know you are. I've seen it and so have others," he replies gently, resisting the urge to do something rash.

"I, for one, enjoy your company. Despite what may have happened in the past, I like your company."

[warborn]

"Yeah, well, we've already established you're a cartridge short of a clip."

It comes out a bit harsher than he meant it to, but other than a grimace - what's the use of apologizing? Fort Max lets go of his hands to place them on the arms of the seat, pushing himself up much like he had last time.

"Still easily possible - hell, probable - someone's gonna say something that'll set me off at some point, and if I'm around the kind of person who can't take care of themselves - well, you already know what happens."

He's not quite pacing, but something close to it.

[rungout]

And Rung just takes it in stride. It's not the first time he's been insulted like that and it won't be the last, he's sure.

His gaze follows Max as the other begins to pace, Rung leaning back in his chair as his vents cycle softly.

"Which is why it's important for you to interact with others. So that if it does happen, you can learn how to control it better. The more time you spend away from others, the more time you spend keeping everything inside, the harder it's going to get for you to control the outbursts when they do happen," he said gently, gaze never leaving Max. "And that's when someone's going to get hurt. The thing you're so desperate to avoid happening has the biggest possibility of happening with you acting the way you are."

[warborn]

"No. It's not. The more I keep away, the more time I have to try and get a handle on this, alright?"

By now, his voice has taken on a - frustrated, sullen, angry? - more defensive tone.

"Because the next time I do have an 'outburst', I'll be damned if I do hurt someone, or worse. Again."

[rungout]

"But how can you handle it if you won't let it out? You bottle it all inside, Max, and it's just festering!" Rung countered, standing and moving around the desk, not approaching the other yet but holding out a hand as both a calming gesture and to try and get the other to come over to him.

"You won't hurt anyone as long as you have the determination and the willpower not to, Max. You just have to trust yourself."

1/2 for icons

[warborn]

There was something to be said about hitting the nail on the head. Snarling, shouting, spinning around-

"I don't!"

With fists clenched, Maximus spun around, looking for a moment as though he was going to outburst more than just words-

2/2 done

[warborn]

-but for whatever credit it was, for whatever use it was, he didn't. He visibly struggled, clenching his denta-

"I don't...trust. Myself."

And there. There it was. He looked down, optics dimming to near-black.

;-; Max bb

[rungout]

To Rung's credit, the outburst didn't cause him to freak out or anything of that nature. He actually kept himself collected, flinching only the slightest bit when Fort Max first turned on him during his little outburst--

But otherwise his gaze was steady and understanding, studying the other as Max visibly got himself under control.

It was a start and a good sign. (On the inside, though, was a whole other story because Rung's spark was fluttering in a panic, his vents cycling quickly as he eased the minor panic creeping in. But as long as it stayed on the inside, he was fine.)

"Max.." the therapist said softly after a moment, his hand outstretched once more to the other. "It's something to build, that you will have to work on, but I trust you. And I want to help you trust yourself if you'll let me. Considering what you just did, you should trust yourself. Because you've come a long way."

weh

[warborn]

The gaze may have been understanding, the hand may have been offered...but Max's optics were dim and lowered, and after a moment, he turned completely. His treads rattled as he cycled, hard, moving to put a hand on the chair he'd been resting on earlier.

"Doesn't matter," he mumbled. "One time- doesn't mean anything. 'Mgoing to do it again. And hurt someone. Or...worse."

[rungout]

"One time means everything, Max," Rung objected, shaking his head and taking a few steps towards the other, finally lowering his hand for the time being.

"It's a start, and everyone needs one of those. We all need a starting point when it comes to something like recovery and you've found it. Now you just need to keep going and don't let the 'What ifs' keep you from doing so," he said softly as he hesitantly reached out to rest a hand over the other Max had placed on the chair.

"It's terrifying, I know it can be, but you have to be willing to take a few risks."

[warborn]

"It's not 'what if' if it's just a matter of time."

Max didn't move. Other than a subtle, almost imperceptible flinch under Rung's hand...

"I don't- want. To hurt anyone. But when I get...like that, I can't...I just..."

He couldn't risk it. Not more than he already had.

[rungout]

"You can control it though, Max, you just proved as much to me," Rung said softly, squeezing the other's hand gently since he hadn't pulled away. "I know you don't want to hurt anyone and if you just hang onto that and build your strength around that, you won't hurt others. Verbal outbursts are something everyone does. I know you have the control needed to keep it from becoming something physical."

[warborn]

"I can't...

He couldn't. Couldn't keep himself from responding. Reacting. No matter how much he walled off-

"I can't...control...myself."

Even now. Even with his vents whirring and him trying desperately to not appear so pitifully weak- he couldn't.

[rungout]

"Maybe not right now but you will be able to, Max, and I'm going to help you get to that point. It's not going to be easy but we'll get there," Rung assured the other, determination in his voice.

He hadn't given up on the other yet; he wasn't about to now.

Shifting in front of the other, Rung reached up to touch the other's cheeks, optics dimming in a gentle expression as he wished there was something he could do to make it better right now.

"We can beat this, Max. We can. And I know you don't trust yourself but please..trust me. You can get through this, I know you can."

[warborn]

"..."

Considering he'd all but given up on himself...

No, that wasn't true. Fortress Maximus had been moving forwards, but that was just it; he wasn't doing anything else. He'd resigned himself to things being as they were now, without any hope of getting better-

-it hurt too much. To hope. And to have that hope constantly taken away. Not hoping was far, far easier.

Trust me.

Trust this small, wretchedly weak mech who could hardly take care of himself, how could he take care of anyone else-

"...have you. Seen worse?"

[rungout]

"I have, yes. The cases I've dealt with over the years have been numerous and with all types. You aren't hopeless, Max. No one is and I've never given up on someone before," Rung said sincerely, hands still on the other's cheeks because he wasn't about to break contact with him now that he's initiated it.

He's not afraid, Max.

"You can get through this and move forward in a way that isn't just drifting along. You can be so much more, even with everything that you've gone through and I want to help you do it."

[warborn]

It almost hurts to hear it. It's certainly twisting his spark as it insists he's broken beyond repair, shouting against any dare of hope, as it violently rebukes any sort of comfort...

His vents heave a heavy sigh.

"I'm so tired of this."

SORRY ABOUT THAT >>;

[rungout]

"I know you are. You've fought long and hard, Max, but you are making progress. Let me help you bear some of this wright and we'll get to the finish line together," Rung replied softly, spark aching a bit more because Primus did he wish he could just fix things right then and there.

But, even without that easy fix, he was still ready and willing to go the distance with the other.

"You aren't alone, Max."

<3

[warborn]

"How?"

He needs a route. He needs an anchor. Something to believe in. Something other than a voice whose owner he can only barely look at, something-

Spark, he's so tired of all of this.