Wise to You This Time (for BlackAkuma)

[Winter]

Arlise Christians needed to take the initiative this time.

That initiative had led her to reschedule twice. Thinking it embarrassing to do so a third time, she had finally motivated herself to follow through on this… this thing she knew that she needed. Telling herself that running three minutes late made her fashionably late rather than problematic, the redhead, characteristically overdressed - hence her fashionable tardiness - strolled into the reception area, finding an attractive middle-aged woman scanning over a heap of paperwork. The Belgian, almost never sheepish in these situations, eased her way into the room with as much stealth as one could muster in five-inch heels.

“Ahh you must be Arlise!”

She started, having never seen the woman look up from her work. Sufficiently rattled by this superpower, the redhead crept closer, clinging to her purse. “Yes. I have an appointment with…”

“Dr. Crowley, yes. She is ready for you anytime. You look lovely, by the way!”

Arlise had not so much as seen her move her hand, but she heard mouse clicks indicating that the woman had checked her in for the appointment. The suddenness and efficiency left the redhead rocking back and forth between her feet before she got them moving to beeline through the door ahead of her. “Thank you and… ah, thank you,” she answered, as if both the woman’s effort to check her in and the compliment needed separate thanking.

Her steps slowed as she began to slip through the door. She hated this uncertainty and discomfort. It plagued her nowhere else in life but this one place, this… addiction? Is that what one should call it? She hated the idea of having an addiction. It clashed with her carefully crafted but hard-earned reputation as indomitable. Her mind thumbed through all of Dr. Takemi’s “analyses” of her psyche and wondered how much of that this new doctor planned to bring up during this appointment.

…And she had no further opportunity to stall. The Belgian stepped fully into the room, lips pursed, feeling as if she awaited sentencing.

Arlise

Wearing

[BlackAkuma]

Before they even met, Alyssa knew a few things about Arlise. Aside from the wealth of information she’d been studying about the woman’s career, of course.

That information painted a vivid picture of a career that had been, at times…’rocky’ would be a good description. The Belgian was undoubtedly talented, and Alyssa had watched her matches with no small amount of joy. She had a magnificent body and the skills to use it, making her a formidable opponent in the ring. There was a sensuality to her, a certain grace, that few others in their business could copy. She should’ve gone far.

Should. That hadn't quite manifested into reality just yet, and after watching her most recent match against S+M, she could hazard a few guesses as to why. Thoughts she would no doubt share with the woman when she showed up.

If she showed up.

Alyssa sat at her desk, sipping her tea with a casual glance at the grandfather clock at the opposite wall, ticking away and telling her that Arlise was two minutes late, bordering on three. That wouldn’t have been cause to worry, if the woman hadn't rescheduled on her twice. Once, she could’ve put up with. Life intervened, she understood, and LAW compensated her for her time regardless. But twice was more aggravating. Despite what people thought, therapists didn’t sit around all day waiting for people to come into their room and talk. There were things she could’ve been doing, and if Arlise stood her up today, she would - in the nicest way possible - tell the woman she would be doing those things instead of waiting on her a fourth time.

Thankfully, it didn’t come to that.

”Ms. Crowley!” Alyssa tensed up as her receptionist’s voice chirped through the speaker. Sweet girl, but a little energetic for her tastes, at times. ”Ms. Christians is here.”

”Christiaens.” She took pride in properly pronouncing her client’s names. ”Send her in, please.”

Sure enough, Arlise walked in a moment later, finding herself in the midst of Alyssa’s spacious office. Dimly lit, there was a gloomy appearance to it, but calming in a way, as if this was the perfect place to lie back and sleep. Antique bookshelves were lined with dozens of tomes, all perfectly lined up and alphabetized, and an ornate desk served as the centerpiece, decorated with all sorts of little curios - an hourglass, a miniature globe, a plate for burning incense, among other things.

There was the chaise-lounge chair, of course, the stereotypical centerpiece of any therapist’s space. But less stereotypical was what took up a good half of the room - namely, the wrestling mats Alyssa had set off to the side, an addition that seemed liked it belonged in entirely different space.

The woman herself rose up to meet Arlise straightaway, extending her hand as she approached. ”Arlise Christiaens. A pleasure to meet you.” Her smile took on a sharp edge. ”Finally.”

Yes, this is what she’s wearing. No Moogle, though.

[Winter]

Well... the room did not intimidate Arlise nearly as much as she had expected.

Hosting Dr. Takemi in her own apartment had somehow intimidated her greatly, but she had worried far more about coming to another doctor's office. These sorts of offices... unsettled her, more often than not, though she supposed they did so for good reason - and she had endured an extremely poor visit to a dentist's office once upon a time, furthering her anxieties. But Dr. Crowley's office, which she could scrutinize closely given her feet barely wanted to carry her further into the room, had all the quiet charm of a quiet study or an isolated room in a library. Arlise could have spent much time in a room like this one.

...Until she noticed the chair, the mats, and not least of all, the woman awaiting her.

Arlise's eyes had not fully adjusted on the change in light from the halls and reception area to the dimmer office, but she only needed to blink once to confirm that the woman did... have more cleavage on display than Arlise could remember ever seeing a doctor display - aside from Mina's tendency to find any excuse to strip down into much less clothing, anyway. Fortunately, her nerves ensured her eyes did not linger there, and she met the woman with an uncertain smile as she extended her hand. The redhead took it.

It did not take an acute understanding of tone nor body language to recognize the nip in the doctor's greeting, likely because Arlise remained embarrassed by her own fear of following through on the appointment. She withered under the woman's gaze. "Yes, thank you. And... I do apologize." Honesty, honesty. She tried to summon the will to speak the uncertainty weighing on her heart aloud - she had learned something from those meetings with her previous therapist, after all.

"I... have a, ah, a hard time with this. With looking into my... problems."

[BlackAkuma]

This was hardly the first time Alyssa had seen Arlise, but despite what certain Instagram influencers would claim, so many things couldn't be conveyed through a screen. Here, in person, she could better appreciate the Belgian’s form, which her outfit couldn't entirely hide. A strong body, well made, with legs that drew her gaze even in these lowlights. Her hair seemed to glow, a vibrant red, and her sparkling eyes were much the same.

A rare, powerful beauty. It was easy to see why Sabine had spoken so highly of her.

She also didn’t fail to notice that Arlise was noticing her. The usual reaction to seeing her in such an outfit, but she found it productive for the unique clients who came her way. Special women - and men, sometimes - required special touches.

At the offer of an apology, Alyssa's smile softened. The excuse was an understandable one. ”All is forgiven.” She waved it off and strolled back to her desk, putting the slightest sway in her step as she moved. ”Problems or not, you did come. We’re already making progress. A good sign.”

She eased into her chair and opened her hand, motioning for Arlise to sit, as well, and make herself comfortable. ”Let’s start with a little quid pro quo. You’ll tell me a few things about yourself, then I’ll do the same.” She brought the glass of tea to her lips, but stopped to tip it Arlise’s way. ”I’m curious about your alias, in particular - ‘Titania’. A Midsummer Night’s Dream?”