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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 23, 2008 12:46:26 GMT -5
Michael actually felt good when he decided it was time for another visit with Kane. He had been trying some things out, getting some things worked out, and all in all he had been doing good when it came to him and Dare. So none of the tension from the past two visits were there when he knocked on the door, though he couldn't help feeling that they would just pop back up when he walked in. He glanced idly around the corridor and then back at the door, his mind running through everything that had happened over the weekend.
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Post by Kane Garrett on Oct 23, 2008 13:03:16 GMT -5
The knock sounded different from the last times Michael had visited, more firm, more confident, so Kane didn't make the connection. He stood and crossed quickly to the door, in case it was a new student. His face brightened into lightly surprised pleasure at seeing Michael there, apparently in good spirits. "Come in," he said, gesturing into the room. Kane took his seat, waiting for Michael. "How are you doing?" he asked.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 23, 2008 13:10:10 GMT -5
"I'm doing good," Michael said as he came in and sat down. "Everything's kind of...going right." He set his bag by his chair and shrugged lightly, everything had been going right the past few days, anyway, it was good enough to where he could say it, at least. Michael leaned back in the chair, his posture more comfortable than either of the times he had been in the room before. They hadn't gotten to the part of the discussion that could make his nerves show up again.
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Post by Kane Garrett on Oct 23, 2008 13:49:53 GMT -5
Kane's lips curved a bit at Michael's assurance. "That's great to hear," he said. "I take it you've tried some of the suggestions I gave you. Is it getting easier yet?" It appeared so, but Kane wondered how much easier. He'd been unsure how much of it Michael would try, though he'd been sure Michael would try some of it. He seemed to genuinely want to get better, one of the best signs possible that Michael would succeed.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 23, 2008 13:57:01 GMT -5
Michael nodded and smiled softly. "Yes, it's still not easy, but it's better than it was." He and Dare hadn't really been any farther, other than dancing and the figure drawing, but Michael personally had went farther than he was used to. But he also remembered how he had wanted to go farther that time Saturday morning, even if he had known he wasn't ready.
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Post by Kane Garrett on Oct 23, 2008 14:11:23 GMT -5
"It's great that you're progressing, Michael," Kane assured him. Just the fact that Michael could talk about it without closing down was a massive step forward, though Michael probably didn't even realize it. "I can see you're doing well." Kane paused, letting those words settle just long enough to be meaningful, then shifted the conversation a bit. "I've looked into more ways to help you become comfortable with things," he said. "You're already in a good mindset, so you're already winning half the battle."
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 23, 2008 14:19:53 GMT -5
Michael licked his lips, the sparkle in his eyes fading slightly in recognition of the end of easy conversation. He wondered what in the world Kane was going to tell him to do this time, considering the steps he had had to take last time. "So what did you look in to?" he asked, somewhat less enthusiastic than before. But considering how the last advice had helped, he knew he would take whatever Kane gave.
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Post by Kane Garrett on Oct 23, 2008 14:27:36 GMT -5
"A lot of it was into the nature of what you're going through. It's a more common issue than you'd expect, actually." Kane gave a brief, general overview of the kinds of symptoms that matched those Michael had described or, more aptly, hinted at last time. Then he told Michael the high success rate for treatment, though he was reserved in his description of how long it could take. He did, however, express his opinion that Michael had a high probability of being on the lower end of the scale.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 23, 2008 14:35:06 GMT -5
Michael had winced slightly at the mention of how long it could take, regardless of what Kane said about how likely it was that it wouldn't take that long for him. No, he hadn't expected it to be quick and easy, but he hadn't expected it to even possibly take that long. Maybe his excitement had gotten away with him, though. "I guess it's good to know I'm not the only one." He had wondered that before, wondered if he was the only guy that actually didn't want to go that far.
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Post by Kane Garrett on Oct 23, 2008 14:45:00 GMT -5
Kane nodded lightly. "What that means is that there's plenty of information about it, and plenty of proven techniques for moving past it. Those people at the end of the scale tend to have difficulty because they're resisting treatment, or there's a problem either they've repressed or refuse to talk about. You're doing extremely well, Michael." Kane had noticed Michael's reaction and sought to reassure him. "I think you're ready for some more homework." Kane went on to describe it, asking Michael to just work it into what he was already doing, as he grew more comfortable with the idea.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 23, 2008 15:02:13 GMT -5
Michael nodded and licked his lips, unsure about some of the suggestions, but determined to try others. "I'll work on it," he promised, glad to have someone that knew what was going on and how to help, even if Kane had had to research it first. "Thanks for doing this," he said, looking up at Kane.
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Post by Kane Garrett on Oct 23, 2008 15:12:02 GMT -5
Kane inclined his head lightly, a softly encouraging smile on his lips. "It's the most rewarding job I could have thought up being able to help," he said simply. "It was nice talking to you, Michael. Good catching up. Do you have any questions? Anything you're wondering about that I might be able to look up for you?"
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Oct 23, 2008 15:15:41 GMT -5
Michael thought for a moment, and then shook his head, "Not that I can think of." There wasn't anything he had been thinking about or needed an explanation for. The visit felt like it had only lasted a few minutes, though he knew it had been much longer, with the explanations and assignments. So he stood and ran a hand through his hair as he reached for his bag with the other. "I'll try that stuff," he said, "And come back in a week or two."
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Post by Kane Garrett on Oct 23, 2008 15:20:19 GMT -5
Kane nodded again. "Good deal," he said, standing as well. He saw Michael out, confident that the teen would succeed. He'd accomplished far more since his last visit than Kane had expected, telling Kane clearly how much Michael wanted to heal and move on.
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