#i get the paranoia and anger i genuinely do i don't blame people for it

[threadpull]

🕯️for Roman

send me 🕯️to hear my character's inner thoughts about your character.

Inmates considered at risk for violence are generally ushered into sterile, austere interview rooms for their various mental health sessions. This is what brings Roman to sit across from Dr. Arthur McCallister in one of these secluded spaces. Luckily, Roman actually seems to like Arthur - most of the patients do. He actually participates in psychotherapy these days because of it.

"Ye mentioned this Eliza lass before, Roman. Who is she t'ye?" Arthur asks, leaning into the table. It's the first time in a while that Roman has talked positively about someone other than Victor Zsasz. Usually he's complaining instead.

"Oh, Eliza!" He's actually excited by the question. His mask, unlike usual, has its jaw gaping open. It frames a grin that has sprouted onto his face. Arthur is one of the few people he doesn't really mind seeing the scarring that creeps around his mouth. "She's a real doll. Sweet thing. Beautiful, too." He sits on it for a moment, trying to think of how to further describe her. He continues: "She's a fling. Maybe more than a fling. Not sure yet, it's an ongoing development kind of deal."

"D'ye want it t'be more?"

Looking up, Roman bobs his head side-to-side, weighing the question. "Maybe. Don't know. Not much of a relationship type of man these days. Ever since Circe..." He loved Circe. And look at what that bitch did to him! Left him as soon as things went sideways. Tried to take off with his little girl. "Think I'll really go nuts if that happened again."

"Ye think she will use you, like Circe?" Arthur asks, brows furrowed as he tries to understand what Roman is getting at. "Is that it?"

"Well, no." At least, he doesn't think so. Eliza's not at all like Circe. Circe revealed herself as shallow, disloyal, material. "Not really."

"What d'ye mean, Roman? Help me understand."

Roman reaches a hand up, finger tap-tapping his exposed chin. He can feel the texture of his skin. "First I thought she might find the face situation a turn-off, but that seems fine." No, that's not it either. He's working through it, racking his brain. "Betrayal. There's a myriad of reasons for someone to be disloyal to me."

"Like?" Arthur questions. He can see this is Roman's paranoia flaring up again, leading to self-sabotaging of relationships. But he wants Roman to come to that conclusion himself. "What would Eliza betray ye for?"

Roman stares blankly. Good question. Money? She doesn't seem like the type. Fear? She's stronger than she looks at first impression, so he doubts she would be intimidated. Disgust? She doesn't seem too entirely bothered by his lack of morals, surprisingly. "... Something I don't know about," he answers cautiously.

Arthur cocks his head to the side, staring at him. Somehow it manages to make Roman feel some shame over something Roman isn't even sure about, which is unnerving. No one does that to him. "So. Ye mean to say there's no reason. None ye can think of. Ye plan t'let that stop ye from being closer t'her."

Oh.

"Uhh." For once, he's speechless. For all the yapping he does, he has nothing to say.

"No real answer," Arthur continues.

Roman scoffs, anger flaring. "Shut the fuck up, Doc. I get it. Fine. You win, I'm goddamn crazy."

"Didn't say that," Arthur challenges. "Ye just want t'protect yourself. Makes sense. But maybe ye don't need ta all the time."

Roman taps his fingers against the table, annoyed. But he nods, genuinely considers what he's hearing. "Yeah. Might just be that witch's fault. I mean, what isn't she to blame for."

"It takes time t'work past these things, Roman,” Arthur reassures.

"... Yeah. Yeah, okay. Maybe there's no reason. Maybe."