Posted by Civilian Jezem (Upstanding Citizen) in My Hot Blood’s Been Burnin’ (Tag Séan)
As always, Jezem arrived to his counseling appointment right one time. Dressed in nice silks and gold bangles inlaid with gems and other precious things that clinked together with every subtle motion. He forwent any greeting to slide into his usual chair and took several moments to arrange himself into a comfortable seated position. Uncharacteristic silence hung over him as he played with one of the many rings on his fingers, pondering his dull faded reflection in the shine of a pearl inlay.

Too many thoughts tangled together in his head. Too many scattered and broken reflections that could never become the whole image. A world of unknowns filled the empty spaces between. The rage and anger that held him together fizzled into ash and smoke and in their absence allowed him see the burn marks left behind. Jezem stared at the broken, jagged pieces of himself. Contemplated the scars and corruption and came up empty. Himself a puzzle whose pieces changed shape and no longer matched the image of what it was to represent.

Jezem waited for the counselor to speak first.

Jezem

As Jezem entered the counseling room, Séan observed the man’s distinctive attire and the way he adorned himself with intricate jewelry. There was an air of elegance around him that was hard to ignore. Séan took a moment to greet Jezem with a respectful nod before he settled into his chair, giving the man his space and time. The silence between them seemed to carry a weight of unspoken thoughts and emotions.

When Jezem’s gaze met his own, Séan maintained a calm demeanor, giving him a moment to process his own thoughts. The counselor’s training allowed him to pick up on the undercurrents of distress and introspection that ran through Jezem’s demeanor. Séan chose his words carefully, addressing the silence without intruding upon it.

“Jezem,” Séan began softly, his voice gentle, “I’m here to provide a space for you to share your thoughts and feelings, whatever they may be. It seems like today you’re carrying a lot on your mind. If you’d like, we can explore those thoughts together, piece by piece, untangling the complexities that often occupy our minds.”

He paused, allowing his words to settle before continuing. “Or, if you’d rather, we can simply sit in this moment of reflection. Sometimes silence can be as meaningful as words. The choice is yours.”

Counselor Iven