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Post by Kylie Thorburn on Oct 14, 2011 13:05:43 GMT -5
For the first time in a few days, Kylie laughed. Walter's response was highly amusing to her, especially after a quick moment of visualizing him speaking in a high pitched voice. "No, no," she said with a shake of her head still laughing. "I could never take you seriously if you spoke in a high pitched voice Dr. Burkhardt. Your mellow like tone is good enough." She shook her head as amusement was still written on her face. "As for that whole PMS thing, there's nothing really to discuss, and I don't have a love life anymore. That disappeared about a month ago when I ran." Kylie gave a shrug. "Besides, going into great detail about your love life with someone is just awkward and it could wind up being disturbing." She gave a small shiver at that comment.
"But, you know Dr. Burkhardt, I think we might end up getting along pretty well."
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Post by Dr. Walter Everett Burkhardt on Oct 16, 2011 21:13:12 GMT -5
Walter chuckled in response. He knew how to set people at ease when he needed to, and making them laugh was always a good start. Some of the tension had cleared from the air now, and he felt like they were on a better footing now. So it had worked.
"Good, I'm glad," he replied in his most pleasant tone. "I realize it's an inconvenience to have to switch doctors when you're used to someone else, and I do want to make this transition as easy and agreeable to you as possible. Change is good, you know, and I think I'll be able to help you, as long as you let me."
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Post by Kylie Thorburn on Oct 16, 2011 21:36:56 GMT -5
"If you continue to have the easy going banter, I think we'll get along really well." Kylie smiled. She liked having someone she could joke around with. It was more likely for her to get along with someone who could make her laugh.
"In my experience, change is not necessarily always good, so I think I will be the judge if this change is good or not, but it seems to be getting off to a decent start. You might have the right deck of cards, but we shall see. You have already passed the first test, but there will be others." Kylie wanted to be careful about who she trusted. Every person she trusted ended up disappearing on her.
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Post by Dr. Walter Everett Burkhardt on Oct 16, 2011 22:49:57 GMT -5
It was unfortunate, really, that this was only their first session. They had all that awkwardness to get through, and of course, Kylie wasn't just going to trust him automatically. But Walter was impatient... despite how he might have seemed to others. He wanted Kylie back under his control. But it was going to take a while. For now, he was going to have to play along.
Even if it meant pretending to have a sense of humor.
"Fair enough," he replied. "Any other tests you want to put me through today? We still have a little more time left in your session."
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Post by Kylie Thorburn on Nov 9, 2011 14:56:51 GMT -5
For a long moment Kylie studied Walter. He seemed to be calm, almost too calm. He seemed to be okay with everything and just went with whatever was going on. It puzzled her. Maybe it was just her imagination, but she felt like she had been around him before. Of course it could have just been, as she thought before, she had seen him around the hospital before. She could have sworn she also saw him in a dream once, but then again the people that was seen in dreams were people you had already seen, even if it was just in passing.
"Do you like coffee Dr. Burkhardt," she asked finally.
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Post by Dr. Walter Everett Burkhardt on Nov 9, 2011 22:11:09 GMT -5
It took a great deal of restraint on Walter's part not to stare her down as she studied him carefully. She would never know it by his calm demeanor, but he disliked being studied so carefully, and he especially didn't like it from any of his "children." Nikola, with his intense stare, was the only other one capable of doing it. Siobhan was flighty, her eyes darting back and forth and never focusing on anything very long.
But as much as he hated it, he was going to have to submit to it for now. If he reacted badly, Kylie would be out the door, and she wouldn't be coming back.
When she finally spoke, the question seemed to come out of no where. He frowned slightly, wondering what that had to do with anything. It didn't occur to him that she was just trying to make conversation, and maybe find a little common ground with him.
"Yes," he replied. "But not the way you make it in England. I'm from Germany; coffee is stronger and thicker there. The closest I can get here is espresso, unless I make it myself. Why do you ask?"
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Post by Kylie Thorburn on Nov 10, 2011 18:18:30 GMT -5
"The woman that was my adoptive mother was from Germany," Kylie said after Walter mentioned he was from Germany. She was attempting to find something they had in common, something she could hold on to. If Kylie could find that common ground, she would be a little more open to possibly trusting the person.
"I was just wondering. I wasn't sure if you were a coffee or a tea person, however I don't really see you sitting at your desk with a cup of tea drinking it." She observed him again before looking around at the office again. "Plus too, this is just conversation Dr. Burkhardt, just relax."
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Post by Dr. Walter Everett Burkhardt on Nov 14, 2011 0:10:09 GMT -5
"I've never understood the silly fascination the British have with tea," Walter replied. "And they don't know the first thing about making coffee, either. It's always weak and watered-down, just like their tea."
It was really the most enthusiasm he ever showed in what he referred to as small talk. Conversation without a purpose was pointless to Walter. He didn't want people to "get to know" him... he wanted to control every situation and every conversation... showing only what he needed the other person to see while getting them to reveal everything to him. He would humor her for now, but he hoped that he would be able to break through her defenses soon enough and get back into control.
"Do forgive me.... I'm used to most of my patients talking only about themselves, not starting up conversations with me. But I want you to feel comfortable."
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Post by Kylie Thorburn on Nov 14, 2011 21:35:19 GMT -5
There was a light smile on Kylie's face as Walter spoke about tea and coffee. "So there is something you are fairly enthusiastic about." She made a mental note.
"I'm not as self centered as some patients Dr. Burkhardt," she said in a light teasing tone. "Besides, it is better to get to know your patients with light conversation. With that, you can see personalities and see if they really are just letting on or if they're telling the truth. Of course, you could probably get that with a person just blabbing about themselves, but conversation seems to be better."
Kylie took another moment to observe him. "I appreciate you humoring me Dr. Burkhardt. You don't seem like the type to really carry on many conversations with people. However, I will let you know that you are doing fairly well. Also, if you can carry on a conversation with someone, I'm fairly sure a little more trust is gained than if you just listened."
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Post by Dr. Walter Everett Burkhardt on Nov 20, 2011 1:02:41 GMT -5
Walter actually didn't agree with that, but that was because he trusted no one besides himself. People lied, they put on airs, they wore masks to disguise their true selves from the rest of the world. Walter did those things, and he was convinced everyone else did, as well. It was not possible to really trust another person, because it was not possible to know another person completely. That was how Walter saw it, anyway, and he was smarter than everyone else, so clearly he must be right.
However, Walter's current goal was to get Kylie to believe she could trust him. So he kept up the mask, for her benefit.
"I'll admit, I've never been much for casual conversation," he replied, his tone sounding vaguely contrite. "I'm used to asking questions, not answering them. I'm not a big hit at parties," he added with a chuckle.
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Post by Kylie Thorburn on Nov 20, 2011 12:05:09 GMT -5
Kylie smiled. "I suppose you're not." To Kylie, it seemed as if Dr. Burkhardt was opening up to her a little. She still didn't trust him fully, but he did get a little bit of trust. Of course, she would still be cautious even if she did trust him a lot more. The last time she trust someone completely was Ewan. They had been together for about two years and he knew about her outbursts sometimes but the worst outburst she had caused her to run. Then, she did give Dr. Cardenas her complete trust as well, but then she left her. It seemed as if after she gave someone her complete trust, something happened. She was scared that if she gave Dr. Burkhardt her complete trust, something else would happen.
"Although, we can work a little bit on conversation skills. I don't like talking to a brick wall. I like some sort of interaction. Plus, this gives me an opportunity to actually talk to someone since I live alone now."
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Post by Dr. Walter Everett Burkhardt on Nov 20, 2011 19:20:30 GMT -5
Walter had never understood why some people seemed to need human interaction. He didn't need it. He certainly didn't need to reach out and get to know other people. Probably the only person he really knew other than his patients was Roman, and they only really talked about work-related things. He preferred it that way. His thoughts, his feelings, and his emotions were private, and he guarded them jealously.
But if that was what Kylie needed to feel comfortable, he was going to have to fake it. He was capable of doing that, when he needed to.
"Perhaps I could arrange a sort of group session for you, where you could talk to other patients--the ones who aren't too disturbed. I have a few patients I see who are just lonely and depressed. Although, of course, you're also welcome to talk to me. Tell me Kylie, since you asked me about coffee, do you like coffee?"
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Post by Kylie Thorburn on Nov 20, 2011 22:29:12 GMT -5
"I could do that sometime," she said agreeing with the group session. Kylie had done a few group sessions with Dr. Cardenas before. She liked talking to people, but then there were her few off days when she didn't want to talk to anyone at all, she just wanted to be alone.
"See your conversational skills are getting better," Kylie said with a wide smile. Although she didn't realize it, she was handing just a little more trust over to Walter. "I do like coffee, but only German or Scottish coffee. I'm not a fan of tea either. Red Kola is good on occasion. It has more of a fruity like taste to it."
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Post by Dr. Walter Everett Burkhardt on Nov 20, 2011 23:28:16 GMT -5
Walter felt as though he was making a little bit of progress with her. But it was going to take a little while, that much was obvious. He would just have to try to be as patient as he could.
"Ah, then we do have some things in common, then," he said with an obliging smile. "See, I'm not so intimidating, now, am I?"
He set his clipboard and quill aside, so that she would know he wasn't taking notes. After all, what was there to note down so far? But he thought it would set her at ease even more if he didn't look like he was analyzing everything she said.
"Your session is nearly over," he said. "Is there anything else you'd like to talk about before you go?"
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Post by Kylie Thorburn on Nov 21, 2011 20:42:00 GMT -5
"You've done well so far Dr. Burkhardt. I will admit it's not easy that I can make a transition so easily, but you've been great help." It was true. Kylie did have a hard time transitioning from different things. Starting over in England was difficult, being around a whole new group of people could sometimes be difficult. However, she felt comfortable in St. Mungo's, but that didn't mean she was going to ever check in.
"I don't think so Dr. Burkhardt. Today was a great session. If things keep like this, we might continue to get along pretty well." Kylie slowly stood up from sitting in the floor and held her hand out to Walter for him to shake. "I appreciate you listening and talking with me today."
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Post by Dr. Walter Everett Burkhardt on Nov 21, 2011 23:36:50 GMT -5
"Well, good," Walter said pleasantly. "I really do hope we can be friends, Kylie. I know it's frustrating to have to get used to a new doctor, but I think we can get along very well."
He stood up and took her hand in a firm handshake. Little did she know, he was sizing her up, checking to see if she was as strong as he remembered. He had a feeling that when he got the group back together, he was going to have to retrain a lot of them.
"It was very nice meeting you, Kylie. I'll see you next week, but don't hesitate to let me know if something comes up sooner."
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Post by Kylie Thorburn on Nov 24, 2011 18:02:47 GMT -5
Walter's firm handshake was returned. Kylie was aware of her strength. That was one thing she knew for sure would never change and that was one thing she could always trust.
"It was nice meeting you too Dr. Burkhardt. I think we're already somewhat friends already." She gave him a smile. She picked up her bag from the floor and put it on her shoulder. "I'll see you the same time next week." Kylie reached the door and gave one more faint smile to Walter as she walked out the door.
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Post by Dr. Walter Everett Burkhardt on Nov 28, 2011 22:51:28 GMT -5
"Nice to meet you, too, Kylie," Walter said with his most friendly-looking smile.
He watched her go quietly, giving her a little wave when she looked back and smiled at him. Then, when she was out of sight, he closed the door behind her and went back to his desk to make a few notes about Kylie. His plan was going to take longer to put into action than he'd hoped. He had a number of children he still needed to find, some he needed to get out of prison, and he was going to have to work on gaining the trust of the rest. He had a lot of work to do....
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