Todd Wants Key's Face

Dusk: ... Thank you... *he takes the pills, chugging down the water*

*A few weeks later*

Sarah: *gets out of the car at the doctor's office, making sure Dusk follows her*

Dusk: *he's actually looking forward to the visit, though he doesn't fully understand why* :)

Sarah: *is rather happy to see him looking almost eager--it means the treatment's working. she enters the office with him, and waits to be called*

*they soon are, and once again they are both asked to take a seat*

Dr. Ferman: Hello again, you two. How've you been?

Dusk: *waves a little but doesn't answer*

Sarah: We've been doing pretty well. He still hasn't tried to leave again, fortunately... But he still cries at night... <:(

Dusk: *still doesn't understand why this is*

Dr. Ferman: Perhaps that crying he's been doing is his own inner self's cry for help?

Sarah: He never seems to remember it, so... Perhaps...

Dusk: ...

Dr. Ferman: Well, enough talk, I suppose. *he gets out the pendulum*

Dusk: ! *becomes inwardly excited*

Sarah: *watches* ...

Dr. Ferman: *begins swinging the pendulum back and forth*

Dusk: *is doesn't take very long for him to go under, half because he is already used to it, and half because he was looking FORWARD to it. He stares blankly after only a few minutes*

Dr. Ferman: Now, Dusk... we're going to do something a bit different today. I need you to try reaching FAAAR back into your subconscious... I need you to go find Sam Gatzsky.

Dusk: ... Find... Sam Gatzsky...?

Dr. Ferman: That's right, you go search back into your mind... as far back as you can go.

Dusk: *nods slightly, a dopey sort of look on his face*

Sarah: *waits, feeling incredibly hopeful*

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Dusk: ... *he gets up, turns off the TV, and walks over to the table, sitting down in a chair. He picks at the food in front of him, almost afraid to try it* ...

Sarah: ...It's okay. *takes a bite of it* See?

Dusk: ... *hesitantly takes a bite. He's surprised* It's good! :/

Sarah: *smiles* I'm glad you like it. ^^ Go on, keep eating! *eats*

Dusk: *gives her a funny look for a second before eating more of this... not-human... thing*

Sarah: *is glad that he's not rejecting the food. she tries very hard to keep an image of him eating human flesh out of her head...*

Dusk: *he eats all his dinner, feeling quite satisfied. He looks at Sarah, who sits across from him. Just... looking. Taking in her features* ...

Sarah: *glances up and notices him watch her--she quietly finishes eating as he does so, trying not to think too much of it*

Dusk: *he shuts his eyes, head resting in his hand, suffering somewhat from a headache that has developed from a sudden craving for alcohol he never realized he had*

Sarah: ! Are you feeling alright? D:

Dusk: ... Head just hurts... m'fine... dunno why, just started up...

Sarah: I could get you some painkillers if you want.

Dusk: ... That'd be nice... thank you...

Sarah: *nods, then stands up, taking both their plates to the kitchen, then digging around a few drawers for some pills*

Dusk: *he watches her leave, still holding his head, using his other hand, he scratches the short beard on his jaw and cheeks* ...

Sarah: *comes back after a few moments, and sets a glass of water and a few pills down in front of Dusk* This should help...

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Dusk: ... That's what she called me, so I guess we are... I played games with her...

Sarah: *is genuinely curious* What kind of games?

Dusk: ... Like... hide and seek... why do you ask?

Sarah: I'm just curious... *parks* Alrighty, we're back. come on-- *gets out of the car*

Dusk: ... *he gets out of the car and follows Sarah into the apartment*

Sarah: *makes sure to lock the door behind them as soon as they get upstairs* ...Go ahead and make yourself comfortable, I'll get something ready...

Dusk: ... Kay... *he sits down on the couch, not really thinking so much* ...

Sarah: *starts making lunch* ...You can switch on the tv if you'd like...

Dusk: ... M'kay... *he takes this more as a command and "does as told". He turns the TV on via remote* ...

TV: ... "with Lieutenant Gilder announcing that the masked serial killer stalking our city was killed last night in the heat of a fight... the Lieutenant claims that the body has been burned, and records have been searched, but the identity of this ghost-like killer remains a mystery."

Sarah: *pauses to listen* ... Mmh... *goes back to making food*

Dusk: ... I wasn't killed. Why are they saying I was killed?

Sarah: ....Maybe they mistook someone else for you.

Dusk: *quietly* ...No... no, then... *that sense of justice he used to have seems to come back in his eyes as he looks over and speaks directly to Sarah* ... Then... some innocent person died... because of me... *he seems distraught, though a few days ago he would have thought nothing of it*

Sarah: *looks back at him, and notices the change* ...Well... maybe it's all a trick. You're obviously not dead--maybe they just want people to think you are.

Dusk: ... O-okay... okay, maybe, yeah... *he turns back around, now somewhat reassured* ...

Sarah: *is also a bit reassured--maybe this WAS going to work... she goes back to making food*

Dusk: *he listens to the TV drone on softly, but its words and sentences, sounds and noises, cannot truly reach his ears when his mind drifts off to all that has happened to him. What IS happening to him* ...

Sarah: *eventually finishes cooking, and sets the plates down on the table* Dusk, food's done...

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Dusk: ... Okay... I... I'd like that... *he glances at her, then looks away again*

Sarah: *can't think of anything else to talk about--she drives quietly the rest of the way*

Dusk: *After a moment of silence* ... Is this all weird to you...? That... you're trying to take care of me or something even after I tried to kill you...

Sarah: ...Only a little bit... but I forgive you.

Dusk: ... Why?

Sarah: ...Because I don't think you're a bad person.

Dusk: ... And what are you basing that on?

Sarah: If you were a bad person, I wouldn't be here. You would have killed me while I slept. You didn't.

Dusk: I didn't spare you because I'm a good person. I don't know why I didn't kill you.

Sarah: Well, maybe we'll find out... and hopefully, you won't prove me wrong.

Dusk: ... I miss Annabelle...

Sarah: Who's Annabelle? <:/

Dusk: ... Blood Puppet's daughter...

Sarah: !!! ...I didn't know he had one.... were you friends?

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Dusk: ... Is... uh... is that it then?

Dr. Ferman: Yes, you may go.

Dusk: Oh, okay... *he gets up, ready to go, though he waits for Sarah*

Sarah: *also stands* Thank you. How often should we come in?

Dr. Ferman: Well, what sounds good for you? Once a week?

Dusk: ...

Sarah: That sounds perfect, thank you. We'll see you in a week, then. <:/

Dr. Ferman: That's right, see you then. Good luck, Mrs. Gatzsky.

Dusk: ...

Sarah: *nods* Thanks again... Come on, Dusk. *turns to leave the office*

Dusk: *is glad that she called him by his real name. He follows her out* ... So... that was a pretty short visit. *He doesn't realize that the whole thing was an hour*

Sarah: *walks out to the car with him* Mhmm, it sure felt like it... and it's only once a week, so we probably won't even notice very much... *looks over at him* Are you hungry? We didn't get to eat this morning...

Dusk: ... Well, you won't let me eat other people...

Sarah: Well, I can make you anything that ISN'T other people... would you be willing to try other things? <:/

Dusk: ... I dunno... maybe... *he looks out the window as Sarah drives*

Sarah: I'm sure you won't mind them...

Dusk: ... I've never really seen the city during the day...

Sarah: Oh... well, we could go on a walk later, if you want...

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Dr. Ferman: ... and... pardon me if I'm wrong, as it will sound incredibly offensive... but are you pregnant?

Dusk: *asleep*

Sarah: *nods* I am... have been for about two months...

Dr. Ferman: ... So there's much at stake. We don't want the child to be without a father.

Dusk: *asleep*

Sarah: *nods* .......Do you think this will work?

Dr. Ferman: ... It depends if he's willing to trust me or not, and whether or not he'll still be willing to do this.

Dusk: *asleep*

Sarah: "He," as in "his subconscious"? Or his waking self?

Dr. Ferman: Well it's inevitable that his subconscious will eventually learn that it likes this feeling I'm giving Sam, and therefore trust me... but he needs to, himself, be willing to talk to me, open up to me, and not get so tense around me.

Dusk: *asleep*

Sarah: Alright... I'll do all I can at home to make him feel comfortable. <:/

Dr. Ferman: Good. Do you have any questions, or should I wake him up now?

Dusk: *asleep*

Sarah: Actually, yes--Is there anything I could do to keep him from trying to leave our home? I barely managed to catch him escaping through the window last night...

Dr. Ferman: I suggest making him WANT to stay. Give him a bit of extra love. Never mention the cause of how he acts now. Not once. Avoid the subject entirely.

Dusk: *asleep*

Sarah: Would using his current name help too? <:/

Dr. Ferman: Yes. Absolutely. His real name frustrates him when used, as I've seen from my own mistake.

Dusk: *asleep*

Sarah: Alright... Those are all the questions i had. <:/

Dr. Ferman: Alright. I'll wake him up then. *leans over to the Lieutenant* Dusk, could you please listen to me closely?

Dusk: *nods slightly in his sleep*

Dr. Ferman: I need you to wake up feeling very good, emotionally, mentally, and physically.

Dusk: *he drowsily wakes up, yawning a bit, still somewhat smiling a bit, feeling happy and comfortable* So... uh... what happened...? Did I do okay...?

Dr. Ferman: Yes, you followed the exercise perfectly. You did a very good job. :)

Dusk: ... Oh. *he smiles a bit wider*

Sarah: *smiles a little bit as well--she missed that smile*

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Dr. Ferman: Just let yourself feel good, Dusk. Just do that.

Dusk: *mumbling* ... Okay...

Sarah: .....

Dr. Ferman: *to Sarah* We're going to allow him to stay like this for a while. We'll be having a lot of sessions like this so that I can "make friends" with his subconscious. Once he warms up to me we can begin some real work on helping him.

Dusk: *smiling slightly in his forced sleep*

Sarah: *nods* Whatever it takes. We just want him back. <:(

Dr. Ferman: Can you tell me more about your relationship with him? Like... your history together? If not, that's okay, but it could help him recover quicker. <:/

Dusk: *asleep*

Sarah: ...Well, we've known each other practically our whole lives... stayed best friends all through school, but we drifted apart as we got older... until about a year ago, after my dad died... We ran into each other again, and well... here we are. <:/

Dr. Ferman: ... How did you end up marrying Sam? It couldn't have just been... automatic.

Dusk: *asleep*

Sarah: Well, he was there when dad died... he um... helped cheer me up. Our relationship went from there... I didn't want to at first, but... *smiles a bit* he was pretty persuasive...

Dr. Ferman: So he fell for you first, then.

Dusk: *asleep*

Sarah: *nods* Mhmm... I have no idea how long he felt that way, but gradually, the feeling became mutual.

Dr, Ferman: I see... And... what of his relationship with his mother? His deceased father? Do you know?

Dusk: *asleep*

Sarah: His parents were always busy... he was always trying hard to get their attention, I could tell, even when we were kids... they DID care about him, still do...

Dr. Ferman: Did this cause any extra damage when his father died, then?

Dusk: *asleep*

Sarah: .... *nods* He became depressed... started drinking to try to deal with it...

Dr. Ferman: He was an alcoholic for some time? I heard about his accident with a truck... did his excessive drinking hurt your relationship with him?

Dusk: *asleep*

Sarah: For a little while, it did... I had to leave the apartment for a night at one point... after the accident, though, we started to patch things up again...

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Dusk: ... *he looks through, curious* ... The Lieutenant's trench-coat... *looks over at Sarah* ... Why do you have this?

Sarah: ...He's my husband.

Dusk: ... Was. Blood Puppet killed him. Sorry.

Sarah: *stares at him, as if she was trying to WILL him to remember. that fear of never having him back just kept growing, but... no, no, she can't give up on him yet, not when they've barely even started trying yet. she gets out of bed* ....G-Get dressed... we're going out in a bit.

Dusk: ... ... Okay... *he picks out a shirt and some jeans to wear, then puts on socks and shoes. He does all this rather quickly, wondering where on earth Sarah could be taking him... or perhaps he already knows. A doctor. A psychologist. Someone to "help" him*

Sarah: *grabs some clothes and changes in the bathroom, unsure of what Sam--Dusk?--would think if she did so in front of him. maybe he wouldn't care? She didn't want to risk scaring him off. she comes back out and isn't surprised to find him already dressed, though she IS surprised to not find him halfway out the window* ...Come on, we should go.

Dusk: ... Kay...

*they go and visit a professional psychologist in their area, who lets them in without a wait when he sees that his next client is the supposedly-dead Lieutenant Gatzsky*

Dr. Ferman: Come in, come in both of you - oh - is that... a... what is that around his neck? D:

Dusk: ...

Sarah: ...It's a shock collar... Just in case he gets out of hand... <:/

Dr. Ferman: Ah... Well, there's no need for such things here. This is a place of help and happiness. I'm Doctor Ferman. Please come in. <:/ *steps aside to let them in*

Dusk: ... *walks in*

*the wall of the psychologist's office has a diploma on it as well as his medical licence, a master's degree in psychology, and a few awards*

Dr. Ferman: Do sit down, both of you, and explain to me the trouble.

Dusk: ... *sits on a couch*

Sarah: Well... obviously, the Lieutenant is still alive... unfortunately, during his absence, we were given cause to believe that he may have been brainwashed. <:/

Dr. Ferman: Brainwashing? I never thought something so... EXTREME... existed...

Dusk: ... Where is he now?

Sarah: *briefly glances at Sam* Well, it does, and I've seen it work... You see, he doesn't remember who he is. It's like his original self was... well, not REPLACED, but... overwritten... with a new personality.

Dr. Ferman: ... Then perhaps we can get through to his old self, maybe slowly pull him out through multiple sessions. I have the skills necessary to do such a thing, through old-fashioned hypnosis. With your permission, Mrs. Gatzsky, I'll do just that. Reverse the effects.

Dusk: ... It won't work.

Sarah: *tries to ignore Sam* You have my permission. <:/

Dusk: *snarling* It WON'T. WORK.

Dr. Ferman: S -

Dusk: DUSK.

Dr. Ferman: ... "Dusk". Are you comfortable as you are now?

Dusk: Well -

Dr. Ferman: Surely you aren't, as you've been complaining since you got here. I'm here to be your friend. Don't you need a friend right now? <:/

Dusk: W-well... I guess...

Dr. Ferman: Well, let me help. Can I help?

Dusk: ... Well... well FINE...

Dr. Ferman: Alright then. Thank you very much. *he gets out a pendulum* I just need you to keep your eyes locked on this as best as you can, alright? It'll be easy. Just watch it. *he begins slowly swinging it back and forth* Just let yourself relax... breathe in and out, in and out, sloooowly, and let yourself relax...

*Dr. Ferman swings the pendulum for about an hour, with Dusk's stubbornness starting to fade away after thirty minutes, and a daze in his eyes setting in at forty-five. When the hour was up, Dusk just stared blankly, in a light trance*

Dr. Ferman: No tricks, no lies, Dusk. I've put you into a little trance. Do you feel relaxed?

Dusk: *he nods* ... Y... yes... very...

Dr. Ferman: Good... now let yourself just go to sleep, Dusk. It's okay, no one will judge. Just let yourself take a little nap.

Dusk: ... Mh-kay... *his eyelids droop closed and he's immediately fast asleep, head dropped*

Sarah: *sits and watches patiently, not wanting to interrupt. she prays it'll work...* ...

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Dusk: *it doesn't take long for him to just pass out. He's exhausted from the day and it was hard enough trying to stay awake long enough for Sarah to fall asleep*

Sarah: *also finds it difficult to stay awake, but she manages. she falls asleep only moments after she confirms Sam's done the same, wishing that when she wakes up, everything will be back to normal again...*

The Next Morning

Dusk: *he's still asleep, still there, but he shivers, curled up tightly in the bed, sobbing quietly*

Sarah: *wakes up, and wonders what that faint sound is--until she realizes it's coming from Sam* D:! *sits up and looks over at him, frowning, wondering what he must be dreaming about... she lightly touches his arm, debating whether she should wake him up or not*

Dusk: *continues to sob in his sleep, unaware that he's doing so*

Sarah: ... *decides to wake him up--she lightly nudges him* Sam... D:>

Dusk: ... !! *he wakes up from Sarah's nudge and stares at her somewhat bleary-eyed* Whuh-what?

Sarah: *quietly* Are you okay? D:>

Dusk: Wh-why wouldn't I be okay?

Sarah: ...You didn't look okay, that's all.....

Dusk: ... I was sleeping. I looked asleep. *he goes to scratch at his face and ends up accidentally wiping tears away* ??

Sarah: *realizes that he really DOESN'T know what's wrong--she isn't quite sure what to say* ....

Dusk: ... Why was I CRYING...??

Sarah: I was hoping you would be able to tell ME... <:(

Dusk: I don't know, I don't... I don't FEEL sad...

Sarah: Mmh... Well, maybe the doctor'll figure something out. Um... there's clothes in the closet that you can change into, if you want...

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Dusk: D-DON'T TELL ME WHAT I DO AND DON'T MEAN! AAHHGH! D8< *he tries opening the window again*

Sarah: !! *presses the button again, holding it down a little bit longer*

Dusk: *he actually cries out in pain this time, backing away from the window, he tries tugging the shock collar off, but it's locked onto him* G-GET THIS DAMNED THING OFF ME!! D8<

Sarah: I can't do that. I'm sorry, but you can't leave... I won't let you leave again... Your place is HERE... D:>

Dusk: NO! I don't live here! I came here ONCE and... and you acted WEIRD, and you're acting weird NOW! I don't belong with you, Sarah! D8< ... *he realizes he just called her by her name* ...

Sarah: *notices this, and feels a small glimmer of hope--yes, he was still in there... all she needed to do was bring him out...* ...please....

Dusk: ... ... FINE... fine... but only until Blood Puppet comes for me. Which he will. And then he can take this stupid collar off and I can leave.

Sarah: He won't be coming back... There are a lot of people making sure of that now.

Dusk: He will! He... he cares. Blood Puppet cares about me...

Sarah: ...Are you completely sure about that?

Dusk: YES! I've never been more sure about anything in my life! D8<

Sarah: ...Well, I guess we'll find out... are you planning to stay awake all night? <:/

Dusk: ... No... I guess not... I guess I'll get back into the bed. Whatever. >:/ *he shuffles back over to the bed and gets under the covers again*

Sarah: *lays back down, but refuses to fall asleep until she knows he's done the same*

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