Libby Fic for Psych_30
TOTAL writer’s block. I wrote this weeks ago, it still is not what I wish it could be, but somehow I don’t know what to do with it, so I set it free.
oh, taking the prompts quite literally.... ;)
Fandom: Lost
Title: Mind reading
Characters: Libby, special guest
Rating: PG
Prompt: 28. Free Association
Word Count: 700
Spoilers: general Season 2, no particular spoiler
Warnings: set in a AU setting pre-island. Talking only.
Disclaimer: There is nothing in there that is remotely true. All in my head.
A/N: as always, thanks to my dear friend Sue for the read-over. I still LOVE constructive criticism.
Mind reading
“Can you read people?”
Libby looks up from her newspaper with interest
“What?”
The man points at the empty chair, and she nods, inviting him to sit down. It’s always nice to chat with handsome strangers.
“I’ve heard that you are a shrink, right? So can you read people?”
She smiles. Lots of people seem to think they teach ESP in school. She wonders how he knows she’s a psychiatrist, but there are a couple of her clients here, he must know one of them.
“Yes, I am. I cannot read thoughts, but we do develop some techniques and skills that help us understand others and, hopefully, bring them to understand themselves more.”
“Bouncing words back and forth and stuff like that? Does it work?”
“You’re thinking about free association, and yes, that’s one method. It can provide some nice insights on how someone’s mind is working.”
His eyes are intent, as if he’s fascinated. Pretty flattering, considering.
“There are a couple of persons I know that I’d be willing to pay to know what is going on in their head, that’s for sure.” He unfocuses for a moment, surely thinking about them, before laying back, propping an arm on the back of the chair.
“Ever tried it?”
He shakes his head, smiling.
“Nah.”
As if the thought just occurred to him and could be a solution to his problems, he’s suddenly back with his elbows on the table, staring at her.
“Could you show me how it’s done?”
“I could do it with you, but to learn how to get the most out of it and interpret the answer is not that easy.”
He sighs, as if the perfect solution just got ripped out of his reach. But his eyes sparkle.
“I’m curious though. Would be fun. So how do you do it?”
She ain’t going to deny him of fun, so why not? Nice way to learn to know someone anyways.
“I tell you a word, and without thinking you tell me what comes to your mind. First thing, don’t block anything up or try to find a meaning of why I could ask this word instead of another one. Anyways, we’re doing this for fun right?”
“Right! Ok, go!”
Practice overtakes her, and she starts with general terms to begin the process
“Summer?”
Very fast he answers
“Fun.”
“Blue?”
“Dress.”
“That is it. You are doing just fine. Car?”
“Fast.”
“Tree?”
“Green.”
“Fish?”
“Aquarium.”
“Politics?”
“Control.”
“Friends?”
“Party.”
“Job?”
“Pressure.” His bright smile fades, as he senses that we’re now going into more serious realms
“Expectations?”
“Heavy.”
“Drink?”
“Chocolate martini.” Smile comes back
“Family?”
“Dysfunctional.” He grimaces
“Relationships?”
“Difficult.”
“Love?”
“Trouble.”
He’s certainly not here to flirt, giving answers like that. Before he gets defensive, she decides to end it. She smiles, raising her eyebrows
“I’m pretty sure you can see how it can tell me more about you.”
He laughs, pushing it aside. He seems of the school of thought that if you don’t look at your problems too pointedly, they may disappear or at least leave you alone. Not good in her business! His cell phone rings and muttering a “sorry” he gets it.
“Hello?”
“…”
“Where are you?” He’s immediately concerned, insistent
“…”
“Wait, wait a sec.” He looks at her, apologetically, “I’m sorry, I have to go” he says as he gets up
Libby smiles at him.
“It’s ok, no problem. Was nice chatting with you. I’m Libby, by the way.” She says, extending her hand.
She gets that million dollar smile once again as he shakes it quickly.
“Boone. Sorry again Libby, maybe I’ll see you around” And just like that and with a quick wave he goes towards the country club door, scowling as he talks on the phone.
“That’s none of your business. What did you get yourself into again?”
Libby sighs, thinking that even the biggest-blue-eyes-ever pretty rich boys don’t have it easy when it comes to the ones they care about. She lets her eyes fall at the travel section of the newspaper she had put aside, and let her mind wander in thinking of Australia and how that could distract her of her own worries.
oh, taking the prompts quite literally.... ;)
Fandom: Lost
Title: Mind reading
Characters: Libby, special guest
Rating: PG
Prompt: 28. Free Association
Word Count: 700
Spoilers: general Season 2, no particular spoiler
Warnings: set in a AU setting pre-island. Talking only.
Disclaimer: There is nothing in there that is remotely true. All in my head.
A/N: as always, thanks to my dear friend Sue for the read-over. I still LOVE constructive criticism.
Mind reading
“Can you read people?”
Libby looks up from her newspaper with interest
“What?”
The man points at the empty chair, and she nods, inviting him to sit down. It’s always nice to chat with handsome strangers.
“I’ve heard that you are a shrink, right? So can you read people?”
She smiles. Lots of people seem to think they teach ESP in school. She wonders how he knows she’s a psychiatrist, but there are a couple of her clients here, he must know one of them.
“Yes, I am. I cannot read thoughts, but we do develop some techniques and skills that help us understand others and, hopefully, bring them to understand themselves more.”
“Bouncing words back and forth and stuff like that? Does it work?”
“You’re thinking about free association, and yes, that’s one method. It can provide some nice insights on how someone’s mind is working.”
His eyes are intent, as if he’s fascinated. Pretty flattering, considering.
“There are a couple of persons I know that I’d be willing to pay to know what is going on in their head, that’s for sure.” He unfocuses for a moment, surely thinking about them, before laying back, propping an arm on the back of the chair.
“Ever tried it?”
He shakes his head, smiling.
“Nah.”
As if the thought just occurred to him and could be a solution to his problems, he’s suddenly back with his elbows on the table, staring at her.
“Could you show me how it’s done?”
“I could do it with you, but to learn how to get the most out of it and interpret the answer is not that easy.”
He sighs, as if the perfect solution just got ripped out of his reach. But his eyes sparkle.
“I’m curious though. Would be fun. So how do you do it?”
She ain’t going to deny him of fun, so why not? Nice way to learn to know someone anyways.
“I tell you a word, and without thinking you tell me what comes to your mind. First thing, don’t block anything up or try to find a meaning of why I could ask this word instead of another one. Anyways, we’re doing this for fun right?”
“Right! Ok, go!”
Practice overtakes her, and she starts with general terms to begin the process
“Summer?”
Very fast he answers
“Fun.”
“Blue?”
“Dress.”
“That is it. You are doing just fine. Car?”
“Fast.”
“Tree?”
“Green.”
“Fish?”
“Aquarium.”
“Politics?”
“Control.”
“Friends?”
“Party.”
“Job?”
“Pressure.” His bright smile fades, as he senses that we’re now going into more serious realms
“Expectations?”
“Heavy.”
“Drink?”
“Chocolate martini.” Smile comes back
“Family?”
“Dysfunctional.” He grimaces
“Relationships?”
“Difficult.”
“Love?”
“Trouble.”
He’s certainly not here to flirt, giving answers like that. Before he gets defensive, she decides to end it. She smiles, raising her eyebrows
“I’m pretty sure you can see how it can tell me more about you.”
He laughs, pushing it aside. He seems of the school of thought that if you don’t look at your problems too pointedly, they may disappear or at least leave you alone. Not good in her business! His cell phone rings and muttering a “sorry” he gets it.
“Hello?”
“…”
“Where are you?” He’s immediately concerned, insistent
“…”
“Wait, wait a sec.” He looks at her, apologetically, “I’m sorry, I have to go” he says as he gets up
Libby smiles at him.
“It’s ok, no problem. Was nice chatting with you. I’m Libby, by the way.” She says, extending her hand.
She gets that million dollar smile once again as he shakes it quickly.
“Boone. Sorry again Libby, maybe I’ll see you around” And just like that and with a quick wave he goes towards the country club door, scowling as he talks on the phone.
“That’s none of your business. What did you get yourself into again?”
Libby sighs, thinking that even the biggest-blue-eyes-ever pretty rich boys don’t have it easy when it comes to the ones they care about. She lets her eyes fall at the travel section of the newspaper she had put aside, and let her mind wander in thinking of Australia and how that could distract her of her own worries.