Group Therapy, [Open to All]

['Ninette]

"Ninette. Ninette come sit down. Come on now, there you go. That's a good girl. Good. So does anyone have anything interesting they'd like to sha--"

"Ninette! Stop that. Mister Hobsen, move away from her."

A noise of scraping chairs and a girlish giggle accompanied by the same stern voice,

"Bad girls don't get to go outside. Don't you want to go see the sun? You've been very good all week. I could arrange for you to be out at night to see the stars if you can sit through this. Would you like that?"


"Yes," Ninette admits and folds her hands on her lap. She's dressed in her favorite dress; all lavendar and frills with bows on the hem and puffed sleeves. Of course its too small, but not by much. She's not as large as most of the ladies her age.

"All right then. Yes, Mister Hobsen?"

Mister Hobsen relays that he and his friend (a voice in his head) aren't speaking anymore. That they got into a fight and that he's going to kick him out of his cell. So should anyone see that redcoat bastard they had best let him know that Hobsen's changed the locks!

Ninette scoots closer to Hobsen and proceeds to pet the side of his face with the back of her hand very gently, stroking it up and down before using the tender pads of her fingers to feel just inside of his mouth, parting his lips as she does so. The Doctor holding the meeting watches her with hawklike eyes but says nothing since she's been so good this week.

She leans close causing the hem of her dress to ride up the side of her thigh, "Mister Hobsen," she whispers sweetly, enjoying the way it makes him cross and uncross his own legs. Her little fingers pull from within his mouth and she leans back to put them into her own. "I will tell him if I see him," she promises before snaking her hand out to touch his thigh and roll over the curve of it towards his obvious hardon.

"Ninette." The Doctor says.

She proceeds just long enough to touch him there and then she jerks her hand back and places both of them into her lap before innocently lifting one to brush back a mass of her dark chocolate ringlets.

"Yes, Doctor Hard?"

"Ninette. That's not my name. We've been through this before."

"But look how hard you are." she points out before sucking her lush lower lip in between her teeth and smirking.

He is, at least half of the male patients are. How could they not be? She's a monster of a child. No, not a child, a woman that's lost between woman and child. Her attention drifts back to Mr. Hobsen who is in his late twenties and not at all bad looking aside from the holes her constantly picks into his face and on his arms.

"Ninette." Doctor Hard says and her green eyes turn in his direction. She lets her lip roll free of her opal teeth in a slow delicious way before becoming apologetic. "I'm sorry. When are we going outside?"

Another patient interrupts and her question is left unanswered.

[Two Minds One Knife]

Zach chooses this moment to chime in, though which Zach is doing the chiming is not immediately apparent.

"<i>Doctor,</i>" he murmurs, staring coolly at the doctor; his vivid green eyes danced with mischief.

<i>Ah.</i> This <i>Zach.</i>

"I don't care to go outside, thank you. Far too cheerful for my tastes. If it's all the same to you, I--"

Zach twitches suddenly, a full body jerk that leaves him inspecting the floor. His voice is suddenly much more timid, quiet: "I'd kind of like to go outside, actually..."

"<i>No, you don't. I certainly don't." The dangerously low murmuring again. He appears to be arguing with himself--the two personalities descend into a debate of their own.

<i>"The world is too bright, I don't care for it--"</i>"

"But I do!"

They lose themselves in the conflict, oblivious to those around him.

['Ninette]

One must say, to Ninette's credit, that despite her eating people she is most enjoyable to be around. She's patient and doesn't get angry easily. She does like to tease though and sometimes that's not a good thing when dealing with people like The Zachs. Of course, she also seems to know when enough buttons have been pushed and when to lay off of them. She's heard that Hes's killed people.

"I'd like you two to come outside." she volunteers as she gazes meekly across the room at him.

"Ninette, let Zach talk." The doctor says to which she makes a face.

"I was just saying that sometimes I'd like some company. It gets lonely out there..all..alone. Hannahbee doesn't go with me anymore."

Hannah B. was Nin's only friend up until about a month ago. Now she's missing her lower lip and drools constantly because of it. The Doctor fixes her with a pointed look but makes no reply.

"Well Zach," he finally says, his shoulders heaving as he gives a tired sigh. "What do you say? Ninette would like some company. Would you care to keep her company for a while?"

[Two Minds One Knife]

Zach glances at Ninette; his gaze blatantly traverses the girl's body and some mental calculation flickers over his thin features. you two, she says. You "two". How cute.

"Herr doktor," he begins, his German laced in quiet menace, "Don't you think I'm in enough pieces as is?"

Another full body twitch seizes him briefly.

"No, I think we should. She's pretty," he recites, suddenly more amiable.

"Quiet, you."

Zach stares straight ahead for a moment, then descends into some sort of seizure--his head jerking from side to side, his lips moving wordlessly, his jagged scar twisting horribly with every strained facial expression. This goes on for nearly five seconds before he finally relaxes, his stare dropping to the floor before turning to Ninette.

"I won," he says, grinning brightly. His voice is friendly. "He told me you were dangerous, but then I said nothing so pretty could be dangerous, and he said something about a knife, but I shut him up good. So let's go outside."

He waits for a reply--and only someone nearly nose-to-nose with him would see the nearly imperceptible twitching of his smile.

['Ninette]

Its enjoyable to watch his body struggle back and forth the way it does. Like one in its murderous death, perhaps? Odd that Ninette should actually genuinely like the more plesant of the Zach's and love tormenting the other. She could like him also (they have so much in common) if he'd only stop being such a prick.

She casts a sidelong glance at Hobsen and sees him staring at The Zachs with what can only be irritability. Despite his own silent nature he does enjoy Ninette's company and the idea of her going outside with someone other than him, well, that's as bad as his redcoat bastard of a friend moving back in.

Nin switches channels back in time to hear Zach relate that his twin (that's how she thinks of them at least) as having said she was dangerous. Her nose wrinkles in a most pleasing expression of rebuttal before her lips smile. "I'm not dangerous to you," she purrs and stands to cross the room towards them which also happens to be in the direction of the back doors. "but he's right. I am dangerous, at least as dangerous as he is.." she stops within inches of him and stares into his eyes as if trying to decipher just which Zach she's talking to, weather she finds out is left unsaid, "He would be wise to keep that in mind."

"Ninette!" The doctor says, shaking his head as he hurries to stand and take her by the arm, "Come away from him. Zach's not going to do anything."

"Of course he's not!" Ninette asserts, jerking her arm out of his grasp and smoothing her hands over her skirt.

"We've really got to do something about those ridiculous clothes," the Doctor says, speaking to himself.

"yes, and about your face also. I could help!"

"Are you threatening me, Ninette?" The Doctor questions, shoving his face into hers in much the same way she had done to Zach.

The girl backs off and stares demurely at her toes. "No Doctor." she answers which seems to please him.

"Very well. Zach, are you ready?"

[Two Minds One Knife]

The smile remained plastered on his slashed face, despite the darker side's best efforts. He nodded eagerly and held out his hand for Ninette; taking his hand in hers like some sort of gentleman caller, he placed a chaste kiss on the back of her hand before turning to the doctor.

"Herr doktor," he said again, dropping habitually into German. Zach's more...interesting days before he came to Wesswick had left him speaking his native German in intermittent intervals, as though the harsh language somehow comforted him.

"I am ready when she is."

He spoke carefully, curtly--he feared that if he dropped rhythm, his raging second half would break through. The darker Zach was not pleased at having been involuntarily relieved of control; his more timid half was sure to pay the price later. Still, he considered Ninette's company worth it.

['Ninette]

By the time Ninette has finished batting her lashes at Zach and being impressed with his gentlemanlyness its twilight. The sky is in a perfect state of bruise. Gold, green and dawning purple awash the heavens in ephemeral light. Rose tinted clouds move lazily along a clandestine path. The door closes behind them and aside from a weary gate prowler they are alone.


She hasn't given up his hand yet, but instead mocks actions like those praying people make and curls her fingers against his. A soft wind blows causing red ringlets to tremble, her cheeks to hold pink color. When she looks at him the clouds reflect in her eyes as if they were two big green lakes, "Zach," she says, lifting their hands and stroking his with the pads of her fingers, "is it terrible here, for you?"


Her fingers stop their petting and she moves along so that they're walking the perimeter of the yard which is of a considerable size. Through the tall iron fencing they can see the cemetary and the house that the grounds keeper keeps. She pauses to look at it imagining that she saw something move, something...thrust. A questioning gaze turns to Zach but she says nothing and soon the two of them move on.

(move, thrust, see Edward Samuelson's post - hope that's okay Matt!)

[Two Minds One Knife]

Zach wondered at the sensations her gentle petting evoked; he could imagine bursts of colored light whirling along his nerves at being touched by someone else--

but it was always someone else, wasn't it, my boy, never you, always me, it's always been about me, the boy with the knife, oh yes, the knife makes us whole AND ISN'T THE IRONY OF THAT WONDERFUL--

Zach shook his head, trying to clear it of the angry voice he'd fought to subdue before. His darker half quieted, apparently finding the vibrations unpleasant. He smiled uneasily at Ninette, walking with her, admiring her face as she, in turn, admired their surroundings. He hadn't yet trusted himself to open his mouth--talking meant that he would have to let his attention drift from his "Friend," and what came out of his mouth might not be what he intended--

i'll show you exactly what i intend to--

to say. Still, she'd asked a question and Zach finally let go of his "Friend" long enough to speak.

"It's not bad," he replied, his voice tainted with a faint German accent. "It's safe, I know that much." Safe...safe seemed important to the good Zach. Security, consistency--these were the things he wanted most in life; it was a twisted tragedy that his second personality both brought him these things and routinely took them away.

"What about you?" he asked, his expression still possessed of that nearly imperceptible trembling.

['Ninette]

"Is it safe?" Ninette says, a quizzical look crossing her face. Behind her gray green eyes a storm of images flashes that keeps her still for a moment. Cossak leading a girl outside. The doctor talking to himself when he thinks no one is around. Blasted gags made to force her not to bite people.. "Yes," she says softly, snapping out of her memories and looking back at his face. "I suppose it is safe." Though for whom is a point she doesn't think to touch on.

They continue on for a few paces before Ninette releases his hand and stops to pick a wild flower that's grown through the fence. She twists the slender stem between her fingers as she gazes down at the soft yellow petals before holding it out to him. "For you," she says quietly, inspecting his eyes for any hints of change. She is so intrigued with the idea that there are two of him in there. To her it represents a great deal of power.


"Its not terrible for me," she says as she takes his hand again, holding it so that it sways between them much like before. "I do bad things that I shouldn't. I can't help myself.. they're so delicious," she nearly purrs. Her face turns up and she inspects the sky for the first hints of the moon's pale face. "I belong here."

[Two Minds One Knife]

The gentler Zach's timid mind was the result of a rigid fear of the world--rather than allow the reality of things to overwhelm him, he often reflexively compacted and trivialized the brutal horrors of the world until they meant nothing. Ninette's confession to her "weakness" splashed up against his crushed mind like water against a cliff--though his expression twisted into a manufactured cringe, the effect was there and gone.

"So you eat people." He blinked, suddenly realizing their proximity--still, the girl was so pretty he couldn't bring himself to pull away. He didn't bother to deal with this particular dichotomy of decision--he was quite divided enough, thank you. Taking the flower, he thought for a moment, then asked: "What's that...what's that like?" Curiosity crawled over his fear and consumed it, leaving his wide eyes--pools of innocence--full of interest.

Inside, the darker Zach watched thoughtfully, having subsided at his second half's bequest (for once.) This girl was interesting, but "interesting" was such an ambiguous word

"No--" Zach shook his head, pressed a palm to his forehead. "No, be quiet!" He took a moment to collect himself before returning that innocent gaze to Ninette, smiling as always, smiling though that smile was broken a long, long time ago.

['Ninette]

The lights are going down. Sky spared the sun only to be taken hold of by glimmering stars. Ninette's eyes casting over the asylum watching for signs of staff. They'll check the yard eventually, they always do around this time. Fingers uncurl from around his lifting instead to drag through her long red hair.

"Its like being God." she answers before poking her tongue out and moistening her lips with it. Some shining in her eyes hints at a temporary escape into a far away world enterable only by secret souls. "Some of us are meant to hunt, Zach, and some of us are meant to be hunted." Lifted digits gesture around them, pausing to point in the direction of the asylum.

"Sparrows eat worms. Hawks eat sparrows. Fools eat food. I eat them. Its only natural that we should prey on the weak. I'm sure your other side has knowledge of a similiar kind."

Her gaze becomes sharp with knowing. A terrifying sort of magic present within her bones and skin. A hunger undaunted by society or taboo. She eats because it gives her power and no one telling her how wrong it is can suffocate her in ideals enough to deny the fact that everyone likes power.


"Do you want to try?" she questions as she captures his hand again and drags it up to her lips to press it harmlessly against the gates that open and close those terrible gnashing teeth. She smiles at him from above his knuckles, playful eyes daring him to answer honestly.

[Two Minds One Knife]

The touch of her lips caused Zach's control to slip wayward--his alter ego came glowering forth, his eyebrows lowered into a glare, his eyes suddenly hard. His grin was malicious to the extreme, spreading across his face like a bloodstain.

"Try what? Eating or getting eaten?"

He stepped closer, still holding his hand to her mouth, close enough to taste her breath, feel her body heat. The sensations aroused him, crackled along his frayed nerves and burst like supernovas in his sliced brain. He took her free hand and held it to his mouth, sliding a tooth across her skin. They stood there, hands to each others' lips.

"The hunter and the hunted..."

His warm breath fluttered across the back of her hand.

His sick smile widened; his eyes glittered.

"Ever wonder what it's like to be both?"

['Ninette]

Nin's red brow lifts as she inhales, breath hitched in her lungs causing her chest to rise. She's noticed that change from puppy to shark and it amazes her enough to throw her off track. Digits squeeze against the hand held to her mouth as cherry lashes droop and her heart begins a slow rugged thudding in her ears. His nearness exciting the animal within her.

"Do it," she says, whispering the words in a sweet coaxing tongue meant not to challenge but to provoke, her lips smiling. "Have my blood and skin... see what it does to you. Do you feel how it changes me when you talk like that?" his hand dropping away from her mouth as she slides it past the cream column of her neck and down against the curve of her chest. Fingers pressing it hard against her body until he can feel the increase of her heart beating and the steady rise and fall of her lungs within their bone cage.

"or are you afraid of what you would do if you were God for a moment?"

[Two Minds One Knife]

"God for a moment?"

He trailed his tongue along a finger, keeping his wandering hand under control; though the feel of her chest was exciting, the power he suddenly had over her was tempting a darker electricity from his spine, crawling like fire over his skin.

"Merely a moment...?"

His heartbeat railed against his thin chest like thunder, and his eyes were indeed clouded and raged with glittering lightning, He traced another finger with his tongue, pressed it against a canine, toying with her hand.

"My poor dear, your faith is lacking..."

Her ring finger, kissed and nipped.

"If you doubt my ability to consume you in the least."

He pressed his teeth around her hand, pressed harder--gradually increasing the pressure until he nearly broke skin--

And then let go, still holding her hand to his mouth, where his breath would tease and cool the wet skin where his teeth had been.

"God for a moment...my love, I am God, pure and wrathful, all of the time."

['Ninette]

"A moment,"

Cloudy green eyes closing as her lip tips up revealing ivory teeth. So many of them underestimate her. Call me Kitten, mouse.

The touch of his teeth against her cream flesh drills excitement and shivers through her skin. Raging heart controlled like the swirling eye of the storm. She opens her eyes and presses her head forward until their lips are nearly praying hands, her breath a warm whisper upon his ill smile, "I have no doubt," she purrs as slender digits uncurl from around his hand and replace themself around his wrist. "that there are gods in your head, Zach."

"That you are a god.." smile turning sour in a sweet sort of way like fermented fruit gone to wine. "but my god," she continues, her nails prying against his skin until half moons are created, smiling indentations. "My god requires flesh."

Just then the wind picks up casting her soft red hair against both of their cheeks and making her eyes into slits as she squints against its cold airy touch. Other ideas have crawled into that head of hers and now beat against her brain like a moth stuck and burning beneath a lamp shade. She moves the hand holding his wrist and drags it forward and around her lacking hip as she closes their distance and touches flesh to flesh against him. She twitches the hand he holds, long fingers splaying to touch his lips followed closely by her own. Though unmet in kiss the sensation and nearness is the same. How delicious he feels, Nin thinks to herself, as that urge to bite and chew roars and rises within her.