(Pregame-??) Work is never over

[L'Orr-hui]

At home behind the counter in his shop, L'Orr-hui was flipping the pages of a book while taking some mental notes.

Hrmm...Things are not too bad but I will need extra income

The woe of all honest folk was upon the lone mindflayer: you need to work to live but working was becoming expensive. He was thrifty enough not to be in dept and keep reasonably afloat but never quite comfortable enough to ignore the proverbial sword above his head to continue his research in peace.

Ownership is the most logical solution...

He sighed mentally

[Fyne]

An elf enters the building, pale and petting his pseudodragon that is clinging to his coat. 'What's the deal with this place?' Lirrax says in Fyne's mind.

'No clue. What are psychological services? Maybe they can look at my mind and see the missing memories,' Fyne thinks back.

They're not trying to hide their thoughts from the mind flayer, as Fyne's been around them in the past and knows that's a losing battle anyway. His face displays the curiosity that his thoughts would normally conceal. "Psychological services?" Fyne asks as he wanders around the area with the reception desk, looking at little details in the room: the texture of the walls, the professional decor, the mind flayer themselves. "What does that entail?"

[L'Orr-hui]

The illithid waved his paperwork away to his back cabinet with an unbothered movement of his hand before he fully addressed his new guest.

''Psychology is the science of the mind and addresses it's health'' he replied in the mind of both being, standing nigh immobile behind the counter ''Welcome to my establishment.''

[Fyne]

"So, if a person were to live for countless eons and have their mind reset by a nigh god-like being of time, leaving behind traces and sensations that cause discomfort and nightmares of events they experienced but don't remember... you might be able to help with that?" he asks, curiously. "I'm sure you get that question all the time."

He continues petting Lirrax, who starts sniffing the air. 'I smell a rat in here. It smells tasty,' the psuedodragon says in Fyne's head. 'Maybe they'll let me hunt it down for them? You should ask permission.' Fyne shakes his head, used to Lirrax thinking with her stomach.

[L'Orr-hui]

Now there was an unexpected pause, unexpected from the illithid's point of view at least, as they repeated the statement in their mind

''Is this a jest or is this truly so?''they inquired with intent ''I have known a few unique cases but yours would be a first''

[Fyne]

A chuckle emerges from the drow's throat, his smile reaching his eyes, sparkling with a mixture of amusement and sincerity. "Not jesting, I assure you," he confirms, the edges of his words touched with a hint of sadness. His hand absentmindedly traces a scar hidden under his coat sleeve. "If only it were a jest, it'd make for a good story at the tavern."

His fingers stop moving over the scar and he seems to steel himself before continuing, "So, is this something you think you could help with, L'Orr-hui? Or at least attempt to help with?" His tone is respectful, conveying the gravity of the question despite the absurdity of his situation.

Lirrax has picked up on Fyne's emotions. The pseudodragon nestles in tighter against him, its gaze shifting from the rat scent it'd detected to the illithid, curiosity piqued. 'He sounds interested at least,' she purrs in Fyne's mind.

[L'Orr-hui]

''I am in better position then most'' they replied with measured confidence after pondering the issue ''What is lost, however, might not be able to be regained expect through means beyond what I can offer for the moment. Ordering your thoughts and taking ownership of what memories you have left is much more manageable.''

Their tentacles coiled slightly and a scroll of parchment flew towards the pale elf

''This is a consent form. Treatment might require I delve into your mind so you will have to sign it before we begin.''

Slowly they made their way to door near the back of the waiting room

''Since you are here we can begin a preliminary examination.''

[Fyne]

Fyne accepts the form from the air and reads through it. He looks around for a quill or ink to sign. After that L'orrhui can sense his mind freely. What becomes clear once you connect is that he's driven more by a sense of curiosity for what he might learn about himself. He doesn't seem worried about what he might share, having a strong subconscious belief in his own moral character. But there's still a nervous anticipation because it's not 100% confident. He might learn things he might have been meant to forget, possibly for his own good. But he would clearly rather know than not know.

"So... how does this work. Just take a little nibble? Or is there some other mechanism to get into my mind? I have to admit, the last Illithid I knew was in Ched Nasad and he wasn't exactly gentle with the folks he interrogated."

[L'Orr-hui]

At the mention of another illithid, the elf could almost physically feel the contempt emanating from his telepathic interlocutor who turned suddenly to face him

''My species has regressed to a crude state that is a mockery of what we should be able to accomplish. Pray do not associate me with that filth''

L'Orr-hui's body language did not betray much emotions but one could guess they took a pause to calm themself

''Now, come with me. We will begin with a simple dialogue.'' the door behind them opened and it turned once more to pass through

The room was about the same size as the waiting one but only had three pieces of furniture: a couch where one individual could lay on, a comfortable looking chair situated behind it and a locked cabinet of some kind near.

The illithid took place on the chair and gestured Fyne to take the couch

[Fyne]

He laid on the couch and put the other illithid out of his mind. Didn't make sense to judge on such a small sample size. He didn't have much in common with subterranean drow after all. "All right. Where do we start the dialogue? What do you need to know and I'll tell you if I know it."