Nina takes a long drag of her cigarette, eyeing the flickering cinders before letting out a long sigh. Tucking her dirty blond hair behind her head as she continues to smoke the rest while eyeing a plain building with a logo that reads 'Mind Matters'. "I can't believe this is really gonna work." She flicks her eyes over to the dog training building adjacent to it, rolling her eyes. "Those dogs probably have a better shot than me."
Tossing the butt onto the ground, she stomps on it. Her black leather boot rubbing it into the sidewalk, before she starts walking inside. She slides her hands inside her red leather jacket, squeezing the cigarette box tight.
The door opens to reveal a large waiting room, a few very soft and lush chairs are pressed against the walls. There are all kinds of pet toys across the floor along with a few dogs laying about, most of which are asleep. Behind a desk sits a tall man, pale skin, with large square glasses and brilliant green eyes.
He is wearing a simple blue dress shirt and black khaki pants. "Why hello there, I'm guessing you are my new patient for today? Nina I believe." His voice is soft and calm, immediately starting to smooth Nina's anxieties and worries with just a few words. "I'm Cal, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Yeah the pleasure's all mine?" Nina looks from side to side, wandering over to Cal as she looks at all of the different types of dogs. "Though I think I am in the wrong place, unless you also do dog training as a side hustle? Sounds like hell on the paperwork." She chuckles weakly, fidgeting with the pack of cigarettes in her pocket.
Cal chuckles as well, shaking his head. "No no, these are from next door. They are trained to be therapy animals and I watch them when they need the extra space. All of them are trained to be alone while we are in session, if they make you uncomfortable." Cal stands slowly, grabbing a file and gesturing to a door behind him. "Follow me and we can get started right away."
"Oh no I don't mind them, I like dogs, it was just a shock." Nina nods slightly, starting to follow behind Cal. Her eyes stayed locked on a husky in the corner, a slight smile gracing her lips before turning away and looking back at the door.
"I see you like the Husky, is it your favorite?" Cal says as he opens the door to a new room, this one much darker and quiet. There is a large leather couch across from an armchair, along with a large pet bed near the foot of the couch. "Take a seat, would you like a snack? I find it's easier to forget about your addictions with something else to do."
"Sure I could do with anything to take my mind off of these if you don't mind it." Nina pulls her pack out and places it down on the couch, flopping down onto it and rolling onto her side. "And yes Husky's are my favorite, I'd always wanted one but they're big dogs and I couldn't afford the care they'd need in my wildest dreams. Hence the cigarettes, yup that's it, just the dog thing." She clenches her teeth. "Definitely."
"Oh I bet it's just the dog thing, nothing else." Cal says as he walks over to a cabinet, pulling out a little bowl of cookies. Each one has a little chocolate in the center and smells like peanut butter. "Here, peanut butter blossoms. Now, when exactly did you start smoking and how did it make you feel?" He says as he sits down in the armchair, handing the entire bowl to Nina.
Nina scoops up the bowl, taking one of the cookies and tossing it into her mouth. Trying to hide her enjoyment from being too obvious. "Gotta keep these things from the dogs, they're good enough to make ya sick." She chuckles weakly, trying to avoid the question as long as she can manage, before rolling her head back and looking up at the ceiling. "I guess it started when I moved out, I was hardly 18. Parents weren't really big on the whole trans thing, and when I moved in with a friend of mine at the time... well he smoked, so I smoked. It made me feel... nothing... I just did it."
"I see, well that really is a difficult place to be in. Many would turn to much harder things than cigarettes." Cal leans forward as he smiles softly. "But if it makes you feel nothing, then it doesn't sound like it does you much of anything. If you don't mind, I believe I have a potential solution for you." Cal says, his voice starting to radiate warmth and reassurance, a gentle wave of relaxation and pleasure that slowly washes over Nina. "When you answer a question, eat a cookie. If you don't, then light a cigarette, I don't mind the smoke."
"Sounds like a plan to me, least until I get full." Nina nods slightly, holding the bowl in her right hand and her cigarettes in the left. "Also I feel like it gave me an addiction that makes me nauseous whenever I've tried quitting... which is why I ended up here..."
