Private Penciled In

[Tannor Grene]

The room was quiet in a way that felt intentional. Soft lighting replaced harsh overhead panels. The hum of distant generators and station traffic was muted behind layered sound-dampening walls. Every surface, every detail, had been chosen with care; not for luxury, but for calm. Neutral colors. Subtle textures. Gentle, indirect illumination. Nothing to distract. Nothing to overwhelm. A low table sat between two comfortable chairs, flanked by a small couch along the far wall. A simple tray held warm caf, chilled water, and a selection of mild teas. No datapads were visible. No recording equipment. No obvious security systems. The space felt private, both deliberately and meticulously so.

Behind it all stood the barely perceptible thrum of a Faraday enclosure, shielding the room from outside surveillance, slicing the space cleanly away from the endless observation that dominated much of the galaxy.

Tannor waited inside. He stood near the window panel, which was a simulated skyline slowly cycling through a peaceful day-night pattern. His posture was relaxed, his presence calm and grounded. His clothing was practical, muted, unassuming. Nothing about him demanded attention. And yet, there was a steadiness to him that quietly anchored the room.

This space was not a clinic. It was a sanctuary. When the door chimed, Tannor turned smoothly, offering a gentle nod of greeting. “Come in. You’re safe here.” His voice carried warmth, measured and steady, without pretense. “There’s no formal procedure. No required introductions. No obligation to share anything you aren’t ready to.” He gestured toward the seating. “We go at your pace. Everything spoken here remains here. I keep no digital records, and nothing leaves this room unless you decide it should.” A pause. Not heavy. Just space. “My role isn’t to judge, fix, or direct. I’m here to listen, to help untangle what feels knotted, and to walk beside you while you sort through it.” His gaze remained gentle, steady. “Whenever you’re ready… you can begin.”

Tag: Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Tannor Grene ​

Braze stepped into the office with a curious glance around the room, taking in the sight of it. He listened to the faint, subtle sounds and even noted the scent the air carried here. He had chosen to wear one of the many simple black-and-white outfits he typically reserved for more casual settings.

He shut the door behind himself as he entered, finally settling that cold jade-green gaze onto Tannor Grene .

"Well, that's certainly a new kind of introduction," Braze said, a smile gracing his face. He padded closer slowly, keeping his gaze level on the man before stopping a few steps away. "Then it seems I've come to the correct office. You must be Mr. Grene, I take it?"

"I've never done anything like this before…" he mused aloud, gently shifting his weight to one foot. He brought one arm across his chest and perched his elbow there, pressing a few fingertips to the underside of his chin while he cast another brief look around the room.

"Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"

Braze lowered his hands and shifted his posture once more, settling one at his hip while using the other to vaguely gesture toward the man.

 

[Tannor Grene]

Tannor did not rise immediately when Braze entered. He observed. Not clinically. Not suspiciously. Simply taking in the measured way the man catalogued the room. The sound, scent, exits, angles; all seemed to be observed. It was a habit born somewhere. Training, perhaps. Or survival.

When Braze’s gaze settled on him, Tannor inclined his head slightly. “I am,” he confirmed evenly. “And you may call me Tannor.” His posture remained relaxed, one ankle resting loosely over the opposite knee. Unarmed. Unthreatened. Entirely at ease in his own space.

A faint hint of a smile touched his expression. “It’s not uncommon for first-time clients to want to assess the environment. Or the therapist.” His eyes held Braze’s without challenge. “You’re welcome to ask questions.” A small pause. “But understand that I may answer some with questions of my own.” Not a warning. Not a challenge. A simple truth.

He gestured lightly toward the seating area. “You can stand if that feels more comfortable. Or sit. There’s no performance required here.” His tone softened, just slightly. “You said you’ve never done anything like this before.” A beat. “What made today the day you decided to try?”

Tag: Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Tannor Grene ​

"That's fine with me… I like playing the question game. And Okay Tannor it is... You can call me Braze." He chirped it lightly, turning in a small circle as his gaze skimmed the room again, collecting corners and quiet details before he dropped into a nearby chair, claiming it with an easy sprawl.

"A few simple questions," he went on, easing back, testing the seat, letting himself settle. "What made you choose this as a profession? Do you have a family? And what's your favorite food… your favorite color?" Curiosity warmed his tone.

 

[Tannor Grene]

Tannor leaned back slightly, letting the questions roll over him like stones in a stream. “I chose this profession… because I’ve always believed people need someone to listen, someone who can help them untangle the parts they can’t face alone.” He gave a faint shrug, a half-smile playing at the corner of his lips.

“My family… is small, and we’re… distant. Not much to tell there.” His gaze flicked briefly toward the corner of the room, thoughtful.

“As for favorites… food, I suppose something simple; bread and cheese.” He allowed a short pause, then added, “Color… blue. Dark, like a winter's night.” He watched Braze carefully, curiosity mirrored in his quiet attention. "Do those answers appease your curiosity?"

Tag: Braze

 

[Braze]

Tannor Grene


"Well sure, but I'd argue that bread and cheese are kinda basic and boring... now if you'd said grilled cheese or pizza I could understand. I feel that I wonder if you're just deprived of amazing food experiences with an answer like that as one of your favorites... makes me think you might secretly be a droid or humanoid replica in synth skin." Braze offered truthfully.

"But I suppose there's all kinds of fancy breads and cheeses, so there might be some hope to that answer... And blue's a pretty color... I think lots of people enjoy blue hues.... I know it's one I am often drawn to for crafting..." Braze elaborated.

Truthfully be told, Braze could just talk up a storm and go off on tangents and seemingly never get tired of yapping. He was, however, trying to remain toned down, as he was aware his method of conversation was often overwhelming to others, much in the way that his own thoughts could overwhelm him when they started to spiral out of control. Having amplitude on inner trains of thought all racing at breakneck speeds and often breaking off into new directions meant his mind was a very dizzying, hectic place to be.

 

[Tannor Grene]

Tannor tilted his head slightly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I can see that. You notice details others might let slide, and you seem to enjoy unpacking them,” he said, his tone gentle but deliberate. “Bread and cheese might be simple, yes, but simplicity can be comforting. Not everything has to be flashy to hold value.”

He let that linger a moment before adding, “And blue… it’s reliable, soothing, easy to trust. Maybe your attraction to it isn’t just about crafting; it’s about seeking a sense of calm in the chaos of all those thoughts of yours.”

Tag: Braze

 

[Braze]

Tannor Grene

“I wouldn’t call pizza or grilled cheese flashy,” Braze replied, tilting his head as he looked him over again. “I think I prefer blue because it’s a nice analogous color for my eyes… more so convenient, really.” He chirped. “Still not entirely convinced you’re not secretly a droid, though.” he added as he crossed his arms over his chest with a not. " How can I be sure you're not a droid?" Braze asked curiously.

 

[Tannor Grene]

Tannor did not immediately answer. He observed instead; the tilt of Braze’s head, the crossed arms, the faint edge beneath the teasing tone. “If I were a droid,” he said calmly, “I imagine I’d have chosen something more impressive than bread and cheese as my cover story.” A small pause. Not quite a smile but something adjacent. “You can’t be sure,” he added evenly. “Not with absolute certainty. Trust rarely works that way.”

He folded his hands loosely in his lap, posture relaxed but attentive. “I’m more interested in why that possibility matters to you. What would it mean if I were?” His gaze remained steady, patient. “Are you worried about being studied? Replaced? Misunderstood?”

Tag: Braze

 

[Braze]

“It would mean you wouldn’t be authentic,” Braze stated simply. “It means you lack the real and true ability to connect with me, person to person… well, simply because… droids aren’t really people, now are they?” he asked.

He shifted his weight, watching them with open appraisal, as if waiting for something unscripted to rise.

“People aren’t perfect, but they carry the experiences from the life they've lead. I don’t need perfection. I need a social connection with a lived presence. Surprise me, disagree with me, risk being wrong… A droid can't really do any of that... not really... they are predictable... and safe. ”


Tannor Grene

 

[Tannor Grene]

Tannor did not correct him immediately. He regarded Braze with steady consideration; not blank, not reactive. “You’re wrong.” The words were calm. Not sharp. Not defensive. “But not entirely.”

A slight shift in posture that was both subtle and human. “You’re right that predictability feels safe. And safety can feel sterile.” His gaze held Braze’s. “But you’re assuming that restraint equals artificiality.” A pause. “I disagree.”

His fingers tapped once against the arm of the chair; a small, unconscious rhythm. “You don’t want perfection,” he continued. “You want friction. You want to know that I can push back.” Another beat. “That I won’t disappear if you challenge me.” His head tilted slightly. “That’s not a test of whether I’m a droid.” A faint flicker of something almost amused touched his expression. “It’s a test of whether I’m willing to stay.”

Silence, but not empty. “You say droids are predictable and safe.” A subtle narrowing of focus. “Safe compared to what?”

Tag: Braze

 

[Braze]

Tannor Grene

Braze quirked a snowy white brow at that; curiosity settled behind those somber jade green eyes. He eased back, leaning further into the soft cushions of the chair. Languidly, he crossed one leg over the other. Dark fabric silk shifted, revealing pale skin peeking out in the form of a dainty ankle. Onyx-tipped porcelain fingers rose. A slow motion, hovering, then drifting slowly along the curve of his plush strawberry pink lips in a gesture of gentle contemplation.

He watched Tannor closely as he relaxed back, as if pondering what was said.

“Mm,” he offered at last, low in his throat, eyes never leaving the therapist.

Safe compared to what.

The question lingered between them, asking, almost begging to be touched.

And touch he did, “Compared to... vanishing,” he said quietly. “Compared to the moment someone decides the effort of remaining becomes weightier than the comfort of leaving.” His eyes searched Tannor’s face for any sort of emotional flinch, motion for retreat, or for proof of gravity.

“…so will you step away when I become inconvenient?"

 

[Tannor Grene]

Tannor did not look away. He did not follow the languid crossing of legs, nor the deliberate brush of fingers along lips. He noted the performance in the same way he might note a tremor in a patient’s hand; not with judgment, but with awareness.

“Safe compared to vanishing,” he repeated evenly, as if testing the phrasing for structural integrity. His posture did not shift. His breathing did not change.

When the final question came: so will you step away when I become inconvenient? Tannor allowed a small pause. Not with hesitation. But with consideration. “Inconvenience,” he said at last, voice measured, “is an administrative matter. Missed appointments. Scheduling conflicts. Insurance disputes.” His gaze remained steady, unflinching. “What you’re describing is withdrawal.” Another beat. “And no, I do not step away because someone becomes heavy.” There was no grand declaration in his tone. No emotional swelling. Just fact. “If you decide to leave, that is your autonomy. If you test the frame to see whether it holds, that is understandable.” His hands folded loosely in his lap. “But I do not preemptively abandon patients to spare myself discomfort.” A subtle tilt of his head. “I am more interested in why you expect that I might. When has someone decided you were too much effort to remain?"

Tag: Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Tannor Grene ​

"When?" Braze asked. It was one of the core issues that dictated how he acted, and what things hurt him or felt secure enough to trust.

A few flashes of core memories rose unbidden to the surface… they were sharp, intrusive impressions edged with absence. Braze, however, quelled them before they could fully form, straightening in the chair, signaling some form of discomfort with these racing thoughts.

"That's what people do," he said softly, in a dejected tone.

"Droids wouldn't do that… So~ You're not doing a stellar job disproving the droid theory, you know."

 

[Tannor Grene]

Tannor did not rise to the bait. In fact, the faintest hint of amusement ghosted across his expression. Not at Braze, but at the attempt.

“When?” he repeated, thoughtfully. His gaze flicked, briefly, to the way Braze straightened; the tension in the movement not going unnoticed. “When did people leave?” he clarified. A pause. “Or when did you decide they would?” Silence, but not heavy. Deliberate.

“You’re correct. Droids don’t do that. They perform according to programming. They do not disappoint. They do not withdraw. They do not reinterpret affection.” His hands remained rested loosely in his lap. “They also do not choose.” Another small beat. “The fact that you feel hurt by it suggests you expected something human.” His voice softened just slightly. “And the fact that you call me a droid suggests you would prefer I prove you wrong.” A subtle tilt of his head. “I am not here to disprove a theory, Braze. I am here to understand the moment you learned that attachment equals eventual loss.”

He didn’t press. “But I am curious about the when.”

Tag: Braze

 

[Braze]

Tannor Grene

Braze was quiet as he listened carefully to what the man was saying.

“Attachment and loss go hand in hand. Nothing truly lasts forever; loss is inevitable,” he stated simply. “I would argue the purpose of therapy dulls considerably with the idea that there is no authenticity in sharing sentiments with a droid. So yes… it would comfort me to disprove my droid theory,” he offered evenly.

“I didn’t decide when… that luxury was not afforded to me. I never understood why for many years, but I know now… but knowing doesn’t exactly erase the memory.”

 

[Tannor Grene]

Tannor did not interrupt. He rarely did when someone was circling something important.

“Attachment and loss do walk together,” he agreed quietly. “Inevitability does not make them meaningless.” His gaze remained steady. Not combative, not indulgent. “Though,” he added after a beat, “inevitability can become a convenient shield.” A subtle pause. “If everything ends, one never has to admit that something mattered.”

He let that settle before continuing. “As for authenticity… I have no interest in performing it. If you suspect I am a droid, you are welcome to test that theory.” A faint curve of his mouth. “But I suspect you are not testing my circuitry.” His eyes sharpened just slightly. “You are testing whether I can witness you without retreating.”

Silence again. Not empty, but intentional. “You say the luxury of deciding was not afforded to you.” His voice softened, but did not weaken. “That suggests something was taken. Or imposed.” A measured breath. “Knowing why something happened satisfies the intellect. Memory lives elsewhere.” He held Braze’s gaze. “And I notice you continue to speak from the intellect.” He was not accusatory, but observational. “What did you lose, Braze?”

Tag: Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Tannor Grene ​

"Authenticity and connection," Braze said simply.

He leaned back into the chair, the earlier edge of curiosity fading as his gaze drifted toward the window, distant now. The simulated skyline cycled through its illusion of day turning toward night.

Of course Everette would recommend someone like Tannor. Braze let the thought settle, accompanied by a heavy sigh, wondering whether the prospect of something genuine had always been nothing more than a mirage just beyond reach.

He did not look back at Tannor right away. The display of his protective detachment was clearly evident. Tannor was correct in the idea that Braze was very much self-aware of just how he tested people; how he pressed at the seams to see if they would split. He knew he baited, withdrew, observed. He knew the pattern well enough to name it.

There had been a precious connection that was severed without his consent, the truth of which had been withheld. The choice was not his own; he had been acted upon.

"…They told me it was for the best… and I believed them at first…" It had been done out of concern for his safety; however, that didn't mean he felt safe.

 

[Tannor Grene]

Tannor remained still while Braze looked toward the simulated skyline. He did not attempt to reclaim the man’s gaze. Detachment was a language, and Braze was speaking it fluently.

“They told you it was for the best,” Tannor echoed softly. “And you believed them.” A quiet breath passed before he continued. “Belief is often the price we pay when we are not given a choice.” No sympathy in the statement. Just fact.

“You were acted upon. A decision was made about your connection… without your consent.” His eyes did not waver. “That is not protection. That is control.” A measured pause.

“And now you test people.” Not accusatory. Observational. “You bait. You withdraw. You watch to see if they split at the seams.” His head tilted slightly. “If they stay despite it, then perhaps the connection is real. Perhaps this time it will not be taken from you.” Another beat that was deliberate. “But here is the part you do not name.” His voice lowered slightly, still calm. “If you sever it first - if you are the one who withdraws - then at least this time the choice is yours.” Silence settled, both intentional and steady.

“What you are protecting now is not your safety.” His gaze remained unwavering. “You are protecting yourself from ever again being powerless.”

Tag: Braze

 

[Braze]

Tags: Tannor Grene ​

"It's okay that you're a droid, I guess… A therapist is an acceptable disguise for it, I suppose. Analysis software is designed to take what it's given… process it, categorize it, return something efficiently mirrored that fits neatly into a little array with tidy check boxes."

Braze's gaze remained on the skyline a small while longer. "It doesn't have anything of its own to risk either… Nor does it care..."

He glanced back then, looking first before turning fully toward Tannor.

"You know what I love about droids?" His voice remained even. "Droids aren't good or bad. They're just neutral reflections of whoever imprints their will upon them… They can be programmed to do exactly as you want. They follow the orders they're given. They don't talk back. They don't even complain when you send them on suicide missions."

He shook his head lightly, soft start-light colored locks tussling with the motion.

"I trusted those I loved because I was young," Braze offered simply. "And I am of the mind that intent does matter. I pay attention to the ones who stay… who choose to form a connection of their own autonomy."

"What you're proposing is that I act... that I base the entirety of my choices... strewn from a single fear. Sometimes protection… self-preservation… requires sacrifice... That's much harder for a person than a droid." He mused aloud in a soft languid tone.

"If intent did not matter, then is love that harms indistinguishable from malice? If someone stays because I make it easy… is that more authentic than someone who stays despite such resistance? Is vulnerability still virtuous when the cost is permanent? If fear and wisdom begin and form from the same place… how do you tell them apart?"

He gave pause to let his questions settle before finally adding,

"And Tell me honestly Tannor; if you were wrong about me… what would that mean for you?"