Spin Doctor (John)

[Lepa]

Sierra wasn't the brightest of bunnies, so there were times she'd get herself into a bit of a pickle. Luckily for her, Captain Engle always helped her out when she did. He was a man worth trusting! A man who was like a father to her! He was a shining beacon of light who took in stray bunnies, and sought to make the world a better place by taking out bad guys! Well, not "taking out" on a date, or "taking out" like assassination, but "taking out" like taking them out of society! ...Or rather, capturing them. He wanted to capture bad guys and help them become good guys again, or at least stop them from hurting others anymore. Anyway, point was, he was a fantastic man.

...Which is why Engle was the last person Sierra would expect to make her apologize to a villain!

"No! No, no, no!" The rabbit girl protested as she trailed behind Captain Engle. She had done these in-person apologies several times before (it wasn't the first time she had broken into a suspect's house with little justification) but this time was different!

"I don't waaaannaaaaa...!" Her tone was drawn out and whiny, like a child refusing to go to the doctor's. In fact, the man they were visiting was a doctor. "He's a bad man!" Sierra whimpered. Engle had a firm grasp on her hand, which she tugged at halfheartedly. She knew she could break free, but she couldn't bear the look of disappointment that she knew Engle would give her if she did. So, the best she could do was protest. "He... He had a gun! Like, a lot of guns!" She winced. "No one's supposed to have that many guns!" Her free arm stretched out for emphasis. "Like, that many!"

Engle responded as if he was playing along with a child's imagination. "I'm sure he did," he said. Sierra frowned. She didn't like it when her Cappytain refused to take her seriously. Instead, the man was focused on the pathway before them. He stepped up to the entrance of the house Sierra had broken into a few weeks ago and rang the doorbell. Immediately, the rabbit flinched, quickly scooting behind Engle. The man that threatened her that day... would he still send his goons after her? Engle's research beforehand revealed that the man she met was a Dr. O'Connor; apparently one of the city's finest... Psychologists Therapists? Psychotherapists? ...Mind doctors. He was one of the city's finest mind doctors.

"I guess he's not home! Oh well!" Sierra quickly shrugged. "Guess I can write a letter in the mail-" She lifted a leg, spinning around to leave, but again, Engle tightly gripped her hand.

"Sierra, please," he frowned. "You're acting up. No matter what you think, you're the one who was in the wrong." Sierra's ears flattened in shame. "So you must apologize for it."

Her body drooping. "Yes, sir..." She sighed dejectedly.

At least if this Dr. O'Connor were to try anything sneaky, the Cappytain would be here to see it.

[The Izzack]

There was the doorbell. His guests were arriving perfectly on time. This Engle man was quite punctual. Johnathan couldn't help but respect the man, and he mused on the conversation they had over the phone as he walked to his door in at a calm, steady pace. The phone call had been brief, though it told much. It would appear that the little rat that had invaded his home mere weeks ago had a superior. After a little digging, it seemed that said superior ran a organization that could very well threaten his little operation, if John didn't take the proper steps to divert Engle's suspicions right here and now. It shouldn't be too hard, all things considered. After all, he was coming here, subordinate in tow, to apologize. If he talked with the two alone, without any other patients around to bring an air of oddity to the home, he should escape this scenario with a sympathetic ear in control of a bounty hunting agency.

Finally, he arrived at the door. "Hello? Ah, You must be Mr. Engle. I can tell because you have the little hero-to-be hiding behind you, there. Would you please do me the honor of coming in?" he said smoothly. No smile touched his lips, but he still managed to give off an air of warm welcome as he retreated back into his home, heading towards the living room, and the well cushioned chair it held.

[Lepa]

"Ah, yes. Thank you," Engle nodded as he followed the man in. He stopped briefly as he felt Sierra cling to his back. The rabbit girl peered over his shoulder, glaring into the home with suspicion. He only gave her a firm look; that was all it took to make Sierra to shrink away from him before he continued into the home. The rabbit's ears flattened anxiously as she reluctantly trailed after him.

"As you should know, Dr. O'Connor, I'm here because one of my group members caused you some trouble," The captain frowned. As Sierra heard these words, she hunched herself up in an effort to look smaller, focusing her gaze on the floor. Engle saw this out of the corner of his eye. He almost felt bad, but he knew he had to be tough on her to discourage her from breaking into someone's home again. This wasn't the first time it's happened, but he hoped this time would be the last. "And that's why I've come here with her, personally, to formally apologize." He looked directly to Sierra. "You're lucky this man isn't pressing charges against you, young lady. Now, will you please apologize?"

"B-but..." Sierra clenched her fists, shifting her eyes back to Engle's face. "He's evil! I know it!" She frowned, determined to get the captain to side with her. "He... he had a huge gun and everything!" The rabbit stretched her arms out for emphasis. "It was real! And scary!" She paused. "It was real scary!"

Engle sighed. "I'm sorry," he shook his head, looking back to the doctor. "She usually isn't this difficult..."

[The Izzack]

"It is plenty fine, Mr. Engle. Obviously, something frightened her when she snuck into my home. I've seen this sort of behavior before. The intense adrenaline rush, coupled with a feeling of guilt, and fear at being caught can cause some burglars, and some misguided young ones, in this case, to...hallucinate, for a better word. To me, it seems that miss Sierra here broke into the building, and began to panic, which made everything she experienced take on a much more sinister tone. I would be happy to dispel any doubts you have about my character. Just say what's on your mind, young one, and I shall do my best to set you straight." Johnathan offered. Of course, anything that Sierra would likely call him out on would have been properly hidden away by this point. The test subjects sent to other safe houses, the armory in the basement properly covered up, hidden away until he could be certain of it no longer being under scrutiny. Even the surveillance, a staple of his homes, was temporarily disabled.

One thing was for certain. John had absolutely no intention on appearing as anything other than a respectable doctor. "Would you like any refreshments, by the way? I would not have my guests leave wanting, after all."

[Lepa]

"I would be happy to dispel any doubts you have about my character. Just say what's on your mind, young one, and I shall do my best to set you straight."

"Hrrrm..." Sierra glared at John; or at least, she tried to. The best she could manage was the look of a child leering at the peer who tattled on her. "I just said! You had a huge gun!" She pointed accusingly. "And, and...! You had all that stuff in the basement!" She spread her arms out again, motioning to the floor.

"Sierra," Engle called her out rather firmly. Immediately, her ears drooped onto her head. "This is no way to behave." He frowned again. "Dr. O'Connor here has civilly offered to ease your mind, so I suggest you show him the same civility." The captain looked back to the the doctor. "As for refreshments, well..." He sighed. "I don't mind, but perhaps they'll help calm Sierra down a bit. If it's not too much trouble, that is."

"This whole place smells of trouble..." The rabbit pouted, folding her arms and hunching over defiantly.

[The Izzack]

"I see. Well, please excuse me for a moment, and we'll discuss these threatening objects of mine over some tea." Johnathan said smoothly as he stood up. He gave off no sign of stress, no sign that what Sierra was saying was affecting him in the slightest. He kept his composure as the left the room, and maintained it as he came back holding a tray of tea and an assortment of small cookies. "Please, help yourself." he offered, setting down the tray and returning to his seat.

He sipped his tea as he continued. "I suppose we should begin this little impromptu therapy session with your accusation of my 'huge gun'. I assume, Sierra, you speak of that gun there?" he said, motioning to a large antique gun resting on the mantle of the fireplace. "If that is the gun that you're referring to, I'm afraid that, unintentionally, I must have contributed to this fear of yours. For some context, Mr. Engle, on the day that Miss Sierra here broke into my home, I was having several patients over for group therapy. We discussed things important to us, and eventually, my family heirloom there was brought into question, and I told a story about how Englishmen used to hunt foxes. What I believe happened is this. Sierra, you must have heard me telling this story, and saw the gun from your vantage point at the door to the basement, and, with adrenaline and fear clouding your judgement, you must have seen a threat where it most simply wasn't there. I do apologize if you were lead astray by my possessions and by the, admittedly rather cruel, subject matter of our discussion. Please know that I meant no ill will. While you were an invader, I wouldn't desire to cause you such stress. In fact, a number of my patients started off as invaders in one way or another." Johnathan let the explanation sit, and watched the others as the processed what he said.

[Lepa]

"Thank you, sir," Engle nodded, scooting to the edge of the sofa to take a cup of tea. Sierra, on the other hand, sat on the floor, hunched over so her eyes leveled with the coffee table. She glared at the tray suspiciously, lifting her nose up to take a whiff of the scents. Her brows lifted in surprise; her senses were pleased by the aroma, and her ears and expression visibly reflected this. The hostility in her vanished for a moment - before she looked up and saw the doctor again. She quickly returned to her glowering, refusing to show vulnerability to him - though her body language had already betrayed her. It's just... those tea biscuits... smelled awfully nice...

As he explained his extremely fake story, Sierra couldn't help but try and be sneaky. Just one, she thought. While this phony doctor told the Cappytain obvious lies, she would steal one of his cookies! Or maybe all of them. After all, what if they were poison?! Engle had already taken the tea, which... well, if that was poison, it was already too late - he had taken a few sips, but it was nothing poison control couldn't help, right? So that left Sierra to test the cookies. Slowly, she placed her hand on the edge of the table, inching it closer and closer toward the tray...

Until Captain Engle casually plucked one up himself, handing it to Sierra. She pouted, looking back to him with flattened, annoyed ears before taking the treat from him. "I was trying to be sneaky..." She whispered, though it was loud enough for John himself to hear.

"Well, you're not very good at it," Engle shrugged, though his tone was definitely more akin to a chuckle than stout disappointment. "After all, that's why we're here, aren't we?"

"...Ah..." Sierra glanced back down sheepishly.

"But as you were saying, Doctor... I'd say that sounds about right." Engle nodded. "Sierra here tends to have... an excitable imagination."

"But..." She looked back up, pouting at the doctor. He had finished his story right before Engle handed her the cookie. "That's... not what happened at all!" She sniffed at the cookie suspiciously. It didn't smell like poison. "You took the gun off of the wall and everything! And threatened me with that large guy! And...!" Sierra looked back to Engle for backup, but he too was waiting for an explanation. When it was clear he had no intention of siding with her, Sierra frowned more deeply. "Th-then... the basement!" She sprung to her feet. "The basement has proof!" The rabbit looked back to the doctor, almost confident. "Once the Cappytain sees what you have down there, well..." She pointed at him accusingly. "Then you'll be in for it now, buster!" And, as if to make a point, she shoved the tea biscuit into her mouth, chomping on it rather aggressively.

[The Izzack]

"Well, I certainly wouldn't want to be 'in for it now'." Despite the apparent amusement in his voice, John's face remained as cold and unmirthful as always. "However, I will allow you to search my basement,
if you feel that will help." he looked over to Engle, "I will say, this is a rather intense case of stress induced hallucinations. Normally, patients I have suffering from this only experience one such event at a time.
Tell me. Has Sierra had problems before with this? I mean, has she had such persecutory delusions in the past? If so, there may be a chance that there is a much more...severe problem with the girl than I first suspected. Nothing that can't be helped, of course, but, first and foremost..." he said, standing up. "Let us go to the basement. Perhaps staring reality in the face will help to shock you out of what you believe to be real, young one." his tone was polite, almost fatherly, as he walked to the door leading downstairs. Inwardly, he hid a malicious grin. Seeds of doubt were being planted. How long would it take for someone to break? Only time would tell. "After you, if you please." he said, holding the door open for his guests.

[Lepa]

"Tell me. Has Sierra had problems before with this? I mean, has she had such persecutory delusions in the past? If so, there may be a chance that there is a much more...severe problem with the girl than I first suspected. Nothing that can't be helped, of course, but..."

Engle clasped at his chin, glancing to his subordinate. "Well..." He trailed off.

"What?!" Sierra clenched her fists at his sides, leaning towards Engle. "N... No! C'mon, Cappytain! Just because I'm not the smartest doesn't mean I'm the stupidest!"

"I didn't say you were," He sighed as Sierra's protest proved the doctor's statement. "...As coincidental as that was, she's otherwise been rather good." Sierra's stance softened and a small, appreciative smile appeared on her face. "She's been reluctant when it came to visiting others whose homes she's broken into, but she always owned up to it in the end." Engle frowned. "You're the only person she's been so adverse to... which, again, I'm terribly sorry about." Sierra pouted at his apology at the end, but he had least spoken some good about her.

"Let us go to the basement. Perhaps staring reality in the face will help to shock you out of what you believe to be real, young one."

"Grrr..." Her ears flattened in suspicion as he talked, allowing them passage down the stairs. "Fine!" The rabbit pouted, hastily scooping up more tea cookies, shoving them into one of her many pockets. "Once you see it Cappytain, you'll understand!" Sierra clenched a fist, puffing her chest out before marching down. "Because if there's one thing I'm good at sniffing out, it's danger!" As the girl stormed into the basement, Engle could only shrug with an amused look of humoring her before following suit.

[The Izzack]

John followed the pair silently, letting the small one decide the search. For a moment, he pondered how she would react, knowing exactly what she was looking for, but without any means to find it. Sure, technically she could prevail, but only if she knew how the armory had been hidden, and from what he had seen of young Sierra, that was not entirely likely.

"Feel free to search to your heart's content, little Sierra. It would not do to have you believe that you could find this phantom threat you are referring to if you only had more time." he said, almost assuringly. Then he turned to Engle. "I do hope she was not threatened by something that one of my patients left here. I know that there are times that the belongings of some of my more...'fragile' patients can cause some undue distress.
If that is the case, and she came across something that some poor, unhinged soul left behind, I would like to personally apologize. I know that such things can be troublesome, and I would not wish anyone, even a home invader, to be so traumatized." he offered, sounding completely sincerre, as if this sort of thing happened regularly, though what the objects were that he was referring to was left purposely vague. Best to cover all bases, in case, though freak chance, something was left out in the open that he would rather not be exposed.

[Lepa]

"Danger, danger..." Sierra muttered a little mantra to herself. "I have to find that danger...!" She scurried around the basement room, sifting through the idle junk. "There... There was another hallway... and another room! Full of weapons! Somewhere!" The rabbit suddenly started patting at the walls, pressing her ears to them. Yet, she would pull away far too quickly to have gotten a good listen for anything hollow. John's kind demanor was such a stark contrast to what she remembered, that she couldn't properly concentrate. She was so intent on proving his "evilness" that her senses and focus were all frazzled!

"Ngh... Hrg..." She grunted to herself, sifting through the boxes of junk again. The Cappytain was watching, and she knew he was patient, but... every second she couldn't prove anything was another second of him not believing her! She didn't want to look like a fool! She had to come up with evidence, darn it!

"Ah!" Sierra squeaked. Her hands finally ran over something heavy and... weapon shaped. "This... This has to be it!" She started pulling the object out from one of the piles. "Cappytain! I'm telling you, he had a room full of weapons and stuff! I mean, I can't find it, but... I've found one of them! And it's definitely a gun!"

"A gun?" Engle's eyes widened slightly. Though he glanced to the doctor, his look was anything but accusatory.

"Yeah!" The rabbit finally pulled the object out, holding with both hands on display to the men. "See?!"

Engle blinked. Sierra wasn't wrong; the object she held was clearly a gun, but...

[The Izzack]

"You certainly have found something, Miss Sierra." John offered, taking a brief moment to look towards Engle with a stare that seemed to convey pity for the poor rabbit girl. "However, if you would care to examine this weapon that you have found closer, you may find that it is no more than a simple water gun. Now, I am grateful, for I don't like my patients playing with even pretend weaponry, but I have to say that, as far as threats go,
you still haven't found anything legitimately threatening towards you. Are you willing to give up this delusion yet, or do you still wish to fight to hold onto these falsehoods?" he asked, completely acting the part of the therapist at the moment.

He looked intently towards Sierra for a short moment, before he turned back to Engle. "Of course, I should not be so quick to discredit the girl. After all, I don't know much about her other than her name and her...history in regards to me. Was it part of her training to be this alert? Has she had some poor experience with water guns in the past that I need know about? It wouldn't do to assume that the girl is misguided if she has been conditioned to respond to these things in this way." his tone just bordered on the line between being professional to being accusatory without going over, and being rude towards his guest.

[Lepa]

"Wha...?" Sierra frowned, glancing down to the object in her hands. "A... water gun?"

He was right. When hidden in shadow beneath the tarp and cardboard, it looked like a perfectly normal gun, but... In the light, it was bright, colorful and very much plastic. Sierra's ears drooped onto her head. "But..." She started, looking to Engle pleadingly. "But...! B-But...!"

Captain Engle sighed. "Sierra..." The rabbit winced at her name. She didn't like that sigh - it was the Cappytain's disappointed sigh. "She hasn't had any trouble with water guns, no..." He cupped his chin in thought, answering John. "However, real firearms? Well..." He looked to Sierra. "You've disarmed a few of the people you've brought in, yes?"

"Yes, Cappytain..." She nodded, halfheartedly examining the water gun rifle in her hands.

"Then perhaps that has had something to do with it..." Engle looked to the doctor with a shrug. "Her kind are also rather... naturally alert. At least, that's what I've observed."

"Y... Yeah..." Sierra affirmed, though her tone sounded... defeated. "Bunny Faunians... We're good at hearing stuff... and kicking stuff... and running from stuff." She set the water gun down back onto a pile with a sigh. With her hearing, she should've been able to locate that strange room, no problem! But... she couldn't hear anything hollow in the walls... Was.... Was the doctor right? Had she just imagined it? Was it all just some adrenaline induced hallucination? Even under the effects of fight or flight, she was always acutely aware of the situation. But to imagine something so complicated, like he was suggesting? She had never had that happen to her before. But... maybe there was a first time for everything...

[The Izzack]

"Very fascinating, Sierra. You will have to tell me more about your people some time." John offered as a sort of consolation prize. Even if she was wrong, at least she might have a sympathetic ear in the doctor. "And natural alertness would explain some of her actions here today, Mr. Engle. I feel confident enough with that explanation to say that what she has claimed to see or hear was simply the delusions of an alert mind being plagued by worry." he said simply. "It is good, of course, when one crosses my path, and has no unfortunate mental abnormalities. I cannot say that such is usually the case. Still, if young miss Sierra wishes to have someone to talk to about worries such as this, and perhaps someone to guide her into doing the right thing, and thus avoiding situations like this in the future, I would be happy to offer my services. Free of charge, of course. My payment would be simply learning more about her people and how their physiology affects their psychology." John gave a small bow as he made his offer. This was going quite smoothly. If all went well, perhaps he would gain valuable allies by the time this day was out. Allies as well as information. It was quite hard to decide which one was more appealing than the other. Perhaps only time would tell.

[Lepa]

"Mmm..." Engle nodded. "You hear that, Sierra? If you still have doubts, Dr. O'Connor is offering to spend time with you to talk about it."

"Uwh..." The rabbit approached the two men, timidly scratching at her head. The accusations she was so sure of were now nothing more than a string of self doubt. "Spend... time with me?" She raised a brow, glancing to the doctor quizzically. She had only been half listening. "Are..." Her eyes suddenly widened. "Are you asking me on a date?!" The rabbit recoiled, hopping backwards in surprise.

"Er... no." The captain blinked at her. "That's not... He was offering to..." He began to correct her, but quickly trailed off with a soft laugh, looking back to John. "Are you sure about that offer, doctor? She certainly is a handful..."