Second Personas - featuring Dr. Charleston (FtF)
By ThatGuy

It’s just not fair, is what I'm saying..." Ronnie groaned, from her position on the couch. "All I made is some idle with to be more outgoing. You know, like the kind of girl who wouldn't be scared to death to step away from the wall once in a while. I didn't ask to be taken over by some… some wild girl stereotype!"

Dr. Charleston, the university’s specialty therapist, pushed her glasses higher up her nose with a sigh. Ever since her "curse" activated, Ronnie had become steadily angrier over existence of the altered persona she was stuck with. The new girl's name was Reva, and she was... quite raucous, to be sure. "Yes, I'm afraid that's the case with many of the unchecked transformations running around campus these days."

That was an understatement, though Dr. Charleston didn’t let Ronnie catch on to that.  This crop of strange but consistent transformations had caused quite a bit of havoc throughout the school.

"But... it's crazy!" Ronnie threw herself upright and flung into a full rant. "You'd think if magic was real and some passing star granted my wish, it'd just make me more confident or something. Not stick me with some kind of crazy split personality!"

This was quite on the nose, but again Dr. Charleston didn’t want Ronnie to know that. Ever since the advent and slow spread of magic, controlling the experimental whims of the student body had become enough of a hassle already. The students were expressly prohibited from using or harboring any magical sources on campus, but that didn’t stop everyone.

Usually it was just someone traumatizing themselves thanks to some magical accident, but these recent rush of transformations had made her ten times as busy. It could have been some blessing or a passing fairy or such obliviously granting desires in the worst way, but they were too… targeted. Too deliberate. There was a pattern. The current theory among the faculty was that it was a student intentionally meddling with the people around them, which was troubling in the worst way.

"Hence the public nicknaming these conditions 'curses' rather than ‘wishes.’” The doctor said lightly, in lieu of any of that. Now was not the time for investigating, it was the time for helping her student through this. And it wasn’t even the first time this meeting she’d had to stress the difference. She idly tapped her notepad with her pen. "But perhaps Reva's existence has helped your confidence, in a way. You are much more outspoken and direct than when we first met."

Ronnie flung herself back in her seat again, pouting like a child. The doctor almost wished she would make up her mind. "Fat lot of good that does me! I still can't go out with my friends - cause whenever I want to, I just turn into her! She has all the fun, and I get all the headaches. The last time my favorite band was in town, did you know that everyone was wondering where I was?” She gestured to herself wildly, her irritation simmering over again. “It was supposed to be a big thing for all of us, and of course Ronnie was nowhere to be found! Meanwhile, Reva gets to go home wearing the literal shirt off the bassist's back, and I get stuck with a hangover!"

As if she could still feel the sting, Ronnie pinched her temple and groaned loudly. Dr. Charleston smiled softly - her charge may be a bit petulant when expressing her feelings, but this was a very unique situation, and she was actually handling it better than some of her other patients.

"You still remember what you did as her, if you choose to.” The therapist reminded her, not for the first time. “She's still a part of you, Veronica. Even if she is a very different person." She chose to ignore the admission that her other half was drinking. As sophmores, neither Ronnie nor Reva were quite old enough still for that to be acceptable. But, again, this was a unique situation. One issue at a time. ”Just remember that you're not alone in this. You would be surprised at how many of your fellow students, or even teachers, find themselves becoming other people. My…”

She stopped herself, unsure if she should continue. This was about to get personal. But… on the other hand, it might be a good step forward. Deciding the pros outweighed the cons, she went ahead. “… my own daughter, Ashley, for one. You know her personally, don’t you?”

Ronnie stifled a laugh. "That upti- I mean... er... the track star? Who else is she?"

Dr. Charleston frowned. She knew her daughter’s many accomplishments had left her an unfair and rather irritating reputation, but now was not the best time to deal with it. "Ashley was... is feeling pressured by the expectations I put on her to succeed. She was faltering under the strain of her athletic and academic work, and wished out loud to be able to 'take it break.' The very next day, the school enrolled her 'little sister' Tracy into the freshman class.” She paused to let Ronnie connect the dots. “You can see where this goes."

"Tracy, huh?" Ronnie didn't recognize the name, but it was a big school. But she was dedicated to staying bitter, so she tried another track. "Well, I bet Miss Perfect doesn't have to deal with growing tits the size of her head whenever her other half comes out!” She whined. “I’ve had to replace so many damn bras..."

Dr. Charleston nodded sympathetically. Having met her patient’s other self, she could attest that the fun-loving double identity was quite… generously endowed and proud of it. Ronnie, who sported a more reasonable figure, often expressed embarrassment about it during their sessions. Dramatic and frankly alluring changes like that were always hard to swallow.

"Not quite so large as yours, I’m afraid, but..." The doctor paused again, blinking. She hadn’t given it much thought before. Possibly another sign that these changes were deliberate. "...yes, actually, even given that Tracy is physically younger. Growing cup sizes is surprisingly common among women with second personas, now that you mention it."

"Hmph," Ronnie turned beet red, trying like mad not to look down at her own chest - or even begin to think about whether something similar happened to men with second personas. She hadn't expected Dr. Charleston to take her idle complaint seriously. "Well…” she said, covering her awkwardness with a huff. “If you ever want data for some book about it, that bimbo's left tons of it online. She thinks she's some kind of model when she’s not out partying. Ugh." She mimed vomiting.

Dr. Charleston shook her head. Ronnie was clearly dedicated to being angry, and she had good reason, but she could not let the girl continue to be so unfair to her self… or the “self” she sometimes became.

Plus, something about Ronnie dismissing her daughter’s story sparked something inside the doctor’s professional demeanor. "You should consider yourself lucky," the doctor said severely. "Your trigger is rare and self-inflicted, and despite your low opinion of her Reva is a perfectly decent girl, and no fool. As I recall, she even takes the time to finish your assignments if the change keeps you from doing so.”

Ronnie frowned, but said nothing. Dr. Charleston continued in her stead.

“Tracy doesn't remember being Ashley as you two do, and has none of her drive," she said, almost to herself. "She prefers to goof off with her friends, lay around at home and coast by in class. Yet, she only changes back into Ashley when she chooses to do something strenuous.” She frowned. It wasn’t like her to dwell on such things while working. “As such, I hardly ever see my original daughter any more."

Ronnie gasped. ”So… so that's why Ashley hasn't been around much recently?” She said quietly, suddenly feeling very guilty. "I'm so sorry..."

Ronnie she sat up again, this time with concern, but Dr. Charleston shook her head. If she felt she needed therapy herself, she would have sought it. ”Think nothing of it. But in the future, it might be a good idea to start trying to communicate with Reva - try sharing a journal and writing to each other. It would help you feel better about becoming her, and I'm sure she would appreciate it as well. And my point is, some people don’t have the luxury.”

The pout was back on Ronnie’s face, but she didn’t look as harsh as she did before. “Do I have to?”

Dr. Charleston nodded. “Remember also that she's a relatively normal teenage girl who only exists for a few hours at a time. That's probably stressful too."

Ronnie sighed. "... okay, doc. I'll try."

Dr. Charleston’s watch beeped, and Ronnie frowned again. Without being asked she stood up from the couch and started wandering to the door, lost in thought. “I guess that's all the time we have, huh?”

The doctor flipped her notepad closed and joined her patient at the door. “I’m afraid so, Veronica. Do try to think about what I’ve said. And let me know if your… shared condition… is affecting your schoolwork.”

“Who knows? I should be studying this weekend, but…” Ronnie scowled. With some reluctance, she pulled a crumpled up paper out of her pocket and handed it to the doctor. It was a poster for a campus-wide music festival that was starting in a few days. Dr. Charleston tried not to react - she could suddenly see why Ronnie had been in such a bad mood today. “I just saw this before I came here.” The girl explained. “That band I was talking about is going to be there. I… I can’t stop myself, I really want to go.” Her shoulders slumped, looking defeated. “Which means I probably won’t be around to study or enjoy myself.”

Dr. Charleston felt bad for her: she had been planning to go herself, and she privately agreed that it was very likely Ronnie would not be around at all this weekend. But it was her job to make her patient feel better, so instead she found the silver lining. “I’m sure Reva will pick up the slack. She usually does. Someday you’ll have to accept that you’re a pair of good girls.”

Ronnie made a ticking sound with her teeth, but didn’t respond. She still wasn’t used to being referred in the plural sense - who would be? “See you next week?"

"Of course, my dear..." Dr. Charleston said with an open, reassuring smile... until she finally opened the door to her office and got a good look at the gigantic line forming outside her door. She groaned. "Provided these cases don't completely take over the school, that is..."

Ronnie stared with wide eyes. She hadn’t imagined that her own problem had been such an epidemic. “W-what’s causing all of these, doc?”

“I’m sure not all of these are the same issue as yours, but…we’re not sure yet.” With as many cases as the doctor saw a day, it was just as concerning to her as it was to the students. “But whoever it is, I hope they realize how many problems they’re causing…” she said, again to herself. And speaking of which: without another word, she ushered Ronnie on her way. She stumbled forward, and the doctor briefly watched as the girl’s usual timidity returned now that she was in a crowd. This one would be a work in progress, for sure. But that was a line of thought for their next meeting.

For now, she gestured to her next patient - a voluptuous and extremely confused looking coed with wildly styled clothing. The girl wordlessly teetered into the office as if unsure of where she was, muttering arguments under her breath and staring into space. Dr. Charleston sighed - speaking of works in progress, this looked like another keeper. This supposed spellcaster on campus had a lot of trauma and paperwork to answer for.

“Come on in. And don’t worry about sounding ridiculous - I promise, whatever story you have, I’ve probably seen stranger…”