#23 – Shave and a Haircut...

You. The following audio recording is a classified documentation for case H 57 with the enclosure. Unauthorized access to this information will lead to immediate intervention progress further if proper clearance has been given.

Content warning this episode contains discussion of mental health, ableism bodily harm, and brief mentions of law enforcement. This episode's transcript link is in the description below.

I'm here for your appointment.

You're just in time. Come in.

Hey, Grover. Oh, it's so good to see you. Oh, I know, I know. I missed you, too. Not gonna lie, considering how you sounded on the phone, I'm surprised the place is so tidy.

I just needed a sense of, I guess.

Then you did the right thing. Calling me a fresh new look is a great and safe way of getting that feeling of control back. You don't want to know how many times I've changed up my hair on a whim grove.

Why don't you go play with your new toys? Holly's busy. I know you've got this. I mean, I've seen the various shades of pink you've had and green and also purple that one time, and that's.

Nothing compared to how I was before you moved to town. I've honed my skills, and I'm ready to use my powers for good. All I got to know is what kind of look are you going for?

I honestly have no idea. All I know is that it's a shaggy mess right now, and I hate how it feels on the back of my neck and how it sticks on my face when I shower or even when I sweat. I don't like that short.

Got it. Want it short all over or an undercut?

I don't think I've ever had an undercut.

You haven't? It's basically a queer person rite of passage to have an undercut or a mullet.

I thought you said that bob cuts were a queer haircut.

It's a bisexual hairstyle. But all this is, like, an inside joke. You can have whatever hairstyle you want. Red. I think you'd look cute with a bob, but I don't think you'd like how it would brush against your face.

I'll trust your judgment. You're the closest to a professional here. I just want something new. Oh, sorry. Let me just reply to that real quick. I don't want to worry Jamie again.

No worries. Gives me time to get set up. How's she doing?

Oh, she's doing okay. We had a pretty long talk the day that I started reaching back out to folks, and I promised that I'd at least text more often. Sometimes all I can manage is a thumbs up or some other emoji, but she said that she prefers that over. No response at all? I'm trying to practice.

Is that why you've gotten faster at replying to my text, too?

I guess I'm just trying to people again.

Well, however you go about peopleing, I appreciate spending any kind of time with you. Now let's queer you up, nerd. Does buzzing it up to here look good?

Yeah, that should be all right.

All right. Let me know if you want me to stop at any point.

Okay, will do.

Red. What's this here? It looks pretty gnarly.

What do you mean?

Like dude, this is a wicked scar back here. What happened?

Well, I fell at one point a while ago. From well, a barn loft, actually.

Shit.

I mean, I'm fine, clearly. I survived. I don't remember anything after I landed. I woke up a bit disoriented, but I recovered okay.

Did you grow up in farm country, then?

I guess so, according to what I've been told. I don't remember much about my childhood, to be honest. Not sure why. I don't know what happened, and I don't know why I can't remember.

Sorry if that's a sore spot.

Nah, not really. I mean, it's healed over pretty well and doesn't hurt any more or less than any of the others.

The others?

You know, the other incidents, stuff happening when scars heal. They have their moments of hurting. But I'm pretty grateful that mine don't seem to bother me much after a while.

We don't have to talk about it. Unless you want to.

I mean, I don't know what else there is to say that I haven't already talked to my therapists about. I don't mind talking about it. I just don't have much to say.

What have they said about it?

That memory is fickle and malleable, so if I try too hard to remember stuff, I may create fake memories. Also threatened me with a welfare check when I wasn't calling back, so that was fun.

Did that Mr. Zimmer guy say that? That sure shit be tough considering Witchton hasn't had cops in years.

It's Miss Zimmer now, actually. And yeah, I know, but let's just say that they've got a rather intense security team at the enclosure.

Good for her. But, Dang, the more you tell me about that place, the more I'm inclined to believe in all the worst rumors I've heard around town.

I mean, could be worse, I guess. At least the health care is free and I don't have to pay to live here.

Do you even like your job?

Enough. Again, it's secure. I like going out and researching things, and I like when it gives me an excuse to go outside. I really like my coworkers, some of them. And it's kind of all I know, professionally, at least.

And you said healthcare is free?

Yeah. Why?

I'm sorry, dude, but your therapists kind of sound like they really suck. There's a psychologist in town who does counseling at the school, but she also has some openings for patients outside of the school. I could put in a good word if you'd like to try and get a third and probably better opinion. She even does sliding scale payment options.

Thanks, Holly. I'll keep that in mind. I'm working on things with Dr. Damon and Miss Simmer.

Well, I've got our business card whenever you want. Harini is great. I've had a couple of appointments when I needed help working through some stuff. I even got to share my Rad score, which was validating as hell. She's super chill with stuff like that.

Rad score?

Do you not know what the Rads test is?

I have no clue. Should I?

I think more than anyone, you definitely should know. It's a questionnaire you could take online that helps folks who might be autistic who weren't diagnosed as kids.

You think autistic?

Uh, yeah. Red. Your therapists haven't brought it up?

Nah, but Jamie has. Jamie mentioned you being no, no, she mentioned her being autistic. But she did say that right after saying that something I did was a big mood, so maybe she did mean that.

If you want, we can sit and take the test together after I finish your haircut.

Of course, if you think it help. Yeah, sure.

I mean, maybe. Could be fun, if nothing else. Now, do you want to leave enough hair to cover the scalp here, or do you want to flaunt that sick battle scar?

It's not a battle scar. I just fell, and I don't want to get asked about it. Can we cover it at all?

Of course. Oh, my gosh, Red, you should totally do a short mullet. Queer mullets are a huge thing. What do you think, Grove? Should we give Jared a.

Uh sure. Just make sure it's not gonna tickle my neck too much or cover my eyes when I'm trying to work.

Can do. You're going to look great.

I trust you.

This episode of Jar Rebuke was written by Casper. All over voices were provided by Nessa, R, Mish, Ward, Casper Oliver and Ashley Kraft. Our series is distributed by thesperians productions. If you would like to support this indie queerly production team, check us out on patreon or our website for our shop and other donation options.