trying to write chloe

what would be important for chloe and toby to know about each other from the beginning?

where they're going — eventually they'll end up in a relationship (though chloe will still be in love with izaak).  

toby is completely honest with her, which is what chloe wants.

chloe confesses her crimes to toby before anyone else.  because of confidentiality, she knows he can keep a secret.  he has a stable sense of self and doesn't give in to peer pressure.  he seems to want to be a genuinely good person, but not so righteous like izaak.

toby vs izaak

toby is more emotional, you can tell he's been through a lot by his perspective on things.  You can see him switching easily from logic to feelings.

izaak is very logical, practical, and has a structured way of seeing the world.  His shift from logic to feelings is harder to notice.  

izaak has high standards, thinks there's a right vs wrong way to do things.

toby has low standards, more empathetic, doesn't have a black and white view of right vs wrong, loves ethical dilemmas.

izaak is a doer.

toby is a thinker/talker.

izaak wants to stability, to keep things as they are, as calm as possible.

toby loves chaos, new ideas, and the adventure of living in the present moment.

izaak is a planner

toby is spontaneous.

---

chloe and toby's convo:

purpose- to foreshadow that chloe will open up to him first

-doesn't take life too seriously, has a gray perspective on morality

-background getting criminals out of trouble

-hint around to background of crime himself

purpose- to foreshadow their future relationship

-he's more spontaneous unlike izaak

-he's super attracted to her

---

Toby's brown eyes twinkled at me as he strolled beside me, enthralled by my beauty.  "So you're Izaak's new roomie?  I have to admit, I imagined someone less... feminine."

My eyebrows raised.  "I guess he didn't give out many details about me?"

"You know how he is, very cut and dry, giving info on a need to know basis.  Work hazard probably.  Molly's the only one who has the patience to crack open his shell.  I suppose that's the difference between going to medical school versus social work school."

"You're a doctor?"

He nodded.  "Medical Doctor and Doctor of Psychology.  But I employ people like Molly to deal with the more sensitive cases — growing up in Brooklyn gave me a blunt nature that doesn't work for everyone.  I'm guessing you have tougher skin than appears, since you and Izaak are friendly.  He doesn't exactly ooze with loving kindness.  You look like an artist."

I turned my head to study him and figure out how he could read me so easily.  I'd gone my whole life fooling everyone, and now there was a second person who saw right through me.  Wtf?  "So you're in private practice?"

"Ohh, turning the conversation back to me.  I see you didn't like that I made some assumptions about you.  My apologies.  But yes, I run a behavioral health clinic and consult for a 'trial science' company — they help defendants by profiling jury members.  I'm also a consultant for the FBI, Izaak brings me in to help with cases sometimes."

"You're a busy guy."

"If I don't stay busy, I fall into bad habits.  Easier to prevent than save myself afterwards."

"Seems like you've been down that road a lot in life."

He smirked.  "So you enjoy being a straight-shooter, too.  Nice.  I have, too many times.  And if Izaak has you joining the exercise group against your will, I'm assuming the same for you."

This wasn't the route I wanted our convo to go, so decided to steer clear.  Toby seemed trustworthy, and though my gut is good at detecting bullshit, the messy-haired psychiatrist gave me a feeling I didn't recognize.  "What's your area of expertise in psychology?  In college I was really into developmental psych, I worked in a preschool daycare for a little while and could see everything in the kids that they taught us in class."  

Toby's eyebrow cocked.  "Behavioral and criminal psychology.  Understanding extreme cases and working to prevent or rehabilitate unhelpful behaviors."

"Sounds like a TV show."

"It's part of my interest in the lifestyle as well."

I almost froze in place in shock, but had to consciously remind myself to keep moving.  Though I'd suspected his interest, I hadn't expected him to just come out and say it.  "How so?" I replied, not wanting him to see the effect he'd had on me.  But I couldn't help wonder what he'd be like as a spanker.  He didn't seem as serious as Izaak, but more serious than the majority of guys I'd met up with over the years, who really just wanted a sexual experience. 

"Think about it like life coaching with real consequences.  My current spankee, Vanessa," he said, pointing at the blonde girl who walked ahead of us next to Izaak.  "She's a criminal justice student but also has a full time job at a corporation that requires her time management skills to be impeccable.  ***this has got to be foreshadowing!!***  When we started working together in January, she was struggling to juggle all of her duties at once.  Now she's an intern at the trial science place I work and hasn't missed a deadline since winter.  She suffered from consequences several times, but they were effective.  I kind of have a formula I use."

"What's in it for you?"

His lips pressed together as he thought for a moment, not having expected that I'd ask that question.  "It's likely a burst of oxytocin and serotonin, and a dab of testosterone at having power/authority over someone."

Now he'd surprised me.  I'd been expecting a less scientific answer.  I wanted to know more but we'd reached home now, and had approached Izaak and Vanessa.

"It was lovely to meet and chat with you, Chloe."