004 [Video]

[lifetothefullest]

[Lance is broadcasting from his kitchen, although aside from the backdrop being pretty universal among apartments it's otherwise difficult to pick out anything distinguishing about the room; he doesn't spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so it hasn't been too customized yet. But that suits his purposes well, since it doesn't reveal much and isn't too distracting.

He might look a bit tired, but still bright-eyed and welcoming as he addresses the camera.]

Hello, everyone, and especially all the people who are new; I know this is probably still all really strange.

[He'd been new not all that long ago, after all, and despite having been here a few months now it's still strange.]

I wanted to take the opportunity, both because of new arrivals and because of what happened at the end of last month, to remind everyone that the Clinic isn't just for physical injuries and illnesses. Although I'm not always at the Clinic, I'm a psychologist and if anyone wants to talk you can always contact me through a direct message to set up a time to meet.

[And, like last time--two months ago, it's hard to believe--he decides it's worthwhile to explain what exactly he means, for people whose world's don't have counseling.]

For those of you unfamiliar with what a psychologist does, it's basically our job to listen to and help with any problems someone might be having mentally or emotionally. Sometimes just one session of talking is enough to help, and sometimes it takes more regular meetings, but it's always up to the individual whether they want to continue with counseling. Additionally, anything you say during a session is confidential.

[Because that's pretty important to mention. And okay, main announcement now out of the way, he has a few individual messages to send.]


[Private to Brennan and Zack]

How are you both doing?

[There are some specific things he wants to go over with them both, but first he has to check up on them.]


[Private to Henry]

[He's a little nervous about messaging Henry, but hopefully it'll prove worthwhile.]

Hello, Henry. I was hoping we could speak.

[Preferably in person, since it's easier to read people that way, but he'll discuss that part after--if--Henry agrees to talk to him at all.]

Comments

[audio]

[onlyanautomaton]

Thank you for your services. I don't like to think about what would befall this community without the aid of an organized group like yourselves.

[audio]

[lifetothefullest]

[He smiles, even though it can't be seen in the audio connection, although it might be heard in his voice.]

Thank you. There has been a lot of work put in by a lot of people over the whole time anyone's been in Hadriel, as far as I understand.

[audio]

[onlyanautomaton]

My understanding is that the clinic was well established in its operations prior to the date of my first arrival eleven months ago. I was glad to find upon my recent return that it is still active.

private;

[hotspurred]

[Henry is not best pleased with Lance — as of current he thinks Lance says much and follows through on little. It's merely vexation though, unlike Maketh's hatred. Recent events haven't left him in the greatest of moods, so when he responds likewise using video, there is a terseness in his expression and voice.]

Were you. [But a beat later, he says:] Very well.

private;

[lifetothefullest]

[Alright, well, definitely a better response than he could've gotten. But Lance changes his mind on deciding to try to meet him in person; it's probably better not to push it.]

The last time we spoke didn't... Go so well.

[A little bit of an understatement, but whatever.]

And with coordination between the Clinic and the Guard being important for both organizations, I wanted to try easing any tensions that might exist, as much as possible.

[Especially since his attempt to do the same with Maketh didn't go over so well, so if he can deal with Henry then it avoids having to put any individual members of the Guard in any awkward position of having to act as a go-between. Plus, as much as Lance doesn't trust Henry, he does think he's reasonable and it'll be much easier to just coordinate with him directly anyway.]

private;

[hotspurred]

[Henry scoffs at that first comment, then dips his head.]

Of course.

[He speaks without hesitation, serious and earnest.]

Whatever you may think of us, we wish but to safeguard those trapped in this city. To that end, we are the same. I have and will continue to pursue our alliance.

[And history is proof of that: when Sharon, Kate and Bianca brought Silent Hill into the city, he oversaw that guardsmen helped to bring supplies to the healers in the temples and escorted those healers who went out into danger. He specifically asked Bruce and Kate to teach guardsmen basic field aid and how to safely move casualties. Alongside Bruce and Kate, he set up the old arrangement the guard and clinic had for new arrivals. On more than one occasion when the city was overrun with zombies and monsters, he made sure orders included defending the clinic, and fought to do so himself.

Of the guard's leadership, it was he who pushed for their organisations to work together. He wants them to be able to.

Not that Lance knows any of that.

Direct as ever, Henry asks:]

What offering do you seek?

[He immediately assumes that Lance is looking for some concession from the Guard to make peace. If that is what it must take, he will see it done.]

private video

[notimpervious]

[Oh oh oh! An opportunity! Brennan puts on a serious, confused face before responding.]

Doing what? [...and the serious face crumbles into giggles within maybe half a second.] That was a joke. I was pretending to take your question literally.

[Okay, she's done now, back to normal, though still smiling a little over her very amusing joke.] We're doing all right. I'm making notes on how these appliances work.

[She too is in the kitchen of her and Zack's apartment, and she glances around to indicate as much. That's when her smile fades away completely though, leaving behind an almost somber look when she faces the camera again.]

This seems very real, doesn't it. It is very consistent and complex. The evidence suggests it is real, but I do not want to believe it.

private video

[lifetothefullest]

[Those are incredible levels of dorkery, Brennan, and he can't help but laugh when she giggles at her own joke.]

Yeah, I got that.

[And oh, right, the appliances. Those are definitely a thing, although he'll address them in a bit; her last comments are a lot more important.

He nods a little, expression going more serious as well.]

I didn't either. I'm still not sure I totally do, but it seemed like a bad idea not to treat it like it is.

[Not that it'd ultimately matter too much for him anyway, but still.]

perma private video

[notimpervious]

[Oh come on, you should be glad she's Doing Very Well! ...okay so it really just hasn't hit her, what it means to be here. The important thing is that he got her joke and liked it.

But there are more important things to discuss.]

You are... very much at ease with this. Your message to everyone, your message to me and Zack, your... steadiness in the colosseum. It is both comforting and disconcerting. I suppose that is an accurate summary of how I feel: comforted and disconcerted.

[Though she couldn't tell him why. Maybe she could list a few reasons, but it would not be the whole answer.]

[Audio][Private].

[whistlewhilstyouwork]

Never been to a shrink before, Doc, so I don't know how all of that works. Can a psych help fix a phobia?

[Audio][Private]

[lifetothefullest]

[He definitely doesn't mind answering questions.]

There's no guarantee on 'fixing' anything, but yes, usually therapy can have an impact on a phobia. Sometimes it can even be eliminated entirely, although usually it's a matter of bringing the reaction to a manageable level.

Re: [Audio][Private]

[whistlewhilstyouwork]

And, if you don't mind me being blunt, what's your success rate with that kind of thing?

video;

[yearrounder]

It's kind of terrifying to think why the people here would need one, but thanks for helping, I guess. [It's not quite "we" yet. She hasn't been here that long.]

It's good to know, anyway.

video;

[lifetothefullest]

It doesn't necessarily take a really extreme situation for someone to benefit from talking through their problems.

[It's more a gentle reminder than a correction; although Hadriel is definitely a place that ends up causing new and serious problems, the idea that counseling is only for people who've gone through something especially terrible is one that it's important to debunk.]

Re: video;

[yearrounder]

I guess, but it kind of seems like this is the place you go if you want to develop a complex. [Or whatever.]

Voice

[requiemshark]

People seriously take you up on that one?

[Guess who sounds incredibly dubious.]

Voice

[lifetothefullest]

[He's heard that tone before, more than once here, so he'll reply as evenly and patiently as he has most of the other times.]

They do, yes, both here and where I'm from.

[Action]

[drabsolutelynot]

Time for the Welcome Wagon again?

[Rosen emerges from his room in a plain white t-shirt and navy blue plaid pajama bottoms that look like an ocean of fabric on his skinny frame]

[Action]

[lifetothefullest]

[He glances up and nods, setting his phone down while he waits for responses; there's something important he should tell Rosen that he hadn't the day before, mostly because it hadn't really sunk in yet.]

Two of my friends arrived yesterday.

Video

[kingoftheloonybin]

[When Zack replies he’s set up at a desk with a piece of technology he’d found and a few small tools. It’s hard to tell if he’s in his room or someone else on Hadriel but it’s obvious that he’s focused. The phone is set up to his left and showing him from his shoulders up. Curly brown hair obscures his view as he talks in the same mechanical voice.]

That depends what you mean by the question. I am physically healthy though I am unsure about my current opinion on this cave.

[He turns to look at the video, his chair swiveling him to the left as he moves.]

The cave is several miles long and high. Its formations will tell us more but I can’t see the ceiling well enough to determine the caves age, construction or material.

[Zack has been putting a lot of thought into this. He’s even more unsure about these deities he’s heard about but he’s going to take the time to determine what he thinks of the cave and town first. Once he becomes comfortable with a new set of based assumptions and knowledge he’ll continue from there.]

Video

[lifetothefullest]

[Well, at least Zack's found something to work on already, which is probably good for him. That answer's about as good as he can expect, too.]

It takes awhile to get used to this place to the point where you can really form an opinion. Or it did for me, anyway.

[Though he'd also been seriously injured and that probably hadn't helped with sorting things out and getting a really good sense of this place.

Lance is definitely interested in what Zack has to say about the formation of the cave, although it immediately makes him concerned about what Zack might do if he finds out about the smaller caves that branch off and he decides to try to address that right away.]

There are smaller caves you might get more information out of but they're really dangerous, so if you absolutely have to look in them I'd appreciate if you let me know first. There are a few people who would be willing to go with you.

[He doesn't want Zack getting eaten by monsters.]

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[bythewaves]

Thank you - the Clinic has already been of great aid to me. But ah... you say that... you help people with... issues?

I...

[ He bites his lip - is it fair to inflict his issues on anyone? But his family are here. They need him to be well. ]

What... sort of things does that... invovle?

video

[lifetothefullest]

[He's quiet, waiting while Maglor speaks, unbothered by the hesitations. When he seems finished Lance nods, offering a hopefully reassuring smile.]

I do, yes. What it involves depends on the individual and the exact nature of their problem, but generally the process is to talk about and identify exactly what's causing them distress, and then develop a method to work through the issue or issues. That last part is what usually varies the most from person to person.

voice. the latest.

[fulminatory]

[It's not visible, of course, but Jason's giving this post the longest side-eye ever.]

Well, that's one hell of ad pitch. This usually work out for you?

voice. so rude, jason

[lifetothefullest]

I'm not sure if you can call it an ad pitch when I'm not selling anything.

[Just saying.]

But yes, it did last time.