hadriel | 002 [Video]

[He supposes this is as good a time as any considering the events of the past few days and Rosen's recent post, so...

Lance is looking more put together than he has recently, although he hasn't completely returned to the formal look; he has bothered with a suit but not with a tie, and his hair's getting slightly out of control and distinctly curly. He also looks a bit like he's either gotten too little sleep or too much, although his voice is steady and even and he certainly sounds more professional than he did in his last post.]

Due to recent events, and in followup to Dr. Rosen's announcement, I think this is a good time to reiterate that should anyone be in need of someone to speak to about anything that may be bothering them, I'm always available for counseling or just to talk.

[He's gotten the impression this is something a whole lot of people here probably need, and it's important to make sure they're aware of the option and don't have to go hunting for information on who to contact.]

My name is Dr. Lance Sweets and I'm a clinical psychologist, which, for those whose worlds don't have such a profession, means that I work with helping individuals work through any mental or emotional issues they might be having. Although I've counseled patients on a range of subjects, my primary work has been with the FBI and therefore often in the area of coping with witnessing or experiencing traumatic events.

[Which is fortunate, since there seems to be a lot of that here. Which, itself, is unfortunate.]

Meetings can be as formal or informal as you're comfortable with, and where we speak can also be decided upon on an individual basis. I'm also willing to answer any questions you might have before making any agreements or arrangements.

[Because he's very aware that a whole lot of people don't get the idea of psychology at all, and he's also expecting at least a few 'aren't you twelve?' comments.]

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I see.

[It sounds a little like confession, only without God. He pauses a beat.]

They must put much faith in you. To whom are you beholden?

Yes, there is a very distinct element of trust involved.

[And that's where most of the difficulty tends to lie.]

In my world, there's something called doctor-patient confidentiality, which applies to medical doctors as well as therapists, and is a law preventing disclosure of information told in confidence except for in extreme emergencies. Here there is no such law, so it comes back to trust once again.

An oath? [He sounds mildly surprised.] Few here seem to use them.

[But he still has one last question, so Henry goes straight onto it.]

How deal you with someone who asks for your assistance, yet is obstinate?

Yes. We have a few oaths that are still in use, even in those terms.

[As in they're actually called oaths.

At the question he's quiet a moment, deciding how to respond.]

You're asking a lot of questions that don't have simple answers, but many patients are somewhat... Uncooperative, especially if they're required to attend counseling by their job or something instead of making the choice themselves. Mostly it's a matter of patience and building a relationship, and then they tend to be more cooperative.

Edited 2017-05-25 00:21 (UTC)

Fortunately that was my last.

[He now has a very basic idea of how it works, which is all that he sought.]

I shall not waste your time any further.

It isn't a waste of time.

[And he hesitates just briefly, before deciding to go ahead and ask once he sets the feed to private.]

I wanted to ask a question myself, if you're willing to answer.

[In other words, it's okay to refuse; he'll understand.]

Is Maketh alright?

[There is silence as Henry weighs that, before he says heavily.]

No.

[And the sad truth is that comparatively, she's barely worse.]

But she has not been for some time.

[It's an honest answer, at least, even if he'd have liked another answer to be the truthful one.]

I truly was trying to help.

[He only half means to say it, and he's not sure why he feels the need to justify himself to Henry, but he just feels so badly about how everything happened.]

[Henry does not expect that admission. What he says next he says not to reassure Lance, but because it is the truth.]

You did.

[His belief is clear in his words.]

Without your intervention, the stain of torture would mar her soul. You could have merely ended your involvement after she forced you to flee.

[He can tell Henry means it, and that makes it a lot more meaningful than if he's just been trying to make him feel better. At least he managed to help that much, even if it feels like the most basic of things he could've done; great, he stopped someone from running off on a mission to torture someone, and only managed to do that by calling in backup.

He's quiet for several more seconds, deciding how much he wants to actually say, but he feels like Henry should know this.]

I may still have to end my involvement. I'll speak with Maketh about what happened whenever she decides to contact me again, but I can't guarantee I'll be able to continue doing so afterward.

[He isn't sure if Henry knows Maketh had come to him for counseling, but he gets the impression that he has the idea at least. So although Lance doesn't admit it outright, he still wants Henry to know that the arrangement might have to end, because that will mean it's back to being just up to Henry to keep an eye on her.]

What? Why?! She will take it as codemnation—

[His response is reflexive, forceful and alarmed at once. Yet he cuts himself off as soon as he actually thinks, because why, at the most shallow level, is evident. He knows that Maketh intimidated and chased Lance away. He knows what she can be like when the topic of the Empire comes up. He has the luxury of not fearing Maketh's aggression because there is little question of who is superior in close-quarter combat between them.

But she is his sister, and he is afraid for her.

Henry exhales through his teeth. When he speaks next, while there is a certain harshness in his tone, it is undirected and without edge.]

She snaps and snarls like a wounded beast when she feels threatened. I mean not to excuse what she did. Yet... she told me that she did not hurt you.

[And he trusts that Maketh is always honest with him, though she may hide things from him.]

[Lance flinches at the tone, though fortunately it isn't possible to see since they're using audio; he also realizes quickly that Henry doesn't seem angry at him directly, just worried about Maketh, and he can understand that.

He's quiet while Henry continues, listening, and begins to wonder if maybe he's overreacting? Maketh didn't lie; she didn't actually hurt him, so--

No, he's not making the mistake of getting into that sort of thinking. Whether or not she caused physical harm doesn't excuse what she did do, and he has every reason to be unsettled by it even in isolation, let alone as an indicator to a pattern that could escalate. He's a psychologist, and he knows better.

Again he's silent a few seconds more before he decides how to respond, and although his voice is quiet it's steady and certain.]

She threw a knife at me. Unless I can be reasonably sure that won't happen again the next time she doesn't like what I'm telling her, I can't take the risk.

[He'll give her a chance to try to prove that instead of immediately cutting her off now, but this is something he can't negotiate on.]

...She mentioned that not.

[They have few enough medical professionals in Hadriel. What was Maketh thinking? He cannot blame Lance for that response, but the consequences...]

Is there no way that I might help?

['What a surprise' he wants to say, but he doesn't. It isn't Henry's fault, after all.

He's a little surprised by the question, and takes a moment to think it over before responding.]

I'm not sure. It would depend how my conversation with her goes.

[Because there are a few ways Henry might actually be able to help, but they won't be worth even attempting if there isn't a certain level of willingness on Maketh's side to actually commit to trying to change. And he won't be able to gauge that possibility until he's spoken with her.]

[Henry sighs heavily. What else can he do?]

All right. When you are certain, let me know.

I will. And thank you, for everything you did.

[He means that.]

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