hadriel | 004 [Video]

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004 [Video]

[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.]

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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.

[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.

[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.

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

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.

People seriously take you up on that one?

[Guess who sounds incredibly dubious.]

[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.

[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.

Willingly.

[Right. Okay.]

Why.

[Ephemera's experience with psychologists hasn't been that great over the year. He put up with Aiden Price only because it was a part of their deal and Locus, apparently lacking a sense of irony, had refused to hand over a suit of tactical armor to someone who might have been batshit insane. Apparently Felix didn't count.]

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]

[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.

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.]

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

[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.

[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.]

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

[Lee's brows raise. Now there's a jump he wasn't expecting]

How are you feeling about it?

[He shuffles a bit closer to the table but doesn't sit]

[He could lie, and he considers doing so for a moment. But instead he gives a small shrug, turning his gaze toward the table.]

I'm not sure yet.

[Or, most accurately, he knows some of how he feels but it's so mixed up and complicated that he hasn't sorted it all out yet.]

[It's a fair answer and Rosen appreciates the honesty of it. Though it hasn't happened to him yet, with the exception of Danielle's ghost which had been enough of a struggle on its own, he cannot imagine having someone significant from home arrive as an official resident of the cave would be a 'jump for joy' moment. There's an unavoidable wish that someone important could be spared the life that comes with the murdercave, but on the other side of that coin being reunited with a cherished friend is hard thing not to want to lean into for comfort.]

How are they handling it so far?

[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.]

Well, I don't think you're wrong.

[He's only been here a short time and most of the events have been relatively tame from what he's heard, but things have still been... Difficult for a lot of people, including himself.]

Although the hope is to resolve any problems before they end up that way.

[A 'complex' is not exactly how he'd put it, but he gets the idea.]

Because the benefits make it worthwhile for them.

[He'd say the benefits are usually worthwhile to everyone, but that's not necessarily true. It's only so if the person is willing to and interested in taking part in the process.]

No, I get it, I'm just...worried. [Her life being what it is, that's probably a safe thing to be.] This doesn't exactly look like a happy place, and the welcoming committee could use some work. I just want to know what to expect. Except I also really don't want to because something tells me it's not good.

And you're just offering out of the kindness of your heart.

[Guess who really didn't like the last psychologist he dealt with.]

Contrary to popular belief, this isn't a job you take for the pay.

[Especially not working for the government. And true, he does get some benefit out of it himself--staving off boredom, the sense of accomplishment--but mostly it really is out of the kindness of his heart.]

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