hadriel | 007 [Video]

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007 [Video]

[Like the last few posts that have occurred, this is also clearly in regards to the Null's latest announcement; however, Lance is trying a different tactic, because he's doing his best to avoid getting kicked out of seeing their list. So he's wording this very carefully, and that's purposefully obvious in his tone; it's also probably pretty obvious in how intent his stare is, and in how he's casually fiddling with his FBI badge in view of the screen.

He's really hoping the Null aren't too good with subtle body language, and that the people here aren't as generally bad at it as he's concerned they are.]

In light of recent occurrences, I'd like to remind everyone that I'm a psychologist, and I have an office in the clinic should anyone wish to speak confidentially. Additionally, although I prefer to work with individuals, group meetings are also possible.

[Aka the Clinic is available for anyone who wants to have private conversations about all of this going on, and Lance will be lurking there himself both to participate and keep watch on things.]

[[ooc: Feel free to jump right to action threads, to do multi-person threads, threadjack on the network or in person, etc!]]

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[Delmar shakes his head]

That's...that's not exactly what I mean. [He wilts a little, shoulders drooping] Oh dear, I'm not explaining this very well.

You see I think if the threat was to one of his friends he would find that very serious. But...it's himself...so... it's different. Do you understand?

You're doing fine.

[Lance assures him easily, because he does think he understands and the issue with expressing himself clearly is on his side, not Delmar's.]

I understand. What I mean is that he may be expressing a cavalier attitude in an attempt to instill confidence in you, rather than let you worry about him. It doesn't mean he isn't taking the threat itself seriously, however, just that he wants to handle it alone, which is also an issue but in a different way.

[But to be sure--]

Has he said anything in particular that makes you concerned that he isn't taking a threat to himself seriously, and won't act to prevent it as he should?

He doesn't like to worry people, I know. He's very thoughtful that way.

[So the idea of Atem wanting to instill confidence in everyone does make sense]

It's not just something he's said, but also things he does.

[Delmar falters. He doesn't want to talk about Atem's private business and he also doesn't want to say anything that might be misunderstood as something negative.]

He...um...you see when he thinks there's danger...he pushes everyone else away...

[Lance is quiet for several seconds at that, because there are two very likely explanations for that sort of behavior, and neither is probably going to be reassuring.

But he has another question to ask, before he gets into either of them.]

Do you have any ideas as to why he does that?

[Delmar shakes his head, gaze falling to the floor]

Oh, I don't know. I think he doesn't want anybody to get hurt.

That's likely to be exactly the reason.

[And, continuing from that--]

If it is, then he is probably taking the threat very seriously and would just prefer not to put anyone else in danger as well.

[But that said, that just means there's a different issue.]

However, even if he'd prefer that, it's better for people to stick together with this threat. It's going to be far more difficult to threaten someone who is in a group.

Doctor.... do you think someone will actually try to do something so horrible?

Yes.

[He wishes he could say otherwise, but in a situation like this it doesn't help to sugarcoat things.]

I don't doubt someone will try it, so looking out for each other is the most important thing we can do right now.

If it...if something like that were to happen, what do you think we should do?

What does someone who is a friend do? Do they go after the person who did it?

[He's not a fighter. It's obvious. And his stomach churns at the thought of unnecessary violence but then again he was in a way. He was once trained. And he does have a gun.

Is he supposed to act on that? Or would that simply be adding to the chaos?]

Do they fight them?

No. Revenge won't accomplish anything but continuing the cycle.

[But that said, he wants to be clear--]

However, if you're there and someone tries to harm you or your friend, self-defense is entirely justifiable in the moment.

[Just don't go seeking anyone out afterward; that won't help.]

But if no one does anything wouldn't that person still be a danger to others?

There are other options. Alerting the network of who a dangerous individual is, particularly if you know for sure they've tried to harm someone, is going to very effectively limit what they can do.

[It'll both be impossible to catch someone off guard, and the person may decide to lay low for a time instead of acting again out of fear of vigilante justice. Not that Lance condones the latter, of course, but he's perfectly fine with letting an attempted or successful murderer shake in their boots a bit.]

[Delmar actually smiles at that, looking relieved]

Yes. Yes I like that much better. You are a very intelligent young man.

[He's glad he came, though he still feels very uncomfortable about the whole 'talking to a stranger about very personal things' arrangement]

Doctor, do you, um, do you maybe ever feel like you aren't very useful? Oh dear, maybe useful is not the right word but... what I mean is do you ever feel like you can't help your friends?

[Lance smiles a little too, both at Delmar's expression and the compliment, but soon goes serious again at the question. He very much dislikes talking about himself when it comes to anything personal, and it's also usually inappropriate to do so when advising someone. But in this case it's more about reassuring Delmar than anything about himself, so after a few seconds of deliberation Lance offers a simple but honest answer.]

Not as much anymore, but yes, I used to. It turned out to be unwarranted; I was helping, but just didn't realize it.

[And most likely that's the case here.]

I don't know that I am. Not with such big things like this. All these monsters and magical beings I don't know where to begin trying to help. There was nothing like that where I come from.

[He shifts a little, holding his bag tighter to himself reflexively]

I worry I will only cause more trouble if I were to try and help but I also don't like the idea of not doing anything at all.

Although it seems more drastic in this instance, there have surely been times when you've had to handle a situation that you had no experience in or frame of reference for. The subject and scale are different in this case, but it's the same idea; you learn and adapt to it, and I have no doubt you're capable of doing that.

[As for the last part--]

That's an understandable fear. But even if you do cause trouble in some way, it's always better to cause a problem because you're trying to help a friend than it is to leave them to deal with everything alone. It's much less about whether you're helpful or not, and more that you care to try to be.

[Because feeling alone is one of the worst things someone can deal with, especially in a stressful situation.]

[That gives him pause. 'More that you care to try to be'. Certainly there's never a moment where he doesn't care to be helping. He's simply not wired to be indifferent. Especially when friends are concerned.

After a little bit he reaches into his bag and produces his gun, the one he won during the paintball event. He sets it down gingerly in front of Lance and retracts his hand, looking back to Lance.]

So is it better if I hold on to that or would it be best if I gave it away?

[Can it be part of helping or would it only cause more potential hurt?]

[Lance watches carefully; although he really doesn't think Delmar means any sort of harm, he's still cautious with new people all the same. It for both of those reasons that seeing him pull out a gun is surprising, but at least it's not for a threatening reason.

He considers the weapon a moment, then looks back up at Delmar.]

That depends on whether you know how to use it, and why you might choose to do so.

[Delmar's gaze flicks between the weapon and Lance]

I know how to use it. I was in the military, you see. The, um, the war with the Germans.

[He chews on the corner of his lip]

Back then I used it because there were many people couldn't defend themselves...and hat's the only reason I would use it now.

Then keep it.

[All sorts of people have weapons here, including those who really shouldn't. If Delmar intends to just use the gun for self-defense and has experience with it, then there's no reason he shouldn't carry it.]

Just don't lose sight of the reason for using it. Revenge is not self-defense.

[It isn't directly pointedly at Delmar, just a general statement. The distinction seems to be one that people in this place don't grasp well.]

[He nods, but leaves the gun where it rests for the moment.]

Is revenge something that happens a lot here?

It's something people like to talk about often, at least. Many of those here... Lack problem-solving skills that don't involve violence or the threat of violence.

[To put it as nicely as possible.]

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007 [Video]

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