hadriel | 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!]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Ephemera shrugs. He's been clocked in the face a lot. This barely smarts anymore.]

I'll live. Nothing's broken. Washington hits like a bitch anyway.

[Washington does not, in fact, hit like a bitch. Ephemera just doesn't feel like admitting that.]

You got into a fight with Washington?

[It isn't really disapproving, because he's trying not to be judgemental, but that's very much the opposite of what they talked about doing.]

Nah. He just punched me.

[A fight would have ended with somebody hurting. Ephemera runs a hand through his hair.]

Probably deserved it. He didn't like me insulting his--girlfriend? Or whatever they've got going on.

[Lance is just not going to bother arguing about if that counts as a fight, because there's something way more obvious to focus on.]

Why did you insult his girlfriend?

[Ephemera huffs. He regrets it now.]

We live across from each other. Saw him leaving when I was going out. We had--words. And then I told her she had bad taste when I went back to apologize.

[Because apparently he's classy like that.]

[Wait, hold up--]

You live across from each other?

[That's worse than a bad idea.]

[Ephemera grimaces.]

Her name's Kyna. She's actually all right. Shitty taste. But all right. .

[Oh, he lives across from Kyna, not Washington. Okay. Moderately better.]

I know Kyna.

[Not well, but he has a positive impression of her.]

I don't think I need to tell you that commenting on her choice of boyfriend probably wasn't the best idea.

[And that he should avoid doing such a thing in the future.]

[Seems like everyone knows everyone here. Ephemera exhales sharply.]

I know that. Which is why he punched me.

[Lance watches him warily for a moment at that reaction, before deciding he's probably just frustrated and it's safe to continue.]

Then why did you choose to do it?

[It isn't accusatory; he really wants to know, or more specifically to make sure Ephemera knows.]

Because I was pissed and she was there.

[He's always been bad about that, rising to the bait too easily. Even when he knows better, he always lashes out. Returns the strike twice as hard.]

[It's not a surprising answer.]

What did you think taking your anger out on her would accomplish?

[Ephemera shifts his weight unhappily.]

Thought she'd yell or try hitting me and then we'd fight for real.

[Lance furrows his eyebrows slightly.]

Do you mean you and Washington, or you and Kyna?

Kyna.

[He blinks.]

She's got magic and shit. I wouldn't have fucked her up or anything.

That's great and all, but why would you want to fight with her in the first place?

[Now he's starting to sound disapproving again; he can't help it.]

[Ephemera just gives him a look. Isn't it obvious?]

We wouldn't be arguing anymore.

...So you started an argument with her, in hopes of getting into an actual fight, so that you wouldn't be arguing anymore?

[Is he missing something?]

I didn't mean to start the argument!

[He wanted to apologize but fucked it up. Ephemera twitches, shifting again.]

I was trying to apologize. It didn't work and she wanna fight, so that didn't work either.

[He's getting a headache, although he doesn't think he can even blame it on just this conversation. So Lance presses his fingers to the bridge of his nose briefly, sighs, and looks back up at Ephemera; his tone is more even again when he responds.]

Okay. That happens, sometimes. But it's usually best to just walk away, if the situation is devolving that quickly.

[Lance is kind of a hypocrite about this, but he still knows it's the right advice.]

[Yeah, well. Hindsight and all that shit. Ephemera shifts again, unhappily.]

I'm not good at that.

It's not easy.

[But that said--]

Maybe next time, although hopefully there won't be a next time.

[Not that that's probably likely, though.]

Yeah.

[Ephemera knows he sounds petulant, and hates that about himself.]

Maybe.

You have to decide what's really most important to you and then act on that.

[It's a reminder more than anything else; he's never going to convince Ephemera not to pick a fight just because he shouldn't, so it's going to have to come down to Ephemera making the choice not to do it for his own reasons.]

[Yeah. That.

Ephemera thinks about that for a moment, watching Sweets.]

It's hard to remember, in the moment. I get--stuck? On what's in front of me.

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