hadriel | 009 [Video]

[After a month or so of mostly sticking to text and voice, Lance is back to video for another network broadcast. He's still looking a little unwell, but definitely better than in his last post or any time he's spoken with someone in person since then.

He was also fortunate enough to be in his apartment when the dust storm started, so he doesn't have to camp out in some public place or with people he doesn't like. Hurray! And since pretty much everyone is stuck inside somewhere, this actually ends up being a good time to make a network post to address a few things.]

Hello, everyone. For those who just arrived or otherwise haven't met me yet, I'm Dr. Lance Sweets, and I'm a psychologist; if anyone ever needs or wants to speak to someone professionally, whether about being here or otherwise, you're welcome to send a message or call at any time.

[And that usual note out of the way--]

But I also wanted to discuss something somewhat unrelated, which is the subject of creating an organized directory of who has what skills that they're willing to teach, if asked. Many here want to learn new skills or hobbies, whether due to practicality or boredom or otherwise, but it can be difficult to figure out who to ask especially if you're new and may not want to either use the network for a general announcement, or approach someone you may not know individually.

So a list of who is willing to teach what skills, and who is alright with being asked to do so, would be beneficial a lot of people here. I can compile and maintain it as a file that can be shared.

[It's not like he's doing a whole lot at the moment, having pretty much quit working at the Clinic. He seems to briefly consider continuing with another topic but then ends the feed there; the other thing he wanted to discuss probably wouldn't go over as well as the first one, and he'd prefer everyone not get distracted.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Then I'll include it in the list, in case someone does want to take you up on teaching it.

There are many things worth being proud of that are intangible.

Thank you.

Believe me, I'm aware of that, but sometimes people prefer to see something real. It's...more comforting, maybe.

It is more instantly gratifying.

[Material objects usually are. But that subject covered, Lance decides to shift the topic a little.]

I don't think we've met; are you a recent arrival?

People like to see what they've accomplished. [He shrugs]

No, we haven't. I've only been here for a day or two. I'm Swift.

It's nice to meet you, circumstances aside.

[And since he introduced himself in his post, he decides it's probably not necessary to do so again.]

Are you and Seel from the same world?

We are. He's my...well I think the human word is "husband?"

How long have you been together?

Around 30 years or so.

You must know each other very well, then.

I'd like to think so. I'm sure there are still things I don't know, though. He's rather good at keeping secrets.

Some amount of keeping things to yourself is healthy, as long as it doesn't interfere with your relationship.

[And if they've been together thirty years, hopefully that means it doesn't. But privacy is important, married or not.]

I suppose so. [He can't really say whether that's true, but it seems to be, at least and that's all he can really say.] It's not as if I expect to know all the secrets, but I would like to believe that I've found all the big ones. And I'm not certain that's the truth.

Is that something you've told him?

[Honesty is important in a relationship too, in balance with the privacy.]

Not in so many words. He doesn't react well to prying. [That is an understatement.]

[Lance wants to ask more questions and give more advice, but he just met Swift and doesn't know Seel all that well and so he probably shouldn't. Instead, he offers a more neutral response.]

Well, I hope you can work it out at some point.

[He means it; he wants the best for people, after all.]

So do I. But I will remind you that it's been 30 years. [If they have't worked it out yet, they probably aren't going to.]

That doesn't mean things can't change.

[Because it much more depends on the people involved than the time, after all. If they decide to change things they can do so, thirty years or not.]

Perhaps not, but both people have to be involved. And want to. [Seel does not. To be polite about it.]

You're right, although that means that it comes down to deciding just how important the issue is for you,

[Because if Seel isn't willing to work on it, then Swift has to decide if it's a dealbreaker.]

I don't imagine that I have much choice but to keep him. If he hasn't chased me off yet, I don't think he will.

That doesn't sound particularly enthusiastic.

[In fact, it's a really weird way of putting it.]

I don't mean it that way. I do love him, but I also have to keep him regardless.

Why is that?

I cold say any number of things and all of them would sound terrible. [Sigh] He was...a gift. Part of an alliance between the Parsics and the Gelaming. I can't just leave him.

[Ugh.]

You're right; that sounds terrible.

[He doesn't say it with malice--he's presuming, at least for now, that Swift is just as stuck in this arrangement himself--but he isn't going to pretend this whole arrangement sounds even slightly okay. But that said--]

However, it's worth remembering that no matter the situation in your own world, it doesn't necessarily hold here.

[There are more options, for both people involved.]

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