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

Sure, of course; that would be a good idea.

[It's still a little awkward talking to Nick--or most people from the Guard--after everything, but the agreement is genuine and so is the more casual tone. He's glad Nick asked, not just because the courtesy is appreciated but because Lance had thought about the idea of attaching it to the devices but didn't know where to start or who to ask.

And he's silent for a moment, before deciding to ask--]

How is the rebuilding going?

[Nick is a little surprised Lance asks about the construction -- and pleased. Though he doesn't have much in the way of good news, his tone does lighten.]

Slowly, but we're taking it one day at a time. Thankfully, we've got enough people who don't mind working at night for one reason or another that we can keep at it almost 'round the clock.

[It helps that one of them is an icy alien who would rather not work in the daytime, given the sun situation.]

People prefer working in the daytime even with the heat?

[He's a little surprised by that; he'd think the two hours of no sun would be a popular time to work, second to the time when the cooler sun is out alone.]

Some folks don't seem to mind it much. That, or they're just plain stubborn.

[Probably both. Nick himself tends to work in the day, but given his construction, the heat isn't really an issue for him.]

Stubborn? Here?

[It's a faint joke, in an attempt to keep the mood light, before he continues.]

Are you building basically from nothing, or are you modifying an existing structure?

[The question probably indicates just how not around Lance has been.]

A little of both. We're putting the Guard next to the Clinic this time around, making it easier for us to help one another.

[Which is something that Lance would undoubtedly know if he's been around. Nick has noticed he hasn't seen the doctor around, though he's spotted plenty of the others on the Clinic's staff.]

You practicing privately these days, Doc?

Edited 2018-01-18 06:28 (UTC)

[He does know that much from the announcement, and he'd shown up for the first day or so of rebuilding the Clinic, but that had been about it. So the news about the Guard is mostly new, and... Of course Nick would notice the implications there.]

Mostly, yes. I'm on call for medical emergencies, but now that we have several more qualified doctors it didn't seem necessary to be there all the time; my office no longer exists, so I wouldn't be meeting patients at the Clinic for counseling anyway.

[It's all truthful, just not everything that had gone into the decision or the situation.]

[Knowing Lance, Nick has no doubt that's not the whole story, but he also knows better than to pry.]

At least you aren't likely to ever run out of work, seeing what kinds of people the Door brings in every month.

[And heck, even the ones who have been there for a while now.]

That's true, although I wouldn't complain about being out a job if it meant people didn't need counseling.

[Because that would mean this place--and the places that people here came from--weren't messes of trauma.]

Unfortunately, that seems unlikely.

Yeah. And frankly, what this place puts us through doesn't help, even when it comes to those of us who aren't as human as the rest.

[That makes him curious and he really wants to ask about how things work for someone like Nick; how do emotions work, and is brain chemistry still involved? Does that have any effect on mental and emotional issues that are partially or completely caused by physiological causes?

But that's much more Rosen's field of study than Lance's own, and not only that but it'd be really insensitive to ask. So he controls the curiosity, nodding in thought instead.]

Not only can this place be difficult in its own right, dealing with the kind of things that happen here can worsen other previous issues or conditions as well.

[Lance might be surprised what questions Nick is willing to field if asked -- given what he is and where he comes from, the synth has heard it all in one way or another, either told he's some kind of a mechanical marvel or an affront to humanity at its finest. With his memories of what the real Nick went through, he's not entirely unfamiliar with having his head examined, both literally and figuratively. Unfortunately, he's never had the chance to sit down with a real shrink in a medical sense, figuring he should deal with those old memories of another life on his own. Psychology isn't a field that's often practiced in the Commonwealth.]

It seems like it's almost worse when they hit too close to home than when we're up against the unknown.

[Maybe eventually he'll feel it's okay to ask, and then be pleasantly surprised with the answers. But for now he's just quiet a moment at the comment, definitely not disagreeing.]

The fear of the unknown is very common, and it can be serious, but it's... General, and something people have often conquered many times in some form or another. More specific fears, especially those linked to a past experience or experiences, tend to affect individuals more deeply when they reoccur.

[Although he recites it somewhat distantly, it might still be clear that this is something he's both thought about and experienced often.]

[Nick picks up on that vibe -- he's no psychologist, but his detail-oriented nature as a detective helps.]

Anything that's happened here press too many buttons for you, Doc?

[He doesn't expect to get an answer, certainly not until he gives one himself, but it's worth asking.]

[Lance is definitely not going to give a detailed answer, but he isn't going to completely avoid the question either; although he doesn't want to reveal anything too personal, he also feels like he shouldn't shut down the topic in case Nick--or anyone who might be paying attention to the public conversation--might need the encouragement to talk about something.]

I think most people here have had at least one thing happen that reminds them of a previous issue, myself included.

[The 'what about you?' is left implied rather than said, at least for now.]

009 [Video]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject