010 [Text]

[lifetothefullest]

[Lance doesn't typically post to the network within a few weeks of a previous post, partially because talking to so many people is exhausting and partially because he usually doesn't have anything to say so soon after. But this time he has two brief announcements that happen to be time-sensitive, so here goes.]

Hello everyone. The list of who is available and willing to teach particular skills is now available, and I'll continue to make changes to it as requested; it isn't too late to volunteer, if you'd like to. Where possible I've provided references to the initial responses, so be sure to look at the details of what someone is offering.

[And that's the main announcement. The second one he's still nervous about, even though he's been set on doing it for awhile, and it's part of the reason this is text; it's easier both to choose his words and not back out if it's through text.]

I'm also going to be taking a brief break from non-emergency counseling. This will only be for a few weeks, and if a situation is very pressing or serious I'm still available to meet; please don't hesitate to contact me, and don't second-guess yourself about whether it's serious enough to warrant doing so. The last thing I want is for someone who really needs help not to get it because I decided to take a vacation.

[And he really, really means this; the entire idea is making him nervous all over again about the decision to take a break, because if something happened to someone because he wasn't available to meet with them he's not sure he would forgive himself. But people here survived a long time without a psychologist around, right? Surely everything will be okay.]

Comments

text; private

[evocation]

hey
good job taking a vacation.
you deserve it.

text; private

[lifetothefullest]

Thank you, though it was mostly your doing anyway.

text

[64th]

Vacation? Where are you going? The beach? The mountains? Or just going to sleep in a little?

text

[lifetothefullest]

I was kind of more thinking the sleeping in idea, yeah. Not exactly a lot of great travel destinations here.

text

[poisonprincess]

[She has no clue who he is and that's fine. She's still learning all the nuances of this place anyway. However, she can't help but smile to herself a bit. Especially when he mentions counseling and taking a vacation.]

Everyone deserves a vacation. I'm not sure what's been thrown at you, but you probably deserve it.

text

[lifetothefullest]

[Likewise, he doesn't know her and hasn't seen anything of her on the network yet either, but he appreciates the sentiment all the same.]

Thank you. Are you a recent arrival?

private text

[am_i_a_monster]

Are you okay?

private text

[lifetothefullest]

Yeah, I'm okay, just doing something I should've done awhile ago.

[In other words, nothing new and serious has happened or anything, he's just overdue to take some off and mentally rest.]

But I appreciate you asking.

speech to text

[sonofacesius]

Good. You deserve a break. Do you have anything special planned?

If anyone needs to talk and you don't feel up to it, psychology isn't really Apollo's area but neither is OB/GYN. I'm willing to try if you need me to help out.

[Especially considering both Lance and Rosen were kind of out of commission, someone had to step up.]

text

[lifetothefullest]

Thank you. Not really, just taking some time to rest.

I appreciate the offer, and I'll let you know. But I'm still around if anyone really does end up needing me.

[Psychology and counseling are not exactly things that can be done untrained, even for a medical doctor--it'd be like if Lance tried to do surgery--but he's not going to bother getting into all of that. The sentiment is nice, and that's what matters.]

[Private/Audio]

[drabsolutelynot]

Is there anything you need?

[read: anything you need that a curmudgeonly old man can help with]

[Private/Audio]

[lifetothefullest]

I'm alright, but thank you. I just need a short break from worrying about anything I don't actually have to worry about.

[And he worries about everyone he talks to, let alone talks to professionally, so cutting down on the latter temporarily will help. He just needs enough time to address and work out some of his own issues so everything isn't as overwhelming.]

text

[toiletseat_girl]

Hey, everyone needs a break now and then. You were seeming a little worn out.

text

[lifetothefullest]

Was it that obvious?

[It's sort of a joke, but he has a feeling it was unfortunately pretty obvious, at least to some people.]

text

[ghostlocked]

shit. nice work on the list. thats helpful af.
and i hate to pull u away from ur spring break so soon but i do have an emergency on my hands and ur the only one that can help.

text

[lifetothefullest]

[Considering the particular choice of wording Lance has a feeling this isn't actually an emergency, but considering it's text he's going to respond seriously just to be safe.]

Thank you.

It's okay, what's going on?

video

[bythewaves]

Ah! I was talking to the Lady Margaery, just the other day about something like this. Thank you, Doctor. If you have the wish to add to the list - my kin and I... there are few who know the blade and bow like we do. [ A wry twist of his mouth ] Centuries of warfare will do that, after all. If any wish to learn, we will teach. We cannot afford not to, any longer.

video

[lifetothefullest]

You're welcome, and thank you. I can definitely add you to the list, but could you give me specific names of who to include?

[He's not sure who all of them are, since he really only talks to Curufin regularly.]

text

[murderpotato]

i think we ll all survive without a fuckin shrink for a while

text

[lifetothefullest]

Well, if you say so then all my concerns are alleviated.

[text]

[circumitus]

youre offering to teach about chess?

[Sorry, Lance. She thinks that's a little bit ridiculous.]

[text]

[lifetothefullest]

And piano, although one of those things is simpler than the other.

[He'd be vaguely offended if they weren't all stuck in a city on an alien planet with nothing better to do than learn chess.]

text;

[survivorsguilt]

i want you to teach me chess
when youre done with your vacation i mean

what music do you teach? is it guitar? do you have a guitar here? man i want a guitar so fucking bad!

text;

[lifetothefullest]

[It's definitely nice to hear from Ellie, even if just through text.]

Sure, definitely.

I teach piano, but Rose and Harlan both teach guitar; I believe you might have to provide your own guitar, though. I think they may have gotten theirs through trading with the gods.

text;

[storyseeker]

Good.

text;

[lifetothefullest]

Which part?

[He thinks he knows, but still.]

[audio]

[onlyanautomaton]

Thank you for taking the time to compile this information, Dr. Sweets. It will most definitely be helpful to those of us looking to expand our current skill set, myself included. It is very kind of you to share it in its completion over the network in addition to offering your services in the case of emergencies despite your personal hiatus.

[audio]

[lifetothefullest]

You're welcome, although there's no need to thank me. Hopefully it'll help people find something useful to do with their time.

[Which is important for their mental health, as well as making it less likely anyone will cause trouble out of sheer boredom.]

[odinbolt]

Thank you for all your work, Dr. Sweets.

And I think I've found a place people can use for teaching.

( But, more importantly... )

Are you okay?

[lifetothefullest]

Of course, and that's good to hear. Hopefully it'll get a lot of use.

[Doing something productive would be a much better way of spending time than fighting or drinking or both, which seem to be favorite hobbies amongst a lot of people here. As for the last question--]

Yes, I'm okay. I just need a break; it's been almost ten months.

[Of him being here, so of being available for counseling and for dealing with everything that's happened. He really just needs a chance to work on handling the latter a bit more than the former for awhile.]