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

[lifetothefullest]

[He appreciates her making the effort, even if it really would've been okay if she'd taken the way out.]

Yeah. She said everyone's doing really well, and Daisy's a great mom, which isn't exactly a surprise.

[But it's nice to hear all the same. He'd known she would be, and that they'd be okay without him, but having it confirmed gives him some sense of peace. He doesn't have to worry about them; they're moving on, and they're going to be fine.]

[evocation]

[Kyna stares down at the picture for a moment, frowning, until she reaches over to squeeze his hand impulsively.]

I'm sorry. I mean, you know...

[Sorry that he can't be home with them, she means.]

[lifetothefullest]

[He uncovers his eyes again and offers a small smile in return for the gesture.]

It's okay. I mean, not okay, but... You know.

[It's starting to sink in, finally, which is the first step to moving on himself.]

I'm not giving up on finding some way to... To change things, but for now, I think I can um... Focus on being here, instead of just wanting to be there. If that makes any sense.

[He's tired and off-kilter from making the focus, and the subject is difficult, so he's not sure how coherent he is about something like this.]

[evocation]

I think I get it.

[Kyna hesitates for a second more, then swipes to the next picture.]

Who's that?

[lifetothefullest]

[He pushes himself up slightly to look at the screen for a moment, before laying back down.]

That's Angela. She's Dr. Brennan's best friend, and works with her as a forensic artist. You'd probably get along with her; she's kind of impossible to dislike.

[She and Lance are really good friends, and he misses her. But Hadriel would be really horrible for her, and so as much as he'd love to see her again he would never--even selfishly--want her to end up in this place.]

[evocation]

Impossible how? And how do you even do that? Do you like, go to art school and then show up at the FBI like hey, I want to draw these assholes for you?

[lifetothefullest]

She's just really genuine, and realistic, but still sees the best in everyone. Her outlook on life is very... Open.

[It's difficult to describe just what Angela is really like, but that's as close as he can get.]

I'm um, not actually sure how she was hired, but she works at the Jeffersonian Institute, not the FBI; I think Dr. Brennan just knew her and knew she was an artist, asked her to help with a facial reconstruction, and then she ended up keeping the job permanently. But she's also really good with computers, so she's important to the team that way too.

[evocation]

Oh, that's pretty cool. How big is your team, anyway?

[lifetothefullest]

At the FBI, besides me it's Booth and Aubrey, the prosecutor Ms. Julian, and occasionally some other agents such as Agent Sparling; she's the one who shot me on accident.

[But he says it with fondness instead of annoyance, despite the topic; he likes Olivia a lot, and they even briefly dated.]

At Dr. Brennan's lab, it's her, Dr. Saroyan, Dr. Hodgins, Angela, and a bunch of interns including Daisy and Fisher. I've known most of them for about seven years.

[evocation]

God. Why do you sound happy that she shot you?

[lifetothefullest]

Well, it's pretty funny in hindsight.

[The whole situation was really dumb. But... Okay, that's not the whole answer, and he admits quietly--]

We also um, tried dating. It didn't really go anywhere, but we get along really well, shooting aside.

[evocation]

Did you start dating before or after she shot you?

[lifetothefullest]

After; that was our first case, and I was still with Daisy at the time. While Daisy and I were broken up, Olivia and I tried dating.

[evocation]

Oh.

[She squints at him.]

You know that probably, like... says something about you, right, Mr. Psychologist?

[lifetothefullest]

I'm sure it does.

[He's actually pretty sure he knows exactly what it says about him, but he's so not having that conversation right now; he knows just how terrible he is at relationships. But although he doesn't care to go seriously into the subject, he will joke about it a little to deflect.]

One of my previous girlfriends talked to fish, though, so I think Olivia was a step up.

[evocation]

Wait, what? Like, she talked to them seriously?

[lifetothefullest]

Yeah, she said they had feelings and understood her or something. And then she dumped me for being too young and childish.

[The offense!!!]

[evocation]

[Kyna bursts out laughing.]

She caught you eating uncooked ramen, didn't she?

[lifetothefullest]

[Okay, that response even earns a laugh from him, despite how exhausted and nauseous he feels.]

Uncooked ramen is a perfectly valid food source. But no, I think she was mad I didn't take pottery class seriously enough or something.

[He's... Still not totally sure, honestly. But it was probably the 'throwing clay at her' thing; it was cute when Booth and Brennan were doing it, so why didn't it work for him?]

[evocation]

Uh... What did you do?

[This sounds kind of like a story.]

[lifetothefullest]

You ask that like you assume it was my fault.

[He tries to affect a tone of mock indignation, but can't quite manage it.]

[evocation]

[She grins.]

Whatever, it totally was with that answer.

[lifetothefullest]

[He offers a half-hearted glare for that.]

I just made the mistake of thinking she had a sense of humor. Turns out not so much.

[But he can't keep up even the barely-glare for long.]

But it's fine; I met Daisy a few months later.

[And that was way more important. But okay, enough about his dating history--]

You totally owe me some stories about your own previous significant others now.

[evocation]

Ugh, God.

[She's making a terrible face.]

Like one? Stupid ones?

[lifetothefullest]

Preferably, yeah, but whatever you want to say about them is fine.

[But fair's fair, okay. Surely she has some ridiculous or at least interesting stories to share, right?]