hadriel | 010 [Text]

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010 [Text]

[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.]

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They just temporarily drain you. And not by much.

[she had so much blood sprayed on her, she was advised to buy a raincoat.

she just calls 'em as she sees 'em. and even with the poodle hair, he's good-looking. and unfortunately, you won't get her to budge on her assessment of herself]

Am too plain. But it's cool, I've made my peace with it. And it's a huge advantage.

[George used her youth and ordinary appearance to conceal what she was doing as a Grim Reaper, too. no one suspected the eighteen year old girl as being Death's middleman]

Yeah, that's the problem. Maybe just short fires, like a flamethrower?

Okay, well, that's slightly less creepy, I guess.

[The only time he's been sprayed with blood was not an experience he'd like to repeat; in fact, he'd love to avoid any and all blood, whether his own or someone else's.

And he really doesn't want to allow her low self-image to go unchallenged, but doesn't think another direct refutation is going to be effective. So he tries something else, which is true but encouraging at the same time--]

Very few people are actually plain, although some are less obvious about their looks than others.

[His girlfriend Daisy is one of those people; so is his coworker Olivia, who George shares some resemblance with. There's a huge difference in them depending on how much they've decided to play up their looks, as well as what moods they're in.]

Who hasn't wanted a flamethrower at some point?

[That sounds like the perfect compromise.]

That's me. Slightly less creepy than you expect.

[she didn't exactly like getting blood sprayed on her, either. for one thing, it always meant that someone was going to die and no, there wasn't anything she could do about it.

she has minor freak outs every time someone compliments her or says anything nice about her, so he's right in that a direct challenge to her low self-esteem wouldn't work. she'd be too busy analyzing the comment to death to accept the compliment]

I would be one of those who is not obvious. I wouldn't even know how to try. Makeup? Jewelry? Dresses? I'm just--not good at that kind of thing.

[George actually cleans up very well, but she has to be pretty much dragged kicking and screaming into it. and she's gotten so used to negative comments about her looks from her parents and her peers, she doesn't bother trying]

Yeah. And to be a flamethrower would be fucking awesome.

[she would use her powers for good, honest]

I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing to be a self-descriptor.

[And okay, the response of being one of those who isn't obvious is definitely a step up from being just plain in general, so that's good to hear.]

My coworker Olivia is much the same way; she's very focused on her job, and so that usually means practicality comes first.

[As for that last comment... Yep, can't argue.]

It really would. I mean, being a taser is way cooler than having a taser, so I'm sure a flamethrower would work the same way. But since flamethrowers are already cooler than tasers, it's a step up in general.

It's a good thing! 'Cause I know who and what I am. And am not.

[ehhhhh, she's still pretty convinced that she's plain. and even if she wasn't, she doesn't know how to make herself appealing to others. genuinely has no idea. she wants to have an idea, but she can't exactly post to the network asking for a makeover]

Okay, I am focused on the Clinic. And I'd look stupid in a dress there. But I'd look stupid in a dress any other time, so. [SHRUGS]

Yeah, I know. And it would be useful in other ways, too. For example, time for a barbeque? You're all set.

I can't really judge; I'd probably look stupid in a dress too.

[He says it deadpan, but is kind of hoping to shift the topic to be a little lighter so she doesn't continue reaffirming the same negative feelings.]

Oh man, I want barbeque now, though it'd be great if it wasn't monster meat.

[she laughs]

I dunno, you've probably got some good legs hidden away.

[George is made of negative feelings and insecurity. and death, though that doesn't apply here]

God, I know, right? Would it kill the gods to supply us with a cow or maybe some racks of ribs? We'd probably have to do some kind of special request and I've gotta say that me and the gods don't get along that great.

[Yes, good, success, and he laughs too.]

I don't know; my friends always made fun of me for wearing shorts.

[And sure, that's because the shorts were hideous, but still.]

Considering they're barely back to providing any food at all, unfortunately I think requests are probably out for awhile still anyway.

[he's one of maybe two people who can obtain that from her]

That's 'cause they were jealous. C'mon, show off your gams!

[she grins wickedly at him]

Doesn't mean I can't still want 'em.

Come to think of it, the friend making fun of me is only 5'7"; he might indeed be jealous.

[Lance is obviously joking, not at all thinking that's really the case, but still.]

Okay, true. You know, the very first month I arrived there was some event that included a really elaborate feast; it'd be nice if we could just go back to that.

[And since he won't be half dead this time, he could enjoy it a lot more.]

See? Totally jealous. Let's see those legs.

[George is mostly joking. but she's trying to get a smile out of him]

No kidding. We'd all be too fat and happy to even think about being pissed off at the gods. Granted, we'd also be too fat and happy should our dear friends, the Null, make another appearance, so. Down side.

[feasts are generally best enjoyed while alive. at least she assumes so. wouldn't know personally]

Absolutely not.

[But he does smile, so she's successful there.]

At this point I think the risk is worth it. At least we'd die happy.

[Morbid jokes are appropriate, right? Somehow he doesn't think George will have a problem with them.]

[she makes a big show of pouting for a minute or two before she busts out laughing]

All right, all right. They'll just have to remain a mystery.

[yay! a smile!]

Happy and well fed. A nice change from my usual death.

[morbid jokes are always appropriate, especially when her own death is the punchline]

Dying hungry seems like adding insult to injury.

[He'll keep going along with it as long as she doesn't seem bothered, which he doesn't think she is.]

Y'know, it really was. I bought a sausage for lunch, but never got to eat it before the toilet seat came and blammo! [she claps her hands together] Dead.

[it's better to try and laugh about it than dwell on how incredibly stupid her death was]

[Lance scrunches his nose up a little in an exaggerated expression of disgust.]

I'm not sure that was a huge loss, actually. Sausage isn't like, Chinese food or anything.

[He's not huge on pork products of any sort, actually.]

[she laughs]

Hey, all I had was three bucks. I wanted the grilled ribeye sandwich, but that was five bucks.

[George will eat anything you put in front of her]

Okay, well, that's fair. I remember those days.

[Grad school was a tough time for a lot of reasons.]

Yeah. And let's not forget that I was a college dropout working a crappy temp job for all of one day. Died during my lunch break.

[George thoroughly screwed up her own life]

I feel like this story could be an allegory for the effects of capitalism.

[Dying on lunch break of a temp job after dropping out of college seems like a perfect scenario for social commentary.]

With me as the humble working class slob ground under its wheels?

[a reporter could probably make quite a story out of that]

Something like that.

It's almost Kafkaesque in its fucked upness.

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