Dr. Lance Sweets (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lifetothefullest) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
hadriel2018-02-03 01:10 am
lifetothefullest) wrote in hadriel2018-02-03 01:10 am
Entry tags:
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.]
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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I've cut it myself here, before, but I don't know. I'll do something about it in a few days.
[He has some plans that are more pressing, but he really can't put off dealing with that disaster too much longer.]
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Yeahhhh, good luck with all of that. [she gestures at his hair]
So, what are you planning on doing in your time off?
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[He says it sarcastically, but still amused. He goes more serious as he decides how to answer her question, though, being honest but still a little vague]
Mostly just... Sorting through some things.
[He has a lot to deal with and work out.]
I'm also going to learn some more magic though, which is a lot more fun.
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[she settles down as he grows more serious]
There's a lot to sort through. Hope you won't mind a visitor now and then?
[she suspects so, but doesn't want to intrude]
Yeah? Who're you learning it from? Harlan's my teacher.
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[He's not huge on being surprised, but having visitors every so often is definitely good for him and George is pleasant company. He's a little surprised to hear she's learning magic too, but in a good way.]
Yeah? I'm learning from Kyna; she and Harlan are from the same world.
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[that's good, because George isn't big on surprises. she would probably keel over in shock at being described as pleasant company, though, that's her nonexistent self-esteem talking. and she was surprised (but not in a bad way) to learn that he's studying magic as well]
Oh, okay. I know Harlan pretty well, but never really got to know Kyna.
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You'd probably like her.
[Lance might be biased, because he thinks Kyna is awesome, but still.]
How much magic have you picked up so far? I know Harlan and Kyna have completely different specializations.
[So he's curious about what George might've learned.]
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I guess, I've just never had the chance to talk to her.
[George is suspicious of new people by default]
I learned how to talk to people just using our minds, how to create a small flame as a focus, and a spell that turns into a giant, skeletal hand that drains the people it grabs. How 'bout you?
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[The skeletal hand thing especially, on both fronts.]
I'm going to make a focus possibly this evening, if Kyna agrees. But so far I learned a spell that creates light, and another that works kind of like being a human taser.
[Said with the appropriate finger-waggling gesture.]
It worked pretty well against the Null, except that it required being close enough to touch them.
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[comes with being a Grim Reaper whose favorite holiday is Halloween]
Yeah? That's cool. I'm supposed to do mine with Harlan sometime this month. And those sound like useful spells.
[chuckles at the finger-waggling]
Maybe when you get further along in your studies, you'll learn something that'll let you shock 'em at a distance?
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[Like scary movies, haunted houses, death metal. That sort of thing. But his real life has had enough genuine creepiness that when it's something a little more tangible he's not quite as into it as he might otherwise normally be.]
Shocking from a distance would be pretty great. Considering how dangerous it is here, the more methods--especially unexpected ones--of self-defense I have to choose from, the better.
Anything in specific you're wanting to learn?
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[George's life pre-Hadriel had plenty of real life creepiness, too, what with being around death all the time. she embraced creepy as a self-defense mechanism.
she nods] Yeah, makes sense. That's why I made that video a few weeks ago asking for help in learning how to fight. A mild-mannered, good looking guy like you or a skinny, plain girl like me, they'd never see it coming.
I'm willing to learn whatever Harlan's willing to teach. But I will admit to kinda wanting to learn how to summon big fires.
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[That's going over the line, ew. Though he supposes it would be pretty normal to her, with her job.
And okay, wow, don't throw out the compliments unexpectedly, especially when they both just laughed at him looking like a poodle. So he's briefly flustered a moment, but not so much so that he won't offer a correction on part of her assessment--]
You aren't plain, but in general you're correct in that being unassuming may be an advantage.
[He's used it to his advantage more than once before, after all; it works especially well when interrogating a suspect, as they don't always take him as seriously as they should.]
Big fires would be pretty awesome, as long as you can keep them under control.
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[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?
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[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.]
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[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]
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[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.
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[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.
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[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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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[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.]
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[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]
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[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.]
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