[Ah. He had his suspicions for some time that Whistler might be blind, but it's only meeting in person that finally confirms it.]
It's me, yes.
[He steps inside, continuing past Whistler enough to give him some space but not wanting to just wander into his apartment too far without permission. He's soon distracted from his dilemma of how far to go though by the smell of food.]
Are you cooking?
[He hadn't been really serious about the paying in food thing, and had said it more to reassure Whistler, but he's also not complaining; his appetite is coming back after a stressful two weeks, and whatever Whistler is making definitely smells appealing.]
Well that's a relief. Otherwise I just let a complete stranger into my apartment.
[Whistler's mouth draws wide into his more usual lopsided grin as he closes the door behind them]
I am. I hope you don't mind pasta and biscuits. [He shuffles past towards the stove]
Please, go ahead and make yourself comfortable, Doc.
[His apartment is meticulously kept, but not in the normal way. Though it is tidy, there are several objects distinctively placed in locations and positions where they shouldn't be. A chair laid on its side, for example, or several strings of beads tied to the doorknob of one room and not the other. These things Whistler uses as a compass to guide himself through his home without trouble.]
[Lance notes the markers but immediately recognizes what they're for, and so doesn't give them much further thought other than being sure to avoid bumping any of them. He follows Whistler a bit into the kitchen, before deciding to take a seat the table; he'll both be out of the way and not wandering around that way.]
I definitely don't mind, though you really didn't have to make anything.
[He feels vaguely awkward about it, actually; considering he's paid by the FBI, he's actually not used to charging patients for counseling at all.]
I sort of figured, but to be honest I like cooking. 'Sides, since I have to cook for myself anyway why not cook for two? Just means doubling the recipe.
[He sets about locating two plates, starting to dish out the pasta]
Now I'm gonna ask you the same question I ask everybody: can you describe what you look like?
[He likes to see how people approach describing themselves to someone who has no visual concept of color or shape]
[Oh man, what a question, especially for Lance who doesn't have the best self-image in the world. He's also very aware colour may not mean anything, although he isn't sure if Whistler has always been blind or went blind at some point.
His description probably isn't the best, but he genuinely doesn't know how to answer and wouldn't have to anyone, not just Whistler.]
I guess... I'm tall? My hair sort of starts straight but gets curlier the longer it grows, so right now it's kind of a mess. Everyone tells me I look young but I'm still not exactly sure why.
[He honestly isn't. Also it's probably for the best that Whistler can't see him cringing at this point.]
I'm sorry, I'm not very good at describing my appearance.
[Whistler chuckles softly as he meticulously pours sauce over the pasta]
Actually, Doc, you've done a better job than most with that question. Except maybe M&M but she's got practice with these sorts of things.
[He sets the pot back down on the stove and then carefully carries one of the plates over, holding it out for Lance]
I don't know if it'd surprise you to learn that almost everyone starts descriptions of themselves with colors. Eye color, hair color, that sort of thing.
[Well, that's encouraging to hear, at least; he reaches out to take the plate when offered, giving a quiet 'thank you' in return.]
That doesn't surprise me, no; colour is very distinguishing, especially in terms of one's self-image. There are entire stereotypes and cultural connotations based on hair colour, for instance.
True. But its too easy. Its like taking a card off the top of the pile and playing it on the first round.
[Whistle sets down his place very carefully, then lets his hands feel over the table methodically to determine how close it is to the edge. When he is satisfied its not in danger of being knocked off, he reaches behind him, locating his chair with the same meticulous finger work, and then finally settling himself down]
The way I 'see' you, Doc [he makes lopsided air quotes in front of himself as he was taught by Mother] you've got lighter footsteps than mine but I'm guessing you're about my height. This means you probably weigh less than I do. Your voice is also higher than my own and it always sounds like you are picking your words really carefully. There's a rhythm to it. It's the 'professional' rhythm. It doesn't sound like you are swinging around a bunch of extra weight like M&M does so its a pretty safe bet you don't have a rifle or a sword though that doesn't mean you don't have something smaller, but thats none of my business.
[Lance is quiet, listening, feeling some odd mix of self-conscious and fascinated; despite his difficulty in describing himself he's still very aware of how he comes across visually to people, but the other parts he's less aware of with the partial exception of tone and word choice.
So it's really interesting to hear what comes across even without seeing him, and it's not like any of that is wrong; he's already slender in build and time in Hadriel--especially having been so seriously injured for the first few months--has lead to him being even lighter than usual, he does carefully choose what he's going to say before he says it, and he's not even carrying his gun let alone anything heavier.]
You're correct on all counts.
[But, both preferring not to have himself remain the subject of conversation and curious due to Whistler having mentioned them twice, he has to ask--]
[...Ah. There's silence for several seconds, which he's sure is even more obviously telling to Whistler than to most people, before he finally decides on a neutral answer.]
[Ugh. He is not about to speak badly of Maketh to a friend of hers, especially not when he's here to be a professional, but somehow he doesn't think he's going to get away with lying either.]
Maketh and I don't see eye to eye on several issues, and so we're not on the best terms.
[All true, and as neutral and blameless in either direction as he can put it, but that's also all he's going to say on the issue.]
[Whistler instinctively chuckles under his breath the use of 'see eye to eye' but other than that he lets the opportunity for joking slip past on this occasion]
I can take a few guesses why that might be, but I'm getting the sense you'd like me to drop the subject.
[He takes a bite of pasta before adding]
M&M really helped me out when I first got here. It seems she's got a lot of experience with blind people, she even got me a cane to help me get around.
[It's probably for the best he didn't point it out; Lance would've cringed at himself so badly for that. For all his careful choosing of what information to reveal, he doesn't always put it in exactly the right terms.
He's suddenly reminded he's supposed to be eating by Whistler doing so, the whole idea difficult to reconcile with being here for a specific professional reason, but this isn't the weirdest situation he's ever been in by far; besides, eating gives him more of an excuse to think about how he's going to respond to the rest of that.]
I'm glad she was helpful to you.
[He means that genuinely, even if part of him can't believe it considering his early interactions with her. But it's interesting to know, and more than that it's something positive.]
[Now there's a 'let's move on' if he's ever heard one.]
Sorry if I stumbled on something personal there. Its hard knowing where the lines are drawn in this place. I've never had much interest in stirring things up
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
Re: [Action]
Date: 2017-08-14 06:50 am (UTC)Just a sec
[He fumbles with the latch then tugs the door open]
I am hoping that's you, Doc.
[He steps back to make room for the man to come inside.]
[Action]
Date: 2017-08-14 07:00 am (UTC)It's me, yes.
[He steps inside, continuing past Whistler enough to give him some space but not wanting to just wander into his apartment too far without permission. He's soon distracted from his dilemma of how far to go though by the smell of food.]
Are you cooking?
[He hadn't been really serious about the paying in food thing, and had said it more to reassure Whistler, but he's also not complaining; his appetite is coming back after a stressful two weeks, and whatever Whistler is making definitely smells appealing.]
Re: [Action]
Date: 2017-08-14 07:11 am (UTC)[Whistler's mouth draws wide into his more usual lopsided grin as he closes the door behind them]
I am. I hope you don't mind pasta and biscuits. [He shuffles past towards the stove]
Please, go ahead and make yourself comfortable, Doc.
[His apartment is meticulously kept, but not in the normal way. Though it is tidy, there are several objects distinctively placed in locations and positions where they shouldn't be. A chair laid on its side, for example, or several strings of beads tied to the doorknob of one room and not the other. These things Whistler uses as a compass to guide himself through his home without trouble.]
[Action]
Date: 2017-08-16 12:43 am (UTC)I definitely don't mind, though you really didn't have to make anything.
[He feels vaguely awkward about it, actually; considering he's paid by the FBI, he's actually not used to charging patients for counseling at all.]
Re: [Action]
Date: 2017-08-17 04:14 am (UTC)[He sets about locating two plates, starting to dish out the pasta]
Now I'm gonna ask you the same question I ask everybody: can you describe what you look like?
[He likes to see how people approach describing themselves to someone who has no visual concept of color or shape]
[Action]
Date: 2017-08-19 03:14 am (UTC)His description probably isn't the best, but he genuinely doesn't know how to answer and wouldn't have to anyone, not just Whistler.]
I guess... I'm tall? My hair sort of starts straight but gets curlier the longer it grows, so right now it's kind of a mess. Everyone tells me I look young but I'm still not exactly sure why.
[He honestly isn't. Also it's probably for the best that Whistler can't see him cringing at this point.]
I'm sorry, I'm not very good at describing my appearance.
Re: [Action]
Date: 2017-08-23 05:03 am (UTC)Actually, Doc, you've done a better job than most with that question. Except maybe M&M but she's got practice with these sorts of things.
[He sets the pot back down on the stove and then carefully carries one of the plates over, holding it out for Lance]
I don't know if it'd surprise you to learn that almost everyone starts descriptions of themselves with colors. Eye color, hair color, that sort of thing.
[Whistler heads back to get his own plate]
[Action]
Date: 2017-08-29 01:48 am (UTC)That doesn't surprise me, no; colour is very distinguishing, especially in terms of one's self-image. There are entire stereotypes and cultural connotations based on hair colour, for instance.
Re: [Action]
Date: 2017-08-29 07:23 am (UTC)[Whistle sets down his place very carefully, then lets his hands feel over the table methodically to determine how close it is to the edge. When he is satisfied its not in danger of being knocked off, he reaches behind him, locating his chair with the same meticulous finger work, and then finally settling himself down]
The way I 'see' you, Doc [he makes lopsided air quotes in front of himself as he was taught by Mother] you've got lighter footsteps than mine but I'm guessing you're about my height. This means you probably weigh less than I do. Your voice is also higher than my own and it always sounds like you are picking your words really carefully. There's a rhythm to it. It's the 'professional' rhythm. It doesn't sound like you are swinging around a bunch of extra weight like M&M does so its a pretty safe bet you don't have a rifle or a sword though that doesn't mean you don't have something smaller, but thats none of my business.
[Action]
Date: 2017-09-01 12:42 am (UTC)So it's really interesting to hear what comes across even without seeing him, and it's not like any of that is wrong; he's already slender in build and time in Hadriel--especially having been so seriously injured for the first few months--has lead to him being even lighter than usual, he does carefully choose what he's going to say before he says it, and he's not even carrying his gun let alone anything heavier.]
You're correct on all counts.
[But, both preferring not to have himself remain the subject of conversation and curious due to Whistler having mentioned them twice, he has to ask--]
Who is M&M?
Re: [Action]
Date: 2017-09-01 12:56 am (UTC)[Whistler smiles impishly]
That's Miss Maketh. But don't tell her thats my nickname for her. I'm guessing she wouldn't appreciate it too much.
[Action]
Date: 2017-09-01 01:02 am (UTC)She doesn't seem the type, no.
Re: [Action]
Date: 2017-09-01 01:04 am (UTC)[Action]
Date: 2017-09-01 01:13 am (UTC)Maketh and I don't see eye to eye on several issues, and so we're not on the best terms.
[All true, and as neutral and blameless in either direction as he can put it, but that's also all he's going to say on the issue.]
Re: [Action]
Date: 2017-09-01 01:29 am (UTC)I can take a few guesses why that might be, but I'm getting the sense you'd like me to drop the subject.
[He takes a bite of pasta before adding]
M&M really helped me out when I first got here. It seems she's got a lot of experience with blind people, she even got me a cane to help me get around.
[Action]
Date: 2017-09-01 01:39 am (UTC)He's suddenly reminded he's supposed to be eating by Whistler doing so, the whole idea difficult to reconcile with being here for a specific professional reason, but this isn't the weirdest situation he's ever been in by far; besides, eating gives him more of an excuse to think about how he's going to respond to the rest of that.]
I'm glad she was helpful to you.
[He means that genuinely, even if part of him can't believe it considering his early interactions with her. But it's interesting to know, and more than that it's something positive.]
Re: [Action]
Date: 2017-09-05 06:31 am (UTC)Sorry if I stumbled on something personal there. Its hard knowing where the lines are drawn in this place. I've never had much interest in stirring things up
[Ok. Not exactly honest]
At least not like that.