[IC Inbox | Meadowlark]

[lifetothefullest]

@lance.sweets | ■ ▲ ◌ ▼

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[rehandle]

[ Oh. That's - uncomfortable to think about. Quarry participants waking alone on an empty planet. As if the circumstances hadn't been bad enough.

If it's unpleasant as a concept for him, he can't imagine it's much fun to recall as somebody who lived it. He doesn't dwell. ]

Yes. I've been filled in.

[ Tony first, and Jason not so long later. He's as up to date as he's going to be before Jimmy Henries himself comes calling. ]

I arrived back to Tony threatening to build a space ship, so while I'm sure I'll get around to reading all of whatever happened on the network eventually, I can only imagine it was a lot.

[ Which isn't quite the point. ]

It can be hard not to take it personally.

[lifetothefullest]

[He wants to ask if Tony really is trying to build a spaceship, because he saw talk about that--or hijacking Henries' ship, which seemed more appealing in Lance's opinion--but everyone pretty much went quiet after it became apparent they'd have to wait.

But that's also not really the point, even if he's not so sure he wants to let it veer back into more personal territory; there's only so much lamenting he can do before he's annoyed with himself, let alone other people are annoyed with him, which usually comes even faster. Still, he decides not deflect entirely, because Stephen's trying to help and right now Lance will take any hint of understanding that he can get.]

It'd be easier if it weren't personal.

[He can brush off people disagreeing, even if he's annoyed that they won't see what he usually feels are pretty clear issues if he's bringing them up. But it's hardly ever just that; it's almost always something personal on top of it, some insinuation--or outright accusation--about his motives, or some insult about what he's said or thought or what someone else thinks he thought.

He can pretty much guarantee if he says something even slightly controversial it'll turn into at least one person showing up to tell him how terrible he is, and there's only so long he can ignore and rationalize away that sort of thing before he starts to wonder if there's some merit to it.

But that's as far as he'll go on that, before he turns the conversation back.]

Is wherever you're staying livable? There was a lot of damage from the plants, and some of the infrastructure is down.

[rehandle]

[ He's not sure if there's a friendly way to pot, kettle him in reference to their original bone of contention without it coming across as a genuine dig, so maybe best to leave that alone. Instead, because he's been here more than enough times to have mostly learned from his own mistakes - ]

Comments section. Remind yourself of that as often as you can. It's easy to jump to conclusions when you're talking to pixels forming letters in your brain, even easier when the situation's fraught, there's ongoing trauma and being right is the only liferaft left. People say things they wouldn't to your face.

[ After that, he'll let the topic change take over. ]

Fortunately for me I live with a once internationally renowned engineer turned work-for-board handyman. We're doing alright. If you're struggling for anything, I hope you'll go to Red Wings.

[lifetothefullest]

[Right. Comments section. It's hard to reconcile even though they'd just talked about it because he would never use an actual comments section for anything at home, and here it's basically the main form of communication. Awful.

But okay. If he can keep that in mind it does help, and Stephen's right on his other points, so he's going to do his best. It might be a little more difficult for him than some other people because of various factors, but he's done much harder things than this.

So refocusing on the new topic--]

That's good. Kyna and I got lucky; aside from some overgrowth through the windows there wasn't much damage.

[And as for Red Wings, he appreciates the sentiment, but he thinks he'll be avoiding the place awhile as things settle down. No need to cause more trouble, but also no need to mention that.]

Now that everyone's returned, there's fortunately been less need to bring people to Red Wings for help, though the hospital is still really understaffed; you might've seen the post about that. I don't think they have anyone with much knowledge in your area of expertise, and therefore if you need something to do they might benefit from consulting with you--even from afar--if a patient with those needs comes in.

[Not to give Stephen work or anything, but a distraction that he could participate in without having to be involved in person might help. Hopefully, anyway.]

[rehandle]

I'm glad to hear it.

[ The topic shift is subtle enough that it's notable, but also that it doesn't bear mentioning or reading into too much. The conclusion is easy enough to reach, no need to chase after it. Besides, Lance is offering a focal point - not just in terms of the conversation, but in terms of grounding him in the distraction of the now.

It's a kindness. He won't spit at it. ]

Do you happen to know who took point in the end? Given the context of our conversation, I'm sure you won't be surprised to learn I avoided paying detailed attention to that particular discussion at the time.

If you don't know, don't go looking. I'm going to have to endure the network again eventually. It may as well be to do my own legwork.

[lifetothefullest]

[He'd thought Stephen might allow the topic shift, but he's relieved all the same not to be called out on it.]

Technically I believe Nicky was organizing, but Gene's also there.

[And so Lance had coordinated with him since he knows him better, which he imagines might be the same case for Stephen.]

As far as doctors go I think Julian was also involved, so he could be another potential person to talk to.

[rehandle]

Great. I'll see about getting in touch.

Thanks, Lance. It was good to speak with you.

[ And he means that exactly as he says it. Good to have an opportunity to talk, plainly and without either one of them reaching too blatantly for the high ground to the detriment of seeing something close to eye to eye. To get to know one another a little better, even if it was through the medium of a topic it's a wonder they hadn't yet exhausted.

Good also to be able to have a conversation, after everything. There are a good many more of them he'll need to have, but this one has been far from terrible. ]

[lifetothefullest]

[This is definitely not he he expected this conversation to end up, especially with how it started, but he'll take it. It's probably the best way it could've gone, and considering how bad everything has been for all of them lately, that's nothing short of miraculous.]

Yeah, you too. Let me know if there's anything you need.

[With dealing with all this, especially since he's not sure exactly how limited Stephen's support network is going to be at the moment.]