No, I didn't. [She gives him a flat look. People here are so strange and they rarely understand what she means.] You weren't listening. I said I protect them because they're strong. That's always been true. They're strong because they are strong, not because something has made them that way by force.
[Forget the eight or so broken bones; he's going to need a painkiller after this purely for the migraine he's getting. But he carefully controls the frustration he's starting to feel and continues, avoiding pointing out that this reason seems to directly contradict the answer of 'because they're breathing' that she'd given moments before.]
Alright. What does being strong entail to you, in this regard?
[Maketh tips her head to the side. She's never had to spell it out before. No one has ever asked and truthfully she'd thought it obvious. But now that she has to explain it aloud she finds herself hesitating.]
They don't flinch. That sounds cruel. I don't mean from me. I mean from any of this.
[She waves her hand vaguely.]
From Hadriel. They accept it as it is and still stand tall.
[Her logic is difficult to follow and that's one of those things that usually makes him question someone's truthfulness, but in this case he thinks she believes what she's saying. Therefore the question is whether he's missing something, or whether she's convinced herself of something she hasn't truly thought out.]
So their strength is not actually a factor in whether you'll protect them or not?
[Alright, well. If that's truly what she's going on, then this issue isn't as much of a problem as Lance had believed, although he's still concerned about how roundabout and strange the logic was to get here. He's also interested in her last comment.]
[She frowns. Why is this taking him so long to understand?]</small.
When the gods cause trouble. Some of them are more capable than others. A few I do not trust at all.
[Lance is really getting a headache now, and it might actually be more from exhaustion than just psychological from dealing with following her thoughts. He wonders how long it's been since they started, actually, but doesn't reach to check his phone just yet. He'd rather try to direct things to a more natural stopping point anyway, if he can; it'll be more encouraging for Maketh that way.]
Do you think there's any connection with this outlook and the ones you were concerned about, regarding viewing others for their usefulness?
[Again, he wonders if he's not following her thinking, he's miscommunicating, or if she's not understanding; whatever the reason is, he's having to control frustration again as he tries to decide whether to attempt explaining or shift subjects.]
Perhaps I'm not being clear. Being strong in the way you described is a desirable trait to you, correct?
[He brightens just a little when she makes the connection herself, pleased.]
Right, okay, that's good that you recognize it. So in addition to reminding yourself of the positive traits of people you care about, when you find yourself gauging someone's usefulness try to think about why you're doing it and if it's really necessary in the situation. Do those seem like reasonable things to focus on for the next few days?
[It's not as bad as she feared. The things he's suggested are reasonable enough and even if the conversation has gotten frustrating in places, it hasn't hurt in the ways that she feared it might.
Now we're done. You can collect whatever arsenal you left in the other room, and then do whatever it you'd normally do at whatever time it is right now.
[He's not being flippant--there's no dismissive tone to his words--he's just dropped the formality now that the session is over, and he's definitely exhausted. He's not sure he's going to bother getting up, actually; this chair is comfortable and the Clinic is pretty safe, especially since he's much more certain Maketh isn't intending to cause him any sort of harm.]
[He's so not going to bother commenting on that first part, watching her stand up; he's confident she's not a danger right now, but that doesn't mean he doesn't watch her carefully anyway just in case he's wrong.
But at her thanks Lance offers a genuine smile in return.]
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2017-05-13 09:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-05-13 09:51 pm (UTC)Alright. What does being strong entail to you, in this regard?
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Date: 2017-05-13 09:58 pm (UTC)They don't flinch. That sounds cruel. I don't mean from me. I mean from any of this.
[She waves her hand vaguely.]
From Hadriel. They accept it as it is and still stand tall.
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Date: 2017-05-13 10:07 pm (UTC)What about people who don't?
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Date: 2017-05-13 10:16 pm (UTC)[A blunt assessment.]
I'll protect them. But they're not allies.
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Date: 2017-05-14 12:52 am (UTC)So their strength is not actually a factor in whether you'll protect them or not?
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Date: 2017-05-14 01:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-05-14 01:14 am (UTC)Useful in what way?
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Date: 2017-05-14 01:18 am (UTC)[She frowns. Why is this taking him so long to understand?]</small. When the gods cause trouble. Some of them are more capable than others. A few I do not trust at all.
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Date: 2017-05-14 02:56 am (UTC)Do you think there's any connection with this outlook and the ones you were concerned about, regarding viewing others for their usefulness?
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Date: 2017-05-14 03:05 am (UTC)[Though the fact that he's phrased it as a question makes her wonder.]
Sato would be very useful if he wasn't intent on killing my men.
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Date: 2017-05-14 03:15 am (UTC)Perhaps I'm not being clear. Being strong in the way you described is a desirable trait to you, correct?
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Date: 2017-05-14 03:20 am (UTC)Yes. It is helpful.
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Date: 2017-05-14 03:26 am (UTC)[He says it gently, making it clear he's not judging, just drawing a connection.]
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Date: 2017-05-14 03:32 am (UTC)I have to do that, most of the time. For tactical decisions. If someone is not immediately useful then they need to get out of the way.
[She's quiet then.]
Only I do that most of the time. When I don't need to.
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Date: 2017-05-14 03:39 am (UTC)Right, okay, that's good that you recognize it. So in addition to reminding yourself of the positive traits of people you care about, when you find yourself gauging someone's usefulness try to think about why you're doing it and if it's really necessary in the situation. Do those seem like reasonable things to focus on for the next few days?
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Date: 2017-05-14 03:45 am (UTC)[It's not as bad as she feared. The things he's suggested are reasonable enough and even if the conversation has gotten frustrating in places, it hasn't hurt in the ways that she feared it might.
Maketh nods carefully.]
Are we done?
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Date: 2017-05-14 03:47 am (UTC)He nods as well, at her question.]
I think it's a good place to stop for now, yes, unless you have any objections or questions.
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Date: 2017-05-14 03:50 am (UTC)[Maketh watches him for a moment.]
Now what?
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Date: 2017-05-14 03:53 am (UTC)[He's not being flippant--there's no dismissive tone to his words--he's just dropped the formality now that the session is over, and he's definitely exhausted. He's not sure he's going to bother getting up, actually; this chair is comfortable and the Clinic is pretty safe, especially since he's much more certain Maketh isn't intending to cause him any sort of harm.]
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Date: 2017-05-14 03:57 am (UTC)[Nonetheless, she stands, hands clasped behind her back. Does she salute him? He's technically in charge during this--thing.
She flexes her hands instead. No saluting. She doesn't like him that much.]
Thank you, Doctor Sweets.
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Date: 2017-05-14 04:10 am (UTC)But at her thanks Lance offers a genuine smile in return.]
You're welcome, Maketh.