Nicholas Lancaster [6♦] (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dysphoria_abounds) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
sixwordstories2013-01-18 10:34 pm
dysphoria_abounds) wrote in sixwordstories2013-01-18 10:34 pm
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It's alright. You can tell me.
Can't say I miss the job, no, but Ryan - I miss him every day. We were finishing each other's sentences and all.
Well then... why do you think you came here?
So long as 'my health' and 'my family' aren't 'things?' Sure.
You can't find that kind of connection with everyone you meet.
Do you still keep in touch?
Do you still keep in touch?
No, sadly. Work doesn't permit it. But I hope he'll be coming back soon, and then we'd definitely look each other up.
[One of her eyebrows went up.]
Because I was coming down the hall, dropped my day planner and you graciously came to my assistance. Why you construed that bit of fumble as "something wrong", I have no idea.
[You so have your work cut out for you, Doc.]
Because I was coming down the hall, dropped my day planner and you graciously came to my assistance. Why you construed that bit of fumble as "something wrong", I have no idea.
[You so have your work cut out for you, Doc.]
Could you tell me more about your family?
So do you think that once he comes back, things will be different somehow? You'll have an easier time reassimilating?
That's a whole other thing entirely. I spent the last few years in an entirely different culture. You don't just come home and everything's okay.
You could have snatched it out of my hands and carried on your way without bothering with a word of thanks, but I'm still holding on to it, and we're still talking. [It's not like he needs an excuse, or for there to be anything 'wrong', so to speak, in order to start up a much-needed conversation.]
Why don't you tell me what's really on your mind?
Why don't you tell me what's really on your mind?
Her saturnine look only deepened. "Forgive me, Mr. Lancaster, for having a smattering of common courtesy not to do so." Claudia tilted her head just the slightest, eyes narrowing a bit. "However, if you prefer such rudeness, I can certainly manufacture more than you'd imagine."
That's true. It takes time and effort on your part to immerse yourself back into life here. Is there something about your time overseas that you think is making readjusting a little difficult?
Anything I can really say about that's classified.
Common courtesy, she called it. Yet most people who were keen to avoid shrinks and their tendency to (over)analyse behaviours and conversations felt very much inclined to run for the hills from the moment Nicholas started talking.
"You still haven't answered my question. Do you often try to avoid dealing with your own situation by creating issues for the people around you who get a little too close?"
"You still haven't answered my question. Do you often try to avoid dealing with your own situation by creating issues for the people around you who get a little too close?"
Won't that trigger the hourly meter or something?
Well, at least tell me about you then, and how things have been since you got back. Do you feel you've been less sociable than you were before? How do you spend time after work? Have you had any trouble sleeping?
Yeah, now and then. My nerves are a little jumpy. I know everyone's wondering about me, and it bothers me, mostly because I can't make them not. I want to fit in, but it's not that easy.
Okay, okay. I'll let you go. See you next week.
[Pinball. Now the rest of it clicks into place neatly, like a floating piece of jigsaw that has finally found its place in the puzzle.] Maybe you felt you could do better.
It's after hours. I'm allowed to ask questions that aren't loaded.
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