Text - OTA

[not_as_i_do]

Sometimes I'll be in the middle of a day of work and forget all of this. You have to be able to ... to put it away somewhere, just to focus on what needs doing.

But then some strange little random thing will remind me, and it all comes crashing back. Today, it was a young man's eyes, on the subway home. They were so blue, and I thought, 'my son has eyes like that'. But I don't have a son. Not here. But I do in the memories.

I know I should probably save these things for group, but ... somehow it's easier putting them here in writing. I feel like ... it should still all be secret. Like I should be used to keeping secrets.

I've never been secretive in my life.

Does anyone else have moments like this?

Comments

[consortofalderaan]

In my memories, I am a senator from outer space. I have no personal experience from which to draw reference.

[darkforcerising]

Curiosity. I don't really know much about medicine outside of basic training first aide.

[traceofeffort]

[She has a sinking feeling he didn't buy it. Oh well, it'll be fine... probably.]

I probably will, honestly? For one, someone needs to make sure the deities aren't thrown out of balance again, and I don't exactly trust the Bureau with that. But for another, I can be a bit of a shopaholic sometimes, and for how far behind our world it is, there's some neat stuff in their market.

[neverjedi]

I think that the... more obvious supervision and rather dreary setting of the meetings tend to lead to fewer people attending than might otherwise.

But if you'd like to talk in person, at any time, I will be happy to meet you for coffee.

[howkickassiam]

I get a couple a month? Usually, anyway. I was out of town for a while and didn't get any, then.

[not_as_i_do]

Well, now! [he blinks in surprise] I can certainly see how that would be a bit more difficult to relate to ... well, here and now. But you're not in politics in any fashion, here, then? ... Your name does seem familiar.

[not_as_i_do]

That's a very solid start, though. I started my own medical training in the army, actually. The cardiothoracic speciality came a while after. I'm happy to discuss just about any aspect of it you like - curiosity may have killed the cat, but I've never seen it do the same to a human so long as they're not reckless about it.

[not_as_i_do]

I think I'd enjoy that quite a bit. Do you have a particular coffee spot? If not, I can recommend quite a few lovely ones. My work takes me around the city, so I've shared a mug or two in just about every borough.

[neverjedi]

I work at the Aviator Sports Arena in Brooklyn. If you have a favorite spot anywhere remotely close to there, I'd be happy to meet you.

[not_as_i_do]

Sounds like I could be getting another any minute now, at that rate, then. I'd say I'll try to be prepared, but there isn't any really feasible way to make that happen.

[not_as_i_do]

There's a little place on the corner of Marine Park - blue awning ... that's not far from Aviator. Not a lot of seating, but we could grab a bench in the park if the weather's nice.

[neverjedi]

That sounds perfect. I have my last student at 6. How about 7 for meeting?

[not_as_i_do]

[probably. but he'll keep a somewhat distant eye on her just in case. he isn't close enough to be That Worried, but ... well. they're a small group, and he can't help but feel they should keep after one another]

They did have some very interesting things. I may pick something up for my niece's next birthday - I have a feeling she'd love one or two of those scarves to accent her professional outfits, once she gets to the point of needing to interview for things. Also: you really can't beat that barter system of theirs. A case of cheap water from Sam's Club and a rolling suitcase, and you're in the money over there.

[traceofeffort]

The scarves were fantastic, yeah, I got at least one. It certainly fills my pantry, too. Although I don't know about the suitcase idea, it's kind of like walking around with a briefcase of money on our side. I don't want to get mugged over a few dozen bottles of water.

[consortofalderaan]

I am a psychologist, here.

May father was a politician and so is my older brother. You are perhaps thinking of them.

[howkickassiam]

Right. You don't know what you'll see, so it's hard.

[not_as_i_do]

Does everyone tend to share them all? Or is it just a sort of sporadic thing? Anything we might find particularly noteworthy, like your mysterious lady friend...

[not_as_i_do]

Maybe? ... But maybe not. I'm a physician, so I may have spotted you on a referral or two.

Care to set up a log?

[not_as_i_do]

Seven's perfect. See you then?

CW: violence

[not_as_i_do]

I admit to not having thought of the mugging. It is a bit akin to a miniature armored truck, isn't it? Might even start a

[he hits send on the text without realizing it, as the memory slams into him like the armored truck in metaphorical question. standing in the middle of a sea of chaos and violence, people shouting, screaming. bones breaking, flesh hitting flesh. but he's utterly calm in his orange jumpsuit: happy, even, as he holds a cell phone up to one ear. "Malcolm! How are you, my boy? I took Ainsley's advice... She did?!" There's a pause. A knot in his throat. Behind him, someone is unconscious on the concrete floor. Guards with billy clubs are arriving. Yet his voice swells with pride, oblivious. "My girl..."]

[traceofeffort]

[Hmm. That's not quite normal. Although she's done it herself once or twice before, on here specifically...]

Yeah, it concerned me a little. Speaking of concerning, you okay over there?

Re: Care to set up a log?

[neverjedi]

https://tramitem-log.dreamwidth.org/14165.html Yep!

[howkickassiam]

Noteworthy stuff, yeah, I think so. I wouldn't tell every little thing that popped into my head, anyway. And I'm an open book at the best of times.

[not_as_i_do]

[he comes out of it like a drowning man breaking the surface, with a ragged gasp. he'd dropped his phone in his lap, and for a moment he thought he may have dozed off at his desk. dreamt. then he sees the prematurely sent text, and realizes exactly what happened. his fingers are still shaking as he types]

Memory just hit. New one.

[not_as_i_do]

I wonder if that's why they gave us this network. To see what kind of things we're learning. ... Not that I'm a tin foil hat person by any stretch of the imagination. Just ... an idle thought.