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[therapeutics]

DOCTOR JULIA HOFFMAN text | video | audio ic inbox for exsilium

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[quackery]

[She shakes her head.]

Um, I'm not little... And I'm not a soldier, either. [The correction is amiable.] Sorry if that was confusing! Er, missions are just what we call them here, even if they aren't dangerous or hard. I was just getting some food for everybody. You probably noticed already that it's kind of scarce up here.

[A pause.]

Oh, what kind of doctor are you? And what adjective would you use?

[therapeutics]

What do you mean, you don't just all have enough sugar and flour and eggs to have eternal baking parties? Those cookies didn't seem to run out back in the observatory. [ it was a few days ago, mind, but julia inclines her head in the general direction of the observatory. just because that's a point that apparently needs to be proven.

choosing to make no remark about the fact that she apparently isn't a soldier (or her age) beyond a bemuse raise of her eyebrows, julia takes a seat on her bed, crossing her legs. ]

I'm a psychiatrist. I specialize in disorders of the mind. And in my professional opinion [ because that's needed. ] - I'd say maddening. Infuriating. [ a pause. ] Intriguing. In a frustrating way.

[quackery]

I'm pretty sure somebody had to go get all those specially. It's kind of a thing we do every month, so I guess they wanted to keep it going even when things are hard. Tradition, you know?

[She leans forward slightly, interested, at the subject of psychiatry.]

Oh, that's cool! So, like, therapy or research or what?

[therapeutics]

You mean less tradition and more familiarity. Something for people to cling to in times like this. [ julia crosses her leg at the knee and straightens her back slightly, stance becoming professional. ] A sense of security. It's entirely understandable.

[ she clears her throat. ]

Therapy. [ until she's finagling a blood transfusion machine. ] Mostly. I worked for a single family back - before.

[quackery]

I guess familiarity would work better, too! Besides, I think it can help people who are just getting here, to know that there are people thinking of them and trying to help. Did it help you?

[She nods.]

That sounds like it would be a tough job, but really rewarding, too! So, like, family therapy to help them get along better, or just individual therapy for all of them?

[therapeutics]

You guys should implement an open bar. [ it's an easy way of saying no. ] Force a drink or seven down people's throats before making them accept that they've been drafted into this shit.

[ she shakes her head. ]

Just one of them. A boy. Eight years old. It was after his mother died. Very traumatic.

[quackery]

T-That isn't a good idea! And moreover, that isn't very nice!

[But she doesn't want to get in an argument, not with someone so new that she's just meeting. Her tone grows more gentle, especially given the change in subject matter.]

Oh God... That's so horrible. Is he coping okay?

[therapeutics]

What do you mean, it's not very nice? [ oh. wait. she's sixteen. but still. teenagers drink all the time. ] I'm just saying, the arrivals could benefit from a lighter atmosphere, is all. [ and that might not be a bad idea, provided she can acquire that much alcohol. ]

I'm not sure "coping" is the right word. Obviously I can't disclose the details under confidentiality, but I promise, it's a fascinating case.

[quackery]

Shoving anything down people's throats isn't nice! It'd be really expensive, too...

[She's not sure confidentiality really needs to apply when you're in a different world, but she'll respect it nonetheless.]

I think sad would be a better description than fascinating... I hope he'll be alright.

[therapeutics]

Well. There are missions for that, right? For the good of the Transports. Clearly someone in charge needs to go get some more alcohol. It's basically stealing, anyway, isn't it?

[ THAT MEANS IT'S FREE. ]

And of course it's sad. But from a purely detached perspective, it can be both. He'll be fine; they hired a governess for him.

[quackery]

Well, that's— I mean, missions should have a point beyond just getting something like alcohol.

[julia pls]

Um, no, I think sad and fascinating are two completely different things.

[therapeutics]

It's the same thing as food. [ NO IT'S REALLY NOT ] Can also help tend to wounds in a pinch. [ but ohhhh noooo you have those fancy first aid kits for that well excuse me ]

It's a duality thing, sweetheart. You see it all the time in my field of work.

[quackery]

Um, that isn't the same as food, and we have a medical center for that.

[A pause. This is concerning, Julia!!]

Actually, um, not that I'm saying you would or anything, but at least while you're in here, can you try not to drink?

[therapeutics]

[ HOLD UP ]

- Seriously?

Is this an underage thing? 'Cause I'm not trying to get arrested.

[quackery]

No, it's not! Actually, like I said, I'm sixteen, so that's not underage for drinking in a lot of countries, and it's not like anybody's going to enforce it up here, but that's not the point. It would just make me sort of uncomfortable. I mean, if it's going to be a big problem we can compromise, but...

[therapeutics]

Well, what's your idea of compromise?

[ REAL TALK. college age roommate agreements start now. ]

[quackery]

[She pauses.]

Maybe you only do it on weekends and when I'm on missions?

[therapeutics]

Really?

[ really? ]

Next thing I know, you're going to be assigning me curfew.

[quackery]

I don't think that's too unreasonable, is it?

[therapeutics]

[ #kanyeshrug ] There's just the tiny fact that I'm an adult sitting here like the elephant in the room, but sure. Why not.

[quackery]

Well, yeah, but it's my room too!

[therapeutics]

I can divide this thing. There's gotta be some extra sheets somewhere, right? I'll partition it.

[quackery]

Is it that important to you?

[therapeutics]

What's important to me is having the option.

[quackery]

[And that's something she can understand, so she pauses, thinking.]

Okay, as long as you promise not to do it all the time... I'm okay with that.