004; video; l.morningstar

[dealwiththe]

[ Hey look, it's Lucifer on ~video~ today. He's looking and sounding as earnest as anything - there's no way to misconstrue what he's doing here as anything other than completely in good faith. It's not a joke, not a troll, not snide or cynical. ]

I know from long experience that ignoring and bottling up the painful things that happen isn't good for anyone. I'm available to talk to, if anyone needs it. If not me, then I hope you'll talk to someone.

I'm not just talking about inmates, either.

[ He says all this, knowing the kinds of responses (or lack of responses) he's likely to get. He thinks it's important to make the offer, regardless. ]

Comments

l.odinson | audio

[shiftedshape]

That's a kind offer. Particularly given the venom you're likely to have spat back at you for it.

audio | travistouchdowncrownlessking

[rank1]

I've never imagined myself being some guy laying on a couch, but I thought about getting shock therapy once. Seemed faster than talking, you know? Just bzzzzt. Done.

[dealwiththe]

I'm used to the venom. I'm here to help, there's no point if I'm not even trying.

[dealwiththe]

Yeah, that doesn't actually do anything to help. Unless you think the possibility of becoming a drooling vegetable is "helping".

There aren't any shortcuts.

audio | c.fraser

[nineteenfortyfive]

And yourself?

[rank1]

Nah, bro, I’ve looked it up. They zap you, it gives your brain a seizure, and your brain resets like a computer. Boom, no more issues.

[dealwiththe]

Hopefully we can do some mutual exchanges. What about you, Doctor?

[dealwiththe]

I'd think if nothing else the simulation we all just got put through should prove that there's no magic fix. All the electricity in the world isn't going to suddenly make you make better choices in life.

[rank1]

It's not magic. It's science. And it's not about choices, that's fine, it's about wiping the slate clean on the shit that's painful.

[nineteenfortyfive]

I asked first.

[Directly. Sort of.]

audio | jimothy

[doppleman]

Huh. Y'know, I'm pretty sure it doesn't work that way, though?

[ This is not sarcasm, not exactly. There's something earnest in there too that makes it weird. ]

Pretty sure what you do is you bury the pain, and if you work hard enough, you can bury it so deep that then it just goes away forever.

[ It's a note of almost innocent disbelief, is what it is. ]

Uh, but, interesting theory! Not dissing the radical approach.

Warden filter is go

[shiftedshape]

True. I just think we've got a set of inmates who would sooner suffer in silence than be seen taking you up on the offer. They might avoid you entirely for a while, just in case.

Maybe we ought to offer some other incentive for talking to us. Like sweets.

j.todd

[theartofmadness]

aww, satan.

Rhy$.$trongfork

[smugreport]

Aww, I thought we were exclusive.

[ minus Travis. ]

[dealwiththe]

I'm pretty sure I saw a movie like that, and even in the movie, it was obviously a bad idea that didn't really work.

[ He is, of course, talking about Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). ]

[dealwiththe]

That's classic evasion, Doctor Claire. My therapist would have a field day with you, I'm sure.

[ He says that with all the love in the world. ]

Though if you really want to master the art, you have to get better at the distraction. Just turning the question back on the questioner is a rookie move.

[dealwiththe]

I used to think that, too, Jimothy.

[ He's answering the question as sincerely as he made his original statement. ]

And I'm immortal, so needless to say, I buried some things for a very long time. Longer than you've probably been alive.

None of them ever went away forever. I only started getting over them when I started talking about them, and processing them.

perma warden filter!!!

[dealwiththe]

Maybe. But if even one person sees this and finds someone to talk to, to help them - me or anyone else - then it'll be worth it.

My therapist used to always have sweets in her office. I especially liked the gummies.

[dealwiththe]

And how are you doing, Mister Todd?

[dealwiththe]

There's plenty of me to go around, Rhys. No need to be concerned.

[rank1]

Yeah... and shit usually doesn't work out in real life half as well as the movies, huh? Guess that's why I never went and did it.

[dealwiththe]

Precisely my point. Real solutions require real, hard work. Time and effort.

audio; un: greyjoy

[reek]

Talking about something doesn't make it go away.

[ Signed, a man who has bottled up everything for his entire life until he completely exploded and did a Stupid Thing. ]

Perhaps in your world, but not in mine.

[dealwiththe]

No, it doesn't go away. Nothing can make the bad things go away.

[ He never claimed it would!!! ]

What it can do is help you understand and process what happened, so that it doesn't do as much harm - to yourself or others. So you can move on, and live your life without being weighed down by it.

[rank1]

Yeah, but the talking stuff can’t really do much. People get in their heads that way, because thinking about that shit over and over turns people into nervous wrecks who can’t even look others in the eyes.