Log - We Need to Talk (Open)

[graveyounglady]

Who: Mercy Graves & OTA
When: Early/mid-November
Where: Around the ADI HQ
Summary: Going to some counseling sessions and offering her own counseling services.
Warnings: Will add as they come up!

A. Attending Counseling
It might be the first time she's here or the third or fourth. Stepping through the doors to the counseling center in ADI never does get much easier. She'd feel better if it were some sort of temple, maybe, knowing there were clerics behind the doors or some other leader. At least she knows that some of the time, there is another cleric. Caduceus when he's in is someone she feels safe with.

And today, she has someone else with her. Maybe an old friend, maybe someone she's only just met. They might be there to meet with Caduceus to talk or it might be someone else working in this department.

"You feeling all right with this?"


B. Mealtime Wisdom
It's not just Mercy who needs help. She knows others do, and some of them don't seem keen to head to the counseling center. That doesn't mean she can't lend an ear for those that might want it. She notices someone sitting alone in the canteen when she steps in during lunch or dinner. Maybe they're new, maybe they've been here a while and just look lonely to her eyes. Either way, she steps close to the table.

"This here seat taken? Don't much like eating by myself. Makes it dull as hemming a skirt."

Comments

[graveyounglady]

"Is he really?" Hmm... but then that mention of being taken. It dawns on her after a moment that this man has the look about him of a fellow talking about someone they fancy rather a lot. And there had been that conversation with Meredith about Tim. Mercy gives him an appraising look, then picks up the little brownie on her tray and sets it deliberately in front of Jon.

"Well, if you're the one taking him, sir, you need to eat more 'fore the winter sets in. You haven't got half the meat on your bones a body should. You eat that for a start. Have you already eaten today? I can go and get you another tray..."

[the_archivist]

"Mmmm," Jon hums in agreement. Of course Martin is taken and he can't help but feel a bit possessive. It's maybe not the best emotion but they haven't exactly had a normal relationship.

He picks up on the look and gives her a wary look when the brownie is placed in front of him.

"I- Oh-." He can feel a flush creeping up his cheeks. "Yes he- Martin's my boyfriend."

And he's so lucky. It's hard to believe that Martin still wants him after everything.

"And I'm fine! Really. I don't need more."

[graveyounglady]

"I ain't hearing it, sir. You sit pretty there. They got meat here every day. That'll thicken you up a bit." And so saying, she'll whisk herself away to grab another tray of food to bring back and put in front of Jon.

She's bound and determined to see that Martin's sweetheart is hardy for what will undoubtedly be the coming lean times.

[the_archivist]

"I- It's America. Meat is relatively cheap here." He hadn't paid much attention to what he ate before the apocalypse either but he was fairly sure he'd eaten meat, except perhaps a couple of times after more... fleshy encounters.

He stares at the extra tray of food that she puts in front of him. "That is a lot of food."

[graveyounglady]

"It's a start." Mercy nods to herself. "Do you come in here every day for your afternoon meal?" She might need to start making it a point to seek him out and ensure he's eating like he ought to be.

[the_archivist]

"No, I don't usually... well, I'm usually up in Research." Doesn't have time to come and get food. Or much inclination honestly, when he knows what he really wants.

[graveyounglady]

That will not do! "I ain't been over to Research much, but I bet it's an interesting place. Why don't I start bringing you lunch? A body should get away now and again to exercise, though, sir. You can't do walking with your brain, and you need to stretch all your muscles, not just that one between your ears."

[the_archivist]

"You really don't need to do that! I'm quite capable of handling things myself."

He's not, but the idea of someone coming and interrupting him every day is horrendous. He'll never pick up his train of thought again.

[graveyounglady]

"I don't need to do a lot of things. Don't mean I ain't gonna do them." She's decided she's not taking no for an answer now. He seems... Shy isn't the right word. Academic. That's cute for Martin, she's decided. "How often do you eat three square meals a day? I'm guessing you could barely count one hand, let alone two, for the past two weeks, hmm?"

[the_archivist]

"That really isn't any of your business," Jon says, hunching up in his chair. "Three meals isn't necessary. It's a fallacy. I get along just fine with what I do eat."

It isn't really food that he needs, not in the way that she means it anyway.

[graveyounglady]

"Hmm..." Her tone is unconvinced. "And if I were to go asking Mr. Martin his thoughts on the matter? Seeing as it's his business whether his sweetie's playing scarecrow come the spring or running round sewing the seeds in the orchard?"

[the_archivist]

"I- I don't understand what that means," Jon says with a touch of desperation. "What orchard? I just go to the supermarket."

[graveyounglady]

Mercy can't help a bit of a snicker. People here are very strange, not understanding the land or farming. But then, she's lived inland all her life. Maybe if she knew more sailors or the like... In any case, he's sort of funny.

"I'm saying you're waste away to naught rather than being strong enough to help with planting, sir. Or whatever they do in spring here."

[the_archivist]

"I mean, here? Probably exactly the same as any other time of year except damper?"

Jon does not exactly have a green thumb, and he's an academic, not a farmer.

[graveyounglady]

"My point being, the cold can kill a man if your bones is too close to the surface. Put on a little muscle and some padding with that, and you'll be safer for the coming year."

[the_archivist]

"I have plenty of clothes. If necessary, I'll sit under a blanket. Besides, the cold is hardly the most dangerous thing in the world we've found ourselves in."

He's definitely one of them.

[graveyounglady]

"Just 'cause something ain't the most dangerous thing don't mean it's not important." She points her fork at him. "All the little dangers, like you not minding your own body, pile up one on top of the other until you got a whole mountain of a problem staring you down.

"I'm bringing you food. Reckon I'll let Mr. Martin know about it. See he's tending to you eating it." Mercy nods to herself.

[the_archivist]

"I'm fairly sure the large dangers will get me long before the small things." He'd assumed he was going to die so many times... starvation had never really been on the cards.

"Martin doesn't need more worries on his plate."

[graveyounglady]

"Then you'll be good and not make a fuss about getting fed? Easiest way to keep him from worrying." She's a little sister. She's not the slightest bit above emotional blackmail.

[the_archivist]

"Oh, Martin will also have the large dangers to worry about," Jon says dryly.

He wishes he could explain that really, food is bordering on optional. Maybe if he dragged some secrets out of her it would do double duty with feeding him and making her leave him alone.

"What we have works fine. I don't need a chaperone."

[graveyounglady]

"Mm... Might give him a shout, anyway. Just to see what he thinks. And I like talking boys." She waggles her eyebrows at Jon.

[the_archivist]

"Alright? Do whatever you want," Jon replies, oblivious to the implications. Why is she doing that thing with her eyebrows?

[graveyounglady]

That just earns him another smile before Mercy finishes up the last of her own food. "Always do, sir. And I reckon that'll be seeing more of you, but I'll leave you be for now. Make sure you finish that." The food in front of him. "Terrible to waste things."

She's not going to stick around to hound him about it, though, just rises at to go and bus her tray before heading back to work in medical.

[the_archivist]

"Yes, yes, fine," he says, with extremely poor grace. He has no intention of letting her keep bugging him into eating, but he can at least finish this food, even if it doesn't much appeal.