video; june 8th

[quixotically]

Hey, everyone. Um... My name's Elle Days. I'm the ship counselor. [Well. There are other counselors, now, but she hasn't found out yet.] I hope you've been having a good time. This is... well. It's a good place to have fun, the captains were definitely right about that. [She has a new hat and everything! Not that it's anything worth writing home about, just a black wide-brimmed fedora, but she went two months without one. That was Not Okay, man.]

But, I know that... This kind of thing, it doesn't help everyone. Sometimes it's hard to relax or let yourself have fun when there's something on your mind. Sometimes you're hurting bad enough that it's just... not something you can do. And I know Amissis-Re was... not really -- It was hard on all of us. So, if you're struggling with something -- Even if you're new, and you were going through something difficult back home that you need to talk through, or if there's anything else that's bothering you... You can come to me. It's my job to listen, and if you want me to help you through something, I'll do everything I can.

I know it isn't easy to trust a stranger. I know, for a lot of us, just... opening up to someone you don't know is... dangerous. But... I wasn't assigned this job. I asked to have it. This is something I'm dedicated to. I want to help.

Anything and everything you tell me is confidential. Nobody has to know about any of it, not even that you talked to me, if you don't want them to. If you want to get a hold of me, you have options. You can do that here, or you can drop a line in my inbox. It's always open, okay? And you can always drop by the Safe Space, too, if you want to meet in person, but I'm not always there, so letting me know ahead of time means I can be waiting for you. Even if you just need some quiet time away from everything, but you don't wanna be alone, you can come by. We can play card games or something. Or you can just read in a corner by yourself, and I'll leave you alone. Just... Whatever you need, okay? That's what I'm here for.

Comments

video;

[saidsarcastically]

Good luck with that.

[It's not a sharp tone, mostly teasing, because...well...seriously, good luck. But before he can say anything else he notices something.]

Hey, is that a Pipboy?

video;

[quixotically]

[Elle laughs, a little awkwardly.] Thanks. I'll, um. Probably need all of it I can get. [She's under no illusions that her job is easy. But she knew that when she signed up for it, and... well. She's going to try. (She's never not going to try.)

She blinks a couple of times at his question, though, and sits up a little straighter.] Yeah! It was a gift. [There's no way this person can be from anywhere but the wasteland. But the question is,] Where are you from? I'm, I mean, I'm from the Mojave Wasteland.

video;

[saidsarcastically]

Mojave? I met someone from there a few days ago.

[He did mention he ran into someone from the same place, so it's not that surprising.]

I'm from the Common Wealth.

video;

[quixotically]

Really? [She perks up.] Who?

[Elle tilts her head. Has she heard of...? She doesn't think so. It isn't ringing any bells. (Not that that... necessarily means anything, but -- still.)]

Where is that?

video;

[ersatzeverything]

Can I lie on your couch and tell you about my childhood?

[Lie about his childhood, he means.]

video;

[quixotically]

[Elle can't help it, she perks up a little. Is he really going to? She knows he isn't exactly the most truthful, but... That's mostly been while they were joking around. She guesses it's always possible he's pulling her leg, but... She doesn't want to assume that. This is the kind of thing she'd rather take at face value, just in case.]

Yeah, of course. We can talk about whatever you want to.

video;

[ersatzeverything]

Awesome. I have a lot of pent up feelings, you know? About my mom and stuff? I think it's 'cause she was a raider.

[video]

[chipouttaluck]

[... She said card games, right?]

You know Caravan?

[video]

[quixotically]

[Elle brightens considerably.]

I do! [Two new people from the wasteland? This is what Elle gets for not coming to see the new arrivals when they came in, isn't it?] I've been dying to teach someone, even, but haven't ever really gotten around to it.

[video]

[chipouttaluck]

Gonna have to find somebody else for that teaching bit. [ /shades ]

[video]

[aerospacecommander]

Oh, you can counsel me all you want.

[video]

[quixotically]

[Elle blinks a few times.] I... Well -- I mean, I only want to if you want me to. The only times that're exceptions to that is when somebody's required to have sessions because it's part of their sentence? I...

[Wait. Wait... She blinks some more, and then gets a very confused expression.] That is what you mean, right? You aren't trying to...? [He. He isn't. He doesn't mean that in a... flirty way? Does he? -- No. No, that's stupid, that can't be right.] Um. Uh -- No, never mind.

[video]

[aerospacecommander]

[This is fun. So very, very fun. He can't help himself but grin.]

What way do you want me to mean it?

text;

[tearsinajar]

This Safe Space, does it come padded?

text;

[quixotically]

It isn't padded, per se? But it has privacy spells set up all over it. I don't really know how it works, but the last counselor, the guy who set up the Safe Space, he could do that kind of thing. So if you need to come in and yell a lot, that's fine, too.

text;

[tearsinajar]

That's interesting. I'll keep it in mind, thanks.

audio;

[neveroutwrenched]

So what does the ship's counselor do if she needs to talk to someone?

[It might come across sardonic to some, (and in different circumstances it might be) but he means the question genuinely.]

video;

[quixotically]

[If it was presented jokingly, Elle might've replied, "set up a mirror" with a grin. But... He seems to mean it. And Elle appreciates the concern, even though she knows it might not be personal, necessarily.]

It's... a good question. I mean, I'd normally say not to worry about me, I'll be fine, I've managed so far. But... That's kind of the point of this. It's not like I'm the only one who's been able to pick herself up and keep going, just because it was needed. But we shouldn't have to do it alone. If we need the help, it should be there.

[A beat. She rambled a little bit, there. She brings herself back to answer the question.] Uh... But, honestly, I have no idea. When I originally switched, there were two of us. But Eric... disappeared. So... [Elle spreads her hands, a gesture of helplessness.]

audio;

[neveroutwrenched]

[Ratchet is quiet while she talks, frowning although she can’t see it. She can’t know how familiar those words are, and the nature of their familiarity hurts.]

Yeah. [There’s a flatness to his voice, like he’s distracted. He clears his throat.] Well if you can’t think of anything and you need someone to listen, I’m pretty good at it. Listening.

[Where was he going with this? He barely even knew who Elle was but he was making sure she had someone to talk to like they were old friends. Maybe he just had a soft spot for people who put others first.]

I mean….I’m sure you have other people to talk to. Friends or, you know, whoever. I just, wanted to be sure.

video ((five thousand years late))

[ninjabike]

[Have another robot face showing up on your mid there Elle.]

Well, it's nice to see one of us knows what they're doing with this job.

video ((NEVAR))

[quixotically]

[Hey, at least this one isn't flirting with her. She'll take it.]

Wait -- Do you mean... [Elle blinks a couple of times, then starts to brighten.] Wait, you're a counselor, too? [The captains listened, thank god.] Oh, thank god.

[ninjabike]

Don't get too happy, not sure how being a soldier is going to translate into counseling others here.

Worse comes to worse I could move furniture for you at the very least if I turn out to be horrible at this job.

I'm Arcee.

video

[thumbsdown]

Should've known you'd wind up here somehow.

[Elle does have a knack of ending up in weird places, after all. And Boone looks relieved to see her.]

video

[quixotically]

Boone! I heard you finally showed up -- You've got Rex with you, too?

[Elle may as well be a cyberdog, given how excited she is to hear from him.]

video

[thumbsdown]

Yeah, he's here. Showed up after me. Not sure why, but I'm not complaining.

[His expression turns a touch more serious.]

...Sounds like you've been here a while. How're you holding up?