selfhelp: ([billy] it's... kind of a brother thing)
William "Billy" Kaplan (Wiccan) ([personal profile] selfhelp) wrote in [community profile] driftfleet2017-11-18 11:27 pm

(no subject)

Who: Billy Kaplan / OTA
Broadcast: Yes
Action: On the Iskaulit
When: After all the chaos is settled!


So… all of that was horrible? I think that goes without saying. The less we have of that kind of thing going forward, the better.

Tangentially, but the personnel augment is kind of useless, isn't it? We get an office but not much in the way of marketable skills, we can't do anything with the ships in the middle of a crisis, we're not here for any big damn hero moments. It’s great if we’ve got other skills for that, but we can’t fix stuff, we can’t pilot people out of danger, we can’t arm those who don’t have powers...

...okay, sorry, I'm rambling. Getting to the point! Truth is, personnel - counselling - is meant for the aftermath. Therapy, in other words. If it doesn't exist where you're from, it pretty much means someone whose job it is to listen to you, no judgments, and offer advice if they can. Sometimes it's enough to just have somebody hear you out.

Anyway, I wanted to say that I'm tired of, like… not contributing much. So I'm gonna have an open door policy. Doesn't matter if you're not on my ship, doesn't matter if I don't even know you. You can even use the comm anonymously if you don't like the idea of coming in person. You make the rules.

If you're wondering about my qualifications… well, I've got ears. That's the most important part. But I did also grow up with this stuff- Mom’s a psychologist, I've seen her work, I’ve read some of her books. And I’ve gone to therapy. Kind of a lot. It's not a substitute for the real thing, but it's what I can offer.

Oh, and for the record, this isn't meant to call out anyone with the personnel augment, or steal your shipmates, or anything! This is more of a call to action. If you want in on this we can set up some kind of network.

I’m setting up shop on the Iskaulit and I’m gonna post active hours there. Stop by if you want to talk more one-on-one about it.

[True to his word, Billy’s in a spare room in the Iskaulit - sign on the door - and is decorating the place, though it’s kind of barebones for the moment. He can magic it pretty, but the last few months have been exhausting, so he’s taking it slow.]
paraclete: (i've no obvious thorns)

voice.

[personal profile] paraclete 2017-11-20 07:52 am (UTC)(link)
I've heard a little about that. A lucrative career, potentially.

[He sounds to be around Billy's age; he sounds pleasant in a way that's almost strange for its earnest pool; he sounds mild, preternaturally mild, like weather that makes one wonder if the worst of winter is coming late this year. Basically, warmer than one would expect at this time, and gentler than once might anticipate.

Then he says,]
Seems nice. [They're really little words, could be trite, but he sounds like he means that, ringing a bit brighter.]
paraclete: (you're the reason why the opera is in me)

[personal profile] paraclete 2017-11-22 04:01 am (UTC)(link)
Your part of what?

[More probing, perhaps, than obtuse, even if gently so. He knows what that sort of thing means at large, but more interesting is what it means to the individual.]
paraclete: (this isn't sad)

[personal profile] paraclete 2017-11-24 07:52 am (UTC)(link)
Not ideal, rotting in space, [he agrees.] To attempt otherwise is a more timeless endeavor than most. It's nice. [That's that again: niceness.]

What sorts of things did you learn from your mother's books? Anything you think about a lot?
paraclete: (i'm here. stay softly with me.)

[personal profile] paraclete 2017-11-27 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
Repetition is key. [Kaworu sounds pleased about this.] It's true that effort facilitates success, and repeated efforts, in turn... Yeah, that's very true. It's good to learn a thing like that.

Did they help, do you think? For your boyfriend's mother.
paraclete: (do i disappoint you?)

[personal profile] paraclete 2017-11-28 08:18 am (UTC)(link)
I guess saying anything for sure is difficult for most things. [He's amenable enough about that.] I've just wondered. The study of it all. The relaying of what's hopefully wisdom.

Well, I say "hopefully", but I'm sure the reader knows most of all what hope is, in that moment.