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[fourlevels]

"Hi! This is Viktor Nikiforov!
Please leave a message!"

Comments

[sleight_of_hand]

Yeah, but are you okay with that?

[ He turned toward him then, waving a hand. ]

Seriously, Viktor, you pretend your feelings don’t matter more than I do.

[fourlevels]

I'm okay with it? I've been used to it for years so why wouldn't I be?

[ He just gives Adachi an odd look at the gesture. ]

[sleight_of_hand]

Hmmm...

[ Adachi peeeeeered at him, before he let out a sigh. ]

...sorry; you're just so used to something that's kinda bizarre to me. It makes me a little worried.

[fourlevels]

Worried? Why?

[sleight_of_hand]

Because sometimes I think you put more focus on everything around you than you do yourself. Like, you say you're fine with something, but you're not really taking into account how it makes you feel.

[fourlevels]

Well ...

[ There's a beat or two while he considers how best to answer that. ]

... Yes.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi tilted his head in confusion. ]

Yes?

[fourlevels]

Yes, just like you said.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi's shoulders slumped at that. ]

Viktor, that's bad.

[fourlevels]

Is it? It just made everything easier though.

[sleight_of_hand]

Easier for who?

[ Adachi gave him a concerned look; genuinely concern, for Viktor himself, not just for what he could do. ]

If I've learned anything from therapy, it's that you need to be honest with how you feel to yourself. Otherwise you'll just make the lie your reality, and completely avoid the fact that you're hurting.

[fourlevels]

... They tell you that in therapy? Huh ...

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi paused a moment, his shoulders slumping a little. ]

Yeah... apparently being social isn't my only issue.

[ He was just a defective pile of issues, but that was beside the point. He reached over, giving his arm a squeeze. ]

Viktor... maybe you should go see a therapist too.

[fourlevels]

... You mean like a psychiatrist. Not a physical therapist.

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Oh my god, Viktor, get your head out of sport for like five seconds. ]

...did you really think I was talking about a physical therapist?

[fourlevels]

Just clarifying! Since I dealt with so much of them over the years.

[sleight_of_hand]

Viktor...

[fourlevels]

I wonder if there are specialists in psychologists too, like those who're more familiar with athletes? Is that a thing? Otherwise it might be hard to explain ...

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Adachi paused, frowning to himself. ]

I don't see why not? Might be worth looking into. Though... maybe somewhere outside of Heropa for now; just in case.

[fourlevels]

Really? How come?

[sleight_of_hand]

I dunno how this 'liberate Heropa' movement is going to go, or how far it extends. Some doctors here might deny you just on account of you being an imPort.

[fourlevels]

Wouldn't that extend beyond Heropa though? It could be natives in other cities feel the same way.

[sleight_of_hand]

True... but it doesn’t seem to have spread to this degree yet.

[ He gave a shrug. ]

Or you can go see Harley too. She is good at what she does, despite what people say about Gothamites.

[fourlevels]

Gotha ... what?

[sleight_of_hand]

Gothamites; people from some place called Gotham City. Apparently they’re all pretty nuts.

Harley isn’t that bad though. She’s been super helpful.