[She had thought as much. One fingertip idly drums the tabletop as she casts a look at the microwave's clock, debating with herself about how much free time she really has before she'll need to head to work for the afternoon.
The problem with Lazarus has always been that, in order to make any progress with him whatsoever, more invasive methods than a clinical visit could provide needed to be used. And, frankly, if Glen, Virginia, or ANYONE were to know she had been visiting him in his apartment to cater to his own comfort rather than simply having let him go as a patient as she'd told them she had...well...]
Do you think you might be able to meet me at the bus stop outside of the plaza I work out of?
I think an important step to rebuilding your independence would be learning to set and follow a grocery budget. If you'll allow me, I'd like to help you.
"Rebuilding" implies that I had it in the first place.
[This seems to amuse him.]
It's a nice offer, but between medical bills I'm still paying four years later and the constant struggle to stay on top of my rent, my grocery "budget" is more like a handful of change.
You are under no obligation to go that far. In fact, it could be detrimental to my personal development, as you're implying that I can rely on you to help me in ways other than what a patient should reasonably expect from their therapist.
[Despite the truth in his observation, her ongoing history with him suggests that something like this would have been his excuse no matter what status she held for him. It was less about his concern for his personal development and more about his concern with clinging to his own self-destruction]
That's true, I agree. Though, if we're going to continue down that line, it's also highly irregular for a therapist to make house calls.
But it's not a sure thing. You're talking about it like I'll definitely be working there, and that's far from the case. I still have to turn in my application and go through the interview process.
[Even that is a pretty big deal for him.]
I'm worried they might fire me quickly, though. It'll be pretty obvious pretty quickly that mixing drinks with cut tendons is probably not even worth minimum wage.
[Lazarus in a coffee shop is already enough of an equation to hinder her optimism. Mixing drinks with cut tendons is the least of his problems, she feels...he would be fired faster if he were caught dumpster-diving out back for their day-olds, or having the inevitable caffeine intake amplify his paranoid tendencies around the staff and customers.]
Instead of focusing on how you might fail, how do you think you might succeed at this job? There are lots of things that need to be done in a coffee shop other than prepare the orders.
I think, until you hear from the coffee shop itself they don't plan to hire you, you should consider yourself perfectly able to fill this job, L.
[this is another reason she does not go out of her way to consider him a patient to be kept strictly within the patient guidelines. He easily runs her two to five sessions a week with phone calls of this nature]
What if they're just messing with me, though? What if they think it would be funny to make me come and interview for a position that I've no hope of actually securing? They could be planning to humiliate me.
You're sure? What if they know they can get away with it, but think that I'll try to sue them for discrimination and mean to make a fool of me on television?
But what would they have to gain from it, ultimately? They're a business, L. It's in their best interest to make money whenever possible and stay out of court where, whether they win or not, money will be lost.
I had been allowing for delays and the time it might take you to write out a list. If you want to fit the trip in before work, you and I would need to leave now.
If you're ready and can be there in ten minutes, I will certainly pick you up.
If you'd like to put it off and prepare, that's also fine.
[Her two remaining sacks of groceries will have to wait until later tonight to be properly put away as she fetches her keys off of the table, drops them in her satchel, and heads for the door.]
Did he tell you that he did? Or has he actually shown up here?
[The former does not entirely concern her since Bakura, by her experience, is happy to make idle threats if he thinks he will avoid the main issues, though the latter WOULD be worrying...]
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That's good to hear. What prompted it?
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["Or something," as if there was any uncertainty whatsoever.]
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....I wasn't aware things were that dire.
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L, I'm not the one you need to convince. I'm on your side in this, and it's important that we stay honest with one another.
Do you have no food?
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The problem with Lazarus has always been that, in order to make any progress with him whatsoever, more invasive methods than a clinical visit could provide needed to be used. And, frankly, if Glen, Virginia, or ANYONE were to know she had been visiting him in his apartment to cater to his own comfort rather than simply having let him go as a patient as she'd told them she had...well...]
Do you think you might be able to meet me at the bus stop outside of the plaza I work out of?
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[This seems to amuse him.]
It's a nice offer, but between medical bills I'm still paying four years later and the constant struggle to stay on top of my rent, my grocery "budget" is more like a handful of change.
That's why I'm excited about the job prospect.
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But as this is my invitation, I had intended to cover it, L.
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That's true, I agree. Though, if we're going to continue down that line, it's also highly irregular for a therapist to make house calls.
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[It's not. He just insisted it was when he found out it was any kind of option.]
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Where will you be working?
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But it's not a sure thing. You're talking about it like I'll definitely be working there, and that's far from the case. I still have to turn in my application and go through the interview process.
[Even that is a pretty big deal for him.]
I'm worried they might fire me quickly, though. It'll be pretty obvious pretty quickly that mixing drinks with cut tendons is probably not even worth minimum wage.
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Instead of focusing on how you might fail, how do you think you might succeed at this job? There are lots of things that need to be done in a coffee shop other than prepare the orders.
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[A brief look at the clock, finding that her window of free time is slowly but surely dwindling for the afternoon]
You could help sterilize the equipment, take inventory, stock the supplies...
[the statement is left open-ended, making the offer for him to continue on that train of thought on his own]
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[Not taking your bait, sorry.]
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[He's not either. :| ]
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If they hire you, knowing your limitations, then most businesses are required to accommodate them within reason.
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[this is another reason she does not go out of her way to consider him a patient to be kept strictly within the patient guidelines. He easily runs her two to five sessions a week with phone calls of this nature]
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I think you would find that there is no self-respecting business that would do that to you. It would cost them too much in public relations.
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[Unless she's in on it.]
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I'll need to be headed to work for the afternoon and will be turning my phone off.
If you'd like to reconsider my offer, you're free to leave me a text about it.
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If you're ready and can be there in ten minutes, I will certainly pick you up.
If you'd like to put it off and prepare, that's also fine.
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[It's not like it takes him long anyway. Just putting on his crummy old shoes. He considers "not barefoot" ready.]
I'm departing right now.
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[Her two remaining sacks of groceries will have to wait until later tonight to be properly put away as she fetches her keys off of the table, drops them in her satchel, and heads for the door.]
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You had decided for the both of us that we're moving? Can I ask why?
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[The former does not entirely concern her since Bakura, by her experience, is happy to make idle threats if he thinks he will avoid the main issues, though the latter WOULD be worrying...]
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