[on the hospital roof]

[inthemoodnow]

[If you happen to be on or near the hospital roof tonight, you'll find one captain up there by himself, looking thoughtful as his greatcoat flaps gently in the breeze. If you're observant, you might catch him taking a drink from a flask every now and then. You might also hear some music wafting faintly through the air nearbyIn any case, he's good

Comments

[moralfixation]

*Music at night? What is this nonsense :| Storming up the stairs to the roof*

[inthemoodnow]

Change it how?

[moralfixation]

Change it all.

[inthemoodnow]

That's a pretty tall order.

[moralfixation]

I'm aware.

[inthemoodnow]

So what's first on your to-do list?

[moralfixation]

Well first...

*Sniff sniff*

...Have you been DRINKING?!

[inthemoodnow]

Okay, so don't arrest me, but I've been dancing, too.

[moralfixation]

You're on a roof while intoxicated? Do you realize how dangerous that could be? Not to mention it is freezing out! You're going inside right now. Really now, people here are way too careless. It is exactly this sort of foolishness that leads to broken bones.

[inthemoodnow]

...right. I'm not usually one for whipping out the stripes, but I have been drinking, so let me just speak as a veteran of three wars right now and assure you that if I'm aware of anything, it's of how much danger I'm in at any given moment.

[moralfixation]

*STRAIGHTENS UP :|* We have just met, and your explanation of the endearment "captain" was rather vague and told me nothing of whether or not you are particular capable. And considering the fact you have been drinking, it is only natural to assume your judgement and coordination have been compromised. So when a stranger is kind enough to show concern for your well-veing, the correct response is to thank them, not to become defensive.

[inthemoodnow]

I wouldn't call it "defensive" so much as "tetchily reassuring." Just a pro-tip for you, though, kid, is that, good as your intentions might be, you wanna work on your delivery. If you weren't as cute, I know a lot of people who would sooner have laughed in your face or punched you in the nose in response to this whole...

*makes a sort of "the whole package" gesture at Gau*

...sinners-in-the-hands-of-an-angry-you deal you have going on. And that doesn't help anyone at all.

[moralfixation]

If I don't take something seriously, then why would the other party? Especially considering the fact that I am young. No other delivery stands even a small chance of getting through to the sorts we deal with.

[inthemoodnow]

*sighs*

Listen. You seem like a good kid. So I'm just telling you this because I think that you want to do good things. But when you start preaching at people like that, the only thing that they're going to think that you're taking seriously is yourself. Not that situation and not, and this is the most important part, not them. Now, maybe they're different where you're from and maybe you have a different success rate. And let's face it, it's always a game-changer if you can back yourself up with force. But if things aren't working, I'd just take some time and really think about what you can do to change that. Because if you really do care about helping people, then you're going to want to do what works.

And no, the fact that I'm lecturing you about lecturing people doesn't make me a hypocrite, just really, really tired.

[moralfixation]

When it comes to helping people, you do what you can. And what works depends on the situation and the person you are trying to help. Of course I want to do "what works", but who is to say what that is? For some people, stubborn people, lecturing is what works.

[inthemoodnow]

Deal with a lot of stubborn people, do you? Never was able to get any of mine to listen to my lectures.