[ 99th consult | voice ]

[dr_conscience]

There are always a few of these - curses that seem to come around with some kind of regularity, almost like traditions. I can't imagine making sense of exactly why it is some of them become annual events and others come and go, essentially forgotten. The theme of violating personal boundaries and dragging up memories for public viewing is hardly unique to this curse, but here it is again.

Of course, this one does have a potential bright side, if you're lucky enough to have the City issue something that's worth hanging onto instead of mass producing your best Risky Business reenactment. We all have moments we don't really want to share, that we don't want to be made public for scrutiny, but we also have moments we look back on and wish we had captured, people we wish we had reminders of with us here. It honestly can help to remember that it's a mixed bag out there.

[And switching it up from being too serious, he gives one tongue-in-cheek addition:]

There is also a risk of paper cuts, so you might want to take an umbrella if you go out.

Comments

Voice

[trenchknives]

Hey doc, I think I've got one of your, uh, memories here. I mean, it kinda looks like you.

[Wilson's a lot younger in the photo, but it's still Wilson.]

Voice

[dr_conscience]

Well, if it looks like me, there's probably about a 50/50 shot that it's me.

Re: Voice

[trenchknives]

Well, it's a picture of a guy sittin' at a bar, maybe throwin' a bottle at someone. Sound like you?

Re: Voice

[dr_conscience]

[oh]

Not for a very long time now, but... it might be me.

[Yeah, it's him. He knows it's him.]

Re: Voice

[trenchknives]

Well, sure, the guy in this picture is probably in his twenties. Not callin' you old or anythin', doc, but you ain't in your twenties anymore. Want it back?

Re: Voice

[dr_conscience]

Hey, it's my own fault for calling it a "very long time."

Sure, I'll take it back. Might as well see it for myself.

Re: Voice

[trenchknives]

C'mon, you're not that old.

Where should I meet you?

Re: Voice

[dr_conscience]

Well, thank you for that.

Oh, I don't know - is there anywhere specific that works for you? I wouldn't want to take you out of your way.

Re: Voice

[trenchknives]

Nah, it's my day off, so I can be wherever. I could come by the hospital if you're there.

Re: Voice

[dr_conscience]

Well, I'm not yet but I am about to head in - so that would actually work out perfectly. Meet you there?

Re: Voice --> Action

[trenchknives]

Sure, I'll be there soon.

[And he is; by the time Wilson arrives, he'll probably be loitering around waiting for him, trying not to look suspicious.]

[hexuality]

You would warn us about paper cuts, I suppose.

[dr_conscience]

Well, I happen to think it's a perfectly valid concern.

[hexuality]

It is perfectly valid. I never said it wasn't. I'm very familiar with them.

[dr_conscience]

Then I trust you'll take all the proper precautions.

[Deliberately over serious warnings about papercuts: standard Wilson fare, really. And so is using lighthearted conversation to segue into less pleasant topics.]

You know, I was actually meaning to track you down today. I think I've got something of yours.

[hexuality]

I hope I'm not doing anything embarrassing in what you've found.

[dr_conscience]

[Um... wow how does he answer this.]

No... I wouldn't call it embarrassing.

[Concerning, though.]

If you want, I'd be happy to hand it over.

[And totally not use that to segue into conversation about it.]

[hexuality]

Yeah, I'm stepping out for some lunch if you want to meet me.

[Pause.]

What would you call it, though, out of curiosity.

[dr_conscience]

Sure. I can manage to sneak out of the hospital for a few minutes.

[There's a good question.]

Well... it's certainly not in any particularly happy context. Honestly, if you'd rather not see it, getting rid of it is an equally available option.

[Not too overtly miserable, but the photo of Ginny and two others he hasn't been so fortunate as to meet, huddled around the table and plotting, doesn't look like it was happening under any sort of pleasant circumstances.]

[hexuality]

Now I have to see it.

[So she can explain herself, if anything.]

I can meet you outside.

[dr_conscience]

If it's any comfort, I don't think it's anything that reflects poorly on you.

[He can understand wanting to see one's photos for oneself, though.]

But... sure. I'll be down in a few minutes.

[And he will, photo in hand.]

video;

[anunluckypenny]

I found a picture that I think I'm going to hang on to.

[She waves the picture of their false family--Wilson, Penny, Neil--in front of the lens.]

If you don't mind, that is. I know there're some... embarrassing memories attached to that curse, but we were happy, right?

video;

[dr_conscience]

[And here he is on screen, giving a slight laugh back.]

Looks like there's more than one of those around.

[He picks his own copy of it up and holds it up in response.]

I don't mind if you don't. As... embarrassing as some of it was, you're right. We were happy.

[And it was nice to have his own happy family, even a false one, even just for a couple of days.]

video;

[anunluckypenny]

Well, I'm glad at least two of them ended up in good hands, and I don't mind at all. There's no reason not to keep a happy memory.

[However bittersweet it is. Remembering what it's like to be a part of a family makes being alone that much more disheartening.

But it's worth it.]

video;

[dr_conscience]

That's how I'm looking at it. Whether it was a curse or not, it was a nice feeling, and with everything unpleasant the City puts us through... I can hardly say that hanging onto the positive seems unwise.

[That's a feeling he knows well - not that he's entirely given up on having a family of his own, but he knows he only has so long when he gets back home. Not that he realizes exactly how short a time he has left. Nor does he really think he's ever going to get home to stay.

It's out of deference to Penny's situation, though, that he doesn't elaborate.]