[ 92nd consult | action ]

[dr_conscience]

[As Wilson goes about his business at the hospital today, he's wearing a t-shirt under his lab coat. He does do his best to keep it mostly obscured, but you might catch it anyway. It reads:]

I WAS KILLED BY SHEEP AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY T-SHIRT

[Before work, after work, or at work, he'll be wearing it because he has no other choice - and though he tries to cover it with a jacket, they all just keep opening. After a while, he just lets them stay that way.]

Comments

[dr_conscience]

Yeah... I am.

[He looks down slightly, not entirely unable to suppress thoughts of it. The shirt, thankfully, has left out the part he found most disturbing: turning on House and Chase, retaining awareness and cognition even as he lost control of his actions.

But he doesn't let himself dwell. It's been years, and he came back - heartbeat and all. He's well acquainted enough with psychology that he doesn't think that should make it okay, but what's left to fix? There isn't any accepted therapy in place to help you deal with coming back from the dead, because that's simply not possible. He does look back up, managing a smile that isn't particularly enthused. Her words aside, he remains certain Penny's been dealt a far worse hand than he has, and it feels wrong - selfish - to worry about his own problems, the life he's been given back. And yet, she's so... well-adjusted here. He could never want to tear that down.]

You are, aren't you?

[anunluckypenny]

Okay.

[Trying to cover the shirt up isn't helping; Penny gives up.

She isn't a psychologist. When she tries to help people or understand what they're feeling, Penny depends on emotion--on gut instinct and empathy, not analysis. She doesn't meditate too much on mental states, including her own. Perhaps it indicates some flaw in her ability to process events, but Penny has a talent for recovering from the bad things life throws her way. She means it when she says she's okay.]

Completely, so don't worry. [She does, however, cross her arms to obscure at least part of the shirt.] Mostly? I don't want anyone feeling bad for me.

[dr_conscience]

[He's just given to worrying, to focusing on emotional and mental states in others. And he worries that Penny isn't more hung up on dealing with her own experiences, but maybe it is for the best. Maybe it's a coping mechanism. Either way, he's happy she does have the City, that it's given her an opportunity to have a new life.]

I'll try not to worry. I'm not great at that, you know.

[With a little smile,]

But I can, at least, promise not to feel bad for you.

[anunluckypenny]

That'll do. I guess you wouldn't be you if there wasn't at least a little worrying.