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[ornithologist]

Comments

[ornithologist]

Isn't the word today "radical"?

I'm joking. I've realized how much Manhattan has spoiled me after being here for a few months. They could at least give us a hole in the wall Szechuan place.

[ingestion]

neither of those words are used today. we're both outdated haha

I have to agree with you there, the food here is way too boring. I'll see what I can do, and trust me, this is as much for me as it is for you.

[ornithologist]

By definition I'm a baby boomer, so at least I have a convenient excuse.

Where are you from, if I may ask? I'm missing the food from New York more than anything else. Certainly not the traffic.

[ingestion]

touché.

I'm not from anywhere too exciting, around the New England area to be exact.

( she wasn't quite sure if to say maine given that so far harold hadn't given her any vibes of coming from her world. if he pressed her further, she'll just give the state and leave it at that. )

[ornithologist]

[ Harold would never press someone to give more personal details than offered unless there was a compelling reason. He would be fine with her refusing to answer at all. ]

You must be in high school, I assume? Any plans to leave for college?

[ingestion]

( well he was aware of her father's death, so she could share this much with him- )

well before dad passed away...I was going to go somewhere local. I didn't want to leave him all by himself, I still needed him...and he..

well he's my best friend. But now if I ever get to go home, maybe somewhere in Europe could be fun.

[ornithologist]

I understand completely.

[ He really does. Harold had never gone back to his hometown after his father was gone, and he'd run off to college as far from Iowa as he could get, in geography and in culture. It's a natural place in the conversation to say that, but-- he doesn't. There's trying to be more forthcoming and then there's talking about what happened with his father, and those are leagues apart.

Harold does manage to type, more neutrally, ] I was always close with mine. The memories can be difficult. Going somewhere completely new might be a good idea.

Etraya does count in that regard. No reason you couldn't pursue education here.

[ingestion]

( on the upside to all of this, his little 'fatherly' comment was enough to make her laugh. he always did seem to have heather's best interests in mind and who was she to fight him on it?

especially considering she viewed him favorably. enough not to sass him. )

okay, okay I get it. I'll pick up some books on calculus and get on it! by the time I'm out of here, I'll be a doctor or something like that.

[ornithologist]

[ He wasn't thinking of it that way, but it really was a dad thing to say, wasn't it... Harold smiles to himself, wry and sad in his self-awareness. ]

Let me know if you'd like me to check your work.

And Ms. Mason? It really is a very kind thing you're doing.

[ingestion]

sure thing, just don't be too shocked if it's all a mess. never been the best at math.

( all laughter here despite the advice-

but when his next message comes through, she can't help but smile. )

yeah well someone has to be kind around here given the situation. we can't all be cold and calculating.

( it's not a rib at him by any means- but people like vincent and chrollo had the scene dominated there. at least vincent was getting better. maybe. )

[ornithologist]

The state of mathematics education is dreadful, so I'm sure it's not all your fault.

[ Really not beating the professor allegations any time soon, that's for sure...

And he doesn't take it as a dig; if anything, he'd like to think he can consider himself warm and calculating. Harold is a methodical, precise sort of person, but one with an inherent belief in the value and goodness in others. ]

I agree completely. We can take reasonable precautions while still supporting one another. Uncertainty is no excuse to be cruel.

[ingestion]

( absolutely not, don't mind her texting him for help on math homework from now on. )

yeah that's kinda like what I was trying to explain this one guy. he keeps telling me to be cautious around people in such a way where...

if I did what he said, I'd be all alone all the time. I'm going to take what you said and throw that in his face.

[ornithologist]

[ He will just be thrilled she is doing self-guided math homework. In the meantime, this conversation hits ironically very close to home for him. ]

It's a difficult thing to balance, protecting yourself without being made fully isolated because of it. I can't say I've found the trick to it myself.

But I will say that if you can find a few people you trust, that tends to be enough. Just pick them carefully.

[ingestion]

oh.

( as vulnerable as that was for harold to admit to heather, she appreciated him nonetheless. given her unique experience in life, she felt a certain vibe that most adults weren't as confidant as they might be given the way life was but to hear someone of his age admit that was....comforting. )

I guess it's never as easy as it seems and yeah I think considering I trust you, that means my picker isn't too broken. or never really was, whatever that means for me.

[ornithologist]

[ As reticent as he is about sharing personal details -- an innate tendency greatly exacerbated by the fact that for years, knowing him puts someone in direct danger -- Harold can be surprisingly forthcoming with emotional truths if the moment strikes him right. Sharing in furtherance of helping a young woman feel more at home in her own emotions is very much the right moment.

He truly wasn't looking for such a direct compliment in return, and gets a little flustered. ]

I'll do my utmost to live up to that.

It's never easy to know who to trust. There are no heroes or villains, just people trying to do their best. We can empathize with them... without accepting that as an excuse.

[ingestion]

the world isn't black or white, just a messy grey right? something like that.

( she gets it, even if it's hard for her to wrap her mind around the idea that someone like vincent who was once an enemy was now...

just vincent. it was very strange. )

I've been thinking about the bodega thing though....whose going to run it if I do get it setup?

[ornithologist]

Essentially yes. Though I tend to find that analogy an oversimplification -- another mental shortcut, as it were. Something can be black, and white, and a whole other color, all at the same time.

I thought you might ask Ms. Maria. She's been looking for something to occupy herself with, I believe.

[ He'll just casually drop that in there. Feel free to not mention him at all! It's Heather's points and it can be Heather's idea totally. ]

[ingestion]

( there's something brewing in her mind the moment she saw that text. she had been wondering if it was possible to combine both of their requests into one—

after all, the thought of 'working' next door to her dear friend was intriguing. )

is that right? maria huh...

harold I could kiss you, but I won't. I'll start working on this, you'll be very happy once it's complete I bet!

[ornithologist]

I'm sure I will be. No need to give me any credit for the idea; it'll be you doing all the work.

[ Really -- no need to give him credit at all. ]