Values

[workthroughit]

The desk is back in the Nexus again. And the owner of it is once more behind it, hands folded primly in front of him. Set off to the side is a fountain pen and a pad of paper. The banker's light and the metronome rest on the desk as well, though both are turned off. The snow is cleared in a neat three foot circumference around his seat, and though he's in just a dress shirt and sweater vest, the cold doesn't seem to bother the doctor one bit.

"I wonder," Dr. Hill begins in his usual northern European accent, "What do you, as a person, value more? Honesty? Or loyalty?"

A simple question, really.

Comments

[bestdadinamestris]

"There's no war in my world right now, though there are always tensions between various peoples." A truth, if not a veiled attempt to side-step the topic at least somewhat. "But you're right in that it's very taxing on all involved. Having a good support network to get through it is important."

[workthroughit]

"And do you? Have the support network, that is."

[bestdadinamestris]

"One that I trust implicitly." He never has to ask if someone has his back, because the answer is always 'yes.'

[workthroughit]

"That's a great deal of trust!"

He doesn't look at Hughes as he answers; he's looking down at the paper on his desk as he writes something down with the fountain pen also at hand.

"But how sure are you that they're as fiercely loyal to you as you must be to them?"

He looks back up shrewdly near the end of that sentence.

[bestdadinamestris]

If the doctor was hoping for some kind of recoil, or perhaps an upset response, he's not going to get it.

"Because I know them. They have my trust and loyalty, and have shown they hold the same values in regard to me. That's all I need." His voice is calm, steady, and warm. These are people he loves and it shows.

[workthroughit]

The doctor smiles in return at the response. "So long as you're easily reassured, why question it, hm?

"And what about your relations here in the Nexus? How are those getting along? Reaching the same level of trust and loyalty?"

[bestdadinamestris]

It's never easy to reach that level of trust. Bonds like that are forged over years and countless celebrations and tragedies. He's definitely reassured by knowing his friends are there, but he would never call it easy.

"Such things take time. I have no expectations as to be so close with anyone here as I am with fellows in my world after so little time in the Nexus." A hand slowly rises to his chin. "Why so curious? Are you trying to make friends like that here?" Hughes knows that's highly unlikely, but he's also curious to hear how the doctor answers.

[workthroughit]

"Oh, just curious about the interpersonal coming and goings of this place. How it fits in a sociological sense. As an acting therapist here in the Nexus, it's important to understand how people interact and ways to suggest others do the same.

"Have you not been here long, then, Mr. Hughes?"

[bestdadinamestris]

"Ahh, I see." Well, kind of. But notes are notes and they may be useful down the road.

"Since I was able to figure out how to come and go from this place, I spend most of my time in my world. I have some pressing matters to take care of." That's quite the understatement.

[workthroughit]

"Ah, understandable. And what...keeps you coming back here?"

He taps the back end of his pen against the paper rhythmically.

[bestdadinamestris]

That rhythmic tapping is annoying, but doesn't provoke any kind of reaction.

"I have friends here, as well as someone who does contract work for me. It's also a nice change of pace, coming to a place that's so different from my world." He gets to try all kinds of weird and delicious foods, make friends with people from across the multiverse, and gets no small amount of help from his contractor. It's an overall win for him.

[workthroughit]

"A wonderful resource. I agree! A window into worlds so different from your own. And you've found yourself an employee? How industrious. What do they do for you exactly?"

The tapping keeps up.

[bestdadinamestris]

"I'm afraid that's classified." It's true, and he's not about to change his mind about that.

[workthroughit]

Dr. Hill smiles and shakes a finger at Hughes in a surreptitious manner. "I see. Say no more! How you keep your relations in order with so much military secrecy abound, I'll never know. Must be quite the effort."