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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2014 2:53:23 GMT -5
As they move to wait, he keenly watches the magic that involves blending. Nodding to Iris, he grins. "Connections made usually lead to better employment. I was a business major. I only helped to expand my family's work, but those I had connected with in University were indispensable. Gotham ...has it's charm." The Asylum. He's heard the words murmured on lips of people.
"I heard it is esteemed. A father, and son run it?" There was clear question in his tone as their drinks were poured. Grabbing both, he moved from the counter to allow the next in line to occupy it.
"I admire the field. I would not have that sort of patience. My own therapist, he is a saint."
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2014 12:55:54 GMT -5
Nodding in agreement as Marc speaks of connections made in the University, and about Gotham's 'charm', she's not surprised that even a relatively recent arrival to the city would ask about the asylum. "Yes - it's a facility very well known for taking in some of the most extreme examples of several disorders. But not necessarily known for it's effectiveness in treating them," she says with a smile and a slight shake of her head. No, she's not going to stand here and sing the praises of the place where she works. She does hope that, especially with the plans they're working on, it will improve at least somewhat soon, but as for right now...
"Fortunately, the field tends to attract the sort of person to it who has a genuine desire to help people. And on top of that they train us quite well in setting our own egos and needs aside for the sake of our patients, at least for the time when we're doing sessions. It's very rewarding to be able to be so much help to others," she replies even as she locates a free table and leads Marc to it, seating herself. Though even as she does so, her phone makes another sound. She's already smiling as she pulls it out to quickly check the message.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2014 2:57:27 GMT -5
Marc nods, listening as he grabs several napkins and two straws, offering them both to Iris before they find a table, and chairs to sit at. Or the small bar-like area.
"That is a pity. Considering it's a more acute facility, you would think it would be, ah, up to date?" A different word, French, had popped into his head, but he had to seek out it's proper cousin in English. Hence his stumble.
After taking a sip of his drink, he enjoys it and ponders what Iris says. "A self-less, yet rewarding field. Myself, I feel like a Dionysian whoreman at times. I create, I ferment, I supply men and women with a fine drink that is too often abused, and not often enough appreciated for it's subtleties. But I love my family, so I continue. It is rewarding, but in a different way from your own profession."
As she looks to her phone gain, he smiles, chancing a view out the window. It's not his business, but he does see to make a point. "You must have a paramour. Very few men, or women get that look in their eyes at a simple text message."
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2014 21:42:31 GMT -5
His question causes Iris to laugh lightly, especially since she caught the hesitation in his words - an indication that he may be uncertain that he picked the correct phrase. Then again, if he didn't, pretty much any similar sentiment would be completely correct to say. "You'd think so, yes," she agrees, "But, well, they're always trying to improve."
As she opens up the messages on her phone yet again, she comments, "Well, when not abused, wine does give people its own brand of pleasure - if it didn't, the drink wouldn't have been passed down through the ages." And there she must stop, because her eyes quickly read her message and it causes her to laugh.
Though she's surprised by how he manages to guess the content of her message. "Oh! Yes, I'm sorry - I'm being rude!" she says regretfully, though she also notably doesn't tuck her phone away before sending another short message back. So she's regretful, but not enough to stop... "Yes, it's my boyfriend, Nathaniel," she admits, shaking her head, "He keeps sending me haikus - he must be bored at work." Hmm, either a gap between patients or stuck in a meeting - an unimportant one of she wasn't invited and Nathaniel's ignoring it even to the degree of sending her messages.
Tucking her phone back into her pocket - at least until Nathaniel strikes again - she sips her smoothie and savors the flavor for a moment. The sweetness of the yogurt with the sour of the citrus fruits all blended together was an excellent choice, if she doesn't say so herself. "He's actually the son of the owner of the asylum - we met at work," she explains,
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2014 18:30:08 GMT -5
Sipping his drink he notes the quality is good. Fresh even. He will have to stop here more often. "Improvement is a never-ending endeavor I have found." He adds as their banter is near effortless.
As she goes to her phone he glances out the window. Much is going on in this cold Gothic city. Passersby are trudging through the cold to their next respite from the chill air and snow. "Wine is a finely savored beauty one could say." A classic beauty. Not one gussied up in unnecessary frippery.
"That is something to be sending a girlfriend. I do hope he has some wit about himself-not bawdy or tawdry fully." Raising his brow as she mentions she'd involved with a coworker, his shock is apparent. "And this is an acceptable choice at your workplace?" He's not quite used to those dating being able to work at the same level. It's usually an uncouth choice.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2014 20:13:36 GMT -5
As Marc speaks of Nathaniel's messages, Iris is quick to pull her phone out again even though it's been quiet. Instead she simply opens it again to Nathaniel's messages, pulls open the latest exchange, and turns her phone around to show Marc:
"You tell me," she says with a smile. 'Bawdy or tawdry'? Not her Nathaniel! As far as she's concerned, he's probably the choicest man she's ever met. Of course, she knows that she sees him through the lens of a woman who is madly in love, but after the way her first marriage ended she's also held him up to a great deal of scrutiny and he's passed that with flying colors so far.
Even as she shows Marc her phone, however, she receives another text:
Hearing the chime indicating a text, Iris turns her phone just slightly so that she can see the message too and laughs before she pulls it back to herself and sends a quick message before putting it back in her pocket. Hmm, so he's probably stuck in a meeting if he's with Dr. Roe. She'll have to surprise him with something nice after work, since she has the rest of her day off and therefore has the time and energy to do so.
Though her mind is brought more back to the present by Marc's question and the implied opinions behind it. "We're therapists, not office workers - we each have our own patients and therefore don't collaborate in our day to day work," she replies, feeling just a little bit defensive. It's true that romance in the workplace can get tricky, but she does feel like she and Nathaniel keep it pretty kosher. Of course, what she said to Marc makes it sound like they don't see each other much, and that's not true - it's a piece of cake to arrange their lunch hours so that they can eat together, and then there's the break room and meetings where they end up interacting. And of course the whole project they're working on together for the revamp. But she's hardly going to bring all that up to Marc.
Instead she adds, "And if it ever becomes a problem, it won't be too long until I'm finished with my supervision and get my license - after that it would be easy for me to find a job somewhere else if I need to. Nathaniel would be the one that needs to stay there - it's the family business, after all." And she'd leave her job at the asylum for something else in a heartbeat if the choice were between that or having to break things off with Nathaniel.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2014 2:50:49 GMT -5
He had been sipping his drink when the phone is thrust at him. Leaning down and narrowing his eyes to read, he nods. "Neither. Quite artistic, and sweet. The man cares for you. And has too much time on his hands at work." He states with a small smile. "How long have you two been together? Do you see a future with the man?" It's easier to steer the conversation to her love life rather than plumb his own.
As she responds to his question after more texting he is somewhat amused at her defensiveness. Nodding he understands that some workplaces are more lax in their procedures about dating and such than others. "Ah. I was curious only. I hoped to not mean any offense. Where I am from as long as everyone is professional and no boundries or work is being compromised there is no issue." A half-shrug is offered showing he is not judgemental. Hell, he had met his wife on the job in University and continued to work with her after they had been married.
He is about to say somethiing along those lines when she speaks again. "Would it not be easier for him to come away from under his father's shadow and find work elsewhere, than have you find a new place of employment?" He realizes his error and holds up a hand. "Ah. I see. Family business stays in the family. But if you are serious, would you not be marrying into the family work as well? My work is family run as well. So whomever, if ever I take as a wife again would have to understand that there are many strains on what I do. I travel frequently. I need to be back home in France to oversee many things as my mother and father are aged. But as an aside I thought to mention; my wife and I met in university during work. We dated, and then married, continuing. So it seems that the same route may be in store for you, no?" He adds with a smile. Happy couples made the world go round. At least in his mind.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2014 4:44:50 GMT -5
Unable to help but smile at the way that Marc describes Nathaniel based on the texts alone, she laughs as he comments about the time on his hands - that much is quite clear. "For several months," she answers, sipping her drink before adding, "And maybe - we're really quite infatuated right now, as I'm sure you see. But I'm divorced, and after how things ended with my first husband... well, we're taking things slowly. Little steps at a time, but so far we've found no reason to not keep going. And we're really quite enjoying the phase we're in already." Which is the 'frequent dates that often lead to one of them spending the night at the other's apartment' phase. Perhaps the next would be them deciding that it would be much more convenient if it was the same apartment? Though again, they're not in a hurry to take that step.
As Marc shows that he's not being as judgmental in his question as she feared he was, Iris smiles and visibly relaxes a little. "Sorry, I guess I just get a bit defensive about that because, well, too many rumors around the office about how I must have ulterior motives to be dating the boss's son," she explains with a slight roll of her eyes. Given just how innocent she is of any such thinking, it actually caught her somewhat by surprise when she heard that's what people were saying. Though really that's the only trouble that dating a coworker has caused for her - she's been quite careful to not let those moments she can steal with Nathaniel hurt her productivity. If anything, he keeps her in a better mood than she would be and that helps her to work harder.
Opening her mouth to object when Marc suggests that perhaps Nathaniel ought to be the one to leave, she closes it with a smile when the man realizes the situation and corrects himself. Nodding, she replies, "Which is precisely why I'd rather stay - if things end up going very well, then I'll want to be working there anyway. In fact, if it weren't for Nathaniel then I'd probably prefer to open a private practice or at least find a facility with a less... mixed reputation as soon as I get my license. Instead I find myself preferring to stay there and see what I can do to help, since it could very well become as important to my future as it is to his. I'd imagine that the only reason why I'd leave it at this point would be if our relationship didn't work out - an unfortunate possibility." And one she's all too keenly aware of.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2014 4:19:08 GMT -5
Nodding, he leans forward to listen. "I would have thought much longer considering how close you two are. That is good." His brow raises when he mentioned her divorce. A woman as young as she, and as goodlooking? The shock is visible on his face. "You are too young! And you are beautiful!" He exclaims shaking his head.
"I, too, am divorced. I have been unable to move ahead, you could say. I have had relationships but they pale in compassion to my ex-wife. She was vibrant, vivid. Alive." His eyes shine with admiration, a depth of love few see, and a deep sorrow.
"Seeing you happy bolsters my hope. Do you have any hints to your success?" He sees the slight reaction in her face as she continues. "No. I was just observing different ways that countries do things differently. You don't seem the sort to sleep your way through the ranks. You are intelligent, and hardworking. And if you are as dedicated as you are in your exercise as your employment, that would never be an avenue you would go."
He nods and leans back as his fingers steeple. "There are so many options. Could you not work at the Asylum, and start your own as well?" There are always options.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2014 17:33:42 GMT -5
"We're very compatible," Iris says with a grin, as she believes that would be the reason why she and Nathaniel are so close - they may be taking things romantically one step at a time, but they became friends pretty much instantly.
Though the grin disappears into a sea of mixed emotions at Marc's surprised exclamations - she's flattered by his words, slightly pained at the reminder of how things with her ex-husband ended, a bit put off by his reference to her age and attractiveness, and just a tiny bit embarrassed by the explanation she's about to give. "Well, I am all of 30," she says first, "But my ex and I married not long after high school, because we were 'in love' and that's what you're supposed to do, I guess. We were young - I was naïve and he was stupid. It didn't last long." She shakes her head and sips her smoothie, figuring that's an adequate explanation of how she'd ended up divorced at such a young age. About all she can do to tell herself that it was okay now is to note that plenty of people make stupid choices around that age.
As Marc mentions his own divorce, her expression turns empathetic almost instantly. Though when he asks for 'hints', she quickly confesses, "Well, I can't speak too much from personal experience, because I was the one who called it off with my ex-husband, and from what I gather yours was ended by her, and the process of moving on tends to be a bit different depending on which end you're on." Yet after making that disclaimer, she adds, "But I do have a few things that I could say - because if every woman you meet can't compare with your ex-wife, that's a clear indication that you're not remembering all of her. Every woman has flaws - I don't even have to have met her to say that there must have been quite the list - and you do every woman you meet a disservice if you don't remember that part of her too because nobody can compete with the memory. Besides, even if you managed to meet a woman who was like her in every way, you already know what will happen - such a woman would also divorce you. So it's very important to keep in mind that you are looking for someone different. Someone who may seem to not quite be everything that she was, but who is other things that she wasn't. Look for that woman, not her." Now look, she's gone and turned this into a mini-therapy session. But that's all right - she already knows and accepts the fact that she can't turn it off, and it's not like she's opposed to the idea of helping someone for free either.
She can't help but smile at all the good things that he assumes about her - most of them probably true, if she doesn't say so herself. "My interest in Nathaniel is entirely personal," she says with a smile, "And yes, I could do both - but I don't think that I want to juggle that. I'm content with what I'm doing for now, and when I get my license I'll be able to do more even within the asylum. And get a huge pay raise." Her smile grows at that, because even though she doesn't do her job for the money, that doesn't mean that the money won't be very nice to have.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2014 5:51:40 GMT -5
"You are young, yet. I am mid-thirties. And single." He nods to her story and glances down as he realizes there are some similarities. "I met Sia in University through my sister. We had a close knit group and it evolved. We were inseparable. Friends; quite close before we dated, and then were engaged. We were happily married." He swallowed thickly and glanced out the window. The wounds are still fresh nearly a decade later. A decade of searching. A decade of loss.
He nods to her words and returns to his smoothie. He has tried to find the opposite of her. And for a while had found fulfillment. But it was still not her. "She called it off as well. Because of my self-centered-ness and possession. And I remember all of her. She is no angel, as they say. She was not perfect. But perfect is not ideal at least to me. We bonded. We were alike yet so dissimilar. She wanted different avenues than I had wanted. And I was not willing to let her travel those roads without me." He shrugs again taking a deep breath.
"I have sought out other women. For a time I was happy. In Nice. But in the end it did not work out. I seek out new women daily. I prefer their company for they are art-living, breathing sculpture that show such different views of my own. A man who cannot see the poetry nor beauty in each and every female that crosses his path is blind. Or worse, he is distracted."
Their discourse is honest and truthful. And he can appreciate that entirely. This is a woman who knows who she is and does not apologize for it. "I am glad you know where you stand, Iris. Not only professionally-for that is difficult at times. But personally. And damn those that question your motives." This brings about a smile on his face finally. But the thoughts of a certain raven haired woman still haunt his dreams, lurking in the back of his mind daily.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2014 19:29:35 GMT -5
As he trades her story for his, Iris listens carefully and nods between sips of her smoothie. She too recognizes the similarities - but then, she supposes almost anyone's divorce story ends up being similar in some ways. A tale of love and loss, poor decisions and lasting consequences. And she accepts when he says that he remembers all of his ex-wife, though she does quietly point out, "It sounds as if you still believe she was perfect for you, though." Which, as she said, can't be the case. True, if he's actually willing to confess his own faults, that's part of it. But everyone has their flaws, and even if they're quite severe Iris believes that there's a good chance that there's someone out there with the right combination of being able to help someone overcome them or even just put up with pretty much anything they'd need to.
Though she can't help but smile as he goes on to describe the art-like beauty of all women. She doesn't really believe that he literally means that - at least not about literally all women, as there are some that are neither beautiful in appearance or behavior - but it's still a sentiment that she can appreciate. "There is quite a variety of people in the world to choose from, if you're looking for a sweetheart. The hard part really isn't finding someone as much as it is picking out the one that you need from all the others - sometimes it's even a matter of giving up things that you think you want," she comments, smiling as she says, "Like my boyfriend, for example - I'm sure that there's a lot of women out there who would find him boring because he's so... stable. But while stable isn't very interesting, it's very good thing in a long term relationship." And she's seen far too many women with 'exciting' boyfriends that she wasn't even a bit jealous of. Not that Nathaniel isn't exciting - he's just exciting in the little ways instead of the big ways.
And she can't help but chuckle at what he says last, commenting, "It doesn't really matter what they think anyway, does it? Though the really, I suppose, awkward part of it is that my boyfriend's father is my boss. And, while he clearly raised a fine son, I can't honestly say that think highly of how he manages things... and he knows that." Which is multiple layers of awkward, really.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2014 21:55:14 GMT -5
He went still at her words. Was she right? Was he in that much denial? Yes. Did he believe the green-eyed, raven haired whisp of a woman was perfect for him? Yes. Did he still believe such a thing? Yes. Was he still hung up on Sia Chevalier? Yes. His eyes focused on his slushy drink.
Shrugging he listened to her end. And he agrees. There is almost too much of a variety, and he has been caught up in the multitude of choices. So many he can't decided and that fact is crippling as well. "Those that spend enough time on your own motives at work are clearly not focusing on what they should. Like I said-Damn them and their opinions." Which is an opinion he has taken as of late. Who cares what someone thinks of his life. It's his life. His choices. His pathways.
"That is the beauty of the dating world. We can think we want one thing, and fall into another with just as much love. I just can't forget. I thought I would marry once and die with that person. I was wrong." Very wrong. He couldn't forget that spark he had seen when his sister had come dragging her through the door. Nor when they had gone out to the disco with their group of friends. Or when they had gone to the Sorbonne. Or to a cafe. Or any of those first memories. She could be sitting and sipping espresso and it would be forever burned into his mind. Those little private moments.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2014 17:06:34 GMT -5
Noting his body language, it's obvious to Iris that what she said prompted some sort of realization. But though she's curious, he's not a patient so she doesn't pry. She just hopes that it's a good, productive one - though she's quite pleased by her own happiness with Nathaniel, it's not to the point that she's forgotten others and she sincerely hopes that he'll be able to move ahead from his own divorce. She'd love to see him - and everyone else, for that matter - happily paired off. Everyone should be just as happy as she and Nathaniel are right now.
Nodding easily as he expresses what is practically a mantra among the divorced - the idea that they'd been so certain of their marriage - she comments, "I thought so too. I thought: this is the man that I'm in love with, and he loves me back, and - while I wasn't so naïve that I assumed that there wouldn't be problems - I thought that would be enough. But no, not nearly! And I haven't forgotten either - even now that I'm with Nathaniel instead. He still haunts my memories, but I'm not about to let him ruin something else for me - especially not something as precious as my present and future happiness."
Of course, she's guessing that's a much easier attitude for her to take, because while Marc is troubled by a woman he still cares for, Iris is troubled by a man she now sees as absolute scum. Well, maybe not quite that harsh - so many of her patients are worse people, for example. But she's certainly pleased to not be married to him anymore. "You know, unless either of us is very unfortunate, we both have most of our lives ahead of us, not behind," she comments, as that's a very positive thought. Plenty of time to build a new, better set of memories.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2014 10:36:19 GMT -5
Realization or not, he's still got issues. Private ones he shares glimpses and shards of, nothing more. Letting out a half-laugh he nods to Iris and once more meets her eyes. "We must all think that, even after it's gone. I never thought there wouldn't be problems. We had our healthy share of fighting. Good, bad, passionate. She was lively. But you are correct. Some things do not get better even with a decent amount of love."
He straightens as if this admission has brushed a weight from his shoulders. "I don't think we ever forget. And if we are so easily to dismiss them from our minds and hearts they were never that much of a factor to begin with. You are right. Old should never displace the new just because we cling so tightly."
His fist tenses and releases to illustrate his point. Another laugh as she mentions age. "So true. The thirties are a time where things are less abstract, more resolute. I feel as if I am growing into my shoes finally. And we have much time ahead of us as well."
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