cuddletalk | video | un: s.reid

Hi. I'm... Dr. Spencer Reid. At home, I work with the FBI as a behavioral analyst, or profiler. I'm trying to figure out what to... do with myself here.

[ Reid is a thin, young-looking man with too-wide eyes and nearly shoulder-length unkempt hair. That combined with the cardigan, tie, and lightly patterned button-up makes him look extremely dated. It's not hard to believe him as a federal employee by clothes alone, although his age is constantly remarked upon.

He doesn't sound uncertain about addressing the wider audience of the network-- although he is, and especially about using technology this way-- but he does sound like he's choosing his words with care, enunciating clearly and with even, unhurried pacing. ]

If there's anyone that currently works for the local police, I'd like to speak with you regarding whether you think there's a use for my skills in that environment. I have done field work, but I wouldn't say it's my strong suit. Otherwise I'm considering taking up teaching at the university. I've been a TA for undergraduate classes before, although I think I'm better suited to leading graduate-level seminars. If anyone currently takes classes there, it would be helpful to hear about your experiences.

... I also noticed they're looking for librarians at the public library. Uh. I don't think that alone would keep me... sufficiently occupied, but. I could do it.

I'd like to optimize my time here by putting my skills wherever they're most needed. So I'm open to other suggestions. And-- looking for a physical therapist. And possibly an orthopedist. Thank you.

[ It cuts off abruptly. Reid can do public speaking, but it's far from his favorite past time. ]

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[ More honestly, ] It's uh, crossed my mind. But I should probably teach. I could do a case review seminar?

[ A short pause. Then he blurts out what he'd been thinking earlier, ] If I do, do you want to be my TA? I can take care of all the grading and course materials. I anticipate my primary difficulty being interfacing with the student population in... a way that doesn't make me seem like a complete weirdo.

There you go, that could work!

( In spite of herself, Lydia has to pause to smirk because, okay, that's the most adorable reason to be asked to be a TA ever, probably. )

Yeah, I could do that for you.

[ He lets out a breath now that all the excuses are over with. Good. Okay. Spencer just hates asking for help. But he's self-aware to know that other people, and especially the average college student, find him absurd.

He remembers all the blank faces he got last time he went with Rossi... Yup. ]

Thank you, [ he says wryly. ] I started college when I was twelve. I... have no idea how to relate to them. [ He tries not to bring that up too much because people tend to interpret it as bragging, but he already thinks Lydia will get it. ]

( Grinning, Lydia nods and then shrugs. )

No problem. I can see how that would stack the cards against you. I've got you, Spence, don't worry. I'll help you.

[ His eyebrows go up. ]

Thanks. You're the second person in the entire world-- broader multiverse-- to call me that. [ Not quite an objection. ] Actually... you remind me of her. She's our communications and media liaison.

...is that a good thing?

( For all she knows, he might really dislike that communications and media liaison and he's trying in his very Spencer way to find a nice and polite way to tell her to stop calling him that. )

Being reminded of JJ?

[ He looks surprised that it's a question. ] She's great. I... don't totally know how to explain it, but my team is pretty tight-knit.

[ That's called found family, Spencer. ]

Yeah.

( Realization dawns on her face. His team is his pack. That's all she needs to know. )

Like family? I know that feeling. Hopefully it's a happy reminder, then, and not a sad one.

[ A pack is really an incredibly accurate description for the BAU. ]

Family-- um. I have... a family already, but... yeah. I guess it is. I'd rather remember them than forget them, even if I miss them. And I'll be seeing them again eventually.

[ Reid can't help a glimmer of defensiveness around his existing family, namely his mom, who he always feels innately needs defending. He does have an aunt and an uncle as well, although he barely speaks to them-- and his father isn't worth mentioning. Literally, in his opinion.

But when pushed he can't deny that the BAU has become a real, lasting family to him, and every time they lose one of them, it crushes something in him similar to the way he'd felt when his father left. Gideon... Elle... he thanks God on the off-chance a God exists that they hadn't lost Hotch. ]

Work family, then. They feel the same even if they're not. My friends and I are like that, too. Like family even though they technically aren't. Sometimes when you have certain experiences with certain people, you bond like that, I guess. At least, we did.

In any case, I'm glad I can be a good reminder, then.

[ He smiles without really noticing it. ] That's great. I'm glad you have that. Even if it's due to high risk situations stimulating intense group social bonding. It increases the chances the survival, and you get friends out of it.

( Her eyebrows lift and she looks a little amused by that. Quite literally increases the chances of survival in the case of the McCall Pack. )

Lucky me, genuinely. I know a lot of people probably can't say the same. But it sounds like you can, with your work friends, so that's good. I'm sure it'll be awesome to see them again when you go back.

'High risk situations' [ he literally makes the air quotes with his fingers ] more than slightly applies to us.

[ His hands lower, and he fidgets briefly before admitting, ] I'm thinking of writing them letters. Obviously, they won't be delivered, but... they'd want to know how I was doing.

[ Also, he already writes his mom letters every day that he often doesn't send, so. What's a couple more? ]

( At that, Lydia looks incredibly endeared and that's because she is. Even if his colleagues don't get the letters, it'll be cathartic for him. ...come to think of it, she might actually write to her mom, now that he mentions it... )

I think that's a good idea, actually. I like that. I think you should do it.

Thanks for the approval. [ He's only a tiny bit sarcastic, friend-to-friend, Reid's way of playing off too much sentimentality. ]

[ Reid shortly reverts to form and says factually, ] Journaling has been shown to have many psychological benefits. I just find it easier to do with an intended audience.

Less approval; more encouragement.

( Yeah, she likes him. This friendship is going to work out really well for her, she thinks, and if she's really lucky, it'll work out well for him, too. )

That makes sense; it's cathartic. And an intended audience just makes it feel less self-involved an activity, so I can see the appeal there.

[ Reid has such a hard time making friends this immediate clicking is sort of spooking him. Of course, when he's spooked, his coping mechanism is to pretend absolutely nothing is wrong, so there most likely won't be any sign of this until he's completely over it. ]

Writing to yourself just feels... self-indulgent. Anyway. I should probably come up with a second class. [ He needs a whole list of things to do or he's going to go crazy from idleness. ]

Right, exactly, it's why I stopped keeping a diary by the time I hit high school.

( Well, that and, by then, she'd started having sex and documenting that seemed like a good way to get caught. )

Let me know if you want some help. Or you can stop by, we'll brainstorm.

[ Reid's read a lot of diaries at this point, including those of teenagers, so he could hazard a guess if pressed. But he generally doesn't try to profile actual friends, for good reason-- it's just different when it's part of his personal life. He can talk about strangers' sex lives no problem. People he knows... is another story. ]

Thanks. I'll probably take you up on that. And you know-- offer's open for the reverse. [ If she ever wants help and/or brainstorming. ]

I appreciate that. I'll probably take you up on it, too.

Let me know when we're starting class(es). I'll see you then if not sooner.

video | un: s.reid

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