(no subject)
It gets pried out of him during one of those mandatory monthly therapy sessions.
"So what you're saying, Mr. Osborn, is that you're unhappy with how your life is right now." Tap-tap-tap goes the doctor's pen against his clipboard. "Have you considered trying to fix that?"
...has he? "My life, or the unhappiness with it?"
"Either one." A calm, bland smile. "Or both, even."
"I've..." Well, Hell. "You can't just say it's that easy. We both know the circumstances, here --"
"Of course. But you still have leeway for personal initiatives, even so."
"Such as?"
"That would be up to you." He flips through his papers. "It was.... Doctor Mereii, with S.H.I.E.L.D.... who recommended that you take up painting? Art therapy? Did you ever pursue that?"
"No. The situation got, ah... complicated, soon after. I can't say I really see myself as the painterly sort, anyway."
"Writing? You published a book, a few years ago..."
"Ghostwritten. I considered writing science fiction as a boy, but it never worked out."
"Scientific pursuits? I know you've arranged for Doctor Octavius to continue some of his studies here, monitored of course..."
"I'm not curing cancer for you." But he's considering it. Or something similar. Personal initiatives... "Something business-related?"
The doctor looks surprised, and a bit bemused. "I'm not the one to clear that with. But I'd have thought that this job was enough paperwork for you."
"Heh." He leans over, to reach his mug of coffee. "Point, though." He sips, contemplative. "I'll think on it? Anything's better than just sitting here and watching myself stagnate. If I do submit any kind of proposal, I hope I can count on your word in on the good it would do me?"
"That depends on the contents of said proposal, I think." Naturally, a testimony along the lines of 'you should allow my patient to try to kill Director Stark, he needs the exercise' wouldn't really fly. "But I'll make it known that you're interested in doing something, and that it's my professional opinion is that some kind of activity outside of your job would be beneficial?"
"Mmn. Fair enough." He glances at his watch. Hour almost up... "Until next week, doctor?"
"Until next week, Mr. Osborn."
"So what you're saying, Mr. Osborn, is that you're unhappy with how your life is right now." Tap-tap-tap goes the doctor's pen against his clipboard. "Have you considered trying to fix that?"
...has he? "My life, or the unhappiness with it?"
"Either one." A calm, bland smile. "Or both, even."
"I've..." Well, Hell. "You can't just say it's that easy. We both know the circumstances, here --"
"Of course. But you still have leeway for personal initiatives, even so."
"Such as?"
"That would be up to you." He flips through his papers. "It was.... Doctor Mereii, with S.H.I.E.L.D.... who recommended that you take up painting? Art therapy? Did you ever pursue that?"
"No. The situation got, ah... complicated, soon after. I can't say I really see myself as the painterly sort, anyway."
"Writing? You published a book, a few years ago..."
"Ghostwritten. I considered writing science fiction as a boy, but it never worked out."
"Scientific pursuits? I know you've arranged for Doctor Octavius to continue some of his studies here, monitored of course..."
"I'm not curing cancer for you." But he's considering it. Or something similar. Personal initiatives... "Something business-related?"
The doctor looks surprised, and a bit bemused. "I'm not the one to clear that with. But I'd have thought that this job was enough paperwork for you."
"Heh." He leans over, to reach his mug of coffee. "Point, though." He sips, contemplative. "I'll think on it? Anything's better than just sitting here and watching myself stagnate. If I do submit any kind of proposal, I hope I can count on your word in on the good it would do me?"
"That depends on the contents of said proposal, I think." Naturally, a testimony along the lines of 'you should allow my patient to try to kill Director Stark, he needs the exercise' wouldn't really fly. "But I'll make it known that you're interested in doing something, and that it's my professional opinion is that some kind of activity outside of your job would be beneficial?"
"Mmn. Fair enough." He glances at his watch. Hour almost up... "Until next week, doctor?"
"Until next week, Mr. Osborn."