engineermage | (no subject)

Emma was wearing her best new suit. She'd taken a page from the fashions surrounding her, which mean she was in a blue outfit with a white square that began int he middle of her chest and encompassed the shoulder of her shirt. She still wore heels (white), and they made a delightful clicking sound on the floor as she strode out to greet her client.

Kale. No word about what his troubles were, yet. She stepped into the doorway, scanning the room with her eyes before asking for, "Kale? I'm ready to see you now."

"That sounds like an invitation for something else all together," Kale said when he came inside with a pretty pure County Cork accent. There's a bit of something else in there that tends to slide around over the words like he's shuffling through accents. Obviously, he's nervous and hiding it with jokes. Which is normal. It's not so much that he's going to be talking to a telepath though, it's that he's going to try and explain things that is utterly every day to him and likely not for Emma.

He doesn't know much about her world after all. And he's fairly certain there quite a few key differences between them.

When he comes in, his eyes do a quick dart around as if assessing possible threats, it's not a conscious thing he does, it's just complete and utter force of habit. Then he holds out a gloved hand saying, "I do appreciate this."

His joke gets a single, polite laugh. "That's Friday nights," she notes with a smile.

Emma notices his glance around and makes note of it, but she doesn't blame him. After the life she's lived she too checks every room for hidden monsters. When his hand is held out she shakes it firmly, like a businessperson. She points to a pair of overstuffed chairs across from her desk as she says, "Please have a seat. It's a pleasure to meet you."

With that said she takes her seat behind the desk and pulls up her notes on her PADD. "If I start typing please don't take offence. I'm simply making session notes."

"I'll let my brother know."

Not Kale's thing, not really Trev's thing but what's the point of having a brother around if you can't tease him horribly?

His movements are those of someone who is used to - or at least - expecting to attack at any moment. Not BE attacked, but do the attacking. When he sits, it's straight up for before slouching, with his elbows on his knees and hands crossed.

"That's fine. You'll probably need notes. I don't know how much of this you'd be able to remember."

Emma raises an eyebrow and makes a brief note on her PADD. "What brings you to my office today?" She would normally say that her memory is excellent if the person she's speaking to is of consequence, but she knows that her job somewhat relies on being kind. At least until she knows her audience.

He would totally say something like that.

Kale stared up at the ceiling for a moment, composing his thoughts.

Then he just goes straight through it. "One of my knacks is psychometry. And while I don't PLAN on getting knocked into a coma from accidentally using my powers on something a bit more than I can handle, there's no one for me to know which people or objects here might overwhelm me. And even if I did there's no way to be one hundred percent sure that I manage to avoid it anyway. Accidents always happen," he said tapping the side of his head.

Emma nodded and listened, her eyes never leaving Kale's face as he spoke. When he finished she made another brief note, then sat back in her chair. "So you're not here because your mother didn't love you enough, but because you need some sort of assistance with your powers?"

When she mentions the bit about his mother not loving him enough the image of a frighteningly fierce red haired woman in armor burning down cities with a bloody sword and a rifle flits through his mind, with crows and ravens flying around her like an army leaving a terrible swath of destruction in her wake. A great and wonderful swath of bloody destruction. And then lurking in the back there was the hint of another 'mother' of a powerful female figure dressed in raven's feathers with harsh features but radiating protection. Wings fluttering. Crows cawing.

"Yeah, Or at least help when things go out of control."

His mind is full of birds and bloodshed. Emma lets the image soak in, making a note on her PADD. He is, until the session is over, her patient. She will continue to behave as such. The destruction and mixed representations of his mothers don't bother her in the slightest. She's seen worse.

"Of course." Emma says, nodding once. "Helping people develop and control their powers is my main calling." She sets the PADD down and folds her hands on the desk. "Are you currently able to control your ability at all? I noticed the gloves."

Oddly, they're not mixed. They're two people. The Morrigan is acknowledged as the 'Mother' of the McCallum family and is referred to as such. The birds and bloodshed exist on the edges of his mind as something waiting to be unleashed. There are also other faint echoes of people in there.

Kale gives a bit of a laugh. "Mostly. I had an accident when I was younger. I touched something I shouldn't have. Mum and Nana told me I shouldn't... but my brothers, Grace and Rory dared me to do it and I was eight," he said. And kids are stupid when they're eight. "I didn't realize exactly what would happen. My psychometry was just starting to develop and then I went and touched an ancient standing stone which was part of the doorway to fairy."

That brings up a picture of drowning in a flood of personalities so ancient that they made Apocalypse look young, ancient, magic incarnate before humans even touched Eire. (Eire, not Ireland) just raw and uncontrolled, completely alien to how humans think.

Which all got dumped into an eight year old boy's mind.

There's a moment as something tries to surface, but he pushes it down.

She nods and considers him for a moment. She won't touch the memories he received or the something or other bubbling under the surface. She's nosy but not stupid.

After giving him a moment to let the memories subside she presses onward. "What precisely do you need from me right now?"

"I was in a coma for a while. A friend of the family," Someone just as old, of the earth and stone, "came by and was able to bring me out of it. However since he couldn't follow me around to help me out in case it happened again, he left markers in my mind for telepaths to follow."

There's a quirk of a grin. "I figured I should let the telepath know about it before something happened and see if you were willing to help in such an instance."

Because he knows going into his head isn't always fun, especially when he thinks he's someone else.

"Ah. I see." She nodded, making a note about the psychic markers. That would be good to know. "I am willing to help if it's required. I doubt anything on this ship is older than a few years, beside the people. Have you informed the medical staff of your condition? I'll need them to alert me if something happens." She doubts he wants to trust his life to luck again.

He relaxes. This is a seriously a big relief - no pun intended - off his mind.

"I certainly hope you're right about that one. I told Guide when I got my medical intake," he said, mental snigger of 'Mister Stringy Fish Face' in relation to the Wraith, "I may be insanely reckless, but I'm not stupid."

There's a pause. "Also, mum would kill me if I went and knocked myself into a coma somewhere in another reality."

This time there's no image of bloody destruction in his mind. It's a joke here.

Emma suppressed a smile at his thought about Todd. She shouldn't laugh at his thoughts, it was a little rude.

"I would hate to disappoint your mother," Emma says. Her tone is deadpan but she is smirking a little. "I should examine these markers and ensure they're sufficient for my needs."

A small bit of homesickness is also attached to the name as an image of a bright, cheerful little girl around five with a princess doll... covered in 'blood' and holding a sword came attached to the memory It was a name she would give the poor Wraith.

"Me too." This is said with all the warmth and fondness a child can have for his mother that he cares for deeply. Even if bloody murder is involved with his thoughts about her - which isn't weird at all. It's perfectly normal and expected.

Kale nodded. "I was going to suggest that."

Edited 2015-07-22 20:01 (UTC)

"Then we're on the same page. Try to think of what you think defines you. I should be able to find the markers easily." Giving him a thought exercise was more to keep him occupied than anything else.

She leaned back in her chair again, made a few more notes about his thoughts, then closed her eyes. With practiced ease she slipped into his mind, gently moving through it, looking for the markers and taking in the general landscape.

The landscape of Kale's mind is a duality. There's a strong desire for blood, murder and violence - but it's not just random blood, murder and violence, it's a very focused feeling, need, burning to use it to protect people. To protect people even if he dies. It's built into his very psyche to the point that he honestly couldn't see the world otherwise, likely not even wiping it would get rid of it. The violence that comes with necessary to protect people - the Monster on Top of the Bed. The Morrigan and her thumbprint on his being very strong.

Of an entire family like that, a small army well feared by others in their world. (There's the reason why he imagined his mother as he did at the beginning)

A world with gods who walk the earth, of magic everywhere, everyday accepted the idea of people here NOT having powers is as strange as the idea of people not having blood.

And then there's the other half, of a tie to the land - Eire - with a calming influence - Brigid tempering the violence cooling, like silver. Strong and protective.

Fighting against the raven feathers that try to spread out everywhere. Keeping the balance.

The need to protect, to help...

A man, old so old and world weary, earthy. Hazel eyes that aren't really hazel, but like autumn who is apart of the land in ways that no one else could. When he sees Emma gives her a nod of the head and beckons at her.

The marker.

Edited 2015-07-22 20:52 (UTC)

Emma moves closer, leaving a trail of ice and diamonds in her wake like breadcrumbs to follow back. She has no form, no real self here. The first marker (Or perhaps only one) is curious. The duality is as well. Most people have several natures but few have such intense separation between them.

In the physical world she took notes, keeping her eyes on Kale to make sure she wasn't hurting him.

It's really a survival mechanism, keeping the McCallum side so separate. Because really? People are uncomfortable with them in general. If they weren't contained it'd be even worse.

He can let out the war and blood at the drop of a hat. Even quicker than that, but until then he keeps it contained.

Don't let it bother you, the man said in a low gravely voice. He could read the phone book and you'd hang onto his every word. They've been balancing the curse for generations. They are the knives of Eire and they know it. Being a prince has made the divide a bit more obvious than the rest of his family because he must be the peace and the violence at the same time.

But that's not what you're here for, is it?

Meanwhile, Kale seems to be fine in the real world, though he's started absently fiddling with a knife. (Why wouldn't he be armed?)

Indeed it's not, though I suppose it is as well, in a way. My job now is to protect all of this. Her tone was clear as a bell, but very low in volume. She wasn't here to chit chat or leave much of herself.

The knife draws Emma's attention and for a moment she tenses. Another telepath might be vulnerable in her position and perhaps this is all a ruse to trap her, to destroy her. It certainly wouldn't be the first time. She considers withdrawing. It only takes her a moment to realize that he's not threatening her, but simply fidgeting. She presses onward, keeping her eyes on Kale as he moves.

The man, Rhys, smiled warmly at her. This way then.

He started down a pathway that appeared with rose bushes closely lining they way. A few beady eyed crows and ravens watching them, perched in the bushes.

If you ever lose your way, keep an eye out for thorns and that will bring you back to the right path. If any of the birds offer to help, ignore them. They will try and trick you into the dark places. You may be trying to help, but you're also an intruder.

Out of his head, Kale really is just fiddling with the knife, just twirling it around in his fingers like someone would do a pen.

Emma followed, taking careful note of the landscape and other landmarks. It's reassuring that he has telepathic defenses. I always like to know that the peopel I work with are well protected.

The birds aren't telepathic defenses, lass. They're the Morrigan's claws in him. There's very clear disgust in Rhys' voice when he said that.

The pathway brambles and meanders - and more than several times a branching off appears where there are no thorns and lead off somewhere. Sometimes the branches lead off to idyllic places other times to nightmarish ones.

He's not here now, Kale is in control, but there's an elf lord who lurks in the edges of his mind that occasionally tries to take control when Kale is weakened. I killed the bastard myself, unfortunately that didn't remove him from the stones that Kale touched and so he lives on in Kale's head.

Ah, and that's part of what we're looking for. It makes sense, now that she thinks about it. I've seen things like that before. Psychic parasites and such. Cassandra Nova springs to mind and is immediatley disregarded. It's dangerous to even think of that woman.

Is the elf susceptible to psychic intrusion? If he takes over he'll have to be submerged again before Kale can reclaim control.

The pathway starts getting tighter and more claustrophobic, with blackthorn trees now overtaking the rose bushes. The birds still follow them with red eyes.

Thankfully just an echo, really, in this case. The lord used the gate quite often and so he imprinted on it. And just like you can't really ever completely remove the markings from a sheet of paper when you erase the pencil, he hasn't been completely scrubbed free. Rhys said.

Fortunately, no where near as dangerous as Cassandra Nova.

That would require him to have a mind. Heh. Sarcasm. He's susceptible to a good punch in the face.

Happy imagine spot here. He really enjoyed punching that elf in the face. A lot.

And iron. I imagine that psychic intrusion might be possible, but I wouldn't recommend it lass. Unless you've had experience poking around the minds of psychotic ancient beings?

That all made perfect sense to Emma. The tighter path was easy to navigate now that she was using a light touch, but it would be a problem if she ever had to reconstruct things properly. It was good to be aware of that.

I don't think I can deck my patients, but I'll bear that in mind.

He's a McCallum, lass. Decking people is how they say hello. Get him to tell you how his parents met sometime. Rhys said with a smirking laugh.

The pathway, which is much easier to navigate now and will definitely be more twisty in on a bad day, breaks suddenly into a small clearing. A clearing just big enough for a barrow. This barrow had a huge flock of black birds on it perched in blackthorn trees and a pair of stone knights standing in front of a darken entrance.

What's this? Emma asks, moving closer to the barrow curiously. It must be important to be so well protected.

That is where Kale goes when something big takes over to protect himself. He built it when he was eight the first time it happened. Pretty impressive for a little kid, isn't it lass? Rhys gave a bit of a sigh. He should try and fight, but that first time just...

He shrugged. He can't make Kale do anything he doesn't want to do, after all, despite desires to do otherwise. He doesn't like to talk about it. It's a confusing part for him because a good chunk of his psyche is all about fighting and taking down the dark things. And yet he can't fight the dark things in his own mind, he has to hide from them.

Rhys tilted his head. You said you help with these things? Maybe you can help with that. He's been trying, but it's not something anyone in his family really understands and, as I said, he doesn't talk about it. Don't tell him I said that though. You can pretend like you came up with the idea yourself. Unless you want to see him turn as red as his hair. He chuckled. He's a good lad, but a bit infatuated with me.

This guy really is a mental insert of someone else. Fortunately he's got Kale's best interests in mind.

Ah, that's why you corrected me when I said the crows were defenses. Emma's voice is intrigued. I can likely teach him some defenses and more control. I was going to suggest it anyway, so it won't be difficult to hide your machinations.

She examined the barrow, making notes. Is there anything else I need to know?

Good. Good. Thank you lass. As for the birds, they're defenses, but for something else entirely. They'll come into play if any other god besides the Morrigan tries to take control of him.

There's a bit of a sour face.

Just a rhyme: "twinkle twinkle, little raven. Now it's safe to leave your haven". It's the password to get him out of there. A gesture to the barrow.

I'll have to ask him more about all that when I speak with him again. Thank you. You've been quite helpful as a guide The nursery rhyme will be easy to remember. I hope all this isn't necessary.

Me too, lass. He said. And if you don't feel comfortable punching Kale, ask his brother to do it.

Rhys nodded his head to her.

I'll punch him if it's necessary. Far be it for I to argue with what a patient needs She chuckled as she withdrew, her eyes focusing on Kale again. "I think I have what I need, but I'd like to talk to you about your psychic defenses."

"Anything he about me, especially embarrassing stories, is a flat out lie," is the first thing out of Kale's mouth when she spoke to him.

The knife is put away though, in a sheath on his waist that's hidden mostly by his jacket.

Emma laughs at that, despite herself. It might be unprofessional but it's so. . . familiar. "Don't worry, your dignity remains intact."

"Do you have any idea how annoying it is, to have a family friend who met your family the day arrived in a world centuries ago?" Really. It's ALL the embarrassing family stories.

ALL of them.

Generations worth.

"Right. So. You were saying?"

"I do not," Emma says with a chuckle. "My oldest family friend has alzheimers."

She makes notes on her PADD and looks up. "Psychic defenses might help you with your powers, and of course they'll help if there are any psychic threats as well. I strongly encourage you to consider learning them."

Kale made a face, scrunching up his nose at the mention of the training. This is definitely not something he likes talking about or dealing with. His lack of training, that is. Weaknesses aren't fun to admit, especially to someone from a family like his.

But then, much to his credit, he sighed and nodded.

"You're probably right," he said, running his fingers through his hair. "I'd be a fool to not at least try. And better to be a fool than to be dead from pride."

"That is generally how I feel about it as well," Emma said, evenly. "Have you attempted to learn before?"

"More for my technomancy than anything else. It's always been more interesting for me," Kale admitted.

"Alright then. Our session is almost over, so I'm going to send you out with some homework. I want you to study fortresses, castles, large walls, anything that says 'sturdy' and 'impregnable' to you. Pick one in particular or design your own, but know it backward and forward for our next session. That will be your first psychic defense."

"That's easy enough, I've done some of that research at home already to figure out breaking and entering those sorts of places. Nana says that nothing is impregnable, you just have to know where to look."

That is one of those statements that either you ask why he needed to learn how to do those sorts of things, or just let it lie. In this case, possibly better to let it lie.

"I do appreciate this."

"Then I expect you'll have very good imaginary walls when you return next. . . hmmm, next week? Or I could find you, since this is strictly speaking not a therapy lesson. Try to think of a wall even you couldn't penetrate."

"Well, I wouldn't want to take time away from official patients so you could just find me. I think I should be easy to find."

Emma nodded and rose to get the door. "In that case I shall see you soon. It was a pleasure to meet you, Kale."

"Yes, It was a pleasure to meet you as well," he said, "Even for not such important things."

He doesn't mention Trever. He figures she'll be able to tell the two of them apart. Even without a cat.

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As i write this a crow is strutting on the roof across from me

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