engineermage | (no subject)

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Kale was not shy about his abilities. He didn't really mention them - because sometimes it's useful to be able to do things others don't realize you can - but he wasn't shy or ashamed about them. However, Kale also wasn't stupid. He'd been brought up with the idea that better to look like a fool and be prepared than save face and end up dead.

The ship was strange.

The people were too.

He couldn't tell what might set off an episode with his psychometry and while he did mention it to Guide, he did some investigating himself and discovered that there was a telepath on board who was supposed to be helping people. Which was good.

After letting Trever know, he made an appointment and showed up at the appropriate time with almost military precision.

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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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