Posted by Ensign Luna (Security Officer /RTF) in [Arrival] - Hope is a Thing With.. Claws.

Posted by Lieutenant Tal Abara (Senior Researcher (Cognitive Science)) in [Arrival] - Hope is a Thing With.. Claws.

Posted by Civilian Cerenity (Luna’s daughter) in [Arrival] - Hope is a Thing With.. Claws.
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻
[SNIP for the sake of legibility]

OOC: Yay! Picard wiggles. :)

---

“Research?” Abara inched forward, the base of her synthetic glass clicking shamelessly against the Admiral’s desk. She lifted her eyebrows in mild interest. “‘Research’ has many implications. Would you care to elaborate, sir?”

“Of course.” He mirrored her gesture, resting his elbows centimetres from her abandoned glass, and steepled his fingers. “I understand you served aboard Viking as her counsellor, until..”

“I was ensnared by an avaricious void?” Tal tapered her gaze to narrowed slits and delayed long enough to consider him. “A paltry was of putting it, sir, but yes.”

“And did your service aboard Viking alter the way you approach or consider psychology?”

It was a strange question. Tal’s service had more than ‘altered’ her practice. It tested every regulation and oath she’d sworn to uphold and transmuted the essence of her resolution into a weapon equally protective as it was lethal. Mors Vincit Omnia. Death conquers all. The lines between ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ had become so blurred and indecipherable that Tal had neglected them altogether. Viking hadn’t ‘altered’ anything - she flat-out obliterated it.

“No,” Tal hummed. “Viking taught me that ‘psychology’ is a term riddled with subtleties so vast that a single word cannot begin to encompass them. My service didn’t ‘alter’ anything,” she blinked, “it just left me with more questions than I have answers for.”

“What kind of questions?” The further he dug, the deeper her curiosity reached.

“When I was trapped,” her breath hitched, “I often doubted whether I was comatose. I wondered if my misery was a product of hallucinations or a mind so detached from my body that it tethered to some semblance of reality borne of memories. This lingering question of my being got me thinking…”

“Go on?” He tilted his head, eyebrows taunt.

“What we consider ‘real,’” she cupped an invisible token, “and ‘fake’ is so absolute. We do not allow for a grey area. But I do not think it’s that simple.” Tal hesitated. “The notion of consciousness is serpentine – we understand that it’s the product intrinsic and extrinsic factors developed over a person’s lifetime. But we don’t consider how those factors impact the fabric of our reality – or if our reality is autonomous. I’m not speculating different universes, which we have the empirical data to suggest may exist, I’m suggesting a difference of reality between individuals..” She tensed in her seat. “..and questioning whether we can medicinally manipulate reality as an instrument of therapy.”

“If I’m not mistaken, isn’t that the purpose of Kolinahr?”

“Not quite, sir.” Tal hardly noticed the smile etching its way into her lips. “Kolinahr is a type of desensitisation. It basically dampens emotional capacity to the point that such input is rendered insignificant and therefore ignored in the thought process. But it doesn’t purge emotions.”

“So, what are you proposing?”

“Trauma has lasting impacts on the amygdala and hippocampus, yes?” Tal prompted. “Simply put, it changes the way we process and respond to stimuli- the way we think, our reality. With therapy, medication, mindful activities.. trauma is tamed and we can help a patient restore functionality in work and their livelihood. This is perhaps the most fundamental psychology when treating Starfleet Officers.” She waved a dismissive hand. “But I’m curious about less… standard methods of treating trauma and other reality-distorting ailments. I want to know if we can.. reverse engineer the brain, almost like–” she was cut off by the sudden realisation of the Admiral’s wild grin. “What’s so amusing, sir?”

“Research, Lieutenant.” He leaned forward and clasped his hands together. “How interested would you be in pursuing this kind of research?”

“It’s not exactly ‘moral’, sir.” Tal furrowed her brows, clutching the cane nestled between her knees. “I doubt it would fall within Starfleet regulation.”

“I’m not overly concerned with matters of morality, Lt.” He assured. “But I am curious what your research could reveal about anomalous psyches.”

“Anomalous?” It was safe to say her interest was piqued once more.

---

Tal could not recall the last time she ventured onto a starship without a moan sending shivers down her spine or a leery eye stalking her from the shadows. It was strange. She became so accustomed to Viking’s idiosyncracies – knowing the endorsement of fear would only encourage their lust – that the notion of ordinary grew as grotesque as it was unwelcome. But winding through Leviathan’s labyrinthine halls with the knowledge it would afford her a new breed of “aberrant” gave a sense of.. content? (Peace was a terrifying word.) She had no idea what she was getting herself into, and that alone was unsettling, but she at least knew it wasn’t ordinary.

Stealing a glance at her PaDD, Tal took a brief note of her quarters assignment and made a crooked beeline for the nearest turbolift.

– Tal Abara, incoming Researcher

As Tal headed for the turbolift a small child came around the corner. She had long blond,hair bright blue eyes , and what appeared white and black spotted wings conning from her back. She stoped looking at the strange woman. ” Are you new onbord?” She asked.
Cerenity

OOC: Welcome aboard I could not resist having Cerenity say Hi. Feal free to ignore my response id you did not want anyone to join this thread or you can enjoy the creepy three year old.
Christina

OOC: It’s great to be writing with you again, Christina! And likewise. Cerenity was barely a year-or-so old the last time Tal was around, so this will be a surprise! – Trin

OOC: I know I recognized Tal.– Christiana

IC:

Tal lifted her gaze to the young girl, a flicker of nostalgia kindling in her belly, and smiled. Her face was achingly familiar – like an echo, Abara couldn’t quite place it.

“That I am,” she favoured her left side, “I’m Tal. What’s your name?” Tal leaned forward, her cane a balancing point, and offered a calloused hand to Cerenity.

– Tal Abara, Cognitive Researcher

Cerenity tok a step forward opener her wing with a small jump and a few flaps she was having infront of tall. Her wings silent at the move but now Tal would not need to lean forward. ” your voice is familiar. I’m Cerenity have we met before, and are you hur” she asked.
Cerenity

Cerenity. Where had she– “Is Luna your mother?” The words slipped from her tongue before she’d the chance to consider them. “Uh,” a bashful chuckle escaped her as she extended a hand to the corridor in a gesture to walk– or glide. “I used to serve aboard the Viking. Do you recall that ship?”

Cerenity just stared at Tal. ” I … I don’t know mommys name but sje looks like me and is a sacurity officer.” Cerenity said shee looked confused. ” Yes I was born on the Viking, iv been all over that ship I even drew a map of it that Included where those mean shadows were. Why do you sound familiar” she asked.

“I’m sure your map helped a lot of people,” Tal praised. Cerenity’s map was gift she doubted would go unnoticed by the Viking’s crew. Incidious and clever in nature, Viking’s shadowy residents were elusive and masters of the element of surprise. “I was a counselor,” she smiled, “I used to help people help themselves.”

” i don’t know of it helped anyone i drew it here its hanging up on the consulting deck, so dose that mean you work with miss Casela. She can be really scary. ” cerenity said with a smile.

“I think so,” Tal tilted her head thoughtfully. She wasn’t yet certain whether her duties immured her to the whim of science officers or the consideration of psychologists. Either way, she trusted Casela would be a frequent stop, especially if Tal needed a second opinion. “Is that so?” Her eyes glittered with mild amusement. “What makes her scary?”

” she thretoned to put me in the brig and she thretoned to have me taken off the ship and away from mommy” she said and both insidious were wildly out of contexts.

“Am I hurt?” Tal blinked, momentarily confounded by her question, before she realised how strange a woman roaming through halls by the whim of cane must seem to a young girl. “No.. no. I’m just a little unsteady,” she tapped the cane, “this just makes sure I don’t trip over my toes.”

– Tal Abara, Cognitive Researcher

” why are you unsteady, is it an inner ear problem i remember reading that in a book sometimes when there is a problem with the inner ear people and animals can have a hot time keeping there balince.” Dhe said as she landed Next to Tal. She followed.” Mommy is working at the moment I was going to go see the fish in the lounge. The Captain and I named all of them.” She said happly rambling about what ever poped into her head as they walked.
Cerenity

“You’re asbolutely right– inner ear problems can be little gremlins.” She grinned. Doctors hadn’t found anything wrong with her, beyond muscular atrophy and weakened bones, but she couldn’t discount Cerenity’s suggestion. “I’ll have to ask the doctor.”

Cerenity smiled. ” docter Theodore is nice im sure he can help you” she said happily.

“That’s a lot of fish!” Tal lifted her eyelids, her lips parted in exaggerated surprise. “What kinds of names did you two come up with?”

Cerenity rattled of adosen or so names for the fish some of them were named after people onbord this ship or the Viking others were completely made up she also told tal what kind of fish they were and where they were from.

Tal flipped her wrist to take note of the time. “I’ve got a few minutes to spare,” she hummed. “Do you mind if I visit the fish with you?”

– Tal Abara, Cognitive Researcher

” really you want to see the fish. Miss Tal did you know my dad his name was Loki” she said as they walked she fileted with her gold pressed latinum bracelet.
Cerenity

“Who could ignore an opportunity to see the fish?” Tal mused, mirth poisoning her tone like a bucket of rainbow glitter thrust onto a rusty wrench. “Especially with the resident affishianado?”

“You know..” Tal rubbed her chin, eyebrows taunt, and contemplated Cerenity’s question. “I don’t believe I did.” Her features softened at the sight of her bracelet. “Was this a gift form your Papa?” She inquired, softly.

Elapsing into silence, Tal paused by the turbolift and gestured Cerenity to enter first.

– Tal Abara, an old friend

No this was from my grandpa Mr Lazol he’s is the chife science officer on this ship he’s also a faringei, you know they have really sensitive ears and are obsessed with sumthing called profit. Apparently female aren’t treated equal in there society ethereal. Its kinda strange” she said without much thought.
Cerenity

“Every culture is different, Cerenity.” Tal smiled, softly. “What seems strange to us is custom and often of great value to others. We may not agree and we may not like it, but the least we can do is respect it, hmm?” She spoke with a tender hum tinging her voice. She knew Cerenity didn’t mean harm by her words – she was just a child – but she feared a little carelessness might get her into trouble… with the wrong person. “Mr Lazol sounds like an interesting person.”

” he is mommy did not like him at first, then again mommy doesn’t trust anyone i with i know why its make no sense” cerenity said.

“Mothers are masters at protecting their babies.” Her shoulders softened enough to mirror relaxation, but against all strive, Tal could never escape the hypervigilance engrained into her disposition. “I’m sure she was just trying to keep to you safe.”

“Which deck is the fish tank on?” Tal’s eyes glittered with something similar to excitement. Personally, she favoured frogs, but fish were a close second.

– Tal Abara

Cerenity quietly asked the Turbolift to tank them to the correct deck. ” I like fish ok but my favorite animals are birds whats your favorite animal” she asked as she leaded Tall to the lounge.
Cerenity

“Which bird is your favourite?” She followed suit, the click of her boots in sync with her cane, and stole a moment to think.

“Frogs,” a wild smile snaked up to her eyes, “when I was your age, I had tons of little frogs. Wooden frogs, ceramic frogs – which I may have broke playing ‘the floor is lava’ – and a bunch of stuffed ones.” Nostalgia eased her vigilence and offered a moment of peace. “My Mama used to bring them home from her trips. I didn’t get to see her much, but when I did, I knew she’d have a new frog to keep me company.”

Frogs had become so closely intertwined with the memory of her mother that Tal found comfort in them. And any source of comfort in this desolate world was an invaluable gift.

– Tal Abara