driftfleet | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: Everyone!!!
Broadcast: No
Action: The Iskaulit
When: For the rest of the month

[Now that we've all had time to settle back into our ships, let's see what's going on over on the Iskaulit! For the new folks, there are already a few establishments and projects going on, but there's plenty of room for everyone, either to join in or to build their own thing. So mingle away!]

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Might as well.

[She still has doubts about whether or not this plan will actually help her sleep but it's worth a try anyway. Climbing to her feet, she gestures for him to lead the way back to the Wonderduck. The trip to his ship is made mostly in silence while she tries to sort through her emotions now, with mixed success. Opening up to Daneel was a good first step in the right direction at least. Still, it will take her some time to reconcile with everything she's seen.]

[Daneel's bunk has been practically untouched since he arrived, but it's made neatly and as comfortable as any other in the Fleet. And it's easy to fall into this pattern of providing what is needed, hovering around a human in order to give them what they need, standing back unobstrusively when they're satisfied. It's what he is, it's his nature, and Beverly is a friend.]

Is there anything else you might need to sleep? A drink, perhaps?

[It's strange for her, being taken care of like this, to have someone hovering about to tend to her needs. Not bad, just... strange. Usually she's the caretaker and so finds it somewhat difficult to accept the role reversal.]

Some tea might be nice, if you have any.

[And while he's gone, she'll take the opportunity to divest herself of the fleet-issued jumpsuit and settle onto the bed in her tank and shorts, though she doesn't lay down yet. Instead, she takes out her tricorder - always by her side - and starts reading some of the letters on it, hoping that will help her feel calmer.]

[He returns with the tea on a small tray; supplies are slightly crude in the Fleet, but a cup of tea is manageable. He sets it nearby for her.]

Do you take anything in your tea?

[Shaking her head, she sets the tricorder down.]

No, no, it's fine like that.

[Then she pats a spot on the bed next to her, indicating for him to sit, before picking up her tea to drink.]

[He sits, watching her carefully. Honestly, he's not quite sure why she asked him to do that, but he does anyway.]

Will you be all right?

[Were he to ask why, he'd discover a simple enough answer: she finds comfort in the physical closeness, much preferring him sitting with her to him standing apart from her.

As to the question he does vocalize, she doesn't answer immediately. Instead she swirls her cup and stares at the dark liquid with a small frown. Then she takes a sip, giving herself another moment to think.]

A very good question. But I believe so. I've pulled myself through much worse things than this.

[For a moment, he's not sure whether to express reassurance or condolences. He's glad she'll be okay, but he's sorry she's seen worse.]

I admit, it seems that there is very little I can do in cases such as this.

[Oh Daneel. Her expression softens with affection as she looks at him.]

I know it's difficult not to have a concrete plan of action, but that's okay. Some things... some things, we have to just work through ourselves, slowly, however long it might take and however painful it might be. For now, your presence is more than enough.

Edited 2016-01-05 03:17 (UTC)

[That's a lot to be responsible for, just by being here. Still, he can do his best.]

Partner Elijah insisted on that, sometimes. He would insist upon going through something dangerous or difficult without help. It was difficult for me to watch, but to prevent him would do more harm in the long run.

[She takes another sip while he speaks, thinking how he sounds almost parental in his concern for his human friends.]

Believe me, I don't want to go through with this. Hell, I don't want to feel any of it at all and I wish - well, I wish a lot of things, but that doesn't do me much good, does it?

You will be safe. I am not certain how we will ensure this, yet, but you will be safe. This can be resolved.

[One way or the other.]

How can you sound so certain of that?

[He's quiet for a moment.]

I cannot think of the alternative. I must act to avoid it.

[At that, her eyes well up again.]

Daneel...

[Hastily, she tries to wipe away the tears with the back of her hand before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. The gesture is purely platonic, full of gratitude.]

[He closes his eyes briefly, pleasantly surprised by that, quietly grateful.]

I still think you should rest, Dr. Crusher.

[With a deep sigh, she tilts her head back for a moment, willing the crying to stop.]

I know. I just... haven't been able to, these past couple of nights. If I can't again tonight, you'll need to get Jennifer, so she can give me some sedatives, all right?

[Ah. There, Daneel hesitates. He has to remind himself that from her perspective, his mental abilities are nothing terribly unusual. It's still a very difficult thing to suggest.]

It is a very simple manner to... adjust the state of your mind so that you would be able to sleep. Friend Giskard often performed it for Lady Gladia when she was troubled, though she was not aware, of course.

[His abilities may not be that unusual to her but that... she does blanch a little at that particular admission. Not at the idea that such an ability exists, but at the thought that Giskard did this without Gladia knowing.]

And have you... done that here before?

Not here, no. It has not been necessary.

[Oh. This is. Awkward.]

Such tampering is not to be done lightly, in any case.

[She relaxes somewhat at that. Whatever her reservations might be regarding this, she knows he wouldn’t lie to her about it. Still, there is a pause before she speaks, though her tone remains even.]

I understand that it was different for Giskard. He had to protect himself, and I know that his intentions were only to help. But here, especially when there are so many others in the fleet with their own mental abilities… it would not be advisable to ever use that without the person’s consent. It’s… uncomfortable at best, violating at worst to have someone tampering with your mind like that without permission.

[She frowns, recalling all too clearly what Ronin did to her. But Daneel is not Ronin, is he?]

That said, I do trust you and I do think it might be of some help to me. Will you tell me how it works?

I am not in danger as I was at home. It is not necessary to tamper so that someone does not take notice of me. I understand.

[It really doesn't seem like a big deal to him, but he's... well, he's still learning anyway.]

It's difficult to explain it in words, as there is no language for it. The best I can describe is that around a mind, I perceive a tangle of threads that are constantly in flux. A certain texture may represent an emotional state. One thread may be taken and adjusted, and affect the overall emotion, and through that, even influence a choice that someone may make. Anger can be calmed, fear can be reduced. Someone's attention can be diverted. The more major a change, the riskier it is, of course. It must be done very lightly. Only very small changes can be made this way. There is a natural resistance humans have to such things. I cannot force anyone to do anything they truly would not wish to do.

In this particular case, I would merely pull the thread of your own exhaustion to the front so that it overshadows all else, and you would sleep soundly. It is very simple. There is no risk.

[She nods slowly. He's right, the process is not something that's easily explained, yet she believes she understands well enough. And understanding the mechanics helps her to separate herself intellectually from her knee jerk reaction. Whether or not he realizes it, the simple act of letting him use this ability on her is a testament to her faith in him.]

How long does it last?

How long does a mood last? In this case, it would last long enough for you to rest, and no longer. You would wake refreshed, as you would from a normal sleep. I would add nothing, Dr. Crusher. I am merely strengthening what is already there.

[And sedatives have side effects, and this doesn't.]

It is a natural sleep.

Okay then... then you have my permission to continue. What do you need me to do?