I can tell by the way you reach your conclusions: you're the director of a mental institution…

Jul 20, 2009 12:41

The Vesmier is in the front lobby of the Kashtta Tower, sitting and waiting for... several people, actually. Though he suspects the person he needs to be, some hypothetical figure of authority who could offer a proper procedure for any of this, for all of it, will not appear ( Read more... )

the vesmier, ruvin, susan ivanova, daniel faraday, suzie costello

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theb5mantra July 21 2009, 02:03:07 UTC
The problem with a truncated broadcast of psychic distress is that it tends to bring other psychics around, wondering what, exactly, is going on.

Thus, there's a very worried Russian telepath bearing down on the Vesmier's current location, because something's wrong there, and Ivanova's never been one to leave these things alone.

"Vesmier." She nods, a mix of formality and concern. "You were broadcasting. What happened?" Straight to the point, as ever.

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the_vesmier July 21 2009, 02:18:02 UTC
The Vesmier notes her approach and stands smoothly, hunting among the many formal, political answers he could give. Political formality is so often determining exactly what subset of the truth you want to present as an answer, and much as he finds it conceptually aggravating, it is occasionally helpful in protecting the interests of all parties.

"I was temporarily overwhelmed by someone else's stored psychic experience while attempting to render aid," he says - when one goes about shouting in a shared residence, one should be expected to provide a little explanation. "I'm sorry if I disturbed you."

Not that there's not a lot to ask about in that explanation, too.

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theb5mantra July 21 2009, 02:29:28 UTC
"...I see." Ivanova's had some training in politics and diplomacy, as much as she loathes both subjects... John insisted, much to her dismay. So while she'd have a lot more to ask, were this her station, and her people at risk, she bites back all the questions, save one.

"Is there anything I can do to help? You or them; it doesn't matter."

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the_vesmier July 21 2009, 02:38:52 UTC
He considers that.

So far as psychic ability goes, his is more than enough to handle the mechanical concerns of the situation. But that's... almost the problem.

"Your world had, I'm given to understand, a formalized code of law to deal with psychic infraction?" he asks. "I'm afraid I never took the time to study that particular subset of law in my own universe, beyond that which I was required to know."

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theb5mantra July 28 2009, 17:06:28 UTC
This isn't good. This isn't good at all. As firm as Ivanova's usual bearing is, most people might not notice when she goes absolutely rigid in response to that question, but she does.

"Usually," she says, keeping a very careful neutrality in her voice, "the Psi Corps dealt with... infractions. EarthGov could only set the rules; the Corps enforced them." And just how much she dislikes that leaks through... The Corps was untouchable, free to destroy lives, to deal out their own dubious brand of justice when someone broke the rules... Unless it was a Psi Cop, of course. Psi Cops liked to think of themselves as above annoying little things like the law.

"I'll tell you what I can, though. I've made some study of the subject." Know your enemy.For what little consolation it might provide, none of Ivanova's anger is directed at the Vesmier -- it's far older than that, the anger of someone who's seen injustice take place again and again, with no real recourse. Depending on the nature of the infraction, though... Well, she might just have a ( ... )

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the_vesmier July 28 2009, 22:51:10 UTC
"My own world was rather uncompromising," the Vesmier says. "And the laws themselves more comprehensive and nuanced than most aspects of civil law. Rated psychics were compelled to demonstrate comprehension of the basics of psychic conduct, but as for handling deviations from that..."

He shakes his head; an oddly human gesture. Maybe he's becoming naturalized, here; he wouldn't have thought of having this conversation with a human, more than likely, a year ago.

"For a hypothetical of any real complexity, I have very little frame of reference."

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