audio; when one can't sit still, converse

[auntyquated]

How refreshing! To take a day to celebrate the birthdays of two former leaders in such a country, and so soon after a celebration of love. These varieties of holidays and celebrations are quite fascinating. Romance! ( A wistful sigh. ) Leadership! That eventful foray by boat Miss Eden East was so gracious to make available to us. Whatever might be next?

( Here she pauses, but not for long. A fraction of a second at most. )

Which begs an interesting question of you, my fellow imPorts. What are the sorts of events and occurrences you find worth celebrating?

Comments

[auntyquated]

( She laughs, not sounding particularly girlish at all, for having a younger voice. Cast iron stomach is a new one to her! )

I can't imagine it is, Mister...?

[slightlyoffchilt]

Ah, Doctor. Doctor Chilton. I'm a psychiatrist, a profession I've maintained even through this universe. [With just a note of wryness:] Perhaps some things are meant to be consistent.

[auntyquated]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Doctor Chilton. I am Lady Sharon Rainsworth, for all the title doesn't hold the same memory here as back home. Psychiatry is something of a newly forming science in my own time. I must admit, I'm most curious to know what achievements one might make professionally in such a field, if it's not too bold of me to ask.

[slightlyoffchilt]

Ah. Well, then! Pleasure's mine, Lady Sharon. [Another born from nobility! But she's sweeter than Hans, so he curbs his resentment.] What an invigorating time you must be from, when psychiatry was still a nascent science. [And doctors had more latitude to get away with their own ambitions; he's somewhat envious.]

The vast knowledge that is required for psychological mastery is the most common accomplishment -- perhaps one not even noteworthy. But I've vied for a particular niche in the human mind, namely those of abnormal and criminal behaviors. At the time of my departure to the City, I was the Chief of Staff at the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane.

[auntyquated]

Truly? What a fascinating field of study! Surely not titillating, though one might believe people to find it so. To work with such elements... you must find it fascinating yourself. Have you found great reward in working with such criminal individuals? To be Chief of Staff, you must also be quite good at what you do. Does it ever frighten you?

( Asks the woman who used to spend near all her time with a repenting mass murderer. As things go. )

[slightlyoffchilt]

I, uh --[He clears his throat, somewhat taken aback by the surge of questions. He wonders how someone could maintain such energy; perhaps he ought to be flattered by the enthusiasm?] -- well. No, I'm not frightened. People like my patients, they just require a firm hand. Rules, regulations, and a few syringes ready with sedative. You know how it goes.

We rarely have incidents. [But when they do, it's lethal.] And I do enjoy working with the inmates.

[auntyquated]

I don't believe I do know, you'd have to inform me. To address the ills of people such as you do... it's something I've only encountered as possible and sought after in times far removed from my own.

Have you managed to help many of those poor, devilish souls in your care, Doctor Chilton?

[slightlyoffchilt]

[Beat.]

Why, yes, indeed I have. [Nope, not really.] At the very foundation of the treatment, they can begin to rationalize morality and their own chemical deficiencies. There's a lot of ground to be gleaned, with comprehending one's own identity and impact.

[auntyquated]

Are they commonly very irrational men, Doctor Chilton?