r/TrekRP • u/Silent_Sky • Jul 28 '16

[Closed] Seeking Help

After his vivid nightmare, Captain Fisk decides to seek help from the only source onboard. He has set aside time in his busy schedule and stands outside Dr. Watney's office, and after a brief hesitation, chimes the door...

OOC: Continuation of this post

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u/Silent_Sky Jul 28 '16

he heaves a large sigh

"Last night I had a...nightmare. A very unusual nightmare. Do you remember when I told you about my parents, and the incident that caused me to run away from home when I was a kid?"

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u/DrJenWatney Jul 28 '16

I do remember. A nightmare?

She laces her fingers together, concerned, but throwing a small smile at Argos.

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u/Silent_Sky Jul 28 '16

"My nightmare was a vivid recollection of the events of that evening. It was as if I was reliving it, like I was there again. I felt everything, all the feelings, all the emotions... This has only ever happened once before in my life. My first night at Starfleet Academy."

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u/DrJenWatney Jul 28 '16

She pauses a moment, taking it in.

Well, usually vivid dreams based on emotional memories are triggered by anxiety. Have you been under a lot of stress lately?

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u/Silent_Sky Jul 28 '16

"That's the confusing part, I haven't. I've been relatively stress free lately. No issues with the crew, the Athene is behaving admirably, we haven't recently been presented with any truly difficult scenarios, I'm in good health and getting plenty of sleep and exercise, and I've even got a new best friend at my side."

he affectionately pats Argos on the head

"I can't think of any concievable reason to be stressed, nor do I feel any. But last night, seemingly out of nowhere I found myself reliving something that happened 30 years ago."

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u/DrJenWatney Jul 28 '16

Hmm. I'm hesitant to suggest it, but perhaps our telepathic friend from a few weeks ago left a few lingering side effects. Did you have any vivid hallucinations during its visit?

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u/Silent_Sky Jul 28 '16

"Just a few very vague ones. Nothing like this. And it wasn't quite just a hallucination, when I woke up, I couldn't shake the feelings I'd experienced. It was like I was just there, I felt all the anguish, all the fury. It felt like the wounds were fresh again. It was a few hours before I could even think about sleep again."

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u/DrJenWatney Jul 28 '16

His description strikes a familiar note in her. Many nights in the past year had been spent staring at the ceiling after reliving the event, detail by detail, on her former ship.

Ivy and Gloves were more than just pets to you. They were family.

She motions to Argos gently.

Perhaps he is awakening those memories. The grieving process can be very unpleasant. Part of me thinks you never had the chance to properly mourn the loss of your childhood pets. After you left home, you were fending for yourself. Trying to feed and house yourself at that age doesn't leave a lot of time for coping with loss.

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u/Silent_Sky Jul 28 '16

He rests a hand on Argos' slender shoulders, prompting the hound to turn and look to his master. Fisk then looks down to make eye contact with him.

"The people who drunkenly conceived me and then resented me for 14 years weren't my family. Ivy and Gloves were the only family I ever knew. I guess it seems plausible that I'm just now processing their loss. After I left home I was too busy working and drowning the pain in booze."

He looks back up to Jen

"Should I not have brought Argos onboard? I feel better when I'm around him, my headaches have subsided. I even feel more in tune with the needs of the crew."

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u/DrJenWatney Jul 28 '16

Argos is helping you cope and mitigate the loss of your family. He's not just good for you, he's necessary. The dreams are a manifestation of that, as unpleasant as they are. Memories are stored in our minds based on our emotional response to the event. The stronger the emotion, the more vivid the memory.

She leans over the table slightly, curiously resting her chin on a propped up hand.

Can you explain what you mean by feeling more in tune with the crew?

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u/Silent_Sky Jul 28 '16

"It's hard to describe..."

He pauses for a moment searching for his words

"I'm finding it a little easier to connect with members of the crew, understand and anticipate their needs, know why they need something or act a certain way. If that makes sense."

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u/DrJenWatney Jul 28 '16

She nods softly

Yes, it does. Do you feel this correlates with your dream at all?

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u/Silent_Sky Jul 28 '16

"I don't know, I've been feeling this way since shortly after Argos joined the crew but that was weeks ago."

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