WEEK 8

[bathymetric]

Good morning, passengers. Happy Sunday. Happy New Year.

Your numbers have officially dropped to single digits. One of you managed to kill the first of the major living obstacles to your collective freedom. A ghost or demon or something nearly killed you. It was a weird week.

The cruise continues on, roller coaster back up and running as ever, arcade free and clear of coins. The last free floor of the ship is open, as well as part of the top deck with... well, something you might expect to see way more on a cruise ship than anything else here. One way or another, you get a feeling you can't shake - things are going to end soon.

No rain yet, but the clouds are closing in fast above you. A cold wind blows during the night, sending the ship gently rocking. Around midnight or so, if you head to the deck, you can hear thunder in the distance.



SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

[ ooc: Welcome to week 8, everyone! Remember to turn in AC here and coins for regains over here! If you wish to get in contact with the npcs, Davy Jones is over here, and "The Captain" is over here! And as requested, profiles are accessible here. ]

Comments

[ltcommandroid]

[He nods.]

I have written a sub-routine to identify the sounds and designate them irrelevant, but that does not mean I do not hear them. It only means that a portion of my processing power is continuously devoted to them.

[cethflayn]

[Sub-routine.........]

They are simply illusions, right? They - they are not real.

[For now, it's only been cethleann the barest of whispers, but she can still make it out in dead silence, enough so that when it cethleann brushes against her awareness, she knows what it's saying.

It's only ever saying one word. For now.]

[ltcommandroid]

They are not. The Captain has fabricated them to serve his own needs - I am sure that they will say whatever he deems fit.

[cethflayn]

[A firm nod of agreement. They're not real. So...it's not anything to be scared of.]

But if other sounds do not keep us from hearing them...surely it could become troublesome, after a time. I do not have experience with this sort of thing to know exactly what to expect.

[ltcommandroid]

I do not have any personal experience with something like this, either. But I am sure it will become troublesome. If you ever need to discuss it, please know that I am available.

[and obviously he won't ever need to talk about any hypothetical feelings at all!]

[cethflayn]

Okay.

[A pause.]

...This...thing. Hearing voices of people who are not here. Is it possible outside of supernatural occurances?

[ltcommandroid]

It is. Any number of medical or environmental conditions could result in similar hallucinations. Why do you ask?

[cethflayn]

Honestly? I am curious.

[Also it's an excuse to learn about how sorely in need Fodlan is of therapists. What's PTSD, for example.]

It is a rare occurence, but, sometimes soldiers will claim to hear voices long after they have fought in wars. Healing magic does not seem to help them, so...I think the common consensus is that they are indeed being haunted. But if there are other explanations, I would like to know them.

[ltcommandroid]

[Data considers that, eyes dropping to the ground for a moment as he thinks.]

I am not a medical officer, and even if I were, it is irresponsible to diagnose a stranger. But given the context, it is likely that they are experiencing a form of post-traumatic stress. People who have suffered a traumatic experience, such as war, may experience biochemical alterations as a result of their experiences. Flashbacks are a common symptom.

[does any of that help]

I am most familiar with it in the context of humans, but most other organic beings can develop similar conditions. That is why many Starfleet vessels will have a mental health professional onboard.

[cethflayn]

[Oh this is fascinating]

Mental health...what sort of training is required for one to treat the health of the mind?

[ltcommandroid]

It requires four to seven years of schooling to obtain a degree, as well as up to four thousand hours of supervised clinical experience in order to obtain a license. By Earth standards, at least. Our own Counselor Troi went through that path, although her Betazoid heritage did give her an advantage.

[cethflayn]

How interesting. I do not think we have such a profession where I am from.

[Explains a lot actually.]

[ltcommandroid]

That is unfortunate. I am told that mental health is equally important as physical health, for organic beings.

[cethflayn]

Is that so? Hm...then, I think I would like to obtain books upon the subject to bring home. Maybe it could prove helpful.

[ltcommandroid]

I have not noticed any in the library, but I am sure I could make some recommendations if we gain access to additional resources.

[cethflayn]

I would like that very much, thank you.