session 13 . video

[chaotica]

[ Here is Cambridge, seated at his desk, if the word 'seated' includes sprawled with feet up and uniform jacket open, revealing blue turtleneck underneath. He looks very comfortable. He may also have a glass of Scotch. ]

I'd like to conduct a survey. Call it personal patient satisfaction, if you think it's annoying.

Ready?

Now: Pick three adjectives to describe me. Support your choices with evidence and/or reasoning.

Thank you very much.

[ Cheers. He takes an apparently very satisfying sip of Scotch, letting out a little ah after. ]

Comments

[no_tell_belle]

Are you asking people to comment on your medical skills or your personality? [Because she surely hopes there's a big difference between the two, given her opinion of his personality.]

[chaotica]

I'm asking for a return on my curiosity.

[no_tell_belle]

Well, you know what they say about curiosity.

[chaotica]

It's the root of every single scientific discovery and the cause of all human progress?

[ He doesn't sound as arrogant as usual. He's a little bit drunk, and sort of wistful. ]

[no_tell_belle]

Er...well, yes, I suppose it is. That wasn't the kind of curiosity I was referring to however.

[chaotica]

Did you know there are two parts to that phrase? Curiosity killed the cat; and satisfaction brought it back.

[no_tell_belle]

In my experience, posthumous satisfaction does nothing for the deceased; dead cats tend to stay dead.

Except on this ship, of course.

[chaotica]

It's quite difficult to evaluate posthumous satisfaction, all things told.

[no_tell_belle]

I take the inability to express satisfaction as evidence of its lack. Or at least, evidence of it lacking in any real meaning to the deceased.

[chaotica]

Considering how many of the living fail to coherently express their emotions, I'm not sure I find that convincing.

[no_tell_belle]

The living may not be entirely coherent in expressing their feelings but they do express them. Unlike the dead.

[chaotica]

They do, you are right. In numerous, confusing, wonderful ways.

[no_tell_belle]

Yes. [Her expression brightens because so much yes.] So many wonderful and surprising ways.

[chaotica]

Endlessly fascinating.

I don't believe you chose any adjectives.

[no_tell_belle]

I don't believe I know you well enough yet to chose just three words, and I would hate to label a man unfairly. [Fairly, yes, but not unfairly.]

[chaotica]

People are rarely fair in judgments. It's actually a trait that's allowed our race to survive: judgment based on first impressions.

[no_tell_belle]

That's one way to look at it, and I'm sure it's true in some cases. But many people are too quick to judge, and judge too harshly, often out of nothing more than ignorance or fear.

[Yes, she may have been on the wrong side of those kinds of judgments once or twice.]

[chaotica]

Evolutionarily adaptive traits in a hunter-gatherer culture are not as adaptive when it comes to a complex and multi-faceted society. Unfortunately. Humans move faster than evolution allows.

[no_tell_belle]

That's people for you--always in a hurry to get somewhere even if they don't know why.

[chaotica]

Yes. Indeed.

To whom am I speaking?

[no_tell_belle]

Where are my manners? I'm Venus. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.

[chaotica]

You name yourself after a goddess.

[no_tell_belle]

The goddess of love and beauty [and sex.]

[chaotica]

And sex. [ He's very good at hearing unspoken words. Also pointing out the awkward. ]

[no_tell_belle]

[She simply smiles.] Yes, and sex.