Astrophobia

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

[Jonathan Crane, PhD, scans the Plane with bespectacled eyes in his very nice suit. To all appearances, the Plane has just won itself a new university professor]

Acrophobia would hardly be an irrational fear at present. Indeed, it would be very [takes a step] very [another step] practical. This is possibly one of the very few instances in a normal individual’s life where siderophobia might be considered rational as well. And so they would cease to be phobias.

Incongruous but coherent structure... far too lucid to be any breed of hallucination or dream. The idea of it being true space is out of the question, of course.

[picks up a discarded hat, examining it] The two most likely options are thus illusion or reality. I wonder which it is. [sets the hat down again and carries on his way]

Comments

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

You're a very violent young woman, aren't you?

[oldoldghost.livejournal.com]

I am what I am... Though I prefer to think of myself as practical.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

Even so, knowledge is one of the greatest weapons.

[oldoldghost.livejournal.com]

...Perhaps I can allow that, it isn't the greatest though.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

What would you term the greatest?

[oldoldghost.livejournal.com]

[She drops off of the Plane and returns a few seconds later, carrying a sword] This is... Well, most swords are great, but this one is the best.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

I think I'll stick with knowledge. I'm afraid I'm not a very physical man.

[oldoldghost.livejournal.com]

[You wimp, but luckily she was taught how to fake!smile, LONG AGO!] Your choice, I can hardly fault somebody who finds creative methods of fighting after all.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

[Dammit, Jim, I'm a doctor, not a fighter!]

I prefer not to fight at all. 'First, do no harm."

[oldoldghost.livejournal.com]

[*Snort* Blaaaaank stare is go] ...What kind of first rule is that?

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

Primum non nocere is the command of medicine. It also can be interpreted as related to nonmaleficence, but the popular meaning is that as a doctor, my primary command is not to hurt others. Doctors are to save lives, not to destroy them.

[oldoldghost.livejournal.com]

[Blink] ...Oh, what if people are attacking you though? Can't you hurt then?

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

Legally, yes, and ethically, I imagine so. I would prefer to restrain them.

[oldoldghost.livejournal.com]

[WIMP!] Oh? Wouldn't it be easier to deter the threat?

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

To kill them? Easier, yes. But I would prefer the challenge of detaining them over having blood on my hands.

[oldoldghost.livejournal.com]

Not always, sometimes bringing a creature to their death can be incredibly challenging.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

And when it is done, it is done. This challenge is more enduring.

[oldoldghost.livejournal.com]

Not as much job satisfaction though.

[handfulofstraw.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid we'll have to agree to disagree.

[oldoldghost.livejournal.com]

...Fair enough, I suppose we have different jobs and so different ideas of satisfaction.