realityshifted

Entry tags:

doctor who (d1) oliver day

[007]

[Oliver is sitting at the Astral Bar, a glass of whisky in front of him. actually, there are several glasses, but only that one is still full. he has one hand on it, the other holding a sky blue egg with silver sparkles securely in his lap]

[he picks up the glass, downing quite a bit of it before he sets it back down on the counter. sighs, looking down at the egg morosely] They might just lock me up, too, soon enough. [starts to pick the glass back up]

[but at that moment, as though in response, the egg gives a very loud CRACK. Oliver starts, setting the glass very heavily back down on the counter, spilling a bit. he watches the egg as a huge crack begins to form in its side, growing slowly until, with another CRACK, the egg splits open. it reveals a baby dwarf rabbit, which will look rather like this one when it gets a bit older. for now, it is tiny, its eyes are closed, and it's squirming restlessly. Oliver brings his other hand down, cupping the rabbit between them so it won't fall out of his lap. for the moment, he can only stare at it in awe]

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[She places a hand over one of his.]

I think we should start the lessons soon. Drinking is never a good way to cope.

[keeps his gaze on the bunny] We're visiting Sukhrit today. He's mad. I...felt it.

[and Sukhrit's madness is from his possession by the Puppeteer, which makes it even scarier to Oliver]

[She bows her head.] I know what that feels like. People who are sick-- really sick-- can make it almost overwhelming to be near them.

But you can shut it out so it doesn't bother you. And you can also use it to watch them, if you'd like. The same power that affects you so strongly can allow you to sense if they do something wrong.

[surprised] What, to...feel when he's done something?

Sukhrit's in hospital, though. He won't hurt anyone anymore.

I thought... [sighs] I thought he was getting better, but when I felt how he feels... [trails off, expression somber]

[She nods.] I'm not sure if your power is strong enough for that, but you can think of it like this: every time someone does something, it sends out a ripple of emotion, as well as energy. If you can pick up on that emotion then you can figure out if something is wrong. But... hmm. Maybe I'm moving too fast.

[Back to the issue at hand. She pets the baby rabbit between its ears.] The most important thing is your health, Oliver, so I'd like to work on barriers with you. While you're here, I can bolster them a bit, but I'm not sure if they'll hold off the Plane. It might be too far away.

[nods, very eager to learn about barriers after the experience he's been having lately] What do I have to do to make one?

Concentration, and I suppose-- peace. I think of a sanctum inside me that no one can touch if I will them not to. It's a figurative place, of course. Somewhere I can retreat to if I need to think. Whatever happens outside, you will always have that place, and you will always be able to control what happens inside of it. Some people imagine a brick wall surrounding themselves, but cutting yourself off from the world completely can have negative effects, since your ability to feel is connected to your environment. Instead of a wall, I think of a gate.

Mind if I show you?

[blinks, not sure what she means by that, but he's positive it would be easier to learn how to do this if he knew what it's like for her to] Sure. Go ahead.

[She nods. Again, she sets her hand on top of his and the bunny, even though it's not required. Oliver will find an image projected in his head, sort of like remembering a piece of artwork, except clearer. In his mind's eye, Sirkka and Oliver can be seen standing in the middle of a peaceful little town square. It's empty. The center has a small, comfy and serene fountain. Above them, the sky is a peaceful pink, and around them he can see endless fields of green.

In the vision Sirkka has her hands on Oliver's shoulders, and she leans down to whisper to him now.] Most people live like this, with their minds wide open to the influence of the world around them. But that's dangerous for someone who's more perceptive.

[The pink sky darkens to a deep purple with stars, and vague blurry shapes can be seen standing in the fields, each of them exerting their own fields of emotion. They are actual people standing on the Plane right now, and as long as Sirkka is touching him, she can let Oliver tap into her ability to pick up their thoughts and emotions.

It's not overwhelming though. She's obviously filtering.]

[gasps, surprised by the sudden projection] Whoa! Where are w... [stops himself as she starts to talk, listening carefully even as he looks around at their surroundings. nods] Open mind. Got it.

[as the sky darkens and the figures appear, however, he stiffens, startled again] Sirkka... [but he starts to recognise that he's catching snatches of thought and emotion from them, and he grows very tense indeed] Is this...is this what you can do? Do you see this many people all the time? There's so many...

[his eyes widen as something dawns on him from the thoughts he's receiving hints of] Wait! I recognise--is this the Plane? Is this real?

Yes, but it's all right, Oliver. I won't let you get overwhelmed. Watch.

[She brushes her fingers across Oliver's temples to calm him. At the same time, a very lovely brick wall forms around the little square. It's a half-wall, so he can see over it, but no one can jump over. Or even tries. In front of them looms a gate with white bars. As soon as the wall goes up, the pressing of the others' emotions and thoughts disappear. Oliver will still be able to /feel/ their presence, but nothing of their emotions or thoughts, unless he wants to.]

Do you see?

[at that, he can only stare] Yeah... [shakes his head] That's amazing!

I could...reach out, couldn't I? If I wanted to? But I don't have to.

Exactly. You can see them, and they can see you, but you don't have to fight your power and lose energy while doing it.

Here, let's try something.

[She lets go of him inside the vision and appears outside of the gate with her fingers pressed against it.]

I'm going to let go of the wall. When I do, you'll be on your own -- but if it's too much for you I can help you again.

Let me know if you get tired, or if it's too much for you. It should be easier without me amplifying your powers, but I can't be sure.

Whoa, wait! Do I just...picture it still here? Is that how it works?

Yeah. It'll still be here. When you're ready, I'll drop the visualization. It's just here to help you forge a connection between the parts of yourself that you need to make a proper barrier.

Will I be able to do it again? Without that?

[takes a deep breath, focusing on the wall] Okay. I think I'm ready.

If you can't, we'll just keep trying until you can manage it. It's okay if you can't do it at first, or if it's not strong enough. Just do what you can.

[She nods.]

Okay. I'm going to let go on the count of three.

One... two... three. [She lets go of the gate and it begins to shimmer and fade.]

[concentrates, willing the gate to stay there. it begins to grow more solid again] Oh!

[unfortunately, at his distraction, it disappears] ...damnit. [focuses on where the gate was, trying to bring it back]

[Sirkka just smiles. She presses a hand to the gate to help him speed up the process, and when he seems to have it again, she slowly takes away her support.]

You've got it. Just keep going.

[takes a deep breath, holding onto a slightly ghostly gate this time] You made it look so easy... [the gate grows more solid as he continues to concentrate]

That's because I had other people to learn with at the same time. [And because she's a godmode, but she doesn't say that.] Your powers are still new to you. Normally I wouldn't force this on you so soon, but you need barriers. As a child it's easier to get away with untapped or uncontrolled powers.

Keep going, Oliver. It's looking a lot better.

Working on that! Can I really get to where I can just...keep something like this up? [the gate slips a little again, but he renews his concentration. he's got it solid now, at least]

[She nods.] It becomes sort of second nature when you realize other people are projecting without realizing their own feelings. There's nothing they can do about it, of course; it's human nature to be affected by the moods of those around you.

When you're feeling stressed and you can't figure out why, just think of putting up your barriers-- like in this exercise-- and it should help. As long as you're on the Plane I should be able to support you. The more you practice, the more strength you'll have, too.

[nods, holding onto that gate] Thanks, Sirkka. This...it means a lot. [gives her a warm smile]

But I can't hide on the Plane forever. I'm still there--in hospital, with Anna and Sukhrit. I...I ran awa--damn! [he's lost his gate again. sighs, focusing to bring it back]

[and a returned soft smile] You're welcome.

[She just shakes her head when he drops it, and holds up the gate. It'll take him maybe half as much energy this way.]

When you're on the Plane, I want you to equal parts practice and rest. You're lucky here because the people who are powerful psychics shield themselves, and you can also ask them for advice... if you want to.

You need to save your strength for your reality, where I can't help you.

Edited 2010-08-09 05:17 (UTC)

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