Shanodin
Major
The Chamberlain, Her Chivalrous Immensity, Lady Botanica. The Unyielding Vanquisher of Weed Killer
This is NOT her field of dreams
Posts: 700
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Post by Shanodin on Jun 8, 2011 19:41:44 GMT -5
You sharpen those swords ninja-boy. The Notorious Salad of Doom is ready to go a round whenever you are. Botanica watches Drift stalk off in a sulk with no small amount of annoyance. Once Drift has been sent to sit in the corner is out of the immediate vicinity, Botanica turns back to Perceptor, and for a moment it looks like she's about to start lashing into him again. Instead she sighs and presses the heels of one set of hands to her eyes. "Blasted stress induced headaches," she grumbles as she reaches back with a vine and pulls her chair closer to Perceptor. "All right," she continues, her tone much closer to a conversational level, "Perceptor, just... start from there. Please tell me there's a misunderstanding here and Sentinel really didn't give himself an emotional lobotomy?"
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 8, 2011 20:47:07 GMT -5
There is actually a shred of veiled amusement tickling the edges of Perceptor's expression as he watches Drift's... display. Over the intervening months since Drift's arrival, Perceptor has become somewhat accustomed to the swordsmech's outbursts, and they actually encourage him, rather than put him off. In Perceptor's mind, sulking means Drift cares. Perhaps he olny cares not to be sent away, but, still, it is a step.
Once Drift is otherwise occupied, he turns back to Botanica and pulls out a stool for himself.
"No misunderstanding," he replies evenly. "Although, as he explained it, it was not a complete, as you say, 'emotional lobotomy'. He merely restricted some of his more negative emotional responses: primarily fear. Otherwise, I doubt that he would be spending any time at all with you, regardless of his orders."
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Shanodin
Major
The Chamberlain, Her Chivalrous Immensity, Lady Botanica. The Unyielding Vanquisher of Weed Killer
This is NOT her field of dreams
Posts: 700
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Post by Shanodin on Jun 10, 2011 20:17:37 GMT -5
"Perhaps he would not seek me out, but I think you underestimate Sentinel's desire to impress members of command," Botanica counters, "I did interact with him prior to this, and while he was certainly more... cautious, he did not run screaming into the night. Mayday reacted worse than he did upon our first meeting, for that matter."
"I also disagree with the assertion that it is simply the negative pathways that have been disruptive. Even in pleasant situations, he has to stop and think about his response in order to seem 'normal'. There's always a... lag of sort between his receiving external stimuli of any sort and responding. It is minimal, and really not so noticeable in group situations, but once you know him, it is obviously there. I wonder how Elita and Optimus at least have not come to us concerned about it."
Botanica folds her hands in her lap, looks directly at Perceptor, and continues. "However, without reviewing the actual data and pathways, I can't speak with as much authority as someone who looked at them in depth." Her even tone is a match to Perceptor's though perhaps just a shade cool.
"There is also the fact that emotions that would be included in a so-called 'negative' set also tend to be emotions that rule our mental filters. A person without them would have difficulty working within a society's code of ethics."
"And I have already mentioned the subject matter Sentinel and I tend to discuss."
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 19, 2011 21:05:45 GMT -5
Perceptor does underestimate Sentinel's desire to impress members of command, mainly because, well... for one thing, he's Perceptor. Sentinel could paint his nose brown and Perceptor wouldn't get it. For another, he still doesn't really think of himself as part of command, for all that he's technically the SIC of Eng/Sci/Med, therefore, he just sees Sentinel's behavior as... well... Sentinel.
If or when he ever figures it out, and ponders back over all of his various interactions with Sentinel, he may feel rather hurt, and find himself wondering if it had just been his position Sentinel had been cozying up to and not himself. Hopefully, that will never occur to him to wonder.
"And you were not privy to the conversation we had regarding his phobia of organic life," Perceptor replies calmly. "Which was far more debilitating than he wished anyone to know."
"If he speaks with you regarding these topics, then clearly he is already aware of his own shortcomings and is actively seeking to mitigate them." He crosses his arms over his chest and eyes Botanica coolly, his body language every bit as confrontational and withdrawn as Drift's from but moments ago. He does, however, cycle a deep vent before forcing himself to uncurl, to lean forward, hands resting upon the workbench.
"It was your choice to notify those whom you wished that you had contracted Cosmic Rust, not mine, and your position on this ship is much more important than that of Sentinel's. Your condition was arguably also of greater impact than Sentinel's. Thus I deemed Sentinel's condition to be of his concern, and the concern of those whom he felt comfortable notifying. I was granting him the same courtesy and privacy that I grant anyone whom I treat."
"As for his responses to pleasant stimuli, I can assure you that those pathways were unadulterated. The only explanation which I may posit is that those responses are delayed due to disuse." Yes, Perceptor did just suggest that Sentinel... simply didn't know how to have fun before.
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Shanodin
Major
The Chamberlain, Her Chivalrous Immensity, Lady Botanica. The Unyielding Vanquisher of Weed Killer
This is NOT her field of dreams
Posts: 700
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Post by Shanodin on Jun 20, 2011 23:25:06 GMT -5
There is a moment when it looks like Botanica is going to launch into another tirade at Perceptor. The moment passes, however, her vines rustling as she gives them a good shake.
"Perceptor, I am the head of this division, and ultimately, the care and well-being of everyone on this ship rests on my shoulders. This issue concerns me, because I am not convinced that the alterations are so harmless as you seem to have convinced yourself. One must consider the mindset he must have been to have even done such a thing. "
"Now, I would like to see those notes, please."
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 27, 2011 20:36:10 GMT -5
Perceptor doesn't appear to be terribly concerned by the prospect of a continued dressing down. He had his reasons, and he will stand by them.
"You are the head of the division, yes, however, my medical skills, for all that I am not specifically trained as a dedicated medic, surpass yours. Thus, for all intents and purposes, thought you rank in the division, I would be the chief medical officer. I take my patient's confidentiality quite seriously."
He is, however, calling up the appropriate files that detail the entire conversation that took place regarding those alterations, turning the screen for her to read, even as he makes a copy to a small datachip for her.
"It was Sentinel Prime's decision to inform you, which he has," he adds as he hands over the chip.
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Shanodin
Major
The Chamberlain, Her Chivalrous Immensity, Lady Botanica. The Unyielding Vanquisher of Weed Killer
This is NOT her field of dreams
Posts: 700
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Post by Shanodin on Jun 29, 2011 20:15:27 GMT -5
Botanica takes the notes and begins perusing them while Perceptor makes the copy. She speaks without looking up.
"While I understand your point, you are not correct. To be the chief medical officer, one must also have experience in and be able to command others. Simply being an exceptional doctor is not enough. One must know how to access risks and threat levels, how to properly utilize and direct a team, when to be circumspect and when not to be."
She looks up, "Which is a skill, Perceptor, that I'm afraid you have yet to cultivate. This is not the first time you did not report a mind tampering in a timely manner."
"You are an amazing scientist, yes. But you are not a commander, and as much as you have taken up responsibility for this company's well being, it is my responsibility more so, until I die or Xaaron removes me from command of the division."
Botanica reaches over to take the datachip from Perceptor as he stands. "Thank you. I'll leave you to your experiments and your company." Her voice raises slightly, "I will also trust in Drift's discretion on the matter, as you seem to place high trust in him, yourself." She turns to leave.
OOC: Out of thread unless stopped.
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Post by Drift on Jun 29, 2011 20:58:11 GMT -5
Drift's been, as they say 'quiet. TOO quiet.' He's been listening, and watching, Virginia Creep over here. As she moves to take the...whatever from Perceptor's hand, Drift's up and crossing to the door. And blocking it, folding his arms as he leans against the door. He might have to practice manners, but he's got Scowl down pat, and he hopes it browns a few of your leaves, Botanica.
"You think you're a better commander?" Drift has a few thoughts on bad commanders. "Because, what? You come in and berate someone for making a decision based on conscience?"
He tilts his head, letting the back of his helm rub the hilt of his Great Sword. "Thought Autobots were allowed to have consciences. And freedom."
He won't stop you from leaving, but he will rev his engine as you walk by.
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 29, 2011 21:11:53 GMT -5
In that, Perceptor will have to agree to disagree with Botanica. The qualities she describes, he still considers to be the UNIT commander's purview, rather than requirements of the CMO. But she is no more willing to negotiate on that than he is, and he quite honestly isn't certain he can trust his temper at the moment to continue any real discussion. He will not stop her as she leaves.
Neither will he chastise Drift, though. Though Perceptor does not actually think that Botanica is a bad commander, the swordsmech's comments are strikingly similar to his own thoughts, otherwise, upon the matter.
He could be biased, however, by the fact that he disagrees with Botanica's base point, and by the fact that Drift is, once again, leaping to his defense. The former... well, just how common knowledge is Botanica's dependency upon the Biosphere, anyway, and how would the tables turn there? That could very well be an issue that could affect the entire ship, in the right circumstances... but it really isn't anyone's business but Botanica's.
And the latter... goes a long way to dispelling the general sense of frustration and anger Perceptor has been feeling since Botanica had begun dressing him down. Once Botanica is actually out the door and the portal closed behind her, he will finally speak again, murmuring a soft, "Thank you."
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