"Dr. Crusher here. If this is a medical emergency, please go directly to audio. If not, please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible."
I suppose as long as you didn't mind.... that is just not the teaching method I would choose. Besides, I started learning medicine as a child so I'm not too worried about any lack of formal education on your part. You're intelligent and motivated to learn: we'll cross any gaps we find when we get to them.
How far along did he get with you? I know you already know first aid, so we don't need to go over that again, of course, but I don't want to jump too far ahead if you're not ready yet.
[He gives a small smile and nod] Thank you, Dr. Crusher.
I'd hope I know first aid, I've been taught it over six times now. [Sorry it's hard for him not to snark completely] I studied under him for over two years while helping out in a clinic...so, a lot. I can send you a list of everything that's been covered.
[Laughing] Oh no! I promise, I won't inflict any more first aid lessons on you. A list would be good, and maybe show me which books you've been working from and I'll make a plan from there.
But you said there were two things you wanted to talk about?
Alright, so....in Paradisa, like here, people were pulled from all sorts of places and times. But if a person ever left, their memories were wiped of their time in the castle. In fact, it's very unusual that Ino and I remember it at all.
Anyway...over the years, I...got used to friends leaving and if I saw them again, they'd have no memory of me. And even stranger, often they wouldn't have aged a day since I last saw them, while I'd had aged years. Over time I grew to just...keep my distance if that happened. It was easy in the castle, the place was large and they didn't remember me so it's not like they ever sought me out...
[Most didn't, anyway. And it felt better than exposing yourself and being rejected by people you once treasured, over and over.]
...But some of those people are here now, in the fleet. And it's harder to avoid people here. So...I'm not sure what I should do.
[Beverly forms a tent with her fingers and thinks for a minute before responding. She's encountered age regression and memory loss before, but never a combination of the two. And unfortunately for Allen, there seems to be no fix here for this, nothing that will give his friends their memories of him back.]
No, I agree, I don't think you'll be able to avoid them forever. But, do you think you'll be working closely with any of them? Because if so, I think it is only fair to tell them - not everything, but enough so that they'll understand why this stranger they just met knows so much about them. It's too difficult to hide that sort of knowledge from someone if you're around them for extended periods of time.
[It's true. Allen has long accepted that there was no returning of memories, and sometimes, of the friendships he once hand. Not when so many of them had been fire-forged friendships built from shared experiences. Sometimes it was...difficult, to rekindle that forge.]
[But he mulls over his question.]
Well...one of them is on the ship, yes. Though I'm not worried too much about Katara. She has some memories of Paradisa, from one of her later visits. So at least she knows of me from reputation! Even if...I haven't told her of her previous stays at the castle. But she knows how strange that place can be.
[Yeaaah okay maybe he needs to work slightly on truth telling okay.]
There's others on other ships, though, that remember less. Do you think I'd be working closely with them enough that I should tell them...?
I think you should still talk to her about it. Katara's very sensible, and since she remembers at least some of what happened to her there, I'm sure she'll understand where you're coming from. It's possible she might even be running into similar problems herself, if there really are that many of you from Paradisa.
[Which... is another oddity to be contemplated later. The connection between Drift Fleet and Paradisa seems highly suspicious to Beverly.]
As for the others, that's something you're going to have to decide for yourself. You know best your own working and socializing habits and you also know them and how they might handle such information. However, seeing as this is something that clearly worries you, being open about the situation will not just benefit them, but probably you as well. I can't promise that it won't hurt, but in the long run I think it'll be better than having that knowledge hanging over you.
That's...a good point. [One he can't argue with. Shit. Part of him wishes to- keeping an emotional distance from people has always been his way of protecting himself. Get close enough to care, but not close enough to get too hurt.] Maybe I'll try with her...see how it goes. Then...if it works out, maybe with others.
[he's not promising anything though. Since hey, maybe it will be a bad plan and someone will freak out. Who knows]
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How far along did he get with you? I know you already know first aid, so we don't need to go over that again, of course, but I don't want to jump too far ahead if you're not ready yet.
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I'd hope I know first aid, I've been taught it over six times now. [Sorry it's hard for him not to snark completely] I studied under him for over two years while helping out in a clinic...so, a lot. I can send you a list of everything that's been covered.
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But you said there were two things you wanted to talk about?
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Ah...yes. [He shifts a little] I was actually- hoping I could ask you for perhaps some advice. About something not related to medical work.
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Alright, so....in Paradisa, like here, people were pulled from all sorts of places and times. But if a person ever left, their memories were wiped of their time in the castle. In fact, it's very unusual that Ino and I remember it at all.
Anyway...over the years, I...got used to friends leaving and if I saw them again, they'd have no memory of me. And even stranger, often they wouldn't have aged a day since I last saw them, while I'd had aged years. Over time I grew to just...keep my distance if that happened. It was easy in the castle, the place was large and they didn't remember me so it's not like they ever sought me out...
[Most didn't, anyway. And it felt better than exposing yourself and being rejected by people you once treasured, over and over.]
...But some of those people are here now, in the fleet. And it's harder to avoid people here. So...I'm not sure what I should do.
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No, I agree, I don't think you'll be able to avoid them forever. But, do you think you'll be working closely with any of them? Because if so, I think it is only fair to tell them - not everything, but enough so that they'll understand why this stranger they just met knows so much about them. It's too difficult to hide that sort of knowledge from someone if you're around them for extended periods of time.
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[But he mulls over his question.]
Well...one of them is on the ship, yes. Though I'm not worried too much about Katara. She has some memories of Paradisa, from one of her later visits. So at least she knows of me from reputation! Even if...I haven't told her of her previous stays at the castle. But she knows how strange that place can be.
[Yeaaah okay maybe he needs to work slightly on truth telling okay.]
There's others on other ships, though, that remember less. Do you think I'd be working closely with them enough that I should tell them...?
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[Which... is another oddity to be contemplated later. The connection between Drift Fleet and Paradisa seems highly suspicious to Beverly.]
As for the others, that's something you're going to have to decide for yourself. You know best your own working and socializing habits and you also know them and how they might handle such information. However, seeing as this is something that clearly worries you, being open about the situation will not just benefit them, but probably you as well. I can't promise that it won't hurt, but in the long run I think it'll be better than having that knowledge hanging over you.
[
Hypocrisy, what hypocrisy?]Action
That's...a good point. [One he can't argue with. Shit. Part of him wishes to- keeping an emotional distance from people has always been his way of protecting himself. Get close enough to care, but not close enough to get too hurt.] Maybe I'll try with her...see how it goes. Then...if it works out, maybe with others.
[he's not promising anything though. Since hey, maybe it will be a bad plan and someone will freak out. Who knows]
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She smiles encouragingly.]
I know it's hard, but like I said, I think Katara will understand.