PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION - SKALD
 

[Skald] :: Pushes button on Talt's office door control panel. ::
%COM% "LT. Skald reporting to Counselor/LT. Talt for examination, sir."

[Talt] * From inside * “Come in.”

:: Skald enters, coming to attention and saluting the Couselor.  Any facial expression is non-existant, and his eyes stare directly at Talt. ::

:: Lieutenant Talt looks up from where she is sitting behind her desk, a momentary look of distraction clouding her grey eyes.  With a quick shake of her head, she focuses on the man before her.  A smile warms her face. ::

[Talt]"Lieutenant, just the man I was hoping to see.  I understand that you’re the resident history and archaeology expert aboard the Chronos.  I’m somewhat of a history buff myself.  What periods do you specialize in?"

:: Lt. Talt turns away before Skald can respond and starts rooting around on her makeshift desk. ::

* A quick survey of her office paints quite a picture.  There are a number of various sized packing crates stacked up in the corner of the office.  Some of them are half-open and spilling out a wide variety of items.  Datapads, antiques, holo-cubes and a large number of brightly colored fabric somethings drape over the crates. *

* Lt. Talt's desk is likewise cluttered and jumbled with things teetering dangerously near the desk edge.  Among the datapads and scarfs on her desk, Lieutenant Skald can spot a Klingon D'K Tahg, a small metal flute, a stuffed doll, a miniture of an Excalibur class starship, two silver enameled plates, a copper and silver necklace with a large tear-dropped shaped pendant, a small fern in clay pot, three small books, and a small statue of a wooden horse.  There are a number of other items too obscured by the general clutter to make out. *

[Skald]:: assumes at ease posture. ::
"My History specializations include both Classical and Modern Eras of Vulcan, The Biblical Era of Earth, The Medieval/Renaissance years of the Western Hemisphere of Earth, and the 18th thru 21st Centuries of Earth.   Further, I also specialize in the History of Music from these same periods.   Sir."  :: (recited without blinking or pausing) ::

[Talt]"Where are they?  Where are they?"

[Skald]:: looks around the cluttered room, eyeing the flute on Talt's desk, and lingering on each of the antiques. ::  ~~interesting, another collector...~~  "Sir if you inform me as to what you seek, I shall attempt to assist you."

:: Lieutenant Talt mutters to herself as she searches through the clutter.  Her actions disturb the clutter and several items drop off her desk onto the grey carpeted floor.  Mirifice glances briefly at the fallen junk, shrugs, and continues with her search.  After a few seconds, she finds what she's looking for and turns back to Lieutenant Skald.  Proudly displayed in her hands, is a medium sized blue plate holding 6 large cookies. ::

[Talt] “Would you like a cookie, Lieutenant?  I replicated them from my own recipe.”

:: Lieutenant Talt smiles up at Lieutenant Skald. ::

[Skald] "Thank you, sir."  :: accepts a cookie, and takes a bite, chewing thoroughly. ::

:: Talt turns and replaces the plate on her desk, this time disturbing nothing.  She leans back against the edge of the desk and smiles up at Lt. Skald. ::

[Talt] “Hmm-mm.  Not much cross-over there.  Which I suppose is good for the ship, but I guess we’ll just have to do comparison chatting.  I’ve dabbled in a little ancient Klingon, Classical Betazed, Earth: Classical Medditerranean, Ancient thru pre-Industrial Eastern Hemisphere, and Pre-Industrial Europe.  Of course, I’m just an amateur with a little training.  Not a full education like yourself.  Also, my focus was a little more martial than musical.  But, still I suppose we could always talk about Marches and Anthems.”

* Talt laughs to herself quietly. *

[Skald]:: hazel eyes staring at Talt, seldom blinking. ::  "Music _is_ one of the few pleasures in which I indulge, but my rather _free_ sense of rhythm prohibits ensemble playing, as in marches.  I do, however, have some degree of facility in many forms of so-called spirituals, and several other religious musical forms, including anthems.  I say so-called, because without spirit, music is not very different from noise.  But that is only one opinion, and there are a multitude of variables to consider..."
::Skald shifts his attention to the flute on Talt's desk::
"Sir, may I inquire as to the origin of that instrument?  Is it an antique?"

:: Talt looks pleased that Skald mentioned it and picks the flute up in one hand.  She holds it somewhat casually and walks over to the Vulcan officer.  Then she holds it out for his inspection with a smile and a look of reminiscence in her eyes. ::

[Talt] “This is a terisha, a traditional Betazed child’s instrument, actually.  Kind of like a Terran penny-whistle.  My little sister used to play it a great deal when she was younger.  When she was packing to go to the University a few years ago, I saw it in her discard pile and asked if I could have it as a keepsake.  Would you like to hold it?”

* The flute is approximately six inches long and maybe half an inch in diameter.  It has a reed-cut mouthpiece on one end and proceeds straight down its length to the open other end.  It is made of a silver metal and has 5 finger holes and 1 thumb hole.  While it is not tarnished, it is a bit battered and scratched. *

[Skald] "Thank you for entrusting a thing so precious to me.  I'm not familiar with the instrument.  Can you play it?"
 
 :: Talt shifts her eyes from the flute to Skald’s eyes. ::

:: Skald's eyes meet Talts - non-threateningly, yet emotionless. ::

[Talt] “I’m afraid I don’t play myself.  I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.  Whi-ich,” * Talt laughs gently * “I suppose, is why I’m so fond of Klingon battle hymns.  A good ear is not necessary.  But, conversely, I do enjoy a nice driving beat and Klingon musicians, traditionally, have a very strong sense of rhythm.”

[Skald]:: glancing back at the flute ::  "Ah, yes.  And Klingon music certainly evokes power, strength, or courage, much as do the Terran composers Beethoven, or perhaps Wagner... I, too enjoy a 'nice driving beat' as you say, from time to time.  The rhythm in that sort of music does tend to envelope, or encompass one's existance. However, I generally choose music with a more rubato style...  Do you know the term?  It means something to the effect of 'purposefully vague beat', or 'rhythm is subject to the performer's interpretation'  A phrase from the Terran 20th Century jazz idiom was
'make it swing, baby!'  Perhaps in a way, it is analogous to slavery and freedom.  'Beat' music would enslave one to the beat, whereas 'rubato' music would liberate one from the beat..."
::Skald again looks into Talt's eyes::
"But my musician-talk perhaps is boring to you.  Please tell me something of yourself..."

[Talt] “On the contrary, Lieutenant, there is nothing that I enjoy more than listening to people talk about their passions.  It’s probably why I’m in the profession that I’m in.” * Talt grins widely, inviting Skald to join her in the joke. *  “Your own insights about slavery and freedom being represented in muscial meters is fascinating.  I’ve never thought of it that way myself.  But if you have, that makes it of interest to me.”

:: Talt turns away and leans back against her desk again, facing Lieutenant Skald.  She smiles self-depreciatingly. ::

[Talt] “As for myself, what can I say? I’m doing the work I’ve always wanted to and I love it as I always have.”  * Talt’s eyes unfocuse a little and she looks off into empty space. * “I think . . . I think that sentiency is the most marvelous thing this universe holds.  And the way that people, ALL people, think and learn and create is just too . . . wonderful to
equately express.  What could one possibly do that was better than harboring and nuturing those people, those intelligences?”
:: Lt. Talt’s eyes snap back to the present and she shakes her head and grins. ::
“Sorry, Lieutenant, didn’t mean to get all cosmic on you.”

:: Just then, a chime from Lt. Talt’s desk goes off. Lt. Talt looks up with a startled expression. ::

[Talt] “Oh my goodness, is it that time already?”

:: She leans back over her desk and brushes a pile of scarves away to reveal the built-in chronometer.  Then, she looks back up to Skald with a sheepish look. ::

[Talt] “Oh, Lieutenant, I AM sorry.  I have another appointment in just a few minutes.  I certainly did not mean to waste your time chatting.  Do you think I could call you later and re-schedule your psych evaluation?  And maybe sometime after that, we could get together and compare other musical notes.”

:: Talt then blushes, her eyes get comically large and she raises her hand to her cheek.::

[Talt] “Oh, my.  That sounded like a pick-up line, which is not what I meant at all.  Excuse me, Lieutenant.  I guess even counselors are subject to Freudian slips.  I’m sorry!”

:: Talt begins to laugh at herself again.::

[Skald] "It would be illogical to be offended by you words.  I believe we probably see many things eye to eye, and I appreciate the opportunity to converse with one so professional as yourself. Please contact me when you wish to resume our discussion.  Certainly I would enjoy your company in the Officers Mess, or the Recreation Area, if you wished to continue our discussion over dinner or during excercise.  I will leave now, and
shall be in my quarters unless I am needed elsewhere.  Thank you Counsellor Talt."
::comes to attention, and salutes::

[Skald]::Suddenly remembers something::
"Oh, and Counsellor... thank you for the cookie... I enjoyed it!"

[Talt] “Thank YOU, Lieutenant.  It’s been quite enjoyable talking with you.  And rest assured, as soon as all this pre-mission madness is over, I WILL be looking you up to talk some more.”

:: Talt will stand up and escort Lieutenant Skald to the door. ::

[Skald]::leaves when dismissed::

[Skald] :: glances at ring-chronometer. ::