(no subject)

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

Malcolm is in the bar, sitting by the fireplace with a somewhat somber look on his face. He's paging through a paperback book about the criminal mind and violence.

Well, at least he won't have to look far for source material.

Please disturb him. He's not enjoying the book much.

Comments

[agentjeanqualls.livejournal.com]

A tall beautiful blonde woman in a suit, looking very much like a stereotypical federal agent except that she's a bit young, seems to be checking Malcolm out in an almost predatory way.

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

Malcolm, thankful for the distraction, looks up. Hmm, someone new.

"Hi. I don't think we've met. I'm Dr. Malcolm Crowe. Malcolm." He puts out a hand.

The agent can see the book now: Why They Kill, by Richard Rhodes

[agentjeanqualls.livejournal.com]

She looks at his hand for a moment, almost hungrily, before snapping herself out of whatever thoughts she may have been having and remembering politeness again. At which point, she takes his hand and shakes it.

Her skin is slightly cold to the touch.

"Agent Jean Qualls. Call me Jean."

With a toothy smile, she glances down at the book.

"Hobby, or is it what you do with that Ph.D?"

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

Malcolm is surprised at first by the coolness of her touch. Then, for just a moment, a strange look on his face, but that passes quickly.

"Pleased to meet you, Jean."

"*Definitely* not a hobby. I'm a psychiatrist. You could call this part of my self-directed retraining for Milliways."

He tries to smile at that, but doesn't quite manage it.

[agentjeanqualls.livejournal.com]

"We have something in common, then. I'm a criminal profiler for the FBI."

We won't go into what else she does for the government. Not yet, anyway.

[hope-halo.livejournal.com]

Remiel glances up from his tape and popsicle sticks, raising an eyebrow at the title of the book.

"Light reading before bedtime, huh?"

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

Malcolm looks up, then shakes his head at the book.

"Not exactly."

"Light research, actually. I've been putting this subject off for a while, but I have a feeling I'll be dealing with patients very soon--. Well, I think books like this will be relevent."

He sighs.

[hope-halo.livejournal.com]

"Patients? Ah. Doctor of some kind, then," Remiel remarks, nodding. "I'm, ah, impressed with your dedication. From what I've seen, most put their professions away here."

Well, the normal professions, anyway. He grins.

"I'm Remiel, by the way."

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

Malcolm smiles in greeting, but also shrugs.

"Pleased to meet you, Remiel. My name is Malcolm Crowe. But please, call me Malcolm."

"Doctor and psychiatrist, actually. I don't know--the way I see it, helping people is what I've always tried to do. Coming here is--. Changes everything. But I don't see any reason for it to change that. But I certainly thank you for the compliment."

[arch-sariel.livejournal.com]

And then there are a pair of arms wrapped around Remiel's shoulders, and they are to both familliar, as are the pair of hands.

"Hello, my darlings."

The only thing different about Sariel is she's wearing normal-for-a-normal-person clothing, and her wings are, shockingly, not out.

[devils-dandy.livejournal.com]

'Parnasse is willing to disturb him... In more ways than one.

He saunters over smugly. Not quite as smugly as normal, but still pretty damned cocky.

"What are you reading, monsieur?"

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

Malcolm gives Parnasse a look very like his icon.

He considers asking the man, 'Is it Tuesday?,' but opts for being professional instead. Well, for a minute or two, at least.

This is also the only reason he doesn't reply, 'It's called a book.'

"It's a book about the criminal mind."

[devils-dandy.livejournal.com]

He frowns and bites his lower lip thoughtfully.

"And why are you reading that?"

"Dont you have to learn about..." He does not say, my people. "us before you begin practicing?"

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

Hearing Parnasse ask a perfectly good question nearly causes Malcolm to fall out of his chair.

"There's no one way to do it really. Reading is a part of it. So I can learn from other doctors what they've discovered. But, you're right, I have to also spend time actually talking to people myself, and trying to understand them better."

"Sometimes that can take an entire lifetime."

[devils-dandy.livejournal.com]

He nods. "I can see that. I'm really not so transparent, but I can't leave so until that door appears, I have all the time in the world."

He continues eying the book curiously.

[forsaken-bard.livejournal.com]

A rather beautiful melody comes from a bard in a black suit playing the harp. His music and voice as beautiful as ever.

When the blackbird in the spring,
On the willow tree,
Sat and rocked, I heard him sing,
Singing Aura Lea
Aura Lea, Aura Lea,
Maid of golden hair;
Sunshine came along with thee,
And swallows in the air.

Aura Lea, Aura Lea,
Maid of golden hair;
Sunshine came along with three,
And swallows in the air.

In thy blush the rose was born,
Music when you spake,
Through thine azure eye the morn,
Sparkling seemed to break.
Aura Lea, Aura Lea,
Bird of crimson wing,
Never song have sung to me,
In that sweet spring.

Aura Lea, Aura Lea,
Maid of golden hair;
Sunshine came along with three,
And swallows in the air.

Aura Lea! The bird may flee,
The willows golden hair
Swing through winter fitfully,
On the stormy air.
Yet if thy blue eyes I see,
Gloom will soon depart;
For to me, sweet Aura Lea
Is sunshine through the heart.

Aura Lea, Aura Lea,
Maid of golden hair;
Sunshine came along with three,
And swallows in the air.

When the mistletoe was green,
Midst the winter's snows,
Sunshine in thy face was seen,
Kissing lips of rose.
Aura Lea, Aura Lea,
Take my golden ring;
Love and light return with thee,
And swallows with the spring.

Aura Lea, Aura Lea,
Maid of golden hair;
Sunshine came along with three,
And swallows in the air.

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

As soon as Malcolm hears Asmodean begin to play, he closes the book and listens closely right to the end.

As the last note fades, he walks over to the piano, and rests his hands on it, feeling the last vibrations.

"A beautiful piece, Jasin. I don't think I've ever heard that one before. What is it?"

[forsaken-bard.livejournal.com]

Asmodean considered for a moment. His voice as cool and dry as it was when he normally spoke. Completely unlike his singing voice.

"I learned from a rather crass man named Joe. I can tell you nothing more."

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

Malcolm smiles. "A crass man with heartfelt song. Seems to happen that way a lot."

"How are you tonight?"

[forsaken-bard.livejournal.com]

He considered for a moment. His schizophrenia drove him to slit his own wrists again last night.

"Well enough."

[maydaybrat.livejournal.com]

"So, what's the verdict," a very dead prince asks him in amusement.

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

Malcolm looks at Mordred from the corner of his eyes, and smiles.

"About what?" he asks innocently.

[maydaybrat.livejournal.com]

"'The criminal mind and violence'" he grins.

[spooky-shrink.livejournal.com]

"Well. If you want my professional opinion. I think they're probably not things we want to encourage around here. Any more than they are already."

He grins again, then gets serious.

"Actually, this is long overdue. I've had some experience in this subject, but it's been a while. And since people here are started to look to me for help, I want to be sure I've refreshed my memory."

"As for 'Why They Kill,' I've only just started it. We'll see how the argument turns out."

"But how about you? It's been a while. How arey you?"

[maydaybrat.livejournal.com]

"Speaking as someone described as a knight...people don't have to kill for violence. And modern society is very prissy." Mordred shrugs.

"Alright. Bored, but that's normal. Yourself?"