shrinkyohead (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shrinkyohead) wrote2012-03-07 08:38 pm
shrinkyohead) wrote2012-03-07 08:38 pm
Entry tags:
Application
Character: Abigail Slade
Canon: Original Character
Version: N/A
Canon Point: N/A
Age: 32
Gender: Female
History:
Abigail Slade was a Texan born and bred. Raised in a small town outside of Austin, it seemed that she would have the picture perfect existence with her parents and younger sister. As a child, Abi always knew a little more than she should. Her ability to read people far surpassed the level of what would be expected of a small child. This strange ability only grew as she aged.
During High School, Abi's powers spiraled out of control. Unaware that she what she possessed was a mental talent, Abi struggled to control her emotions that constantly shifted back, forth, and sideways for no explainable reason. She was diagnosed with Bipolar I Disorder and her psychiatrist claimed it to be one of the worst cases he had ever seen. Yet once in the psych ward her condition stabilized rapidly, resulting in her return to her parents. This was the being of Abi's trips in and out of multiple hospitals and clinics.
It was in the library of one of these hospitals that Abi discovered the real cause behind her mental instability. In a dusty book, she found a reference to empathy and empaths. The notations were short, but a light dawned as Abigail suddenly realized that the emotions surging through her so rapidly were not her own. It also made sense as to why her condition stabilized so much more in the hospital environment where not only she but the other patients as well were medicated to even out there mental state. The environment did not suffer from the excess of emotion the way other crowded venues (such as high school) did. Many incidents over the course of her life came into focus and she knew that she had found her answer. However, despite scouring every book at her disposal, Abi never found anymore than mentions of people who seemed to possess an uncanny ability to read the emotions of others.
She knew that wasn't the end of the road, knew there had to be a way to control it. There had to be a way to tame her powers or she knew the day would come when the tide of other people's emotions swept her under for good. Strong willed in spite of her repeated troubles, Abi would not accept defeat. Thus Abi's quest began.
The trial and error of the following years coupled with struggles to keep up in school and manage her condition was frustrating to the point of giving up entirely. Yet she pressed on, entering into a Buddist Temple one day. It wasn't enlightenment that Abi sought, but the meditation techniques - techniques of concentration and most importantly control. It was through her Buddist training that Abi finally gained a measure of control over her powers and was finally able to end her manic episodes.
She continued her meditation training and added physical training through college where she studied to become a psychiatrist. Abi's goal was to use her profession to find others with talents similar to hers and provide them with the training they would desperately need to survive. With the specter of her
suicidal thoughts from back in the days before she had control, Abi wanted to ensure that no one else would have to suffer from emotions not their own.
While Abi works primarily as a psychiatrist, she also helps in the development and research of pharmaceuticals used to treat mental illness. In her personal experience, she found that the right drug combination can help suppress the effects of mental talents while the person taking them works on learning to control them. However she isn't fond of using drugs as a permanent solution.
Personality:
The first thing that anyone is likely to notice about Abi is that she is a very controlled person both in words and in action. She is the type who will always think before she speaks or acts unless the situation calls for an immediate response. Even then she will almost always seek the measured response instead of a purely emotional one. Such discipline can give the impression of aloofness, yet Abi is all too keenly aware of the emotional state of others and her own.
She is a very compassionate person, especially towards anyone that she feels suffers a fate similar to her own. Abi has a natural and trained inclination to try and help others who are in a mental or emotional state of duress. While Abi tends to only use her Empathy with another's permission, she has used her powers outside of those boundaries when someone's life was on the line.
Because of her powers, Abi lives by a very strict code: she limits the use of powers on others, never seeks to use her powers to harm another, strives to locate and find other empaths in order to give them sufficient training, and never uses her powers for personal gain. Even using her powers in defense of herself and others gives her ethical qualms. To date, Abi has never had to break her code, though she has been tempted from time to time when the use of her powers would have eased her way.
However, underneath all of that careful control is the potential for great damage. If Abi were to lose control, she stands to not only lose dominion of herself but force others around her into the same state. The potential fallout will depend on the individuals and the emotions present in the situation. It is why Abi tends to keep herself at an emotional arm's length from other people and why you won't find her at protests, live concerts, or anywhere else with an emotionally charged atmosphere. She is one of those that has many acquaintances but few close friends. Her tendency to be so analytical can make it hard for her to relate to others especially if she has her mental shielding at full strength. However the alternative to keeping her mental shields down means that she can be affected and swayed by the emotions of another.
To those which Abi develops strong ties, she is a steadfast friend and confidant. Though her natural inclination is to slip into the role of mentor. Her relationships and interactions show the places where Abi deviates from the Buddist philosophy that she studied. She doesn't think that shedding all emotional attachment and feeling is the best course to enlightenment. Rather she believes that emotions themselves contain truths about the person and beyond, only through synthesis and understanding with one's emotional state can one unlock emotional perception. Abi believes that emotions are a conscious manifestation of subconscious analysis of one's self and one's environment. By learning to understand emotions and what they are trying to say, a person can expand upon their rational conclusions for greater accuracy.
Fears:
Loss of mental and/or emotional control is Abi's worst fear.
Self-doubt is a constant in Abi's mental state especially in large, emotionally charged groups where it could be hard for her to sort out her own emotions from others.
Claustrophobic and don't even come near her with a straight jacket.
Weaknesses:
Mental instability - While Abi has worked tirelessly to strengthen her mental state, the psychological revolving door upon which she road for years left deep scars. While it is hard to push Abi to the breaking point, it can happen and results are often explosive for her and anyone around.
Chemical dependency - Before gaining control of her powers, Abi relied heavily on a combination drug therapy to keep her check. This doesn't affect her much unless she feels like she's losing control of her powers and thus feels the need to get her meds.
Mundane Strengths/Abilities:
Analytical thinking/Problem solving - Abi has a very structured way of analyzing the world. Her training in Buddism, psychiatry and pharmacology reinforce this. She loves figuring things out whether it's the mystery of a mental talent or the Sunday crossword puzzle.
Martial Training - Kuk Sool Won and Hapkido with use of the staff. She's pretty good, but she's not going to be kicking off six walls with a battle cry right before ripping off anyone's head or anything. :)
First Aid some medium medical knowledge
Sensitivity/Magical Ability: Abigail is a skilled Empath. Her Empathic abilities break down into four categories. (if this is too much in detail, or too much in general lemme know!)
- Sensing - Abi can sense emotional energy from anything that gives off such a signature. This sense can be strengthened by physical contact. Empathic Sensing will clue Abi in to anyone/thing within her range that gives off emotional energy. She can 'read' residual energy as well (if present). I.E. A particularly well loved stuffed animal may still have traces of love or comfort upon it. Because Abi is a strong Empath she might even pick up vague images if the subject in question is sufficiently emotional about a specific memory or object. It is important to note that this is not telepathy. She cannot enter someone's mind and root out thoughts or images. She only picks up thoughts or images of sufficient emotional weight. She can usual ascertain who the emotion is coming from, the strength of that emotion, what/who that emotion is directed. Sensing is what also allows Abi to discern her emotions from that of others. There are five main limiting factors to Abi's Empath Sensing: 1.) Distance 2.) Strength of her shields - As the strength of Abi's shields increase, the less 'detail' she picks up. For example she might be able to sense love, but be unable to tell who is generating it. At full shields, Abi gets vague impressions unless she is in physical contact. 3.) Readability (the less human something is, the harder it will be for Abi to discern what she picks up) 4.) Time - the older an object is, the less likely she will get anything other than a vague impression from it. 5.) The emotional control of those around her. I.E. Highly emotive people/things are easy for her to sense while those who are able to control or suppress those emotions are harder. Her limiting factors do stack. For example at full shielding she could miss low emotional output or sense nothing from an old object.
- Projecting - Projecting is the art of sending emotional data into another being. The result of being affected by projection depends not only on the emotion(s) sent, but also the individual receiving them. In Abi's case she most often uses projection to help her clients recall a particular experience or set of experiences. Highly charged emotional projections can have physical affects. For example a very strong sending of aggression or anger could feel like a physical blow or elicit phantom pains. While she's never done it, it is theoretically possible for Abi to kill with this talent. However it would have to be overwhelming and prolonged The same limitations on sensing apply. Abi can only protect one set of emotions at a time - meaning she cannot send love to one person and hate to another - both targets would feel all that she's sending. She can, when properly focused, affect up to five targets at a time, even the slightest blip in her concentration will make the projection unravel.
- Control – Control allows Abi to manipulate the emotions present in other people/living things. She can suppress, redirect, or heighten emotions but cannot create an out-of-the-blue emotional response with control alone. For example a control Empath wishing to alter a state of love might suppress the emotion while cultivating an already present emotion of suspicion or doubt. It should be noted that this is not the same as mind control. While Abi can shape a person's emotional state, she cannot force their reactions to it: all she can do is try to manage their emotional state to garner the desired outcome. It is by controlling and manipulating her emotions that Abi is able to form a mental shield. The shield protects her from mental intrusion. Those attempting to see into her head will usually get a static feedback and 'pushing' anything into her mind requires either breaking this mental barrier, or finding a way around it. Same usual limitations apply.
- Creation – This is potentially the most devastating of Abi's empathic talents, especially when coupled with projection. With the talent for creation, Abi possesses the ability to manufacture emotions. Same limitations apply.
**Notes**
- Perhaps the greatest limitation on her power use is Abi. While she has little qualms about sensing and analyzing the emotional energies that are naturally given off, Abi has strict ethical rules about trying to get a deeper 'read' on people and only uses projection, control, and creation in needed circumstances. For example, she would probably use her empathic control to suppress emotions related to suicidal tendencies, or projecting a calming aura to someone(s) who is(are) dangerously out of control.
-Meditation - In a meditative state, Abi can seek to gain control of herself (usually with heavy shielding) or seek to use her powers with greater affect. The draw back of the second use is that can leave her open to outside emotional influences.
-Shielding and ambient emotion - Abi typically keeps her mental shielding up because (especially in large groups) emotional output can get overwhelming. Outside emotions that are exact or similar in nature to what she is feeling at that time can make it harder for Abi to separate her own from others.
Supply List: Cross pen and a bottle of water
Game Transfers:N/A
Sample RP post: Third person, at least 300 words.
Her heart thunders in her ears with the heavy, fast pumping of her blood. It can't override the screams though - her mother's screams. The pain and terror filled sounds rip through Abi's ears and send her frantic heart into overdrive. Moments after those screams begin, the smell of blood coats the air with acrid tang than hangs in the back of her throat.
"Please.... No.... Stop." Haunting words that are followed by raw animal sounds. No human voice should make sounds like that.
The words stop coming, but the screaming doesn't
Time loses all meaning - moments marked by horrific wails that break from a broken throat.
Blood and Bone.
The flash of the knife, curved and sleek in the air with coat of red that looks like paint on it.
The screaming stops and footsteps come closer. Her beating hear speeds up again. The air chokes her. No sound leaves her throat from the logjam of terror, guilt, loss, and pain lodged there.
Death has heavy steps against wet, dirty concrete. Blood runs down her arms from where she had fought the shackles - a tiny stream of red soon to be a river.
Abi jerked away with a strangled noise that might have been scream had she not been asleep. Her hand alit upon her heart to find an unsteady rapid pace. Nothing felt right as the remnants of the dream created by another's mind stuck like tar and refused to be banished. Immediately she sought to calm her mind even as she shut out the damp sheets and feverish heat on her skin. 'Breathe, Abi, Breathe. That's it - in and out, slow and deep.' She thought and with those thoughts came the will to force her body to obey. The alarm clock sounded out its piercing call, but she ignored it until the taint of now all too familiar fear became ephemeral and not her own once again.
It was going to be a long day.
Hours later she sat behind a glass with other people crammed into collapsible chairs. The press of their emotions against her shield wasn't enough to distract her from the man on the other side of the glass. With ten minutes to go, Abi didn't stop the memories of a young boy in hospital bed in a catatonic state. She remembered the phone call from a detective asking for her help. Abi had a reputation for helping those with severe emotional trauma. Her fingers smoothed a crease from her tan slacks and she watched the man with no expression on her face. Even though his expression - smug and satisfied - made her blood boil with something other than fear.
The boy, Allen, she'll never forget him, had been locked in a world of terror created by what the man in front of her had done to him and his family. It had taken exhaustive months of work to finally pull him out. The police needed him because he was the only witness, the only evidence they had, and
the only possibility to find more. With Abi's help the boy had come back to himself and helped put the man in front of her on Death Row. Today was the day and Detective Burkoff sat next to her. Her eyes met the killer's without flinching. This man held no fear for her, only anger. It was anger that steadily grew as the minutes ticked on the clock. She could feel his complete joy at death - secure in the knowledge that no one could never erase what he had done. Allen would never be the same and the people he had killed would never return. She saw the satisfaction in his eyes and the smug smirk that tilted his lips.
No remorse - only pleasure.
Abi could change that look. She could wait until they had put him to sleep and then slip different emotions into his final moments. She could expel that gloating sensation with wave after wave of Allen's terror and fear and helplessness. Her blood boiled and sang for her to take action - to drop her shields and force him to feel the boy's pain as if it were his own.
So tempting.
Rage thundered and she almost gave into the urge.
'Center yourself, Abi.' She warned and just like a flame doused with water, Abi's rage abated.
Yet when he breathed his last and she felt the final vestiges of his self-satisfaction fade, Abi felt no remorse at the passing.
Canon: Original Character
Version: N/A
Canon Point: N/A
Age: 32
Gender: Female
History:
Abigail Slade was a Texan born and bred. Raised in a small town outside of Austin, it seemed that she would have the picture perfect existence with her parents and younger sister. As a child, Abi always knew a little more than she should. Her ability to read people far surpassed the level of what would be expected of a small child. This strange ability only grew as she aged.
During High School, Abi's powers spiraled out of control. Unaware that she what she possessed was a mental talent, Abi struggled to control her emotions that constantly shifted back, forth, and sideways for no explainable reason. She was diagnosed with Bipolar I Disorder and her psychiatrist claimed it to be one of the worst cases he had ever seen. Yet once in the psych ward her condition stabilized rapidly, resulting in her return to her parents. This was the being of Abi's trips in and out of multiple hospitals and clinics.
It was in the library of one of these hospitals that Abi discovered the real cause behind her mental instability. In a dusty book, she found a reference to empathy and empaths. The notations were short, but a light dawned as Abigail suddenly realized that the emotions surging through her so rapidly were not her own. It also made sense as to why her condition stabilized so much more in the hospital environment where not only she but the other patients as well were medicated to even out there mental state. The environment did not suffer from the excess of emotion the way other crowded venues (such as high school) did. Many incidents over the course of her life came into focus and she knew that she had found her answer. However, despite scouring every book at her disposal, Abi never found anymore than mentions of people who seemed to possess an uncanny ability to read the emotions of others.
She knew that wasn't the end of the road, knew there had to be a way to control it. There had to be a way to tame her powers or she knew the day would come when the tide of other people's emotions swept her under for good. Strong willed in spite of her repeated troubles, Abi would not accept defeat. Thus Abi's quest began.
The trial and error of the following years coupled with struggles to keep up in school and manage her condition was frustrating to the point of giving up entirely. Yet she pressed on, entering into a Buddist Temple one day. It wasn't enlightenment that Abi sought, but the meditation techniques - techniques of concentration and most importantly control. It was through her Buddist training that Abi finally gained a measure of control over her powers and was finally able to end her manic episodes.
She continued her meditation training and added physical training through college where she studied to become a psychiatrist. Abi's goal was to use her profession to find others with talents similar to hers and provide them with the training they would desperately need to survive. With the specter of her
suicidal thoughts from back in the days before she had control, Abi wanted to ensure that no one else would have to suffer from emotions not their own.
While Abi works primarily as a psychiatrist, she also helps in the development and research of pharmaceuticals used to treat mental illness. In her personal experience, she found that the right drug combination can help suppress the effects of mental talents while the person taking them works on learning to control them. However she isn't fond of using drugs as a permanent solution.
Personality:
The first thing that anyone is likely to notice about Abi is that she is a very controlled person both in words and in action. She is the type who will always think before she speaks or acts unless the situation calls for an immediate response. Even then she will almost always seek the measured response instead of a purely emotional one. Such discipline can give the impression of aloofness, yet Abi is all too keenly aware of the emotional state of others and her own.
She is a very compassionate person, especially towards anyone that she feels suffers a fate similar to her own. Abi has a natural and trained inclination to try and help others who are in a mental or emotional state of duress. While Abi tends to only use her Empathy with another's permission, she has used her powers outside of those boundaries when someone's life was on the line.
Because of her powers, Abi lives by a very strict code: she limits the use of powers on others, never seeks to use her powers to harm another, strives to locate and find other empaths in order to give them sufficient training, and never uses her powers for personal gain. Even using her powers in defense of herself and others gives her ethical qualms. To date, Abi has never had to break her code, though she has been tempted from time to time when the use of her powers would have eased her way.
However, underneath all of that careful control is the potential for great damage. If Abi were to lose control, she stands to not only lose dominion of herself but force others around her into the same state. The potential fallout will depend on the individuals and the emotions present in the situation. It is why Abi tends to keep herself at an emotional arm's length from other people and why you won't find her at protests, live concerts, or anywhere else with an emotionally charged atmosphere. She is one of those that has many acquaintances but few close friends. Her tendency to be so analytical can make it hard for her to relate to others especially if she has her mental shielding at full strength. However the alternative to keeping her mental shields down means that she can be affected and swayed by the emotions of another.
To those which Abi develops strong ties, she is a steadfast friend and confidant. Though her natural inclination is to slip into the role of mentor. Her relationships and interactions show the places where Abi deviates from the Buddist philosophy that she studied. She doesn't think that shedding all emotional attachment and feeling is the best course to enlightenment. Rather she believes that emotions themselves contain truths about the person and beyond, only through synthesis and understanding with one's emotional state can one unlock emotional perception. Abi believes that emotions are a conscious manifestation of subconscious analysis of one's self and one's environment. By learning to understand emotions and what they are trying to say, a person can expand upon their rational conclusions for greater accuracy.
Fears:
Loss of mental and/or emotional control is Abi's worst fear.
Self-doubt is a constant in Abi's mental state especially in large, emotionally charged groups where it could be hard for her to sort out her own emotions from others.
Claustrophobic and don't even come near her with a straight jacket.
Weaknesses:
Mental instability - While Abi has worked tirelessly to strengthen her mental state, the psychological revolving door upon which she road for years left deep scars. While it is hard to push Abi to the breaking point, it can happen and results are often explosive for her and anyone around.
Chemical dependency - Before gaining control of her powers, Abi relied heavily on a combination drug therapy to keep her check. This doesn't affect her much unless she feels like she's losing control of her powers and thus feels the need to get her meds.
Mundane Strengths/Abilities:
Analytical thinking/Problem solving - Abi has a very structured way of analyzing the world. Her training in Buddism, psychiatry and pharmacology reinforce this. She loves figuring things out whether it's the mystery of a mental talent or the Sunday crossword puzzle.
Martial Training - Kuk Sool Won and Hapkido with use of the staff. She's pretty good, but she's not going to be kicking off six walls with a battle cry right before ripping off anyone's head or anything. :)
First Aid some medium medical knowledge
Sensitivity/Magical Ability: Abigail is a skilled Empath. Her Empathic abilities break down into four categories. (if this is too much in detail, or too much in general lemme know!)
- Sensing - Abi can sense emotional energy from anything that gives off such a signature. This sense can be strengthened by physical contact. Empathic Sensing will clue Abi in to anyone/thing within her range that gives off emotional energy. She can 'read' residual energy as well (if present). I.E. A particularly well loved stuffed animal may still have traces of love or comfort upon it. Because Abi is a strong Empath she might even pick up vague images if the subject in question is sufficiently emotional about a specific memory or object. It is important to note that this is not telepathy. She cannot enter someone's mind and root out thoughts or images. She only picks up thoughts or images of sufficient emotional weight. She can usual ascertain who the emotion is coming from, the strength of that emotion, what/who that emotion is directed. Sensing is what also allows Abi to discern her emotions from that of others. There are five main limiting factors to Abi's Empath Sensing: 1.) Distance 2.) Strength of her shields - As the strength of Abi's shields increase, the less 'detail' she picks up. For example she might be able to sense love, but be unable to tell who is generating it. At full shields, Abi gets vague impressions unless she is in physical contact. 3.) Readability (the less human something is, the harder it will be for Abi to discern what she picks up) 4.) Time - the older an object is, the less likely she will get anything other than a vague impression from it. 5.) The emotional control of those around her. I.E. Highly emotive people/things are easy for her to sense while those who are able to control or suppress those emotions are harder. Her limiting factors do stack. For example at full shielding she could miss low emotional output or sense nothing from an old object.
- Projecting - Projecting is the art of sending emotional data into another being. The result of being affected by projection depends not only on the emotion(s) sent, but also the individual receiving them. In Abi's case she most often uses projection to help her clients recall a particular experience or set of experiences. Highly charged emotional projections can have physical affects. For example a very strong sending of aggression or anger could feel like a physical blow or elicit phantom pains. While she's never done it, it is theoretically possible for Abi to kill with this talent. However it would have to be overwhelming and prolonged The same limitations on sensing apply. Abi can only protect one set of emotions at a time - meaning she cannot send love to one person and hate to another - both targets would feel all that she's sending. She can, when properly focused, affect up to five targets at a time, even the slightest blip in her concentration will make the projection unravel.
- Control – Control allows Abi to manipulate the emotions present in other people/living things. She can suppress, redirect, or heighten emotions but cannot create an out-of-the-blue emotional response with control alone. For example a control Empath wishing to alter a state of love might suppress the emotion while cultivating an already present emotion of suspicion or doubt. It should be noted that this is not the same as mind control. While Abi can shape a person's emotional state, she cannot force their reactions to it: all she can do is try to manage their emotional state to garner the desired outcome. It is by controlling and manipulating her emotions that Abi is able to form a mental shield. The shield protects her from mental intrusion. Those attempting to see into her head will usually get a static feedback and 'pushing' anything into her mind requires either breaking this mental barrier, or finding a way around it. Same usual limitations apply.
- Creation – This is potentially the most devastating of Abi's empathic talents, especially when coupled with projection. With the talent for creation, Abi possesses the ability to manufacture emotions. Same limitations apply.
**Notes**
- Perhaps the greatest limitation on her power use is Abi. While she has little qualms about sensing and analyzing the emotional energies that are naturally given off, Abi has strict ethical rules about trying to get a deeper 'read' on people and only uses projection, control, and creation in needed circumstances. For example, she would probably use her empathic control to suppress emotions related to suicidal tendencies, or projecting a calming aura to someone(s) who is(are) dangerously out of control.
-Meditation - In a meditative state, Abi can seek to gain control of herself (usually with heavy shielding) or seek to use her powers with greater affect. The draw back of the second use is that can leave her open to outside emotional influences.
-Shielding and ambient emotion - Abi typically keeps her mental shielding up because (especially in large groups) emotional output can get overwhelming. Outside emotions that are exact or similar in nature to what she is feeling at that time can make it harder for Abi to separate her own from others.
Supply List: Cross pen and a bottle of water
Game Transfers:N/A
Sample RP post: Third person, at least 300 words.
Her heart thunders in her ears with the heavy, fast pumping of her blood. It can't override the screams though - her mother's screams. The pain and terror filled sounds rip through Abi's ears and send her frantic heart into overdrive. Moments after those screams begin, the smell of blood coats the air with acrid tang than hangs in the back of her throat.
"Please.... No.... Stop." Haunting words that are followed by raw animal sounds. No human voice should make sounds like that.
The words stop coming, but the screaming doesn't
Time loses all meaning - moments marked by horrific wails that break from a broken throat.
Blood and Bone.
The flash of the knife, curved and sleek in the air with coat of red that looks like paint on it.
The screaming stops and footsteps come closer. Her beating hear speeds up again. The air chokes her. No sound leaves her throat from the logjam of terror, guilt, loss, and pain lodged there.
Death has heavy steps against wet, dirty concrete. Blood runs down her arms from where she had fought the shackles - a tiny stream of red soon to be a river.
Abi jerked away with a strangled noise that might have been scream had she not been asleep. Her hand alit upon her heart to find an unsteady rapid pace. Nothing felt right as the remnants of the dream created by another's mind stuck like tar and refused to be banished. Immediately she sought to calm her mind even as she shut out the damp sheets and feverish heat on her skin. 'Breathe, Abi, Breathe. That's it - in and out, slow and deep.' She thought and with those thoughts came the will to force her body to obey. The alarm clock sounded out its piercing call, but she ignored it until the taint of now all too familiar fear became ephemeral and not her own once again.
It was going to be a long day.
Hours later she sat behind a glass with other people crammed into collapsible chairs. The press of their emotions against her shield wasn't enough to distract her from the man on the other side of the glass. With ten minutes to go, Abi didn't stop the memories of a young boy in hospital bed in a catatonic state. She remembered the phone call from a detective asking for her help. Abi had a reputation for helping those with severe emotional trauma. Her fingers smoothed a crease from her tan slacks and she watched the man with no expression on her face. Even though his expression - smug and satisfied - made her blood boil with something other than fear.
The boy, Allen, she'll never forget him, had been locked in a world of terror created by what the man in front of her had done to him and his family. It had taken exhaustive months of work to finally pull him out. The police needed him because he was the only witness, the only evidence they had, and
the only possibility to find more. With Abi's help the boy had come back to himself and helped put the man in front of her on Death Row. Today was the day and Detective Burkoff sat next to her. Her eyes met the killer's without flinching. This man held no fear for her, only anger. It was anger that steadily grew as the minutes ticked on the clock. She could feel his complete joy at death - secure in the knowledge that no one could never erase what he had done. Allen would never be the same and the people he had killed would never return. She saw the satisfaction in his eyes and the smug smirk that tilted his lips.
No remorse - only pleasure.
Abi could change that look. She could wait until they had put him to sleep and then slip different emotions into his final moments. She could expel that gloating sensation with wave after wave of Allen's terror and fear and helplessness. Her blood boiled and sang for her to take action - to drop her shields and force him to feel the boy's pain as if it were his own.
So tempting.
Rage thundered and she almost gave into the urge.
'Center yourself, Abi.' She warned and just like a flame doused with water, Abi's rage abated.
Yet when he breathed his last and she felt the final vestiges of his self-satisfaction fade, Abi felt no remorse at the passing.