#ooja

Her guest dips her head in a show of appreciation, and closes the door behind her. The psychologist notes the language of her approach, the sullen demeanor emanating from beneath the self-enforced air of authority. She understood from Kezza’s days as a patient that she was not a deceitful individual, and had determined that the Magistrix’s emotions never fell far from the surface. She wondered what good it would do for her particular career, until she learned that Kezza’s honest nature and empathic tendencies served the business of public relations quite well. Who better to promote the Inquest’s fabrications than someone who earnestly takes them to heart? “I realize my visit exceeds your usual hours, but it cannot be helped. There is not the luxury of time. I.. seek your counsel on a personal matter.” “Does this regard the dependency on stim-shots?” “Negative.” She nods, and places her elbows on the desk, providing her full attention. “Please, make yourself comfortable. I do keep chairs in here for a reason.” Her offer bounces off stiffened ears, folded back into brown hair. The officer shakes her head, and paces instead to lean against an adjacent seat with her hands supporting her against the armrests. There she sighs, and the psychologist allows her the space to speak by offering only quiet expectation. “It.. Regards the Disaggregator. Gerik.” “Yes, I am familiar.” Another sigh from the Inquest, this time giving noticeable slack to her shoulders. A few moments of composure pass, through which the psychologist sits respectful and impassive. “I..” Kezza starts, losing the words and struggling to reclaim them. It’s only when she shuts her eyes and finds a grounding breath that she continues, “I have discovered I harbor attachment to him.. Attachment which exceeds that of professional cooperation.” Taqq’s ears twitch, and she offers a gentle nod of understanding. Either with a concurrent sense of frustration or in simple response, Kezza scowls in distaste at her own admission, her arms lifted as  she searches her palms. “I’ve come to recognize the influence he has over me, and I’ve been searching for an explanation.. Some cause, a pattern to reason, anything,” Her fingers seize, gripping air, until the tension is lost, and her arms drop uselessly to her sides. The psychologist watches her, until the length of silence between them inevitably terminating at her turn to speak. “Well, he is the male you spend a significant, if not a majority, of your time with. Emotional bonds between a male and female are a natural result of prolonged exposure.” The Magistrix folds her ears back as though caught in a lie, “I’ve experienced attraction to females as well, that doesn’t--” She stops, something in the psychologist’s expression halting her. “Is there another individual you spend equivalent time with?” Kezza finds herself unable to reply. Of course there wasn’t-- As her second in command, Gerik’s presence was near constant. Her own partner saw less of her than he did. Whether it was field work, or routine number crunching, he would never be out of at least communicator range. Even at the day’s end, they would both be among the last to return to their personal domiciles. No one else proved as dependable and dedicated as the Disaggregator in their devotion to the Magistracy. “Why do you suppose that is?” Taqq pressed, gently maneuvering herself past the Magistrix’s lowered defenses. Whether this soft spot would prove sore had yet to be seen, though an experienced intuition would suspect it. “Working alongside him couldn’t suffice as causation alone,” She shook her head, a searching frown pointed to the floor. “His vices are distasteful, and I experience agitation, impatience in his presence.” Taqq hums, and leans back in her chair. Her modulated tone is lightened by a kind smile, “It seems to be..”

The Magistrix’s frown lifts to target the doctor, sharpened with a defensive edge. The expression softens the psychologist’s, who leans forward with surrender and a gentle encouragement. “Kezza, listen.. It’s very common for the context of a krewe to give rise to these feelings, and I imagine the metakrewe is no exception. And considering how the two of you work together so closely, and when he’s as attractive as he is..” “You find him attractive?” Kezza’s snout wrinkles a bit with her skepticism, though deciphering the psychologist was never easy. Taqq leaned back again, and met her gaze with a sudden potency. “Don’t you?” Kezza’s mouth hitches open to reply, but the only sound that comes is a defeated sigh. “That’s what I came to figure out.”

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((Chronologically, this encounter would take place the night before this entry is recorded {if this encounter is canonical-- I'm undecided}. I originally begun it as a response to the asks "It's complicated.." which I regrettably never answered.