Dr. Maura Isles (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
doctorofdeath) wrote2011-08-24 12:17 am
doctorofdeath) wrote2011-08-24 12:17 am
Entry tags:
beyond the rift } { public
My origins were a mystery to me for most of my life. I knew I was adopted, and my attempts to unearth any information about my birth parents were in vain; all the court documents were sealed. They had obviously gone to great lengths to disassociate from me entirely.
My adoptive parents were kind, loving in their own, inimitable way, but their lives were frenetic and left very little room for me. I learned from an early age to accept this as a way of life, and I suppose I never received much love or attention simply because I didn't think to ask. I didn't know how to. Growing up as a rather isolated person beget this fervor within to know the truth, even as I'd begun to accept it would elude me. More than anything, more than even knowing about my birth parents, I wanted to have a sibling.
I recently discovered that I did, in fact, have a blood relative: my half-brother, Colin. We share a father, Patrick Doyle. I'd wanted to know his identity for so long, and then discovered that Patrick Doyle had been in hiding since I was born. He was an enforcer for the Irish Mob, he killed people in cold-blood.
And yet, when I met him, there was a tenderness to his nature that surprised me; it was in direct contrast to my perception of him as a man devoid of humanity. The terrible men he'd associated himself with had killed Colin in order to draw my father out.
So much killing, so much death. I still can't expunge those feelings of doubt, that I'm like him, that I surround myself in death, that our lives and careers are not as disparate as I'd wish them to be.
Sometimes I think I want one last chance to speak with him, sometimes I wish I could have known Colin.
My adoptive parents were kind, loving in their own, inimitable way, but their lives were frenetic and left very little room for me. I learned from an early age to accept this as a way of life, and I suppose I never received much love or attention simply because I didn't think to ask. I didn't know how to. Growing up as a rather isolated person beget this fervor within to know the truth, even as I'd begun to accept it would elude me. More than anything, more than even knowing about my birth parents, I wanted to have a sibling.
I recently discovered that I did, in fact, have a blood relative: my half-brother, Colin. We share a father, Patrick Doyle. I'd wanted to know his identity for so long, and then discovered that Patrick Doyle had been in hiding since I was born. He was an enforcer for the Irish Mob, he killed people in cold-blood.
And yet, when I met him, there was a tenderness to his nature that surprised me; it was in direct contrast to my perception of him as a man devoid of humanity. The terrible men he'd associated himself with had killed Colin in order to draw my father out.
So much killing, so much death. I still can't expunge those feelings of doubt, that I'm like him, that I surround myself in death, that our lives and careers are not as disparate as I'd wish them to be.
Sometimes I think I want one last chance to speak with him, sometimes I wish I could have known Colin.
[locked]
That does sound rather brilliant. I've lost quite a few people, and I would have liked them having that voice. Suppose if you remember them, it's one way of doing so. I don't really know.
I wanted to be an Auror. They were paid to use magic to protect people from the Dark Arts.
[locked]
When people die, and we bury them, every trace of their existence on earth is expunged; though some things, such as material possessions, linger. But the essence of who they were is gone forever, there's nothing of them left anymore, nothing tangible. [She's not always good at being comforting, her mind is wired differently.] But they can still speak, if you know how to listen. Memory is a comfort to the living. Our sense of smell is actually the strongest tie to memory one can have.
An Auror? We have nothing like that where I come from.
[locked]
I didn't realize that about the sense of smell being the strongest tie to memory. When my friend disappeared from here, I spent a lot of time in her room and it was the smells that reminded me of her that made me think of her most. I didn't realize it until you'd mentioned it. It is comforting.
Yeah, there's nothing like that here either. Makes knowing what I can do in this world a little difficult.
[locked]
Our brains create a new memory connection for every sensory experience. If you were, for instance, to say one word ten times - you'll have made ten connections for that word. The least reliable of the sense is hearing; there's less of an emotional context than there would be for touch, or smell.
Have you been here long? While it's difficult for me to think of magic as a factual concept, I can't imagine there's no use for it here.
[locked]
Wow, that's a bit brilliant. No clue about any of it, and I'm not really one for learning and reading as much as my best friend, Hermione.
I've been here for nearly a year actually. I came from a world where there was magic, but it was separated from nonmagical people. It would be like this one except the magic was better hidden and controlled by the wizarding government. I know there's plenty of use, but it's not exactly a paying job either. Not that I really need money either. It would just be nice to move out at some point from the creepy Tower when I'm older.
[locked]
I've always been passionate about learning, I took copious notes in school, spent as much time tucked into books possible. [Often, people prefer to disregard her because of that.]
The Kashtta Tower, is it?
[locked]
You do sound exactly like her. You'd probably get along fantastically. Hermione's actually here. She fell through after I did.
That would be it, yes. If you haven't experienced its creepiness yet, you will I'm afraid.
[locked]
I'd love to meet her, perhaps we'll bump into each other sometime.
What's "creepy" about it?
[locked]
I hope you do as well. She's usually out and about in the Tower. It's only a matter of time.
Well, recently, it's being haunted by this ghost. On a normal day, there are ghosts around and a hallway that you're never supposed to go down. I think there are a few floors that literally can't be reached.
[locked]
Which hallway?
[locked]
It's a hallway that's marked off, up a level or two. It has Keep Out signs on it.
[locked]
Which floor are you staying on?
[locked]
The first floor where most people are.
[locked]
Statistically, we'll cross paths with a moderate amount of frequency, unless you're a recluse and prefer solitude over human interaction. [ She really doesn't mean any harm by that statement, Harry. ]
[locked]
Er. No, I'm not a recluse. I mean I like some time alone, but I like to interact as well. [/DIES Maura. I love her. He is a bit confused.] Sorry, I'm just
What did you mean by that? I mean, is it bad if we'd crossed paths with a frequency?
[locked]
[ SORRY HARRY. ]
No, no. I'm certain I would enjoy your company, were we to meet face-to-face, and I simply meant that since we happen to live in the same building, there's a very good chance we will.
[locked]
Alright.
[THE IMAGERY OF HARRY POTTER DOING YOGA. It is hilarious.]
Oh, that's good then. I'm certain I would enjoy yours too, and I would like to introduce you to my best friend or hope you meet her on your own at some point. Either way, I hope we do run into one another in person.
[locked]
I'm sure I'll meet both of you in person soon. Would your friend enjoy yoga, too?
[locked]
[locked]
I've enjoyed our conversation, and as I noted, I'm certain we'll see each other around.