Dolly needs to apologize to Calliope for dissing her latest and best work. I.E. Dolly's new body. If she can't see by now that they want her to be part of the family, not some hired guardian, she is in need of some couch time with a psych-tech.
She may not have been kidnapped, but she did have the living crap beat out of her and is in physical treatment for it as they speak.
They could hire Officer Ray as a replacement guardian so Dolly can actually live a little.
Dolly hasn't been a "hired guardian" for years; she's already part of the family. The "Model 5" body is very much a prototype, so Calli needs the beta-test feedback. She isn't offended by it.
The question is does Dolly think of herself as the mother/sister the Taylors' do, Rose? I get the impression Dolly has stopped short of that, something like retainer instead of a Taylor (parallel with Arianna?). Calliope needs to adopt Dolly (hopefully not as her life drains out like Arianna).
@Sheela, how/why would her previous body keep her from being part of the family? The Taylors already considered her to be. The synth brain would have had a similar capacity for emotion (caring and love) in either case. If Dolly loves them more, or cares more now, my guess would be that it is because of what they had just been through, and the relief that everyone is now safe, and new appreciation based on that.
That's true, we don't know for sure. I gathered that the upgrades tended toward things like better speed, modules allowing extra functionality, provisions for enhanced sensory input, and things like that. My thought was, that the part that holds her core persona and emotions - the part that makes Dolly Dolly, remained unchanged. I could, of course, be entirely wrong.
My guess is that Calliope is doing what a good girl does when her mommy is talking. Don't forget she was raised by Dolly as well. This makes her almost a sister to her daughter. If that doesn't make for a weird relationship I don't know what does. Calli has never really been a mommy to Lynn. The sad thing is you can't start that later. You have to do it right away from the get-go otherwise you don't get that attention
I'm not as sure of that, Just_IDD. I think Calliope might have been mommy before Fallon died. So during Lynn's formative years, she may have formed strong bonds. Afterward, it was a train wreck leaving Dolly to do all the rearing.
If they did have four years together as mother and daughter though there should be something for Lynn and Calliope to work with. Whatever exists currently is in tatters, possibly warped by the indifference that was shown, but it might be enough for them to reestablish a true mother/daughter relationship. Only time will tell.
@Stormwind13, as you say that, and put it that way, it suggests to me a possible direction, in that this set of trials and ordeals could prove cathartic for Calli and Lynn both. (once they get done arguing, that is)
Plus Acantha was nearly killed by her brother in the middle of a rebellion by Acantha supporters. WE know she wasn't planning a coup to steal her brother's throne, but to an outsider it could just look like typical Game of Thrones-esque shenanigans with Calli's daughter being used as a pawn for political purposes.
WE know they bonded over shared trauma and danger, but she was vulnerable and scared enough Acantha would have had little difficulty manipulating her such that their friendship was really just Stockholm Syndrome. That's not what happened, but it's not a possibility everyone else can just dismiss.
I guess what I'm trying to say is I believe that while not a form of Stockholm Syndrome in any way, Lynn cannot be psychologically disassociated from Acantha's final confrontation with Decimus and should be allowed to see the aftermath through with her for both their sakes.
Acantha could only muster the nerve to finally shoot her brother after experiencing the sacrifices of others in her name, first her bodyguard, then Ariana, and finally Lynn's attempt to disarm Decimus. It was Decimus's striking Lynn that put Acantha's finger to the trigger of her gun with the intent to use it.
This is where Decimus miscalculated, by herself Acantha couldn't have shot him (as he claimed), but in the cause of those who'd sacrificed themselves for her and especially to protect Lynn she would do it. So when he clumsily tried to stab her (he would have been much more lethal if his thumb hadn't been broken by Lynn) she fired her custom made high powered Desert Eagle equivalent at point blank into his super-duper personal armor that was supposed to protect him from everything (making him feel rather invulnerable)and drilled a hole into his chest cavity.
There was no one left who could save Acantha, and she knew it. Years of abuse and terror, and the basic human drive for self-preservation, brought her to the deed, not concern for anyone else in that moment.
She had always known that in a true confrontation with Decimus, the only option she would have to ensure her own survival was the use of lethal force. Previously, there had always been SOMEONE around who could stop the situation short of that point. But in this case, Dolly and Kali were fighting, Arianna was dead, and Lynn was nothing more than a minor speed bump that Decimus had just run right over. Acantha was out of options.
It is essential to remember that she was accustomed to HAVING HER FRIENDS DIE because of her brother. What truly prompted her to pull the trigger was the fact that she was the only one left who could put up any kind of serious attempt to protect her own life, and she was absolutely done dealing with Decimus's crazy shit.
I think that they would confirm Lynn's assertions if they performed a psychological assessment on Acantha. However, I don't see Noctis agreeing to that and I am not sure that Acantha would.
Hmmm, I don't think Acantha or Noctis would necessarily object to a psych evaluation. It could be as beneficial to Acantha's wellbeing, as it would to discerning the veracity of Lynn's assertions.
I had thought that just observing them interacting would accomplish a similar result without approaching Acantha about a psych workup.
I suspect Noctis would object to an in-depth evaluation of Acantha by a New Troy psychological technician on general principles. During any kind of therapy (if you're doing it right) you expose all kinds of vulnerabilities and potentially reveal all kinds of sensitive information. The sorts of practitioners permitted to attend heads of state in that way are usually evaluated quite carefully.
If there were an urgent or pressing need, then of course things would be different. But, since there does not appear to be, anything more than a basic evaluation can probably wait until Acantha is back in Nova Roma. It seems likely to me, therefore, that if the subject came up, Noctis would point this out.
I've never had, nor know anyone who has been given a psych evaluation, so I don't know a lot about what it entails. You may be right, but to me it doesn't seem as though it would have to be that 'in-depth' to gauge whether Acantha poses a danger to Lynn's psychological wellbeing. Maybe it does; I don't know. I tried to skirt the issue by suggesting that Lynn's therapist sit in as Lynn and Acantha interact. That might give enough insight into whether there is any negative impact.
If, in fact, it is as you say, and a proper evaluation of that sort (to determine the health of the relationship as it pertains to Lynn's mental health, and cursory overview of Acantha's overall mental health) would require that level of detail, then you are absolutely right that Noctis would object. I did not envision the detail level of the evaluation had to be such that it posed a security risk for New Rome, or Acantha herself.
Disclaimer: I am not, and never have been, any kind of therapist or mental health professional.
I imagine a big part of any meaningful evaluation includes the therapist learning the patient's 'tells' so they can reliably predict if the patient is lying (even to themselves). Obviously in that first 15-minute post-trauma interview you don't have time for that, but I'm sure Acantha's already been through that a couple of times by now. We're now talking about next stage or nothing -- and that would probably take at least a couple of hours. (In my opinion.)
Wild prediction time: the thing that will break through Calliope's reserve is Acantha's nightmares.
Why nightmares, you ask? She just shot her brother and was just stabbed by her last living relative. If Calliope hears that Acantha is going through a rough patch and believes that Lynn's company might help, I doubt she'd let an exaggerated and (as we know but she doesn't) misplaced concern allow a young girl to suffer.
However, if Acantha's doing just fine ..., stop whining Lynn and learn how grown-ups do cost-benefit analysis and risk assessment.
Very good dialogue on this page, Rose. Kudos!
She may not have been kidnapped, but she did have the living crap beat out of her and is in physical treatment for it as they speak.
They could hire Officer Ray as a replacement guardian so Dolly can actually live a little.
Who knows what the new body will allow her to do ?
Maybe I just don't understand?
We also don't know if it was capable of doing so.
I suspect it will be part of the upcoming story ?
Though I think they all are still pissed at centy for the trojan horse move. I know I am cause it cost USA bright shiny pink star.
Side note anyone know if tedee has a preferred camp pattern she likes for things.
Reason? No reason idle curiosity
* duck back in lab*
If they did have four years together as mother and daughter though there should be something for Lynn and Calliope to work with. Whatever exists currently is in tatters, possibly warped by the indifference that was shown, but it might be enough for them to reestablish a true mother/daughter relationship. Only time will tell.
WE know they bonded over shared trauma and danger, but she was vulnerable and scared enough Acantha would have had little difficulty manipulating her such that their friendship was really just Stockholm Syndrome. That's not what happened, but it's not a possibility everyone else can just dismiss.
Acantha could only muster the nerve to finally shoot her brother after experiencing the sacrifices of others in her name, first her bodyguard, then Ariana, and finally Lynn's attempt to disarm Decimus. It was Decimus's striking Lynn that put Acantha's finger to the trigger of her gun with the intent to use it.
This is where Decimus miscalculated, by herself Acantha couldn't have shot him (as he claimed), but in the cause of those who'd sacrificed themselves for her and especially to protect Lynn she would do it. So when he clumsily tried to stab her (he would have been much more lethal if his thumb hadn't been broken by Lynn) she fired her custom made high powered Desert Eagle equivalent at point blank into his super-duper personal armor that was supposed to protect him from everything (making him feel rather invulnerable)and drilled a hole into his chest cavity.
There was no one left who could save Acantha, and she knew it. Years of abuse and terror, and the basic human drive for self-preservation, brought her to the deed, not concern for anyone else in that moment.
She had always known that in a true confrontation with Decimus, the only option she would have to ensure her own survival was the use of lethal force. Previously, there had always been SOMEONE around who could stop the situation short of that point. But in this case, Dolly and Kali were fighting, Arianna was dead, and Lynn was nothing more than a minor speed bump that Decimus had just run right over. Acantha was out of options.
It is essential to remember that she was accustomed to HAVING HER FRIENDS DIE because of her brother. What truly prompted her to pull the trigger was the fact that she was the only one left who could put up any kind of serious attempt to protect her own life, and she was absolutely done dealing with Decimus's crazy shit.
I had thought that just observing them interacting would accomplish a similar result without approaching Acantha about a psych workup.
If there were an urgent or pressing need, then of course things would be different. But, since there does not appear to be, anything more than a basic evaluation can probably wait until Acantha is back in Nova Roma. It seems likely to me, therefore, that if the subject came up, Noctis would point this out.
If, in fact, it is as you say, and a proper evaluation of that sort (to determine the health of the relationship as it pertains to Lynn's mental health, and cursory overview of Acantha's overall mental health) would require that level of detail, then you are absolutely right that Noctis would object. I did not envision the detail level of the evaluation had to be such that it posed a security risk for New Rome, or Acantha herself.
I imagine a big part of any meaningful evaluation includes the therapist learning the patient's 'tells' so they can reliably predict if the patient is lying (even to themselves). Obviously in that first 15-minute post-trauma interview you don't have time for that, but I'm sure Acantha's already been through that a couple of times by now. We're now talking about next stage or nothing -- and that would probably take at least a couple of hours. (In my opinion.)
Why nightmares, you ask? She just shot her brother and was just stabbed by her last living relative. If Calliope hears that Acantha is going through a rough patch and believes that Lynn's company might help, I doubt she'd let an exaggerated and (as we know but she doesn't) misplaced concern allow a young girl to suffer.
However, if Acantha's doing just fine ..., stop whining Lynn and learn how grown-ups do cost-benefit analysis and risk assessment.