Hm, what a curious notion... the emotional appeal of allowing one's thoughts to dissolve. Is it meant to be peaceful? Relaxing? Fun? It feels like an unusual thing to want. 

"What an unfortunate piece of luck, friend. Had any other Maid of the Aurora found you they would have been able to treat this wound on the spot. I alone among the order lack medical skills of any degree," Eclair shrugs her shoulders to adjust (Aadya?)'s weight upon them a little better, "I could, of course, attempt to punch the hole in your stomach off of you but even my rudimentary understanding of the healing process tells me that is unlikely to be helpful. You will simply have to grit your teeth and live with it until I can take you to a house of healing."

An argument could be made for some sort of meditative state? A focus, perhaps, from a vast range of possible thoughts down to a single line of observation or deliberation for a period of an hour or so. Is this possible to accomplish without the aid of a notebook? Simply by the presence of another person? 

Certainly that would seem to be the right manner of catalyst, particularly if the individual is sufficiently stimulating and vibrant. But that would not seem to follow from the lamentation, as it implies the sort of person one is looking for is better described as a thought [i]suppressant[/i]. That would be counterproductive, would it not? 

"Hrm. A regalia of buttons, stolen from Civil Nuns. A possibility space to be avoided. Khaganate warriors in false Maid-Knights' clothes. This fits with the testimony of the little princess and the Khatun's sudden overt aggression. That would seem to confirm at least the likelihood that Timtam has a new patron. It is difficult to draw the line all the way to this campaign without the promise of some manner of alliance enabled [i]by[/i] her participation, rather than she herself being the catalyst. She is talented, but not enough to set in motion a plot of this scope. No more than I myself would be."

What is the appeal, exactly, of an actual absence of thought? It is at least important to distinguish the notion from mere thoughtlessness, lest it become poisoned from the onset by negative association. Nevertheless, is this desirable to begin with? It sounds similar to a drug addiction. In this melted, buzzing state, could a person have any assurance that they are in control of their faculties? To say nothing of their body? 

Perhaps it is pleasurable. This allowance can be made. But again it calls to mind a sedative or narcotic. At best a medication: the Long Sleep, but misapplied in the pursuit of recreation. If there is a case then it requires a detective to solve it. If there is a detective solving the case she needs must be thinking until the job is complete. Surely this logic is beyond all reproach. 

"The problem facing us at the moment is that we lack firm evidence to come forward with. Even if our, erm, Paladin friend here is interested in offering testimony, her story at best complicates the narrative; it does little and less to overturn the presuppositions of the Church. I could, perhaps, hand myself over as an act of good faith? But that would seem to be counterproductive, wouldn't it? I would prefer to remain free and active on the board. Or off of it, as the case may be."

No, the notion is rejected. Refuted. Whatever the value of a quiet mind may be, it is nothing against the beauty of an active one. So what if it costs a few cuts here and there? A general lack of productive sleep? Difficulties with any nameable act of daily care? These are irrelevant concerns. A chorus of ideas, each with their own distinct colors... that is worth any amount of difficulty or pain. What, are a person's thoughts supposed to turn [i]off[/i] during sex? That sounds horrid.

"What do you think, Mayzie? Given our current knowledge and needs, what line of inquiry would you pursue? Shall we hunt some of the hunters, or trace a neglected path for information I would have overlooked the first time? Maybe there is physical evidence we could find in Crevas or Vespergift. I would very much like to hear your thoughts before I leap down another idiot pathway. And while we're on that topic, why... did you follow me here? That was such a dangerous thing to do!"