@everyone

[restingstitchface]

Aurelius once wrote, "If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment."

My fundamental concern about this wisdom is that it fails to spot the physical root of trauma. People who cannot snap out of their distress also deserve compassion and treatment.

My apologies for the intrusion. Locals informed me about the recent chaos and I found myself concerned and a little hesitant about reaching out. Back home I treat those who approach me for support with their mental health. I had excellent resources there but here I can offer nothing but a listening ear.

I understand some of you might be feeling exposed, stressed and intimidated. To you I offer my own wisdom. If you worry about what lies ahead, you will be the only one who suffers in the end.

To all else, kind regards for listening.

Oh. Reading, isn’t it? This system is entirely new to me. What a brave new world this place is.

Comments

[restingstitchface]

Tons. Had my nose in books for days. Well, years.

[takeatrip]

Can't imagine. One degree was more than enough for me.

[restingstitchface]

One degree is more than enough for most. What subject might I ask?

[takeatrip]

Psychology, actually. I'm a profiler with the FBI, if that's a thing in your world.

[Seems like it might be, since everything else they've been talking about seems to be lining up, but probably still best not to assume.]

[restingstitchface]

Ah, the federal bureau. I know them well.

You're American, then?

[takeatrip]

Yeah, from DC. You?

[restingstitchface]

Oh, quite the same. Though hardly from DC. Just Gotham.

[takeatrip]

[That sounds familiar, but it takes him a brief moment before he remembers why.]

There's someone else here from the same place, I think.

[restingstitchface]

Oh, that is wonderful to hear. I do miss the hustle and bustle of home.

[takeatrip]

Is it a big city? Or just a really busy one?

[restingstitchface]

Both. The uncomfortable truth of which means deliquency is rampant. Crime does increase with population size, after all. A profiler like yourself might appreciate that more than anyone.

[takeatrip]

You're telling me; I was just in Philadelphia for a case and you couldn't talk to anyone without finding out they were secretly a murderer themselves.

[He's being a little unfair, but only a little. But bringing up crime is a pretty specific way to go if there isn't a particular reason for it, so--]

Do you work with criminals? Or in trauma counseling?

[restingstitchface]

I do both. I lead a team that specialises in treating criminals in my capacity as chief of psychiatry. Of course, a profiler like yourself understands the criminal mind does have its fair share of childhood trauma, after all.

[takeatrip]

That's quite the job. How'd you end up interested in that field?

[restingstitchface]

I was curious about how the mind could exert itself over the body. When I began studying, I found myself squeezing every last drop of acumen. Things grew from there until I began longing to engage with a wide variety of people.

It's a different challenge, really.

[takeatrip]

Makes sense. There's so many hows and whys to get into that I can see how it might be hard to stop.

[restingstitchface]

What can I say? Curiosity is an instinctive and valuable trait. Even men like us succumb to it eventually.

[takeatrip]

Important to both our careers too. At least if you want to enjoy what you're doing.

[restingstitchface]

Well, most wish to enjoy what they do. I cannot understand how we would be any different.

[takeatrip]

Yeah, of course, though we're also pretty fortunate that way. A lot of people get stuck doing something they don't like.

[restingstitchface]

Indeed. Like housework.

[A small joke but, well, there's some harsh truths of experience in there.]

[takeatrip]

Or paperwork.

[Also joking, but also totally serious. Would he rather sweep or fill out reports? He thinks he might actually choose the former.]

[restingstitchface]

Can't say I understand that one. Paperwork makes my world work.

[takeatrip]

I have a coworker like that. I don't get it at all, but he loves filling out reports; I think it's his favorite part of a case.

[restingstitchface]

It enables one to see the fruits of their labour. Progress is a strong factor in motivation, after all.