ataraxion | 005

[ John's dressed down for once, shirt missing and all. The Grim Reaper tattoo on his inner arm is visible, scythe and all, where most people's nanites are -- his are visible on the other arm. One hand is beneath his head and the other is holding the camera at a bit of an odd angle; he's laying down, apparently in bed. Despite that, he doesn't look like he's gotten a lot of sleep. ]

So. [ He starts, stops; clears his throat to make himself sound a little more awake. ] This place is hell, but we manage to relax sometimes. How do you all do it? [ There's a pause, considering, and he adds: ] Other than getting drunk.

[ That's not going to help him, considering he can't anymore. At the end of the day, what John needs is for nightmares of dead teammates and monsters in the dark to stop haunting him, of the dead on the ship that he could have (should have) been able to help. But for now... he'll take what he can get. Not that he necessarily wants everyone knowing he can't relax. ]

Call me curious, I guess. I would've bet on more nervous breakdowns.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I wouldn't be asking for ways to relax if I thought it was going to go away on its own.

[ John, honey, you're fighting a losing battle here. ]

Have you never heard of treating the cause, not the symptoms?

Death's not exactly treatable, especially when the bodies are in a different universe.

Don't be facetious, John. You know full well I'm talking about the psychological impact, not the source events themselves.

They tried to treat it.

Are you saying 'tried' because they gave up? Or because you stopped them? Or did they consider you cured and move on?

If it's the last, I'm afraid they clearly weren't very good at their jobs. These things aren't just healed like a wound. It's the remaining scar that has to be dealt with as well.

They made me relive the memories. Then I went on a mission and made more bad ones. Then I ended up here.

[There's a pause (an actual pause, not the currently necessary delay due to his typing) on Josias' end. If he could talk, there might even be some swear words.]

That isn't treatment. It's torture. Not to mention ignorant and barbaric. Do they use leeches to try and cure headaches as well?

I never went in for headaches.

[ worst joke ]

In light of that revelation, it's probably lucky you didn't. Have you spoken to Jenna Sommers?

A bit, yeah.

[ Not, you know, in a therapist/patient sort of way, but he's spoken to her. ]

She's informed me that's not standard practice.

Have you spoken to her about receiving proper treatment?

No.

You should. That's going to be a better course of action to help your situation than any other advice anyone chooses to answer you with.

Right.

[ Yeah he's got no intention of it. ]

Terribly convincing.

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