un: ulysses | video

[restingstitchface]

[On the latest feed: a man with combed hair, a clean face, a mismatched suit and a pair of rimless glasses. Video is streaming from an office where one might spot a painting of an anguished man. He closes his eyes and fixes his lenses on his nose, looking away while leaning forward. His preference is for messaging, but today he is showing his face. He inhales in a calm and controlled manner. Facial cues encourage trust. He prefers to remain unobserved, but this should encourage a positive impression.

Unless you’re Batman, apparently.]

Well, that was a terrible couple of weeks.

In any case, my apologies for the intrusion. I was managing the aftermath and hesitant to reach out until today. I have nothing further to add except that I understand you might feel nervous. But if you resist those feelings, you will have to face them again, and when they catch you…

[He swallows his sentence and focuses on his reason for posting, grounding himself in the present moment by inhaling.]

Back home I treat people for support with their mental health. I had excellent resources there but here I can offer nothing but a listening ear. Perhaps you would like to take me up on that? It’s not like you need insurance and sometimes it’s good to talk.

Feel free to contact me. I'm here to help.

Comments

[restingstitchface]

That's a difficult question. First, the worry about your world can be set aside and examined once you acquire solid evidence your world is in danger. That is not to discount your experience but to focus your mind on handling body and mind in the present.

In which case, I would remind you that while you feel like you have a lack of control of anything, you have the freedom to walk and wander. To speak to others and - recent events aside - be free in mind. And if you were not good enough would you be here being tested? I would think anybody who has no expectation of promise wouldn't even be here.

In any case, the only question you can ask yourself is did you honestly try your best?

[will_chase_balls]

I guess. Pending said the same thing. It's hard not to worry about it when you know not worrying about it might mean not doing what needs to be done to keep it safe, though.

Yeah, I do have control of some stuff. And it is nice having a lot of forested areas where I can hunt and just run through the woods and stuff. I'm not sure I trust Echo's judgement enough to trust that I wouldn't be here if I wasn't good enough, though. Actually, let me correct that. I'm not sure I trust Echo. Actually, let me correct that. I'm sure I don't trust Echo.

I am trying my best, though.

Maybe I should just drink more. Everyone knows more ale is always the best way to overcome worries.

[restingstitchface]

[Hunt and run through the woods? How rustic.]

That sounds like you're giving yourself an excuse to go off the rails.

[Excuse is spoken softly. His voice is the opposite of judgemental, neutral and observant, soft while he gently offers his point. He has worked with enough people who leaned into alcohol as a coping mechanism that he understands why people cling to bottles.]

But we all need reasons to push ourselves - and people who decry the vices of alcohol will have them elsewhere. But it's good you recognize the problem will be there in the morning. Alcohol won't do anything about that.

[will_chase_balls]

Going off the rails can be fun.

And we do need reasons to push ourselves. Usually I have orders and a direction, or people around me who know what they want to do, but I guess it's always good to learn new skills. Like figuring out what I'm supposed to be doing here.

[restingstitchface]

Well, you said you love talking, and you're doing plenty of that.

[His light and pleasant tone suggests he is joking. Not flagging it as a shortcoming.]

What else do you enjoy that might be good to pass the time?

[will_chase_balls]

Lots of things! Playing sports, hunting, fighting monsters, going to the theater, drinking ale, feasting on fresh meat, dancing, having sex...that's all I can think of right now, but other things will probably pop into my head later.

[restingstitchface]

Sounds like you enjoy physical exercise. What about exercising your mind?

[Art? Literature? Culture besides sitting back and lazing with a film?]

[will_chase_balls]

Exercise...my mind? Like...lifting heavy things with my brain? I can't do that, but I do know a psionic back home who can! I think. Maybe.

[restingstitchface]

Ah, not quite. I mean something like painting or reading a book. Those kinds of things.

[will_chase_balls]

Oh. I like theatre. Plays and acting and stuff. Sometimes when I'm doing cage fights for easy money I like to give some dramatic lines before shifting into a wolfman and attacking my opponent.

Other than that...no. Not really.

sorry for delay! feel free to drop if you want

[restingstitchface]

Well, theatrics and theater involves following a script. We choose a role or embrace one we are given that defines a path for us.

They both involve acting and consideration of how we present to others. Have you ever wondered what your fondness for acting says about you?

That's okay!

[will_chase_balls]

Um...no? I don't really do a lot of thinking. I just do stuff, and if I'm having fun, then I'm happy.

I do like being sexy and being told what to do, so that's kind of caring how I present to others and being given a role.

[restingstitchface]

[Well, there's some information he wishes he could take back.]

Of course. Though it begs the question of what you do when it stops being fun. After all, we all want fun at the end of the day. To cut loose and not care about what anybody thinks. Nobody can fault you for that.

[will_chase_balls]

Well, that's easy. When one thing stops being fun, I go do something else that is fun.

[restingstitchface]

Well, you don't seem the sort who'll stick at anything boring. No offense.

[will_chase_balls]

Of course not! Why would I take offense? After all, who would want to stick with something that's boring?

[restingstitchface]

Bureaucrats and insurance salespeople?

[will_chase_balls]

What's insurance?

I always assumed books and papers were fun for bureaucratic sorts. Like how wizards love reading extremely complicated books to learn how the universe works so they can manipulate it. They're always so happy when they get a new spellbook, so I assume bureaucrats get that same rush of excitement when they encounter a book of laws or other policies.