💣 004 | text | backdated to the 10th

[devoutish]

[Who knows who this is meant for. Whoever it is, they're not getting it; it's showing up on the public network instead.]

I bring her sweetbread, she's got wine in the kitchen, things are going very nicely. Then a giant fuck-off snake slithers into the room, as long as I am tall and thick as my forearm.

I'm telling you, mate, I nearly left right then and there.

Comments

[devoutish]

Well, it's all about what they believe it can do, innit. If it's really just a bit of wood, string, and feathers, surely it can't really catch dreams, either.

[acclimatized]

Yeah, I suppose it comforts people who regularly have bad dreams. Placebo effect and all that.

[devoutish]

Placebo effect?

[acclimatized]

Uh, it's a saying. Sometimes, medical researchers would give patients a placebo pill, but they would believe in the treatment and the body's own chemistry causes similar effects to what a medication might have caused. It's basically mind over matter.

[ a beat ]

So what I'm saying is that if you believe a dream catcher can catch all your nightmares, then it would probably work.

[devoutish]

How far does this theory go? Can you think a broken leg away?

[acclimatized]

Are you being serious?

[devoutish]

[Who knows, Watson.]

Placebo effect, yeah?

I've got back pain; I told you about that once. Can I think that away?

[acclimatized]

I really think you'd benefit from those treatments I suggested. Did you go and see a doctor about it in the end?

[devoutish]

Yeah. He's got me on some pills.

[acclimatized]

Okay, good.

[ it seems a little too convenient after their conversation but why would he lie? ]

Just keep taking them and if they don't work, he can discuss other available treatments.

[devoutish]

Oh, they work well enough, I suppose. I'd be suspicious if they made the pain go away entirely.

[acclimatized]

That's promising. If your doctor suggests an injection or surgery, there's a chance the pain won't completely go away. It will be less severe but there's physical therapy and medication to alleviate the symptoms.

[devoutish]

He suggested surgery if it gets worse. He hinted that I might consider having it done here even if it doesn't, before I'm ported out home. I liked the implication that porting out someday is inevitable.

[acclimatized]

Right, you've been here for a while now haven't you... what's it been, a few months? He's right though. Being ported out is inevitable. Sometimes, people just stay here longer than others.

[devoutish]

It's been three months. Yes.

[acclimatized]

You bit my head off back then. Still. It sounds like you're enjoying yourself. You know, when there aren't huge snakes slithering into the room.

[devoutish]

Did I really? It didn't seem like I did from my end of things.

I enjoy it as much as I ever could enjoy it, I suppose.

[acclimatized]

Well. You didn't like the suggestion at the very least.

I hope it works out for you.

[devoutish]

Did I really? It didn't seem like I did from my end of things.

I enjoy it as much as I ever could enjoy it, I suppose.