23 ⚜ Voice

[restingstitchface]

Friday the 13th. The most feared day and date in human history. Staying at home is recommended.

[His voice is a merry tone.]

Quite a date, isn't it? Triskaidekaphobia. Paraskevidekatriaphobia. Thirteen guests at a table. The 13th Baktun. The thirteenth floor being omitted in hotels where the number is considered unlucky.

But is today truly bad for your health? Let us examine the relationship between health, behaviour, and superstition.

[He pauses, purposefully. There's a gentle drop in the lightness of his tone.]

Tell me what you are doing today. Are you outside? Commuting to work? Shopping? Visiting friends? The risk of hospital admission may be increased by as much as 52%, you know.

[Said with a twist of sarcasm; but it ends with him speaking calmly.]

Now. Our time's up, but I'll leave you with advice. Think logically. Act rationally. And don't let the date control you.

Comments

[devoutish]

Is there a difference between triskaidekaphobia and the other one?

[restingstitchface]

Yes. Triskaidekaphobia is a fear of the number 13. Paraskevidekatriaphobia is a fear of the date. Friday the 13th, to be precise.

[devoutish]

Funny that those are things they'd give names to. Can't you just say "fear of the number thirteen"?

[restingstitchface]

[What NO.]

Of course not. Medical terminology often uses words created using prefixes and suffixes in Latin and Ancient Greek. Plus there are tens of thousands of beautiful words, each describing a particular term. Why describe a complex, overwhelming fear of something beautifully simple with something so basic?

Voice;

[exceptfebruary]

[ His tone sounds, to someone who knows him less, calm. But to someone who has spoken to him at length, there's a distinct coldness to it. He's hiding his feelings, and Crane might be able to pick up on that if he listens closely.

But far more telling, perhaps, is the way Julian switches his form of address. ]

You're fond of that word. Superstition.

[restingstitchface]

Superstition is a powerful force invented by the human mind. An excessive fear of the supernatural. It is one of the most fascinating aspects of the human condition. Collectively shared folklore that can be fixed with behavior modification.

[A pause. Julian's tone has been noted, dissected, and the question is how does he draw out all those feelings?]

Though I realize this is an important debate for you. Would you like to discuss it privately?

[exceptfebruary]

So we can discuss in private what you will ridicule in public?

[restingstitchface]

If you like. I simply speak my mind. You know that.

Still, one cannot ridicule supersition, Julian. It's a concept. Do you believe it is a higher power? Are you a faithful man?

[video]

[dachizone]

Huh? Friday the 13th is bad? But it happens so often!

[restingstitchface]

Oh, it's terrible.

Did you know it means hundreds of millions in lost business? A drop in productivity. Though I guess the real question is are you feeling lucky today?

[dachizone]

I feel just as lucky as I did yesterday. Are you saying I'm not supposed to be?

[restingstitchface]

Me?

I'm just observing the fact today's an unlucky day. And a day affects us all, including yourself. It's the research suggesting you're going to meet a sticky situation today. That and a real fear of the unknown.

video;

[deadkord]

Oh boy. Stepping on Calendar Man's toes? Or did you flip a coin for it? Wait, no, that's a different Gothamite all together...

[restingstitchface]

[He considers Harvey for a moment. How regrettable a life. Not that they had been too fond of each other in their few encounters.]

Hardly. No, I don't believe he knows I made this discussion.

I don't think he likes that. But it doesn't concern me.

[deadkord]

So you guys aren't playing nice together this time. I guess you must have to save all the teamwork for Halloween, huh? The more notable scary date.

[restingstitchface]

[There's a long, protracted silence. It's almost cute, how sarcastic this man is being.]

The more commercialized date. Halloween has become about candy and balloons more than placating demons and remembering our ancestors. Anyway. I'm educating Day about the conseuqnces of actions. I take it you think I should make allowances for his eccentricity?

[Video]

[sleight_of_hand]

Wow, you are an amazing nerd.

[ Adachi chuckled a bit, before leaning back, taking the post a little more seriously. ]

I'm just doing my usual. There's enough in Japanese superstition that's out to kill you; I'm not going to freak out about a date.

[restingstitchface]

[Well, he was going to attract all sorts to this message, he guesses.]

Good for you.

[His sardonic voice is replaced by a curious tone.]

Why do you dismiss the calendar so readily, though?

[sleight_of_hand]

[ Look, he's being nice and trying to have a civil conversation. Adachi just shrugged after a moment. ]

It's just a day. Things happen, events get celebrated, but in the end, the day itself isn't going to kill me.

Hands in a toilet, split faced women; now those are things that can kill me.

[acclimatized]

I thought your mate might've had something to say about today.

[restingstitchface]

He did.

Look above your reply.

[acclimatized]

Yeah, I'm going to have to agree with him.

[ something john doesn't sound happy about. ]

I'm going to work.

Video!

[unbreaker]

I prefer to make my own luck.

[He knows a guy back in Morioh who thought luck was on his side. You know what that got him? Run over by an ambulance, that's what. It's better to be in charge of your own actions, to seize the day and not leave things up to chance. Because even if luck is on your side...it can only lift you up so high. You've got to be ready and willing to do the rest yourself.]

How about you, Doctor Crane? You actually buy into any of that superstitious stuff?

[He's saying nothing here about his plans for the day. He's gonna celebrate a little grub's first birthday and it's gonna be fucking awesome. Doesn't get luckier than that.]

Video

[restingstitchface]

I imagine it be easier to deny responsibility if I did. But superstition is artificially created through fear and madness. I believe that man is certainly mad; but I disavow superstition as a form of supernatural force. It is outrageous, irrational and abusive of human intellect.

[Which is to say: no, he doesn't. He's noting Josuke's calmness but scratching under his chin and saying nothing about it.]

Video

[unbreaker]

[Josuke learned the hard way that getting emotional around Crane doesn't benefit anyone other than Crane. Better to keep a cool head and, just as Crane suggested—strange though it may be to follow his advice—think logically and act rationally.]

Check it out, we agree on something.

[His eyebrows raise as he nods toward the camera.]

So, does that mean you won't be staying home today?