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

[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.

[dachizone]

[You're saying so many big words that Gentarou does not understand]

But I never heard anything wrong with 13. 4, yeah. That's common knowledge but not 13.

[restingstitchface]

Tetraphobia. A superstition most common in East Asia.

[Yes, he's a nerd.]

A different day, then. One that happens far more frequently than Friday the 13th. Perhaps you have it worse than most. Has anything terribly unlucky ever struck you?

[dachizone]

[Letsee, parents dying, transferring into a school where the teachers are monsters, getting poisoned by the homeroom teacher, finding out the girl he liked is actually sentient space slime and then get captured by scientists, being murdered close range by a disco ball wearing bruce lee, watching best friend get murdered by the chairman of your school, ninjas made of stardust, evil constellations, experiencing the chairman wanted to meet the space people, cause a rift in the fabric of space and time that would destroy all of Japan]

Nope! Not even once!

[restingstitchface]

Then you are the exception to the rule.

[Aka that's BS. Don't try fooling the god of fear hdu.]

[dachizone]

I hear that a lot. But, it's not special. It's because I have all my friends around me!

[restingstitchface]

[And that youthful optimism brings a sharp pain to his head. There's a short, sharp groan.]

Children. You'll soon learn.

[dachizone]

I heard that a lot too. [Guess who has a solid 19% average in all his classes!]

Are you a teacher or something?

[restingstitchface]

I used to lecture psychology.

[Guess who got fired?]

But I still am. I'm now a psychiatrist. I educate people who are managing severe, long-term mental disorder.

[dachizone]

I thought so. You sounded like someone who knows a lot about brains and stuff.

[restingstitchface]

Brains and stuff. How colloquial.

[If this were video on his end, he'd be shaking his head. Kids today.]

The human mind is why I reseach what I do. The limits of all it can take are fascinating. You sound like someone who appreciates that.

[dachizone]

Sure. I may not understand any of that research and stuff but, if you mean helping everyone push themselves to do their best then yeah, I get that!

[restingstitchface]

Well, if events here horrifies you, and you don't know who or where to turn, look behind you. You can count on me to be there.

[For reasons.]

[dachizone]

Hey, thanks! By the way, the names Gentarou Kisaragi. I'm going to be friends with every hero here!

[restingstitchface]

How nice of you. I'm Doctor Crane.

[A pause.]

Such behavior won't land you in hot water, I hope.

[dachizone]

You mean like getting invited to a hot tub party?

[restingstitchface]

Cute. Hot situations are what I mean.

Ones that are figuratively temperate - and not quite so wet.

[dachizone]

Oh. Right. [nodding but, does he really truly understand?]

[restingstitchface]

[Obviously not, because he's thick as two short planks. Children today don't think.]

Yes, well, I believe that's enough for today? If you require assistance, you have my number.

[dachizone]

Oh yeah. Sure thing, Doc.