lastlycoris

[lastlycoris]

What kind of treats?

He bought me treats. So. Basically I'm the luckiest guy on earth.

[lastlycoris]

//so the alternator went out in my car and that’s literally my livelihood and how I get to and from work and I dash to make up what I need it’s currently stuck at a place where it will be towed if I leave it and it’s going to cost $300 if anyone can help it’d be appreciated. I will pay you back.

[lastlycoris]

So I'm back at home, like childhood home. Took X-Ray's advice. My parents and my sisters came back, and we had dinner. They won't be able to stay for long though - they had to rearrange things in their busy schedule.

I've looked through my predecessor's diary. A passworded set of files on the computer that seems to be the same pass we both use for important things.

It's...enlightening.

I guess I should be grateful that there's nothing here about murdering or vivisecting a living creature. There's...a lot of stuff in here about wanting to dissect her peers - not really out of malice but like...

"I wonder what I would find in Elaine's throat if I dissected it open. Would the vocal cards be more developed than normal? Or maybe cracking open her skull would reveal the answer of how she sings so well? "

"Mr. Johnson always said high blood pressure would be the death of him. Which got me thinking. If I slit his throat, do you think the elevated pressure would have any meaningful change in the time it takes for him to exsanguinate?"

Naturally because I'm incredibly fearful that'll I somehow walk into another felony, I cross-referenced any weird happenings / murders in the area where she's living and when she lived there. And nothing. No strange disappearances or brutal-appearing killings. Not even of animals, but she did work at a butcher shop part-time in high school and college. I guess if an animal dies there, it isn't abnormal.

Her posts involving those times clearly demonstrate a sort of manic happiness and describing muscle groups. Thankfully, if she does kill an animal, it's quick and painless. To her, it's not the pain that excites her but the "knowledge of the flesh and bone."

Other me wrote almost daily until she went to college at 17 where she entered a medical school direct entry program. She was incredibly happy when that happened.

Admitted she aspires to be a surgeon for the sake of guiltlessly cutting people up, but I guess it's better than cutting people up for the wrong reasons?

I have a lot of mixed feelings.

[lastlycoris]

Sorry about the delay. I took your advice. I contacted my dad and my mom and my sisters. Told them I was going home, and when I came home, my sisters were waiting for me at our childhood home.

It's funny that despite the whole universe having changed, my family's remained the same. Small blessings. Parents are going to fly in by tonight. I'm sleeping in a room that I both know and don't know. Reading the journal of a person that's both me and not me. It's been a bit eye-opening.

-

I'm a little surprised about how the nanites are causing disease. I would've expected it to act more like "grey goo," which I find its biological analogue to be more like a prion like in Mad Cow Disease. Weirdly-folded protein in the brain touches a normal protein, which causes it to become weirdly-folded too. And enough of those proteins misfold to create holes in the brain, resulting in neurological dysfunction and eventually death.

It's interesting that the patient experiences respiratory symptoms from being infected by the nanites. Because that implies that they do trigger the immune system in some way - and then they later somehow evade it whether that be taking refuge in the victim's cells. The manner of which it surges all at once combined with what I said suggests it's hijacking the normal cellular systems to replicate itself, which would probably make it a virus.

Of course, we already know that it's a nanite. So everything I am thinking out loud really just goes out the window. But it's an interesting thought exercise because if the nanites are mimicking biology, you're effectively dealing with a virus with a highly infectious virus with a very short incubation period.

The first wave of a virus that jumps species would be the highly lethal first wave of nanites, but because it's so lethal, it burns itself out. Which leaves you with this second wave which is less lethal but still highly infectious, but it's more likely to infect others because it is less lethal. Of course, the fact that highly sturdy people can resist the infection could suggest the existence of asymptomatic carriers down the line, who would seem perfectly fine yet still shedding nanites. I only really have the two datapoints, but if it's trying to act like a biological virus, each wave should progressively get less lethal but more infectious. Again, making assumptions of things that I don't actually know about. Thought exercise.

I'm hoping you and your comrades and your partner the best though. And Hades ending up being united could hopefully be the silver lining to all this. And maybe you'll have more reason and opportunity to play cello after all this.

X: As an android programmed to enjoy carrying out my purpose and to always be aware of the medical needs of those around me, and who has spend several millennia carrying out simulations of operations, I certainly understand the impulse I think. You'll recall I wasn't really inclined to do much outside of practice cello when I was off the clock when I first came to Hades, and admittedly I would often pick up shifts from others when I could.

I suppose in some ways having Mourning around has been quite helpful for me as well in this regard, as I can focus wanting to provide care for others in some way towards caring for them specifically. I know that's not...easily translatable into replicable advice, though. Except in that...maybe now is a good time to touch base with the connections you do have. Spend time with family, or friends? Perhaps catch up with any hobbies you've had that have gone neglected?

We've been...busy, most of us. The...second nanite plague is still ongoing in the cities south of us, Acher and its allies. Perhaps former allies at this point. It is...emotionally unpleasant and cognitively devastating, to know that forty percent of Hades is slated to die when they could have- and could still be- saved at any moment by TCCAI. But it is also...well. Fascinating in a way, admittedly, to receive updates from it on the ongoing changes to the nanites in question and the pathologies they cause.

This strain of them is not the giant wandering cloud of devouring death that the first once was for biological life, and although our crew members have been cautious about exposure regardless, they have not suffered infestation by them either. From what I understand, it...almost acts like a normal pathogen at first, albeit a highly infectious and virulent one.

Typical flu-like symptoms of a respiratory infection, sometimes that's enough to kill those who are already vulnerable, but then there's about a six to twelve hour period where the patient seems to recover...before concentration rises astronomically in a coordinated manner throughout the body. At that point it resembles the first plague, but in slow motion. Blood turns thick with a silvery sheen, sometimes becoming visible in the lips or eyes. Parts of biological tissue is replaced with nanite tissue, as if it's...fossilizing them in plastic while they're alive. Unique from what is typical, this plasticizing fossilization actually seems to stop briefly in particularly hardy patients who can survive the initial surge, but the process is so damaging to surrounding tissues that death is still likely.

...And once one does die, they are converted wholly into that plastic-like substance, a statue shedding spore-like clusters.

I've luckily been in Plutopolis, and although there is a tense atmosphere in the air with energy and supply budgets being tight and a sense of impending dread for most knowing somewhat what lies on the other end of the quarantine borders, there's been no cases here of that yet.

Another silver lining, I suppose, is that the necessity to coordinate a response- and a response was coordinated when the other cities' armies saw near-death infected trying to crawl towards refuge- is that our Captain has gained a considerable amount of sway almost overnight for implementing a plan that adequately warned of and prevented the spread to the remaining cities. It may well be possible to establish a unified and competent government in Hades...if the quarantine holds.

It's only been a month or so. Albeit a very, very long month or so. It's thought there's going to be several more like this until the limit for intervention has been reached. I...almost hope that phenomenon happens again that causes time in our universe to move faster relative to Tumblr's reckoning. This long wait has taken its toll on my comrades and partner, and knowing that our duties remain regardless while a considerable number of human lives are ending not so far away has robbed many of their will to speak more here I think. The time for us would pass as normal anyway, but for you...it would be like our troubles disappeared overnight.

[lastlycoris]

(( pukes blood.

I do this every new hospital year.

I inevitably mistaken a second year resident (R2) for an intern and completely brainfart. Only to remember belatedly that I've worked with this person for a year.

I am a social menace. Dx))

[lastlycoris]

Look at them look at my babies

((babies by @jujulebee! Gorgeous art once again))

[lastlycoris]

--

Obligatory Shan Yu gif:

There is science that backs me up. Probably

[lastlycoris]

@pyxisastronautica

X: Congratulations, Doctor. I am most relieved to hear you are free. Maybe a short vacation is in order regardless as you assess your options?

Thank you. And I'm not sure what to do for vacation. Feels like I've been on the grind for almost two years now. And the closest thing I've felt to being on vacation was being in prison, which I recognize is pretty screwed up. Haha.

Just been having trouble switching off. My fingers have been getting very antsy without anything to do. It's the point where I'm just randomly looking at people and wondering how I'd perform surgery on them. I mean, at least in prison, I could indulge properly on those thoughts because no one in Blackgate's a good person, so I don't feel guilty. But it feels a little off doing that to random strangers on the street, even if it's just in my head.

How have you been doing? Seems like it's been a while since you've been on - or at least spoke with each other.

[lastlycoris]

I have my papers.

No more parole.

I'm a free woman.

Now what do I do?

I guess I could back to work in the prison.

Or try to get a real hospital job.

Or take up Kunlun's offer.

Maybe go on vacation. But what would I do?

[lastlycoris]

Please read before following !

In-character blog style writing. Follows back from @foxyfrolic

This blog is 18+ only and will include mentions of adult topics not suitable for minors.

Multi-ship and cross over friendly!!

Personal and non-role play blogs DO NOT INTERACT.

[lastlycoris]

(( figuring out what to do with her. Might be slightly awkward to be running this char concurrently with the streamer sideplot in the other lol ))

[lastlycoris]

I'm not sure what's causing this phenomenon of people eating inedible things claiming it's cake - and it sounds like it's something that should be a joke, but it's not.

That's just the properly documented ones that manage to get themselves to a hospital. It seems that after the initial act, their cognition seems to correct itself - usually by intense pain.

Some people don't get that chance. There's people who are rumored to be killing themselves in unusual ways like dipping their head into a vat of molten metal for no apparent reason. And it's only now that the media is connecting the dots.

I can't spare that much time to think about it right now. My next case is coming up soon. Some kid ate a bunch of magnets thinking it would be tasty, and now the magnets are joining two distant loops of bowel together. And all that bowel will die without intervention - and then we have bowel contents where it shouldn't be.

So I just told my concerns to everyone in my circle, including the prison - hoping that someone is knowledgeable enough to act on it. But no one seems to have any answers.

[lastlycoris]

There's something strange going on. This is the fourth person in three days I had to do a small bowel resection or a gastric repair on because they decided to eat something they really shouldn't.

And what's even odd is that they all had similar stories. They all just felt the compulsory urge to eat the cake in their hands, except it wasn't cake but something completely inedible.

I figure something's going on similar to mind control in the city.

The thing is I don't think I've ever heard of a mind-controlling metahuman power. Not in the history of the meta-human gene being discovered. There's been claims but nothing that passed scientific rigor.

Then again, it's the sort of thing you'd want to not publicly broadcast, lest its utility is lessened.

[lastlycoris]

Crazy times we're living in.

Wishing it was a little bit less crazy.

Also, it seems that the police lost control of the little aliens again.

The center of the city seems to have a new ice rink.

[lastlycoris]

I've been discussing the differences between Eastern and Western medicine with my new colleague Meng Li, who is one of Kunlun's Chinese Traditional Medicine specialists, specifically acupuncture.

There's different forms of acupuncture. One that stimulates acupoints and meridians and the other to stimulate or loosen musculature.

Most people in the world are familiar with the former, even me who pretty much only practices Western Medicine. Acupuncture relies on the meridian system and the 361 acupoints that channel qi through the body. Acupuncture, in controlled studies, have very variable effects. Some have effects no better than placebo while others experience drastic changes.

According to Meng Li, part of this is because acupuncture only really works with those with developed meridians. The qi channeled through acupuncture has to go through the meridians to be effective, so if the meridians are atrophied or underdeveloped, acupuncture becomes far less effective. And that's why studies of acupuncture between East and West are so varied.

A lot of martial arts are meant to develop internal qi such as tai chi. And even if they don't, strengthening the body has the effect of strengthening meridians. So naturally having a system to promote qi will naturally lead to stronger meridians.

Of course, in the modern age, athletes in general, East or West, tend to get greater effects from acupuncture than any normal person. This is because they developed stronger meridians from physical training.

There's also a genetic component to meridians - which is why the sect system exists. People with stronger meridians tend to have kids with stronger meridians. One's talent in cultivation can be said to be directly related to meridians. But that goes far beyond my understanding of that medical field.

She's offered to teach me a bit as an exchange of medical techniques. So that's why I've been pondering mostly.

[lastlycoris]

I've been looking up into Kunlun's history. It's a conglomerate of sects that eventually united under one banner.

They practice a branch of spiritual strengthening known as cultivation, just like the webnovels ironically enough. It revolves around the concept of Qi.

Qi is the fundamental building block for cultivators. People absorb it from their environment to strengthen themselves, both physically and spiritually.

They concentrate this Qi into a core, known as a Dantian, through which they have a reservoir to perform Arts similar to metahuman powers.

There's several steps to cultivation, which involves creating a Foundation and gradually purifying the body and soul to achieve a "pure" body untouched by the metal dust.

All other steps prior to that point is known as Houtian.

The state of Xiantian is akin to a fetus in the mother's womb. They do not eat or drink but simply dependent on absorbing energy from the mother.

The moment they take their first breath is considered Houtian, where they experience the impure mortal world. People accumulate impurities the longer they live, which is why sects try to scout out young talents.

One could say that cultivation first involves removing the impurities of the mortal world and to return to Xiantian - drawing upon the Heaven and Earth.

[lastlycoris]

That's...I don't really know what to say about that. You literally made portable holes? What happens if I point it at the ground? And I think I'll take the pneumatic pistol if you don't mind.

...I guess I have no room to talk on causing harm to people who deserve it.

I'm making a couple of hole-in-the-wall stickers! Slap 'em on a solid wall, and they'll open into a perfectly round, 10' wide hole. Also, possibly, a gun. If you're really committed to the do-no-harm thing, I can send you a concealable pneumatic pistol that can take tranq darts!

Horace comes from an era of time where there were no bad practices, only bad targets. He murder-tortured the wrong guy, is all!