in-inertia

[in-inertia]

Indeed. I've never found fault with either of them.

Hm. If anything, I've gotten complaints about my excessive decorum—though I've found others find me far less pleasant to be around when I'm impolite. There's an omnipresent veneer of falsified casualness to most conversation, I've found, which I find tiresome. As with my upbringing, every word is guarded, and manners are strictly policed, though instead of serving a neurotic need to keep our appearances as well-groomed intellectuals, it's the inverse: a revulsion towards anything that strikes the common sensibility as too serious, too politically incorrect, or too 'pretentious.'

She is determined and scheduled and knows what she wants. I cannot fault her for that at all and I respect her dedication and commitment. She's nothing if not honest with herself and the world around her.

Which leads into you, someone that voices her opinions freely. It is refreshing to see decorum without sacrificing honesty. And you shall always be praised for your ability to be truthful without forgetting manners. I don't find you permissive, I find you refreshing.

[in-inertia]

Well, I won't deny that she's possessive. She and Laurentina are always the first to voice complaints about my schedule—yet, unlike Shark, Weedy is also the first to raise complaints when any suggested course of action conflicts with her own schedule.

Is that so? I'm sure you've found me rather permissive. I've never had a desire to control those I love; I fell for them, not the most convenient version of them I could imagine.

And that is why she is so possessive towards you. Your little star is not unlike a lovestruck duckling.

Oh very good! Acceptance does in fact fill me with joy. As it is more of a contractual obligation of mine due to the expectation of the experience relating to the-

[in-inertia]

She's the sort to simply disengage from what she dislikes. I don't concern myself over what she does in her own time; if she didn't like it, she wouldn't be doing it.

Very well. Do as you will.

Perhaps you count them as lucky you needn't have to worry about her on here. Sometimes this place is not enjoyable for everyone.

I will continue to do it then! You shall have to endure this new barrage of accusations and perhaps when you, potentially, outwit me, I shall find the next vehicle of stumping for you, young lady.

[in-inertia]

Should I count my lucky stars she hardly checks this website anymore? Perhaps she's forgotten about it.

Hmph. Not even Kal'tsit calls me young—nor did Ulpianus, even when it was true.

Your small cat of an engineer appears to be drifting out without Accepting the inevitable. That is okay though, I know it's a sight you always adore. Though don't tell her I know that, I'm certain I would receive a strongly worded email about it if she knew.

I don't believe I have, nor do I believe it changes the tone of my tune. Nor does it address the other half of my statement, I believe.

[in-inertia]

Ha. The little star and I had an early start to a busy day today, and I believe Weedy has become Sleepy. She's sitting upright in bed with her eyes narrowed, trying to pretend like she's not trying her hardest to stay awake. It's rather precious.

...A young lady, indeed. Have you forgotten our respective ages, dear? Only one of us is particularly young.

Speaking of someone important, there's a fine young lady I've had the repeated pleasure of sharing time and space with. I don't know if you have met her, not indeed quite sure you would appreciate her like I do. But I do in fact appreciate her.

Good evening, my darling. Eighteen hours? Forever too many. You are with a little star this evening, and I hope she is lighting your sky.

[in-inertia]

Good evening, Hinata. It's been a while—around eighteen hours, in fact.

Good evening.

[in-inertia]

This is the Shuyu zhejiangensis, the Pogging Fish. Send this to five people you think are poggers.

I can understand why it went extinct.

[in-inertia]

I won't deny the possibility. There are...odd similarities between Terra and Earth, to the point where I have to wonder if there isn't some common pattern between worlds. At first, I believed our ability to communicate to be an auto-translation feature of this platform, but...no, that is very much not the case. Contemporary British English is simply nearly identical to contemporary Victorian. It's a mystery I don't know the answer to, nor is it one I'm willing to investigate too deeply.

Ægir's former scale is similarly inconceivable to the nations of land. Even the mightiest empires in their history would be barbaric tribes by its standards, and even in its degraded state, Ægir's might eclipses any resistance they could offer. At one point, to be a Consul of such a great nation filled me with pride; now, it only fills me with dread.

...Funnily enough, I do think I know who you're talking about. I hadn't noticed a pattern, but if you also fit the mold, this might be another strange constant.

My connection predates the proper invention of the internet here, there is definitely something odd about it. Unrelated, the term "terra" exists here, but like most latin it isn't part of common parlance. I wonder if there was some sort of branch between your world and mine.

You can't imagine how infeasible that sounds with my background. The engineering and socioeconomics required are beyond me, I can only imagine it as extremely impressive.

Besides myself, one of the first people I spoke to identified themself as having evolved from sealife that's recognizable to me, and the community here seems to be at least in part fascinated by fish and the ocean.

[in-inertia]

The only Terran people I've encountered on this site were other employees of my company. Either knowledge of this network hasn't spread to the land nations, or this site never held their interest.

I am from Ægir, a nation that once spread across the entire Terran seafloor. Our people, as well, are called Ægirs: human beings, adapted to life in the oceans. Have you noticed a pattern of sea-dwellers around these parts?

It doesn't sound like it, no. You must not be living around here, I can't think of anything even comparable. "Beasts of burden" is a category people speak of, but it includes... Animals that are beasts of burden.

You say "land-dwellers". Are you from the sea in some way as well? I wasn't expecting this to be such a common thread when I contacted other worlds.

[in-inertia]

Indignant land-dwellers have told me rather emphatically that my complaints are ignorant, and that you're able to tell the difference by context—but several farms in Columbia, for instance, raise multiple different kinds of burdenbeast. I'm no farmer, but surely this can't be a sensible way to refer to very common livestock.

My tolerance for the odd names land-dwellers concoct is rather high. I now live among a culture that uses the word 'burdenbeast' to refer to at least five distinct genera of animal that share no taxonomic origin besides being mammals—even when the burdenbeasts in question are not, in fact, used as beasts of burden.

I can stomach 'sacabambaspis.'

[in-inertia]

My tolerance for the odd names land-dwellers concoct is rather high. I now live among a culture that uses the word 'burdenbeast' to refer to at least five distinct genera of animal that share no taxonomic origin besides being mammals—even when the burdenbeasts in question are not, in fact, used as beasts of burden.

I can stomach 'sacabambaspis.'

[in-inertia]

Thanks to the concerted effort of my dear protégé Laurentina, the word 'sacabambaspis' no longer sounds real.

[in-inertia]

If you've always had shackles upon your limbs, you might not once question whether the weight is normal. I cannot make this judgment for you, but know the human brain is exceptional at rationalization.

Anyway, I've been perhaps a little too bold with my advice. My first instinct when I see someone, especially with altruistic ambition, plausibly experiencing something that I've struggled to overcome myself is to try to impart upon them the lessons I've learned over the two decades of my adult life I've spent living and working through it.

If you wish to make them proud, you best continue to practice consistently. Best of luck. If you need any advice on your artistic venture, or perhaps a neutral outside perspective or merely a capable ear, do not hesitate to contact me.

I don't know if... struggle is the right word... I guess I've never... really considered it... a struggle... just normalcy...

I have a... good friend who... plays cello with his friends... Quail also wants me to... show off... my skills... at playing bass... once I have those... I would hate to disappoint them...

[in-inertia]

As you should. Those who've grown numb to the importance of human life should never be in such a position. The fear must never paralyze you, but its existence is not a problem to be solved—only how it may be overcome.

Another familiar issue. I was alone for most of my early life. I sought a military life looking for a surrogate for the love I lacked. I have many regrets, but the sense of sisterhood to my fellow soldier was exactly what I needed at the time. I wouldn't recommend the military to anyone suffering mental illness, nor would I advise blindly trusting in your local mechanisms of political power—but, if you continue to struggle with having few points of social contact, forcing yourself to join some other group activity you've interest in and committing yourself to it for a while may prove fruitful.

Ah... yeah... I do understand the dire nature... I put a lot of weight... on the lives of my patients...

Right... I can certainly say that... rotting in bed was... only worsening my condition... over the years... lack of... social contact also... did not help...

[in-inertia]

Anxiety was the least of my concerns when it came to my physical health, but it was a seemingly insurmountable obstacle to my performance as a leader and as a soldier. Though you've likely never had to bear the weight of a nation on your shoulders, I'm sure you've had to bear the weight of a life. In that case, you understand the dire nature of my fears.

The purpose isn't to cure depression. Improvement in your condition may only come from changes in your life, medical intervention, or reckoning with matters that bass playing will not have much influence on. Even if you do not improve, the purpose is continued maintenance. Inertia is damaging to the psyche. You must keep moving if you do not wish to worsen, or see your cutting edge dull; improvement will only be possible if you stay in motion.

I'm... glad you have something that could occupy you... and help vent nervous energy... it's important to be able to do that... anxiety in any form is bad for your health... it's important that you have coping mechanisms...

I was... recommended by a friend... who cares a lot about my health... he was worried I wasn't doing well... which... I guess he wasn't wrong... not that I've seen much improvement in myself...

[in-inertia]

That's a fine suggestion. When I was most lost, I turned to dance to occupy myself and vent my nervous energies—and when my protégé seemed just as lost, I took her hand and taught her the same steps I once learned.

It's important to have something you can work and reflect upon, even while you're at rest. It keeps the mind sharp.

I play... mostly by myself... I was suggested... to play an instrument... to help with the depression... and to keep me from just... rotting in bed all day... on my days off...

[in-inertia]

Of course it does. I happen to play the cello. Do you play in a band, or by yourself? What sort of music do you play?

Yes... it's what my mother named me...

I play... the bass... and I'm a fan of cellos... if that counts...