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ChrisBTY posted:I feel like Emi might be a little too pushy. A bit of pushing is good, getting over the first hills. At least when it's cute. this got me thinking about a book I read years ago; A World To Care For, the autobiography of Dr. Howard Rusk, one of the founders of rehabilitative medicine. It was interesting, reading his descriptions of trying to help disabled people adapt to a world long before curb cuts and "reasonable accommodations." Back when the medical model of disability was developed, and that was an improvement over the previous model, which was "out of sight, out of mind." For instance, teaching paraplegics to "walk" using crutches, instead of using wheelchairs. Sick people throughout the world ask their God, “Why must I suffer?” Possibly the answer comes in the work of the potter, Great ceramics are not made by putting clay in the sun; they come only from the white heat of the kiln. In the firing process, some pieces are broken, but those that survive the heat are transformed from clay into objects of art, and so it is, it seems to me, with sick, suffering, and crippled people. Those who, through medical skill, opportunity, work and courage, survive their illness or overcome their handicap and take their places back in the world, have a depth of spirit that you and I can hardly measure. They haven’t wasted their pain.
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Jun 24, 2021 08:15
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Cobalt-60 posted:DeviantArt search "twintails": 24k results Haha, of course, yeah. I still find it weird, though. As for why it's popular, well... maybe it's cynical, but I've always assumed that it's down to the infantilisation of women in media - which is a particular problem in anime/manga, obviously. It's something I don't like about Emi's design, but from memory they do subvert expectations a bit with her there, so that's something. ChrisBTY posted:Alright I guess it's time to share my story and my perspective. I don't know how much it will illuminate anything but I guess it can't hurt. Oof, a lot of this sounds familiar. I have arthritis too - Psoriatic Arthritis, in my case - which I developed when I was nineteen. So I've spent my adult life having to say, whenever it comes up, "no, arthritis isn't just for old people". Fortunately it's been controlled by medication for most of that time, but the time between developing it and finding medication that worked was agonising. It mostly affects my knees, and for a while there I could barely walk. It felt like someone had taken a hammer to my knees - constantly. Bending my knees was nearly impossible, making things like getting dressed pretty difficult. Early on I also developed uveitis, I think it was - and it was much worse for me than in the picture at that link. There was no white left in my eyes; they were fully red - just a chaotic mat of angry-looking blood vessels. With my hands near my face, I could feel the heat coming off my eyes. Pretty scary at the time. I'm glad that's never happened again. But yeah; fortunately controlled by medication, though I have a list of jobs/activities I'm not supposed to do - doctor's orders. Also the main medication is methotrexate, which means I sunburn in like ten minutes, and am immunosuppressed, which has been kind of concerning in plague times. On the other hand that did mean that I qualified for earlier COVID-19 vaccination than most people my age here in Australia, so at least there's that. And struggling with social interaction, yep. That's been my whole life. For me it's social anxiety disorder. (And depression, because of course. Depression's basically comorbid with everything, right?) Maybe I'll do an effort post about my experience with social anxiety disorder at some point... Maybe when we get to Hanako - for obvious reasons. I also wasn't diagnosed until my twenties - late twenties, for me - and until then, I'd never even heard the term "social anxiety disorder". Once I did, and looked it up, it was like a bolt out of the blue; the most massive epiphany I've ever had. All those symptoms listed down the page - they may as well have been describing me specifically. It was like "This is it! This is what's been making my entire life so hellish!" I don't think I'm on the spectrum, so that's different. The second psychiatrist I was sent to sure thought so, though! He made a snap judgement within literally five minutes of meeting me that I had Asperger's, saying right to my face "I don't think you really understand what's going on". He certainly treated me that way, too; it was obvious that he felt he could get away with being generally condescending all the time, thinking that I wouldn't notice. He was the only one to ever think that I'm on the spectrum. He wasn't very good at his job, I don't think. Not as bad as the first psychiatrist I was sent to though, drat. He was basically actively hostile. He said straight-up that there was no such thing as social anxiety disorder (because the diagnosis didn't exist fifteen years prior - nevermind that now it did), and that even if it did exist, I couldn't possibly have it, because I had shown up to the appointment. Hell of a thing to say to someone trying to get help. Someone who has social anxiety disorder and so is terrified of confrontations like that. I didn't go back to that guy again - and just as well. A few years later I would learn that he was allegedly linked to at least six separate suicides. Yeesh. Anyway; Impostor syndrome though, yes; definitely. (Though again, I'd never heard of that term until very recently.) On bad days I'll be struggling to get from moment to moment without having a panic attack, and on "good" days I'll wonder if I'm just weak, or lazy, or etc. "I'm missing out on so much! Social interaction isn't that hard, is it? I'm just making a mountain out of a molehill. What if I can handle it and I'm just wasting my life?" And yeah, all this being basically invisible to others is brutal, in its own way. If you look fine, and people expect you to be able to do everything "normal" people do, but it's traumatic to even explain why you can't do a particular thing because it's essentially a form of torture for you... oof. Also - just want to echo that I appreciate everyone telling their stories here; it does help.
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Jun 24, 2021 09:58
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Disability Corner: Social Construction of Disability Let me tell you a story a professional tutor once told me. When the US entered World War II, it suddenly found itself in need of an Air Force. It already had one, yeah, but it was just a branch of the Army, and the war effort demanded as many pilots in the air as possible as soon as possible. So, they ramped up production and training. And started killing their pilots outside of combat. Seriously, they died constantly; about a third of dead American airmen died in accidents, and this was an air force that flew planes so dangerous they called them flying coffins. The military spent the war trying to figure out stem the tide and never really pulled it off – except in one place. During a review of training equipment, somebody noticed somebody else had hosed up standardized flight gear at the planning stage. As a matter of policy, all pilots were issued the same flight suit. The same-sized flight suit. Tall, short, thin, the closest you could get to fat on military rations, didn’t matter, same flight suit. If it was too big on you, it would get in the way, slow down your reaction time, and you would crash. If it was too small on you, it would restrict your movement, slow down your reaction time, and you would crash. They were in such a hurry to get people in the air that they forgot most people aren’t, in fact, the archetypical paragon of American manliness they’d modeled the flight suit on. They built a model around an assumption without realizing it was just an assumption, and it killed people they needed dying somewhere else yesterday. The solution was simple: remove some unnecessary bulk, alter the flight suit to include adjustable straps to make up the difference, and that was it. And like that, pilot death rates dropped. Well, actually they kept climbing because that wasn’t their only problem and they were still ramping up recruitment, but the pilot death ratio fell significantly. All it took was an eye for letting people fit the situation to their own needs. But without that eye, without that reach towards accommodating all of their pilots, they would kept bleeding pilots for who knows how long. I have no idea if that anecdote is true. I haven’t been able to find any trace of it on Google, though that may be due to the American military suppressing something that makes it look that. But the logic that led to first flight suit, the idea that an assumed average will fit everyone, is very much a thing. One example? Temperature control. In the US at least, most people assume the natural temperature to set your house or workplace a is 73°F. Most Americans absorb the idea that that’s the ideal indoor temperature pretty early. I did. And sure, it is – for biological males. For biological females, though, that’s a little cold, just enough to be uncomfortable. But when they started implementing climate control in the 50s and 60s, their tests involved mostly men, and so that discrepancy never came up. Car crashes killing more women than men because crash dummies are modeled on male bodies, facial recognition systems ignoring black people because they trained them on white faces, the examples are endless; assumed averages frequently backfire, but that doesn’t stop people from using them. Naturally, this ends up hitting disabled people, too. Airports are famous for mistreating your luggage, that isn’t news. But did you know they wreck thousands of wheelchairs every year? Airlines are legally obligated to replace any wheelchairs they damage, but it can take weeks for you to get your wheelchair back, and that’s assuming they don’t ignore or reject your complaint and nothing else gets in the way. And that’s just the beginning of a wheelchair user’s woes; most old buildings can’t accommodate wheelchairs (especially if they have stairs), a lot of curbs can’t be mounted, certain pathways are downright unusable, the list goes on and I’m sure people in this thread can roll out endless examples. And beyond wheelchairs? Blind people can’t see the lights change on crosswalks. ADHD people are funneled into environments full of distractions and get punished for being distracted. Educational opportunities extended to abled folks as a matter of course are reframed as additional burdens when applied to disabled kids and get targeted for budget cuts. Getting life-saving medicine gets caught up in layers of bureaucracy without any way to expedite the process. All of this, all these issues and dangers, fall under a concept known as the social construction of disability: the way our society works shunts aside and hinders disabled people at a very basic level. Living with a disability can be hard; living with a disability when society punishes you for having it is much worse. At least, I think this is what the social construction of disability is. I have to admit, researching this topic is kind of a nightmare – not in the “despairing for the soul of humanity” sense, but in the “why do you have to write like this  ” sense. The Wikipedia article’s downright inscrutable, and reading this sort of thing is my job: "Social construction of disability, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia posted:The social construction of disability comes from a paradigm of ideas that suggest that society's beliefs about a particular community, group or population are grounded in the power structures inherent in a society at any given time. These are often steeped in historical representations of the issue and social expectations surrounding concepts such as disability, thereby enabling a social construct around what society deems disabled and healthy. Is it just me? I think it's not just me. This is the introduction. The rest is just as well-written and organized  . The blog posts I find touch on the subject before spinning off into some aspect, while the papers I find seem a lot more focused on collating examples than putting down a definition. Which, I suppose, is appropriate; the interplay of society and how it defines disability is hideously complex, so why should researching it be any easier?All I can say is that a society that can’t make those adjustments will have a nasty habit of brutalizing people to fall outside a projected norm out of convenience, and that if you choose to keep brutalizing them, you’re going to lose out on everything you could’ve gone back. That, and I’ve finally put a bullet in this godddamn topic that’s been haunting me for weeks  E: the next few posts cover this really well \/ \/ \/ \/ DoubleE: We have an  post from LXP that explains the concept far better:LXP posted:Hi, I'm LXP. I'm middle-aged, asian, male(ish), and was largely from an affluent family. I was diagnosed with high-level autism at a young age, and my major problem is the inability to distinguish other peoples' emotions. Due to the affluence, my family was able to do things like "move me to different schools every grade level until 3rd so my classmates don't realize my weirdness", and "go to schools where there are enough workforce to take a few people out of class and do things like speech therapy and emotion control." So I can largely pass as "normal." As you might be able to tell, this is kinda a sticking point. This is also intersectionality in play. Falconier111 fucked around with this message at 00:55 on Jul 5, 2021 |
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Jun 25, 2021 03:10
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You're probably referring to the reach capability study which quantified how many essential flight controls were effectively unreachable for people. Isn't social construction of disability more about how people exist on a spectrum but only part of that range is considered to be disabled? E.g. here if you're under about 5 feet tall you can get a disabled parking permit. But there are plenty of people under five feet tall, or barely above (not to mention the intersection of this with sex and race...). Being ridiculously tall has poor health outcomes too, probably worse than being short, but these people are lauded instead of being handed disability tags.
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Jun 25, 2021 12:50
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I read the Wikipedia article, and a few other related articles, and some other stuff, and I think I may have a reasonable explanation for the social construction of disability. The tricky part is understanding what social construction is in general - applying it to any particular aspect of society is fairly simple from there. And fortunately, we're at what's hopefully the tail end of a major phase in the archetypal social construct - money. If you think about it, money is utterly useless on its own. Whether it's small pieces of paper, coins, or the more recent advances of just storing a number in a computer somewhere, the only problems money can solve by itself are turning some screws, scratching lottery tickets, or making very small fires for brief periods. Eating it, wearing it, and most other attempts to meet basic human needs require exchanging it for actual stuff. And realistically speaking, why would anyone ever give away something they can use for something as useless as money? Ultimately, it's because they can, in turn, exchange that money for something else they can use. As a society, we've collectively decided that money, for all the worth it doesn't have, represents an amount of value that can be exchanged for a determined amount of goods or services. We accept money as a payment because we have full confidence that we will be able to use that money in turn. The law backs that up by guaranteeing the status of money as legal tender for all debts. That's a social construct - society collectively assigning a meaning to something that it doesn't inherently possess, and by mutual agreement, treating that constructed property as reality. Cryptocurrency, likewise, is just a bunch of data that meets arbitrary conditions that some people have decided to treat as equivalent to money. There's no law backing that, so if you amass some kind of cryptocurrency and everyone else decides to drop the social construct and stop treating it as a thing of value, then you've got a hard drive full of useless bits. People are suddenly starting to understand what happens when a social construct that they've benefited from collapses under them. I've heard quite a lot about gender as a social construct, and I think it makes a reasonable segue because we've all had at least some experience with gender, while not everyone has experienced disability. I've got a controversial hypothesis that I don't want to debate here, and I'm just providing it for context: If there were no gender stereotypes at all, and the terms "male" and "female" referred to genitals and nothing else, then I don't think there would be such a thing as transgender people. I'm prepared to be wrong about that, which is why I don't want to discuss it, but it might help to illustrate how much of gender is socially constructed. Society has constructed an idea of what it means to be a man or a woman, and it's a giant collection of traits and stereotypes that don't line up for most individuals, and definitely don't uniformly line up with anyone's biology. The thing that makes the social construction of gender different from money is that biology is an actual attribute that society has tied to gender. Gender is not completely disconnected from reality the way money is, but by construction, has a component that is inherent to each person aside from the constructed attributes. The social construct assigns attributes to every person before they're even aware of society, and any attempts to break that mold tend to meet a lot of friction, to put it mildly. In my mind (and again, I could be entirely wrong about this), the disconnect between people's traits and the social construct of gender, which includes the biological component, is the cause of the discomfort some transgender people have with their biologies. Disability is a similar social construct that ties artificial stereotypes and traits to biological attributes, but encompassing a much larger variety of biological attributes that aren't necessarily related outside the social construct. In a general sense, blindness and deafness, for example, are both characterized by the lack of a particular sense, but they're also very different. But the social construct of "disability" wraps both of those, and many other conditions of both physical and mental health, into a single concept. Maybe that's a good thing in some ways - can you imagine something like the Americans with Disabilities Act existing if each disability had to be protected as an individual category, with specific laws governing inclusion of people with that specific disability? (I'm not going to claim that the law is wonderful as-is, but it does offer at least some broad protections that can be leveraged in certain situations.) But the social construct also does little to distinguish the different types of disability, which I believe is why so many people will shout at blind people, even though neither blind people nor deaf people would benefit from that. That's a separate thing from the people who treat everyone with a visible disability as inferior, from my perspective, but it's all part of the same social construct, an "otherness" that translates so easily into inferiority. It is a fact that a blind person has either no or severely diminished visual capability. But the social construct of disability wraps that fact up with facts about many unrelated conditions that don't apply, and conflates them with stereotypes and traits that have little to no basis in reality. People who don't have direct experience with disability then rely on that shared "understanding" when making decisions that will potentially impact other people. So, that's my take on social construction - it's more the underlying cause of the poor decisions than the poor decisions themselves. However, those results definitely impact the people who fall under the social construct, which in turn affects the way people perceive them, and that perception feeds back into the social construct. The real life stories in this thread have been great examples that might help to deconstruct that, as long as enough people take them to heart and make a real effort to improve. It's a tough sell, though, because the people who don't deal with disability directly have what amounts to hard drives full of bitcoins. If society collectively decides that the currency of not being disabled isn't valuable anymore, they lose it all, so they fight as hard as they can to keep the social construct in place. Maybe that's a gross oversimplification of the issue, but I think I've already rambled way too much.
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Jun 25, 2021 16:04
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Nidoking posted:I read the Wikipedia article, and a few other related articles, and some other stuff, and I think I may have a reasonable explanation for the social construction of disability. Here's a good specific example, I think: My stepson has fairly significant developmental delays including both physical and sensory issues. Eating in the school cafeteria in grade school was extremely hard for him because of the sensory issues - it's loud and chaotic. Under a disability model, which is the dominant (socially constructed) model, the special ed program could identify that he has specific needs associated with his disabilities, generate a plan, and apply a modification to him and let him eat lunch in a quiet classroom. The accommodations are in response to the specific idea that he has a disability that society recognizes as a specific and discrete condition that is different from the general needs of others. Note, here, that in this case they're actually helping him, right? The fact that we have this social construct of "disabled" is what let them categorize him as having specific needs and come up with an approach that meets them. But in doing that, they also sell the idea that he is different and separate and distinct from everybody else - they create a category that separates "disabled" from "non-disabled" people. Here's the thing, though. The public school he was in didn't do that - we picked that school specifically because it had one of the best special ed programs in the state. Instead, what they did was they announced *to everyone in the class* "some people like loud places like the cafeteria. Some people don't. If you want to eat quietly in the classroom, you can." They did that because my kid had a specific need, but they didn't make it about him and they offered it to everybody - they treated this need as a spectrum of need that everybody might have in some form. In doing that, they deconstructed the idea of "disability" as a special thing and instead turned it into an approach that treated everyone as having varying needs of varying severity. They did that across all the different special ed kids in school. It was extremely awesome - they actually really did a good job of creating a community that seemed to treat kids of all kinds (including non-verbal kids or kids with extreme challenges) as having a variety of needs and normalizing the idea of supports as something that everyone can use instead of it being a thing where only "special" kids got assistance and support. Aside from helping integrate children like my stepson, it also seemed to me to normalize things like accessing counseling or using sensorimotor tools to help kids who may not have an actual diagnosis but where those tools helped them perform.
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Jun 25, 2021 18:04
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Notahippie posted:In doing that, they deconstructed the idea of "disability" as a special thing and instead turned it into an approach that treated everyone as having varying needs of varying severity. That's a wonderful approach that seems impossible in the current climate. People as a whole will never accept something that might benefit someone else if they don't need it for themselves - and often even if they do need it for themselves. The kerfuffle over packaged peeled oranges from a few years ago comes to mind - everyone was up in arms over how wasteful it seemed, until someone pointed out that it helped people who didn't have the manual dexterity to peel oranges for themselves. Even then, I don't remember how many people walked back their earlier opinions and how many insisted that that wasn't a good enough reason. And frankly, the moment you bring the disability into the conversation, the social construct has already asserted itself, even if it wasn't explicit to begin with. It's kind of strange to say, but the pandemic has normalized a lot of social distancing practices that have helped me out in social situations. I feel much more comfortable when people can't see my face, and when I'm not expected to be close to people. I plan to keep up those habits indefinitely.
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Jun 25, 2021 18:54
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The example about the school just allowing everyone to eat in a quiet classroom is wonderful, for another reason as well. It doesn’t single out the stepson. If he was the only one to be allowed that, he would be loving targeted. But since anyone can do it, he’s just part of another group. I appreciate this approach to accommodation because social interaction is also important. Not being ‘othered’ helps that immensely.
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Jun 25, 2021 19:51
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Update 20: Track Meeting Katawa Shoujo OST - Ah Eh I Oh You   NURSE: "My goodness, but you're in a hurry today, aren't you, Emi?" I have no idea how we got to the nurse's office so fast, but here we are. The nurse grins at Emi and seems to completely ignore me. NURSE: "You've got plenty of time to take a shower and get to class, you know. There's no need to run through the hallways like that. I could hear you coming a mile away!" Somehow, it doesn't seem like he's actually scolding Emi at all. It's like this is a sort of routine between the two of them. Emi does a passable imitation of remorse.  EMI: "I'm sorry! I won't ever do it again!"  The nurse and Emi both laugh at some private joke. Suddenly, it seems that he notices me. NURSE: "Ah, hello Hisao. What brings you here?"  HISAO: "Well, I've been—" EMI: "Hisao's officially joined me on my morning runs." I start to explain, but Emi cuts me off. EMI: "I thought he might need to visit you so that he doesn't die or anything." The nurse raises his eyebrows in mock horror. NURSE: "Yes, that would certainly put me out of a job fast, wouldn't it? Well then Hisao, let's have a look at you. Lift up your shirt, would you?" I'm suddenly very conscious of the fact that Emi's in the room with me and blush in spite of myself. The nurse seems to sense my discomfort, but it only seems to amuse him. NURSE: "A bit shy, are we?" He makes an apologetic bow to Emi. NURSE: "Sorry Emi, I tried to get you a free show, but it doesn't seem to have worked." Emi stiffens slightly and fires a look of annoyance at him.  EMI: "You're an rear end in a top hat." Emi bows to me apologetically. EMI: "I'll wait outside, okay Hisao?" I begin to stammer that it's not really a big deal, she doesn't have to leave, but she's already out the door and the nurse is laughing as he watches her go. NURSE: "Still got it! Ha!" HISAO: "I don't follow." He laughs again, like he's in on some joke that's over my head. NURSE: "I can still get her flustered. It's a competition of sorts we've had going on for a while now." That sounds incredibly sinister to me, and it seems as if the nurse realizes that too. NURSE: "Er. That sounded a lot worse than it actually is, come to think of it." HISAO: "I wasn't going to say anything..." NURSE: "No no, you're right. I should fill you in so that you don't get the wrong idea. I'm actually relatively new here, you see. I got hired on the same year Emi started going here. Before that, I worked with Emi during her initial rehab following her accident." Hold on, what?  NURSE: "We had to amputate her legs after a really nasty car wreck. It nearly killed her, and succeeded—" He shuts up abruptly. I blink at receiving this unexpected piece of news. NURSE: "Well, that's not my place to say. Anyway, we've known each other for quite a while. So we have a slightly more familiar relationship than is strictly professional." He seems embarrassed, like he's done something stupid. I guess he's really worried about that.  Hell yeah he should be. In America, that would be a grievous violation of doctor/patient confidentiality, so much so I bet Psycho Lawnmower’s probably reaching for a bat labeled “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996” as we speak. I wasn’t able to find out how Japanese law would handle this situation (I couldn’t wade through the  translated legalese), but in general Japanese medical privacy laws are even stricter: even patients rarely have access to their own medical records. So  E: turns out, not quite: Ghost Car posted:This is a little outdated - since 2003, doctors/hospitals have been required to disclose your medical information to you and provide you copies of your medical records upon request. However, many people aren't aware they have this right - in a survey of people who had received medical attention in 2014-2015, about 40% didn't know (source). Also, even if you are aware, the fact that they're required to provide you the information doesn't mean they can't make you jump through hoops to get it. Particularly controversially, the law explicitly allows doctors/hospitals to charge a fee to provide you with your medical records, and most do. (It states that the fee should be "reasonable" but doesn't specify what "reasonable" means.) According to a 2018 survey, at about 30% of hospitals this fee is more than 5,000 yen (about US$45) (source - unfortunately paywalled but I couldn't find one that wasn't). Of course, since I'm from the US, criticizing this feels a little like throwing stones from within a glass house - certainly I spent a lot less on medical-related expenses when I lived in Japan than I do now. But the fee is a barrier to access nonetheless. So he is still hosed, but significantly less than I thought I wave a hand to let him know it's not a big deal. HISAO: "Don't worry, sir. I promise I'm going to be discreet." I had been wondering about what caused Emi to lose her legs, and that was one of the scenarios I thought of. There were only so many ways that could have happened, but actually hearing about the facts... it's still a little shocking. NURSE: "Well, thanks. You're a good kid, Hisao. I can see why Emi became friends with you. She's quite indomitable, you know." HISAO: "What do you mean?" NURSE: "You didn't see her learning to walk. She'd go for so much longer than the others in the hospital. She refused to quit. Normally it takes years to get to a point where you can even think about running again. Emi did it all in about a year." He almost seems proud of her, like a father who watches his daughter win a competition or something. NURSE: "Hell, she'd probably have done it faster if not for the fact that we wouldn't let her." HISAO: "Wouldn't let her? Why not?" (Silence)  NURSE: "Because she'd go for so long that her legs would start bleeding where they met her prosthetics. It's a real concern - it's why she comes by every day after she runs. To say nothing of the risk of infection if her legs get cut up and her prosthetics are dirty.” Katawa Shoujo OST - Ah Eh I Oh You NURSE: “But enough about that. If we don't get you on your way soon, Emi will think we're up to something." As he says this, he gives a wink and begins checking my heartbeat. The stethoscope is way too cold. He really should have heated it up or something before he used it. After a few moments he leans back, satisfied. NURSE: "Well, you sound pretty good to me, Hisao. You didn't have any chest pains while you were running, did you?" HISAO: "No, not really. I had some trouble catching my breath, though - and my heart was racing by the end, too." The nurse frowns as I say this, but then shrugs. NURSE: "It's probably just because you're out of shape... but if you don't improve, then you should let me know, okay? Don't push yourself too much - and of course if you have any chest pains, come to me immediately, right?" I put my shirt back on, and the nurse leans out of the doorway to call in Emi. EMI: "What took you so long? Now I'm going to be late!" The nurse gives me a significant look. (Silence) NURSE: "I was just seducing Hisao, that's all." Sure aren’t covering yourself in glory here, bud. EMI: "What!? Come on, what have I told you about seducing my friends?" Katawa Shoujo OST - Katawa Shoujo OST - Generic Happy Music I'd expected Emi to be shocked by this, but instead she seems merely annoyed, scolding the nurse as if he were a child stealing cookies. Meanwhile, I try hard not to blush at the nurse's innuendo. NURSE: "I'll try not to do it again, though I fear young Hisao may be lost to the female gender forever!" (Sudden Silence) HISAO: "Not freaking likely." There’s a screen without text here where they both just stare at you. Katawa Shoujo OST - Katawa Shoujo OST - Generic Happy Music  I didn't mean to say that out loud, but both the nurse and Emi regard me for a moment before bursting into laughter again. EMI: "Told you he was funny, didn't I?" Huh. I guess Emi does talk to the nurse about a lot of stuff. NURSE: "Well Hisao, you should probably get moving. You still need a shower before class starts, don't you?" Crap! He's got a point, and it looks like I've only got a half hour! HISAO: "Thanks for your time. I'll see you later, Emi!" I dash out of the room as the nurse begins to remove Emi's prosthetics. As I head down the hallway, I can just barely hear his voice drifting after me. (Silence) NURSE: "Emi, you've got to be more careful..." I make it back to my room and shower in record time. It occurs to me that I've already been up for four hours, and class hasn't even started yet. This is going to be a really, really long day. I hope I don't fall asleep in class. Katawa Shoujo OST ~ Passing of Time  Katawa Shoujo OST - Stride The morning sunlight streaming through my window wakes me up instead of my alarm, and I realize that it must be Sunday. Emi has kindly deigned to give me weekends off from our morning runs. I don't actually know if I woke up at all yesterday, or if I just slept through the entire day. My legs groan in protest as I lever myself out of bed. All this running has really taken it out of me. Still, I can't deny that Emi wasn't lying to me. It has gotten a little easier. I'd been worried that the runs would start to wear on my nerves, but thus far I haven't minded them that much. Well, it's only been a week. I suppose there's plenty of time for me to start dreading the sound of my alarm in the morning. Not that I could ever skip out now. As Emi said, it's harder to stop a routine when there's another person. And frankly, I don't think I'm equipped to deal with a disappointed Emi. She'd probably give me those puppy-dog eyes and I'd feel terrible about myself. Which reminds me... wasn't I supposed to be somewhere today? Katawa Shoujo OST - Stride (muted)  EMI: "Hey, you're coming to my track meet on Sunday, right? What am I talking about, of course you are. Right?" Those puppy-dog eyes again. HISAO: "Of course I'm going! I owe you, right?" EMI: "Exactly! So don't forget, okay?" Katawa Shoujo OST - Stride Crap, Emi's track meet! I'd better get a move on if I don't want to miss her running, since she's the only reason I'm even considering going. Otherwise, it would defeat the whole purpose of going.  And so, I soon find myself quite suddenly surrounded by a crowd of people, all turning out to see our track team compete with another school like this one. Katawa Shoujo OST - Stride (muted) I'll admit it, it's almost comforting to know we're not the only school like this. After you see that there can be two schools with a bunch of...defective kids, well. ...You stop feeling so defective. You also stop feeling unique, which in most cases would be a bad thing, but in this case it sure as hell isn't. That's part of Yamaku's appeal, I guess. Learn that you're not unique - hell, learn there's a lot of others who would kill to be saddled with your problem instead of whatever they're dealing with. Some of the kids here aren't here because they're missing a leg or they have a heart condition. Some of them might be here because they're as good as dead in two, maybe three years if they're lucky. And that's only if they get the right sort of care. It's a bitter sort of comfort to be able to say “Well, at least I've got a chance of being alive through college,” but there it is. I'm brought out of my rather morbid musings by the appearance of Rin near the entrance to the bleachers. (Silence)   RIN: "You came." HISAO: "Of course. I said I would, didn't I?" RIN: "That doesn't necessarily imply that you had to follow through. Lots of people say things and don't mean them." HISAO: "Well, I don't." Katawa Shoujo OST - Air Guitar Rin shrugs. Seemingly bored with our conversation, she turns on her heel and heads back toward the stands. RIN: "I owe Emi money now." HISAO: "Why's that?" RIN: "I didn't think you'd show up. Emi did. So I owe her 500 yen." HISAO: "You two bet an awful lot, don't you?" Another shrug from my armless companion. RIN: "I don't think so." We enter the bleachers, and Rin nods upwards. RIN: "Up there. I came out to see if you'd come." For the bet, I presume. Rin leads the way, and soon we've settled down on an almost-empty bench.  There's an older woman sitting next to Rin - someone's mother, I assume. She's got rather long hair done up in a braid. On seeing Rin, she gives her an oddly familiar-seeming grin.  MEIKO: "Well, this is surprising.”  MEIKO: "I thought you went to get a snack, not a boy.” HISAO: "Huh?" RIN: "A snack? I wondered why I was down there." The woman laughs, again in a way that seems familiar. Where have I seen her before? MEIKO: "Well, I suppose you've always been one to go out for one thing and bring back another. But I'm being rude! I haven't introduced myself. I'm Meiko Ibarazaki, Emi's mother. Pleased to meet you." Well, that explains it. She's like a taller, older and better endowed Emi. Apart from her hair being a darker shade than Emi's, there's really no mistaking the resemblance. HISAO: "Sorry, I'm Hisao. Hisao Nakai. And really, you don't have to apologize for not introducing yourself, Mrs. Ibarazaki. That's really Rin's job in this situation, isn't it?" Another laugh from Emi's mother. MEIKO: "I take it you've not known Rin for that long, then. It's best not to expect her to remember something like that. She's got other things to think about, I assume." Rin nods, seeming pleased by this assessment. RIN: "She's right. I was thinking about sunsets." MEIKO: "You see? It's really up to us to make introductions and the like." For lack of any better response, I nod. Mrs. Ibarazaki leans back a little on her seat and raises an eyebrow. (Sudden Silence)  MEIKO: "So, how long have you and Rin been dating?" My response consists of silence as my brain suddenly lurches into gear. But just before I can begin to utter a hastily babbled explanation, Emi's mother bursts into laughter again. Katawa Shoujo OST - Air Guitar MEIKO: "Ha! You're a blusher, aren't you?" I don't know if there's any way to keep my dignity in this situation, so I settle for a mumbled response. HISAO: "Maybe." MEIKO: "So this must be a new romance then, mustn't it?" HISAO: "Wait, that's not the question that—" Another laugh. MEIKO: "I know, but it's funny to watch you squirm. I'm sorry. Forgive an old woman her amusements." Old woman? She sure doesn't look that old to me. Clearly Emi gets her youthful features from her mother. HISAO: "I suppose I can let it go." MEIKO: "How kind of you." RIN: "It's starting." (Silence)  I direct my attention to the track, where they're preparing for the first sprint. It looks like the 400 meter dash. My eyes scan the runners, before finding Emi. She's smiling, with an almost cocky look on her face.  The starter raises his pistol. (Gunshot Sound Effect, Emi Running)  Emi explodes off the block, disappearing from the starting line in a blur. It's amazing. Even as the other sprinters converge on the lanes closest to the inside line, Emi surges to the front of the pack. By the time she rounds the final turn, some of the other runners have caught up with her. Their efforts come to naught though, since a final burst of speed from Emi leaves them at least a half second behind. (Crowd Cheering)  Mrs. Ibarazaki whoops and shouts, applauding wildly, and generally looking like any other parent cheering on their child. Emi bounds off the track, looking pleased with herself. I cheer right along with the rest of them. The announcer (sounding suspiciously like Misha) gleefully gives the results. Katawa Shoujo OST - Daylight MEIKO: "I think she's gotten faster since the last time." HISAO: "That was incredible." Mrs. Ibarazaki grins proudly. MEIKO: "Emi's a heck of a runner." We fall silent as the next event is being prepared. I'm surprised to see Emi striding out onto the track again. HISAO: "Wait, didn't she just run?" Emi's mother nods. MEIKO: "Yes, but she runs multiple events for the team. Especially the sprints. It's a lot of running, but Emi can handle it." From the looks of things, she's right. Emi doesn't appear to be tired, as if she hadn't run the previous event at all. If not for the sweat visible on her shirt, you'd never know." HISAO: "Which event is this?" MEIKO: "It's the 200 meter dash. She'll do this one, the 100-meter, and the relay." HISAO: "I see." (Gunshot Sound Effect, Emi Running) Once again the pistol sounds, and once again Emi flies off the block. A thumping sound draws my attention away from the race. It's Rin's foot. She seems completely absorbed in the race. (Crowd Cheering) Emi's mother cheers again, and I assume that the race is over. Sprints don't seem to me like they'd take very long to complete. HISAO: "Your foot." RIN: "Hmm?" HISAO: "Your foot was bouncing on the bleachers." RIN: "Oh." HISAO: "You seem pretty into this stuff. I'm surprised." Rin looks at me quizzically. RIN: "Why wouldn't I be?" HISAO: "No reason, I just thought stuff like sports wouldn't interest you." RIN: "Hmm, I suppose you're right. It's not that interesting. But I'm watching Emi, not the sport." HISAO: "I don't follow."  RIN: "Emi's the most Emi when she runs. You don't get to see Emi at her Emiest very often. But here, you can. See?" She directs my attention toward the track again, where the 100-meter dash is about to start. I watch Emi closely. As she gets onto the starter blocks, her whole body seems to relax, but it's a false relaxation. I can see that she's actually like a coiled spring. (Silence)  As the starter tells everyone to get set, her head snaps up, and her eyes narrow slightly. Her mouth curls upward in what could be a grin and could be a growl. (Gunshot Sound Effect, Emi Running) When the pistol goes off, it's as if she's been unleashed from a cage, like she was always moving at this blinding speed, but we couldn't see it happening until the starter's pistol dispelled the illusion of motionlessness. It's all over in a few seconds, but in those few seconds I feel like I just witnessed something very personal for Emi. (Crowd Cheering) As soon as she crossed the finish line, the fierce look was replaced by her normal grin. The conquering general returning to his farm. HISAO: "Amazing. She's really amazing. I've never seen anyone move that fast." MEIKO: "Well, don't look at me, I'm far too relaxed to run that fast. No, I think Emi's prowess all came from her father's side." At the mention of Emi's father, Mrs. Ibarazaki looks wistful, almost sad. MEIKO: "He got her into running, you know." HISAO: "Yeah, she told me." I'm uncertain as to whether or not it would be rude of me to ask after Emi's father. But after that look on her face a few days ago, I feel compelled to ask. HISAO: "Where is her father now, if I might ask?" Emi's mother hesitates, clearly not willing to answer the question but at the same time not wishing to appear rude.  MEIKO: "He... isn't around any more." HISAO: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up bad memories. Emi just seemed a little sad when she mentioned him earlier." MEIKO: "That's not surprising, considering." HISAO: "Hmm?" MEIKO: "They were very close." HISAO: "I see." A beeping noise suddenly emanates from Mrs. Ibarazaki's pocket. Reaching into it, she pulls out a cell phone and looks at it. MEIKO: "...Honestly, text messages? What is he, sixteen?" HISAO: "Hmm?" MEIKO: "Oh, nothing. I've got to go meet up with a friend of mine. Will you tell Emi I'm very proud of her and that I'll call her later tonight?" HISAO: "Of course." Katawa Shoujo OST - Afternoon I'll admit that I zone out for a while. I almost don't notice that the relay's about to begin. But when I look, I can't find Emi. HISAO: "I thought that Emi would be running the relay." RIN: "She runs anchor. So she won't be running for a while yet." HISAO: "Ah." RIN: "Did you see it?" HISAO: "Huh?" RIN: "Emi at her Emiest." HISAO: "Maybe." RIN: "Hmm. Maybe this time." (Gunshot Sound Effect, Emi Running) The race begins, and I cheer Emi's teammates along as they pass the baton. Finally, I see Emi sprinting onto the track to take the final handoff. Once again I'm taken aback by how graceful she looks when she runs. It really is beautiful. The look of determination and fearlessness on her face only adds to the picture. Emi at her Emiest, I suppose. (Crowd Cheering)  But then, as she crosses the finish line, I see her stumble slightly. It's only barely, but it's a definite stumble. Rin inhales sharply, and actually looks concerned for a second. RIN: "Aw, Emi..." HISAO: "Did she hurt herself, do you think?" RIN: "You noticed it too? It must be bad." Falconier111 fucked around with this message at 20:35 on Aug 24, 2021 |
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Jun 25, 2021 20:31
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I do not like this nurse, what a loving wild violation of Emi's privacy holy poo poo.
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Jun 25, 2021 21:14
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Falconier111 posted:
This is a little outdated - since 2003, doctors/hospitals have been required to disclose your medical information to you and provide you copies of your medical records upon request. However, many people aren't aware they have this right - in a survey of people who had received medical attention in 2014-2015, about 40% didn't know (source). Also, even if you are aware, the fact that they're required to provide you the information doesn't mean they can't make you jump through hoops to get it. Particularly controversially, the law explicitly allows doctors/hospitals to charge a fee to provide you with your medical records, and most do. (It states that the fee should be "reasonable" but doesn't specify what "reasonable" means.) According to a 2018 survey, at about 30% of hospitals this fee is more than 5,000 yen (about US$45) (source - unfortunately paywalled but I couldn't find one that wasn't). Of course, since I'm from the US, criticizing this feels a little like throwing stones from within a glass house - certainly I spent a lot less on medical-related expenses when I lived in Japan than I do now. But the fee is a barrier to access nonetheless. Anyway, all of this is tangential to the point, which is that the nurse definitely shouldn't be disclosing information about Emi's health to a third party like this. I had trouble navigating the legalese enough to figure out if this would qualify as a violation of privacy laws in Japan (or in the US, for that matter), but if it was, as far as I could tell, he would be subject to a fine of not more than 500,000 yen, which is actually a much lower max than under HIPAA. Under the personal information law I mentioned in the previous paragraph, the entire business/institution can be on the hook if an employee leaks information; this seems to be more for situations where there's a security vulnerability or lack of oversight that enables the violation, so if it was just this once then the school probably wouldn't be liable, but if he did it once and they kept him on and it happened again it seems likely that they would be. I do think that in a typical Very Anime dating sim, most people would give this a pass unless it was a particular bugbear of theirs, but the fact that some aspects of this game are surprisingly (given the genre) carefully handled and realistic makes some of the Very Anime moments, like this one, sit oddly. Ghost Car fucked around with this message at 03:33 on Jun 28, 2021 |
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Jun 26, 2021 00:31
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I'm fine with occasional accidental breaches in doctor-patient confidentiality because The Story Would Not Progress Otherwise also I just think he's a fun dude
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Jun 26, 2021 00:39
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Blaziken386 posted:I'm fine with occasional accidental breaches in doctor-patient confidentiality because The Story Would Not Progress Otherwise Yeah, that breach is pretty much just a storytelling thing so that we can learn more about Emi, and it puts her mother's comments into more context as well as her potential injury at the track meet into more context.
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Jun 26, 2021 00:52
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After this last update I’m now just waiting for the dramatic soap opera-esque reveal the he is (spoilering this blind speculation just in case? I dunno) Emi’s step-dad or at least dating her mom because they met during Emi’s therapy sessions. Half-joking speculation aside I find myself with a poor initial impression of Emi’s mom for running off like that for what didn’t seem to be a very important text. This track meet is super important to your daughter, stick around!
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Jun 26, 2021 01:11
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Hi, I'm LXP. I'm middle-aged, asian, male(ish), and was largely from an affluent family. I was diagnosed with high-level autism at a young age, and my major problem is the inability to distinguish other peoples' emotions. Due to the affluence, my family was able to do things like "move me to different schools every grade level until 3rd so my classmates don't realize my weirdness", and "go to schools where there are enough workforce to take a few people out of class and do things like speech therapy and emotion control." So I can largely pass as "normal." As you might be able to tell, this is kinda a sticking point. This is also intersectionality in play. I'm here to talk about Social Constructs, mainly because I've taken a lot of feminist theory courses, which have to discuss this. There's no way to construct new norms without understanding the identity of old ones, as well as the way the system works. Re: Social construction of disability. This type of power discussions are largely related to Foucault. It also comes up a lot in feminist theory courses, since social construction of gender is a thing. They're fun to take, by the way. My previous GWST teacher described it to the class as: "Legally taking a trip. It's like wow, just how much it turns things inside out." Anyways, the basic ideas are that they were constructed to help control populations, part of Biopower. Biopower is power over living, as opposed to the power to give a thumbs down and kill someone that way (power over death). Since they're largely artificial, they play by different rules than real structures, namely, they're much more fluid. I'll start off by dissecting this block: Social construction of disability, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia posted:The social construction of disability comes from a paradigm of ideas that suggest that society's beliefs about a particular community, group or population are grounded in the power structures inherent in a society at any given time. These are often steeped in historical representations of the issue and social expectations surrounding concepts such as disability, thereby enabling a social construct around what society deems disabled and healthy. Sentence 1: What disability means changes over time. The some other known examples of this phenomena would would be as the creation of a trans culture within the structure of gender, and also the fight for black rights, stretching from the civil war to today. What causes that meaning shift are largely dependent on other actors. Civil War came about due to economic and ideological shifts, as well as a half of a nation shooting the other half, and the on-going resistance of slaves. Our shift in work structures is mainly due to the pandemic making in-person meeting impossible, even though alternatives have existed before then. From this, we can say that social structures change in at least two ways, the gradual shifts like on-going resistance and research, the major shake-ups, like a pandemic. The best way to put it is: Prokhor Zakharov posted:There are two kinds of scientific progress: the methodical experimentation and categorization which gradually extend the boundaries of knowledge, and the revolutionary leap of genius which redefines and transcends those boundaries. Acknowledging our debt to the former, we yearn, nonetheless, for the latter. As for the second part, power structures are all intertwined. Much like how our lives are affected by our intersectionality, these structure all co-exist and affect each other, much like how "Capitalism requires inequality, and racism enshrines it". Alongside that, we are a part of these power structures, and live our lives affecting and being affected by them. Capitalism requires a divide between it's merchant class and labor class, as well as a price inequality between the cost of labor and sale price. Obviously, this isn't fair, so racism comes in and states "It's okay to underpay [these people], because [their labor is worth less (somehow)]." This idea is part of the consumer, laborer, and merchant class, and we all feel this tug in some way. We are a part of these social structure by virtue of having been brought into a reality with these social structures. The only way out is to be in a world where they just don't exist (more later, see alterity). Sentence 2: What affects the creation of this social structure is not only the history of the issue, but also other power structures in play. When formed, this structure affects all others around it, much like how the identity of disability affects the identity of healthy. An apt metaphor is the Desire Line. When you're walking through a campus or park or somewhere in "tamed nature", you'll see like, a dirt path, where grass doesn't grow. You'll probably use this path, because it's really convenient as opposed to the "real path" that's ten steps away. Maybe that path gets worked on and becomes "a path with stones". In the same vein, we can see social structures forming. Like in the various examples of the air force, crash accidents, facial recognition, there's someone who takes the first steps, and gets retread because it is convenient and existent, and in the process of being tread, becomes more real until all other paths become "nature." Additionally, this path affects the world around the path, like, it might require a railing to be taken down because everyone kept hopping that railing to use the desire path. Sentence 3+: This is an example describing the transience of social structure, using disability. It used to be seen as something related to morality, like a punishment from god or karma, but shifted to a more biological viewpoint during the Renaissance. Even though disability may be described through biology, the fact that it's meaning changed makes it a social structure. This shift in the meaning of disability also affected the meaning of health and healthy, and this shift still affects us to this day. There's also a few other points I want to make: Social constructs must have some way of reinforcing themselves. Much like how a state must command force to control it's borders, so too, must a social construct defend itself. The most obvious examples would be media, and children. A child is incredibly good at enforcing social norms, yo. Social constructs exist, and there's no escape. This goes into power, but the basic idea is that a social structure is also defined by what it is not (called alterity). Much like how the color blue is not the color red, disability is constructed by the people who don't pass, can pass, and don't have disabilities. By defining trans identity, we're developing a sub-culture and a structure away from gender binary, we're also enforcing the overall idea of what gender is. Gender used to be a binary, now it's a spectrum. Again, you can't get away from these structures, even if you say, I'm not a part of it, you just reinforcing what it isn't. That's not like, a bad thing, but it is sobering. Something extraneous I'd like to add is the principle of behavioral existence: If something exists to control behavior, then the undesired behavior does exist, and power exists to reduce it. The best example is no littering signs, clearly there is a problem with littering, because otherwise, why bother putting up a sign? In the same way, the same deliberateness exists in everything. I guess it's like "everything happens for a reason." From these points, along with what Nidoking and Notahippie state, we can recreate the following points about social constructions: 1: Social constructs are artificial. They may seem real, but are largely created. 2: Because of this, their identities are incredibly fluid. 3: We usually only notice big shifts, but small shifts also occur. 4: Social constructs not only include rules about living, they also contain consequences for the transgressions of it. 5: Social constructs are also defined by alterity. 6: Social constructs are maintained, not just by force, but also by almost imperceptible actions. The child mocking their peer maintains gender norms just as much as my desire to use masculine pronouns as a default for third-persons like the child I just created in the previous example. Obviously, the inverse is true, resisting that imperceptible desire creates and maintains openings for alternative constructs. 7: Social constructs are created, not just by the individual, but also by observers. Gender isn't just what you show, but also how other people make of what you show. I may dress feminine, but if people think "That person's not succeeding at being female", then I've been deemed male (and by extension, part of gender binary. I had to catch this example for it's adherence to the gender binary as well.) 8: Additionally, we are shaped by and shape social structures. There's definitely more that I'm forgetting because social norms have a desire to be seen as "natural" and "unquestioning." I know this response evolved over the course of its own creation. So like... what do we do? How do we deal with the Social Norm? We can't burn it all down and make a new norm, nor can we just separate. I think what's being proposed by this game and Notahippie is a good play; we gradually form paths and tread them, until they too, become so well-trod as to be seem as a part of living. Corner curbs are everywhere, and they didn't use to be. ... It's good to meet you all. LXP fucked around with this message at 17:19 on Jun 26, 2021 |
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Jun 26, 2021 17:17
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Looks like I've got another bumper crop of posts to sort through. Quackles, Alien Arcana, Mikl, Dirk the Average, ChristBTY, EclecticTastes, Nidoking, Antistar01, and Notahippie, permission to add some of your posts to the OP. Haifisch, GrayGriffin, you already gave permission and I'll be including your posts unless you object, which you can do if you want. Ghost Car, LXP, your posts covered holes I left in the updates really well; do I have your permission to just edit-quote those posts directly in the updates? Either way, it'll take some time to get everything up, because, uh, it's a lot to summarize 
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Jun 27, 2021 21:59
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You have my permission for everything I post in here unless I specifically say not to.
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Jun 27, 2021 22:05
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Go for it. Also, I'm always able to go over more medical device stuff if there's any interest in something specific.
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Jun 27, 2021 22:40
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I'd like to grant blanket permission to link to any of my posts, if that works for you.
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Jun 27, 2021 22:49
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Yeah, feel free.
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Jun 28, 2021 01:01
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Yep, if you can find something useful in my rambling posts, linking them is fine.
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Jun 28, 2021 01:34
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Quackles posted:You have my permission for everything I post in here unless I specifically say not to. gently caress, you found my weakness  E: At first I kept asking for ethical reasons, but now I keep asking because there's no convenient way for me to keep track of everyone's blanket permissions. That phrase contains the magic words, though; they give you a clear out, making the agreement at least somewhat ethical, and take the burden of constantly asking off me. Just... Keep in mind that I might forget you granted permission and ask you later on down the line. Falconier111 fucked around with this message at 02:54 on Jun 28, 2021 |
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Jun 28, 2021 02:41
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Yeah, I'll join the chorus of "you can include my posts unless I say otherwise." Glad the info was helpful!
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Jun 28, 2021 03:41
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I guess my way of thinking is that if I didn't want people to read what I was posting, I wouldn't post it. There are plenty of times when I start to post something, think better of it, and delete it. If I consider it good enough to post, then I'm happy for anyone to see it, and it means a lot to me that you consider it worth linking from your main posts. I still consider my permission given, but won't be bothered if you ask me again. Like I said, if it works for you.
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Jun 28, 2021 04:50
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Falconier111 posted:Looks like I've got another bumper crop of Yeah, sure! Also, you can absolutely add anything I post itt to the OP unless I specifically say otherwise.
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Jun 28, 2021 13:26
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Falconier111 posted:Looks like I've got another bumper crop of The bit on "ajin" vs "demi"? Yeah, no problem.
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Jun 28, 2021 13:29
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Falconier111 posted:
You are exactly right, Falcioner. One moment please.  There we go. Yeah, this nurse should have been fired at this stage, and fined. It’s not just that he’s willing to share personal information-which is bad enough for both those above-but he’s clearly willing to both claim and leverage a personal relationship with a client in the past with other clients, and tell them to do his job responsibility by being ‘discreet’? And I certainly feel like Hisao is part of the problem, but the blame can’t be levied on him. He’s a kid, likely unaware of the way you have to eggshell this, and thinks he’s talking to a knowledgeable adult and a good friend bantering. I have a connection with my clients. I certainly don’t go speaking about their personal lives or backgrounds. For those who say the breach makes sense for story: I see where you are coming from, but we have two very legitimate people who could give Hisao the same information without a breach: Rin-who certainly has a connection to Emi, a friendly relationship with Hisao, would have this information readily available, and that casual conversation with personal spaces like dorms or isolated areas (but not the school building or public spaces) wouldn’t be a breach she’s get in trouble for. Second is the Mother here. She can say what she wants, as long as Emi’s wishes are factored in somewhere. They don’t technically have to be, but that is just good form. And of course, you know, Emi herself. Like…he also appeared to be joking with Emi about ‘giving her a peek’ which wow…I am harping on this because trust does not come easy. This kind of demanded health information privacy is basically in place to give the bare minimum of trust between workers and staff, so that staff is listened to, because the client knows they won’t do things like this. That aside….this is a cute scene at the track meet. I appreciate that Emi finds herself more in running, and we saw that with the Near-Death Race for Hisao. Still…I sense that she’ll be generally closed-off, since Hisao can’t quite match her own drive or give her a chance to be her “Emiest” without literally putting him with the most unprofessional medical professional I’ve seen in a piece of media for several hours. Psycho Lawnmower fucked around with this message at 14:41 on Jun 28, 2021 |
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Jun 28, 2021 14:23
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Update 21: Piracy on the High Seas (Silence)  She frowns, as if deciding on the next course of action. Eventually that proves to be too tiresome, and she shrugs again. RIN: "Well, let's go down. Gotta crown the victor. See if you can find a laurel branch." HISAO: "That's not going to be easy." Rin shrugs. RIN: "At least we tried." Well, we didn't really try all that hard. Or at all. But hey, whatever. (Crowd Chattering) Emi is surrounded by her teammates, all of them congratulating her on the run. Rin seems to be waiting for Emi to notice that she's arrived. Oh yeah, I guess she can't exactly wave Emi over. Then again, I'm not sure that Rin would do such a thing even if she had arms. It doesn't seem her style to draw attention to herself. Or to emote beyond shrugging. Either way, I'm not willing to wait, so I wave to Emi, who looks up and grins happily at me - er, us. Katawa Shoujo OST - Standing Tall (Emi’s Theme)  EMI: "Hey, you showed up! Guess Rin owes me money, huh?" RIN: "We would have brought you a crown of laurels, but Hisao didn't find one." HISAO: "Hey, neither did you." RIN: "It wasn't my job to look." HISAO: "When did we assign jobs?" RIN: "When I said “See if you can find a laurel branch.” Try to keep up." I shrug. Guess Rin's rubbing off on me. HISAO: "Seems it's my fault after all, Emi." Emi laughs at Rin and me. EMI: "It's okay, I'm sure you'll make it up to me somehow." HISAO: "Uh, sure." EMI: "Good! So, how'd I look?" I stop myself from blurting out “beautiful” or “amazing” and settle for the substantially safer “very impressive.” Emi seems pleased with this assessment. I don't mention how much more impressive her performance is given her lack of legs. I figure she knows that already. Besides, it seems like it would take away from her efforts, somehow. EMI: "Great to hear! I was worried that I looked a little slow on the relay, but I guess I did fine, huh?" HISAO: "Actually, I noticed—" The screen shakes Rin kicks me and keeps me from finishing my sentence. EMI: "What was that all about?" RIN: "He noticed it. At the end." EMI: "Hmm, that's no good. Guess the nurse will look at it for me later." There's a carelessness in her voice, as if it isn't a big deal, but I suddenly notice a slight twitch on her face.  Like she's trying to hide the fact that she's in pain. It's then that I notice her breathing is a little shallow, too. I guess she really is hurt. She must notice my concern, because she skips up to me and gives me a friendly pat on the shoulder. EMI: "Hey, you look a little worried! I'm fine, really! Just sore from all the running, is all. And come on, a little pain isn't going to stop me." HISAO: "Oh no?" Emi grins, and for a moment she looks like she did during her sprint, fierce and unconquerable. Or to put it another way, really beautiful. EMI: "Hasn't yet." HISAO: "Well then. I guess I shouldn't worry, huh?"  EMI: "drat right! I'm Emi Ibarazaki, fastest thing on no legs! I don't stop for anything!" HISAO: "Impressive." Emi giggles, and then seems to remember something. EMI: "Oh, before I forget... Rin and I are going to do something next Sunday as a post-track meet celebration! You should come along! Normally we do it the day after, but since the track meet was on a Sunday, I've got homework and class and all that stuff to take care of. Plus our morning run, of course." HISAO: "Right, of course. Oh, right. Your mom wanted to say she's proud of you. She'll call you later tonight." EMI: "I thought I saw her in the stands! I'm glad she made it! Used to be my dad who showed up to my meets, but Mom's done a pretty good job of taking over." Her sprite shakes. She shivers slightly, and I realize that she's still all sweaty. A breeze has started to blow, too. I'm not cold at all, and I've got my jacket with me, so without a word I throw it around her shoulders. Emi jumps slightly and then grins at me. EMI: "Hey, thanks! It's getting a little cold, I guess." HISAO: "Yeah, looked like it." Just as I begin to wonder whether or not giving Emi my jacket could be taken the wrong way, a boy in a track uniform approaches. TEAMMATE: "Hey, Emi! You're going to miss the medal ceremony!" EMI: "Oh yeah, thanks!" She turns to Rin and myself. EMI: "You don't have to stick around for this part. It takes forever. Besides, you should get cracking on your homework now if you don't want to be up late, Hisao. Morning run tomorrow! Don't forget!" HISAO: "How could I?" EMI: "Good point. I mean, it's spending time with me, after all." With this, she waves quickly and dashes off to receive her medals, or whatever they pass off as a medal these days. Rin and I head away from the track, Rin remaining deep in whatever thoughts she has for most of the walk back to her dorm. As I see her off, she speaks up. (Silence)  RIN: "You're probably not getting that coat back, I think." HISAO: "I'm sure I'll get it back eventually." RIN: "Interesting. Take it as it comes, huh? Very Emi-ish." With this odd statement, she turns and heads into the building. Honestly, was it that big a deal? Emi was cold and, unless I'm mistaken, in pain. Giving her a solution to at least one of those problems seems like an obvious reaction. Though I guess there is a chance I could lose my jacket if Emi never remembers to return it. I guess Rin has a point. Still, I can't bring myself to muster much worry over the whole thing. After all, it's been getting warmer lately. I don't need a jacket. Odd. I think I used to be a little more responsible with my stuff. “Emi-ish,” huh? Maybe that's not really a bad thing. Katawa Shoujo OST ~ Passing of Time  (Silence)  NURSE: "You haven't been forgetting to take your medicine, have you? I'm catching a little murmur. You should take it easy for a few days." Katawa Shoujo OST - Ah Eh I Oh You The nurse's words hurt me far more than the exhaustion of the morning run ever could. Take it easy for a few days? I knew I should have kept quiet. I keep my eyes on the floor, feeling like a complete idiot. Of course I hadn't been remembering to take my medicine. I've been rushing out of my room to get to the track before Emi. After the track meet a few days ago, I felt... inspired. So I've been running warm-up laps in the morning before Emi shows up. But then today while she and I were running, I felt a little pain in my chest. It was only slight, and it was only for a second, so I mentioned it to the nurse. HISAO: "Honestly, it wasn't that bad. I mean I kept running and finished just fine, so really it couldn't have been that bad..." Why do I feel like I'm making excuses to the nurse? Moreover, why do I feel a need to justify continuing to run despite the pain? Really, it comes down to my being unwilling to concern Emi, who seemed concerned anyway. I'm not sure how she was able to tell there was anything wrong, but she claims I stumbled a little. She's the one who insisted I tell the nurse, so now I feel bad for worrying her at all. The nurse is shaking his head ruefully while Emi paces outside the room. NURSE: "Hisao, I know it's difficult for you get into a new routine, but if you don't want to find yourself in a lot of trouble you're going to have to try harder. You can't afford to forget your pills, and you can't push yourself too hard." HISAO: "But if I don't push myself, how will I improve?" I don't know where that came from. The nurse seems to have an idea.  NURSE: "Now where have I heard that before?" He laughs and pats me on the shoulder. NURSE: "Ha! She's rubbing off on you, I guess." His expression changes again, and he's back in serious mode. NURSE: "Look, I'm not saying you shouldn't push yourself. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't be taking your medication, and it doesn't mean you shouldn't stop if your chest starts to bother you. I'd prefer not to have any fatalities while I'm on staff here. A bit of a lofty goal, to be sure, but I'm always up for a challenge." I hate to admit it, but I think he's right. I've got to remember to take my medication. HISAO: "You're right. I'm sorry to worry you." NURSE: "Who's worried? You're a smart kid, right? I know you can be responsible, Hisao. A situation like yours, you've got to learn to be responsible fast." HISAO: "I know, I know." His expression suddenly becomes devious. NURSE: "I suppose you've started to enjoy your runs with Emi then, eh?" HISAO: "Yeah, they've really been helping me. I mean, until today I was feeling a lot more healthy. Plus it's really impressive to see Emi run. Did you see her at the track meet? She was incredible!" The nurse nods, grinning all the while. NURSE: "That she was, Hisao. I watched her first couple of races before I had some business to take care of, but she told me all about it. Kind of you to loan her your jacket, by the way." HISAO: "Huh? Oh yeah, it wasn't that big of a deal." I had honestly forgotten all about that. I still haven't gotten it back. The nurse gets a smile that makes me feel like he's just made a joke. NURSE: "Not to you, but Emi certainly appreciated it. And I know she appreciates your running with her in the mornings." This one catches me off guard a little. Sure, she mentioned that it's easier to keep to a schedule with an extra person, but I didn't think that I was doing her a favor at all. HISAO: "I thought she was doing me the favor of helping me follow the doctor's orders."  NURSE: "She tries harder when you're around. If there's someone else running with her, she's going to push herself more. And she tries even harder when you're around because, well, it's you." HISAO: "What the heck does that mean?" NURSE: "Oh ho, you'd love to know, wouldn't you?" He laughs in the style of evil megalomaniacs. NURSE: "No seriously, it's because you're her friend. If Rin ran with her, I'm sure she'd do the same. Well, probably. But that's not the point.”  NURSE: “The point is, you're helping her, even if you don't know you are. And she's grateful for that, even if she never says it." HISAO: "What do you mean “even if she never says it?”" NURSE: "Emi doesn't talk a lot, but she and I have known each other long enough that I can read her most of the time." I'll admit it. I have no idea what he's talking about. Emi always seems pretty talkative to me. HISAO: "I see." The nurse suddenly realizes that he's been rambling and stops talking, looking a little embarrassed. NURSE: "Anyway, you don't have to stop your morning exercise. Just walk the track instead of running for a few days. Let things calm down. And take your damned medicine!" (Sudden Silence)  I laugh as I exit the office, bumping straight into Emi. HISAO: "Whoops, sorry about that." EMI: "Are you okay? What did the nurse say? Do you need to go to a hospital? Omigosh, it was my fault, wasn't it? I've been pushing you too hard, haven't I? I'm a horrible person!" The words pour forth like a torrent. She's really agitated. I didn't expect her to be this concerned about me, to be honest. Gotta calm her down... but how the hell do I do that? I do the only thing I can think of. Katawa Shoujo OST - Lullaby of Open Eyes I give her a hug. Emi tenses up slightly, so I pat her head in what I hope is a reassuring manner." HISAO: "Hey, settle down! I'm fine, okay? No worries." I can feel Emi's body relax as I continue to assure her I'm fine. Her arms wrap around me, as if she's trying to confirm that I'm not about to fall over dead. I catch a whiff of her hair. It smells like sweat, or how adrenaline should smell. It's the scent of activity. And a hint of strawberries. From her shampoo, I suspect. HISAO: "I just need to remember to take my medicine, that's all. Don't worry about it. It's not your fault." EMI: "You're sure?" Her voice is muffled, mostly because at the moment her face is pressed into my chest. HISAO: "Yeah, I'm sure. I just need to take it a little easy for the next few days." It suddenly occurs to me how close the two of us are. It also occurs to me how nice being this close feels. I can feel Emi's heartbeat calming down, and I have to resist the urge to rest my chin on the top of her head. EMI: "Thank goodness. You really had me worried there, Hisao." (Sudden Silence)  NURSE: "Emi, you going to come in here any time soon? ...Oh, I'm sorry. Was I interrupting?" The two of us spring apart as if the other just caught on fire. Emi brushes her hair back nervously and laughs. Katawa Shoujo OST - Standing Tall (Emi’s Theme) EMI: "'Course not! I'll uh... see you later, okay? Oh, and Hisao?" HISAO: "Hmm?"  EMI: "Take your drat medicine!" This last phrase is punctuated by a punch to the shoulder. HISAO: "Yeah, yeah, I'll remember. See you later." The nurse smiles again like he's in on some joke I don't know about and waves to me as I head for my room, feeling a burning in my cheeks. (Silence) I need a shower. A cold one, if the thoughts running through my head now are any indication. She was really soft. My pills are waiting for me when I make it to my room. I swallow them without a second thought. I don't know why I didn't think of waiting until after the runs to take them. For some reason I figured it was when I woke up or not at all. But no, they only need to be taken every twenty-four hours. The exact time of day doesn't factor into it. My thoughts drift back to the hug in the hallway. It's weird, you'd expect someone to smell foul after a run, but for some reason, Emi smelled... right. That tinge of sweat just seemed to fit her. I really need that shower. Katawa Shoujo OST ~ Passing of Time  Strange that it feels so natural for me to go up to the roof these days. I never would have done such a thing at my old school. In those days I liked to eat alone... no, that's not quite true. Though I liked to sit alone, I also liked to watch people. I always figured that was the sort of person I was, but it appears I was wrong. Then again, I also thought I was the sort of person who had a normal heart, so there you have it. I don't know myself that well. Now I'm on the roof so that I can have lunch with a couple of people. And they are both girls, which is even stranger. Oddly enough, I feel closer to Emi and Rin than I felt to anyone at my old school. Somehow I get the feeling they'd at least visit me if I wound up in the hospital. I focus on the view from the roof, banishing such thoughts from my head. There's a light breeze blowing, and the sun is shining high in the sky. The sky itself is a deep blue, with hardly a cloud in it. It's gotten pleasantly warm, and as I sit down to wait for my friends, I close my eyes and enjoy the feeling of the sun seeping into my skin. Voices intrude upon the edge of hearing. EMI: "—seems to have fallen asleep on us, Rin." RIN: "Maybe he's faking, to lull us into a false sense of security." EMI: "Why would he do that?" RIN: "No idea." EMI: "Still, you make a good point. We should kick him or something to make sure he's really asleep." HISAO: "Huh? What?" Katawa Shoujo OST - Ease   Emi looms over me like only a short girl can, peering at me intently. EMI: "Oh, you're awake. I guess we don't have to kick you then." RIN: "Was it part of your master plan?" HISAO: "What are you talking about?" Emi shrugs, her twin tails bouncing with the motion. EMI: "I'm not sure either. You must be pretty tired to fall asleep out here. Although it's pretty comfortable, I suppose." She plops down next to me and begins to eat. Rin sits opposite from the two of us, a move which only makes me more aware of the girl sitting next to me. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear Rin did it on purpose. I concentrate on my food, trying to tune out the majority of the conversation that Rin and Emi are having. Despite my best efforts, however, I still find myself glancing over at Emi whenever she speaks. I notice how she purses her lips when she's thinking about something, squinting slightly as if that would improve her thinking ability.  Her sprite slides left to right. Rin says something that makes Emi laugh, and I notice, perhaps for the first time, how she laughs with her whole body, rocking back and forth, head thrown back, almost like she's about to fall over. I probably look like a creep. It's about this time that I realize Emi's looking at me. Her voice raised slightly, so she's probably just asked me a question." HISAO: "Huh? Sorry, I kinda zoned out for a moment there." Emi rolls her eyes, while a slight quirk of the eyebrow is the only sign that Rin's even paying attention. EMI: "I said, did you get a career survey in your class too? You know, one of those “What do you want to do after high school?” things?" HISAO: "I don't... think so. Maybe we'll get one tomorrow." EMI: "What are you going to put down?" That's a really good question. I guess I always figured I'd go to college after high school, but I've no idea what I'd do once I got there. And with the heart attack and all, I'd really been concentrating on each day as it came rather than making long-term plans. I suppose I can safely start planning ahead, again. I've always liked having at least a vague plan for my future, so it'll be nice to come up with one again. Of course, that doesn't change the fact that right now I've got absolutely... HISAO: "...No clue. I always kind of assumed I'd figure it out in college. That or just become a salaryman. That's pretty popular." But do I really want to? That's a tough question. I guess I don't really want to do anything. EMI: "You don't sound very excited about that one, do you?" She laughs as she says this, and I'm caught up in her laugh again. It's so... girlish. High and giggly, like a... well, pardon the cliché - like a babbling brook. It bubbles out of her, starting in her belly and working its way up her throat. I can't help but laugh myself - it's infectious. HISAO: "Yeah, I guess I'm pretty unhappy with the salaryman idea. But to be honest, I haven't given much thought to the future recently. I suppose that, these days, I've been more concerned with living one day at a time." Emi considers this for a moment and grins. EMI: "That's a pretty good idea, Hisao! I just wrote down, “Pirate.”" I'm momentarily stunned, then I start laughing. I stop myself and manage to gasp out a question. HISAO: "You're... you're not actually serious, are you?" Emi looks mock offended. EMI: "Well I've got the legs for it already, so I just kind of figured..." Even Rin seems amused by this.  EMI: "Just you wait, I'll be the terror of the high seas! I'll show you all! I've even been working on my pirate voice!" She suddenly springs up and begins swaggering up and down the rooftop shouting orders. EMI: "Yarr, me hearties, give 'em a broadside with the long guns! We'll wear their guts for garters!" RIN: "Do you even know what that means?" Rin's unexpected interruption stops Emi in her tracks. EMI: "Not really. But it's all in the delivery!" The ringing of the bell prevents her from demonstrating her point further. Emi dashes off immediately, leaving Rin and myself alone on the roof.  Rin stares at me intently for a few moments. HISAO: "Is there... something wrong?" Rin considers this question closely for a moment. After a lengthy pause, she shakes her head. RIN: "Nope." HISAO: "Oh, um... why the staring, then?" Rin shakes her head again. RIN: "Nope, I don't get it." HISAO: "Get what?" RIN: "The staring thing. You two seem to, but I don't." Great. She saw me staring. Now she probably thinks I'm a pervert or something. Actually, probably not. This is Rin we're talking about, after all. Still, I feel the need to defend myself. HISAO: "I wasn't staring, I was just tired." Rin actually snorts at this, but she doesn't say anything. HISAO: "No, really! I was just... distracted, is all." RIN: "Mmm." Eager to end this conversation, I head back down to class. Falconier111 fucked around with this message at 20:37 on Aug 24, 2021 |
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Jun 28, 2021 19:19
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Falconier111 posted:Looks like I've got another bumper crop of Sure, blanket permission to post anything you’d like to from me. Thanks for your work with this, it’s a good vector for discussion about these issues in addition to an interesting game.
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Jun 28, 2021 20:22
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Falconier111 posted:Looks like I've got another bumper crop of Oh absolutely.
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Jun 28, 2021 21:30
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Ghost Car posted:Yeah, I'll join the chorus of "you can include my posts unless I say otherwise." Ditto for me.
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Jun 28, 2021 22:00
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Based on where this story seems to be going, I might recommend a couple of anime about track running that feel relevant to me. First is one of the best sports dramas I've seen recently, with insights into career-ending injuries and how seasoned athletes work through the trauma of such injuries. I'm talking about Umamusume: Pretty Derby season 2, an adaptation of a gacha game about Japanese racehorses except they're now high school girls. I'm not joking, it legit was one of the best sports dramas I've seen in a long time. Also you don't really need to watch S1 to understand it, although S1 was solid if not super memorable in and of itself. The second anime that I would recommend that is much less fantastical is Run With The Wind, which is about a group of college guys who find themselves roped into joining their university's track team, with the goal of participating in the Hakone Ekiden, a 10-man relay marathon that is broadcast to all of Japan every New Year's. The problem is that only two of them have prior running experience, with the rest ranging in skill levels from "good soccer players with stamina" to "complete otaku who's never run in his life". The reason why I feel like it's relevant is that the backstory of one of the MCs is about how he had an injury when he was younger and how it affects him and his attitude when he's running. Well, that and it's one of my favourite anime of all time. Go watch it. It has a very cute dog.
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Jun 29, 2021 02:14
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 Running 101 Do not run on unknown pain. Running sucks, and will be painful: mostly it will just be sore muscles, but you can also get some fun stuff like bone or tendon strain / damage. Did you know that you can actually break your leg by running? It's called "stress fracture" and it's caused by the repeated stress of hitting the pavement with your feet. It's not a clean break, obviously, but it's a hairline crack that runs along your bone and can be quite painful and, if untreated / disregarded, can cause further damage. Like I said, fun! As you start running more and more, you will learn to understand how your body works. You will learn that some pain can just be waved away because it's nothing much: for example, I have a pain in my knee whenever I start running, which goes away when I hit half a mile or so. I've had it checked out, so I know it's not dangerous. On the other hand, unknown pain? That can be dangerous. It could be nothing, but it could also be something serious, which will worsen and aggravate. If you get new and unexpected pain: have it checked out by your doctor (or, preferably, a specialist) before you run on it. Otherwise, you could seriously injure yourself. (Just for the record: yeah, I know the "talk to your doctor" advice isn't very good when it comes to countries without socialised medicine. I live in Europe and my healthcare is paid by the state, so I can just call up my doc and ask. But I understand this can be difficult elsewhere.)
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Jun 29, 2021 10:22
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Falconier111 posted: posted:Looks like I've got another bumper crop of posts to sort through. Quackles, Alien Arcana, Mikl, Dirk the Average, ChristBTY, EclecticTastes, Nidoking, Antistar01, and Notahippie, permission to add some of your posts to the OP. Haifisch, GrayGriffin, you already gave permission and I'll be including your posts unless you object, which you can do if you want. Ghost Car, LXP, your posts covered holes I left in the updates really well; do I have your permission to just edit-quote those posts directly in the updates? Either way, it'll take some time to get everything up, because, uh, it's a lot to summarize. Feel free! I appreciate that you asked as well! In general, my attitudes are the same as others, I'm happy to let my work become part of the discussion, and I’ll let you know if I want it kept private. LXP fucked around with this message at 14:15 on Jun 29, 2021 |
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Jun 29, 2021 14:04
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If I can actually sort out my thoughts on it, I might do an effort post to add to the Invisible Disability pile. I feel like we've had a lot of neurodivergent posters but not as many physical issues.
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Jun 30, 2021 03:32
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StrangeAeon posted:If I can actually sort out my thoughts on it, I might do an effort post to add to the Invisible Disability pile. I feel like we've had a lot of neurodivergent posters but not as many physical issues. 
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Jun 30, 2021 13:45
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Update 22: Famous Last Words (Silence)  I'm greeted by the twin specters of Shizune and Misha, looking like they mean business. Well, Shizune looks like she means business, anyway. Misha just looks like she's about to start laughing at any minute. Katawa Shoujo OST - The Student Council (Shizune’s Theme)  MISHA: "Up on the roof again, Hicchan? You know that's dangerous, don't you~?"  SHIZUNE: "..." MISHA: "That's right~! The school cannot be held responsible for any injury that comes from being up there, you know! Furthermore, we could report you for breaking the rules~!" Misha leans in and whispers conspiratorially.  MISHA: “You three are too cute together~!” She straightens up again, laughing at my sudden blush. MISHA: "Wahahaha~! You're too easy to tease, Hicchan~!" HISAO: "Hey, come on. I'm still new here, sort of. Isn't it mean to pick on the newcomer like this?" MISHA: "Nope~! It's to help you get acclimated to your new surroundings!" HISAO: "Ah, I see. Well...do you have to be so overzealous about it?" MISHA: "Yep! Ah! That aside, Hicchan, we were looking for you this morning, but you weren't in your room!" HISAO: "Of course I wasn't. I was out for my morning exercise, or here in class, bright and early. Unlike you." Shizune looks peeved, and a beat later, so does Misha. Or she tries to, at any rate. MISHA: "That was because of student council business! You should be grateful that we work so hard for you~!" HISAO: "Oh, I am, I am. So what did you need me for?" Not another attempt to rope me in to do their dirty work, I hope. MISHA: "We had to give you something~ but since you weren't around, we dropped it off in your room!" HISAO: "Something? Like what?" MISHA: "Oh, you'll find out when you get back, Hicchan~! Wahahaha~!" Mutou entering the room ends our conversation, and we all head to our seats. It's only after I've settled down at my desk and the teacher's started talking about something or other that something odd strikes me. What did Rin mean, “You two seem to?” Was Emi staring at something too? For a brief moment, I consider the possibility that Emi was staring at me the way I was staring at her. Of course, that's ridiculous. Still, I can't deny that I wouldn't mind if it were true. …But it's best not to think of that. No need to get my hopes up. Come to think of it, when did I start having hopes like that anyway? I shake my head in an attempt to clear it, and focus on the lesson. After class, I make my way to my room. Mutou really piled on the homework today. Before I can open my door, however, I am suddenly intercepted by Kenji, who has just exploded out of his own room in a flurry of papers.  KENJI: "Hey, we need to talk.” Welp. Katawa Shoujo OST - Out of the Loop  KENJI: “These rooftop shenanigans of yours, man. They've gotta stop." HISAO: "What?" KENJI: "Your running around on the rooftop with the limbless wonders! They're women, man! You'll get yourself killed running around like that!" HISAO: "I don't follow." Kenji sighs and adjusts his glasses, before what could be understood as an attempt at explaining himself patiently. KENJI: "Look, we're friends so I'm telling you this for your own good. But if I were going to kill someone, I'd do it by throwing them off the roof and making it look like an accident. And if I've thought of it, you can be sure they've thought of it too. They're crafty - almost as crafty as I am." HISAO: "I see." KENJI: "Good! I'm glad we had this chat. Loan me 500 yen." HISAO: "...I'm sorry?" KENJI: "I need to get a drink, man! I've been inside all day and the tap water's been compromised, as I'm sure you know. So I need to stock up on something canned, got it? But to do that, I need 500 yen. And since I've just saved your life with my timely advice, you can at least spare me 500 yen." You know, if it'll make him go away, 500 yen is a bargain. I hand the money over to Kenji, who nods in thanks and dashes off down the hallway, but not before he locks his door. What an exhausting person. I'd better go, in case he changes his mind. Still used as comic relief, still incredibly uncomfortable. But at least he isn’t as invasive a presence as he was earlier. He will keep showing up, but he will never get the spotlight he did in Act 1. (Silence) Hm? As I close the door, my heel taps against something lying on the floor. It's a brightly-colored rectangle of paper. Ah, this must be the “something” Misha mentioned before. Probably a student council leaflet she slid under the door. However, when I pick it up, I find that I couldn't have been more wrong. Someone actually wrote me an old-fashioned, hand-written paper letter. Who bothers doing something like that in this day and age, anyway? Yet, as unlikely as the prospect of receiving one sounds, this is definitely a letter I have in my hands. I was planning on finishing my homework, getting some dinner, and going to bed in order to be ready for tomorrow morning's run. However, the letter has naturally caught my interest. I sit at my desk to examine it properly. Katawa Shoujo OST - Caged Heart It's the first piece of mail I've received here at Yamaku, so it'd feel special even if it wasn't something as rare as a handwritten letter. What causes me even more trepidation is the name of the sender, written neatly on the back of the envelope.  “Iwanako.” I have no idea why she would write to me. I haven't been in contact with anyone from my old school since I transferred, and Iwanako is the last person I'd expect to want to write me a letter. The last time I saw Iwanako was terribly awkward; embarrassingly so. She came to my hospital room, peeled me an apple out of courtesy and then we practically sat in silence for half an hour. She said “goodbye” and didn't look me in the eye when she closed the door. It might've been a natural end to the series of visits that were probably pretty painful for both of us. Every time she visited me in the hospital I wanted to talk to her, but something stopped me every time. Every time that I didn't speak made the next time even harder. She looked so guilty that I didn't want to say anything that might upset her, and I never could figure out the right words to say. I think Iwanako blamed herself for my heart attack. That's ridiculous, of course, but knowing it and believing it are two very different things. I told her that it wasn't her fault, she nodded and I really think she understood that if it hadn't been that, then sooner or later something else would've made my heart give out. Yet she looked so hopelessly sad every time she opened that door and entered my room. So I never managed to say the things I wanted to say. In the end, that might've hurt her even more. Carefully, I open the envelope and draw out the folded letter from within.  Iwanako’s Letter posted:Dear Hisao,  Yeah, I think I have had quite enough of this. I crumple up the sheet of paper and toss it across the room. My aim is off, so the letter rolls under my nightstand instead of going into my wastebasket. That was an apology for abandoning me. Except I don't know that I really need it any more, at this point. The hospital seems like a lifetime ago, and here, now, I've got other things on my mind. Emi, for starters. It wasn't great to be abandoned during my stay, but it's not something I'm worried about any more. (Silence) In fact, I hadn't even thought about the hospital in what feels like forever until this letter came in. It's almost annoying to have received it. I've got exams to study for, myself. I have no time for the past. Now, about that homework... That’s pretty cold, Hisao. But then, I guess I can’t blame you for not wanting to remember the darkest time of your life so far. As you can probably guess, there’s a lot more to Iwanako’s letter; it shows up around this point in all five routes, and sometimes his reaction to it is very different. Katawa Shoujo OST ~ Passing of Time  HISAO: "So what's the plan for today anyway?" Katawa Shoujo OST - Daylight  I'm waiting patiently in the hallway of the girls' dormitory just outside of Emi and Rin's rooms. Emi is apparently helping Rin with getting dressed. I suppose that makes perfect sense, as I've no idea how Rin would get dressed otherwise. EMI: "Picnic!" HISAO: "Picnic?" EMI: "That's what I said!" HISAO: "Sounds pretty exciting." EMI: "I know, right?" Rin chooses this moment to make an observation. RIN: "The sky seems threatening today." Actually, I noticed that, too, on my way over. Despite the sunshine of the early morning, the afternoon seems to have taken a turn for the gloomy. There's a heaviness to the air as well that usually heralds a rainstorm. I wonder if I should have brought my umbrella... HISAO: "She's got a point. Emi, you sure that you still want to risk getting caught in the rain?" I don't even know why I bothered asking.  Emi pops out of Rin's room into the hallway looking shocked that I'd even suggest canceling our plans. EMI: "Of course! What, the threat of rain's supposed to stop me?" I can't help but grin at her belligerent response. It's almost like she's daring the rain to come. If Mother Nature were walking down the street, I think Emi would probably start a fight with her. Or at the least challenge her to a race. In fact, Emi seems almost aggressively cheerful today.  Rin wanders out into the hallway, looking her usual self. HISAO: "Well then, are we all ready to go?" EMI: "I'm ready!" Rin nods and says a single word. RIN: "Basket." HISAO: "Beg pardon?" RIN: "The basket. In Emi's room. You should carry it." Emi claps a hand to her mouth, embarrassed. EMI: "Omigosh! I almost forgot all about it! Nice save, Rin!" Emi darts into her room and emerges with what looks like a very well-stocked picnic basket. As she hands it over to me, I note that it feels heavy enough to be one, too. Good Lord, how much food did she pack? ...More to the point, where'd she get the money for all of this? HISAO: "So, are we set to head out?" EMI: "Yep!" Rin gives another nod, and we head out of the dormitory.  I can't help but frown when I notice how gray the sky's gotten in the ten minutes I was inside. Still, Emi does not seem concerned by such petty concerns as the color of the sky. She's positively skipping as we walk. Which reminds me... HISAO: "Where are we going?" This brings Emi up short and she shoots me an embarrassed look. EMI: "You know, I hadn't really thought of that. What do you think, Hisao?" Well, there's the spot where we ate during the festival, but it might be nice to leave the campus for a while. However, I'm not sure if there's any good places to do that in town. Just as I'm about to open my mouth, Rin unexpectedly interjects with a suggestion. RIN: "There's a park in town near the art shop." EMI: "Great idea, Rin! I totally forgot all about that place!" Crisis averted. HISAO: "Do you know how to get there, Rin?" Rin shrugs. RIN: "It's pretty likely." EMI: "Good enough for me!" I would prefer knowing for sure... but, what the hell. HISAO: "Lead on, Rin."  The three of us quickly make our way off campus and take the road down into town. This basket's a bit heavy. I hope that the park is close by.  We pass the art supply store, Rin slowing her pace slightly as we go by. Emi notices Rin's change of pace and stops. EMI: "You wanna go in, Rin?" Rin shrugs. RIN: "Nothing I need." EMI: "Are you suuure?" There's the slightest flutter of a smile on Rin's face, quickly replaced with her usual expression. RIN: "Life's uncertain, but on this at least I am pretty sure. Nice of you to offer." EMI: "Well it's not like I'm the one carrying the basket. But I'll bet Hisao wouldn't have minded anyway, right?" HISAO: "Oh, of course not. This is hardly a heavy load." I flex for emphasis. Emi stifles a snort of laughter by pointing to the park at which we've suddenly arrived.  EMI: "Oh, I remember this place! I ran into you here that one time, didn't I, Rin?" Rin's eyebrow raises slightly. RIN: "Maybe. I'm unwilling to say for certain one way or the other. Memory's a tricky thing, you know." Well I'll be. We made it in one piece after all. The sun's still nowhere to be seen, but neither Emi nor Rin seem to mind.  We find a spot to sit on the grass and I set the basket down gratefully. There's a surprising amount of food prepared. Maybe we were supposed to be joined by some of Emi's teammates or something? EMI: "I'm starving! Dig in!" She attacks the food as if she's had nothing to eat for years. (Sudden Silence, Lightning Flashes, Rain Sound Effect)  I love the art in this game  I'm just reaching for the food myself when I feel the first drop of rain land on the back of my hand. HISAO: "Uh oh. Looks like the weather's not going to cooperate with us after all." Emi glares at the sky as if that alone will hold back the rain. I very nearly believe she can do it. It's one heck of a glare. EMI: "It had better cooperate. You hear me sky? You stop that raining right this instant!" The sky doesn't seem inclined to listen to her, despite the commanding tone she's taken with it. Instead, the rain seems to increase. Rin wrinkles her nose in distaste at this turn of events. RIN: "Regrettable." EMI: "What do you mean?" Rin shrugs. RIN: "I could paint this if I weren't out here. Shame to miss it, is all." She doesn't seem angry or annoyed about it, just a little disappointed. Emi laughs in response to Rin's comment. EMI: "Guess we should have stopped in that art supply store after all, huh?" The rain increases a little more, offended that we haven't fled yet. Despite the warm temperatures we've been enjoying, the rain is rather cold. I wish I'd brought my umbrella. HISAO: "Hey, we should probably head inside to keep dry." EMI: "We're already pretty wet, Hisao." HISAO: "Yeah, but we can dry off this way and maybe wait out the storm. You don't want to catch a cold or anything, do you?" Emi considers this for a moment. I can tell that part of her wants to stay out in the rain just to spite the weather. Unfortunately for her, the weather hardly cares about what we do. EMI: "I suppose you're right. Where could we go?" I don't have an answer for her. The area's still pretty new to me. Though I guess I'm slowly getting used to the school itself, the surrounding town remains a mystery. All I know is the art supply store, and that's only because we've just passed it. Fortunately, Emi soon snaps her fingers in triumph. EMI: "That's it! There's a tea shop nearby!”  EMI: "We could have some tea and dry out, no problem!" That doesn't sound like a bad idea. HISAO: "Great! You know where it is?" Emi nods, looking fairly confident. EMI: "Sure do! I think. But it'll be an adventure either way, right?" HISAO: "Adventure, huh? Well, I suppose we could use a little adventure." I think as long as we get out of the rain I'll be happy. The picnic basket is a little lighter now, at least. HISAO: "Lead on!" Rin and I follow Emi as she weaves through the streets with something approaching confidence. EMI: "Now, a left here...”  EMI: “There! The Shanghai!"  Emi beams triumphantly as she points to the tea shop. It seems fairly crowded inside; a symptom of the sudden rain, I'm sure. Katawa Shoujo OST - Red Velvet  (Rain Effect Stops, Chattering Crowd Sound Effect)   YUUKO: "Welcome! Can I—" I'm surprised to find out that our waitress is none other than Yuuko. She sure looks the part in her uniform. It's hard to believe this is the same librarian from our school. Does she work two jobs? I guess that must be it. YUUKO: "Oh, it's you." Yuuko seems to know Emi. Emi grins brightly, pleased to be remembered. EMI: "Hey Yuuko!" HISAO: "Hi, Yuuko. I didn't know you worked here too." YUUKO: "Do I know you? You seem awfully familiar, but I don't think I've ever seen you in here." HISAO: "Er, we met at your other job. At the Yamaku library. Remember?" Her eyes widen in memory. YUUKO: "Yeah, that's it! Nice to see you again... Oh no, this is bad! I should have remembered a customer's face! I'm sorry... I'm terribly sorry!" Yuuko goes from realization to panic in a split second, performing a series of high-speed bows. I narrowly avoid getting headbutted in the process. HISAO: "Whoa, hey, calm down! Listen, I wasn't a customer when we first met, in fact I hadn't ever been to the Shanghai, so it's all right." Not the best display of logic, but it seems to relax her a little. YUUKO: "Do you really think so?" HISAO: "Uh, yeah, I'm sure. Positive. Isn't that right, girls?" Emi has been watching this little drama unfold with considerable bemusement. EMI: "Yep, it sure is!" YUUKO: "Well, okay..." EMI: "So Yuuko, got room to seat us?" Yuuko nods and leads us to a corner booth, providing us with some small towels before taking our order. YUUKO: "What will you have?" EMI: "Cake! And some tea too, I guess." YUUKO: "What kind of cake?" EMI: "Surprise me!" Yuuko looks uncomfortable at the thought of surprising anyone, but she gives a nod and turns to Rin. YUUKO: "And for you?"  RIN: "I'll take a straw. My feet are all wet." YUUKO: "Sorry?" RIN: "The drinking kind of straw. One, please." Yuuko is obviously uncertain of what to think about this. She fiddles with her pen and stationery for a moment, looking like she's about to cry, before turning in my direction. YUUKO: "And you, sir?" HISAO: "Just tea, I think." Emi would probably yell at me if I ordered cake. EMI: "Aw, come on Hisao! Don't let me be the only one with food, I'll feel like a pig!" HISAO: "Just trying to eat healthy. Your orders, after all." EMI: "Well... today is your day off! You can be healthy tomorrow!" HISAO: "Well then, I suppose I will have some cake after all." Yuuko seems slightly irritated that I'm changing my mind. YUUKO: "What kind?" I glance at Emi and grin. HISAO: "Surprise me." Yuuko sighs and nods. YUUKO: "Very well. Your order will be out soon." Despite the crowd, our order does indeed arrive quickly. EMI: "Thanks, Yuuko!" Yuuko nods in appreciation. (Silence) YUUKO: "This is a different guy than usual, isn't it?" What? Different guy? Emi must notice my confusion, because she seems a little embarrassed.  EMI: "W-what? Oh, yeah, I guess he is. This is my friend Hisao." HISAO: "We've met." YUUKO: "Huh. Small world. Well, let me know if you need anything." With that, Yuuko takes off like a shot to wait on some other tables, leaving me to ponder her comment. Different guy, huh? I guess it makes sense, right? Emi's pretty popular, or so I've been told. It's probably that kid from the track team. This is stupid. I can just ask Emi. Katawa Shoujo OST - Katawa Shoujo OST - Generic Happy Music HISAO: "So who's this other guy, huh? You got a secret lover or something?" Emi laughs again, only I get the feeling it's from nervousness as much as anything else. EMI: "It's just the track team captain. He likes coming down here after practice sometimes. So if we have anything to discuss I tag along." Hmm, sounds mighty suspicious to me... HISAO: "Oh, I see." I could let the matter drop, but I can't resist at least getting another dig in. HISAO: "So it is a secret lover! I knew it!" Rin watches our play, seeming mildly amused before muttering something that I don't quite catch. RIN: "... y'anyway" EMI: "What?" HISAO: "Huh?" Rin jerks back from wherever her mind wandered off to. RIN: "Huh?" HISAO: "What did you just say?" RIN: "Huh." HISAO: "No, before that." RIN: "No idea." HISAO: "Oh. Well. Okay." I let the matter drop, but I can't help notice that Emi seems relieved that Rin interrupted the conversation. Maybe I went a little too far... Conversation dies down for a moment as Emi and I busy ourselves with cake. Mine is strawberry, and surprisingly good. Emi seems to think so too, as she suddenly reaches over with her fork and steals a bit. HISAO: "Thief!" EMI: "Pirate. There's a difference." HISAO: "We're not on water!" EMI: "Well, no. But there's a lot of water outside, so it still works, right? Besides, you can have some of mine. I think it's cranberry or something. I should have asked for the strawberry. I like strawberries." HISAO: "Feel free to help yourself to mine, if you really must." For some reason, I feel compelled to add: HISAO: "Seeing as how you've already done it once, and all." Emi sticks her tongue out at me, but that doesn't stop her from appropriating my cake. I try some of hers, as well. It's raspberry, and pretty good. RIN: "The rain's let up." It would appear that Rin is correct. Good timing, too. I've finished my food, and it looks like Emi has as well. HISAO: "Well, we'd better pay and get a move on before it starts raining again." It takes a few minutes to get Yuuko's attention, but we pay and get out pretty quickly. Like Iwanako’s letter, the Shanghai is a constant between all routes – but unlike the letter, it shows up frequently. Like, if we made different choices in Act 1, we could’ve visited it earlier and missed out on Yuuko going  here.  EMI: "So, do you want to return to the park?" My jaw nearly drops. HISAO: "Are you kidding? It's probably going to rain again!" (Silence) In fact, I think I just felt some raindrops. EMI: "Hmm... you may be right. Well okay, I'll let you off the hook this time, but you owe me a picnic now. Got it?" I don't know if she's addressing me, Rin, or the both of us. HISAO: "Fine, fine." EMI: "Now hurry up! I wanted to get some laps in at the track, and it would be nice to do it without the rain." HISAO: "I thought this was your day off!" EMI: "Well..." Emi suddenly seems reluctant to explain herself. EMI: "I need the practice. And I need to burn off that cake, anyway." Why do I get the feeling that she's leaving something out? HISAO: "Are you sure? It wasn't that much cake..." EMI: "No, it wasn't that much cake for you. I ate most of it." She's got a point there.  Still, I feel like I should at least offer to run with her... >Offer to run with Emi. >Keep quiet. This isn’t a real choice, I’ll be making it for you to forward the LP. It’s just a convenient stopping point for an overlong update. Falconier111 fucked around with this message at 02:47 on Sep 2, 2021 |
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Jun 30, 2021 18:34
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   Can someone remind me how the "picked no route" bad end goes again? I seem to recall being said that Hisao falls off the roof during a discussion with Kenji, do I remember it right? In non Omobono fucked around with this message at 19:05 on Jun 30, 2021 |
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Jun 30, 2021 19:03
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Falconier111 posted:
 Falconier111 posted:
 Omobono posted:
personally I wouldn't put it past kenji to have purposefully loosened the bolts on the fence beforehand, because he is a bastard. But I have no proof.
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Jun 30, 2021 21:03
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"Look, we're friends so I'm telling you this for your own good. But if I were going to kill someone, I'd do it by throwing them off the roof and making it look like an accident. And if I've thought of it, you can be sure they've thought of it too. They're crafty - almost as crafty as I am."
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| # ? Jun 11, 2024 03:58 |
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Blaziken386 posted:personally I wouldn't put it past kenji to have purposefully loosened the bolts on the fence beforehand, because he is a bastard. But I have no proof. He would have blamed the feminist jew cabal for the fence
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Jul 1, 2021 00:10
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