Poem: "More Complex the Deeper You Go"
Aug. 18th, 2022 02:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis poem came out of the August 16, 2022 Bonus Fishbowl. It was inspired and sponsored by ng_moonmoth. It also fills the "Magic" square in my 8-1-22 card for the Reel Time Bingo fest. This poem belongs to the series Not Quite Kansas.
Warning: This poem contains some intense topics. Highlight to read the more detailed warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes medical nudity, practical anatomy study with live models, use of unpleasant demonic magic in an attempt to make it less unpleasant, angst, and other challenges. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before reading onward.
"More Complex the Deeper You Go"
[Friday, January 25, 2019]
Raymond walked into
the living room of the lair
to find Gideon sprawled on
the couch, naked as a jaybird,
with Barb leaning over him.
"Whoa!" said Raymond.
"I did not need to see that."
"Sorry," said Gideon.
"The clothes were
getting in the way."
"Yeah, they do that,"
Raymond muttered.
"It's not what it looks
like," said Gideon.
"We're studying."
"Gideon is teaching
me anatomy," said Barb.
"A lot of people call it
that," said Raymond.
Gideon sat up, dragging
a thick ivory afghan over
himself. "No, really," he said.
"This semester I'm taking
Anatomy for Thaumaturgy,
and I thought that if Barb
knew more about how bodies
go together, then maybe
his healing would hurt less."
"Okay, that's ... not crazy,"
Raymond said. "Is it working?"
"I don't know, we just started
an hour ago," said Gideon.
"It's slow going so far."
"Human anatomy is
hard," Barb said slowly.
"There are many levels
to it and it only seems to get
more complex the deeper you go."
"Well, yeah, nothing about people
is ever really simple," said Raymond.
"I had to take a lot of first aid classes
at the police academy, physical and
emotional both. It's tough stuff."
"Anyway, Barb had a hard time
understanding the textbook, probably
because he isn't human, so I offered
to let him look at my body with magic,"
Gideon explained. "So here we are."
"Doesn't that hurt?" said Raymond.
Barb wasn't as bad now as when
they first met, but it still sucked.
"It's okay," said Gideon. "It's not
really painful, it's just ... crawly.
I can only last a few minutes
before it gets too distracting,
then I have to take a break."
Raymond shuddered. "That
still sounds awful," he said.
"I'm sorry," Barb said glumly.
"I can try the book again."
"No, you need to learn this
and I offered to help you,"
Gideon said firmly. "Making
you do this without magic
would be like me trying
to learn it blindfolded."
"Then I'll help too,"
Raymond volunteered.
"You just said it sounded
awful," Barb pointed out.
"Yeah, but Gideon's right
that you need to learn it,"
said Raymond. "You've
already saved our lives. You
need the best information we
can give you to keep doing that."
He started peeling off his clothes.
The room was comfortable; it was
the magic that made him shiver.
"You don't have to do this,"
Barb said, black tail lashing.
"I know," said Raymond. "I
choose to do it, even if it's
uncomfortable. I think that
the payoff will be worth it."
"Okay," said Barb. "I'll
try to be careful with you."
"I'm going to get dressed,"
said Gideon. "I could
really use the break from
magical examination, but
I can talk you through it."
Raymond stretched out
on the couch. "What do
you need me to do?"
"Just lie there," said Barb.
"Um ... try not to fight me,
that seems to make it worse."
"Definitely worse," said Gideon.
"It took me a few rounds to learn
how to relax through it, but
then it's not quite so bad."
"All right, I'm ready now,"
said Raymond. "Go on."
Barb placed a gentle hand
over his navel. "Where
were we?" he asked Gideon.
"We just finished the stomach,"
Gideon said. "Intestines next."
He started reading from the book.
Barb followed along, trailing
a hand over Raymond's body.
Suddenly Raymond understood
what Gideon meant by 'crawly.'
It felt like something was
slithering under his skin.
Then it felt like a small,
determined hand gripping
his guts and stroking them.
Raymond whimpered.
Instantly Barb let go of him.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Your energy pushed me out."
"I'm ... not injured," Raymond said,
which was technically true, even
if he wanted to throw up from it.
"Rest a few minutes and we'll
try again, just like we did
earlier," said Gideon.
He read from the textbook,
and pointed at pictures in it,
which were a lot more complex
than the ones Raymond recalled
from his own first aid classes.
"What is all that stuff?" he said,
curious despite the discomfort.
"Meridians," Gideon said,
pointing to a body map with
lines all along it that looked
like nerves but weren't. "They
show where energy moves
through the human body."
Barb pointed to another
on the facing page with
some kind of sigils.
"Alchemical symbols,"
he said. "They explain
why doing the same thing
in different places can
give different results.
It's very interesting."
Raymond took a breath.
"Okay, let's try again."
"Barb, just trace over
one of the meridians
and see if you can feel
the energy," Gideon said.
One claw trailed delicately
over Raymond's scalp,
around his ear, and then
down the side of his neck.
It still felt crawly, but not
quite as bad as before.
Then Barb did something
that made him yelp.
"There's a block here,"
the demon said, tapping
over the right shoulder joint.
"Okay, that's ... this one,
I think," said Gideon.
"TW14 Jianliao, related
to shoulder problems,"
Barb read, finger
tracing the words.
"Yeah, he fucks up
that shoulder when
we're sparring,"
Gideon added.
"Also implicated in
traumatic stress and
insomnia," Barb went on.
"Emotional symptoms
include anxiety, despair,
and hopelessness."
"Getting dumped into
an unfamiliar world will do
that, and it's all my fault,"
Gideon said morosely.
"Quit that," said Raymond.
"Blame doesn't help."
"Anyhow, TW14 Jianliao
blocked, not a good thing,"
Gideon said. "You felt that
when Barb touched it."
"So ... can we fix it?"
Barb asked, looking
back and forth between
the book and Raymond.
"Up to him," said Gideon.
"It's his body, after all."
"It's fine," said Raymond.
"Didn't you say this world
might be harder on you two
because it pushes around
your energy more than
you're used to?" Barb said.
"Yeah, that's probably why
he's got a block," said Gideon.
"I hope it doesn't get worse."
"Fuck," Raymond muttered.
"Okay, okay, fix it if you can."
"Let me try," said Gideon.
"Barb, watch what I do and
try to imagine how you'd do
the same with your magic."
Gideon's hands felt warm,
almost hot, as they stroked
over Raymond's shoulder.
Then a thumb dug into the joint,
making Raymond yelp again.
"Hang on, I've almost got it,"
Gideon said, and there was
a weird not-quite-popping
sensation in the shoulder.
"Huh," Raymond said as
the pain slowly unraveled.
"Yeah, it feels better now."
"Can I touch?" Barb asked.
"To feel what changed?"
"Yeah, go ahead,"
Raymond invited.
Barb's touch was
careful, thoughtful,
as he traced the line
over Raymond's head
and down his shoulder.
This time it didn't hurt,
and the crawling was less.
"I think you're learning,"
Gideon said, smiling.
"No," said Raymond.
"We are learning."
That was the thing
about relationships:
they were hard, and
only got more complex
the deeper you went,
but they were worth it.
* * *
Notes:
"Human anatomy is hard. There are many levels to it and it only seems to get more complex the deeper you go."
-- Will
Academic Calendar- 2018/2019
Semester Dates
Fall 2018 -- August 20th to December 14th
Spring 2019 -- January 22nd to May 17th
Summer 2019 -- May 28th to August 16th
As a general premise, knowledge is power. Awareness of anatomy typically improves healing whether it is done scientifically or magically, with the exception of "automatic" functions. Observations of Barb over time show that demonic magic includes a knowledge component.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, meridians guide the flow of energy through the human body, especially responsive at specific points. See a historical chart.
Triple Warmer
(San Jiao) Meridian
(TW, TB, SJ)
Cardinal Points
TW5 Hand, Arm, Neck and Ear
TW14 Jianliao - In the depression posterior and inferior to the acromion process, about 1 cun posterior to LI15
TH 14 Acupuncture Point Applications and Theory
The acupuncture point "TH 14" , 肩髎, is represented by "Jianliao" in pinyin and "Shoulder Bone Hole" in english and may be found:
On shoulder, posterior to LI 15, in a depression inferior and posterior to the acromion when arm is abducted.
Of many possible clinical applications, it may be considered to influence the following issues/symptoms:
• Shoulder problems, especially those involving the lateral or posterior aspects of the shoulder
While not necessarily valid clinically, HT 1 (Regulate Qi flow from the torso to the arm and vi…), LI 15 (Shoulder Disorders, rotator cuff injuries, adhesi…) and SI 10 (Local point for shoulder and upper arm pain, swel…) are nearby.
The Triple Warmer meridian relates to survival and allergies, along with emotional issues like anxiety, insomnia, and traumatic stress. Given the existential stress of shifting to a whole different dimension, you can see why Raymond might be having trouble with his.
This historic chart relates to bloodletting and alchemical symbols. These things can be highly relevant in some magical systems. If you know about them, then you can use them to increase or decrease specific energies. If you don't know about them, then they become occluded variables introducing unpredictable and usually undesirable changes in results when you believe you are doing "the same" thing.
ng_moonmoth. It also fills the "Magic" square in my 8-1-22 card for the Reel Time Bingo fest. This poem belongs to the series Not Quite Kansas.Warning: This poem contains some intense topics. Highlight to read the more detailed warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes medical nudity, practical anatomy study with live models, use of unpleasant demonic magic in an attempt to make it less unpleasant, angst, and other challenges. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before reading onward.
"More Complex the Deeper You Go"
[Friday, January 25, 2019]
Raymond walked into
the living room of the lair
to find Gideon sprawled on
the couch, naked as a jaybird,
with Barb leaning over him.
"Whoa!" said Raymond.
"I did not need to see that."
"Sorry," said Gideon.
"The clothes were
getting in the way."
"Yeah, they do that,"
Raymond muttered.
"It's not what it looks
like," said Gideon.
"We're studying."
"Gideon is teaching
me anatomy," said Barb.
"A lot of people call it
that," said Raymond.
Gideon sat up, dragging
a thick ivory afghan over
himself. "No, really," he said.
"This semester I'm taking
Anatomy for Thaumaturgy,
and I thought that if Barb
knew more about how bodies
go together, then maybe
his healing would hurt less."
"Okay, that's ... not crazy,"
Raymond said. "Is it working?"
"I don't know, we just started
an hour ago," said Gideon.
"It's slow going so far."
"Human anatomy is
hard," Barb said slowly.
"There are many levels
to it and it only seems to get
more complex the deeper you go."
"Well, yeah, nothing about people
is ever really simple," said Raymond.
"I had to take a lot of first aid classes
at the police academy, physical and
emotional both. It's tough stuff."
"Anyway, Barb had a hard time
understanding the textbook, probably
because he isn't human, so I offered
to let him look at my body with magic,"
Gideon explained. "So here we are."
"Doesn't that hurt?" said Raymond.
Barb wasn't as bad now as when
they first met, but it still sucked.
"It's okay," said Gideon. "It's not
really painful, it's just ... crawly.
I can only last a few minutes
before it gets too distracting,
then I have to take a break."
Raymond shuddered. "That
still sounds awful," he said.
"I'm sorry," Barb said glumly.
"I can try the book again."
"No, you need to learn this
and I offered to help you,"
Gideon said firmly. "Making
you do this without magic
would be like me trying
to learn it blindfolded."
"Then I'll help too,"
Raymond volunteered.
"You just said it sounded
awful," Barb pointed out.
"Yeah, but Gideon's right
that you need to learn it,"
said Raymond. "You've
already saved our lives. You
need the best information we
can give you to keep doing that."
He started peeling off his clothes.
The room was comfortable; it was
the magic that made him shiver.
"You don't have to do this,"
Barb said, black tail lashing.
"I know," said Raymond. "I
choose to do it, even if it's
uncomfortable. I think that
the payoff will be worth it."
"Okay," said Barb. "I'll
try to be careful with you."
"I'm going to get dressed,"
said Gideon. "I could
really use the break from
magical examination, but
I can talk you through it."
Raymond stretched out
on the couch. "What do
you need me to do?"
"Just lie there," said Barb.
"Um ... try not to fight me,
that seems to make it worse."
"Definitely worse," said Gideon.
"It took me a few rounds to learn
how to relax through it, but
then it's not quite so bad."
"All right, I'm ready now,"
said Raymond. "Go on."
Barb placed a gentle hand
over his navel. "Where
were we?" he asked Gideon.
"We just finished the stomach,"
Gideon said. "Intestines next."
He started reading from the book.
Barb followed along, trailing
a hand over Raymond's body.
Suddenly Raymond understood
what Gideon meant by 'crawly.'
It felt like something was
slithering under his skin.
Then it felt like a small,
determined hand gripping
his guts and stroking them.
Raymond whimpered.
Instantly Barb let go of him.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Your energy pushed me out."
"I'm ... not injured," Raymond said,
which was technically true, even
if he wanted to throw up from it.
"Rest a few minutes and we'll
try again, just like we did
earlier," said Gideon.
He read from the textbook,
and pointed at pictures in it,
which were a lot more complex
than the ones Raymond recalled
from his own first aid classes.
"What is all that stuff?" he said,
curious despite the discomfort.
"Meridians," Gideon said,
pointing to a body map with
lines all along it that looked
like nerves but weren't. "They
show where energy moves
through the human body."
Barb pointed to another
on the facing page with
some kind of sigils.
"Alchemical symbols,"
he said. "They explain
why doing the same thing
in different places can
give different results.
It's very interesting."
Raymond took a breath.
"Okay, let's try again."
"Barb, just trace over
one of the meridians
and see if you can feel
the energy," Gideon said.
One claw trailed delicately
over Raymond's scalp,
around his ear, and then
down the side of his neck.
It still felt crawly, but not
quite as bad as before.
Then Barb did something
that made him yelp.
"There's a block here,"
the demon said, tapping
over the right shoulder joint.
"Okay, that's ... this one,
I think," said Gideon.
"TW14 Jianliao, related
to shoulder problems,"
Barb read, finger
tracing the words.
"Yeah, he fucks up
that shoulder when
we're sparring,"
Gideon added.
"Also implicated in
traumatic stress and
insomnia," Barb went on.
"Emotional symptoms
include anxiety, despair,
and hopelessness."
"Getting dumped into
an unfamiliar world will do
that, and it's all my fault,"
Gideon said morosely.
"Quit that," said Raymond.
"Blame doesn't help."
"Anyhow, TW14 Jianliao
blocked, not a good thing,"
Gideon said. "You felt that
when Barb touched it."
"So ... can we fix it?"
Barb asked, looking
back and forth between
the book and Raymond.
"Up to him," said Gideon.
"It's his body, after all."
"It's fine," said Raymond.
"Didn't you say this world
might be harder on you two
because it pushes around
your energy more than
you're used to?" Barb said.
"Yeah, that's probably why
he's got a block," said Gideon.
"I hope it doesn't get worse."
"Fuck," Raymond muttered.
"Okay, okay, fix it if you can."
"Let me try," said Gideon.
"Barb, watch what I do and
try to imagine how you'd do
the same with your magic."
Gideon's hands felt warm,
almost hot, as they stroked
over Raymond's shoulder.
Then a thumb dug into the joint,
making Raymond yelp again.
"Hang on, I've almost got it,"
Gideon said, and there was
a weird not-quite-popping
sensation in the shoulder.
"Huh," Raymond said as
the pain slowly unraveled.
"Yeah, it feels better now."
"Can I touch?" Barb asked.
"To feel what changed?"
"Yeah, go ahead,"
Raymond invited.
Barb's touch was
careful, thoughtful,
as he traced the line
over Raymond's head
and down his shoulder.
This time it didn't hurt,
and the crawling was less.
"I think you're learning,"
Gideon said, smiling.
"No," said Raymond.
"We are learning."
That was the thing
about relationships:
they were hard, and
only got more complex
the deeper you went,
but they were worth it.
* * *
Notes:
"Human anatomy is hard. There are many levels to it and it only seems to get more complex the deeper you go."
-- Will
Academic Calendar- 2018/2019
Semester Dates
Fall 2018 -- August 20th to December 14th
Spring 2019 -- January 22nd to May 17th
Summer 2019 -- May 28th to August 16th
As a general premise, knowledge is power. Awareness of anatomy typically improves healing whether it is done scientifically or magically, with the exception of "automatic" functions. Observations of Barb over time show that demonic magic includes a knowledge component.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, meridians guide the flow of energy through the human body, especially responsive at specific points. See a historical chart.
Triple Warmer
(San Jiao) Meridian
(TW, TB, SJ)
Cardinal Points
TW5 Hand, Arm, Neck and Ear
TW14 Jianliao - In the depression posterior and inferior to the acromion process, about 1 cun posterior to LI15
TH 14 Acupuncture Point Applications and Theory
The acupuncture point "TH 14" , 肩髎, is represented by "Jianliao" in pinyin and "Shoulder Bone Hole" in english and may be found:
On shoulder, posterior to LI 15, in a depression inferior and posterior to the acromion when arm is abducted.
Of many possible clinical applications, it may be considered to influence the following issues/symptoms:
• Shoulder problems, especially those involving the lateral or posterior aspects of the shoulder
While not necessarily valid clinically, HT 1 (Regulate Qi flow from the torso to the arm and vi…), LI 15 (Shoulder Disorders, rotator cuff injuries, adhesi…) and SI 10 (Local point for shoulder and upper arm pain, swel…) are nearby.
The Triple Warmer meridian relates to survival and allergies, along with emotional issues like anxiety, insomnia, and traumatic stress. Given the existential stress of shifting to a whole different dimension, you can see why Raymond might be having trouble with his.
This historic chart relates to bloodletting and alchemical symbols. These things can be highly relevant in some magical systems. If you know about them, then you can use them to increase or decrease specific energies. If you don't know about them, then they become occluded variables introducing unpredictable and usually undesirable changes in results when you believe you are doing "the same" thing.
(no subject)
Date: 2022-08-19 03:48 pm (UTC)Also, [logistical request for consideration]: Would it make sense to put links for all the previous Not Quite Kansas stories in the new poems? It would make it easier to find the other poems, compared to searching individually, and seems less technologically-complex than setting up a new Landing page.