[ They passed a few gleaming coins on the cobblestones, and when they came to the net ladder, Cain tested it with his hand, as if half-expecting it to be illusory. And then tested his weight on it, climbing up a few steps before nodding down. ]

Yeah, actually. Back home, I was kind've obsessed with being the best soldier. I wanted to, um, maximize my probability of going back home, right? And sending the most money I could back to my family. And there's like... a whole science to productivity, to getting the most outta yourself and your body. Getting you a hobby isn't about the hobby, it's about resetting the hypothalmus and shit, re-balancing your hormone levels. You think all those brilliant ideas you raved about me having were things I got while sitting down writing and thinking about it?

[ He frowned as he climbed, lifted a hand with a disgusted expression from the rope, and shifted a little. ]

Um, keep to the left side on this part. Kids left something sticky on the right.

Anyway, the hypothalmus is a part of your brain, regulates a lot of body systems. Stuff like adrenaline, cortisol, all the important stuff that keeps you sharp. If you keep it too low-level stressed for too long, it's like... overusing a joint, giving it a repetitive stress injury, right? It won't be as effective. You've got to manage your brain like any other muscle, to get the most out of it.

[ Sure, his own methods for relaxing are mostly fighting, fucking, and drinking, but painting is on his masterlist of shit to do now that he... can. Right up there with learning how to swim, getting in a horse race, and learning how to bake black bread. ]