I.1 - IX.6 [video]

[trephaestos]

[comes over the network delayed, all at once. Signature stamps read out the timeline.]

[ Day 1, broadcast 1, accidental video: ]

[The term was reserved for this arrival. Anatole has never been given one more literally scorched

Comments

Txt | Private

[isfinethanks]

United States, Oregon, Wisconsin, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Southern California at Berkeley: these are names of places and institutions of which I've heard or to which I've been.

However, in Anatole, common reference doesn't necessarily entail common origin.

Text | Private

[trephaestos]

[knowing a thing is possible first makes it even easier to accomplish. Takes less than a minute to figure out how to respond with a text. Not aware of privacy settings but keeps the default of the original]

Which is it-heard of or been?

Text | Private

[isfinethanks]

Depends on which place or institution you're referencing. But it doesn't matter; I've never heard of you.

[or your work - which must be either delusion ... or interesting, if you're under the impression some government or organization is out to get you ...]

Also, there's a translator on this device (which is called a "Forge"), and with some exceptions, broadcasts are automatically translated into a sort of common language which is apparently/inexplicably perceived by hearers as their own- so you can't be certain the people to whom you're speaking are actually speaking your language. You won't find a single person here who can't understand you - or whom you can't understand - via this thing.

Text | Private

[trephaestos]

University of Alaska Fairbanks. USC at Berkeley. You named them as been to or heard of. Which is it?

[unseen sudden suppression of incredulous laughter]

A forge?

Do you know what a volcano is?

Re: Text | Private

[isfinethanks]

heard of.

yes, forge. everyone who arrives here through that door gets one; devices broadcast to a community-wide network unless otherwise specified. you and i are talking over a private feed. everything you're saying to agent reid up there, on the other hand, is accessible to anyone with a forge.

volcano - opening in a planet's crust typically found along areas of tectonic convergence or divergence; allows magma, gases and/or ash to escape

Text | Private

[trephaestos]

that's good I can verify later

It's named after Vulcan - Roman - equivalent of Hephaestus/Hephaistos - Greek - the blacksmith god of fire, metallurgy, and technology. He made Hermes's sandals and wings, the armor of Achilles, the chariot of the sun. He built automatons to work for him. A roboticist. He was thrown down from Olympus and left lame. He's known as "the halting", "coppersmith", "renowned artificer" "of many devices". He worked inside a mountain and the fires of his smithy were the magma, gases and ash which escape. A volcano is the forge of Hephaestus.

Thanks for playing I'll try to remember you when I wake up

Text | Private

[isfinethanks]

for one who 'won't talk', you sure say a lot, daniel trepkos.

Text | Private

[trephaestos]

is it winter?

Text | Private

[isfinethanks]

they call us 'scorched', not kimmerioi.

enough comparative mythology. like i said, common reference doesn't necessarily entail common origin. waste of time.

i'd rather talk about what you forged.

Text | Private

[trephaestos]

Expanding reference is never a waste of time.

Are we in Russia, then?

It's so cold.

Text | Private

[isfinethanks]

if you feel like talking about/doing anything productive once practical necessity has moved you past the paranoia and philosophical skepticism and into the acceptance of apparent reality, feel free to contact me: 34658214

Video | Private

[trephaestos]

[Okay, kid; definite cracking of the cognition code there.

As Trepkos's forge switches to video, his hand momentarily obscures the viewscreen in adjustment. Moving it slowly away reveals a face as pallid and wild as before, but a new look in his eyes: lost but probing]

Who are you?

Text | Private

[isfinethanks]

someone interested in collaborating with specialists to study anatole's unexplained phenomena.

[there's that habit of shirking introductions.]

jack dawkins.

Video | Private

[trephaestos]

[stays on video; brief eyeflicker as he reads Near's response, followed by an eyebrow raise]

The Artful Dodger.

[shivers and starts to push forge away]

I'll call you that if we speak again.

[because if the first sentence is true…

It will have to wait until he's capable of rejoining the fight, grappling with the levels-and definition, now-of "truth".

Reaches to turn off the connection.]

Text | private | need paid acct

[isfinethanks]

[textual shrug. what does it mean to say that common reference doesn't necessarily indicate common origin, douchebag? why is the establishment of a common term constructive, while the story-sounding-board game is a waste of time?]

whatever. still not calling you hephaestus.

[also, belatedly: what's with the shivering?

figure that out later, maybe. click.]