Γ 16

[silk_for_calde]

I feel as though I am always speaking of the benefits of confession, when the curses so often force us to air truths we'd prefer to keep under wraps. Today I find myself ashamed to have confessed; both because I lied, and because I did not

Comments

[unkindnessof]

I don't know what you confessed to yesterday, but the curse was aimed at making us all lie and believe it. You don't have to explain yourself for it.

[silk_for_calde]

Raven! It's been too long since we spoke!

It's a weakness of mine; besides, there was enough truth to it that I can't let it be written off as mere curse-born nonsense.

I claimed I was in love with a woman named Hyacinth, which is true; and that I gave up-- well, everything; to be with her. Which is not.

[unkindnessof]

That's my fault; I've been keeping to myself for the most part recently.

I wouldn't call it a weakness; there aren't many people myself included who could be so forthcoming. Especially concerning personal sacrifices.

[silk_for_calde]

It's a pleasure to see you in any case. I hope you've been well, though?

I suppose I'm not a terribly private person; and I'd rather share the whole truth than let people guess at the half-truths the City wishes me to air. I cannot sacrifice to the gods here, so the least I can do is make an offering to the Outsider of my honesty.

[unkindnessof]

Well enough. How about you? It really has been a while, hasn't it?

You're very devoted to them; I'm sure they appreciate that more than any sacrifice.

[silk_for_calde]

I've been well; fairly quite myself, I'm afraid. I read a lot, and think of home more often than is healthy, I'm sure.

I'm devoted to one, at least; the only one who is here with me. I would like to do more but I tend to think he understands. Besides, there's nothing wrong with other forms of sacrifice, though it's a little strange not holding services. One becomes accustomed to a routine, I think.

[unkindnessof]

I've been doing a lot of both myself. It's easy to get lost in them, isn't it.

[silk_for_calde]

Certainly it is. I enjoy Earth's literature quite a lot, I wish we had more books in my own whorl. A lot must have been lost, and still more forcibly kept from us, when we left the Short-Sun Whorl.

[unkindnessof]

Forcibly kept?

[silk_for_calde]

I shouldn't speak so candidly. But...

When bios-- human beings-- were put on the whorl, they were made to forget certain things, to help them become accustomed to it. I can't help but wonder what things we left behind on the Short-Sun Whorl, what knowledge it was that Pas deemed too dangerous, or perhaps merely unnecessary, for us to have.

[unkindnessof]

There were things on my home too that were considered forbidden. From what I know of them, I can see why, but I wonder ... if people don't know, then they don't know the dangers of it. Is that really the best policy?

[silk_for_calde]

I don't believe it is, but of course, I am not privy to Pas' reasoning.

There are a great many things we once knew-- how to build chems and Sacred Windows, how to make bandages like the one Dr. Crane had-- things that would be beneficial for us to know now. Only Pas could say why we're not permitted.

[unkindnessof]

Dr. Crane? Dr. Jonathan Crane?

You could learn all that here. There are books on all of those, if you're interested. I don't think they're dangerous in the life or safety-threatening sense of the word.

[silk_for_calde]

No-- only Doctor Crane. That may not be his real name, I am not certain; he's from Trivigaunte so it seems likely that it's merely an alias. I don't believe they pattern their names as Vironese do.

I have been reading a wide variety of subjects, but many of the things that interest me are rather too technical for my comprehension, sadly.

[unkindnessof]

-- ah, okay. It's just ... there was another Crane here until recently and I'm not sure his advice would be the best to take.

What have you been reading?

[silk_for_calde]

Lately? Saint Augustine. I'm not as familiar with the theology he represents as I'd like to be, but I am enjoying it nonetheless. A lot of what he says reminds me of the Chrasmologic Writings-- though to be honest, many Earth religions do.

Also I read a book-- I think a student's text-- on astronomy, in an attempt to better understand this whorl, physically.

And some treatises on divination, but most of them are very strange.