text. all replies written unless stated otherwise.

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{first in the nv, there's just a few quick drawings, scratched from memory - image under cut, but not cut icly.}

Comments

[text forever here too]

[neargenius]

1. Haematopus meadewaldoi.

2. Usually people have to take a test to gain full citizenship of a country. Identification can be obtained on a temporary or long-term basis but there are different standards for citizenship.

3. Root beer was originally made from sassafras and other organic materials. It's become a sweetened carbonated drink. Not usually alcoholic.

Neeeeeeeear. :> Hi Near.

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{a pause, as the nv is shut and she tries to fumble her way through that pronunciation.}

1. I beg your pardon?

2. I don't know much about the process. I suppose they only give us stopgap measures so the bureaucrats can manage us as they're required to do, and I suppose it could be worse. We could all be put to fire and sword, after all.

3. It's safe?

C: --oh wait that emoticon was ooc uhhhh.... :|

[neargenius]

1. Actually that was wrong: Haematopus palliatus. That's the scientific name for the birds. I forgot for a minute.

2. Fires and swords are debatably legal here. But the government does seem to want to keep some stability. They might not have permanent citizenship measures in place, since our presence here is supposedly temporary. "Required" is a good way to think about it--no more, no less.

3. Do you have any known allergies?

lol near you are cute like a button.

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1. Is there a different name? Why is {carefully copied.} Haematopus the same for both of them? Do you like birds?

2. Required is all right, as I suppose we are imposing and are more or less guests, at best. Why do they dislike us?

3. I don't have any known ones.

[neargenius]

1. "Oystercatchers" is their common name. Haematopus is the family name of the species, and then the second name gives each variety more specificity. I don't like animals very much but I know about them.

2. They dislike us for lots of reasons but not all of them make sense. Increased crime rate, job instability, foreign interfering culture, uncertain motives, things like that. Uninvited guests aren't liked.

3. You will probably be okay. Cavities could be a problem eventually.

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1. Oystercatchers. They were fun to watch. How do the names work? Family names are for similar kinds of animals? Where do they come from?

2. That makes sense. The last part, more than the reasons they make up, although I suppose we aren't all good citizens either. I heard some people have killed the people who live here? I suppose they're more evident than the people who live quietly.

3. What should I do, if I don't want to get cavities?

[neargenius]

1. Family names are part of the taxonomic ranking of biological names. A genus group has a name, which comes first, so you know what genus the animal belongs to. The second name is the species name so you know specifically where the animal fits. The names are all rooted in Latin or are words that have been Latinized. But they don't like to call them "Latin names" any more because sometimes the Latin is fake.

2. Some of our people killed people and some of the people who live here killed people and some unidentified people killed people. You're right that it's easier to see that sort of thing but there's a reason for that.

3. Oral hygiene. Brushing teeth + flossing + gum care + oral irrigation.

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{more delay while she takes all of this in.}

1. Is there somewhere I should read about this so I don't make you spit all of this information up again and again?

2. If it's all a mess that's par for the course I suppose, especially when things are so mixed up and nobody is controlling the influx - nobody public, at least. Do you think it might eventually be possible to control a thing like that?

3. What is oral irrigation?

[neargenius]

1. There are books that explain the taxonomic ranking system and books that have lists of scientific names. Explaining is okay too and it's easy.

2. The influx of new arrivals? It might not be possible to control that. The Core is malfunctioning, is what they tell us. When they fix it, it will stop bringing people here.

3. A device that produces a jet of water that cleans away food and debris and plaque. It reaches three millimeters beneath the gumline so it's particularly good at cleaning. I haven't seen one sold here, though.

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1. What books would be good to read for explaining?

2. I heard about that. Do you think the Core can really be fixed? Even if it stops bringing people, will they be able to send us home?

3. {pause.} Do you have one at home?

[neargenius]

1. The Guide to Reference and Information Sources in the Zoological Sciences would be a good place to start. Encyclopedias, too. Most science textbooks.

2. If it's malfunctioning, that means it can be fixed. That's what the word "malfunction" implies. So if they're right about that, then yes. I don't know about your last question. They seem to think so, or else they're just putting a great deal of hope in that eventuality.

3. Yep. So I just employ the first three here.

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1. Okay. Thank you.

2. But we don't really know anything. {the Core might not even really exist. has anyone seen it?} Do you have devices like that in your world? Do you know about other worlds?

3. Okay.

[neargenius]

1. You're welcome.

2. The level of technology in my world is largely comparable to the level of technology present here, with a few exceptions. But from what I can tell with the information provided about the Core, we don't have any devices like that. We also don't have "other worlds" but I've learned things since being here.

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2. Is this the first other world you've been to?

[neargenius]

2. Yes. You?

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{a significant pause.}

The second.