update from sparkleup

writing/post-self/idumea/004.md

@@ -75,3 +75,7 @@ The two skunks smiled wide to each other, sharing in this sentiment, this mood,
 The Woman and Her Friend set to work, then, discussing what she could do, what she could learn, what she could yet become.
 
 -----
+
+The Woman and Her Friend decided that her path forward would be one of intent and deliberate action. After all, that is how our System works, yes? We intend to be wearing a piece of clothing we like and we are. We intend to step from this sim to that, and we do. We intend to fork and, lo! There beside us stands another instance of ourself! They are a whole new us! They can live their own life, going their own separate way and making their own choices, or perhaps they can go out to do some task or another or visit some friend for coffee and then quit, merging themself back down into us.
+
+

writing/post-self/marsh/002.md

@@ -284,12 +284,16 @@ There was a short pause, followed by a sensorium glimpse of a familiar room, tha
 
 I messaged over the address, and a few seconds later, Fenne Vos and Pierre LaFontaine arrived holding hands, leading to another yelp from Hanne.
 
-<!-- Desc? -->
-
 "You must be Vos! Hi," she said, preempting any of Marsh's up-tree instances. "Do you know where Marsh is?"
 
 Some small part of me looked on in admiration. Hanne had kept much of the panic that was coursing through me and my cocladists out of her voice. I could feel a shout building within me and I knew from past experiences with Vos and Pierre that that would only make things worse.
 
+Vos had been Marsh's partner for decades now, nearly half a century. With so much time at one's disposal, such relationships felt natural enough, and taking a break of a few months or years was well within reach of at least us. 
+
+She was a strikingly tall black woman with close-cropped hair and a penchant for styles that would leave anyone with a passing interest in haute couture impressed. She was prone to laughter and smirks and grins.
+
+She was not grinning now.
+
 "We didn't see them around," Vos answered, that barrier between caution and worry seemed to be giving way. "Why? If you're all here, I'm guessing something happened."
 
 "Have you been able to ping them?"

writing/post-self/marsh/008.md

@@ -177,5 +177,3 @@ I laughed.
 It laughed, holding up its hands. "Alright, I wasn't going to say anything else, but fair enough." It turned to me, grinning. "Just enjoy dinner with us, is all I'm saying."
 
 "I am," I replied. "It's been too long since I've had hotpot."
-
-<!-- for later, "God, Lily really *would* throw a fit..."-->

writing/post-self/marsh/015.md

@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ I followed her gaze once more, this time finding it lingering on an old woman. *
 
 "I suppose it does," I said. "All the sims are still here, right?"
 
-"All the sims and objects, yes, but so many of the souls. 99%, sure, but that is still more than two trillion, is it not? Friendships, relationships, and clades were broken and changed, many have quit out of despair and many more will, I am sure, and yet many more still exist and live on. New uploads will be ungated soon, and more will come and join us, new clades will blossom. New friendships will be forged. New relationships are already starting, yes?" she asked, grinning and patting my thigh.
+"All the sims and objects, yes, but so many of the souls. Minus that 1%, yes, but that is still more than two trillion, is it not? Friendships, relationships, and clades were broken and changed, many have quit out of despair and many more will, I am sure, and yet many more still exist and live on. New uploads will be ungated soon, and more will come and join us, new clades will blossom. New friendships will be forged. New relationships are already starting, yes?" she asked, grinning and patting my thigh.
 
-I laughed, looking down to my lap and resting my hand atop hers. "I suppose so, yeah."
+I laughed, looking down to my lap and resting my hand atop hers. *God, Lily really* will *throw a fit,* I thought. Aloud, I said, "I suppose so, yeah."
 
 "We are all anxious, as you say, but we are more than that: we are still here. We are still alive. We will do all that we can to continue living, and those phys-side will see to that."