update from sparkleup

writing/post-self/neviim/index.md

@@ -151,17 +151,17 @@ Stolon talking with Tycho very informal and slangy, also a bit spotty on English
     * [o] [Tycho Brahe#Artemis](local/tycho/011) --- Tycho, getting bored, directs talk to origins and path they've taken. Inexact answers, which has TN intrigued. She talks with the group after to discuss possibility that they might be being shady rather than just leaning on "oh we manipulate time" (day 3 after lunch/break) - 1635
     * [o] [Ioan Bălan](ioan/011) --- Ioan and Codrin#Pollux exchange notes - 3124
     * [o] [Tycho Brahe#Emissary](remote/tycho/003) --- There's a conversation between TN and Turun Ka around how the various races manage sentiment. Tycho is surprised at it being frank, Sarah suggests that she might be working on many levels, Codrin starting to worry about their sanity - 1764
-* [.] Intensity - manipulations fail b/c whoops the Artemisians are way, way better at this
+* [o] Intensity - manipulations fail b/c whoops the Artemisians are way, way better at this
     * [o] [Codrin Bălan#Emissary](remote/codrin/006) --- Discusses openly about news from Artemis and some of the problems the Systems have had in the past, Artemisians describe some of their own. AWNH and TN are both struggling now, each getting occasional flickers of Sasha/Michelle. They call a brief break, Turun Ko says take as long as you need b/c time is maleable, AWNH cries, refuses. - 1963
     * [o] [Tycho Brahe#Artemis](local/tycho/012) --- Writes #Emissary a note during a lull about what the two parties are learning and how he's reevaluating the History. (day 3 afternoon break) - 1304
     * [o] [Codrin Bălan#Emissary](remote/codrin/007) --- AWNH breaks down (revealing she's AWNH, not WAQ), quits, break immediately called, TN is having a REALLY HARD TIME, Turun Ka shows up, TN comes clean, talks about getting lost, Turun Ka says Artante's race ran into similar, but stops her from talking about AWNH further for now - 2109
     * [o] [Codrin Bălan#Artemis](local/codrin/010) --- TN gets news re: AWNH (a fork enters the space, quits, merges - Artemisians like huh???), calls halt to meeting, preempts everyone getting news separately by announcing what happened, Codrin and Sarah confirm they've heard, tries to gloss over the swap quickly (b/c of course she's planned), but Turun Ka speaks up, says that this is part of confirmation required. For what? Tune in next time... - 1884
     * [o] [Ioan Bălan](ioan/009) --- Ioan meets up with True Name at a neutral place to talk about the cracks showing, death of Death Itself and I Do Not Know; growing empathy for True Name - 2326
     * [o] [Codrin Bălan#Emissary](remote/codrin/008) --- Codrin, Sarah, Turun Ko, Artante meet up (while TN talks with Turun Ka, Iska, and Tycho chills with Stolon) and discuss actual point of meetings: to determine whether humanity is a suitable fifthrace. None of the Artemisians know/will say what the gating factors are, but think they're close - don't tell TN (are they supposed to know? Shrug, but implied if they tell TN, that's a point against them) - 2046
-    * [o] [Tycho Brahe#Emissary](remote/tycho/004) --- While all the above is happening, Tycho steals some time with Stolon to try and talk science, but they both wind up talking about being in over one's head and the futility of politics vs stability of science - 1040 - TODO merge up
+    * [o] MERGED UP <!--[Tycho Brahe#Emissary](remote/tycho/004) --- While all the above is happening, Tycho steals some time with Stolon to try and talk science, but they both wind up talking about being in over one's head and the futility of politics vs stability of science - 1040 - TODO merge up-->
     * [ ] [Codrin Bălan#Artemis](local/codrin/011) --- Codrin gives Turun Ko a copy of *On the Origin of Our World* (against TN's suggestion, but she is in damage-control mode), which, after it reads it, turns out to be the penultimate step towards moving forward with accepting as fifthrace. Yay Codrin
     * [ ] REJECTED too much rambling <!-- [Tycho Brahe#Artemis](local/tycho/013) --- Steals time with Stolon on break, joined by Iska and Sarah, talk about joining Artemis, what races have learned from each other re: science. -->
-    * [.] [Ioan Bălan](ioan/008) --- Sarah Genet gets in touch. May is feeling rough, so she mostly talks with Ioan, who talks with May after, feeling better.
+    * [o] [Ioan Bălan](ioan/008) --- Sarah Genet gets in touch. May is feeling rough, so she mostly talks with Ioan, who talks with May after, feeling better. - 2708
     * [ ] [Tycho Brahe#Emissary](remote/tycho/005) --- Watching talks resume, starting to think y'know what, fuck it, maybe he'll just stay if allowed. Stolon's neat, the science is good, and having this to look forward to has given him more purpose in life. Interrupts talk to mention such regardless of glares from TN. Silence from Artemisians, one can assume internal chatter, then "that was the final gating step - wanting to join. We will welcome you as fifthrace" - from there they will learn all they want, have X days to do exchange, share entire libraries back and forth on data band, can keep format however they want on Castor. TN FROWNS but WHATEVER FINE
 * [.] Integration - DMZ expands, several upload to Artemis
     * [.] [Tycho Brahe](local/tycho/014) --- Fresh out of talks, merges back with #tracker in sim, looks up at the sky, new big feelings, TN shows up w/champagne. She's kind of sad, but guess it went okay, says she's trying to be earnest about just wanting to have something to celebrate with someone else, but isn't sure she knows how anymore. Cracks showing as growth collides with eternal memory.

writing/post-self/neviim/ioan/008.md

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ Some dark look must have crossed eir face at which the director had shaken her h
 
 When presented with this along with eir anxious expression, the skunk had laughed and tousled eir hair. "She is right, my dear. It feels uncomfortable at best, bad at worst, but only ever bad. I am simply a bit crashy after a little too much all at once."
 
-So for the last few days, they'd strategize in the mornings and then do what they could in the evenings. Scenes in plays were reworked, dinner menus shifted towards comfort foods, temperatures and weather adjusted. Ey'd even tried reading aloud to her, her with her head parked on eir chest and em with a book held above them. This had gone over well, and ey had that on the menu for later in the evening after dinner.
+So for the last few days, they'd strategize in the mornings and then do what they could in the evenings. Scenes in plays were reworked, dinner menus shifted towards comfort foods, temperatures and weather adjusted, old comfort-hobbies dredged up from the past --- the skunk had been littering the house with origami cranes. Ey'd even tried reading aloud to her, her with her head parked on eir chest and em with a book held above them. This had gone over well, and ey had that on the menu for later in the evening after dinner.
 
 The day still contained the first meeting with Sarah Genet, however, so ey focused on making a good breakfast, and spending a bit of time relaxing on the porch swing with May, giving her pets and quiet company.
 
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ Sarah waved her hand. "She and I will talk that through, it's alright. How are y
 
 "Me?" Ey frowned. Talking with a therapist had never been on the table for em through this whole endeavor, but ey was so wrapped up in it now... "I'm stressed. I'm tired and stressed and feeling like I'm just fumbling in the dark to find something that will keep May safe."
 
-"I'd be surprised if you weren't stressed, honestly," she said. "Aliens visit one of the LVs and both your clades get wrapped up in it almost immediately, and then her cocladists quit in the midst of all those overwhelming emotions. There's a lot on the table here. Do you worry she won't be safe, though?"
+"I'd be surprised if you weren't stressed, honestly," she said. A blink, and she set up a cone of silence around them. "Aliens visit one of the LVs and both your clades get wrapped up in it almost immediately, and then her cocladists quit in the midst of all those overwhelming emotions. There's a lot on the table here. Do you worry she won't be safe, though?"
 
 Ioan shrugged helplessly. "I trust her when she says she's not in any danger of anything like that and when she says she's doing her best to stay grounded, but that doesn't stop me from worrying."
 
@@ -130,4 +130,39 @@ Sarah turned in the entryway, looking at em searchingly. "You know, I was your c
 
 "She's changed a lot," ey said, speaking slowly as ey tried to puzzle out eir growing empathy for the other skunk. "She's been looking rough, lately, and even for someone I have a complicated relationship with, it's tough to see."
 
-Sarah Genet gets in touch. May is feeling rough, so she mostly talks with Ioan, who talks with May after, feeling better. (Ioan asks if Sarah's heard from True Name)
+"That I can understand, yeah. Does she look like May Then My Name? A furry?"
+
+Ey nodded.
+
+"That probably helps, too." She shook her head. "Anyway, I should be going for real, now. I'll be in touch to see about talking with you more soon, alright?"
+
+"Of course," ey said, bowing. "Thanks again. I think I needed that more than I knew."
+
+May and eir other instance were sitting, cross-legged on the bed, the skunk trying for the dozenth time to teach em how to fold a paper crane.
+
+Both looked up when ey entered and, though her cheeks still showed the marks of tears, ey was pleased to see May smiling.
+
+Eir fork quit and as ey let the memories of the last hour settle into place, ey climbed into bed to take eir spot.
+
+"I am sorry, my dear," the skunk said, leaning forward to dot her nose against eirs. "Thank you for all of your help through that, both in here and out there."
+
+"Of course, May. Feeling better?"
+
+She nodded, held up her paper crane, the bottom pinched between fingers, and tugged at its tail, making the wings flap. "I have been making things."
+
+"Other than a mess, you mean?"
+
+Ey winced as the origami bird hit em in the face, laughing.
+
+"I will have you know that all of the messy ones are your doing, Mx. Ioan Bălan," she said primly. "Mine are perfectly neat and orderly."
+
+Still grinning, ey ruffled a hand through her headfur, tugging affectionately at an ear. "Right, right. Just like you."
+
+She tilted her head toward where her ear had been tugged. "Did you have a good therapy session, my dear?"
+
+Ey nodded. "I did. I wasn't expecting it, but it was helpful. Sarah says she'll be in touch to meet again soon."
+
+"Alright. I will not apologize again, but I do still feel bad for how I acted."
+
+"Shush, you're fine. I think she, of all people, understands a reaction like that." Ey picked up another square of paper from the stack and began trying to fold again. "But that's enough talk of that for now. If you want dinner, you have to help me get at least one of these made."
+