update from sparkleup

writing/post-self/toledot/index.md

@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ Nearing the 200th anniversary of System secession from humanity, the System and
     * [o] [Secession: sys-side: True Name](secession/sys/True-Name/005) - Council meets, she and Jonas introduce idea of secession, which goes over reasonably well thanks to Praiseworthy's work - 1724
     * [o] [Launch: sys-side: Ioan](launch/sys/Ioan/008) - Ioan interviews historian keenly interested in staying close enough to earth to keep cataloging, has picked up on some of the patterns; also wants to be close to Ioan, weaseled her way into the interview - 2150
     * [o] [Launch: launch-side: Codrin#Castor](launch/launch/Codrin-castor/005) - Interviews True Name, who was tasked by Michelle as political side of launch, first time sys and phys have worked together in meaningful way in ages, tickled to see Douglas Hadje, nudges him through *channels* to apply for launch director (look at that manipulation go) - 2839
-    * [ ] [Launch: phys-side: Douglas](launch/phys/Douglas/007) - Learns more about the clade, but still not about names, mentions some concerning stuff re: patterns phys/planet-side
+    * [o] [Launch: phys-side: Douglas](launch/phys/Douglas/007) - Learns more about the clade, but still not about names, mentions some concerning stuff re: patterns phys/planet-side - 1855
     * [ ] [Secession: phys-side: Yared](secession/phys/Yared/007) - Introduces secession amendment himself, it goes over poorly initially, contacts Demma who reassures him that it will swing in secession's favor after some unsavory strings are pulled, told to keep pressing sys-side on secession
     * [ ] [Launch: sys-side: Ioan](launch/sys/Ioan/009) - Ioan, already worried, interviews Do I Know God After The *End Waking* (skunk male, druid type), who was tasked by True Name and Jonas to meddle with phys-side finance late 2100s to increase sys-side population by paying for uploads (as Ioan was), liberal now, regrets his actions; points em to Jonas still on system
     * [ ] [Launch: launch-side: Codrin#Pollux](launch/launch/Codrin-pollux/006) - Finds Yared, Debarre, and user11824, who talk about how the council was undermined, then overridden by Jonas/Odists after secession, Yared talks about Toledot Yeshu, Demma as Paul (left unsaid whether or not Demma was influenced by anyone sys-side, implied no; phys-side also had its own politics)

writing/post-self/toledot/launch/phys/Douglas/007.md

@@ -43,3 +43,153 @@ Tonight, it was Ioan.
 **Ioan:** That's one of those things that always strikes me as funny. You know, the whole thing about how eyes are just spheres, not actually emotive.
 
 **Ioan:** But hers are intense.
+
+**Douglas:** The intensity comes through even in text, so I believe you. So it's nice having a break from that intensity?
+
+**Ioan:** Yeah, basically. It's nice when we sleep. The time before we head to bed is much calmer. Just a lot of talking and such. She's a very physically affectionate person, which I was very much not used to when she moved in.
+
+Douglas laughed, considered his options, shrugged, and typed his response.
+
+**Douglas:** That also comes through in text, in a way. You two sound like a cute couple.
+
+**Ioan:** Huh.
+
+**Ioan:** You know, I'd never really considered that.
+
+**Ioan:** 'That' meaning that being a couple could come through in text.
+
+**Ioan:** I don't know that we are, actually.
+
+**Douglas:** "Don't know"?
+
+**Douglas:** Shit, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to presume.
+
+**Ioan:** I also don't know that we aren't, either. Sometimes it'll come up in my mind and I'll wonder about it a little, but it always slips away and then I'm back to organizing my pen collection or whatever May accuses me of.
+
+**Douglas:** But you've never talked with her about it?
+
+**Ioan:** No. Same problem as mentioned above. Every time I think of asking she's already asleep or too busy or I'm out on an interview as #Tracker and then it just slips my mind.
+
+**Ioan:** You can't be a couple without agreeing that you are, right? So I guess that means we aren't!
+
+**Douglas:** Do you want to be?
+
+**Ioan:** I definitely don't know that! Not super comfortable continuing to talk about this, though.
+
+**Douglas:** No problem.
+
+**Ioan:** Needless to say, she's intense. The whole damn clade is.
+
+**Douglas:** The Ode clade, was it?
+
+**Ioan:** Yes. Or the Odists if you want something shorter.
+
+**Douglas:** Can you tell me more about them? They sound fascinating, and I've always wondered.
+
+**Ioan:** I can tell you a little bit. It's more on her to answer the details. They can be tight-lipped about the weirdest things.
+
+**Douglas:** Of course. I'm eager to know, but don't want to pry.
+
+**Ioan:** So, the Ode clade is very old. They've been around for ages. There are quite a few of them. I did a bunch of work with one of them named Dear, Also, The Tree That Was Felled about twenty years back, and that's how I got to know them. We've had an on-again-off-again working relationship.
+
+**Ioan:** Though, now that I think about it, one of my forks --- my only real cocladist --- has found emself in a romantic relationship with Dear.
+
+**Ioan:** You have to understand, though, every single Odist I've met (except maybe one, who isn't around anymore) has been completely and utterly charming, so maybe it's just a them thing.
+
+**Ioan:** Anyway, They're all incredibly strange, is what I'm saying.
+
+**Ioan:** Another incredible thing about them is that they are, to a one, incredible magnets for strange goings on. I guess that's part of being strange, but even so, every one of them has this incredible story about these events that have happened around them. I don't think it's a conscious thing, necessarily. Just by virtue of their intensity, they intense happenings, or intense friends, or intense reactions from those around them.
+
+**Ioan:** For example --- and this is public information here, now, I don't know if it ever made it phys-side --- it was one of them who discovered that those who live sys-side can't ever actually forget things. Instead of simply publishing some sort of report or studying the reality of it, he adopted the persona of a biblical teacher and organized an entire scavenger hunt to try and get the rest of the clade interested.
+
+**Douglas:** That sounds incredibly dramatic.
+
+**Ioan:** Agreed!
+
+**Ioan:** I was going to say that they're not really dramatic, just intense, but it's definitely both.
+
+**Douglas:** Can you tell me about their names? They all seem similar to the snippets of poetry that May Then My Name kept sending me.
+
+**Ioan:** They're all really strange, I can certainly say that, but they're also a very, very touchy subject for them, enough that Qoheleth, the one who did the scavenger hunt, the one I mentioned isn't here anymore, was assassinated for trying to divulge some information about their names.
+
+**Douglas:** Assassinated?!
+
+**Douglas:** That's a thing that can happen, sys-side?
+
+**Ioan:** Unfortunately, yes. It's rare, thankfully. There are viruses of a sort that interrupt the sys-side mind enough to cause it to lose coherency and just sort of disappear.
+
+**Ioan:** You told us you still have implants and rigs out there, right? It's like when your avatar crashes, except it's your personality instead.
+
+**Douglas:** That's absolutely horrifying. I'll go ahead and add that to the bucket of fears right alongside nuclear and biological warfare.
+
+**Ioan:** Again, they're not at all common, and they by convention have to be tied to a physical object. Any time that someone has considered designing ones that aren't or which are more widespread, there's an incredible backlash. Happens once every twenty years or so.
+
+**Douglas:** That's not super encouraging, but I'll try not to let it get to me.
+
+**Ioan:** Well, let's change the subject, then, just to keep it from being anxiety-inducing. I know that May will ask this, so, when do you think you'll upload?
+
+**Douglas:** Hah, well, I guess she would. I was thinking within a year.
+
+**Douglas:** My duties are all wrapping up all at once, it feels like, so, maybe when they tell me to get planet-side.
+
+**Ioan:** I have a suggestion, if you're interested.
+
+**Douglas:** Oh?
+
+**Ioan:** Upload on the one-year anniversary of the launch.
+
+**Douglas:** Why?
+
+**Ioan:** The Odists are total suckers for symbolism. If you do it on Launch day, May will lose her damn mind.
+
+**Ioan:** In a good way, I mean. You'll get to see it, I'm sure. It's quite the spectacle.
+
+**Douglas:** It's not a bad idea, actually. I'll pester the commission to ensure that I'm up here for that.
+
+**Ioan:** Really? You're seriously considering it?
+
+**Douglas:** If you had left the planning up to me, I'm not sure I'd ever do it. I'd just keep on cycling and worrying and living up in my head, but give me a little push, and I'll make it happen. 
+
+**Ioan:** I believe it. Keep me in the loop!
+
+**Douglas:** Should I tell May or keep it a surprise?
+
+**Ioan:** Can you keep it a secret for the next six months or so?
+
+**Douglas:** Sure, I guess.
+
+**Ioan:** Great. I want to see her go nuts.
+
+**Ioan:** Strange question: you say that you don't start projects without a little push, but you also said that you applied for the launch director position on a whim.
+
+**Ioan:** Are you sure there was no push for you to apply?
+
+**Douglas:** Huh.
+
+**Douglas:** I...will have to think on that and get back to you.
+
+**Douglas:** Why do you ask?
+
+**Ioan:** Well.
+
+**Ioan:** I'm not sure I can tell you without compromising some agreements on my end.
+
+**Ioan:** With May and the other Odists, I mean.
+
+**Ioan:** I'll make sure May tells you at some point, though, alright?
+
+**Douglas:** Sure.
+
+**Douglas:** I mean, it sounds complicated, but like you say, they're a complicated group.
+
+**Douglas:** I'll think about it, though, see if I can remember anything.
+
+**Ioan:** Thanks!
+
+**Ioan:** May's all sacked out in bed, so I think I'll go join her.
+
+**Ioan:** Goodnight, Douglas. Sleep well, and keep in touch!
+
+Douglas made his goodbyes and then stretched out on his own bed, still grinning at the idea of Ioan sharing a bed with May and still not knowing whether or not they were in a relationship. 
+
+He turned the lights off and rolled enough to pull his covers over him. It'd be early to fall asleep, but it's not like he had much else to do, so he might as well do the same.