update from sparkleup

writing/post-self/toledot/launch/launch/Codrin-castor/003.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Codrin Balan#Castor --- 2325
+# Codrin Bălan#Castor --- 2325
 
 The first interview that Codrin Bălan conducted was with an author who had chosen to invest completely in the launches, leaving no one behind. 
 
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ That said, much of his work was bound up in a sense of magical realism that was,
 
 Meeting Rankin was exactly as they had expected. There was nothing about him that did not shout Joseph Rankin. He wore his identity on his face, on his chest, in the way his hands moved across the table as they talked, there at the cafe, there sitting out on the street, there sipping their espressos.
 
-"So, you are the illustrious Codrin Balan." His voice was imperious, veering dangerously close to pompous, as he sipped espresso, looking over the rim of the demitasse appraisingly at Codrin.
+"So, you are the illustrious Codrin Bălan." His voice was imperious, veering dangerously close to pompous, as he sipped espresso, looking over the rim of the demitasse appraisingly at Codrin.
 
 Something about the man grated at em. Ey was not quite sure what it was at first, whether it was the self-assured way he spoke, or the self-aggrandizing expression he wore on his face. Nigh on intolerable.
 

writing/post-self/toledot/launch/launch/Codrin-castor/004.md

@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-# Codrin Balan#Castor --- 2325
+# Codrin Bălan#Castor --- 2325
 
-It was difficult for Codrin Balan to reengage with the project at hand after what seemed to be an ever-mounting pile of oddities.
+It was difficult for Codrin Bălan to reengage with the project at hand after what seemed to be an ever-mounting pile of oddities.
 
 It was not simply that ey had been finding piece after piece of new-to-em information about those that ey loved --- though it was also that --- nor was it that eir entire clade seemed to be entangled far deeper into something going further back than expected --- though it was that as well --- but that, by virtual of the twin launches and the L<sub>5</sub> system remaining back around Earth, ey was limited to reading much of this over plain text. Text that had flowed over sheets of paper in a comfortable font, bound itself up in books, and begged to be pored over, stood itself before em and said, "Read me, understand me." It all added one layer of remove that, despite eir attraction to the written work and fine paper and comfortable fonts and nice books, left em feeling caught up in some dreamlike state of almost-understanding.
 
-As an example, there was this seemingly universal agreement among the Odists that no one of them should be the one to tell the entirety of the tale, and each for their own reasons. There seemed to be shame bound up in all of them, in some way, but beyond that, both instances of Dear had diverged to the point where the foxes were starting to come up with their own explanations for not providing that info to their respective Codrins Balan.
+As an example, there was this seemingly universal agreement among the Odists that no one of them should be the one to tell the entirety of the tale, and each for their own reasons. There seemed to be shame bound up in all of them, in some way, but beyond that, both instances of Dear had diverged to the point where the foxes were starting to come up with their own explanations for not providing that info to their respective Codrins Bălan.
 
 Why was it, for instance, that Codrin#Pollux had decided to simply interview Dear, where ey had not? And what was ey, Codrin#Castor, to do with the information that Dear had shared with eir cocladist? Hell, was cocladist even the right word, at this point? That seemed to imply a down-tree instance that one could still access.
 
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ Brahe sighed quietly. "They can't. This is just a projection. A description base
 
 There was a quiet lie in that admission, but Ioan let it slip by. "Can you tell me some more about what I'm seeing?"
 
-"Of course, Mx Balan," Brahe said, audibly brightening.
+"Of course, Mx Bălan," Brahe said, audibly brightening.
 
 He pointed first to the brightest star, low on the horizon. "There, see? That is the sun. The launch arms let us go at such a point that we are traveling along the ecliptic, in order to use some of the existing orbital velocity we were already on. We have a disadvantage from Pollux, as we were released counter to the orbit."
 

writing/post-self/toledot/launch/launch/Codrin-castor/005.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Codrin Balan#Castor --- 2325
+# Codrin Bălan#Castor --- 2325
 
 The initial message from Codrin#Pollux via Ioan had been confusing and had, at first, seemed garbled. The way in which this Ezekiel spoke told of one who struggled with his connection to reality.
 
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ While it might not be one and instead be the other, there was always the chance
 
 It was in that mindset that ey sent a carefully crafted sensorium message to this The Only Time I Know My True Name Is When I Dream of the Ode clade.
 
-"True Name," ey said, speaking to the observing half of emself who would send the message. "My name is Codrin Balan, and doubtless you remember my down-tree instance from working with my partner and your cocladist, Dear some years back. Perhaps you also know of my current project of cataloging the experiences of those who have invested in the Launch to be combined into a history and mythology.
+"True Name," ey said, speaking to the observing half of emself who would send the message. "My name is Codrin Bălan, and doubtless you remember my down-tree instance from working with my partner and your cocladist, Dear some years back. Perhaps you also know of my current project of cataloging the experiences of those who have invested in the Launch to be combined into a history and mythology.
 
 "As I work through the list of possible interviewees compiled by clade, I have had several suggestions from out-clade. In particular, my counterpart on Pollux interviewed an...ex-coworker of yours named Ezekiel or Zeke. He suggested some avenues for exploration in this project for myself, Codrin#Pollux, and Ioan back on the L<sub>5</sub> system, including a suggestion that I interview you."
 
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ The sim that True Name had specified was a comfortable apartment several stories
 
 And, in the center of the room, stood a smiling skunk. She looked friendly without being ebullient, professional without being prim, confident without being smug. Her shoulders were straight, expression welcoming, and bearing...willing? Was that the right word? She looked as though the only possible thought that she had was to help solve every one of Codrin's problems, and ey watched emself fall for it immediately, as though watching from above.
 
-"Mx Balan?"
+"Mx Bălan?"
 
 Ey smiled. "You must be True Name. Thank you so much for having me over and being willing to talk."
 
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ Ey stopped writing in the middle of a sentence, startled. "Wait. You originated
 
 Codrin, mastering eir surprise, finished writing eir note. "Well, I suppose I have you to thank for this project as well, then."
 
-Her laugh was musical and genuine. "I am happy to hear that, Mx Balan."
+Her laugh was musical and genuine. "I am happy to hear that, Mx Bălan."
 
 "I think that was all the questions that I had prepared," ey said. Ey was still reeling from the revelation, not to mention the lingering admonition not to push any one Odist too much "It'll give me plenty to put into my report. Do you have anything you'd like to ask me?"
 

writing/post-self/toledot/launch/launch/Codrin-pollux/003.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Codrin Balan#Pollux --- 2325
+# Codrin Bălan#Pollux --- 2325
 
 The first direction from the L<sub>5</sub> System came in the form of a message from May Then My Name Die With Me. "Find Ezekiel," it said. "Talk with him. Be patient, be kind."
 
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ Codrin frowned. "I think I know the answer, but should I interview them?"
 
 *"For withholding information?"*
 
-"For withholding it, yourself. It seems as though you want us --- you as in the Ode clade, us as in the Balan clade --- to discover things on our own. Why?"
+"For withholding it, yourself. It seems as though you want us --- you as in the Ode clade, us as in the Bălan clade --- to discover things on our own. Why?"
 
 Dear stuck a paw out, palm up, beneath a downspout and the steady stream of water that flowed from it, letting the water soak into its fur. *"There are parts of our past that I am ashamed of. May of my cocladists are, as well. You could interview any one of us about the entirety of our story, even me, and we would tell you, but we would also resent you for that."*
 
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ What at first looked like a bundle of rags set in the middle of a rocky desert p
 
 "Ezekiel?"
 
-A low rasp came from the pile of rags. "Codrin Balan. I have been waiting for you."
+A low rasp came from the pile of rags. "Codrin Bălan. I have been waiting for you."
 
 Unable to think of anything else to do, ey sat down next to the bundle of rags. Hidden within it may have been a face, but ey wasn't sure. "Waiting for me?"
 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ A long pause followed, during which Codrin did not speak, but silently wished fo
 
 Ey nodded. "I've come to interview you, yes. A few members of the Ode clade suggested that I seek you out."
 
-A dry rattle sounded from within the dusty rags, and it took em a moment to understand that this was laughter. "Yes. Yes, of course they did. Speak, Codrin Balan. Ask me your questions."
+A dry rattle sounded from within the dusty rags, and it took em a moment to understand that this was laughter. "Yes. Yes, of course they did. Speak, Codrin Bălan. Ask me your questions."
 
 "I have a few. Some about the launch, and some about Secession."
 
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ Codrin remembered the admonition to be kind and patient, to be careful, and so e
 
 "Those who sought to build their temple continue here, yes, and continue there, but judgement will yet come to them. I have seen the fire encased in flame and the sun's eagerness to send us on our way, and that is my reason for leaving them behind, and I am to lay here for three hundred and ninety years, arm outstretched to the System, and live off the cakes of wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and emmer, until perhaps we cross the threshold of the firmament.
 
-"We diverge, Codrin Balan. We of Castor and Pollux. The prophets diverge and so to the prophecy. How can two divergent prophecies be true? And yet they must, for the voice of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps">Lord</span> has given us the scroll as sweet as honey, and our minds must be as one, though they be as split as the broken one."
+"We diverge, Codrin Bălan. We of Castor and Pollux. The prophets diverge and so to the prophecy. How can two divergent prophecies be true? And yet they must, for the voice of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps">Lord</span> has given us the scroll as sweet as honey, and our minds must be as one, though they be as split as the broken one."
 
 When the speech appeared to have concluded, Codrin bowed eir head. "That answers many of my questions, Ezekiel. You speak of the few who are one. Do you mean the idea of clades?"
 
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ Ey closed eir eyes and rifled through the Ode that ey kept near to hand in an ex
 
 After a moment's thought, ey asked eir question, choosing eir words carefully. "The True Name who dreamed, or the True Name who knew god?"
 
-Another raspy cackle came from the bundle of rags. "You need not mince your words with me, Codrin Balan. I am the mystic, you are the poet. The Only Time I Know My True Name Is When I Dream, a broken vessel for a broken soul."
+Another raspy cackle came from the bundle of rags. "You need not mince your words with me, Codrin Bălan. I am the mystic, you are the poet. The Only Time I Know My True Name Is When I Dream, a broken vessel for a broken soul."
 
 Ey smiled cautiously, feeling a heat in eir cheeks. "Is True Name on the launch?"
 
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ Codrin nodded, scratching out the list of names --- if names they were --- in ei
 
 "What should I ask them?"
 
-"Ask them what you asked me. Each shall give you a different answer, and when they are brought together, you may see the past and write your poem, poet." His arm began to waver, and then dropped once more to his side. "I am tired, Codrin Balan, and I must eat and drink."
+"Ask them what you asked me. Each shall give you a different answer, and when they are brought together, you may see the past and write your poem, poet." His arm began to waver, and then dropped once more to his side. "I am tired, Codrin Bălan, and I must eat and drink."
 
 Ey nodded and stood, folding eir notes and capping eir pen. *Much as Dear said,* ey thought. *Combine the sources for a more clear picture.* Ey said, "Thank you, Ezekiel. I hope that you enjoy your meal."
 

writing/post-self/toledot/launch/launch/Codrin-pollux/004.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Codrin Balan#Pollux --- 2325
+# Codrin Bălan#Pollux --- 2325
 
 As happened about once every six weeks or so, that boundless energy within Dear became too much for the fox to control, and it would go tearing through the house, working on several projects, forking here to clean, there to make a mess, now to request affection and then to holler about how badly it wanted to be alone.
 
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ Codrin stifled a yawn from the ear-popping sensation that always came with the s
 
 "What was it like back then?" ey asked.
 
-*"Mx Codrin Balan, are you working?"*
+*"Mx Codrin Bălan, are you working?"*
 
 "Not particularly," ey said. "I really am just curious."
 
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ Codrin rubbed at eir nose to get the melted ice cream off before it settled into
 
 Without falling, the fox's happy expression somehow became a fraction less earnest, just that much less directed.
 
-Before it could respond, ey held up a hand. "It's okay, Dear. One of the Balans will figure it out."
+Before it could respond, ey held up a hand. "It's okay, Dear. One of the Bălans will figure it out."
 
 *"Thank you, Codrin."*
 

writing/post-self/toledot/launch/launch/Codrin-pollux/005.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Codrin Balan#Pollux --- 2325
+# Codrin Bălan#Pollux --- 2325
 
 Codrin was, as ey supposed everyone must be, primed to hunt for patterns.
 
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ Codrin laughed. "Tricked?"
 
 Ey nodded, stirring eir drink with the too-large stalk of celery. "That's fair. And for what it's worth, yeah, I think she has. I don't think ey's ready to admit it yet, but yeah. Your whole clade is like that, you know?"
 
-Why Ask Questions adopted a look of indignation. "Are you accusing me of being manipulative? Codrin Balan, I would never! All I did was figure out that you really like paper and hand-written notes, invite you out to a bar that would clearly pique your interest, and beguile you into talking about your down-tree instance falling in love over terrible drinks."
+Why Ask Questions adopted a look of indignation. "Are you accusing me of being manipulative? Codrin Bălan, I would never! All I did was figure out that you really like paper and hand-written notes, invite you out to a bar that would clearly pique your interest, and beguile you into talking about your down-tree instance falling in love over terrible drinks."
 
 "What?" Ey laughed. "Did you really do that?"
 
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ Ey laughed.
 
 "Stepping back a second, you said that True Name was to organize the launch. What did you mean by that?"
 
-"I would like to say 'next', but I will answer this question, and then perhaps we can just enjoy the day for a little while. Does that sound alright, Mx Balan?"
+"I would like to say 'next', but I will answer this question, and then perhaps we can just enjoy the day for a little while. Does that sound alright, Mx Bălan?"
 
 Ey frowned, but nodded all the same.
 

writing/post-self/toledot/launch/launch/Codrin-pollux/006.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Codrin Balan#Pollux --- 2325
+# Codrin Bălan#Pollux --- 2325
 
 With eir relationship with Dear, Codrin had had chances to meet several other furries, both those who had been in the subculture prior to uploading and those who had come to it after. They had come in various shapes and sizes, the two notable examples of which were a room-filling dragon of some sort (or so ey guessed) and a perfectly ordinary house cat. Perfectly ordinary except for her heavily inflected and curse-laden speech.
 

writing/post-self/toledot/launch/phys/Douglas/005.md

@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ This, at least, was something pleasant to distract himself from his unearned gri
 
 The reply was almost immediate.
 
-**Ioan Balan:** Douglas, nice to meet you! May Then My Name is forking, she'll be here in a moment.
+**Ioan Bălan:** Douglas, nice to meet you! May Then My Name is forking, she'll be here in a moment.
 
 **May Then My Name:** I am here! Glad you could make it. How are you out there? Enjoying the cold vacuum of space?
 

writing/post-self/toledot/launch/phys/Douglas/006.md

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 **Douglas:** I don't know. Maybe? Probably. Once I'm out of a job, my reason to be here is kind of gone, and I imagine whatever goodwill I've built up will start to run out and they won't let me stay on the station too long. It's mostly self sufficient, but resources are limited and I'm sure there's someone who would like to take my spot.
 
-**Ioan Balan:** And you mentioned not wanting to go back planet-side.
+**Ioan Bălan:** And you mentioned not wanting to go back planet-side.
 
 **Douglas:** Nooo, not if I can help it.
 

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

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ So here he was, sitting on his bed, reading until either May Then My Name or Ioa
 
 Tonight, it was Ioan.
 
-**Ioan Balan:** Good evening, Douglas. Let me know when you're around.
+**Ioan Bălan:** Good evening, Douglas. Let me know when you're around.
 
 **Douglas Hadje:** I'm around! How are you, Ioan?