Edits

content/_index.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-> *“Do you know how old I am, Dr. Brahe? I am 222 years old, a fork of an individual who is...who would be 259 years old. I am no longer the True Name of 2124. I do not remember how to be earnest. I do not know how to simply **be**."*
+> *“Do you know how old I am, Dr. Brahe? I am 222 years old, a fork of an individual who is...who would be 259 years old. I am no longer the True Name of 2124. Even remembering her feels like remembering an old friend..."*
 
 The cracks are showing.
 

content/read/004.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Part I --- Anticipation
 
-> They dreamed and thought and considered, and then many of those who knew the ways to navigate the seas argued that reaching one of those campfires would be a way to quell the loneliness that they felt as a hole in their hearts. "Perhaps they will fill us with joy! And even if they fight against us or sow strife, is that not a form of companionship?"
+> They dreamt and thought and considered, and then many of those who knew the ways to navigate the seas argued that reaching one of those campfires would be a way to quell the loneliness that they felt as a hole in their hearts. "Perhaps they will fill us with joy! And even if they fight against us or sow strife, is that not a form of companionship?"
 >
 > Others were more cautious about the venture, however. "Is a danger not a danger?" they said. "Is a risk not a risk? We must also consider that we might ourselves be overcome by their might. Is it worth stoking that fire?"
 >

content/read/005.md

@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ The historian startled back. "I'm afraid I don't follow, Dr. Brahe, I--"
 
 "Can we at least step outside?"
 
-*"If you would like me to be elsewhere, Dr. Brahe, I can be,"* the fox said, standing at the entryway to the kitchen, three mugs in its paws. *"But I do hope that you will trust me."*
+*"If you would like me to be elsewhere, Dr. Brahe, I can be,"* Dear said, standing at the entryway to the kitchen, three mugs in its paws. *"But I do hope that you will trust me."*
 
 Tycho stared at the fox.
 

content/read/006.md

@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ This led, of course, to second cups of coffee and warm sweet rolls, and a long h
 
 "You want help teasing it apart?"
 
-Codrin slouched down into the couch further, resting the coffee mug on eir stomach. Tiredness clung to em in a thin, sticky film. "I guess. I mean, I think a lot of it is due to tiredness."
+Codrin slouched down into the couch further, resting the coffee mug on eir stomach. Tiredness clung to em in a thin, sticky film. "I guess. I mean, I think a lot of it is due to exhaustion."
 
 *"Seconded,"* Dear mumbled. *"I am surprised you slept through that, my love."*
 
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ As though on cue, both Codrin and Dear's partner looked over at the fox, who bur
 
 Ey waggled a hand. "Tense is maybe too strong a word. We were both excited, and it came down to whether it was me because my memories weren't muddied with what ey'd experienced in the interim, or whether those memories would help add to the, uh...damn, what'd you call it, Dear?"
 
-*"*Umwelt*? One's worldview combined with one's experience of the world? I know that I have overloaded the term somewhat, and I am not sorry."*
+<em>“</em>Umwelt<em>? One’s worldview combined with one’s experience of the world? I know that I have overloaded the term somewhat, and I am not sorry.”</em>
 
 "That's the one. If Ioan's combined knowledge of what I experienced via my memories as well as eir own experiences during the project would provide a better worldview as a canvas for the project. We decided that I'd write and ey'd consult."
 
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ Ey waggled a hand. "Tense is maybe too strong a word. We were both excited, and
 
 "Do you think True Name is pissed?" Codrin asked.
 
-*"That May Then My Name settled down with someone? Refused to fork for her, then even to talk with her? That she has taught herself how to hate specifically to hate her own down-tree instance? Of course she is pissed. It is her own stanza rebelling against her."* It laughed.
+*"That May Then My Name settled down with someone? Refused to fork for her, then even to talk with her? That she has taught herself how to hate specifically to hate her own down-tree instance? Of course she is pissed. It is her own stanza rebelling against her."*
 
 "From what we've seen, it sounds like their --- True Name's and Jonas's --- attempts to control the outcome worked as expected, but also that True Name hasn't been seen around the Lagrange System nearly as much in the last few years. Sounds more hurt than pissed, I guess." Ey shrugged. "I imagine having your own clade that upset at you tempers your devotion to a cause."
 
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ The fox only frowned.
 
 "I think about thirty days? Somewhere around there. Tycho would know, but I don't think asking him right now is a great idea."
 
-Codrin nodded. "Well, nothing for it. I'll write to Ioan and May Then My name, Then get ready for the shitshow that's doubtless coming down on us."
+Codrin nodded. "Well, nothing for it. I'll write to Ioan and May Then My Name, then get ready for the shitshow that's doubtless coming down on us."
 
 *"If I may make a suggestion, my dear,"* Dear said slowly. *"Hold off until you have a better idea of your feelings on the matter."*
 

content/read/007.md

@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ True Name had set the flashlight against her thigh, pointed vaguely up toward he
 
 They sat in silence for a while, simply looking up at the stars, both with their red lights pointed toward them to light themselves up. Because it *was* beautiful, he knew. The night sky, one as pure as this, demanded a reverence, an acknowledgement.
 
-"Which ones do you suppose they came from?" the skunk asked.
+"Which ones do you suppose they came from?" she asked.
 
 "It could be any, at this point," he said. "We have no idea how old their vehicle is. We can know their speed and position with some accuracy, but who knows how much that has changed since they launched."
 

content/read/009.md

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ And yet, for all that activity, it was incredibly quiet. There must be dozens of
 
 "What is this?" he asked the skunk standing beside him.
 
-"Headquarters." She gestured him to a couch already containing a young woman, picking at her nails. Short, curly black hair framing a round face. "Though that makes it sound far more formal than it really is. It is a place for Jonas and I to work together in our various instances."
+"Headquarters." She gestured him to a couch already containing a woman, picking at her nails. Short, curly black hair framing a round face. "Though that makes it sound far more formal than it really is. It is a place for Jonas and I to work together in our various instances."
 
 He sank down into the couch beside the woman. "That sounds pretty formal to me. What are you working on that requires cubicles?"
 

content/read/010.md

@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ The reprieve lasted until morning when, upon waking, Codrin discovered a note on
 
 Attached was the full text of both messages received so far.
 
-After reading the note, ey placed it face down on the table and made eir way to make coffee. Ey needed at least some mood-altering substance before engaging with that, and it was far too early in the morning to reach for wine.
+After reading the note, ey placed it face down on the table and headed to the kitchen to make coffee. Ey needed at least some mood-altering substance before engaging with that, and it was far too early in the morning to reach for wine.
 
 When Dear read the note, the fox made a sour face. *"I am not sure whether she is trying to be funny, strategically honest, or simply a brat."*
 
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ Codrin had never seen a therapist either before or after uploading. Before, it h
 
 Ey had, however, seen a counselor in school as mandated by the school itself. Mr. Nicolescu had been a kindly old gentleman, but one who seemed perpetually on the brink of collapsing from exhaustion. It made sense, given the size of the school, the requirement to meet with every student once a year, and the lack of any other counselors. Ey had been a good student and a quiet kid, and seeing him any context other than the required visit was often a sign that something had gone wrong.
 
-Sarah Genet immediately reminded em of Mr. Nicolescu in so many ways. The way she walked, the way she held herself, her smile, the way she listened with her whole attention on whatever someone had to say.
+Sarah Genet immediately reminded em of Mr. Nicolescu in many ways. The way she walked, the way she held herself, her smile, the way she listened with her whole attention on whatever someone had to say.
 
 Ey liked her immediately, a feeling which ey'd questioned ever since composing the *History.*
 
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ Sarah laughed. "Have they sent us anything to teach us their language?"
 
 *"One of their languages, perhaps,"* Dear chimed in. *"There seem to be four different species."*
 
-"One of them, right," she said. "We apparently only sent them our *lingua franca,* though, so maybe they have similar."
+"One of them, right," she said. "If we only sent them our *lingua franca,* though, maybe they have similar."
 
 "I don't know, actually. Those are the messages I have, but I don't know if they're the only ones," Codrin said. "We'll probably learn more tonight. You alright creating a long-running fork for the project? That's what she made Tycho do."
 

content/read/011.md

@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ Tycho frowned. "Two people working on all of that?"
 
 Answers Will Not Help wrote his name next to hers, then drew connecting lines to all three names already on the board. "You will be acting as Artemis consultant and manager. We will deliver all messages through you and you will pass on any information required bidirectionally. Due to your relative inexperience with forking, your specialized knowledge of our visitors, and a certain bold *je ne sais quoi*, we will be keeping you at one fork for the time being."
 
-Dr. Verda laughed. "Bold? Our Joh-- er, Tycho?"
+Dr. Verda laughed. "Bold? Our Jo-- er, Tycho?"
 
 He felt a heat rise to his cheeks as Answers Will Not Help replied, "He is the one who said yes to the Artemisians before we had the chance to do anything about it."
 
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ Tycho froze. "I...what?"
 
 The skunk grinned over the rim of her coffee cup.
 
-"Even the smart and bold may be dense as hell, I suppose."
+"Even the smart and bold may be denser than lead, I suppose."
 
 Sovanna laughed and patted him on the arm. "Don't worry, Tycho. I was just giving you shit. No idea what Answers is talking about."
 
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ Tycho simply followed his new boss to the admin pod. She gestured him to one of
 
 He nodded. He could already feel the presence of that information lingering on the periphery of his memory. "I'll give it a go. I've never learned another language but I guess there's a first time for everything."
 
-"Excellent, thank you. Again, you do not need to gain mastery over it. That will be my job. Why Ask Questions and I have several instances working on it already. If you find yourself in need of assistance, let me know and I will request a merger from them so that I can pick up what they have learned." She waved a hand and a few notepads spooled out of the air between them, along with several pens. "I do not know your preference, but here are some materials for you should you need. You are also welcome to create further copies if you need, and should you require anything more advanced, ping me and I will make it happen."
+"Excellent, thank you. Again, you do not need to gain mastery over it. That will be my job. Why Ask Questions and I have several instances working on it already. If you find yourself in need of assistance, let me know and I will request a merger from them so that I can pick up what they have learned." She waved a hand and a few notepads spooled out of the air between them, along with several pens. "I do not know your preference, but here are some materials for you. You are also welcome to create further copies if you need, and should you require anything more advanced, ping me and I will make it happen."
 
 He collected the notepads into a pile on his desk, setting the pile of pens next to them. Each was unique, which, he supposed, was to give him a variety to choose from.
 

content/read/012.md

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ The three bowed politely in turn.
 
 "Please, just True Name is fine, but welcome all the same. Shall we?"
 
-*"Please."* Dear sounded its usual self, Codrin was pleased to note. No sourness or anger colored its tone. While the dark was pleasant, ey wished for at least light enough to see Dear's expression. As far as ey knew, the fox hadn't seen the skunk in two decades, not since their Death Day party. Certainly not since the *History* had come out.
+*"Please."* Dear sounded its usual self, Codrin was pleased to note. No anxiety or anger colored its tone. While the dark was pleasant, ey wished for at least light enough to see Dear's expression. As far as ey knew, the fox hadn't seen the skunk in two decades, not since their Death Day party, and that amidst a crowd. Certainly not since the *History* had come out.
 
 At the table, introductions were made. Tycho remained as nervous as he'd been before, but ey was happy to see that he had at least gotten some sleep at some point, and none of the exhaustion that had so visibly gnawed at him when last they spoke was evident.
 
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ Silence, minus a pop from the candle flame in the center of the table. Codrin re
 
 "Please expand on that, Dr. Brahe."
 
-"I just mean...how sure are we that this signal is real? How sure are we that it's coming from the Dreamer Module and thus outside of Castor?" He shrugged, still looking cowed. "I've been worried about the whole thing since it showed up, but the more I think about how long we've been going and all the risks involved, what's the probability that it's just us dreaming that there are aliens out there?"
+"I just mean...how sure are we that this signal is real? How sure are we that it's coming from the Dreamer Module and thus outside of Castor?" He shrugged, still looking cowed. "I've been worried about the whole thing since it showed up, but the more I think about how long we've been going and all the risks involved, what's the probability that it's just us dreaming that there are aliens out there? They learn our language and tech so fast it's hard not to worry."
 
 The silence fell once more, and Codrin imagined True Name and Why Ask Questions both sending off rapid-fire sensorium messages. Ey caught a glint of excitement in Dear's eyes. Ey suspected it'd have plenty to say before long.
 
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ The astronomer nodded.
 
 *"It is truly a delightful place. I have stars in the sim where my partners and I live, but they are the familiar constellations that we remember from our time on Earth, though certainly more stars than I ever saw in the Central Corridor."*
 
-"*We* ever saw," True Name added, laughing. "We got the moon, a few planets, and the brighter constellations."
+"*We* ever saw," True Name added. "We got the moon, a few planets, and the brighter constellations."
 
 *"Yes,"* Dear said with a hint of a bow. *"This, however, is incredible. We are seeing the stars as if there were a glass dome over our heads. They do not twinkle. The constellations are not quite as I remember them. They feel older, somehow. We are sitting beneath the universe, it feels, and above us lies eternity.*
 

content/read/013.md

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ True Name smiled. "I know the feeling, yes. It is that desire to know more, yet
 
 "Really? You'd let me do that?"
 
-She laughed, nodded. "Of course, Tycho. You are always welcome to ask to do something other than what you are doing. We would just request that you fork to do so. However, since this is not your area of expertise, I am sure that Answers Will Not Help will be willing to give you, say, two hours to work on something else if it will also serve to increase our knowledge of the situation. One moment, please."
+She laughed, nodded. "Of course, Tycho. You are always welcome to ask to do something other than what you are. We would request that you fork to do so. However, since this is not your area of expertise, I am sure that Answers Will Not Help will be willing to give you, say, two hours to work on something else if it will also serve to increase our knowledge of the situation. One moment, please."
 
 There was a moment of silence as True Name stood at the entrance to the central work area, sipping --- or, well, lapping at --- her coffee. After a moment, Answers Will Not Help showed up before her.
 
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ There was a moment of silence as True Name stood at the entrance to the central
 
 "Tycho would like to take a few hours to work on a message to the Artemisians. Are you alright with that?"
 
-The woman laughed and nodded. "Oh, by all means. We will get by without him for a bit. See you at lunch, Dr. Brahe?"
+Answers Will Not Help laughed and nodded. "Oh, by all means. We will get by without him for a bit. See you at lunch, Dr. Brahe?"
 
 He nodded.
 

content/read/015.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Codrin Bălan --- 2346
 
-> *Convergence T-19 days, 18 hours, 41 minutes*
+> *Convergence T-minus 19 days, 18 hours, 41 minutes*
 
 It was not at all surprising that dinner at home was far less stressful than dinner with the Odists out in Tycho's observatory. While the conversation throughout the meal had been nothing but pleasant, the food delightful, and the location and single candle a stunning setting for a dinner, a tension had nonetheless hung above the table throughout. While Sarah had appeared relaxed and True Name and Answers Will Not Help seemed to earnestly enjoy the evening, Tycho had been hovering on the edge of terror, Codrin had remained hypervigilant, and Dear had seemed to have put on a mask of pleasantness that involved choosing its words most carefully.
 

content/read/016.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Tycho Brahe#Artemis --- 2346
 
-> *Convergence T-19 days, 4 hours, 33 minutes*
+> *Convergence T-minus 19 days, 4 hours, 33 minutes*
 
 The sight of the dissemination of the news of Artemis was beautiful in much the same way that a ballet was. This was, he supposed, largely due to the well-coordinated dance of both messages flying back and forth and countless Odists and Jonases moving back in forth in the largest of the conference rooms he'd seen yet.
 
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ She laughed. "Come. I will show you. We will need to go to the top. It is like w
 
 He stumbled back from her. "What the fuck?"
 
-"I am kidding, Tycho Brahe." She laughed, sounding giddy. "You will fall onto whatever level you are currently on. You are, what, a hundred ninety centimeters? One ninety-five? That is not too far a fall."
+"I am kidding, Tycho Brahe." She laughed, sounding giddy. "You will fall onto whatever level you are currently on. You are, what, 190 centimeters? 195? That is not too far a fall."
 
 Still frowning, he lifted a foot, imagined there to be a step and set it down, landing about ten centimeters above the floor. He brought the other foot up to join it and then looked down, windmilling his arms for balance. "J-Jesus..."
 
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ She gave him a pitying look.
 
 She shrugged. "Sure. Step down the same way."
 
-Still leaning against the whiteboard, he stepped down a few levels down to the next row of panels. Below the 'leaked' documents, he read a spray of conspiracy theory rambles. Next to each were long scribbled notes, mostly in a shorthand he couldn't untangle.
+Still leaning against the whiteboard, he stepped down a meter or so to the next row of panels. Below the 'leaked' documents, he read a spray of conspiracy theory rambles. Next to each were long scribbled notes, mostly in a shorthand he couldn't untangle.
 
 "What are the green-tinted ones?"
 

content/read/017.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Codrin Bălan --- 2346
 
-> *Convergence T-5 days, 0 hours, 51 minutes*
+> *Convergence T-minus 5 days, 0 hours, 51 minutes*
 
 Late spring was for picnics. This was, ey was assured, a universal truth.
 

content/read/021.md

@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ They proceeded down the line, each reciting their version of the Artemisian gree
 
 Jonas ticked a box on his clipboard. "Fork and tag your new instances #Castor. Codrin, we'll need another instance from you tagged #Assist."
 
-Codrin and the two Odists forked immediately. Sarah Genet took a few seconds, and Tycho apologized profusely thirty seconds later when he was finally able to manage the feat.
+Codrin and the two Odists forked immediately. Sarah took a few seconds, and Tycho apologized profusely thirty seconds later when he was finally able to manage the feat.
 
 "I'm still not used to it, sorry."
 

content/read/022.md

@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ Codrin hesitated, watching as something happened to bring Why Ask Questions back
 
 "I'm guessing those are rooms where time can't move?" Tycho asked.
 
-She smiled, nodding her head in assent. "Move is the wrong word, but skew is locked in unison for all of the inhabitants, though that of the room may still drift from common time. Your rest area will not be a unison room, but if this proves uncomfortable, we will accommodate you. Through here, you will find your beds and desks. Should you need anything in addition, please ring the bell by the door, and someone will be by to assist. I will come for you in one hour common time for the formal greeting."
+She smiled, nodding her head in assent. "Move is the wrong word, but skew is locked in unison for all of the inhabitants, though that of the room may still diverge from common time. Your rest area will not be a unison room, but if this proves uncomfortable, we will accommodate you. Through here, you will find your beds and desks. Should you need anything in addition, please ring the bell by the door, and someone will be by to assist. I will come for you in one hour common time for the formal greeting."
 
 They bowed once again and each walked to a bed, picking at random. They seemed comfortable enough. The desks, while plain, were a touch that Codrin appreciated, and ey set eir notebook and pen down so that ey could prowl around the room.
 
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ As ey sat on one of these, playing with eir new-found ability to modulate time,
 
 The astronomer's smile was weak as he leaned in closer, whispering, "Just between us for now, promise?"
 
-Ey frowned, nodded. "Can you move to fast time? Same as hopping sims or creating things: have the intention of being at a time skew of two."
+Ey frowned, nodded. "Can you move to fast time? Same as hopping sims or creating things: have the intention of being at a time skew of +2."
 
 Tycho blinked, looked nonplussed for a moment, then seemed to Codrin to start breathing incredibly rapidly. Ey followed him into fast time.
 

content/read/023.md

@@ -35,13 +35,13 @@ After May had cleaned up and Ioan had helped Douglas prepare coffee and some san
 
 "So, what news of the aliens?" Douglas asked.
 
-The skunk squinted at him. "Has Ioan not been keeping you up?"
+The skunk squinted at him. "Has Ioan not been keeping you up to date?"
 
 "A little. Ey said ey wanted to wait until you got here, though."
 
 "Whatever." She rolled her eyes. "Well, out with it, then."
 
-"I've gotten several messages from Codrin over the last few days. Ey said they would be heading out to start the talks in, uh...five days."
+"I've gotten several messages from Codrin over the last few days. Ey said they would be heading out to start the talks later that day."
 
 "So they have been into them for a while now." She looked thoughtfully up to the ceiling. "A few weeks, perhaps?"
 

content/read/024.md

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ There was a small shuffle as the delegates from both craft sat at the table, Isk
 
 True Name nodded, a hint of a bow from where she sat. "Thank you for joining us, and welcome to the Launch Vehicle Castor. We are honored to have you aboard. If you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to ask me, as I bear full ACLs for the sim. You will find your rest area down there---" She gestured with a paw toward one of the hallways. "---where you will have limited ACLs that will allow you to modify many of the objects there and will allow you to fork once."
 
-The reactions around the table were mixed. Turun Ka and Turun Ko remained impassive --- they seemed to move only with intent, and when not required, they were as stationary as statues. Stolon tilted their head in a quizzical manner. Iska's expression was hard to read, but were ey pressed to put a name to it, ey would have called it unnerved, or perhaps startled. Given the similarities of her features to the humans around the table, Artante looked quite pleased.
+The reactions around the table were mixed. Turun Ka and Turun Ko remained impassive --- they seemed to move only with intent, and when not required, they were as stationary as statues. Stolon tilted their head in a quizzical manner. Iska's expression was hard to read, but were ey pressed to put a name to it, ey would have called it startled, or perhaps unnerved. Given the similarities of her features to the humans around the table, Artante looked quite pleased.
 
 "There will be no time skew?" Iska asked, voice high pitched, each word dipping in tone.
 
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ Iska straightened up. "Our common tongue began primarily that of secondrace, of
 
 "I will ask the final question," they said. "You say that we will have the ability to fork. Is there not risk of divergence?"
 
-True Name answered, "There is. Why Ask Questions is a fork from me, and I am in turn a fork from the root instance, Michelle Hadje. We have individuated in the last two hundred twenty years."
+True Name answered, "There is. Why Ask Questions is a fork from me, and I am in turn a fork from the root instance, Michelle Hadje. We have individuated in the last two hundred twenty-odd years."
 
 That unnerved, anxious expression returned to the secondracer's face, but they bowed their head all the same. "*Aët.* Thank you."
 

content/read/026.md

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 > *Convergence T-plus 28 days, 19 hours, 29 minutes*  
 > *(Castor--Lagrange transmission delay: 30 days, 14 hours, 36 minutes)*
 
-May made it through dinner --- Ioan was heartened to see that she'd actually eaten all of the chicken soup ey'd made --- before padding off to a beanbag to curl up. She kept up a sleepy conversation for a few minutes while Ioan cleaned, but even that tapered off to silence. When next ey looked back, the skunk was asleep.
+May made it through dinner --- Ioan was heartened to see that she'd actually eaten all of the chicken soup ey'd made --- before padding off to a beanbag to curl up. She kept up a  conversation for a few minutes while Ioan cleaned, but even that tapered off to silence. When next ey looked back, the skunk was asleep.
 
 Every time ey'd left her to sleep out on the beanbag in the past, though, she'd spent the next day disoriented and moody --- ey suspected this is what she'd meant when she said she slept better next to someone all those years ago --- so once ey finished the (unnecessary but meditative) task of cleaning, ey knelt beside the beanbag, wormed eir arms beneath her, and scooped her up.
 
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ Ey nodded, letting the comment about the Name slip by, asking instead, "And bein
 
 "Well, happier for the System, if not for us. I guess she has hunted down some other clades that have been having problems. She says there are uniting factors, such as a weaker boundary between subconscious and conscious, a greater sense of the numinous, and so on. I am too sleepy to remember the details, but she is looking into it." The skunk giggled. "She says we should get therapy."
 
-"Oh, you definitely should," ey teased. "Maybe this Sarah Genet is still on the System. That's what she does."
+"Oh, you definitely should," ey teased. "Maybe this Sarah Genet is still on Lagrange. That's what she does."
 
 "She is a therapist?"
 

content/read/027.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Codrin Bălan#Artemis --- 2346
 
-> *Convergence T-2 days, 20 hours, 37 minutes*
+> *Convergence T-minus 2 days, 20 hours, 37 minutes*
 
 > Codrin#Artemis,
 >
@@ -13,8 +13,9 @@
 > * Iska is quite upset about the lack of "time skew", as they call it, and has stated that they refuse the single fork they're permitted in their rest area. They have not elaborated on this, but I find it interesting that skew, this scientific feat that they have accomplished, is so thoroughly engrained in their society (secondrace has been on Artemis for nigh on four millennia by now) that dissolution seems alien or even abhorrent to them. I know that forking is integral to our society, but it does make me wonder if it has reached that point yet. Dear would be furious without it, of course, but would that sentiment be universal after only 231 years? Are you missing it? Are the Odists?
 > * Stolon and Tycho are so happy to have met each other that both parties have had to shush them on several occasions. I would prefer to let them have at it, but I do also understand the desire to talk about sciences *other* than astronomy and spaceflight. Why Ask Questions is our biologist and linguist here, and she has been the other primary participant, speaking mostly with Iska and Turun Ka.
 > * Artante and Sarah are almost as perfectly aligned as Tycho and Stolon; they are both psychologists, though it sounds like the Artemisians' approach to such bears some striking differences. Notably, there are some time-related disorders that have largely gone over my head (something about "lacking a feel for common time" and "unison rooms"? Perhaps you can enlighten me), and there are some approaches that Sarah has found interesting, including forms of proactive therapy using, you guessed it, time. Something about practicing through skew, making time to take time.
-> * It is almost impossible to get a read on the firstracers. It's not just that they do not have facial expressions, so much as their penchant for absolute stillness unless a gesture is required (I've begun cataloguing these: uplifted head = nod; head tilt = shrug; chin tilted far down, exposed neck = bow; turning head far to the side = frustration, maybe?). This has led to some frustration, primarily on True Name's part. Ioan's mentioned in the past that May Then My Name calls the root of her manipulation a sort of 'registering', as though she's gotten very good at figuring out what her 'target' needs in order to be convinced. Sounds like she's struggling to use that to her full abilities, here.
+> * It is almost impossible to get a read on the firstracers. It's not just that they do not have facial expressions, so much as their penchant for absolute stillness unless a gesture is required (I've begun cataloguing these: uplifted head = nod; head tilt = shrug; chin tilted far down, exposed neck = bow; turning head far to the side = frustration, maybe?). This has led to some frustration, primarily on True Name's part. Ioan's mentioned in the past that May Then My Name calls the root of her skill a sort of 'registering', as though she's gotten very good at figuring out what her 'target' needs in order to be convinced. Sounds like she's struggling to use that to her full abilities, here.
-> * Turun Ko and I have been getting on quite well. I asked it about its speaking style (which, in case the same is not true over there, includes lots of synonyms strung together throughout its speech). At first, I thought this was a way to find a more exact wording for a concept, but the more I listened, the less I thought that was the case. Why Ask Questions suggested that it might be trying to fit the ambiguities of their *lingua franca* to ours. When asked, though, it said that it was a deliberate effort on its part to remain in the mindset of an Artemisian (they've adopted that word quite readily) in order to better record from an Artemisian point of view. I don't think we'll be struggling with this much, as we haven't learned their language well enough to think like them. It says that it will complete the learning process after the convergence "depending-relying on outcomes", on which it would not elaborate. I've read that it was speculated that most cases involving contact from an extraterrestrial species would take part on the visiting culture's terms, given that anyone who has made it far enough in their social and technological development to reach us will be beyond what we have accomplished, so at least we've confirmed that.
+> * Turun Ko and I have been getting on quite well. I asked it about its speaking style (which, in case the same is not true over there, includes lots of synonyms strung together throughout its speech). At first, I thought this was a way to find a more exact wording for a concept, but the more I listened, the less I thought that was the case. Why Ask Questions suggested that it might be trying to fit the ambiguities of their *lingua franca* to ours. When asked, though, it said that it was a deliberate effort on its part to remain in the mindset of an Artemisian (they've adopted that word quite readily) in order to better record from an Artemisian point of view. I don't think we'll be struggling with this much, as we haven't learned their language well enough to think like them. It says that it will complete the learning process after the convergence "depending-relying on outcomes", on which it would not elaborate.
+> * I've read that it was speculated that most cases involving contact from an extraterrestrial species would take part on the visiting culture's terms, given that anyone who has made it far enough in their social and technological development to reach us will be beyond what we have accomplished, so at least we've confirmed that.
 > * On that note, everyone seems to have learned our common tongue quite well *except* Stolon. Don't tell Tycho, but I think the similarities between them run quite deep. Neither of them seem particularly interested in language except inasmuch as it allows them to better talk about astronomy.
 >
 > Now, for my questions:

content/read/028.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Tycho Brahe#Castor --- 2346
 
-> *Convergence T-2 days, 19 hours, 3 minutes*
+> *Convergence T-minus 2 days, 19 hours, 3 minutes*
 
 "Do you eat?" Why Ask Questions asked. "We should probably wrap up shortly for rest, but if you feel the need to eat, we can ensure that you are able to do so."
 
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ Ey grinned, nodded. "Lots of time, from the sound of it. Ey'll tell you more," e
 
 Codrin#Assist hesitated, a look Tycho couldn't puzzle out crossing eir face. Finally, ey nodded. "I will, but you will find much of interest in Codrin's letter. I'll leave it up to #Castor's discretion to share, though."
 
-The other writer frowned, flipping through the pages of the letter ey'd received. "We'll find some time to talk, yeah. Thank you, #Assist. I'll have another letter for you in the morning."
+Codrin#Castor frowned, flipping through the pages of the letter ey'd received. "We'll find some time to talk, yeah. Thank you, #Assist. I'll have another letter for you in the morning."
 
 Ey bowed and disappeared back through the DMZ barrier.
 

content/read/029.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Tycho Brahe#Artemis --- 2346
 
-> *Convergence T-2 days, 17 hours, 6 minutes*
+> *Convergence T-minus 2 days, 17 hours, 6 minutes*
 
 "We would like to ask you about the history of your species."
 

content/read/040.md

@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ Her voice was small. It bore fear and anxiety alongside the omnipresent exhausti
 
 "I, uh..." Ey swallowed dryly. "Do you need anything?"
 
-"Just for someone to be present. I may need your help writing another note back to Castor in a few minutes," she said, then had to master some hidden emotion before continuing. "But right now, I just need someone to anchor me. You are very good at that."
+"Just for someone to be present. I may need your help writing another note back to Castor in a bit," she said, then had to master some hidden emotion before continuing. "But right now, I just need someone to anchor me. You are very good at that."
 
 After a moment's hesitation, ey nodded, pulling up a chair from the small table in the center of the room. Ey sat beside the skunk as she lay still on the bed, eyes closed, her breathing growing more steady, and then slowing as she drifted into sleep.
 

content/read/041.md

@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ The conversation was veering further off-script. The skunk herself was veering f
 
 Looking down to where she held her mug against her front, True Name blinked rapidly, nodding.
 
-*Tears? Really?* Ey frowned, searching her face and posture for any hint that this was some calculated display of emotion. 
+*Tears? Really?* Ey frowned, searching her face and posture for any hint that this was some calculated display of emotion, then chided emself for such cynicism. 
 
 "Is it something about the Lagrange System?" ey asked, hunting for something to fix, helpless to stop emself from doing so. Some anxiety over that lack of control drove em to try and smooth out the situation *somehow*. "Is the culture that different here? Maybe something about the System itself? I'm trying to think of what might be different."
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ She winced and looked away, ears pinned flat.
 
 Ey had to resist the urge to reach out and offer her eir hand to hold for comfort as ey did so often with May. They looked so similar, even still, even after centuries of divergence, and all the more so when struggling with overwhelming emotions.
 
-She must have caught some slight movement or hint of this on eir face or in eir posture, as she chuckled. "If I were built more like your May, then perhaps I could more easily accept comfort, but I am not. Thank you for listening, though. I cannot talk about these things with Jonas."
+She must have caught some slight movement or hint of this on eir face or in eir posture, as she chuckled. "If I were built more like your May Then My Name, then perhaps I could more easily accept comfort, but I am not. Thank you for listening, though. I cannot talk about these things with Jonas."
 
 Ey laughed, shrugging sheepishly. "Sorry, True Name. Long habit. Still, I'm happy to listen. I know that my relationship puts us in a precarious position relative to each other and there are still some aspects about our history that are...difficult to internalize, but, well--" Ey sat up straighter at a sudden memory. "Hey, have you talked with In Dreams yet? Or this Sarah Genet?"
 

content/read/042.md

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ Why Ask Questions sat bolt upright.
 
 "That should not have been possible," Iska muttered. "Apologies. Please continue, leader True Name."
 
-The skunk hesitated, frowning. "We will discuss that aspect after this, perhaps. The reason that I wish to address this before we have a conversation is that, in the process of our party transferring to Artemis, Why Ask Question's counterpart was replaced with a separate fork of mine named Why Ask Questions When The Answers Will Not Help. She is another up-tree instance of myself, which I believed to be acceptable, but we have discussed the topic of individuation, and as both representative Why Ask Questions and Answers Will Not Help were forked from me two hundred twenty-two years ago, they have long since become separate individuals.
+The skunk hesitated, frowning. "We will discuss that aspect after this, perhaps. The reason that I wish to address this before we have a conversation is that, in the process of our party transferring to Artemis, Why Ask Question's counterpart was replaced with a separate fork of mine named Why Ask Questions When The Answers Will Not Help. She is another up-tree instance of myself, which I believed to be acceptable, but we have discussed the topic of individuation, and as both representative Why Ask Questions and Answers Will Not Help were forked from me 222 years ago, they have long since become separate individuals.
 
 "The reasons for this deception are complicated, relating to the origins of both of the forks' creation." She clasped her paws on front of herself and bowed. "Please accept my apologies on this matter."
 

content/read/044.md

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ It was bound by the cycle of the day, and so Ioan and May would spend their morn
 
 "We are not unfamiliar with it, Ioan," A Finger Pointing had said when, after watching Death Itself and I Do Not Know quit, May's countenance grew duller and duller, and the skunk spoke less and less. "We know depression from the embodied world, and it comes up every now and then for each of us here, too."
 
-"Even True Name, I suppose," ey had said in turn, describing the conversation ey'd had with her.
+"Even True Name, I suppose," ey had said, describing the conversation ey'd had with her.
 
 She had nodded. "It will pass, and we will make the shows work, my dear. Keep her company and be good to her, and you need not worry."
 
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ Ey hesitated a moment, unsure of whether to divulge the fact that In Dreams seem
 
 Sarah turned in the entryway, looking at em searchingly. "You know, back phys-side, I was your cocladist's partner's therapist, and we've stayed friends since uploading. They all but forced me to read the *History*. From what I could tell, your relationship with True Name did not seem to be one that included you worrying about her."
 
-"She's changed a lot," ey said, speaking slowly as ey tried to puzzle out eir growing empathy for the other skunk, along with the fact that this was a thing that needed puzzling out. "She's been looking rough, lately, and even for someone I have a complicated relationship with, it's tough to watch."
+"She's changed a lot," ey said, speaking slowly as ey tried to puzzle out eir growing empathy for the other skunk --- along with the fact that this was a thing that needed puzzling out. "She's been looking rough, lately, and even for someone I have a complicated relationship with, it's tough to watch."
 
 "That I can understand. Does she look like May Then My Name? A furry?"
 

content/read/048.md

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ He didn't know why the arrival ping did not wake him from his daydreaming, but t
 
 He frowned, shook his head. "It's okay. I wasn't expecting you, though," he said, holding out one of the red-filtered flashlights that were permanently lodged in his pockets.
 
-The skunk accepted the light and kneeled on the grass beside him, holding it between sharp-looking teeth as she poured two glasses of champagne.
+The skunk accepted the light and knelt on the grass beside him, holding it between sharp-looking teeth as she poured two glasses of champagne.
 
 Well, 'glasses'; they were shaped more like wide-brimmed, stemmed bowls than anything, somewhat awkward to hold, but then he remembered similar from the dinner party three weeks ago --- so many years ago, it felt like --- when the skunk and her cocladist, Dear, had lapped at their wine.
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ The silence drew out. He looked up at the stars and thought about just how much
 
 And he did, now. He felt it all as something more real than it had ever felt before. The math now stood side by side with awe in a way that it had only ever eclipsed before.
 
-"Do you know how old I am, Tycho Brahe?" True Name said into that silence. "I am two hundred twenty-two years old, a fork of an individual who is...who would be two hundred fifty-nine years old."
+"Do you know how old I am, Tycho Brahe?" True Name said into that silence. "I am 222 years old, a fork of an individual who is...who would be 259 years old."
 
 He waited in silence. There seemed to be more to come, so he enjoyed his champagne meanwhile. It was quite good.
 
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ He was startled away from looking at the sky by the sound of a sniffle from the
 
 "I'm sorry, True Name. That was--"
 
-"No, you are right, Tycho. I know what I am and how I became that," she said, voice thick. "But I am feeling every one of my two hundred fifty-nine years tonight. I just wanted to be with someone. Just...be, you know? Exist with someone without having some sort of agenda other than to celebrate something big."
+"No, you are right, Tycho. I know what I am and how I became that," she said, voice thick. "But I am feeling every one of my 259 years tonight. I just wanted to be with someone. Just...be, you know? Exist with someone without having some sort of agenda other than to celebrate something big."
 
 "But you don't know how?"
 

content/read/050.md

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ He shook his head. "Gemini doesn't fit. Tyndareus, if you want to stick with the
 
 Tycho sat on the bench and leaned back against it, looking out into the plaza. "Nothing else, though?"
 
-"Not yet. The border will open officially later today to members of both Castor and Artemis. The passage into Convergence will be rate-limited throughout this process. We will ensure that this area does not beggar the rest of the System for capacity, as we were informed during the conference that the Artemisians all take up a bit more space than we do, as should probably be expected by five-thousand year old consciousnesses. Still, we are not hurting for space."
+"Not yet. The border will open officially later today to members of both Castor and Artemis. The passage into Convergence from Castor will be rate-limited throughout this process. We will ensure that this area does not beggar the rest of the System for capacity, as we were informed during the conference that the Artemisians all take up a bit more space than we do, as should probably be expected by five-thousand year old consciousnesses. Still, we are not hurting for space."
 
 "Yeah, though thankfully they're not carrying around an entire five millennia of memory."
 

content/read/051.md

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Ey did eir best to square Dear's 'game' with the text of the letter ey'd receive
 
 "God, even when you talk to each other, you are nerds."
 
-Ey forced a laugh, shaking eir head. "May Then My Name will be receiving a note from Dear about a game. I'm not entirely sure I understand it, but it promises me it's an Odist thing. When I think too hard about it, I get anxious all over again, but Dear keeps telling me to "let go and have fun", so I suppose all I can say to you is the same."
+Ey forced a laugh, shaking eir head. "May Then My Name will be receiving a note from Dear about a game. I'm not entirely sure I understand it, but it promises me it's an Odist thing. When I think too hard about it, I get anxious all over again, but Dear keeps telling me to "let go and have fun", so I suppose all I can say to you is the same...
 
 "Uh, May," ey said after a moment's pause. "This is making me really anxious, too. I promise I'm trying to follow Dear's rules and Codrin's suggestion."
 
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ The skunk's smile fell. "Well, please get it over with, then, and we can judge D
 
 "Alright," ey said. "During the talks on Artemis, the time skew got to be too much for who we thought was Why Ask Questions and she lost it. It turns out that, through some design of True Name's, they swapped in Why Ask Questions When The Answers Will Not Help for the emissaries to Artemis rather than sending Why Ask Questions.
 
-"Anyway, she snapped. She quoted several lines of the Ode as well as several lines of Emily Dickinson, talked about how she, quote, "could not feel em", and then she said the Name. True Name got--"
+"Anyway, she snapped. She quoted several lines of the Ode as well as several lines of Emily Dickinson, talked about how she, quote, "could not feel em", and then she said the Name aloud. True Name got--"
 
 "*What?!*" May pushed her way up out of her seat and began pacing. "She did what?"
 
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ May's pacing had picked up in intensity and she had started compulsively brushin
 
 "Ioan, listen," she said. "Wait, no. Remember where you first took me for a hike? Bring me there again. Quick."
 
-Ey frowned, stood, snatched up the letter, and took her paw in eir hand before stepping out to the wooded lake ey had taken her several times over the years.
+Ey frowned, stood, snatched up the letter, and took her paw in eir hand before stepping out to Arrowhead Lake, the wooded, mountainous sim ey had taken her several times over the years.
 
 "You don't think someone's watching us, do you?" ey said, looking around at the placid water, the deer trail, the forest.
 

content/read/052.md

@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ Dear laid its ears flat and stepped back a half pace, growling. *"Mx. Codrin Bă
 
 "What?"
 
-*"You cannot say things like that to a hopeless romantic. You will destroy them. They will collapse into a swoon. They will drown in their own tears. It is frankly irresponsible. Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to take a shower and cry my fucking eyes out for a bit."*
+*"You cannot say things like that to a hopeless romantic! You will destroy them! They will collapse into a swoon. They will drown in their own tears. It is frankly irresponsible. Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to take a shower and cry my fucking eyes out for a bit."*
 
 Ey rolled eir eyes, leaning over to tug at the fox's tail before heading to the kitchen. "Welcome to the club. Go get your shower, though. Cry all you need, but no drowning, please."
 

content/read/053.md

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ She was not a 'new May' or anything so grand, but it was a sign to em that she w
 
 Today, though, was a day for picnics. This was, ey was assured, a universal fact.
 
-Once spring began to tickle at the nose and before the oppressive heat began to drift lazily in over the lilacs and dandelions, this was the time for those who are in love to drag a thick blanket out to that abandoned mountain sim, park atop that rock by the lake, and share sandwiches and fizzy drinks. This was the time for stretching out in the sun, laying back on the blanket, beside each other, hand in paw, sharing in small silences and comfortable conversation.
+Once spring began to tickle at the nose and before the oppressive heat began to drift lazily in over the lilacs and dandelions, this was the time for those who are in love to drag a thick blanket out to Arrowhead Lake, park atop that rock by the water, and share sandwiches and fizzy drinks. This was the time for stretching out in the sun, laying back on the blanket, beside each other, hand in paw, sharing in small silences and comfortable conversation.
 
 "What do you think of Codrin's grand gesture, my dear?"
 
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ The smile that May had picked up quickly disappeared and by the time ey finished
 
 "I know, May, it's not on you."
 
-"I am trying to internalize that, my dear. My empathy remains, even if the emotion behind it has transmuted. Empathy *and* sympathy, as I am sorry that In Dreams left her behind. I can still feel for her, even if I do resent her." After a pause, she added, almost to herself, "I do not like that I hate her, but I am helpless before that feeling."
+"I am trying to internalize that, Ioan. My empathy remains, even if the emotion behind it has transmuted. Empathy *and* sympathy, as I am sorry that In Dreams left her behind. I can still feel for her, even if I do resent her." After a pause, she added, almost to herself, "I do not like that I hate her, but I am helpless before that feeling."
 
 Ioan leaned over enough to give her a kiss to the cheek. "You're a good person, May."
 

content/read/054.md

@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ He didn't know.
 
 Before he could look, before he could listen, he set his glass down, turned on his heel and walked straight into the customs building, temporarily off-limits for tonight's event. His event.
 
-Within, there was a small pedestal that bore a plaque he'd read countless times by now: *Place your hand on the pedestal below and hold it there for ten seconds. This is a **transfer process** of the current instance, so please be sure to leave a fork behind.*
+Within, there was a small pedestal --- one among thousands --- that bore a plaque he'd read countless times by now: *Place your hand on the pedestal below and hold it there for ten seconds. This is a **transfer process** of the current instance, so please be sure to leave a fork behind.*
 
 He did not leave a fork behind. He simply closed his eyes, put his hand on the pedestal, and waited, counting heartbeats.