This would be the second written conversation. I started an index
for it,
but it got hard to describe the subjects of each email, so some of them are
just the name of the person sending.
Index:
1. Kerry thanks Jasmine and proposes the K-Team
2. Jasmine Accepts, and she's not really mad at all, and offers a watch
3. Kerry attempts to "French" Jasmine, and they discuss Mel
4. Jasmine reveals her "subtle psychological damage"
5. "Charissa as externalized manifestation of Ivan's libido: A Psychosexual
treatment"
6. Jasmine mentions Andi...
7. ... and Kerry inserts that into the Grand Unified Theory of Ivan's Libido
Jasmine.
I will be contacting Miss Marks in short order to enlist her participation,
but I wanted to express my grati...ah crap, there I go with the formality
again. Since it's you and all, and since I know you find it odd, I'll make
an exception. ^.^
Umm. Thanks for going along with my study. Really. I hope that you
haven't come to regret those events. The personal experience and data that
you have provided me with was very interesting and should keep me occupied
for some time, so for my part, I feel that the study was at least as
beneficial as expected. I'd like to think you are still willing to work
with me in the future. So I hope you aren't mad.
Assuming you aren't mad, I had some further matters that I would like to
discuss with you when you find time to come to my room at halfway house to
begin your developmental exercises. I will go ahead and mention these now
so that you will have time to consider them thoroughly...
#1 - We will need to go over your responses to the study to clarify a few
things. I don't believe this will take long, but that's somewhat hard to
predict.
#2 - I'm thinking that you will be interested in the results of any other
studies that I perform, for your own personal enlightenment. I would
therefore like to extend to you the offer to join my investigation as an
assistant. This will have several benefits:
* I know your analysis skills are impeccable. Collecting and collating data
is therefore something to which you are very well suited. You may even
notice trends and similarities that I, being somewhat less inclined toward
math, may miss.
* Furthermore, your insight as a female would undoubtedly prove useful in
interpreting the responses.
* It would enable me to share with you the data gathered from other
subjects,
without raising several questions concerning privacy and confidentiality.
* Finally, I have noted that you seemed reassured that the study was more
"professional" due to me wearing the lab coat (although personally, that
term gives me an image of asking you to disrobe for money). Thus, if you
will consent to be my "nurse", do you think that might make others (such as
Miss Safford) more inclined to be comfortable with the study? Fortunately,
I can likely proceed with the study of Miss Marks without awaiting your
response on this ... it is unlikely to matter to her.
#3 - I have completed the concept for another "exercise" machine. However,
I need to know one thing: Can you swim? If not, I will need to obtain some
of those "water wing" flotation devices they make for very young children.
(OOC: Pushing buttons? Me? Naah. ^_^)
#4 - I have a completely unrelated project to discuss. In fact, it was my
original purpose for writing this.
The fact that I may soon be reunited with my sister, Ten, after four years
of being mostly separated has led me to consider the situation of other
separated twins. For example, I ran across the following web site that
shows
the problems faced: http://www.twinsworld.com/reunite/reunite.html
It seems to me very unlikely that any of the people searching on this page
would just happen to have their missing twins check this very page and
recognize anything of themselves from a mere text description. The amount
of wishful thinking and such that I see displayed here can only lead them to
a bad end, as they get their hopes up ... before having them dashed by the
cruel hand of fate.
It did not strike me until now that you and I could possibly do something to
alleviate this unacceptable situation. I know that you are very good with
information and spatial manipulation - thus being an excellent searcher. I,
on the other hand, am able to identify when such people really are
biological twins, and furthermore my own status as a twin should provide
some measure of empathy to the process.
This could really help a lot of people. It would even be fun! No, not just
fun... We would be private eyes! You would be Agent J and I could be
Agent K. It would be an Adventure! (And also a really nifty summer job!
Which'd give us some more initial capital for our other projects.)
(OOC: In 2000, a crack scientific team was sent to maxmimum security
psychological counseling by the Proper Authorities, for sexual
experimentation that ... they pretty much *did* commit. Regardless, these
kids promptly escaped into the Hannibal underground and survive to this day
as 'Toy soldiers of fortune'.
If you want to locate a twin ... if noone else can help ... and if you can
find them .... maybe you can hire, The K Team. Ka-too-too-too-too-toooo.
Cue music.)
At any rate, feel free to contact me with any questions, or we can discuss
it when next we meet.
K.
>Kerry will be leaving Jasmine another note under his pillow (how
the heck
>does that work? Does she check there every night? Is nothing sacred?!
> ^_^ )
[OOC: Yes, that's pretty much how it has to work. Though, being a
computer-mage, I suppose she could just set up an automated routine that
would check, teleport anything found to a designated spot, and give her a
"Bing! You have mail!" message.]
>I will be contacting Miss Marks in short order to enlist her participation,
>but I wanted to express my grati...ah crap, there I go with the formality
>again. Since it's you and all, and since I know you find it odd, I'll make
>an exception. ^.^
Wow. You're capable of informality. I would never have guessed.
[OOC: Wow, Kerry is capable of informality. I would never have guessed.]
>Umm. Thanks for going along with my study. Really. I hope that you
>haven't come to regret those events. The personal experience and data that
>you have provided me with was very interesting and should keep me occupied
>for some time, so for my part, I feel that the study was at least as
>beneficial as expected. I'd like to think you are still willing to work
>with me in the future. So I hope you aren't mad.
Mad? No. A little weirded out, maybe. Your study is one of those things
that just doesn't seem as real in the light of day, like it was a dream or
something. Um, no offense.
>Assuming you aren't mad, I had some further matters that I would like to
>discuss with you when you find time to come to my room at halfway house to
>begin your developmental exercises. I will go ahead and mention these now
>so that you will have time to consider them thoroughly...
All righty.
>#1 - We will need to go over your responses to the study to clarify a few
>things. I don't believe this will take long, but that's somewhat hard to
>predict.
Okay. . . .
[OOC: Good thing she's not still hooked up to that heart monitor. . . .]
>#2 - I'm thinking that you will be interested in the results of any other
>studies that I perform, for your own personal enlightenment. I would
>therefore like to extend to you the offer to join my investigation as an
>assistant.
Oooh.
>This will have several benefits:
>
>* I know your analysis skills are impeccable. Collecting and collating
data
>is therefore something to which you are very well suited. You may even
>notice trends and similarities that I, being somewhat less inclined toward
>math, may miss.
*curtsey*
I am at your service, sir.
>* Furthermore, your insight as a female would undoubtedly prove useful in
>interpreting the responses.
Assuming I have any such insight. Ivan once told me to use my "womanly
wiles" on someone, and all I could tell him was that I must have been
absent when those were handed out.
>* It would enable me to share with you the data gathered from other
>subjects,
>without raising several questions concerning privacy and confidentiality.
Ah, yes, that. I could look at your results without anyone getting mad,
huh? Well, that probably beats the method I had in mind. . . .
>* Finally, I have noted that you seemed reassured that the study was more
>"professional" due to me wearing the lab coat (although personally, that
>term gives me an image of asking you to disrobe for money).
*LOL* [yes, J. uses online abbreviations in written correspondence]
Actually, I said "official." Anything else is entirely a construct of your
own mind. ;)
Thus, if you
>will consent to be my "nurse", do you think that might make others (such as
>Miss Safford) more inclined to be comfortable with the study? Fortunately,
>I can likely proceed with the study of Miss Marks without awaiting your
>response on this ... it is unlikely to matter to her.
Would that make *Mel* more or less comfortable? I'm not sure.
>#3 - I have completed the concept for another "exercise" machine. However,
>I need to know one thing: Can you swim? If not, I will need to obtain some
>of those "water wing" flotation devices they make for very young children.
>(OOC: Pushing buttons? Me? Naah. ^_^)
Growl. Yes, I can swim. Um, what is this thing?
>It did not strike me until now that you and I could possibly do something
to
>alleviate this unacceptable situation. I know that you are very good with
>information and spatial manipulation - thus being an excellent searcher.
I,
>on the other hand, am able to identify when such people really are
>biological twins, and furthermore my own status as a twin should provide
>some measure of empathy to the process.
>
>This could really help a lot of people. It would even be fun! No, not
just
>fun... We would be private eyes! You would be Agent J and I could be
>Agent K. It would be an Adventure! (And also a really nifty summer job!
>Which'd give us some more initial capital for our other projects.)
Wow. Kerry, you're a genius.
Of course I'll be your "Agent J." Hee!
You know, we don't have to limit this to twins. Maybe start with that, to
see if we can actually get clients, but there's no reason we couldn't help
with other kinds of "unsolved mysteries" (cue theme music) too.
You wanna do this through a website, like the Twin Search people? I
imagine that'd be best. We'll still have to come up with something for
personal contacts (want a watch? ;) ) and something for the few people who
actually take the time to research who's behind the site.
[OOC: You're really pushing all the right buttons here, old man. I've
actually been wanting to do the "kid detective" schtick with Jasmine
forever, and even had the website idea before, but never implemented it
'cause I feared taking on projects with too little involvement by other
PCs. With Kerry, you have solved that nicely. You rock, sir.]
>(OOC: In 2000, a crack scientific team was sent to maxmimum security
>psychological counseling by the Proper Authorities, for sexual
>experimentation that ... they pretty much *did* commit. Regardless, these
>kids promptly escaped into the Hannibal underground and survive to this day
>as 'Toy soldiers of fortune'.
>
>If you want to locate a twin ... if noone else can help ... and if you can
>find them .... maybe you can hire, The K Team. Ka-too-too-too-too-toooo.
>Cue music.)
[OOC: ROTFL]
> [OOC: Yes, that's pretty much how it has to work. Though,
being a
> computer-mage, I suppose she could just set up an automated routine that
> would check, teleport anything found to a designated spot, and give her a
> "Bing! You have mail!" message.]
[OOC: Ah]
> Wow. You're capable of informality. I would never have guessed.
Yes. I usually forget to use it, though.
> [OOC: Wow, Kerry is capable of informality. I would never have guessed.]
[OOC: Heh.]
> Mad? No. A little weirded out, maybe. Your study is one of those things
> that just doesn't seem as real in the light of day, like it was a dream or
> something. Um, no offense.
Really? Interesting. I don't recall that you mentioned having dreams of
*that* nature before. Perhaps I should revise my estimate of your current
stage of development...?
> >#1 - We will need to go over your responses to the study to clarify a few
> >things. I don't believe this will take long, but that's somewhat hard to
> >predict.
>
> Okay. . . .
>
> [OOC: Good thing she's not still hooked up to that heart monitor. . . .]
[OOC: Hmm. I suppose. Kerry would be completely mystified by a strong
reaction to THAT paragraph, so it probably wouldn't make any difference if
she were. Gregor may or may not get it, but is too fuzzy to tell at the
moment, so it's best to assume not.]
> I am at your service, sir.
Excellent.
> >* Furthermore, your insight as a female would undoubtedly prove useful in
> >interpreting the responses.
>
> Assuming I have any such insight. Ivan once told me to use my "womanly
> wiles" on someone, and all I could tell him was that I must have been
> absent when those were handed out.
Au contraire, mon cherie. [OOC: Kerry doesn't really speak french, but he's
almost certainly heard it. His tradition is headquartered in Paris after
all.]
So far you have undoubtedly saved me from a number of potential slaps by
virtue of your insight into the horned canine stereotype. So I think that
you do possess the innate abilities of your species. Either you simply need
to learn to utilize them to full effect, or they will manifest along with
your ... wiles.
> Ah, yes, that. I could look at your results without anyone getting mad,
> huh? Well, that probably beats the method I had in mind. . . .
What might that be?
> Actually, I said "official." Anything else is entirely a construct of
your
> own mind. ;)
Ah, true. I was thinking of what you wrote in our initial letters
discussing the feasability of the study, rather than what you actually said
during it.
> Would that make *Mel* more or less comfortable? I'm not sure.
I am not the best person to be asking this. I ... suppose ... that I could
accept you (being my nurse) taking the appropriate measurements in my stead.
You would also need to assess her developmental state for me, which means
educating you in some detail on the topic of development, the appropriate
anatomical structures, etc.
Unfortunately, my reference material is somewhat poorly labeled, and
obviously I know little enough about the topic myself. Actually, I
considered taking the opportunity of our first study to ask you some
questions concerning sensitivity and such, but I determined that you were
rather more distressed than I would like.
No need to rush. I'm sure that you will continue to be a fascinating
subject for some time, so I may not even need to approach Miss Safford at
all.
> Growl. Yes, I can swim. Um, what is this thing?
Well, it is rather drawn out and technical, so I don't want to go into it in
this letter, but basically it is another means of encouragement. I want to
partly immerse you in a fluid under conditions that are meant to stimulate
your pheremone production. Don't worry over a swimsuit. You won't need it.
> Wow. Kerry, you're a genius.
How kind of you to notice. ^_^
> Of course I'll be your "Agent J." Hee!
Excellent once again. I'm really going to need a new superlative adjective
if I continue working with you, Jasmine. ^_^
> You know, we don't have to limit this to twins. Maybe start with that, to
> see if we can actually get clients, but there's no reason we couldn't help
> with other kinds of "unsolved mysteries" (cue theme music) too.
This is true. I hadn't considered that angle. I suppose it's only to be
expected that one investigation leads into another with appalling regularity
once girls are involved. Err, in case it's not clear, I consider that a
good thing ... I always like a new line of investigation.
> You wanna do this through a website, like the Twin Search people? I
> imagine that'd be best.
Yes, exactly what I was thinking.
> We'll still have to come up with something for
> personal contacts (want a watch? ;) ) and something for the few people who
> actually take the time to research who's behind the site.
A watch? I don't follow you. Of course I shall be pleased to accept your
gift, but I'm a bit unsure why you would give me a watch...?
As for personal contacts ... I expect that we would have to face this, yes.
In fact, under certain conditions, we'd probably have to, and even want to.
At any rate, I must turn in. The excitement produced by your study and this
recent batch of project ideas has quite wiped me out.
Goodnight Jasmine.
K.
(OOC: Gregor is starting to make no senszzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)
>Really? Interesting. I don't recall that you mentioned
having dreams of
>*that* nature before. Perhaps I should revise my estimate of your current
>stage of development...?
I *meant* the whole thing seems kind of surreal.
But if you must know (and I suppose it is relevant to your study), I have
had "dreams of *that* nature" precisely twice. Well, the first time, I'm
not really sure if they were dreams or daydreams or hallucinations or what.
That was on what we call the Night of Raging Lust, when Ivan's lust-demon
friend decided to play a little game with all of us. As you might imagine,
I wasn't exactly in a position to analyze the experience rationally. I'd
never felt like that before, or thought about some of those things, or felt
that way *while* thinking about . . . um, you get the idea.
The second time was during that visit to the future I've mentioned. My
adult body was, er, fully armed and operational, and I got to spend a lot
of time with Tyler in *his* adult body. Nothing *happened*, of course --
and now, knowing how I felt just during your oh-so-official study, I'm
pretty sure I really wouldn't have liked it if anything had -- but I did
have some interesting dreams that night.
Actually, there's a question: Even if your "exercise machines" can make me
*look* physically older, what about that aspect of things? Thoughts and
feelings and, uh, desires? I can do the *look* myself, as you saw, but
that stuff I can't reproduce. I guess you could call it the hormone factor
(or maybe the "horndog" factor, given its usual result).
And before you even put two and two together, no, don't even THINK about
using the lust demon. I'm not going near her ever again. Creeps me out.
I can't believe Ivan actually invited her back here.
>[OOC: Hmm. I suppose. Kerry would be completely mystified by a strong
>reaction to THAT paragraph, so it probably wouldn't make any difference if
>she were. Gregor may or may not get it, but is too fuzzy to tell at the
>moment, so it's best to assume not.]
[OOC: Oh, well, probably not a *strong* reaction, but likely a noticeable
one. Just a slight resurgence of nervousness at the thought of having to
"go over her responses to the study" -- especially since he didn't clarify
whether he meant the psychological or physiological part of the study.]
>Au contraire, mon cherie. [OOC: Kerry doesn't really speak french, but
he's
>almost certainly heard it. His tradition is headquartered in Paris after
>all.]
[OOC: Gotcha. Actually, he did get it slightly wrong. It's "mon cheri"
when referring to a male, and "ma cherie" when referring to a female. "Mon
cherie" would imply uncertainty or possibly hermaphroditism, I guess. And
yes, I did recall that the SoE HQ is in Paris. Perhaps, once the Dread
Hiatus ends, we can spice up the inevitable next Paris trip with that fact.]
>> Ah, yes, that. I could look at your results without anyone getting mad,
>> huh? Well, that probably beats the method I had in mind. . . .
>
>What might that be?
Uh, well, just sneaking a peek at your notes, actually.
Sorry. It's a habit I need to break, I know. But knowing *about*
knowledge I don't have always drives me crazy with curiosity.
Our Mr. E, himself an occasional student of Jasminology by necessity, has
discovered that a sufficient expression of annoyance will generally extract
from me a promise not to do it again, if you fear future occurrences. I
believe "You little shit" is his favorite opening phrase.
>> Would that make *Mel* more or less comfortable? I'm not sure.
>
>I am not the best person to be asking this. I ... suppose ... that I could
>accept you (being my nurse) taking the appropriate measurements in my
stead.
>You would also need to assess her developmental state for me, which means
>educating you in some detail on the topic of development, the appropriate
>anatomical structures, etc.
You want me to . . . oh boy. Well, I guess we could present her with both
options. I'm interested in seeing how she reacts, anyway, and if we can
even talk her into going along with this at all.
[OOC: rotfl rotfl ROTFL]
>Unfortunately, my reference material is somewhat poorly labeled, and
>obviously I know little enough about the topic myself. Actually, I
>considered taking the opportunity of our first study to ask you some
>questions concerning sensitivity and such, but I determined that you were
>rather more distressed than I would like.
Yeah, I definitely was. Sorry to deny you data.
>No need to rush. I'm sure that you will continue to be a fascinating
>subject for some time, so I may not even need to approach Miss Safford at
>all.
Sigh. If only that thought had crossed *Tyler's* mind.
Heh. Sorry.
> Don't worry over a swimsuit. You won't need it.
[OOC: OK, *now* the heart monitor would be spiking]
Ah. I see.
>> Wow. Kerry, you're a genius.
>
>How kind of you to notice. ^_^
Well, the same people who say "Great minds think alike" also say "It takes
one to know one," eh?
>This is true. I hadn't considered that angle. I suppose it's only to be
>expected that one investigation leads into another with appalling
regularity
>once girls are involved.
You have prior experience with the phenomenon of, er, Female
Investigatorial Expansion?
>A watch? I don't follow you. Of course I shall be pleased to accept your
>gift, but I'm a bit unsure why you would give me a watch...?
Ah, I see the study has become a surreal half-memory for you too.
Remember my watch? The one I used to project an image into your mind?
That kind of trick doesn't seem to be in your repertoire yet, from what
I've seen, so I was offering to make you one.
[OOC: Jasmine gave Tyler one of the adult-image-projecting watches for
Christmas, so it is established that she can do so. The watch isn't an
actual Wonder, just a focus for that particular effect of hers. The only
odd property I gave it -- which seemed to be fine with Jenna -- is that the
effect can be turned on and off, and only the time spent "on" counts toward
its duration (a 12-hour "battery"). Similarly, since I couldn't very well
pre-define a number of people affected, I decided that the projection
starts to pixellate and "lag" as it has to deal with more and more
observers. If you'd like to suggest a better game-mechanics definition of
the thing (that's still within Jasmine's capabilities), feel free.]
>As for personal contacts ... I expect that we would have to face this, yes.
>In fact, under certain conditions, we'd probably have to, and even want to.
>
>At any rate, I must turn in. The excitement produced by your study and
this
>recent batch of project ideas has quite wiped me out.
>
>Goodnight Jasmine.
'Night.
>K.
>
>(OOC: Gregor is starting to make no senszzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)
[OOC: And goodnight to you, too.]
> Actually, there's a question: Even if your "exercise machines"
can make me
> *look* physically older, what about that aspect of things? Thoughts and
> feelings and, uh, desires? I can do the *look* myself, as you saw, but
> that stuff I can't reproduce. I guess you could call it the hormone
factor
> (or maybe the "horndog" factor, given its usual result).
Obviously I cannot influence them directly through this means. I am a
biologist, not a hypnotist -- in spite of the psychological part of my test.
However, your mind and body are inextricably linked ... changes in one are
bound to produce changes in the other.
For example, your mind perceives something that you think of as scary.
This causes your body to produce adrenaline. Which causes your mind, in
turn, to experience a flight-or-fright reaction. Obviously, without the
crucial link of adrenaline production, the flight-or-fright reaction would
be flat and distant at best. No heart-pounding. No icy-spine sensation.
It would probably not motivate you to react at all. And though you would
naturally consider fear to be a "negative" emotion, it is not always. It is
meant to get you out of danger. As I have indicated during my study, I
consider you very brave for particpating when others would have run away
(assuming they participated at all) under such acute embarrassment (related
emotion to fear, I think). I have not investigated it, but it is my
intuition that most emotions are like this, including those related to
desire.
[OOC: Lalalalala. Nope, I'm not bringing up Jasmine's transhumanist goals,
nosiree.]
In any event, the point is that the one affects the other. In order to
change your mental processes, we need to change your body. Also, I suspect
that your mind will change naturally as you are exposed to the ideas and
situations associated with sexuality and sexual development.
Hmm, I must make a mental note to investigate the concept of human asexual
reproduction some time. Ah, sorry. I digress.
[OOC: I just had a weird image of Kerry attempting to induce budding.]
> And before you even put two and two together, no, don't even THINK about
> using the lust demon. I'm not going near her ever again. Creeps me out.
> I can't believe Ivan actually invited her back here.
Not only would I never do such a thing, it hadn't even occurred to me, and
furthermore, I would have no means of doing so. I have no dealings with
entities of an "infernal" nature. I'm still not sure I believe in their
existence, and in particular, this particular one's existence as anything
more than Ivan's external personification of his own libido. Possibly it is
some more normal paranormal entity masquerading as an infernal one...
The experience you speak of as prompting your dreams may well have been some
sort of pheremone overproduction phenomenon, possibly caused by Technocratic
tampering with school food supplies, or the local water table. Alternately,
perhaps Ivan himself (noting his parentage and current intense relationship
with Miss Marks by way of evidence) has some tendency to overproduce
pheremones. I could speculate that some event, such as exposure to
mutagenic radiation, or possibly a close encounter with death (provoking the
well-known overcompensation in the opposite direction), would trigger a
massive release of these "super pheremones" of his. Thus flooding the
school campus and causing the "Night of Raging Lust", as you have
conveniently labeled it.
Obviously I could be wrong -- I was not here to experience this personally.
> [OOC: Oh, well, probably not a *strong* reaction, but likely a noticeable
> one. Just a slight resurgence of nervousness at the thought of having to
> "go over her responses to the study" -- especially since he didn't clarify
> whether he meant the psychological or physiological part of the study.]
[OOC: Ah. Well, he mostly meant the former. Mostly.]
> [OOC: Gotcha. Actually, he did get it slightly wrong. It's "mon cheri"
> when referring to a male, and "ma cherie" when referring to a female.
"Mon
> cherie" would imply uncertainty or possibly hermaphroditism, I guess.
> And
> yes, I did recall that the SoE HQ is in Paris. Perhaps, once the Dread
> Hiatus ends, we can spice up the inevitable next Paris trip with that
fact.]
[OOC; snicker. The fact that he got it wrong doesn't surprise me at all.
Of course, Jasmine might get annoyed if she spoke french, because it's
obvious that Kerry SHOULD be certain. As for the Great Hall Chantry, I
don't think that Kerry's ever actually been to Paris, but he has read a lot
of Paradigma, so it has probably come there. I'd certainly like to visit
the Gerns sometime.]
> Uh, well, just sneaking a peek at your notes, actually.
>
> Sorry. It's a habit I need to break, I know. But knowing *about*
> knowledge I don't have always drives me crazy with curiosity.
I am familiar with the feeling.
Well, as I said, I am more than happy to help you satisfy your curiousity
about nearly any subject that I can think of. It's what we sorts do, after
all. But I'd prefer to do it in a more "official" way. After all, I got
the idea after realizing that *you* would probably not care for me
mentioning your own participation in this to Miss Marks or anyone else --
though I do not think the reverse is likely to be true.
That would be tantamount to inviting the entire seventh grade class to come
and observe our next study of Jasminology.
> Our Mr. E, himself an occasional student of Jasminology by necessity, has
> discovered that a sufficient expression of annoyance will generally
extract
> from me a promise not to do it again, if you fear future occurrences. I
> believe "You little shit" is his favorite opening phrase.
Let me get this straight. You are not only encouraging me to become angry
at you, but also to use profanity and furthermore suggesting that I might
wish to attempt to convince you that you are nothing more than excrement?
So that I might extract a promise from you to never do it again?
Why not simply ... promise never to do it again?
Although I am quite capable of becoming angry, Jasmine, I would never do
such a disrespectful thing as that to you. Especially not at this crucial,
formative stage in your life. I'm afraid that Mr. E has lost a modicum of
my respect.
> >Unfortunately, my reference material is somewhat poorly labeled, and
> >obviously I know little enough about the topic myself. Actually, I
> >considered taking the opportunity of our first study to ask you some
> >questions concerning sensitivity and such, but I determined that you were
> >rather more distressed than I would like.
>
> Yeah, I definitely was. Sorry to deny you data.
No, your personal emotional well being is rather more of a concern for me
than rushing the collection of data about you. I am trying to help you, not
harm you. Of course, I am also trying to study you, but the fact that the
data is incomplete for this reason is, in fact, a bit of data as well.
We can always pursue the matter later if, indeed, the study of Miss Marks
does not clarify. And, if she is anyone to judge by, your willingness to
volunteer such information may be an indicator of the success of your
exercises.
That is, based on the activity around us, I can only conclude that you will
naturally want to participate in the study more actively as you get older.
Your mention of "slapping" suggests something to the contrary, so I have
conflicting data. It may be that at a later stage, girls would wish to
participate, but do not wish to *seem* to wish to participate. Thus the
contradiction arises. I suppose we will find out, over the long term.
> Sigh. If only that thought had crossed *Tyler's* mind.
>
> Heh. Sorry.
Have no worries. I fully consider that to be his loss.
[OOC: Yes, I know he offered condolences on *Jasmine's* loss before.]
Actually ... I may be overstepping the bounds here, but I'm surprised you
aren't affected more deeply by his pursuit of others. It seems to me that
you are taking this nebulous future romance of yours for granted; relying on
something that is, at best, uncertain. Would it not be awful if you spent
the next several years of your life hopelessly pining for him ... only to
discover that the future had been changed too much by your "visit to the
future"?
> > Don't worry over a swimsuit. You won't need it.
> Ah. I see.
Worry not; it will be an even more private situation. I do not feel it
necessary to join you in the liquid at this time.
> Well, the same people who say "Great minds think alike" also say "It takes
> one to know one," eh?
Indeed, you are very likely correct.
> >This is true. I hadn't considered that angle. I suppose it's only to be
> >expected that one investigation leads into another with appalling
regularity
> >once girls are involved.
>
> You have prior experience with the phenomenon of, er, Female
> Investigatorial Expansion?
[OOC: Heh. For a moment I thought you were referring to Kerry's state of
arrousal...]
No, but the thought that there are unexplored realms that I have not
previously been aware of is not hard to come by. Indeed, it explains why I
have found females so mystifying and fascinating, and why Science has so far
had little success in helping us to understand them. As you know, those of
my Tradition are ever fond of looking into unexplained mysteries.
Especially when they perpetuate further mysteries.
> >A watch? I don't follow you. Of course I shall be pleased to accept
your
> >gift, but I'm a bit unsure why you would give me a watch...?
>
> Ah, I see the study has become a surreal half-memory for you too.
[OOC: No, I remembered Jasmine's watch, I just missed making the connection
to the topic at hand, probably through sleepiness.]
> Remember my watch? The one I used to project an image into your mind?
> That kind of trick doesn't seem to be in your repertoire yet, from what
> I've seen, so I was offering to make you one.
Ah. Yes, I would be honored if you would make me such a thing.
> [OOC: Jasmine gave Tyler one of the adult-image-projecting watches for
> Christmas, so it is established that she can do so. The watch isn't an
> actual Wonder, just a focus for that particular effect of hers. The only
> odd property I gave it -- which seemed to be fine with Jenna -- is that
the
> effect can be turned on and off, and only the time spent "on" counts
toward
> its duration (a 12-hour "battery"). Similarly, since I couldn't very well
> pre-define a number of people affected, I decided that the projection
> starts to pixellate and "lag" as it has to deal with more and more
> observers. If you'd like to suggest a better game-mechanics definition of
> the thing (that's still within Jasmine's capabilities), feel free.]
[OOC: Well, it works just fine as a focus, I guess, although I'd question
whether it would work when Jasmine wasn't actually present or using
Correspondence to watch the owner. That raises questions of whether Jasmine
is consciously controlling the effect, whether it can be used against her,
etc. Also, it makes the Charm-type Wonders somewhat redundant. I don't
know how much Prime Jasmine has, but I think you only need 2 to create
actual Charm-type wonders, which is what this really sounds like. Kerry
could do it, if he had the spheres needed for the effect. Of course, the
creation process might be a bit Weird ... Prime = Bio-energy to him. ]
K.
>In any event, the point is that the one affects the other. In
order to
>change your mental processes, we need to change your body. Also, I suspect
>that your mind will change naturally as you are exposed to the ideas and
>situations associated with sexuality and sexual development.
Maybe so. But I was thinking more of the difference between pure, er,
structural changes (thanks to your vacuum pumps and whatnot) and chemical
changes. I know that when I make myself look older, or even when I
remember the Night of Raging Lust or my trip to the future, there's
something missing that was there in the original experience. As you said,
it's like having all the intellectual components of fear without the
adrenaline rush.
Still, I suppose if wearing different clothing can inspire the structural
changes, that those can in turn inspire the right chemicals to be produced.
Hmm, I wonder if the chemical response is what Archangel was talking about
when she said "Some things are better experienced in the flesh." If so,
that could affect some extremely-long-term plans of mine.
>Hmm, I must make a mental note to investigate the concept of human asexual
>reproduction some time. Ah, sorry. I digress.
>
>[OOC: I just had a weird image of Kerry attempting to induce budding.]
[OOC: Gaah. Warn me next time before you type something like that. Sheesh.
:) ]
>Not only would I never do such a thing, it hadn't even occurred to me, and
>furthermore, I would have no means of doing so. I have no dealings with
>entities of an "infernal" nature.
Actually the means would be easy enough. If I understand her latest deal
with Ivan, she's living here on campus again, but restricted to certain
areas. I'll ask Ivan where those are, and let you know so we both can
avoid them.
>I'm still not sure I believe in their
>existence, and in particular, this particular one's existence as anything
>more than Ivan's external personification of his own libido.
Interesting. I hadn't considered that. I guess I sort of assumed that
Ivan knew what he was talking about when it came to demons. It'd almost be
funny if "Charissa" was actually Ivan's delusion -- though that would mean
the whole Night of Raging Lust was his fault, and that we turned the
sprinklers on an auditorium full of kids for no good reason.
Hmm. Can you propose a test that would distinguish between Ivan's
subconscious and a real demon? He's capable of the same degree of
telepathic projection that I am, so the apparent physical manifestations
wouldn't prove anything. Possibly, if Ivan were known to be distracted
(preferably in a way that prevents rather than promotes the production of
hypothetical "super pheremones") at the same time someone was afflicted
with lust inside Charissa's alleged territory, that would disprove the Ivan
hypothesis. Perhaps we should perform this experiment (preferably using
someone else as the "lust target," obviously).
As another observation to add to your store of, er, theological data, we've
also met a being who claimed to be an angel, and she was pretty convincing
at the time. Of course, *some* of the "divine gifts" she offered us for
helping her out turned to be worth about as much as a Crackerjack prize, so
who knows?
>That would be tantamount to inviting the entire seventh grade class to come
>and observe our next study of Jasminology.
Eek! Um, no thanks. Please.
Point taken. Amazing how simple these things seem when turned around on
you, isn't it?
Really, though, even though I'd prefer not to have spectators, I'm not
ashamed about taking part in your study. I just think there'd be too many
people who would never believe that it really is a scientific study. I
know if my dad found out, I'd never be allowed to come to school here
again, and *you'd* be lucky to escape with all your molecules intact.
Oh, man. And I just had this great little talk with my dad, and promised I
wouldn't hide things from him any more. But then, *his* end of the deal
was that he wouldn't make assumptions about what I do and don't need to be
protected from . . . and I *know* he'd be completely unreasonable in this
situation. Sigh. Life is complicated.
>Let me get this straight. You are not only encouraging me to become angry
>at you, but also to use profanity and furthermore suggesting that I might
>wish to attempt to convince you that you are nothing more than excrement?
>So that I might extract a promise from you to never do it again?
Well, I'm merely reporting a technique that has been observed to have the
desired result in the past. The "you little shit" part was meant to be
humorous. Guess it didn't succeed.
>Why not simply ... promise never to do it again?
Oh, well, yeah, I guess I could do that. OK, since you're being so nice
about making me your official assistant and all, so I can follow the study
*without* spying, if there's anything you specifically don't want me to
look at, I won't. Promise. There.
>Although I am quite capable of becoming angry, Jasmine, I would never do
>such a disrespectful thing as that to you. Especially not at this crucial,
>formative stage in your life. I'm afraid that Mr. E has lost a modicum of
>my respect.
Oh no, really, I deserved it. And that's not just my Adoration talking.
That particular time, not only had I been spying on Tyler and Kelli, but I
had tricked *him* into planting the tracking device, by offering him a
piece of jewelry as a gift for his new girlfriend. At the time, he even
said what a great friend I was. Boy, did *that* sting, knowing what I was
*really* doing.
Anyway, I'm glad that you'd prefer to be nicer, but please remember: I
don't want anybody treating me a certain way just because of my "crucial
formative stage" or whatever. Now, you're excruciatingly polite to
everybody, so I don't think you'd be setting me apart for unusual niceness.
But just keep that in mind.
(Hmm. Y'know, on a purely theoretical level, it might be amusing to see if
I *could* get you mad enough to cuss me out. Fortunately, I'd rather keep
you as a friend.)
>It may be that at a later stage, girls would wish to
>participate, but do not wish to *seem* to wish to participate.
Maybe so. Again, with the universal exception of Corinna.
Mel, on the other hand -- and especially her reported reaction to the lust
demon/super pheremones -- would seem to be a point in favor of that
supposition.
>Actually ... I may be overstepping the bounds here, but I'm surprised you
>aren't affected more deeply by his pursuit of others.
Oh, I'm affected, all right. That's one reason I think maybe I *shouldn't*
be around when/if you test Mel. But really, what am I supposed to do about
it? He's obviously willing to change his behavior only so far based on
foreknowledge. And if spying pisses him off, actually doing anything nasty
to a girl he's got his eye on would probably get me the silent treatment
for months. Not to mention that I'd be punishing someone who couldn't
possibly have known she was poaching on my territory. Doing nasty things
to *him* is hardly an acceptable alternative.
Maybe I should have just left him alone with his original policy and his
string of interchangeable bimbos. But A) that made both Mel *and* me
miserable, and B) that would only increase the number of girlfriends and
sexual partners he's tried out before getting around to me, and C) as we
now know, that policy has a small but real chance of making him the sexual
chew toy of Cosmic Evil.
At least Mel is unlikely to be a corrupting influence, and apparently
refuses to actually have sex with him (well, again). Since, according to
him, teenage boys feel the way I felt on the Night of Raging Lust *all the
time*, then by the time I'm ready to mount a direct challenge (which won't
be quite as many years as previously expected, thanks to you), he should be
quite willing to consider alternatives.
>It seems to me that
>you are taking this nebulous future romance of yours for granted; relying
on
>something that is, at best, uncertain. Would it not be awful if you spent
>the next several years of your life hopelessly pining for him ... only to
>discover that the future had been changed too much by your "visit to the
>future"?
Well [OOC: she said defensively], it wasn't JUST the visit to the future.
Back when he was my age, Tyler died and came back, and while he was dead he
saw flashes of the life he *should* have had, including being married to
me. And we weren't even really friends at the time, so it wasn't just
wishful thinking or even a "most probable outcome at this point" kind of
thing. And when we were trying to get back from the future, a bitter old
version of Tyler's stepmom told us that our marriage was one of the "fixed
points" of the timestream, though the details could change. She didn't say
so, but I think maybe that has something to do with our part in this
prophecy our parents were always worrying about. Remember those kids you
helped baby-sit? Most of them are destined to save the world in about
twelve years, and Tyler and I are supposed to be the ones who keep them
safe and make sure they're ready to do that. Tyler and I, as in both of
us, together. So I think somehow, as far as the universe is concerned, we
go together. We're a pair. I guess that wouldn't necessarily have to mean
marriage, but all those other hints seem to point to that.
As for that future we visited, it was actually sort of a worst-case
scenario. Tyler and I were married, but our future selves apparently
stayed that way just to snipe at each other, and barely paid attention to
their daughter. All sorts of other things were wrong, too. So yeah, I'm
hoping that having that glimpse of how things might turn out will help us
change it. *And* I realize that even a guaranteed wedding in my future
doesn't mean guaranteed happiness. Especially with the way he's been
lately, and with him insisting that he'll never be the same person he used
to be, I'm not sure I'm going to *want* the guarantee. Oh, hell, I'll even
say it: I'm too young, and know too little about romance and marriage and
life in general, to even know whether this is a good idea.
It's your standard time-travel/foreknowledge problem. Is there something
I'm supposed to do? Something I'm not supposed to do? How much can I
change, and how much do I want to change? Am I just supposed to live my
life, and if that's it, then what does "knowing" help? If Tyler does marry
me, will it be because he wants to (and would've wanted to anyway), or will
it be because he thinks he "has" to and has been ignoring other options?
Conversely, I love Tyler, in the same sense that I love my dad, but is that
the same thing as the romantic or sexual kind of love, or am I just
imagining that because I'm jealous of the attention I've lost to other
girls and want to be his "nearest and dearest" again?
Sigh. You see why I wanted to work out the equations for love? I hate
second-guessing myself, or proceeding on insufficient data.
>Worry not; it will be an even more private situation. I do not feel it
>necessary to join you in the liquid at this time.
[OOC: And since she hadn't even considered *that* until he said it, crank
up that imaginary heart monitor a few more notches]
>No, but the thought that there are unexplored realms that I have not
>previously been aware of is not hard to come by. Indeed, it explains why I
>have found females so mystifying and fascinating, and why Science has so
far
>had little success in helping us to understand them.
[OOC: Heh. A mildly sexist, but somehow appropriately Etherite, take on
the whole thing.]
>[OOC: Well, it works just fine as a focus, I guess, although I'd question
>whether it would work when Jasmine wasn't actually present or using
>Correspondence to watch the owner.
[OOC: Oh, because the image requires constant updating to mimic the
wearer's movements, I get it.
Hmm, hadn't thought of that. Heck, it might be amusing if the things only
work in Jasmine's presence, and she just hasn't realized that yet. Then
again, considering she has so far given the only one besides her own to
Tyler, maybe that's a feature rather than a bug.]
> Maybe so. But I was thinking more of the difference between
pure, er,
> structural changes (thanks to your vacuum pumps and whatnot) and chemical
> changes.
Well, as I said, I can't currently influence you to create those thoughts
and feelings as such, but I don't think that I will need to. Remember, we
are simply attempting to speed up a process that occurs naturally. I think
that if we simply speed up one part of it, the rest will follow as a matter
of course.
Even if not, perhaps that is not such a bad thing. After all, I believe
that part of your desire to "grow up" faster stems from being treated like a
child (of course); your objective isn't really to become Corinna Marks. You
already behave in an older fashion, so if you look less like a child, people
will probably treat you less like one. Thereby serving your purpose.
> Hmm, I wonder if the chemical response is what Archangel was talking about
> when she said "Some things are better experienced in the flesh." If so,
> that could affect some extremely-long-term plans of mine.
Hmm, I wouldn't know. You haven't told me about your extremely long-term
plans. ^_^
> >Not only would I never do such a thing, it hadn't even occurred to me,
and
> >furthermore, I would have no means of doing so. I have no dealings with
> >entities of an "infernal" nature.
>
> Actually the means would be easy enough. If I understand her latest deal
> with Ivan, she's living here on campus again, but restricted to certain
> areas. I'll ask Ivan where those are, and let you know so we both can
> avoid them.
I see.
[OOC: BTW, if I recall correctly, part of Ivan's deal was also that she
couldn't directly or indirectly affect any of the members of HALF (without
their conscious consent, I assume), so really, we could go anywhere and not
be affected]
> Interesting. I hadn't considered that. I guess I sort of assumed that
> Ivan knew what he was talking about when it came to demons. It'd almost
be
> funny if "Charissa" was actually Ivan's delusion -- though that would mean
> the whole Night of Raging Lust was his fault, and that we turned the
> sprinklers on an auditorium full of kids for no good reason.
If it were, indeed, his "fault", I'd say that he is probably unaware of it.
Or else he subconsciously is, and personifies it as a demon as a means of
avoidance. Indeed, I find that the very use of the term "demon" tends to
imply something psychological, though that may just be me.
[OOC: Wheee, I always love the opportunity to show that anything can be
twisted around if you look at it the right way ^_^ ]
> Hmm. Can you propose a test that would distinguish between Ivan's
> subconscious and a real demon?
I think possibly that if he were removed from the campus and the effects
still manifested, this would give his theory some degree of support. It
wouldn't be certain, however, since there is some question of him being able
to leave psychic "imprints". And, alternately, the possiblity that HIS
super-pheremone production has in turn inspired self-perpetuating secondary
production by others ... in either case this would likely continue in his
absence.
> As another observation to add to your store of, er, theological data,
we've
> also met a being who claimed to be an angel, and she was pretty convincing
> at the time. Of course, *some* of the "divine gifts" she offered us for
> helping her out turned to be worth about as much as a Crackerjack prize,
so
> who knows?
[OOC: snicker. I don't recall what the gifts were offhand, but I haven't
heard them mentioned for awhile, so I guess they were a bit of an
anticlimax.]
Hmm. Interesting. Was Mr...err, Ivan present at the time?
> >That would be tantamount to inviting the entire seventh grade class to
> >come and observe our next study of Jasminology.
>
> Eek! Um, no thanks. Please.
>
> Point taken. Amazing how simple these things seem when turned around on
> you, isn't it?
I make, as you will no doubt learn, quite heavy use of that principle.
People are ever so much more willing to take you seriously when they see how
it relates to them directly.
> Really, though, even though I'd prefer not to have spectators, I'm not
> ashamed about taking part in your study. I just think there'd be too many
> people who would never believe that it really is a scientific study. I
> know if my dad found out, I'd never be allowed to come to school here
> again, and *you'd* be lucky to escape with all your molecules intact.
I have no intention of inviting spectators. It was merely a means of
demonstrating why people might prefer me to not simply show you the results
for no good reason.
> Oh, man. And I just had this great little talk with my dad, and promised
I
> wouldn't hide things from him any more. But then, *his* end of the deal
> was that he wouldn't make assumptions about what I do and don't need to be
> protected from . . . and I *know* he'd be completely unreasonable in this
> situation. Sigh. Life is complicated.
[OOC: That's the log I've been trying to find so I could read it again in
light of the present developments. No luck yet.]
I'm so glad you agree on the latter statement. It doesn't get any better,
except in that otherpeople around you have the same problem. It also helps
somewhat to talk about it, even if you don't get any especially useful
advice. Shared burdens and all that.
And I'm afraid I have little advice to offer. In my ideal world, people
wouldn't have any problem with what we are doing to further our educations.
Most people are not biologists and do not understand that the sociological
taboos we face have far more to do with the puritanism that was at the
foundation of this country's history than any basis in reality. Those who
are aware of our gifts, in particular, should be aware that we are far in
advance of our peers in almost every respect short of physiological
development (and in some cases, that too).
I imagine that if you used the "deal" with your father as a defense in ths
situation, his (most coherent) response is likely to be that there "will be
plenty of opportunity for such things later". The only advice I can offer
there is to point out that we, in particular, are in far more dangerous
situations than the norm. There may very well not BE a later.
> Well, I'm merely reporting a technique that has been observed to have the
> desired result in the past. The "you little shit" part was meant to be
> humorous. Guess it didn't succeed.
The phrase itself was not particularly humorous. Your manner of stating how
it had been used, on the other hand, was.
> >Why not simply ... promise never to do it again?
>
> Oh, well, yeah, I guess I could do that. OK, since you're being so nice
> about making me your official assistant and all, so I can follow the study
> *without* spying, if there's anything you specifically don't want me to
> look at, I won't. Promise. There.
Very well, I accept your promise. Although I can't for the life of me think
of anything that these studies might reveal that I wouldn't wish you to see.
[OOC: Yeah, right]
> Oh no, really, I deserved it. And that's not just my Adoration talking.
> That particular time, not only had I been spying on Tyler and Kelli, but I
> had tricked *him* into planting the tracking device, by offering him a
> piece of jewelry as a gift for his new girlfriend. At the time, he even
> said what a great friend I was. Boy, did *that* sting, knowing what I was
> *really* doing.
I disagree. Although your altruism was not sincere (cynics would say that
it never is), the psychological harm that may have been done could very well
be subtle, yet pervading. You yourself are convinced that you deserved
this. I find that disturbing.
Rethink it. Don't you think that the "sting" you mention was an effective
behavioral modifier, even WITHOUT Tyler's damage to your self-image?
> Anyway, I'm glad that you'd prefer to be nicer, but please remember: I
> don't want anybody treating me a certain way just because of my "crucial
> formative stage" or whatever. Now, you're excruciatingly polite to
> everybody, so I don't think you'd be setting me apart for unusual
> niceness. But just keep that in mind.
Jasmine, I'm not setting you apart for unusual niceness [OOC: he's probably
wrong], but like it or not, you ARE in a larval stage. We intend to speed
the process of getting you OUT of it, but for the time being you are
particularly sensitive to subtle harms that people may inflict. They may
not even realize they are inflicting such upon you, probably because they
are too careless to think it through. I cannot abide that behavior,
especially to a friend.
> (Hmm. Y'know, on a purely theoretical level, it might be amusing to see
if
> I *could* get you mad enough to cuss me out. Fortunately, I'd rather keep
> you as a friend.)
[OOC: heh. It *is* possible, too.]
> >It may be that at a later stage, girls would wish to
> >participate, but do not wish to *seem* to wish to participate.
>
> Maybe so. Again, with the universal exception of Corinna.
>
> Mel, on the other hand -- and especially her reported reaction to the lust
> demon/super pheremones -- would seem to be a point in favor of that
> supposition.
Hmm. Well, she has not seen fit to inform me of her reaction, so I wouldn't
know.
> >Actually ... I may be overstepping the bounds here, but I'm surprised you
> >aren't affected more deeply by his pursuit of others.
>
> Oh, I'm affected, all right.
Forgive me. I didn't mean to imply that you didn't care at all, but still
... you seem to rely on the fact that he will eventually come back to you.
In spite of the fact that you are attempting to change the future (and are
likely have succeeded). I'd hate to see you spend half your life chasing
him (once you decide to start being active in your pursuits) only to
discover that nothing is ever going to come of it, or to discover that
something does come of it ... and it isn't everything you'd hoped.
> Maybe I should have just left him alone with his original policy and his
> string of interchangeable bimbos. But A) that made both Mel *and* me
> miserable, and B) that would only increase the number of girlfriends and
> sexual partners he's tried out before getting around to me, and C) as we
> now know, that policy has a small but real chance of making him the sexual
> chew toy of Cosmic Evil.
C, in particular, would seem to indicate that it might not be everything
you'd hope for. Even if his policy has changed, whatever policy he has
replaced it with does not appear to be helping prevent that occurrence ...
else it would not have been an issue recently.
> At least Mel is unlikely to be a corrupting influence, and apparently
> refuses to actually have sex with him (well, again). Since, according to
> him, teenage boys feel the way I felt on the Night of Raging Lust *all the
> time*
Well, I have no idea how you felt. If you could provide me with that data
in a manner similar to your "prepackaged zip" of things about Tyler, I could
possibly compare them to my own experience.
>, then by the time I'm ready to mount a direct challenge (which won't
> be quite as many years as previously expected, thanks to you), he should
> be quite willing to consider alternatives.
Keep in mind that Tyler will still be gaining chronological age at the same
rate you are. If, as you said, people normally take that into consideration
(even though they shouldn't), then he may not be any more willing to