1. "I think I'm too young to be having this conversation."

2. "Me too."

3. "Oh. How ... odd."

4. "Perhaps the merits of multiple Jasmines are best left unexplored for the

time being."

mind.

>And thus ego *stroking* would be ...?

Part of -- oh. I didn't even think about that.

But it is funny, now that you point it out.

I guess there would need to be a whole new *set* of techniques for . . .

um. I think I'm too young to be having this conversation. :)

>On the other hand, for it to work properly as a double entendre, you would

>have to be implying that we would be engaging in no small amount of that

>activity at some point in the future, in addition to the literal meaning of

>your statement.

Uhhhhhhhhhhh . . . .

I'm not sure what to say to that.

I didn't mean it that way in the first place.

BUT it would certainly be a fascinating experiment, and no doubt

educational.

BUT we've just been equating it with sex, and talking about combining it

with sex. And doing something like THAT as part of a study . . . well, you

said it yourself, about ruining a transcendant experience.

Sorry. I analyze when I get nervous. You were probably just joking,

anyway. Right?

>> Ah, yes. That.

>> Not to sound unenthusiastic about the FEP; I am, er, pre-emptively

>flattered.

>> But it would be a lot funnier if you had a girl in your closet. :)

>

>Hmm. But rather surprising ... although ... I *HAVE* been wondering where

>all of my pencils run off to.

Perhaps the girl in your closet is a frustrated novelist. . . .

>[OOC: (. . .) Didn't Jenna and

>Pete used to run games for one another when there were no other players? I

>don't know how well that would work, but it seems to be going well enough

so

>far. ]

[OOC: Hmm, you have a point.]

>I can fix that as well. Or even prevent it. Altered states of

>consciouness, et cetera.

Okay then. Up to you, I guess.

>

>> and most likely he'd promise to keep doing it

>> again and again if you ever came anywhere near me.

>

>In that situation, I would be forced to take preemptive measures.

Honestly,

>do you think I am without skills of my own? I've already said that I do

not

>fear Tyler, and I *am* cautious in dealing with him, as you seem to have

>forgotten.

Sigh. Sorry. Didn't mean to underestimate you.

But, y'know, I don't want to think about *you* hurting *him*, either.

I like you. I *love* him. Even if the two of you were perfectly happy

making war on each other, I certainly wouldn't be happy. Especially since

I couldn't even maintain good relations with both "sides" without

escalating things further.

I just don't even want to think about something like that happening. It is

not an acceptable outcome. I was just worried for awhile there that you

were actually looking forward to being challenged on it, especially by

someone you don't have much respect for in the first place. If that's not

a problem, great. Let's not even talk about this anymore, because it's not

going to happen.

>But Jasmine ... you aren't doing anything wrong!

Maybe not. But like I said, I don't want to see a war develop. I'd sooner

just end the study than deal with that.

>I cannot say for certain, but I think that at the least it would have given

>you the opportunity to learn about Tyler's problem somewhat sooner.

Great. Something else to feel guilty about.

>> >Sure. But what if he were told to (or asked to). Say, by another

>> >Euthanatos he respected.

>>

>> He wouldn't do it without being personally convinced. I don't think.

>

>The Nephandi are, I am told, awfully persuasive. Rather like the

>Technocracy in that regard.

Nephandi != Euthanatos. Or are you changing the terms of the discussion

again?

>Really, I hope we can soon move on to another topic. The more we discuss

>Tyler, the less I find myself liking him. Therefore, the odds are good

that

>unless we stop talking about him, I never WILL come to see the side of him

>that you do.

Oh, all right. I'm afraid I have a tendency to talk about him fairly

often. I'll try to suppress it.

Why don't you talk to him sometime? Catch him alone and see if he wants to

grab lunch or something. Find out what he's like when he's not . . .

working. I think you'd be, as you said, pleasantly surprised.

>I don't think you are evil, Jasmine. I also don't think it as as simple as

>whether you are Evil or not.

Well, that's who they kill, right? Evil people?

>> Sounds like I'm not the only one who needs enhanced self-confidence in

>that

>> arena.

>>

>> I will be happy to help if I can, naturally.

>

>What are you proposing?

Nothing specific, really. I meant mainly the study, and our ongoing

acquaintance.

But if someday you decide to gather additional evidence about your ability

to relate normally to girls, I'll be happy to give you any advice I can

(not that I can claim much wisdom there), or let you test your approach on

a non-threatening "practice girl" if you'd like.

>Unlikely. I worry about it constantly. It is one reason that I dislike

>being apart from her. Although there are other reasons ... as I said, we

>are linked . I would tend to think that this can mitigate many things that

>would otherwise damage our relationship ... misunderstandings, etc.

I hope so. Honestly. Sounds as though you and your sister have something

very special.

>Imagine [. . .]

Wow. I'm trying, but I'm sure I'm not really getting it. Maybe I should

trade my ZIP file for some of *your* memories.

(BTW: You have mirrored fingerprints? Cool.)

Now I'm definitely looking forward to meeting Ten. The Mad Professor's

other half. It should be fascinating.

>... well, it's better to let you find *that* out for yourself, when you

meet

>her at the upcoming Family Weekend. I shall be most curious to see how

long

>it will take you to identify her particular talent. Without cheating. ^_^

Heh. Challenge accepted.

>Now. Imagine that you are linked, from birth, to this person.

Wow. Special indeed. You're so lucky.

>She is not, as far as

>I know, aware of people such as you and I, so that raises certain issues:

>Is this link something related to our gifts?

Is it just one-way, or do you think she can feel you, too?

If she can, I can't imagine that she wouldn't know there's at least

something special about you. Even if it's just a vague feeling in the back

of her mind, and she hasn't thought about trying to extend it as you have,

I imagine an Awakening on the other end of the link would be pretty

noticeable.

> I do not know, but I do know

>it would have lead to questions, and for the longest time I couldn't decide

>whether to tell her or not. Recent events have conspired to convince me

>that NOT telling her very well could get her killed. Now that I have

>decided to do so, I obviously want to do it in person. That will be one of

>the things I must do at the Family Weekend.

Wow. You have a plan? (I'd offer to help, but I assume you'd rather do it

privately with her.)

> And there is one thing

>that I *do* understand about females, Jasmine. One that even you have not

>yet had the dubious pleasure of experiencing.

??? You're just going to leave me hanging on that?

And hey, wait a sec. You have a mindlink with your sister, who's the same

age as you, that includes health-related and emotional data -- and you have

trouble understanding females? You need to *study* the physiological and

psychological development of girls? You have this incredible bond, and

you're afraid you're incapable of normal relationships with the opposite

sex? You should have a head start on every other guy on the planet! And

every other scientist! And most of us girls (*especially* me)! I don't

get it.

>These perceptions only manifested when I awakened to my potential as a

>scientist, and they basically amount to parlor tricks. The link itself

goes

>far beyond them, and I suspect that I have barely scratched the surface of

>its possibilities.

>

>It took me almost 11 years to consciously find it, but it has been there

all

>of our lives ... tying the two of us together.

Wow. Sounds like you've already got an excellent candidate for mind-meld

testing . . . um, once you've gotten her comfortable with the link itself,

I mean.

God, it must have made you ill when I was equating the mind-meld to sex,

considering your link is with your sister. Sorry 'bout that. I didn't

know.

>This is why I proposed my project, Agent J. I believe that all twins (and

>possibly other multiples, though there may be an upper limit of stability)

>have some measure of this link. Reflecting on how psychically disturbing

it

>is for me to be apart from my sister, I shudder to think how these other

>separated twins -- who often have only the merest hunch that they even ARE

>twins -- must feel.

Whoa.

>I offer my congratulations as well, Jasmine. You now have more hard

>information about the link between my sister and I than Ten herself does.

>Do try to keep it to yourself, however. I'm not at all certain that it

>can't be used against us in some fashion.

Oh, no problem. My lips are sealed.

Wow.

J.

> um. I think I'm too young to be having this conversation. :)

Maybe. Maybe we both are. Maybe the concept of age doesn't mean anything

in this situation.

> I'm not sure what to say to that.

> I didn't mean it that way in the first place.

OK.

> BUT it would certainly be a fascinating experiment, and no doubt

educational.

Indeed.

> BUT we've just been equating it with sex, and talking about combining it

> with sex. And doing something like THAT as part of a study . . . well,

you

> said it yourself, about ruining a transcendant experience.

I'm not sure that that was precisely what I said, but I would have to look

back and see.

> Sorry. I analyze when I get nervous. You were probably just joking,

> anyway. Right?

I was neither joking nor proposing. I was just trying to ascertain your

meaning.

> Perhaps the girl in your closet is a frustrated novelist. . . .

Perhaps.

> Sigh. Sorry. Didn't mean to underestimate you.

>

> But, y'know, I don't want to think about *you* hurting *him*, either.

OK. I will discuss the matter no further, then.

> >But Jasmine ... you aren't doing anything wrong!

>

> Maybe not. But like I said, I don't want to see a war develop. I'd

sooner

> just end the study than deal with that.

Hmm. I can't say that I don't understand that.

> >The Nephandi are, I am told, awfully persuasive. Rather like the

> >Technocracy in that regard.

>

> Nephandi != Euthanatos. Or are you changing the terms of the discussion

again?

No. Tyler has been, in the past, tempted by the Nephandi. And the

Euthanatos are hardly what I'd consider immune to Nephandic infiltration.

Consequently, it is not implausible that he could be convinced to do

something by a Nephandus ... who also happens to be a respected Euthanatos.

I did say I would drop it, but I didn't want you to proceed on the

misunderstanding that I was trying to sneak something by you.

> Oh, all right. I'm afraid I have a tendency to talk about him fairly

> often. I'll try to suppress it.

>

> Why don't you talk to him sometime? Catch him alone and see if he wants

to

> grab lunch or something. Find out what he's like when he's not . . .

> working. I think you'd be, as you said, pleasantly surprised.

Maybe. He has seemed pretty busy lately. Hasn't been much opportunity.

> >I don't think you are evil, Jasmine. I also don't think it as as simple

as

> >whether you are Evil or not.

>

> Well, that's who they kill, right? Evil people?

In theory. Unless they make errors in judgement, receive faulty data, are

influenced by dark forces, et cetera.

> >What are you proposing?

>

> Nothing specific, really. I meant mainly the study, and our ongoing

> acquaintance.

Ah.

> But if someday you decide to gather additional evidence about your ability

> to relate normally to girls, I'll be happy to give you any advice I can

> (not that I can claim much wisdom there), or let you test your approach on

> a non-threatening "practice girl" if you'd like.

A practice girl? Wouldn't that downgrade you quite a bit? I tend to

consider you a real girl already.

> I hope so. Honestly. Sounds as though you and your sister have something

> very special.

I like to think so.

> >Imagine [. . .]

>

> Wow. I'm trying, but I'm sure I'm not really getting it. Maybe I should

> trade my ZIP file for some of *your* memories.

Hmm. Perhaps, but not right now. For one thing, it would give away the

answer to my challenge ...

> (BTW: You have mirrored fingerprints? Cool.)

Yes.

> Now I'm definitely looking forward to meeting Ten. The Mad Professor's

> other half. It should be fascinating.

Just so.

> >... well, it's better to let you find *that* out for yourself, when you

meet

> >her at the upcoming Family Weekend. I shall be most curious to see how

long

> >it will take you to identify her particular talent. Without cheating.

^_^

>

> Heh. Challenge accepted.

Excellent. Should be fun.

>>Now. Imagine that you are linked, from birth, to this person.

>Wow. Special indeed. You're so lucky.

I suppose. It has its up side, but counted among the down side is that you

naturally become more reliant on that person. They become more a part of

you. Should one or the other of us die, I do not know what might happen to

the other, nor do I wish to find out.

> >She is not, as far as

> >I know, aware of people such as you and I, so that raises certain issues:

> >Is this link something related to our gifts?

>

> Is it just one-way, or do you think she can feel you, too?

I don't know. I suspect that she can, to a lesser degree -- as I said, I

did not develop the ability to draw upon it consciously until my

awakening -- but obviously I have not really had the opportunity or

resolution to take the matter up with her, prior to now.

> If she can, I can't imagine that she wouldn't know there's at least

> something special about you. Even if it's just a vague feeling in the

back

> of her mind, and she hasn't thought about trying to extend it as you have,

> I imagine an Awakening on the other end of the link would be pretty

> noticeable.

Well, she *did* notice it, in point of fact. I remember it clearly. (OOC:

Insert harp music and shimmery screen signaling a flashback)

I had been studying away from home for a year by that point ... more or less

the age you are now (given that your birthday is coming up). I was studying

a microbiology text one day, and was taking notes on all of the obvious

errors I found so that I might inform the authors. At some point, I dozed

off. I had a dream, and I don't mind saying that it was a most disturbing

one to me, as you might expect after what I said above.. I dreamt that Ten

came down with a rare and incurable terminal disease, and nothing that I

tried (and I tried everything I could think of) worked.

Then some bizarre and imaginative part of my mind decided to toss in a

medieval element -- a knight (the suit of armor variety, not the chess

variety) -- who decided that I needed a pop quiz, lecture, and scolding all

at the same time. Something about me not caring enough to see the solution

that should be obvious. This knight fellow was going on about theories and

such -- which all makes perfect sense to me now, but at the time I couldn't

help but wonder what Godel's Incompleteness Theorem had to do with diseases:

"Posit an infectious disease defined in a first order genetic language.

Godel states in the Incompleteness Theorem, that there are always true

statements that cannot be proven. Speculate as to the nature of these

statements in relation to the aforementioned disease." and lecturing of

that sort.

Finally, it began to sink in, and my thoughts began to jumble together, one

right after the other, lightning fast: Ten was in danger. Because mundane

science said the disease was incurable, she couldn't be saved. She was

going to die. Unacceptable, find another conclusion. There are true

statements that cannot be proven. Since they cannot be proven, they are not

a part of mundane science. Therefore, mundane science is forever incomplete

and insufficient. The objective world of empiricism is insufficient. Find

something outside the objective world.

In other words, I determined the results myself. I found the cure that

never existed before I looked for it.

And then I woke up, literally and metaphysically. I was also quite

terrified ... in the fashion that people usually are when they waken from a

nightmare. My phone rang. It was Ten, totally freaked out. Basically, she

had just woke up, completely convinced that I was in danger of dying, though

she had no details. So we talked half the night until we were both calmed

down enough to go back to sleep. The next day, I met Mr. Smythe and began

my real training.

> Wow. You have a plan? (I'd offer to help, but I assume you'd rather do

it

> privately with her.)

I have no particular plan. It's hard to plan around Ten. I intend to play

it by ear. I don't mind if you want to help. Indeed, it will help convince

her that neither of us have gone crazy are crazy.

> ??? You're just going to leave me hanging on that?

Suffice to say that I become reacquainted with this particular aspect

approximately every 28 days.

> And hey, wait a sec. You have a mindlink with your sister, who's the same

> age as you, that includes health-related and emotional data -- and you

have

> trouble understanding females? You need to *study* the physiological and

> psychological development of girls? You have this incredible bond, and

> you're afraid you're incapable of normal relationships with the opposite

> sex? You should have a head start on every other guy on the planet! And

> every other scientist! And most of us girls (*especially* me)! I don't

> get it.

Well, as you'll note, my sister and I have been apart for years, including

the entire experience of puberty to date. I have barely had the opportunity

to see and talk to her, much less observe her. And as I said ... until she

is aware of what the bond is really capable of, I'm not going to use it to

spy on her.

> Wow. Sounds like you've already got an excellent candidate for mind-meld

> testing . . . um, once you've gotten her comfortable with the link itself,

> I mean.

Hmm. Perhaps. Unfortunately, my data in this area does not indicate

whether a mind that is similar (such as Ten's) is better for such activity

than a mind that is different (such as yours and mine, relatively speaking).

I would suspect that each has its advantages.

Also, if you will permit me to use an analogy: A goldfish lives in water,

surrounded by it constantly. How then, can a goldfish possibly study the

concept of being "wet"?

> God, it must have made you ill when I was equating the mind-meld to sex,

> considering your link is with your sister. Sorry 'bout that. I didn't

> know.

Ah. On that score, no need to apologize. If you wish to think of it that

way, by all means, go ahead. It cannot possibly disturb me; I have been

linked with my sister in this fashion for my entire life, even if I wasn't

conscious of it most of the time. Indeed, I can barely concieve of NOT

being so linked, and have no desire to obtain that state. If society

considers our natural state to be somehow "wrong" because of a label, then

I'm of the opinion that society can go stuff itself.

> >I offer my congratulations as well, Jasmine. You now have more hard

> >information about the link between my sister and I than Ten herself does.

> >Do try to keep it to yourself, however. I'm not at all certain that it

> >can't be used against us in some fashion.

>

> Oh, no problem. My lips are sealed.

>

> Wow.

Hrm. Should I take this as a sign that you have been duly EnWondered?

Perhaps we should revist the merits of multiple Jasmines...

K.

>I'm not sure that that was precisely what I said, but I would have to look

>back and see.

Well, you said it about love, but I would assume the same applies to

related concepts.

Especially the mind-meld. I mean, it would be entirely possible to wind up

utterly changed as a person after just one of those. Hardly something to

be undertaken lightly.

>In theory. Unless they make errors in judgement, receive faulty data, are

>influenced by dark forces, et cetera.

Surely they wouldn't have existed this long, though, without a near-perfect

track record. As you said, there's almost no room for error in what they

do.

>A practice girl? Wouldn't that downgrade you quite a bit? I tend to

>consider you a real girl already.

Thanks. Maybe I should have said "practice target," as opposed to your

actual "target" female at the time.

>I suppose. It has its up side, but counted among the down side is that you

>naturally become more reliant on that person. They become more a part of

>you. Should one or the other of us die, I do not know what might happen to

>the other, nor do I wish to find out.

Wow. Guess you would have to think about that.

>Well, she *did* notice it, in point of fact. I remember it clearly.

Wow, everyone else has such interesting Awakening stories. I almost wish I

hadn't been born that way, so I could have one too.

So you talked to your sister for hours after your Awakening, but didn't

tell her what you'd discovered? Or discuss your recruitment afterward?

You know, she *might* not be happy that you've been keeping such a thing

from her for so long.

>I have no particular plan. It's hard to plan around Ten. I intend to play

>it by ear. I don't mind if you want to help. Indeed, it will help

convince

>her that neither of us have gone crazy are crazy.

Just give the word.

We should probably recruit someone with slightly more spectacular magick,

too. You've got your plants, and I can do the blip thing, but our stuff is

right on the edge of comprehensible. A good introduction, but it doesn't

quite convey the full impact.

>Suffice to say that I become reacquainted with this particular aspect

>approximately every 28 days.

Oh. How . . . odd.

>Well, as you'll note, my sister and I have been apart for years, including

>the entire experience of puberty to date. I have barely had the

opportunity

>to see and talk to her, much less observe her. And as I said ... until

she

>is aware of what the bond is really capable of, I'm not going to use it to

>spy on her.

Right, right. But even at the baseline level, if you can feel it when she

. . . that has to give you *some* data, right? And if you can pick that

up, you can probably pick up more, without snooping too hard.

>

>> Wow. Sounds like you've already got an excellent candidate for mind-meld

>> testing . . . um, once you've gotten her comfortable with the link

itself,

>> I mean.

>

>Hmm. Perhaps. Unfortunately, my data in this area does not indicate

>whether a mind that is similar (such as Ten's) is better for such activity

>than a mind that is different (such as yours and mine, relatively

speaking).

>I would suspect that each has its advantages.

I suppose the comparison would be useful.

>Also, if you will permit me to use an analogy: A goldfish lives in water,

>surrounded by it constantly. How then, can a goldfish possibly study the

>concept of being "wet"?

A valid point. But you yourself said you've only scratched the surface of

the levels of sharing you and Ten are probably capable of.

>Ah. On that score, no need to apologize. If you wish to think of it that

>way, by all means, go ahead. It cannot possibly disturb me; I have been

>linked with my sister in this fashion for my entire life, even if I wasn't

>conscious of it most of the time. Indeed, I can barely concieve of NOT

>being so linked, and have no desire to obtain that state. If society

>considers our natural state to be somehow "wrong" because of a label, then

>I'm of the opinion that society can go stuff itself.

Fortunately, society doesn't know about mindlinks, whether natural or

artificial.

>Hrm. Should I take this as a sign that you have been duly EnWondered?

>Perhaps we should revist the merits of multiple Jasmines...

And perhaps then we should study the effect of my Powerful Kung Fu upon

scientists who overstep their bounds. ;)

up

> utterly changed as a person after just one of those. Hardly something to

> be undertaken lightly.

That is a good point. Carelessness is not a virtue.

> Surely they wouldn't have existed this long, though, without a

near-perfect

> track record. As you said, there's almost no room for error in what they

> do.

Mmm. Though such blemishes can be concealed.

> Thanks. Maybe I should have said "practice target," as opposed to your

> actual "target" female at the time.

Ah, I see. Yes, that is more suitable, though it takes some effort to avoid

the inevitable image of you in a crosshairs.

[OOC: Hello, Mr. Point? WHAM WHAM WHAM. ^_^ ]

> Wow. Guess you would have to think about that.

As indirectly and as little as I can manage, unless of course it should

become a serious possibility. At which point I turn my full attention to

the problem..

> So you talked to your sister for hours after your Awakening, but didn't

> tell her what you'd discovered? Or discuss your recruitment afterward?

No, I didn't tell her. At the time, I thought the Awakening a particularly

vivid dream. It wasn't until the next day that I found out what had really

happened, and one of the first things they did was caution me strongly

against telling people unnecessarily.

> You know, she *might* not be happy that you've been keeping such a thing

> from her for so long.

I know. I don't *think* it will be a serious problem, but I may be wrong.

> We should probably recruit someone with slightly more spectacular magick,

> too. You've got your plants, and I can do the blip thing, but our stuff

is

> right on the edge of comprehensible. A good introduction, but it doesn't

> quite convey the full impact.

Hmm, yes. Although I think that me actively using my connection with her

might be sufficient, even if it is not strictly part of our abilities. I

must stress that my intent is not to awaken her at this time. Careless

attempts at forcible awakening have been known to produce Marauders. I

merely want to make her informed ... and stop hiding certain things from

her.

> Right, right. But even at the baseline level, if you can feel it when she

> . . . that has to give you *some* data, right? And if you can pick that

> up, you can probably pick up more, without snooping too hard.

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that I merely felt that in a "listening in"

sort of way. It seems to be one of the things that comes across whether I

want it or not. Indeed, it doesn't even seem to be coming across at all.

> A valid point. But you yourself said you've only scratched the surface of

> the levels of sharing you and Ten are probably capable of.

True. However, it is as much her decision to make as mine. I'm not going

to inflict myself on her.

> Fortunately, society doesn't know about mindlinks, whether natural or

> artificial.

True.

> And perhaps then we should study the effect of my Powerful Kung Fu upon

> scientists who overstep their bounds. ;)

Ah. Then again, perhaps the merits of multiple Jasmines are best left

unexplored for the time being.

K.