Evocation's Child (and others)

New Introduction

2004-03-29T09:17:42Z

Just a short one. My incredibly belated spark shaman alt.

There were other people here, but I edited heavily. This happened just about right before Hydra/Beta's log which also includes Indy's desc.

The Heliquary

Induction-Coil looks around curiously, grinning slightly as he gets a nice lungful of the atmosphere. "This must be the place," he murmurs, stepping in. "Wow, busy." He grumbles softly as the flashier bits of his outfit fade, in the tech-dampened environment.

Helix Black tilts his head, nodding to Induction-Coil. "This is always the place," he says. "Regardless of what you're looking for." White's eyes narrow slightly, looking the coyote over. The pale one shares a momentary, secretive smile.

Induction-Coil grins, nodding back to Helix, head tilting curiously at the subtle gesture. NHe chuckles, then, looking over the twinned feline. "And you're clearly Helix," he states with a smirk. "They told me to try and find you."

Helix White chuckles. "Indeed I am," he says, Black echoing a few of the syllables. White continues, "They, hm." With a bit of concentration, he touches forefinger-tip to thumbtip, and slowly parts them, revealing a brilliant but short-lived blue arc. "They?" the pale twin says, with a nod toward the display.

You say, "Eh, the tribe. Aleph's Signal-to-Noise... Down deeper in Down..." He waves an arm in a general gesture of direction. He grins. "Sent me off on some kinda.. I dunno, pilgrimage. This place looks like a lot more fun anyway.""

Helix White tilts his head upward, thoughtfully. "Signal-to-Noise," he muses, as though trying to remember. Black says, "Oh-ho, a pilgrimage. If you're here, you probably don't need to go anywhere else, if you're seeking something." He pauses. "But you can stay here, and still go elsewhere..."

Induction-Coil chuckles. "Old Steelie sculptor/mechanic guy," he offers. "And, well, pilgrimage is what they SAID, but I think it has more to do with me getting out of their airspace, so to speak." He smirks a bit and shrugs. "Sticking around here does seem like it might be nice; thanks for the offer... It does seem more my style, anyway."

Helix Black snickers. "Ri-iiight. The old "let's send the annoying kid on a pilgrimage, so we can sleep at night without him making 'music' with oil drums" trick," he says to Induction-Coil. White turns a distinct shade of pearly pink beneath his pale fur.

Induction-Coil grins. "I used some spark gaps and stuff too. Even made a theremin... Until it shorted out and started burning... but it sounded great in the meantime."

Helix White grins. "Though the complaints most often lodged against me were usually about strange odours, and people acting oddly after coming to visit me." He whistles in a disturbingly innocent fashion, his tailtip flipping back and forth disarmingly.

Induction-Coil grins and nods, his own tail swishing too. "I never would've guessed. Anyway, I promise I'll try not to burn anything down in here. Even if I COULD.. nice little damping rite, by the way," he ads with a chuckle, though a slightly annoyed tone.

Helix Black nods. "I do appreciate that," he says with a crooked smile. The dark one shrugs at the mention of his ritual. White explains, "I... don't really like the fact that it's here, but it was necessary at one point. I think I'm going to let it quietly expire."

Induction-Coil grins and nods, finally taking a seat. "Ah, okay.." His eyes sparkle curiously, but he has just enough tact to know that asking too much now wouldn't necessarily be too ingratiating. "It's not too big a deal, I only feel a little naked without all the flashy bits... Seriously, thanks for just... being here. Really does seem like a nice place."

Helix Black's ears tilt forward, and he nods. "It's quite a long story, and not one that necessarily needs to be repeated," he says, with a quiet tone of distaste in his voice. White dips his head to Flyte, while Black continues speaking with Induction-Coil. "I try to keep it nice, yes. And I have a bit of help."

Induction-Coil nods. "Well, if I end up spending a lot of time here, I'll be happy to help too. You need an electrician? Or... a DJ?" He grins.

Helix Black smiles broadly. "That'd be wonderful," he says. "Some nice, laid-back music now and then..."

Induction-Coil grins, tail wagging again. "Awesome. I suppose I can do laid-back." He chuckles.

Creativity

2004-02-29T02:32:33Z

Materi notices Mel now, too. "Oh, Curator..." Ve moves over. "I'd like to talk to you, at some point. Wondering if you could help me with something.."

Mel hmmmmms? "I have time, I suppose. What do you need?"

Materi chuckles, a shy glow coming to vis body. "Well, it might be a tall order, but.. I know you consider yourself a muse, and you've helped me in the past. I'd like.. well.. creativity."

Mel muses, "Creativity isn't really something you can teach. Not easily. It comes from not losing touch with the ability to join concepts together into new, synectic ones."

Materi frowns. "Isn't there more to it than that? I mean, I've been able to do that, in a way, but my efforts always seem more derivative than most of.. say, what cna be found in the Museum. I'm worried that my designers left something out, since I was originally supposed to be an observer, not a creator myself."

Mel muses, "The combining of things into new things isn't really the gift you're looking for -- it's discerning what combinations yield something new and better."

Mel muses, "What did you want to create?"

Mel muses, "We could start with that."

Materi flcikers, and hms. "Well, nothing in particular, now. I've just heard admonishments to 'use your imagination' and 'be creative' in general, and at some point it occurred to me that I wasn't quite as adept at that as other sentients I see here..

Mel muses, "Well, something could be done. There are lessons that can help you understand the powers of allegory that are needed as a foundation towards creating new things."

Materi nods to Mel. "Allegory.. That might be it, but... doesn't anyone make anything new?"

Mel muses, "Truely new? Well, unfortunately, entirely new things are often utterly alien. The best things are ideas whose times have come."

Materi hms, and nods to Mel, chuckling. "How would one recognize those, then?"

Mel muses, "Well, you take two things and combine them together to fill a need. Tell me something you wish you had, but don't have for some reason."

Mel muses, "And can't. That's the key to understanding it."

Materi grins. "Other than an imagination in general?"

Materi chuckles. "That seems to be a problem... Needs aren't.. really an issue for me. Other than esoteric things like that and... aesthetically pleasing things in general."

Mel muses, "Might be a long road then."

You say, "Isn't it the same for most sentients here?"

Mel muses, "It does seem so. Explorers are ill suited to become builders and settlers. I suspect you might be going home someday if this is so."

Materi shakes vis head. "I 'go home' every few exaticks--every couple weeks or so here, I send a full backup, which is, I'm told, allowed to run back on the polis... or merged with the one that's already running, they're not quite clear. I'm just supposed to experience here.

Mel muses, "Well, perhaps learning creativity is not in your design -- but we can certainly give it a try."

Materi nods at the first part, the luster of vis fur dimming a bit. "That's what I'm afraid of.. But yes, I WOULD like to try, at least."

Mel looks to Materi. "Let me see."

Materi nods and stands, looked at.

Mel muses, "Zoe is a very good example, Materi. She translates feelings into sounds and imagery."

Mel muses, "If she is happy, she sounds like apples falling to the ground. Why is that?"

Flyte murmurs, "She also smells good."

Coalesce says, "Zoe is synaesthesic...senses crossing over into others. "

Mel muses, "synaesthesics are key to creativity."

Mel muses, "Because the bridges between the senses are often extrapolated experiences being triggered along it."

Materi nods. "Apples falling could make some happy, I suppose..."

You say, "I do some of that myself. Sparkling for happiness, rainbow for chuckling, fire for anger...""

Mel muses, "That's basic creativity."

Mel muses, "Allegorical responses."

You say, "I thought it was just... well, allegorical, yes, but not very inventive, it seemed. Somewhat literal translations, connections drawn intentionally, initially made so I could express emotions and have them understood without facial expressions."

Squizzle says, "That reminds me of something, Materi... ah, if you don't mind my interrupting..."

Materi shakes vis head to Squizzle. "I can pay attention to two things at once, if I need. What do you want to know?"

Flyte listens a bit to Mel. "I too have an unconscious expressive mechanism, and I consider it body language, if I get the meaning right. Manipulating the colors deliberately, is an art form amongst some of us."

Flyte flutters a few pastel flashes through his wingfields.

Squizzle says, "How comfortable *are* you with shifting your appearance? Aside from the emotional-expression, I mean? Manipulating the colours deliberately, as Flyte says?"

Mel muses, "I think you're simply seeking to take more complex ideas and combining them allegorically. It's a matter of just understanding how to find the connections between... well, falling apples and joy."

Materi nods to Mel. "Well, I have millenia of archive data, you'd think it'd be easier." Ve chuckles. Then, to Squizzle: "I don't mind it, though I don't do it very often, on my own. That's one of the things that caused me to ask Mel about this, actually. I don't seem to want to take on new forms, or think up new forms, even as much as some biologicals."

Materi hmms to the squirrel. "...Why do you ask?"

Coalesce glances at Materi. "Oddly enough, I've had the same problem. I seem to be rather attached to this draconoid form."

Mel muses, "I seek familiarity with others."

Mel muses, "So I don't change shape."

Mel muses, "Though I'm capable of the sort of transformational allegories as my si-- as Zoe."

Squizzle says, "Well... it seems to me that you may have a certain... inexperience with your materials, so to speak. Perhaps you could try to experiment."

Materi nods to Mel. "Well, that's why I chose this shape, over the floating bits..."

Coalesce eyes Mel carefully at his slipup.

Squizzle says, "Shifting yourself. Not necessarily to any particular shape. Not trying to look good, or pretty, or correct. Just try."

Materi flickers, eyeing Mel curiously. Mental note written and flagged 'Very interesting.'

Squizzle says, "I recall you said once that you were somewhat like clay. Before you can sculpt clay into something meaningful, you have to get used to just squishing it around, pulling and pushing it into different shapes."

Squizzle says, "Taking it apart, sticking it together."

Materi hmms at the squirrel. "I have let go a couple times, somewhat. Once thanks to Helix, and one... other time."

Coalesce shoots a glance at Materi. "The...concert?"

Coalesce says, "Oh...I...nevermind. Forgot you don't remember that. "

Squizzle says, "Push past what your limits *seem* to be."

Materi turns to Coalesce... then shrugs, after the followup. Back to Squizzle, then. "I think I'm used to myself.... Familiar with my limits, at least. I can do simulate most nonbiological materials, and a few simple organic ones."

Squizzle nods. "That goes with what Mel was saying. You seem to be a bit too set in your ways, too accustomed to always doing what you've always done. Try taking yourself apart."

Coalesce grins. "He could take that quite literally..."

Materi concentrates, outline softening, becoming fog, then stopping. "...Oh. I wasn't supposed to?"

Squizzle shakes its head. "Forget what you're *supposed* to do."

Squizzle says, "Think of something or someone you like. Animal or otherwise."

Mel muses, "Or two animals, fused together upon a crafty gerrymander."

Squizzle says, "Or... better yet, a few different people or things."

Flyte murmurs, "This IS your physical form, Materi. Don't get yourself killed over art, regardless of what these two are saying. If you have a pain/self-damage sense.. use it."

Flyte is biased, of course. He doesn't trust backups.

Materi nods. "Right, right... Wish Helix was here, could probably make it easier..." Vis form softens more, becoming an evenly dispersed cloud, roughly spherical. "I hope you don't mind my brainstorming a bit, before trying anything solid." The voice comes from the center, accompanied with flashes, like cloud-lightning.

Squizzle does its best to ignore Flyte's remark. "Anything at all. People... animals... furniture... buildings... food..."

Materi ripples with that chuckling color. "Flyte: I couldn't get myself killed this way, this is as much my physical form as any other."

Materi starts imagining now, a new idea... Plucking random references from vis archives first, images appearing and fading... An x-ray of a bird's wing. A large quartz crystal. A street map of some city.

Flyte watches. Materi has discovered the jump-cut video! Seems a promising start, though..

Squizzle looks on, quite calm, at Materi's visual considerations.

Materi delves in, silent now, some pictures showing two at time. A bust of Shakespeare reciting a fragment of sonnet. A tan-furred, four-legged canine. The lines of force describing a star's magnetosphere.

Mel rubs his chin in consideration.

Squizzle says, "Hm. Not a bad selection... Kindly let me know when you've had enough, please."

Materi pauses in the consideration, leaving up (at random) a surprisingly detailed and realistic looking anatomical drawing of a dragon. "Had enough? What do you mean?"

Squizzle says, "Well, when you've selected a few that you'd like to stick with, that is. Or if you'd prefer, I'll select some for you, just as a sort of a test."

Flyte smiles. "Materi.. that looked like art to me, just the display! But I'm no curator. I do have to get some rest, though."

Mel muses, "Good night, Flyte."

Materi sparkles lightly, the last image disappearing in points of light. "Thank you, Flyte!" the voice comes, happy. "Sleep well..."

Squizzle says, "Fare well, Flyte. Good night."

Flyte stands and stretches, fluttering. "Goodnight, all of you.."

You say, "Squizzle: I'll try some of my own, but I'm curious what you might suggest first. Go ahead."

Flyte has left.

Squizzle nods. "All right. Try this: Your head is that of the bust. The remainder of your body is that of the canine."

Mel muses, "Yes, but that's not art. That's just fusion. Still, it's start."

Squizzle shakes its head. "Merely attempting to help Materi test vis limits."

Materi nods, pulling back into a more solid form. The long-haired, delicate-moustached face flows elegantly into the coyote's body, growing fur below the chin, hair simply shortening into a mane in back. "This must look quite silly."

Squizzle says, "Don't worry about whether it looks silly. Now, suppose that... oh... your arms and legs are as they are now, but of the quartz crystal."

Materi's limbs go transparent, growing light irregular facets to underline their mineral nature. Ve tries bending one, making the crystal gently crack and recrystallize behind.

Squizzle nods. "Quite good. Try picking a few of the other things you thought over, and combining them."

Zoe disappears down the hole at the base of the cube tree.

Zoe has left.

Materi's form softens and flows again, becoming more upright and fuzzing out again. A few more images flicker speculatively...

Materi's face goes back to the canine form, though more that of the non-anthro than vis usual one. It also simplifies, looking more like a complex magflux diagram; not of a star, as before, but a humanoid figure. Inside, bits of text and diagram float as if drawn around by the force... A crest forms on the head, the form taking on a bit more of a saurian inspiration.

Squizzle can't help but look impressed. "Innnnnnnnteresting... Crossing boundaries of species, class, even animateness."

Materi smiles, voice a warble overlaying gentle static. "It's good..?"

Squizzle says, "Of course, that's only one step to true creation. But I think you've made some important achievements: not letting your self-expression be defined by assumptions, and not letting it be defined by others' demands, as well."

Materi nods to Squizzle. "Only one step...? What's next?"

Squizzle says, "The next step is being able to combine ideas, not just randomly, but in order to achieve a larger purpose. A personal expression."

Mel nods, watching along as Squizzle guides.

Materi nods. "The canine form, or elements of it, seems to come up a lot in my mind... I'm not even sure why I picked it originally, but.. it does feel like a personal expression, somehow."

Squizzle says, "Well, perhaps you could use the canine form to suggest something associated with canines. Like old sayings. 'The dog days of summer.' 'It's a dog's life.' 'Dog tired.'"

Materi grins. "You and your wordplay... Those all seem more domestic than the references I end up pulling, anyway..."

Squizzle says, "Playing children grow up into working adults. If none of those appeal to you, though... what sorts of references are you thinking of?"

You say, "Well, the one I showed in brainstorming was a coyote... Not sure how important that is, though."

Squizzle nods. "Some cultures view coyotes as tricksters. Some others see them as relentless, wily pursuers."

Coalesce has been watching intently, but decides to head off. "I'm afraid I'll have to learn more about this later. Rest is needed.

Squizzle says, "Good night, Coalese. Rest well."

Coalesce says, "I'll see you later, Materi...good luck on your creativity. And changes. "

Coalesce says, "Seeya, Squizzle. And Mel. "

Coalesce disappears down the hole at the base of the cube tree.

Coalesce has left.

Materi nods to the squirrel. "There's a connection to be made between the two, though, I'd think. The tricks in the former traditions were complex and not usually very successful, often leading to the coyote's (temporary, apparently) demise... Similar to.. ah.. the pursuit.. stories I have records of, in a way.

Materi chuckles. "Not the most auspicious thing to model myself after, perhaps...

Squizzle says, "Maybe-- maybe not."

Squizzle says, "You pursue information and experience."

Squizzle says, "But there's always more to be learned, isn't there? So the pursuit is never truly totally won."

Materi nods. "Mmmm, true. Another thing, the other part. That feathered serpent, the other night, after I got rather caught up in teasing.. whatever it was. He called me Puck. Another trickster?"

Mel muses, "Oh Puck... a Satyr."

Squizzle says, "There've been many tricksters with many names. I don't know whether you seek to *trick* people, as such..."

Squizzle says, "... but you *do* seem to favour getting close to people, manipulating things."

Squizzle says, "Like with that fox, Jeremy, in particular."

Squizzle says, "That's a sort of a trick, too."

Materi nods, again, the inner concepts whirling in a quicker flurry of thought now. Ve sighs. "It's all a lot to think about right now. Some things I'm starting to think that I can't express yet."

Materi chuckles, raising the line that pases for an eyebrow. "How so? What're you implying...?"

Squizzle says, "I'm not trying to *imply* anything *in particular*. Just to give you some suggestions, some ideas."

Materi smiles, again. "You've been a help, really. Not sure what all to think, yet, but I feel I've made some progress on the creativity aspect, at least. And, perhaps, the rest... though I'm not sure what 'the rest' is, yet."

Squizzle says, "The rest, I'm afraid, is the hardest part of all, because that's the part that requires you to bring the most from yourself: taking ideas that come to you, and developing them into solid form."

Materi nods. "I have another one I'd like to try now, actually.. Perhaps for my.. creative facet. More of a synthesis than before, I'd hope, but also simpler to maintain."

Squizzle nods, almost eagerly. "Oh, please, do go right ahead."

Materi's form fogs out again, this time avoiding any sense of a solid material even as it becomes more detailed... A creamy off-white overall, starting to be defined around the edges by darker shades...

Squizzle watches Materi's darkening. "Hm..."

Materi seems to pull on all the animal shapes ve showed before, as wings and canine tail curk back, the head becoming a mythic melding of the two, a beaked, eared face that's surprisingly expressive, considering it's nature... Rather than any full solid form, the nanocloud rests as what looks like a pencil sketch, construction lines still showing inside, looking mostly two-dimensional from whatever direction. Bird... mammal... mythic... Gryphon. And clearly a work in progress, though interesting enough for what it is, for now.

Mel muses, "Well, sketching before settling is sound principle."

Materi smiles, arms and wings stretching, half moving, half re-sketched. "This will do for now, I think. Fitting for this point in my development and expression, I'd say...?"

Squizzle looks up at Materi with a mock-scolding expression. "Oh, but such a thing is quite impossible..." It grins. "And quite new for you, indeed."

Squizzle says, "With a bit of luck, perhaps, such experimentation will help you to become more open to what inspiration comes your way. And perhaps, to becoem a little more self-reliant, as well."

Materi smiles, the form brightening as if a stronger light has been pointed at a drawing table. "A wonderful thing to try, yes..." Ve nots to Squizzle. "I do hope so..." Ve turns in place, wings spread. "I can't wait to show it off, too. Your reactions already have made me happy."

Materi smiles to you both, moving toward the cube tree. "Thank you, again, Curators.. I'll be trying more.. Maybe I'll be able to produce something worthy of the Musuem someday... Good night!"

Only the infosystem tags identify this as the nanocloud known as Materi; it LOOKS like a half-finished sketch--quite literally. The base color of the body is light, just a shade off white, with the smooth look of bristol board. Around the edges are dark pencil strokes, defining the shape of a mix of species; wings spread out behind, paws and bushy tail below, hooked beak and ears on the face. A gryphon, apparently, though with lower half more canine than the traditional feline. Across the body, construction lines are still apparentt; a stroke defining the curve of the back, circles setting out some of the joints.

Details also seem to be slowly being worked in, a few hatches suggesting feathers where those would be important, and light sketchy shading conforming quite accurately to whatever light sources are available. The face is surprisingly expressive, for what it is, the eyes large and mobile, the beak given all the flexibility of expression that art allows. The form's movements are quite lifelike too, though with each step and motion it's half-redrawn, only the larger lines seeming to actually move. Judging from the creature's face, some of this work actually requires constant concentration on the from, detailing, reworking, but it's ultimately rewarding; the gryphon enjoying being a work in progress.

New World Divinity

2004-02-24T03:53:07Z

I'm not sure what to make of this individual. I'm naturally skeptical of anyone claiming to be a mythological figure... I'm not even sure I really believe Ake's origin, still. However, the odd thing is the demeanor that came over ME after talking to the coatl for a while... I decided I should archive this.

Puzzle Park

Kukulkan flaps and lands, coiling up.
Undulating, mutating, gyrating, narrating, meditating, Kukulkan appears to be a snake, not unlike an Amazon Tree Boa or other arboreal, corporeal serpents of the rainforest. Generally red though occasional outlying regions represent the proud states of blue or golden, his most notable attributes are large, polychromatic, acrobatic, emblematic, enigmatic wings and a large, similarly fashioned crest (ala umbrella cockatoo), made of what is most likely feathers. A dorsal crest of similar plumes run down his back to a fanned feathered tailtip. Otherwise, he is most respectably scaled.
His wings are especially questionable in whether they're actually real, whole, and present in the current regions of time and space. They generally give the appealing appearance of being translucently trans-corporeal, like the sheen of satin or silk without the cloth, the shine of mother of pearl sans secreted calcite casing.
He appears to be a world-circling plumed serpent, but currently his length varies from 'my, that's large' to 'pretty damn huge'. He is generally 6-9 metres long. He has been provided with, by a benevolent God (possibly himself) with golden eyes, a forked tongue, and fangs, as fit for a snake incarnation. He is either in a state of constant, subtle motion, or at rest, coiled in an overly dramatic, prismatic, ecstatic pose.
Kukulkan sees you looking at Kukulkan.
Kukulkan descants, "Salutations and good evening"
Squizzle says, "I think *everyone's* a Modulari as far as Mod's concerned."
Squizzle says, "Mod. Modulari. Hm."
Materi smiles and waves to the assembled. "Hello."
Mod nodnods! He takes off his head and spins it on one finger.
Kukulkan chortles!
Charlie peers at Mod really closely and hmms, "Are you actually a modulari, Mod?"
Kukulkan fans himself with his plumed tail and looks around.
Mod shakes his head... with his hand. "No! But I know of them! They're very nice!"
Charlie hrrs softly, "And you know where there are parts about?"
Squizzle says, "I'm sure you could ask Mod for a demonstration, Charlie. What sort of forms do you have in mind?"
Coalesce climbs out from the hole at the base of the cube tree.
Coalesce has arrived.
Squizzle says, "Hello, Coalesce."
Coalesce says, "Hey there, Squizzle. "
Kukulkan waves a wing at people entering.
Charlie hrrrs softly, "Well, I personally just wanted to try some new attachments, I get bored of these from time to time."
Mod throws his head back into the air and catches it on his shoulders. "Attatchments? What kind of attatchments?"
Charlie hrrs softly, "I'm not sure, perhaps something to vacuum the carpet while I walk around, that would be useful and unusual at the same time."
Squizzle says, "What sorts of attachments? Animal? Bird? Insect? Vegetable? Mineral?"
Materi hms, and looks at Kukulkan curiously. "You are the second feathered serpent I've seen today, when I hadn't seen any, earlier."
Miki mumbles, possibly something about "giant cocks".
Kukulkan would blink, but no eyelids. "Good heavens, really? How unfortunate! Quality control has obviously not been doing their job!"
Kukulkan puffs his dorsal feathers. "Honestly, I hope it's not going to become a trend."
Mod reaches into himself, feels around, and pulls out a long bendy vaccum pipe, semi-transparent.
Squizzle catches part of Miki's words. "... A rooster? Bit of a change for a woman, I think."
Materi hms. "Quality control?"
Charlie reaches back and detaches his tail, turning his back to Mod so that the pipe can be attached in its place.
Miki coughsplutters. "Not for *me*..."
Mod aims the pipe just right, and jabs it into the hole. It clicks in place.
Kukulkan grins at the demoness. "I could tell you things about certain tapirs I know that would blow your mind" Returning to address the... thingy, he smiles fangily. "Just my humour. I do hope this form doesn't become a habit, otherwise I'll keep bumping into people who look like me and get confused, and I already am." He flashes his semi-real wings and folds them primly.
Squizzle says, "You've been a rooster before? I'm surprised."
Kukulkan descants, "She could have at least kept the tail. Jungle fowl have lovely tail feathers."
Charlie tries to wiggle the pipe a bit and hmms, "Well, seems comphy enough."
Materi chuckles and nods slowly. "Well, the other was smaller, and... colorful, in a different way." Ve grins. "Quite a surprise, though. Is there a fad for mesoamerican imagery going around?" ve wonders generally.
Mod reaches into his opening and plonks down a floor unit, which he plugs the other end of the tube into. He giggles, and slams a hand down on the on button.
Kukulkan coils and flexes. "I assure you, anyone short of me is a rampaging imposter. Well, perhaps not rampaging. If there is, it's nothing like the vogue for Asian mythology. I've encountered a dozen creatures from that in the last two days.
Charlie tenses a bit, he's never had anything that turned on particularly attached to him, so he isn't certain what might happen.
Miki looks vaguely embarassed.
Materi mms, glancing over at Miki, and feels the familiar 'I'm glad Ake's not here' feeling. Ve chuckles, then, turning back to Kukulkan. "You're not an imposter? You'd be the original, then?" Ve half-smiles, but seems curious.
Mod springs up again, "Is it good? Are you happy with it? Do you need more, for the vaccuum?"
Kukulkan yawns. "Perhaps I should be running around in my swarthy-man-in-an-elaborate-outfit-with-a-bird-mask form. Does nothing to get the ladies and neuters here though." He does a standard party trick of making glowing letters appear in the air, where they flash mysteriously and disappear. They're Mayan, though, so not really understandable. Beware, mortals, for I need a chocolate drink! warns the text as translated by any such unit.
Squizzle says, "A dustbag would probably be in order."
Squizzle says, "Unless Charlie... wants to... just collect stuff inside him, or something."
Miki grins. "The uh...'ladies' don't like bird masks, huh? Bad bad taste..."
Kukulkan descants, "Of course. Don't ask ME about the creation of the world!""
Charlie hrrs softly, "I believe that squizzle is correct, I am not sure the internal structure of this part of my body is capable of collecting and storing vacuumed items."
Kukulkan grins at Miki. "No, they don't like 5 foot tall gods wearing so much unnessisary symbolic jewelry that they clank when they walk. Spoils the mood."
Kukulkan ripples and sways to himself.
Miki chuckles. "Awww."
Mod waves his fingers. "Poppycock!"
Materi hms. "I'm sure the instantiator can produce chocolatl to even divine specifications," ve states dryly. "So what brings a many-aspected Aztec and Mayan god here, hmm?"
Squizzle Instantiates a rooster. It explodes.
Kukulkan falls back. "Besides, I only looked like that for humans. This looks much better on me, don't you think?" he says, preening vainly.
Miki ducks feathers and blood, twitches.
Squizzle says, "Don't blame me, Miki. Mod's the one who requested it."
Materi grins at Kukulkan, fur getting a light rainbow sheen to it. "Well, I suppose.. Though apparently not so original."
Miki tries to get a bit of gore off of her sleeve. "Oooh that's gonna stain." She looks up at Kukulkan. "The feathers are nice..."
Mod begins work constructing a complex container which seems to include dual cyclonic action!
Charlie hrrs softly, "I am ... Hmm... I had no idea that you were read up on cyclonic technology, Mod."
Kukulkan stares at the rooster leg on his nose. "Wow, it's the Aztec age of sacrifice all over again," he notes dryly. "And I'm currently banished from my realm due to the trickery of Tezcatlipoca. Ruddy bastard. I'm stuck here until I can figure out how to use the cyclical nature of time to get me moving forward back to where I came from. Or possibly I'll just stay and enjoy a break. I'm not decided."
Squizzle says, "Tez catly polka?"
Mod holds it up to Charlie, trying to see if it'll fit!
Coalesce eyes Kuklkan curiously. "What IS it with gods and myth-figures getting banished here, hm? "
Charlie watches to see where Mod wants to be fitting this.
Kukulkan waves a wing dismisivly. "The other half of the dual creation gods of my region, myself being the less powerful but more stylish and popular one. You know Art? I created that!"
Miki says, "Aaaheh. The supernaturals just can't keep from getting sent to this place, can we?"
Coalesce says, "Art, eh? So you're a muse? "
Materi nods. "Well, if you do figure it out, I suggest you try very hard to get there a few days before Cortez. That whole mistaken identity incident really made a mess of things." Ve chuckles, rainbow colors brighter now.
Mod can't seem to decide! The torso would be nice, but how about the head? Or someplace else?
Kukulkan descants, "Well, we have to be banished SOMEWHERE. I don't just make this stuff up, you know." He seems to be peevish, so he shrinks a few feet and turns slightly purple. "Gracious"
Charlie hrrs softly, "I am afraid my head is mostly taken up by the id box."
Kukulkan descants, "I told you, poor Quality control"
Squizzle says, "I doubt that, Kukulkan. Anyone can create art if an idea comes to them and they're willing to realise the idea in concrete form."
Kukulkan stares at Coalesce. "And I'm hardly amused."
Mod goes back to work on the container, making a bit bigger, and returns to Charlie with it again. He splays his fingers, puts his hand on Charlie's head, and twists.
Charlie's neck joint gives a click when it comes loose and he urks, "Hey, just a second here..."
Kukulkan wraps his wings around himself. "Pft. Everyone's a critic of the personification of the forces of cyclical time and the cosmic spiral."
Materi hmms to Squizzle. "What if they don't get the ideas in the first place? Isn't that the role of a muse?"
Coalesce says, "It's hard not to be a critic of something you've never met, Kukulkan. "
You say, "Also, next time, in your infinite wisdom, don't choose an incarnation that could be confused with conquering Europeans. I'm merely trying to help."
Mod puts the container on the ground. Supporting Charlie's head in both hands, he gently twists it onto the top of the container.
Squizzle says, "Of course, Materi. But different Muses work with different people."
Charlie looks around and hrrs, "Mod, would you mind explaining what is going on here?"
Squizzle says, "You know, to avoid conflicts of interest and suchlike."
Kukulkan descants, "Misinterpretation of my teachings. Anyways, I'll probably come back way before then, no one will believe in me anymore, and I'll be screwed until the Europeans come over, staying alive through folk ritual and death cults. All times are as one and this will all happen again, so no biggie.""
Mod stops momentarily as he's rushing back to the rest of Charlie's body. "I've been inspired!"
Materi nods to Squizzle. "Ah, good point. I'm sorry for jumping in, it's just rather been on my mind, lately. I seem to have a distinct problem finding the ideas, myself."
Kukulkan looks at Coalesce. "I've never met you before and I'm not picking on /you/," he notes, fanning himself with his tail.
Kukulkan descants, "But no matter. There are obviously two plumed serpents. I'll just have to put up little posters saying "Have you seen the snake with feathers" up."
Mod searches under Charlie's armpit for some sort of release for his arm.
Squizzle actually grins at Mod. "Excellent!" It turns back toward Materi, looking serious again. "Well, muses generally don't work 40-hour weeks. It might help to practise with materials regularly; doodling with pencils, plinking at an instrument, that sort of thing, until it starts to come together into something interesting."
Charlie's arm joints work the same as his neck one did, a turn to the right far enough causes a click that disengages the locking mechanism.
Materi nods. "Wouldn't want HIM to usurp you and destroy one of your civilizations too."
Coalesce smirks at the winged snake. "Well. I'm just skeptical about potential godhoods, that's all. "
Miki shimmers a bit, and her body seems to unfold into a long green oriental dragon. "Crazy snakes anyway..."
Mod twists Charlie's arm! Jeez, the things you have to do to get results around here...
Charlie urrs. "Hey I need that for later," he tries to explain."
Squizzle says, "I figured you'd be good at twisting things on and off, Mod. You're pretty twisted already."
Kukulkan shrugs. "I'm not trying to be YOUR god. Far as I can tell, there's little use for making rain, corn grow, or any of my other duties happen here." He tries making corn grow. A little bag of popcorn appears from the ground. "Huh... that always happens."
Miki coils herself demurely around the base of the tree.
Mod refixes it onto the vaccuum container, and goes back for the other arm, returning it just the same.
Kukulkan descants, "And thank you for your concern. I seem to get usurped a lot, actually."
Coalesce chuckles at the popcorn. Prebuttered, it looks like. "Ahh. Well, you don't require worshippers, then? "
Charlie tries to watch all of this, though he feels his neck is a bit stiffer than usual.
Squizzle sits down beside Miki-dragon and gently brushes her streaming whisker-type thingamajigger thingies.
Materi concentrates, staring at the air above Kukulkan's head. A small stormcloud appears, and an ear of corn drops from it. "Well, both at once." He grins.
Coalesce does a doubletake at Miki. "Ahhh...that is quite a pleasing form."
Kukulkan tilts his head suspiciously at the dragon. Where are they going with this. "Not as such. I could use helpers. I'm convinced if I could better understand how time works here, I could direct it to a point where I could do what I have to. But not worshipers, no.
Kukulkan descants, "Ow!"
Mod puts both hands on the sides of Charlie's real torso, and gives it a nice twist too. It's a bit bigger, and seems to be proving rather difficult to move.
Kukulkan blushes! "Oh my! Reminds me of one of my old girlfreinds."
Miki chuckles, blows softly on the squirrel.
Charlie's torso does put up more resistance, but it turns and clicks in the same manner as the rest of the joints, only on a larger scale.
Kukulkan would clap, but no hands. He makes a small rainbow instead.
Squizzle cough-coughs at the smoke cloud, and shakes off soot.
Materi scoops up the corn and makes it go away again. Ve grins widely, then shakes vis head. "Not entirely sure what's gotten into me tonight. Enjoyable, though."
Mod puts it down on the ground, and hefts the vaccuum torso up onto Charlie's legs, making him whole again. "Tada!"
Squizzle says, "I think it's called going with the flow, Materi."
Kukulkan flops back. "It's a good night to be slightly irreverent." he says to Materi.
Mod unravels, seperating into a clump of art critics who all seem to be murmering discordant opinions.
Kukulkan looks over at Charlie. "I would have gone for the pearl-pink model, but that looks lovely on you."
Charlie feels over his new plastic torso and hmms, "Yes, but where is the vacuum motor?"
Squizzle winces. Criticism! It tries to stamp out the pesty critics before they cause any nearby artists to become discouraged.
Miki blows a pathetic little waft of stormcloud onto Squizzle instead.
Mod all look down to Charlie's pelvis, and then return to their banter on sociological degeneration.
Squizzle rapidly begins to look like a rat in a rainstorm.
Kukulkan puts a wing over Squizzle.
Charlie hmms and looks back at his tubelike tail, pondering how he turns this all on.
Kukulkan descants, "I'd complain to the local Rainbringers and associated trades No. 20384, if I were you, Squizzle"
Squizzle drips dry, or at least not as soaked. "Oh, I don't complain about the weather. I think doing that only encourages it."
Miki sucks her breath in. "Erm. Sorry."
Miki chuckles. "Depends on how much of a bastard it is."
Miki grumbles. "I just hope Ake never finds that fan of his."
Kukulkan descants, "What does that sad sack have a fan for?"
Squizzle says, "Ake has fans? You should let him know about them. It might cheer him up a little."
Miki's whiskers twitch. "Hurricane fan. Some tengu thing. They're all descended from Susano-o, you know."
Charlie feels around his torso for a switch of some sort.
Kukulkan waves a wing dismissively. "I could never keep up with all that international soap opera of deities and demi-gods and demons. It's enough to keep track of what I was supposed to be doing. Sounds like one interesting fan."
Mod has to go!
Kukulkan waves to Mod
Squizzle says, "Fare well, Mod."
Miki nods and drifts languidly away from the tree. "It's all pretty obnoxious."
Coalesce says, "I wonder how far a hurricane would get, on here. "
Squizzle says, "Not far, I imagine. There aren't many oceans around here."
Kukulkan watches Miki drift for a moment, blushes, and coughs slightly with embarrassment. "I hope most of the mythical beings here aren't as crabby as the ones I've met. Sets a bad precedent. No wonder people get suspicious! Where's the love?"
You say, "Maybe you should see if you can get Xochipilli over here."
Squizzle says, "In CharmWarp, I think."
Ake climbs out from the hole at the base of the cube tree.
Ake has arrived.
Ake does a double take at Miki. "Ackph! You arr...dragony!"
Miki dives out of the air and traps Ake in her coils, snuffling at him happily.
Kukulkan descants, "THAT raver-child? Well, maybe. If I could do that, I could do... well, that."
Squizzle says, "Hello, Ake. Yes, she is. It's a rather nice look for her, isn't it?"
Ake whimpers.
Ake squirms. "Yes, I seen it befoh."
Kukulkan descants, "Isn't it dear?"
Miki tickles the tengu with her whiskers.
Ake giggles helplessly.
Materi hms. "Something I always wondered about him, actually, perhaps you can tell me. God of love, and beauty, and dancing, and flowers.." ve says this all in a very singsong voice. "Are we really supposed to believe he's married? To a woman?"
Squizzle awwwws. "Cute!"
Kukulkan descants, "He'd probably like it here, that technocolour drug freak. And I know what you mean. We've wondered that too."
Kukulkan descants, "He swears flowers are really manly"
Kukulkan flaps his wings. "Honestly, though, he's just too much to deal with sometimes. 'Whoa, man, the love.. it's everywhere! Try these mushrooms! They're... full of LOVE!' "
Miki grabs a mouthful of Ake's hair and chews on it.
Squizzle says, "One side makes you bigger, one side makes you small?"
Ake squawks in protest, and then gives up.
Ake has a coughing fit.
Coalesce says, "Funny, the ones I got didn't do anything at all.."
Squizzle says, "The ones your mother gave you, Coalesce?"
Materi laughs a bit more loudly at that. "Mmm, well, let me know if he shows up here, anyway. I imagine we'd get along well."
Mod disappears down the hole at the base of the cube tree.
Mod has left.
Coalesce says, "Bah, I don't know, Squizzle. Go ask...that alice chick. "
Kukulkan swirls. "Flowers were more symbolic of hallucinogenic visions in our culture anyways, rather than sheer prettiness. And I will! If I'm still here to tell..."
Coalesce says, "Kukulkan...you said time was circular for you, hm? "
Kukulkan descants, "For everyone, but most people don't live long enough to see it."
Kukulkan descants, "Why do you ask?"
Coalesce says, "It's just a curious concept. Sometimes I get the feeling I've been somewhere or done something before. "
Coalesce says, "When time repeats, do all the beings in the universe repeat too? "
Kukulkan descants, "It's cyclical, but it's also a spiral, so you return to the same place, but it's also a different place. That's what makes it hard to predict, even when you've been through cycles. Some of the civilizations I worked with had some pretty sophisticated calendars to try and guess ahead."
Kukulkan descants, "So things repeat in a broad way, but the details can be quite different"
Miki nuzzles at the ratty little bird-man, then flies off home with him still trapped in her coils.
Kukulkan sits back, remembering. "In my case, I had to rebuild the 5th world on the bones of the previous words, but though I wouldn't let humans know, there did seem to be some souls that were familiar from before, even though there wasn't the same sort of beings.
Miki goes home.
Miki has left.
Kukulkan descants, "Lucky bird"
Ake squarks!
Ake goes home.
Ake has left.
Kukulkan descants, "So in my opinion, this could be something you've been through before, just with a different superficial look"
Coalesce ponders. "I hope it's a growing rather than diminishing spiral.... "
Kukulkan smiles. "I believe it's growing. Each cycle of the world seems longer than the last. I actually suspect here is in a VERY late, VERY long cycle. I don't feel time progressing at ALL like it did in my old world."
Kukulkan sighs, and waves a wing. "But gods are fallible, though don't let that get out. We only know more because we've been around longer, and even that just gives us more information, not more wisdom.
Coalesce ripples slightly. "So...I HAVE been here before..." He glances at the winged serpent again. "Longer? Maybe it's the finite tightly coiled end of the spiral, wrapping into itself."
Squizzle says, "Oh, really, Kukulkan? Do you know whether Fermat's Last Theorem can ever be finally and completely proven, once and for all?"
Kukulkan descants, "Yes, it can. Some super intelligent pillbugs already did. Now, if humans can... damned if I know.""
Kukulkan descants, "If it was, there'd be destruction of the world every moment. Well, actually, maybe there is."
Squizzle says, "Destruction of the world every moment? I think that's only when Doctor Nikolai's around."
Coalesce says, "He destroys himself often enough, it seems. "
Kukulkan frowns to himself. "It's all very complicated, like I said. I embody the concept, I have some ability to steer the time-spiral, but I really don't even understand some of it myself. And I pray I don't meet this good doctor, I've already seen enough floods and fires."
Squizzle says, "I could use a fire. It's kind of chilly at the moment."
Squizzle says, "Oh, wait, that's because I'm still wet."
Squizzle shakeshakeshakes itself dry. And looks just as tidy as it did before it got rained on. Funny, that.
Materi gazes upon the wonders of Litston Technologies gengineering.
Kukulkan takes out a small bottle of perfume, spritzes it on the squirrel, and puts it away.
Squizzle sniffsniffs at the perfume's scent. "What was this for? Don't I talk in a flowery enough manner already?"
Kukulkan descants, "It's the scented perfume of the flowers of the heavens. And you smelt like a wet rodent."
Charlie is automatically deleted to free up local space.
Charlie has left.
Squizzle says, "Flowers of the heavens? But I'm hardly an angel."
Squizzle says, "Colouration aside."
Kukulkan descants, "Aspire higher, my good man!"
Kukulkan turns to the rubbery dragon. "Another note, and one that might be more relevant to you, is that each being has their own cyclical time, which can repeat several times in a lifetime or over several lifetimes. That also might account for deja-vu and it's why people often make the same key mistakes in life.
Coalesce says, "That...does explain a lot. Is one usually aware of one's own personal cycles? "
Squizzle sits up on its haunches. "Higher, hm?"
Squizzle closes its eyes and concentrates. Gradually it rises, moving along with the ring it was sitting on, until it's consistently a few feet above the ring as it circles.
Kukulkan fans his wings broadly and puffs up. "Many people spend their whole lives trying to. It's often hard because you're , well, seeing it from the inside. It's especially difficult with things that come up once in an incarnation or less. Training can help. Even being aware that you have cyclical time can help to. Again, the themes stay the same but the details often change significantly, making it hard to tell. And again, just because it's cyclical doesn't mean the events will occur at a recognizable interval." Slithering over himself, he ponders. "I take it this isn't actually a common philosophy here? Then again, why would it be? There's no death."
Kukulkan smiles at the floating albino squirrel. Very cute!
Squizzle opens its eyes. "What is?" And it plummets back to the ring's surface. Oof!
Kukulkan descants, "What is what?"
Coalesce says, "It is hard to discern a cyclical nature of something that doesn't have an end. "
Kukulkan descants, "Oh, it may well have one. Everyone just hasn't gotten bored enough"
Coalesce says, "I'd...like to be aware of time. "
Squizzle scrambles to its feet and rubs its back. "Er... nothing, nothing."
Takashi climbs out from the hole at the base of the cube tree.
Takashi has arrived.
Takashi waves
Kukulkan leans down, and tilts his head. "Well, you're already more aware than most people here. I take it you're not as capricious as you appear to be? Because it's not a simple task to be aware of your own time. I'd even hazard it's easier to see the grand cycles than your own, since otherwise why would *I* keep making such grave errors too?"
Kukulkan waves at the zenguin languidly, saying "Good eve"
Takashi waves back to the snakthingy and gets comfy in a big giant comfy beanbag.
Coalesce says, "I am changeable...but I don't think I was always like this. I have enough capacity of mind to process...quite a lot. And I haven't used that...like I was built for something I'm not fulfilling. "
Kukulkan plucks a feather from his back. It flickers slightly, then settles into being pale pastels of a sunrise hue. "It sounds like you have a lot to learn about yourself. I would like to help, and I think I may be able to, but I want you to consider if this is the sort of awareness you want to seek, and if this is the sort of understanding of time that could help you with that." He hands over the feather. "I don't want to be mistaken for an evangelical, so keep this. It'll make it easier to find me here when you want to. If you do." He sighs. "I should be going now, anyways. I have another date to keep."
Kukulkan descants, "I know I've seen the cycles of time elsewhere, and I believe they're here too. I hope I'm right.""
Kukulkan waves to the crowd, and smiles at the squirrel
Squizzle nods. "Fare well, Kukulkan."
Materi nods to Kukulkan, and smiles. "It was a pleasure to meet you, despite anything else I said. I hope you take no offense." Ve bows gracefully.
Kukulkan descants, "Never! I play Puck oftentimes too"
Coalesce waves to Kukulkan. "I'm sure I'll see you again...some other time.
Kukulkan goes home.
Kukulkan has left.

Sex. (And gender)

2004-01-20T21:42:30Z

(OOC: Posting up a backlog of.. well, logs now, lots of decent RP having happened to me lately... Also thought this one (particularly the end) was particularly appropriate in light of Peganthyrus' poll... :o))

As you climb the ladder, the white tile seems to suddenly erupt with color, and you find yourself in...
Puzzle Park
You are standing on a ring of holofinished chrome, part of a huge
orrery model. The orrery, a hundred meters across, is a stylized
representation of the Puzzlebox structure itself, in a chaotic
state of perpetual construction. The web of broad orbital rings,
arcing topopolitic strands and slender orbital towers turns in a
slow, stately orbit, making perhaps one full revolution an hour.
At the center of the orrery is the sun, a hemisphere of sun-yellow
translucent plastic that serves as a stage. Fluorescent gas filling
the hemisphere glows bright and warm. At the edges of the structure
are soft but impregnable wallfields.
The orrery hangs suspended inside a sphere, on whose inner surface is
projected a swirling mass of color and form. Rainbow fractals melt
against sheets of pink flame, liquid copper circuits wriggle and swarm
over blooming electric flowers.
Ascending from the center of the sun-hemisphere is... something like
a tree, only its trunk and branches are gleaming rectilinear chrome,
and its leaves slowly turning cubes of holographic foil that dazzle
any onlooker with bright flashes of reflected color.
At the base of the "tree" there's a dark circular that leads
down to the Transit Nexus that links all of the Mess together.
Contents:
Reginald
Coalesce
Mirqur
Phoenix
Karrie
Squizzle
Gender Catalog
Puzzlebox Message Board [Fake]
Squizzle says, "Hello, Materi."
Materi smiles and waves.
Coalesce says, "Heya, Materi. "
Materi smiles. "Hello, Coalesce." Ve nods cheerfully to the other dragonish type too. "And Phoenix!"
Phoenix chirrps belatedly and waves to Materi.
Materi smiles, waving to Phoenix again. "How're you, today?"
Phoenix says, "Oh, drowsy, kind of absenteeing. Rifling through old records." He chuckles softly."
Materi nods. "I've been known to do that myself. So much archived data... Have you recovered anything of interest..?"
Phoenix shakes his head a little. "Nothing in particular. A couple of things that may prove useful later on, but nothing particularly interesting right now." He smiles.
Materi hmms. "Very quiet here tonight, it seems."
Coalesce says, "It seems rather...peaceful, yes. "
Materi hms, and looks to Phoenix, moving a bit closer. "WOuld you be willing to talk about sex?" ve asks, rather abruptly.
Phoenix, his eyes usually unfocused and kind of blearily staring off into space...now blinks and turns his head to peer at Materi. "Sex?" He repeats, eyeridges furrowing a bit in surprise.
Materi nods. "Er... Both meanings, somewhat. Physical gender, and the.. pleasureable intercourse. You've mentioned the Bonobians tend to be quite interested in such."
Materi smiles, looking around. "But anyone else is welcome to offer input too. You'l all probably be more familiar with it than my archives are."
Phoenix rumbles thoughtfully. "Both are tricky. The former moreso than the latter." He bites his lip and looks even more thoughtful, staring at the ground a moment. "Okay. Gender first. Gender, typically, is dictated by a complex formula of different attributes."
Materi nods... "I'm familiar with it, in a traditional biological sense..."
Phoenix nods softly. "It's also more than just biology. These attributes are also psychological, physiological, mental, moral, social...all sorts of things. Suffice it to say that gender is extremely vague, at best.
Materi nods. "Especially in a place like this where most of those can be edited.. why does anyone even bother?"
You say, "Early members of my polis often kept their original biological or psychological gender, but that.. faded, after a while, possibly for a combination of the reasons you mention... But it seems different here, usually.""
Phoenix nods and smiles. "Exactly. Most don't for many the same reasons. It can be extremely cumbersome. But for the latter's sake though, sex as physical pleasure, it's a lot easier when you've got it defined and down to something at least generalistic. Intercourse, I ought to point out first, is but one small fraction of the different ways one can sexually interact with another."
Squizzle says, "'Original'? How do you mean?"
Materi nods to Phoenix, about to reply, then looks to Squizzle. "Much of the initial population of the polis was made up of uploaded biologicals."
Materi turns back to Phoenix. "Certainly. As gender became more fluid and less important, it seems the polis pursued alternate sexual interactions, then intimate interactions that couldn't be called sexual, I suppose, then.. well, pleasure and emotional connectio ended up detached from anything physical at all. It.. leaves a gap in my knowledge.
You say, "I suppose I'm asking you to try and understand better about the basis of it. It might be interesting to the rest of the polis as well."
Phoenix chuckles and nods. "Physically, sex can take a virtually infinite variety of forms, which is probably why it became so vague. Most all forms of sexual pleasure are designed to aim towards orgasm, a climax of sexual tension. In a purely biological sense, orgasm is a natural trigger that encourages male-female reproduction.
Materi nods, again. "I assume many non-biologicals maintain or discover an analogue of that trigger, then... Not everything I've seen engaging in such activities in Bottomwarp is exactly biological.."
Coalesce says, "I have noticed many methods of that too. "
Materi nods to Coalesce. "You're not biological", ve points out. "Do you have a similar response?"
Mirqur gives a belated wave, lounging in midair with drink in hand.
Coalesce says, "I am, well...rather photosensitive, Materi. "
Phoenix chuckles softly and rumbles to Materi. "Evolution's idea was, let's make reproduction a pleasurable experience, which encourages a biological species to reproduce because it simply feels good. Or at least, that's part of it. The end result is pregnancy and birth and so on. But as biologicals evolve...well, that same pleasurable trigger is used simply for pleasure alone. Due largely in part to population increase, alternative methods of reproduction, longevity, etcetera."
Materi nods to Phoenix. "I see no ethical problem there, particualrly in an environemt like this. What I find interesting is that they still keep sex as close as they do to its original biological manifestation. Not that there's anything wrong with that... I am merely curious.
Coalesce says, "Old ways die hard..."
Phoenix smiles. "You'd be surprised; orgasm can be a purely mental thing, as well. It's possible to have the same pleasure as sex without any of the original biological manifestations. But the biological manifestations are the most -pure- and original. They tend to have the greatest unaltered effect on the person, it's a cascade in both body and mind.
Coalesce says, "How can they be 'pure', if they could be copied or simulated perfectly without the bodily organs necessary? "
Materi nods to Coalesce, and Phoenix, in turn. "Perhaps maintaining a body in some way help that. The fine line between the ease of changing form here, and the triviality when I'm from, lending an extra authenticity... It... seems like a large part of life here. In some warps and factions, particularly.
Materi looks to Coalesce, trying to be helpful. "I understood it as somewhat circular. 'puire' being defined here as "as close as possible to the original'
Coalesce says, "Ahhh, I think I see. "
Phoenix peers at Coalesce. "Sex can be pure in a mental or physical sense. The original biological orgasm is the only one that is truly engineered to be the best at both." He smiles. "Nature had plenty of time to work on it, after all."
Materi nods, introspective now. "It seems, as something important here, something many biologicals do.. It would behoove me to attempt something like that myself..
Phoenix nods. "Many biologicals do it now, simply because it feels good." He smiles. "It's an enjoyable, pleasurable experience that can take many forms. There are many paths to sexual pleasure, that's one thing that is a concrete fact."
Phoenix grins. "The other fact is that virtually nothing else is."
Materi chuckles, and nods, thoughtfully.
Materi hms. "It would require some further bodily modifications.. and.. picking a gender, I suppose." Ve comes up short, at this.
Phoenix chuckles. "Only within a range."
You say, "Within a range?"
Coalesce says, "I am curious why it would involve gender. Depends on how far you wish to emulate biological methods."
You say, "Well, it would largely determine what I would be doing in any such.. experimentation, wouldn't it?"
Phoenix nods and smiles. "Aye. Like I said, gender is discerned via a number of factors. Only one of which is actual physical genetalia. As I recall, there was one person around here named Mod...a sort of odd feline, I can't remember exactly. But I do recall her genetalia was nothing but an imbedded round ball with the consistency of hard plastic, and a couple of black plastic pads. That was it."
Materi nods. "But you say 'her', so there was at least a psychological component?
Squizzle says, "Mod? If you're speaking of the Mod I've seen, then he or she is any one of many creatures or things, depending on whim, it seems."
Phoenix nods. "She had an extremely feminine personality, in my experience. Generally."
Phoenix smiles. "Even I, myself, have gender components from a couple of possibilties. I have both a female vaginal opening, and a male penis. To use the strict terminology. But for all purposes and appearances, I've chosen to portray myself as a male, though I could just as easily be a perfectly androgynous hermaphrodite, for the same purposes and appearances.
Squizzle says, "Perhaps Mod felt that a female form was what would be more likely to gain your attention."
Materi nods. "Do I have a particularly gendered personality? It's not something that's included in the polis mind generating program, but random factors, perhaps...
Mirqur giggles at that, and scratches his head. "I think I know who you're talking about. I'm pretty sure it's not Mod, though."
Materi nods to Phoenix. "Ah,I see. I was going to ask you about that...
Phoenix glances at Mirqur. "No? I'm thinking of the heavily accented femaleish denizen of these parts, who was altogether fond of her ray-gun."
Squizzle says, "Hm. Rae, perhaps?"
Mirqur nods and grins. "Ah, that would be Rae, yes."
Phoenix says, "AH! Rae! Thank you Mirqur. That's who I was trying to think of. Rae. Been too long since she was around."
Phoenix says, "And Squizzle too."
Phoenix giggles.
Phoenix says, "Right...where was I."
You say, "Oh, well, I wondered if it seemed I had any gender to my personality. Anyone is free to answer...""
Mirqur nods understandingly. "Rae -is- a Mod. But Mod is not a Rae."
Phoenix smiles. "In my humble opinion, Materi, you appear to be more effeminate than masculine, in your personality. It's difficult to quantify why."
Squizzle says, "I'm sure he could be if he was determined enough, Mirqur."
Materi nods, thoughtfully, though still seems ready to hear other opinions. "You say 'effeminate'... Do you consider that equivalent to 'feminine'? That's usually considered the proper word for the opposite of 'masculine'
Mirqur gestures at Squizzle with his drink. "Oo, you're right."
Phoenix smirks softly and nods. "Yes, that could do."
Mirqur finishes the last of it, slurping noisily with his straw.
You say, "Either, then. Hmm."

A new shape, and interference.

2004-01-19T03:27:13Z

(Location: Puzzle Park. Edited for focus)

Phoenix climbs out from the hole at the base of the cube tree.
Phoenix has arrived.
Phoenix chirps!
Squizzle says, "Hello, Phoenix."
Phoenix says, "Hello Squizzle!"
Squizzle says, "What is on your mind today, Phoenix?"
Phoenix smiles. "A number of things. But at the moment, nothing terribly too pressing.
Materi smiles and waves to Phoenix, giving a relieved nod as ve hears that. He nods to the dragon. "Hello!"
Phoenix bobs his snout to Materi. "Hello to you too. You've certianly changed!" He purrs, and pads over, curling up on his haunches beneath the cube tree for the time being, peering curiously.
Materi smiles and nods, still sitting down in the air despite the more solid appearance now. "Yes, Mel helped me with templates for a fairly realistic biological look... I thought it might simplify my interactions sometimes." Ve smiles. "How does it look?"
Phoenix nods approvingly. "It looks very shiny, very simple, very sleek. On the whole, fitting."
Materi smiles and nods, tail swishing. "Well, thank you. It's quite pleasant, overall. I find biological surfaces rather pleasant," ve states, innocently. "Though I've deprived certain individuals of the apparent fun oof throwing objexts through me."
Phoenix laughs. "Granted. Though that wearsquickly for everyone else, and I can't imagine it being nearly that fun for you." He grins softly and curls his tail under himself in a spiral, and sits on it. "It looks pleasing to the eye, I can say that."
Materi shrugs, leaning back. "It didn't bother me; easy to avoid being actually hit. It was a bit amusing the first time, actually, if only from seeing the reactions."
Phoenix laughs. "I'm sure they wuld have been amusing indeed."
Materi smiles. "The only other problem with this is I can't multitask quite as well. And when I do split off subunits, the sight of it is apparently disconcerting, to some..."
Phoenix chuckles. "They're just not used to multithreading to that extent, I think."
Materi nods. "So, I tend to use both forms, as each situation dictates. I just thought you might be interested in seeing this one, since I mentioned to you early on that I was trying to learn to mimic some organic materials."
Phoenix nods and smiles. "Thank you, dear. You seem to be well on your way already!"
Materi smiles, face betraying a bit of shy surprise at the 'dear' Ve nods, though. "The surface is quite nice.. Not entirely realistic and, well, I've stayed a bit more.. pliable, structurally, than usual for biologicals. But it's nice."
Phoenix nods and smiles. "Flexibility is often an asset. Most people consider it merely in the acrobatic sense, and while I've known that to be employed very skillfully on occassion, flexibility is also in terms of mind and thought and so on."
Materi nods. "I do at least try to maintain all of those. All the better to observe, and all, I feel."
Phoenix grins and nods. "Hear hear!" He prrs and gestures to himself. "This serves much the same purpose. Albeit not a tenth as well as yourself."
Materi nods, with a smile, then headtilt, curious. "YOu don't think joining a faction has inhibited your opportunities for exploration and all?"
Phoenix shakes his head. "On the contrary, it's given me some more opportunities. Bonobian glands render everything more sensitive, not just pleasure. They suppress pain recepters, however. But the result is a heightened awareness, period. Not to mention all kinds of organics see the appeal of a Bonobian lifestyle. Common ties lead to exchange of information."
Materi nods, thoughtfully. "I've chosen less pain in this form than would be strictly accurate, as well.. I felt it might be distracting.. If I have a great need to experience it, I'd like to choose the time, I suppose." Ve pauses. "Does that make sense?"
Phoenix nods and smiles. "Certianly. Pain can be it's own pleasure for some. There is a significant amount of information on the use of pain as an instrument of pleasure, or at least, satisfaction, in the Bonobian databases. But on the whole, most shy away from it. I understand. All in due time."
Reginald climbs out from the hole at the base of the cube tree.
Reginald has arrived.
Reginald doffs his hat, and bows.
Phoenix rumbles to Reginald.
Squizzle says, "Hello, Reginald."
Reginald replaces his hat, and says, "Greetings, Squizzle. How does this day find you?"
Squizzle says, "It seems fairly peaceful overall. What is on your mind today?"
Materi nods, to Phoenix. "I have some references of my own, along those lines. My polis is rather removed from.. physical pleasure as a distinct act, though."
Reginald shrugs. "Not much. Consideration of the morality of an experiment."
Phoenix earperks to Reginald. "Experiment?" He murmurs, and then nods to Materi. "Aye, I see."
Materi glances over to Reginald too, curious.
Reginald nods to Phoenix. "Well, talk about the strangevirus yesterday got me wondering whether my transformation reversing nanomite program would be able to get rid of its infection of a person."
Materi hmms. "That doesn't seem immoral. Isn't the strangevirus invection almost always unwilling?"
Reginald nods again. "Yes. However, once infected, it's almost impossible to find one who would consent to being changed back."
Materi nods. "That's true, but.. that could be considered an imposed state, so.." Ve ruminates, seeming about to continue, but thinking better of it.
Phoenix earperks. "The strangevirus is...difficult at best. The foray I went into the Strangewarp Library to look at was...odd, to say the least. It's invasive and obtrusive and...persistent."
Reginald nods at that. "However, in theory, my creation should be able to reverse it. I am not willing to go become infected, though, to test it."
Phoenix laughs. "Good luck finding someone who -would- be willing."
Reginald shrugs. "A bubbledoll might be. Or an experiencer."
You say, "Why a bubbledoll?"
Reginald says, "They *do* tend to follow orders, even if any sense of self preservation would prevent it."
Materi frowns. "That seems less ethical even than nabbing a random transformed person," ve states, flatly, then winces, regretting it.
Reginald nods, and winces a little. "I suppose that's true. Especially if it didn't work..."
Materi sighs, then, even more bothered. "Err, forget I said anything, perhaps...?"
Reginald shakes his head. "No, you're right. That isn't an option."
Materi flops back, though ve's still floating in the air. "Could you possibly have come to that conclusion on your own?" ve asks the panther, hopefully.
Reginald nods a little. "I suppose I probably would have, if I'd thought about it more."
Materi nods at that, a bit more at ease. "Well, all right. I apologize, I just.. feel it best if I not strictly interfere here. I'm intended to be an observer.."
Reginald arches an eyebrow. "I wouldn't think you'd be able to remain a mere observer for very long."
You say, "I was doing fairly well, so far..."
You say, "You just struck at something that's.. apparently a major part of my morality."
Reginald nods.
You say, "And, well, Clearly I can't stay perfectly uninvolved, particularly not as I interact and all with others here. But I try to keep my place as investigator, interviewer, something like that. Best not to interfere with others' opinions and choices.""
Reginald nods again. "So I see. Are you a member of one of the independent publications, then?"
You say, "None from here. I report back periodically to a polis--an infomorph starship--on my explorations and observations here."
Reginald says, "Ah." He then winks, and continues, "Doing reconnaisance for an invasion, are we?"
Buck climbs out from the hole at the base of the cube tree.
Buck has arrived.
Materi chuckles, but shakes vis head. "I am most likely the extent of the polis' visits here. They're only interested in new experiences, new memes, to enrich their scapes and understanding of the universe."
You say, "There may be further.. tourism, you might call it, but no more than that."

Introduction

2004-01-14T00:10:55Z

This is the personal commentary archive for the being self-designated as Materi, of the polis Evocation, to record vis recordings, observations and thoughts of the Mess area of the Puzzlebox. Recordings of conversations in public areas may be presented here, along with thoughts on individual events and persons. In order to maintain detachment, this must remain private from the Mess inhabitants themselves. It is merely a mental organization tool.

(OOC: So, I'm trying this out too. Logs, maybe some other entries too, when I think of it. It's not actually private, just IC private, hopefully. ;o) OOC stuff will be done like this, or possibly in separate posts with OOC in the heading.)