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[nogiftedone]

[Corbin has survived for more than a hundred years by existing along the margins of society. In fact, it's only recently, within the last 20 years, that he's decided to make a name for himself back home, a decision he has very recently decided was generally a bad idea. By and large, when the Geoarchaeological Professor awoke in the Bay a few days ago, he decided it best not to immediately make his presence known. Instead, he gleaned what information he could from the pamphlets and from the disturbingly Oz-like welcome hologram and got himself settled in as best he could. He knew, of course, that he couldn't hide in this place forever, which was what ultimately prompted this post today.]

I suppose it's time for me to "come out of the closet" as it were. I can assure you this has nothing to do with my sexuality, but rather with my appearance in this city, Genessia, which, through exploration, I've determined resembles a rather large gerbil cage.

As disturbing as that is, I'll not dwell on it at the moment. In the spirit of fairness and as a show of goodwill, I'll even go so far as to introduce myself without first being introduced to you. I am Professor Corbin Fitzmarcus of the Imperial College, London. I'm a Professor of Geoarchaeology. Bully if that means anything to you. If it does not, suffice to say I'm very good with rocks.

While I'm beginning to develop my own theories about this place, I'd like to hear yours, if I may. I wager if you've been here a while, you may sound as through you need an aluminum hat, but we'll see.

Comments

[youfool]

[Wrinkles into a grin]

You see what I mean about romantic scientists. The more I talk to you, the less I believe in first impressions. Though it's a very one-sided talk, isn't it, with all this texting? I should like to do it in the flesh some time; maybe discuss why the Earth, for all its age, is none too articulate.

[nogiftedone]

Why, in the name of all that's sacred, would you think a human creation as mundane as speech would be sufficient for the Earth to convey her meaning? It's you who are limited, fool, not her. She has no reason to speak on so basic a level. It's you who should learn to listen.

[youfool]

[Cracks up]

Hah! You almost had me; here I thought you'd turn out to be some milk-and-water, secular bore. I should've known. Scratch an agnostic, get a pagan, and such a queer pagan at that! Who invokes the 'name of all that's sacred'--a conspicuously absent name--, then claims language is not sacred. As if man invented it like the printing press! It's too incredible.

Well, I can't quite conflate the sacred with the opaque. A tempting association, mind, but not altogether true. But then I believe higher things reside higher; that is, in the heavens, not the earth.

Oh, let no more be said till we both talk face-to-face; it's too good not to dress in speech, mundane or otherwise.

[nogiftedone]

That is assuming, of course, that I would like to speak face to face with you.

"Pagan". As though the word is an insult.

[youfool]

Heh, I hope so. We'll see if pagans can muster hope or any other lovely abstractions. Till then, fare well.

[nogiftedone]

It's amusing to believe the emotion of hope only belongs to followers of one god.