The X-Project

See, that just makes it more interesting. I was gonna ask about the culture anyway.

Hey, does this mean we should call you Professors? :)

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Neither Professor, Professors, nor Prof, and if I thought I could get the more formally-inclined among you to stop calling me Mr. Dayspring... well, suffice to say that I would really like that. Really. I have this ingrained cringe-reflex.

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S'pose "Sir" would be wiggy too?

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I was about as far from regular military as you can get, so we weren't big on the normal honorifics.

Really, just plain old 'Nathan' is good. I'm not going to get shirty.

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Oh, I didn't think you would. I'm just seeing how far I can push the cringe reflex. :)

I'm going to have to start calling my cousin Nate "Jack" more, though, to avoid all possible confusion.

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I am still definitly interested, though the - I do not think it is irony, perhaps appropiateness of me learning a language from the future -from- people from the future does not at all escape me.

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But you know, they have specific vocabulary to deal with precognition? Another whole tense, actually.

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That has to make conjugating verbs a bit odd.

There are/were Askani precognitives? Speaking of tense - that was a terribly awkward sentence to try to think out. It does not make sense easily in any language.

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x-skin.livejournal.com

Still interested, absolutely.

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Ooh. Yay! Askani classes! Taught by members of Clan Askani! Eee! *bounce*

And did I mention the other thing that I've been thinking about from that dream I had? The staff thingy? Shalmatar, I think it's called?

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I thought I might play a little this summer, and try and build some of their specialized... I want to say tools, but that would be thoroughly dishonest because I know damned well they're weapons. I was having a very interesting conversation with one of the Clan weaponsmiths about the different between shalmatars and psimitars. The former might be interesting to use in self-defense practice, but the potential of the latter is kind of... well, fun to think about.

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Hm. Psimitar? Interesting. I'm gathering that those are for use by psis? Dunno that those would work for me...except that the psi-proof Box helped negate my power enough during The Cicada Incident (and they're almost gone, thank god!), so it might be something to experiment with...

Either way, I've always been a sucker for martial arts with staff weapons. Like that scene with Keanu Reeves in Matrix Reloaded where he's batting all those Smith clones around with the metal pole. Not precisely realistic, but fun to watch.

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Very helpful for those of us who have problems hitting things, too. Yay, tool-using! Yay, opposable thumb!

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I'd make some crack about tool-using and opposable thumbs, but that would probably just subject me to more shenanigans with electronics, wouldn't it.

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Or I'd just leave my quarterstaff where it'll fall on you unexpectedly.

Uhm. Once I get a new one.

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But I'm almost certain at this point that I could build you a shalmatar to play with. It's basically a powered and unpowered version of the same weapon.

I actually have a number of clansmen figuratively lining up to teach me fighting techniques once I have two good legs again. All in self-interest, of course. They don't want me having another month like May...

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You watch that movie a -lot-, dear. Have you found any secret messages yet?

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I'm still working on it. Seeing if the Matrix code stuff really has anything in it. :) Am such a nerd.

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You are indeed a nerd. But you are a terribly cute nerd, so I cannot complain all that much.

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Is your use of that icon code for "Doug, dear, you're spending too much time on the computer, and you should come find me so we can have some private time"?

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Would I do that?

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Yes. Yes, you would.

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This is, I believe, the pot calling the kettle black.

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Hey, I made no accusations, I was just making an interpretation of your use of that particular icon, and asking if it was the correct one.

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Yes, it was.

You used the band icon. You know what that icon does to me.

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x-dazzler.livejournal.com

Will be there. ;)

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~You'd better be. I'm still not certain that the children will all handle me switching from personality to personality quite as easily as they seem to think they will. I may need you to help prevent a mass flight from the room.~

~I'm really not sure about this idea. I suspect I'll feel like an ill-used... no word in Askani.~ Marionette. ~After the fact, I mean.~

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x-dazzler.livejournal.com

~You'll do fine and it will all go well. I really don't think the Askani will want to scare the children off, but if it makes you feel better, dishing out a warning beforehand won't hurt. They're solid, although seeing me take it in stride will likely help, yes. Look at it this way - we can always leave the door open and make sure no one hops out a window unless you're using a first floor room, that's all.~

~The history/cultural basis will be useful. A lot of the language is steeped in such references - Askani gave me a lot of what I needed, but now and then I stop and wonder what some of the idioms refer to.~

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xp_daytripper

I'll still be in Spain that day. Still, I can always bug you for a repeat session when I get back, right?

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And like I said, we probably won't start learning the language beyond 'Hello' and 'Sit down and shut up!' until next week...

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Best to cover the basics first, right? :)

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These historians are very scary people. Apparently they liked settling differences of interpretation by duelling, and every single one of them who's speaking tomorrow was a diplomat and/or spy as well.

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That does not sound at -all- like anyone I know.

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The basics?

Like "ta'amariya"?

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*melts*

...yes, that's an excellent place to start.

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