IC Contact Post

[mathemagier]

[Screened calls go straight to voicemail, where an impatient recording answers]

You've reached Dr. Hermann Gottlieb. Leave your name, number, and business if you expect a return call. Thank you.

Comments

Texts

[driftsintobuffetline]

[During This]

You left the apartment.

I mean, not that I care.

But I do want confirmation. Testing a theory here.

You feel it too, right?

Text

[mathemagier]

Yes Newton, I left the apartment complex.

And I wish I didn't know what you were referring to.

PAPERS SLID UNDER HERMANN'S DOOR

[driftsintobuffetline]

(Because I'm sure there will be more to come)

August 17th, perhaps

[driftsintobuffetline]

[sometime after this]


Dr. Hermann Gottlieb—

Apologies in advance for this being handwritten, but of course I lack a computer and printer and, to be quite honest, wasn't feeling up to going to the library to print this out. But in the interest of nostalgia, it really only made sense to hand it in to you in a physical form so, that said, you'll have to excuse my handwriting. I promise future correspondence will be conducted in a more professional, type-written manner.

Returning to our earlier conversation, however, I rebut your assertion that our shared connection, our neural bridge, does not qualify as a "power." I contend that your choice of word for us, "awareness," implies a state of being: a consciousness, knowledge, and observation. Power, however, implies action: either the ability to do or act, or the possession of control or authority. Our connection could be considered awareness but the definition is far too limiting. What we have is a cognitive power.

(Unscientific Aside: The fact that our ability could easily be some sort of comic book power clearly says, Hermann: it's a power. And if you are choosing what you consider to be a "power" as actually a "superpower," superpower simply means it exceeds natural or known ability. Even in the case of our post-Drift society, our neural connection cannot be considered within the bounds of normal human function. You and I are superhuman. It's a power, buddy. It is a comic-book superpower.)

For the purposes of discussion, our connection will be defined by its known abilities: radar (proximity detection and general "compass" sensing), empathy (transmission of emotional state), and shared thoughts/memories (what it says on the proverbial tin). Speculated abilities--that we may someday read each other's minds, etc--will be left out.

(Note: I reserve the option to discuss with you any speculated abilities at some point, however.)

Power suggests an ability, an action. Without the ability to turn it off-and-on our connection is more of a passive ability, like an open radio channel, but it is not a one-way broadcast. I am not just transmitting and you are not just receiving; projecting into the void between us is not the extent of our interactions.

As we established in our previous experiments(??), your emotions have a power over me--and vice versa. On multiple occasions, we have triggered each other; a few times we have pulled each other back. I wasn't merely conscious of your feelings and able to choose to react. Instead, with our connection, feelings exert a force: your fear, happiness, sadness, etc directly affects my mood and colors my perception of reality, maybe without me always realizing it, as though suddenly looking through the world with Hermann-Goggles on. Or blinders. Or perhaps more a blindfold with you leading me by the hands. More research under less duress is required.

The ability is passive only in the sense that it is constantly running in the background, but the effects are not passive when applied to us. Your pains--because mind and body are connected--become my own. I suspect my neuroses affect you, or can/will. Our connection is not just an awareness of the other's state. If it was, it wouldn't bother you so much. It would be the usual Newton chatter in the background: an always-on mental radio. (We lived with each other nearly 24/7. Even mental chatter wouldn't be that distracting).

Our connection is a discussion requiring active participating. It is a cause and effect, Newton's First Law put into mental practice: two forces, two objects acting upon each other and when one is unbalanced, the unbalanced force causes the other to respond.

It is also a shared experience. You are not on the outside looking in. You are on the inside--in the same boat, so to say.

Awareness – You are standing in a hallway outside a room. The room is cold and some of the cool air passes out through the open door. Although awareness doesn't automatically suggest understanding, we'll give you the benefit of the doubt: you know a window is open in the room and suspect that is the cause of the frigid temperature. Your parka cuts out the worst of the cold and you are outside of the room anyway. You suggest to the owner of the room that he shut the window. The owner is me.

Power – You're standing in my room. Or maybe we share the room. Maybe we don't know. I'm sure that's very philosophical. We are locked in. It is cold. The window is open. You know exactly which window is the reason the room is cold. Your parka does almost nothing for you; you feel the cold. Maybe you help me close the window.

In the first instance, you are the observer. You are aware of my condition, but it doesn't actively affect you and you can leave if you want. You could ignore it. In the second, you're part of this, whether you want to be or not.

But all of that? That's all largely an argument of semantics. The classification above is playing fast and loose with words that have no actual meaning to either of us as scientists. We're not linguists, Hermann, and the two words are largely unrelated in the actual scheme of things. Besides, I don't have your definitions of the terms or why you label it awareness, so I feel there are unknown variables.

I will, in the interest of not wasting paper back and forth on the subject, concede that the term awareness in psychology deals largely with cognitive abilities and how we perceive and react to the world. Point for you. That doesn't make this thing between us not a power. We're well into para-psychological territory here, though, so I don't think science will be a good backup in our arguments. But power and awareness do not have to be mutually exclusive. We have the power of enhanced awareness? Still a power--a superpower, no less.

The truth is, where do you define the end of awareness and the beginning of power?

It is not a cure-all, it's not a strength skill, it's not even your techno-fixer. But it is a power. It is an ability, one with many uses--and if usefulness if what makes it a power and not just an awareness, then so be it. This is a useful skill. If we can transfer memories, as we saw that we could with the telescope, it isn't entirely unlike uploading data wirelessly from computer to another. There are a multitude of highly useful applications for that.

In retrospect, I take back what I said earlier: I want to discuss speculative abilities here, now. It is not a far leap of the imagination to assume we could go from sharing present-emotions and past-memories to sharing thoughts in the moment. With a power like that, we could do a number of things.

Consider the following:
(a) co-process data like a network of super-computers, because two minds are better than one and our minds are superb
(b) transfer information wirelessly, including abilities (imagine, Hermann, sitting down to a piano and playing Brahms' Hungarian Dance, no. 5 flawlessly with the aid of downloaded memory of mine)
(c) real-time status updates on each other (peace of mind that someone always knows where and how you are…just in case)
(d) out-of-body experience (the ability to perceive the world through each others' senses, as if your mind is in the others body--at the very least provide visual)
(e) mind control (you might be able to control me, and I, you)

We could solve highly complex problems without vocalizing (although this is not an invitation to not talk). We could relay information without speaking (this has spy applications written all over it, not that I'm suggesting we play spy, although we would make killer spies), but it also makes us adaptive in the moment and useful as eyes and ears when mechanical instruments are unavailable. It makes us potentially able to tap into each other's databases of knowledge without the other being present. Even if we cannot send words back and forth, if we can only send fragments of impressions, think about how useful that would be! We are extensions of each other. We could be, essentially, our own two-man hive-mind.

This really comes down to one thing. I would argue, Hermann, that you would prefer it was awareness--that you would rather that definition over "power." It is cleaner, more controlled, to believe you are only observing my emotions and I yours; it is easier to not be involved. I think our argument the other day successfully detailed to us both that it does not seem to matter: there is no going back. The tape has been ripped up. Otachi Jr aside, our lab was our Jaeger.

We cannot just be aware. I'm not Saturn, Hermann, and you're not an astronomer looking from a safe distance. We are, if you prefer it in your language, a binary system, something like particles in quantum entanglement, two parts that act in response to each other. The fact remains that we are irrevocably combined, synchronized, push and pull, two halves of the same piece.

If it's not a power, it at the very least certainly warrants something more than awareness.


I haven't written a letter in so long, I think I'm rusty. Nine/ten years feels like forever. Haven't even written a paper in a long time. I don't even have a proper envelope for you! Next time, promise. But I feel like we should celebrate.

You know, I don't know about you, but I've thought about donating our letters to a museum. The Geiszler-Gottlieb Correspondence was pretty historic. Someday we'll have biographers and I honestly don't know how I feel about that. Maybe I'll keep the letters, leave them guessing. It's more fun if they're left to guess, right?

Those letters were epic, though.

-- Newt Geiszler

October 16 - action. It's presumably a tiny log, if one at all,so here is fine?? They do tiny logs??

[driftsintobuffetline]

[The oversized parka with the fur-lined hood was a neutralish green in color, but still stood out amongst Hermann's equally neutral pallette of sweater vests, coats and slacks. Newt had shoved the parka in amongst existing clothes, trying to keep to whatever order Hermann organized his closet to maximize confusion and minimize immediate detection. He expected Hermann to notice, maybe even to be upset Newt entered the room and touched his things without asking. But the weather WAS getting colder and he couldn't imagine Hermann without the parka. It was part of the landscape of winter and besides, Hermann tended to complain when cold. It was in everyone's best interest, then, that Hermann be outfitted with said jacket.]

here is fiiiine, tiny log science bros

[mathemagier]

[Years of having a parka that very same color, style, and size meant Hermann almost didn't register the addition as new for several moments. It was as he reached for it, fingers cradling the shoulder of the hanger that it occurred to him.

For a moment, the insane thought that it had somehow followed him to another dimension struck him in a burst of hilarity, but sobered before he could do more than crack a smile.

Hermann yanked it out of the closet and laid it out over the foot of his bed, where he examined it for age-old tears and imperfections.

Of course it wasn't the same coat, and the green was just a shade lighter than he remembered, but that meant it had either materialized in his closet while he slept, or someone had slipped it in the night before.

As his fingers drifted over the waterproof fabric, the only real question he had was why- several of those in fact. The gesture was a kind one, if flawed in its execution, and considerate with no clear motivation. The first was typical of his drift partner, but the second vexing.

Perhaps Newton had deciphered his own thoughts at some point, and had simply taken the initiative? Given the man had gone to some length to avoid giving it to him directly however, should he even mention it?

Hermann surveyed it a final time, then turned and headed out of his bedroom and down the hall toward Newton's. There, he hesitated, uncertain once again, and gave a few brief knocks on the door]

Text

[orions_shadow]

we have plans for the bed

Text

[mathemagier]

Were you able to secure a sufficient amount of oak?

Dec 17

[driftsintobuffetline]

[A little after this]

....Han Solo, huh? =D

[mathemagier]

Yes, 'science' Han Solo. It's strangely apt.

[the morning of 12/25]

[timecapture]

[Hermann gets a nice green scarf and some cookies. Also, a card! Merry Christmas.]

CHRISTMAS DELIVERY

[pobrecisco]

[ When Hermann gets back to work at StarkTech after Christmas, he'll find a $5 giftcard to the coffee shop nearest work and a free movie ticket at his work station with a cute card reading "Happy Holidays!" and Cisco's messy signature. ]

January 2nd, 2016 - action

[driftsintobuffetline]

[Right after this, to spare their inboxes]

[Newt huffed and sighed, throwing himself up off the couch and stomping after him.]

What is your PROBLEM? [He doesn't spare Hermann any personal space and gets right up close, almost cutting off his access to the sink for water for his tea.]

What am I supposed to say to reassure you, because whatever it is, consider it said. I don't know why you're so fucking insecure. You're not losing your identity--he's not infringing upon your...inherent Hermann Gottliebness. You still have the market cornered on this whole grumpy, old-man-clothes-wearing math nerd thing and you're the only guy here who can code a Jaeger. Who cares if he is, for all intents and purposes, your twin? Because look around, Hermann. [He made a sweeping gesture that took in their kitchen.]

You're the only one this really bothers and let's do this, let's have it out, because if we don't deal with this now, we're going to be dealing with it in Hong Kong and I was honestly looking forward to a vacation for once!

[mathemagier]

My problem. [Waspish in the way it's said, low and harsh. He almost shoves Newton away from him, and the words 'old man' cut a lot deeper than they used to.

Oh, but everything else Newton says only makes it worse. Hermann does pause, because he really doesn't want to ruin their vacation. They've been looking forward to it for so long, and he was hoping..]

Well I'm glad my concerns aren't important, particularly when the subject matter is very personal. I didn't ask you to come after me, and I certainly don't need your form of reassurance. Sod off and find something more relevant to your interests if I'm troubling you so much!

January 10 2016 - After the conversation with Manolo

[driftsintobuffetline]

[After they hung up the phone with Manolo, Newt made room on the bed, scooting away from the edge and into the middle of the bed, and then drew Hermann's legs up onto the mattress so that he was situated lengthwise along it. He placed a hand on Hermann's chest and gently pushed him back onto the bed, leaning down with him.] So, hey, you've gotta be pretty tired with all that teleporting, Doctor. How about you relax for a bit.

[He gave a cheeky grin before starting to unbutton Hermann's shirt, leaving kisses along the collar, then down his chest and stomach.] Relax and let's pick up where we left off. Why DO you prefer to introduce me as Doctor Geiszler?

[Newt had always associated his title with not fitting in, no longer being cool and accessible to people (not that his personality helped make him accessible)...and with his mother. With his mother, who never called, never sent birthday cards, never spent time with him--but liked to tell her friends and colleagues how her son was a Doctor. Many times over. He was something worth bragging about, but not something worth loving in person.

But Hermann called him Doctor, Newt assumed (hoped), because he respected Newt and wanted others to respect Newt as well, and if he was bragging, it was different. Infinitely different. Because, at least Newt hoped, it was because Hermann was proud of him and all he was--as a friend, as a colleague, as partner would be (not that Newt had ever done anything to deserve that pride)--and not because his achievements made Hermann look better by association. And not, as Newt had often figured in the past, because Hermann was embarrassed by his antics and at least if people knew he was a Doctor, Newt was just weird, eccentric, and didn't make Hermann look bad by association, either.

Just tell me you like me.]

[mathemagier]

[He's not tired- or at least, not unbearably so, but about when Newton begins to unbutton his shirt, Hermann's decided to withhold his protests to the contrary. Oh, the man certainly knows his weaknesses by now. Newton's mouth is sinful when it's not talking and his breaths come a little faster under the attention.

But of course, Newton can never resist, and he raises his eyes to meet the green ones hovering over his stomach. It's such a powerful image that he almost loses the thread of conversation entirely.

Newton, fishing for compliments, right. Well he can give him those if he wants to work for them]

Everyone underestimates you, Newton. It's.. my way of telling them they're wrong.

Jan 17 2016

[driftsintobuffetline]

[ after this ]

So then, what would have been the argument against?

[mathemagier]

Well we were both rather disillusioned during those few years we fell out of contact. I would have talked about how it's often propagated that there's 'one' person in the world that's perfect for everyone. When in fact, when relationships end, there are always new ones to be made. Perhaps it is not the same kind of love, as remarried widower types will often say- but it's no less for it.

The drift is heavily romanticized of course- for good reason I suppose- but pilots can be compatible with more than one person. There are several arguments there, particularly where limited data sets are concerned, but it only would have served as an example.

Jan 21, audio

[superposition]

[Qubit's not sure why Newt sent him word to pass along instead of (or in addition to?) just contacting Hermann himself, but.]

Have you heard from Newt? I just got a message from him.

[mathemagier]

Yes. Yes, he's messaged me. I've told him to send me daily updates.

[And hell if he doesn't still sound relieved about that]

January 21

[driftsintobuffetline]

From Russia with love I fly to you
Much wiser since my goodbye to you
(something something, I can't remember the rest of the lyrics)
I must return
From Russia with love.

Just checking in. Is this the evening check-in or morning? idek anymore.
Not seeing the sun is wreaking havoc on my sense of time.

[mathemagier]

Not that you even know you're in Russia.

[But he tries (and fails) to sound anything but fond. For the first time in 20-some odd hours, Hermann lets himself step away from his work]

And if you're in outer space, you won't exactly be having ordinary days even if you could see outside. Fewer people are beginning to believe that's the case, but even so, we should work to rule it out. I'm trying to land a camera on the moon, you know. I think I've nearly got it worked out.

But more importantly- how are you today, Newton?

January 22

[driftsintobuffetline]

You there?

[mathemagier]

Newton! [Like a man that forgot about something important]

Oh I am sorry, Newton. Since I posted that document, I've been rather busy. I've got someone in orbit checking for a space shuttle or station just to be sure, and I've also been working with Mr. Jones to optimize a set of sea-worthy scanners using modified bits of our own technology..

Ah and Qubit wrote an encryption algorithm to keep the data we wanted secured, so you also got locked out of that.

[Was he always this talkative? He can't recall]

You'd mentioned significant submarine training areas, correct? As relevant to Earth's history as we know it. Unfortunately, I don't recall much about naval warfare. Pearl Harbor was perhaps the most noted example, but not quite relevant and I couldn't tell you too much of the specifics about the submarines anyway.

As for submarine life in general, well I have come up with a few things, although they're not tests per se..

audio; before the 20th

[matadorable]

Hi, Dr. Gottlieb. This is Manolo. I hope you and Dr. Geiscler are doing well. Oh, and Liebling, of course! Anyway, are you and Dr. Geiszler free on the night of the 25th?

[mathemagier]

Good afternoon, Manolo. So far as I'm aware, we do not have any plans for that evening.

January 23

[driftsintobuffetline]

[In German for added security]

Why it never occurred to me we could use our minds to do voice/video and not just text, I don't know. But I thought I'd give it a go.

[mathemagier]

[Oh it's so good to hear Newton's voice again. It's been three days but it feels like a year. He follows along smoothly in German]

I was beginning to wonder when I might really hear from you. Are you going to answer if I ask how you are today?

action; Jan 24th

[medalsome]

[Again Joaquin finds himself at the StarkTech lab in De Chima. It's later in the day than his last visit; this time he brought a bowl of soup, a salad, and a fruit cup for Hermann. He only had water this time but he figured Hermann wouldn't mind that. Joaquin had already eaten so now he just had to wrangle the frazzled scientist into settling down.]

Hermann! It's me... again. Won't you take a moment to sit and eat?

[mathemagier]

[Hermann's at his chalkboards muttering to himself about probabilities over the sharp tapping of his writing. There's a world map taped up nearby with circles drawn in red ink over various areas around and within the Russian landmass.

The sound of his name gives him pause, and he finishes up a line of numbers before he turns on his ladder. Joaquin has food, and his stomach battles with his mind for priority. He's in the middle of something important (when isn't he these days?) but it's true that his body needs food and in truth, he's still not much closer in locating the captives. The realization has his lips pressing into a tight pinch of frustration, and he turns his head to glare at the map for vexing him while simultaneously willing it to show him some clue of their whereabouts- anything to work from.

But he sighs and begins to descend the ladder, sets his chalk down and grabs up his cane. He heads for his desk, where both chairs have yet to move since Joaquin's first visit]

Four days and all we know for certain is that they're not being held in outer space. Which only leaves the much of rest of the world to cover, of course. We don't know anything but where they aren't.

Delivery! 2/14

[timecapture]

[Hello, science uncle! Have a card that's actually been made by Max, containing a sweet note, and a batch of cookies.]

March 14

[driftsintobuffetline]

Happy Pi Day, nerd.

[mathemagier]

[Warm fuzzies. He hadn't really expected Newton to know about it at all, much less say something]

We should buy one to celebrate. In the mood for any flavor in particular?

3/28, later that night

[medalsome]

I hope you got home safe.

3/29, midday

[medalsome]

I'm sorry how things worked out last night. Really, I am.

April 18 - voice

[driftsintobuffetline]

What's the sexiest part of the human body? Or most intimate? Besides the obvious, of course.

I need to know. For science.

permavoice probably

[mathemagier]

What? Please clarify your inquiry if you'd like a relevant answer.

Each are individual texts/forwarded links

[driftsintobuffetline]

You want to live in Farmville? - God, I hated that game. My uncle was obsessed with it.

Away from everything, it sounds like.

I kind of like this one

You know you want a pink house...

Downstairs masterbedroom!!!

This one is pretty cute.

Those windows, that deck! ...when did I become this type of person.

text;

[mathemagier]

You're looking at real estate listings already, Newton?

( audio )

[sidequestings]

[ the voice is a little cautious and uncertain, largely because mahanon.. still isn't particularly comfortable with the communicator. ]

Good day. My name is Mahanon Lavellan, and Lord Vorkosigan sent me your information. He said that you might be interested in-- [ he falters, because he's not?? really sure how to address this?? ] Well. I can open and close rifts in.. another.. dimension, he called it, and he said that you had experience with something similar. He thought you might be.. interested in that, and I admit that I'd like to speak to you. If possible.

[ a beat, then a little more firmly: ] Thank you for your time.

voice

[mathemagier]

[Well this is unexpected. But it is a matter of great interest]

Hello, Mr. Lavellan. I'm Doctor Gottlieb, a theoretical physicist. Yes, I have encountered a dimensional rift previously, in my world. An utterly fascinating discovery, albeit with significant drawbacks.

If you're interested in a meeting, I'm located at StarkTech in De Chima during regular work hours in the biotechnological division. But if that doesn't work for you, we could certainly sort something else out.

5/29 ish, before rescue things; audio

[dendarii]

[ Miles voice over the comm is calm but tinged with desperation. If he can't get help from Hermann, he'll find other options, but please, please let this work ... ]

Dr. Gottlieb? I am in dire need of your assistance.

audio;

[mathemagier]

Dire?

[Excuse the moment of confusion, because he's a mathematician and not exactly anyone's first call in serious situations]

Er yes, of course. How can I assist you, Mr. Vorkosigan?

June 19

[driftsintobuffetline]

[Liebling eventually makes it up onto the couch beside Hermann as Newt had hoped, and she demands with a couple attempts to climb into his lap that he move his laptop out of the way. Attached to her collar is small velvety satchel like is often used for jewelry. Inside the satchel are two pairs of cufflinks--one NASA themed and one set that are made to resemble an old science rocket. Also, a small slip of paper that says "happy pawpaw day" and a inkprint of her paw.]

[mathemagier]

[It's difficult to resist her furred face when she wants attention. The way she demands affection is just so sweet and well-intentioned that after only two half-hearted attempts to keep her from crawling onto his laptop, Hermann saves his work and closes it, setting it on the coffee table. He pats his lap and she strolls right in, brushing against his chest and kneading into his legs, complete with a fluffy tail in his face.

It's when she's finally turned to settle down that he notices the pouch, and murmuring a senseless query to her, leans in a bit to work it free. He pats her head for being so good and smiles as she starts to preen.

Pawpaw day. Hermann stares at the paper and it takes several moments for his brain to connect the dots. Father's Day. Well, that's a bit of a stretch, but it's most certainly adorable and the cufflinks are incredibly thoughtful.

And while he appreciates his darling's gifts and delivery, the real benefactor is a hallway and room away and there's a cat on his lap. So it's with a bit of work that he plucks up his phone to text]

Very cute Newton thank you.

6/25-ish

[dendarii]

Dr. Gottlieb? I owe you my deepest apologies.

[mathemagier]

[He'd wondered if/when this was coming. Late, but it hadn't been at the immediate behest of Newton and certainly better than never. Hermann had actually grown somewhat fond of Miles despite not taking to him well at the start.

But that didn't mean he wasn't still sometimes an asshole about it]

And something of a proper congratulations, I expect.