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

text;

[resoundingpledge]

[ It's a good half hour later—

It's thirty one minutes and forty two seconds, a time that she's spent alternately being very aware of each of those seconds, and staring at the 'Send' button at the bottom of the screen

—when a text lands in Hermann's inbox. ]

Dr. Gottlieb?

Do you know what technomancy is?

text;

[mathemagier]

Yes, a friend of mine has that ability. And one of my others did before she left, actually. Is that one of your abilities?

[resoundingpledge]

No. I don't really know anything about it besides the name.

You don't sing, so I wondered if it was one of yours.

[mathemagier]

No. I can teleport and manipulate and port objects. I'm an engineer, programmer, and theoretical physicist of the mostly mundane sort.

I may not have technomancy, but I did major in computer science, so I don't mind building tech with my own hands.

[resoundingpledge]

I don't think I've ever heard of mundane theoretical physics.

I don't mind building things either. It wasn't really a question about that though, there's nothing I'm trying to build. Not right now. It was more just something in the file they gave me when I got here.

[mathemagier]

Well it's all abstract mathematics. 'Utter nonsense' in the minds of most.

But if you don't mind my asking, what are you looking for?

[resoundingpledge]

[ 'Someone to talk to'.

She stares at that a moment (four seconds). Erases it. Tries again. ]

I don't know.

Theoretical physics isn't nonsense. To me, I mean. It's physics. Even when it's abstract, you're trying to describe and quantify parts of the world, right? Of the universe, even, multiple universes, things so big that we don't even have the words to talk about them

or things so small

or things that are really complicated

but the hard part about inventing a language for those things is that you're the only one who speaks that way. No matter how much it means to you, it doesn't have any meaning to anyone else

[mathemagier]

Why don't you come by the lab sometime, Miss Sumeragi? We can work on divining these languages of yours.

[resoundingpledge]

I'd like that. If you don't mind, I mean. I'd like to meet you.

I think I'd like learning your languages too.

Where's your lab, Dr. Gottlieb?

[mathemagier]

I work at Starktech in De Chima. I work in the biotech lab with Dr. Geiszler.

I look forward to collaborating with you.

[resoundingpledge]

Dr. Geiszler—is that Mr. Newton?

[mathemagier]

Yes. He has an unfortunate inability to keep to himself, but I've worked with him for years. He shouldn't be too much of a disruption to our work.

[resoundingpledge]

I don't mind disruptions. Especially if he's your partner.

[mathemagier]

Fair enough. Just don't feel obligated to put up with him if he gets too obnoxious.

Newton and I typically work an ordinary schedule on the weekdays, but it's not unusual for us to turn up on the weekends if you'd prefer.

[resoundingpledge]

There's no school in the summer here. And I don't know if I'll be going back, so

Weekdays are fine, if it's all right to take some time out of your day

[mathemagier]

Certainly. Visitors are no hardship, and often assist in furthering an area of work.

I look forward to meeting you, Miss Sumeragi. Drop by anytime.

[resoundingpledge]

I will.

Thank you, Dr. Gottlieb.