[sent Friday night]

By now, you've probably heard about the necroticorn on Earth. If not, well... surprise! Apparently, there was one! I know this place is our home now, but some of us still have friends and family back in Fall City who could be sick or dying, and the clerics they have there aren't enough.

I already spoke to the Vahishta, and he's willing to provide some clerics to send over if I can set up a stable warp path. I should be able to. I'm not worried too much about that part. Honestly, I'm just surprised he agreed at all.

I'm still trying to find another warp mage who would be willing to help me do this, but as soon as I do, I'm going. Not permanently. I don't want any of you to think I'm abandoning Zenderael because I'm not. I just need to make sure people back in Fall City are okay and I can't do that from here. I'll only be gone a day, if that, and you guys can email me if you need me. If you need me for something more immediate, though, talk to Beatrice Weaver. She's the acting A'zam Mogh at the Library while I've been gone, so treat anything she says as coming from me.

If there's anyone in particular you'd like me to look in on while I'm over there, let me know.

[after CALLING DUNCAN OUT (whatever that means)]

Chisaki:

When we went to New York City and all of those other earth places where I didn't have any fun, I was actually only pretending not to have fun. I didn't care about the earth places very much but I liked being there with you. Even the horrible water park.

You're my favorite earthgirl.

[also after calling Duncan out]

Artemis,

I think that at one point or another you're probably going to get lonely and want to have a friend again, so I thought I would give you a helpful guide, even though we aren't speaking anymore.

It will have to be a quick guide so here is my very best advice:

I have always thought of people as being sort of like puzzles or mysteries to figure out. Maybe that would work for you too because it turns them into problems to be solved.

Try to think of it as a challenge of collecting information about a person without scaring them away. You win if they will entrust you with their deepest secrets and keep trusting you indefinitely.

If you want people to tell you'd about themselves you want them to feel comfortable doing it. Don't insult them every chance you get. Tell them about their good sides. If you don't know what is good about them then try to use logic and observation to figure out what the people who do like them think is good about them.

You can do this, Artemis! I believe in you.

Except you probably don't want to right now and I bet you're insulted that I've suggested it. At least don't delete this message. Please?