Salme @ Luĉja

I’m sorry I haven’t had the chance to ask you in person, Luĉja, but I was wondering if you’d be willing to help me make burgers for the group? I have sourced a portable grill from the Academy, and I will get gathering the requisite ingredients over the course of the next few days. However, I’m unfamiliar with the concept of a burger, and while Jorule told me what ingredients I’d need, I’ve never actually made one before. Since Aurelius told me they have burgers on the Beast, I was wondering if you’d be willing to help.

Also, perhaps, if there are any toppings, sauces, or sides that are traditional, that would be good to know?

Hello Friend-Salme! I am still learning how to use this device well. It is rather small for someone me-sized, and I find myslef frequently hitting the wrong buttons. But yes, I am always happy to assist. Though Aurelius will likely laugh on you asking an Endjinn for help cooking. ^_

Burgers are a very popular and highly customizable food item on the Beast. The steps common to burgers are:

Mince beef into a fine, pebble like texture - my understanding is that this is done because the first burgers were made iwth meat of a quality that made is less suitable for eating as a steak. But I am no Iron Chef. Then, form a hand-sized disc of the minced beef - different chefs will tell you different thicknesses of the disc are correct. Generally, the cheaper the meat, the thinner the disc, and a heavier reliance on toppings. If your disc is finger-thick or more, press a small indentation into the top of it. I am unaware of the reason behind this superstition, but the humans swear by it.

Toast the bread - The humans call these ‘buns,’ but as far as I can tell, they are simply a bread roll cut in twain. Traditionally quite soft. The humans have strict toasting requirements. Do not blacken the bread - this is generally considered unacceptable for consumption (Though, I personally, find no issue with the flavor - it tastes more like fire!)

Cook the burger - Light the fire, place the grill over it, and place the meat discs onto the grill. I believe humans usually use long handled metal tools for this - the fire is quite hot. Once the bottom of each burger is cooked (but again, not blackened, per standard human preferences), flip the burger, and cook the other side. At this point, many people place a slice of cheese upon the burger, allowing it to melt.

Place the burger upon one half of the toasted bun. From here, add toppings to your heart’s content! Many humans prefer some form of greenery atop their burger, but are fairly specific about which - not any leaves will do! Many plants that are acceptable in salads are also acceptable as burger toppings. I cannot claim to understand the constraints, as my sense of ‘taste’ is quite different. I, personally, would put some of the hottest peppers that I have sequestered from my time with the Whisker Clan atop a burger.

Optional - Sauces: Many people prefer a variety of sauces on their burger before placing the top bun. The most popular is a reduction of the red savory fruit - the tomato. Others include a sauce made from ground mustard seeds, or a mixture of oil and eggs, beaten together.

I shall remain available for further consultation and if you require it, would happily help with the cooking process.

Further notes on burgers that you may enjoy, Friend-Salme. The burger is just as much the particular form as it is the type of ingredients, for many. Burgers have been made out of a variety of meats and meat alternatives - the field of Burgercraft is rife with experimentation (all the better to offend traditionalists with - to be of the Beast is to change, and the Beast changes, surely too, must the burgers it serves.) Other meats are often substituted, with little change to the process. For a vegetable based burger,one can mash together various legumes to approximate a patty.

The cheese selection is also highly customizable, and often changed to pair with the other toppings. The finer details of flavor pairings are lost on one such as I, however. The rest of the party appears to greatly enjoy cheese, and may have thoughts on which kind is best to serve.

It is also common practice to “double stack” a burger, by repeating the assembly steps with an intervening piece of bread in the middle. Although far more structurally unstable and slightly more difficult to consume, the ability to hold even more ingredients is a compelling feature for many a burger enthusiast.

Thank you, Luĉja! I’ve been able to implement most of your advice. The cooking will happen on Tulinsuojat, so hopefully you’ll be prepared to help me with it! I think I have the bread-toasting down, but I want to make sure the patties get cooked correctly.

I think the burgers were a success! Thank you so much for your assistance!

I did want to check in and see how you were doing, though, after Jorule’s big truth-drop. Wolf and Archie took it hard, I think, but you’re harder to read. I just wanted to know that … if you do need to talk, I’m here?

Thank you, Friend-Salme. I cannot say that I am unfazed by Jorule’s Truth That Burns, but I am not laid particularly low by it. It raises strange, likely unanswerable questions about the laws of reality and the universe itself, which, had we not our worlds to save, would be fascinating to dig into. Life is not altogether unlike a story to begin with. The six of us clearly existed prior to the…spiritual interruption, perhaps? The worlds remember you and we each other. Whether or not we have an audience, were an audience, or will become one…the show must go on. Though, if I am fortunate enough to exist after saving the worlds, I must admit I would very much like to sit down with every text you, Archie, Caion, and Jorule can find and make some sense of it. I trust that you are well, and that if you are not, you will find one of us.

Life is not unlike a story, no. I would go so far as to argue that, in some sense, it is a story, that the only meaning or coherence we’re given is the story we tell about ourselves. Er. Though that probably tells you a lot about my take on it.

I am glad you’re doing well, but I do have to wonder why you take your continued existence as an uncertainty, while you hold the rest of our continued existence as a certainty?

I am also always willing to entertain the unanswerable questions about the laws of reality and the universe itself, even if they are not answerable.

I am well. I’ve had a lot of time to grow accustomed to this truth, and it’s one I found … freeing more than upsetting. Perhaps that sounds strange, but if it’s a story, you can change it.

I fear you misunderstand me. I understand that existence is a finite thing. My continued existence seems (unfortunately) more certain than yours. There are no records of Endjinn dying of natural causes. Humans and meta-humans are not so long-lived. Without the inherent dangers of saving worlds, eventually, you will pass on, and I will honor your memory until such a time as I do. But so far, in order to discover what we need (at least, I hope that we are on the right path) we have traveled to the deepest, most secret parts of Almachadta and Samudra. It would seem likely that on the Beast, we will do so as well.

To me, that place seems naturally to be the Deepforge, where I was made. And, someday, where I will be un-made. I hope that it is not a requirement to save the Beast, but if it is, it will be the easiest choice I have ever made. But I only know where, not when. It could be far in the future, after we have succeeded at our task. It could be next week, but that seems most unlikely, given that my purpose is yet unfulfilled.

Knowing that (again, barring cosmic forces that I currently do not understand) I could not have perished while here, or on Almachadta, Samudra, or even most places on the Beast (all places but one, really), has ingrained a certain recklessness with my own safety that I believe has frustrated you in the past. Safe to say, my safety is assured - which is why I am happy to be a shield for any who are in danger. For I am, generally speaking, not in danger. Your worries are appreciated, Friend-Sister, but fear not. I will remain.

Oh. That makes … sense. A terrible sort of sense, but sense. Thank you for trusting me with this, Luĉja. I believe, for what it’s worth, that the time of your unmaking will not come with this trip to the Beast. Whether it happens during the course of this story is less of a given than I would like. But it just means we must treasure the moments we have together, doesn’t it?

I do tend towards … an overprotective steak, I think. I am trying to figure out how to modulate that, because it’s harmed people more than it’s helped. I think you, at least, can understand wanting to protect the people you’ve grown to love after being alone for so long?

On a lighter note, I did want to ask if you’d like the glyph for burning resonance. Melpomene gave it to me, and I shared it with Aurelius. It is yours as much as it is his—he put it in the library for anyone to take, but I thought … I don’t know, that I’d ask outright.

On an even lighter note, is it true that … most Endjinn do wear clothes and you’ve just decided to go without? Aurelius mentioned that to me recently. I didn’t realize you were a nudist, Luĉja!

Very much so. Let us stand together to protect them, Friend-Salme. I also do not believe that this will be my unmaking, but it felt rude to omit the fact when you specifically asked about my views on mortality.

I would welcome the ability to speak with my old voice, if that is something you could provide me. I did not find it when perusing the library. But, if it is not, then it is well. I am sure I will find it if I need it. Change does not bother me overly.

I have worn clothes before. I just don’t think they do anything to hide the fact that I am a seven foot tall machine. An overcoat does not help me blend in. When I roamed the beast, I often had a serape to help keep the dust out of my gears. I do not have reproductive organs to cover, nor do I experience temperature in the same way or perhaps to the same degree as you. Endjinn wear clothes to fit in amongst humans. For a long time, I did not. But I continue to wear the cloak you have fashioned me. For now I do once more.

I appreciate the knowledge. I always do.

The glyph for speaking with Burning gnosis is ⚗. If that doesn’t render properly it’s Jorule’s fault and I’ll find a way to share it elsewhere. I still need to share the Flourishing glyph with you and Aurelius too.

Ah. Well, I suppose that makes sense regarding the clothing. There are certain people on Almachadta who eschew clothes generally, despite being human or metahuman. They view it as an unnatural separation from nature, which is perhaps true, but I also have never found nature to be all it’s cracked up to be. Or rather—it’s a beautiful thing, but so is cooked food and not getting dirt in sensitive places. I’m rambling though. I am glad you like the cloak.

My fingers are not well suited to this devcie. But I have added to the Dream-Whales in the library. Would you also like a separate page for when I spoke to the Architect? Or would that fit elsewhere?

If you would be willing to share your experiences with the Architect, I, at the very least, would appreciate the additional information. I would create a separate folio, though?

Thank you, by the way.

Hello Friend-Salme. Do you have a moment to spar? I could use a bit of head-clearing. It feels like there’s a lot of extra things up here lately.

I have accessioned the memory of our duel in the library for others to find but … what is your stance on people knowing about the time of your unmaking in the Deepforge? Aury mentioned we might be headed there this trip. I do not think. I do not think you will be unmade here, but. I don’t know how you feel about us taking precautions, or even knowing?

I am unworried. I trust my companions not to stop me if it is my time and I trust that you will trust that I will under no circumstances, take an early exit. My work is not yet done.

I challenged Jae to a 1-on-1 duel. I’m going to get answers with [Libra] no matter what.

Give me your blessing and your strength.