IC contact

[thirtybits]

"This is Judah's voicemail, no need to leave your number, I'll reply as soon as I can."



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[depicted]

[After working out who 'Yaakov' and 'Yohanan' must be, he slips, however uncomfortably, back into Hebrew.] I didn't expect Arabic. A lot of speakers in the area?

[thirtybits]

[For Dorian's sake, he goes back to English. It's thrilling to revisit his mother tongue, but he doesn't want to make Dorian work too hard to entertain him that way.] Yeah, most of the Jews of my region came from around Egypt, and others besides. And maybe only half of us were Jewish there, while Galilee was pretty much one hundred percent, and all native to Judea.

[depicted]

And here I thought my home country was a linguistic mess. [Though it all gets translated anyway—eerie to notice, now that Kido has pointed it out to him—he can hear the difference in how Judas talks. He places his hand over Judas's.] Thank you for tolerating that. I didn't often get the chance to practice my Hebrew. Most of my friends were pure Hellenists.

[thirtybits]

[He shakes his head, laughing a little.] It was awful when I joined that group, I didn't know Phoenician, and most of them didn't speak much Hebrew. We were piecing things together with broken mixtures of those two and Latin. Or Jesus would have to translate everything.

[He lights up with another shake of his head, placing his other hand over top of Dorian's.] Tolerating it? I thought you were the one tolerating it for me. No one speaks my language with me, it was great! I'm pretty impressed you've retained it so well, especially with your circle being as it was.

[depicted]

Ah, then Hebrew severed us both from our groups. I more by choice, of course. [So Dorian makes the effort to return to Hebrew again. It is difficult, but that doesn't make it unworthwhile.] I enjoy it.

[thirtybits]

Yeah, even though it was the same country and a short distance, the Judah region was pretty far removed from Galilee. [Well, he certainly won't complain about the language being decided upon.] Do you? It's not as if it's a particularly 'nice' language.

[depicted]

[Dorian simply likes the way Judas seems to prefer using it, and hearing it.] The beauty in a language, that comes from how it is used. Language is sound. It is our work to make it music, not to make it noise.

[thirtybits]

[Judas is more attentive and bright with every word. It's just the same as what his clothes or name do to him, amplified for its continued use.] What do you mean?

[depicted]

[Hebrew lessons at Cambridge did not cover the kind of things Dorian is trying to say now. He works out each sentence in his head before trying to say it.] Sound is sound. Ugly or beautiful. Any language is harsh. Any language is pleasant. You work to make it one or the other. Like with— [No, he definitely doesn't have this one. He is pretty sure it wasn't a word in ancient times and he has no idea what it would be called now, and he doesn't know the general term for an 'instrument.' So he mimes the playing of a piano.] Your skill decides if your song is ugly or beautiful.

[thirtybits]

[It takes a moment to see what Dorian's going for, but when Judas realises, he nods. 'Piano' comes to him in English or Japanese, the same word either way, but he realises he has no Hebrew for it. Not alltogether surprising, but odd to think.] I see. Well, then your skill makes it pleasant to me.

[depicted]

[Dorian's smile expresses his disbelief.] Very little skill. It is merciful of you to take that attitude to it.

[It doesn't matter if he is good or bad at it. What matters is Judas's expression.]

[thirtybits]

Not at all, you're good at it! It's been ages since I've heard or used it myself, so it's not as if I'm any better. [He could not have anticipated how happy this would make him. And certainly doesn't realise his own expression.]

[depicted]

Nonsense. It is your mother's tongue. [It's good that a lot of his Hebrew was learned from the Bible because that gives a pretty big vocabulary, really.] Don't tell me you only use Japanese in modern times.

[thirtybits]

We live there, what else would we use? Sometimes they speak Latin, but, well...not with me so much.

[depicted]

I spoke English with Englishmen when I was in France. And when I was in Singapore, for that matter.

[The joys of being a former Imperial power: a feeling of linguistic entitlement.]

[thirtybits]

Yes, but most of the Apostles don't speak Hebrew. I'm an outsider in all ways, remember?

[depicted]

I remember. [He grips Judas's as if to bring him in.] But Yeshua knows it.

And I always assumed that Satan would taunt you in your own tongue.

[Accidentally forgetting that Satan is also an actual Hebrew word.]

[thirtybits]

Yes, but I'm never alone with him, it would be rude to speak something Buddha or who ever else is around doesn't understand.

[He immediately assumes satan in the sense of 'opposition'. So, Rome, right?] And as for them, that was still ages ago. But no, they mostly used Latin.

[depicted]

[Okay, he can take that point.

But what? Lucifer uses Latin? Or Judas is using plural. That is plural, right? Yes. It must be. His Hebrew is not that off. So all of the demons?] Latin? All of them?

[thirtybits]

Well, yes, mostly. Some had to know Hebrew or whatever else was used where they were assigned. We couldn't have communicated at all otherwise, right?

[depicted]

[the joys of miscommunication]

So people who don't speak Latin or Hebrew just end up very confused during their torment? I suppose it's all right in Judecca, but I'm told the higher circles are full of Italians.

[thirtybits]

Judecca? [Judas looks very confused for a long moment. And then what's going on hits him.] Oh. No, I was talking about the soldiers. You meant Lucifer? THAT is a case more like this place, I think. I didn't have trouble communicating with anyone in Hell. [He uses the English for Hell, not knowing any word in Hebrew.] Heaven's the same.

[He switches back to English to explain.] 'Satan' means things like 'opposition' in Hebrew. And Hell doesn't exist in Judaism, so...

[depicted]

Oh, right. [It is easier in English, but it's still a little difficult to switch back to that language. Switching languages always requires a certain dexterity that can slip away.] I'd forgotten. Fine model of a damned soul I am.

[thirtybits]

[He waves a hand.] It's fine, it's why I always just say Lucifer. It's my fault, the word always confuses me.

[depicted]

[He nudges Judas with a foot.] You can blame yourself for a lot, but not my linguistic accuracy. 'Lucifer' it is.