#mytwistedspaces

[mytwistedspaces]

The Flower - the true story of Chiara and Vally (part #2)

A short novel by Luna (Max G.)

Summary: Where you will learn how time flows right when the besties are together and you’ll discover that for Vally, “on her own terms” means much more than sex.

(click here for part #1)

At Vally's place, we talk about everything. About the things that would really make us feel good. About sketches for Bethesda, a job at Rockville, throwing a party together in the very center of London. Everything falls into place when we're together. Time straightens out and gains – I don't know – some kind of meaning. According to the Pip-Girl – our artificial friend – this happens when Vally and I are both in the region of space dominated by our little wormhole. So close to the singularity inside it, that it finally makes the flow of our emotions stable. And lets us act in sync, protecting each other. I don't know how true that is. I've never been good at emotional relativity. But it's an explanation I like.

Ding (Ugh... it's Mom) «Will you be back for dinner?». «I'm staying at Vally's. We're going to the movies». Ding «Don't be late». «It's Saturday tomorrow». Ding «Don't be late». «Okay». I toss my phone aside.

One minute. Two minutes. Three minutes.

DING (...damn. Mom again!)

«Oh, can you sit still? It's going to look like shit...». «It's Mom stressing me out!». «So answer her, come on. I'll keep going after». She caps the mascara bottle. She pretends she's cool, but it's clear as day that she's annoyed. I've ditched her too many times by now. I look at the message. Now Mom's going to tell me to come home. Something's probably gone wrong that's made her upset and she'll want to hold on to me.

Ding Ding (Oh God!!! I'm coming, Mom!)

I pick up my phone. «Are you sleeping over at Vally's?». I check again. «Hey. Everything's fine here anyway. Are you sleeping over at Vally's?». It's all real. «Can I sleep over at your place?». And I hold the phone up to my girl's face as proof. «Hell, yes!!!». I text Mom right away. «hell yes! Vally says it's no problem». «We won't be late! Promise!! LY. LY.», I add, immediately, with a boatload of hearts. Ding «hell yes! love you!», replies Mom instantly.

No way... this really is a whole different universe.

«No way, Chiara... why are you stressing? Your mom suggested it! She's HAPPY. You're saying it's a different universe? I'm saying this is our universe». «So...». «So... deal with it!». Vally's eager to change the subject. With great ceremony, she parts the sea of makeup from the one of wax strips and unveils the surprise: two little tickets still without names. On the glossy side, black card stock glows pink with a touch of purple. On the back, tonight's date and the dry stamp of the Sin's inner club: a flower. «OMG. Are they letting us in?». Vally nods. Then, dead serious, she writes our names on top. «How did you do it?! God, I want to hook up with Mariano too!». Her eyes sparkle when she looks at me. «Babe, Mariano didn't give me these. I earned them myself». «And how'd you earn them? It's a super-exclusive DJ set. Invitation only». Then a thought hits me. «You're sure about this, right? You're not bringing me to a DJ escort, are you?». «LOL. What are you talking about? Look... if you're not coming, I'm going by myself. But then, there's no way you're crashing at mine again». I sniffle. Oh no! Oh no! She's right. This is our universe. «Don't even try it, okay? I'm coming. No way am I missing it, clear?», I declare solemnly. I take a deep breath, spread my arms like Jesus. «Bring on the mascara, sister. Ad Victoriam!». Vally cracks up. «You just gave me the perfect idea for a little touch-up to tonight's outfit».

(continue)

[mytwistedspaces]

Ghost in the Machine - #1

The mimic octopus exemplifies a dynamic response system, adjusting to its environment in real-time by changing its physical form and behavior. This has parallels in cybernetic systems that adapt based on environmental feedback. Studies have looked at how the neural mechanisms behind this mimicry might inspire bioinspired models for flexible, adaptive AI systems.

[mytwistedspaces]

Ghost in the Machine - #2 We are pathfinders

The human brain is wired for spatial thinking and navigation. Neuroscience studies show that our brain uses cognitive maps (often linked to hippocampal and parietal cortex activity) to navigate the world. These studies demonstrate that we think in terms of paths and trajectories before organizing more complex shapes and symmetries. One scientific concept that supports this idea is that of grid and place cells, studied by O'Keefe, Moser, and Moser, who discovered that the brain builds an internal "spatial map" based on lines and trajectories. This phenomenon supports the idea that, even before thinking in terms of symmetries or geometric shapes, the mind organizes space as a series of paths and movements. In the field of robotics and AI, many navigation techniques use similar approaches.

- Lorde - Fallen Fruit (maori version)

This is the Māori language cover of the song performed by Lorde herself. The lyrics are partially different from the English version.

[mytwistedspaces]

Text: speech from "Il Giardino degli Spazi Ritorti" ("The Garden of Twisted Spaces"), a novel by me.

Voice: Salma, a synthetic voice I generated with Prime Voice .

Video: D-ID not-commercial plan video. Generated using an image I created with Midjourney (this image is under CC BY-NC 4.0 license).

[mytwistedspaces]

The Flower - the true story of Chiara and Vally (part #1)

A short novel by Luna (Max G.)

Summary: where, directly from the besties, you will learn the notion of emotional wormhole and you will discover that sin is the best discotheque in the city of Rome.

Grumpy Grandpa always asks. But never follows through with anything. He looks straight at you with that gaunt little face that just craves attention. And in everything you give him, there's only space for him. And him alone. The black hole. Do you know how it works with family singularities? If you cross the event horizon, you're screwed. That's why I had started ignoring both Grandpa and Mom. To slow the fall. She could deal with her own illness. Other than that, they weren't different.

First. Dash through the hallway, never looking back or to the side, but boldly declaring our intentions: « To Vally's! I'm staying for dinner! See ya, see ya, see ya! ». Bam. Door closed behind. Gone.

« Chiara? Chiara? ». « Dad. Did Chiara leave? ». « Is dinner ready? ». « No, Dad. It's not dinner time yet. Where did Chiara go? ».

Stairs. Stairs. Stairs. A door opens upstairs. « Chiara? Chiara? ». « I'MGOINGTOVALLY!!! She's waiting for me!!! Byeee! ». « But when will you come back... Dad. Dad! Where are you going? ». « I need to pee ». « Let's go back inside, Dad. I'll take you to the bathroom. Come on. Please ».

Clunk. A door slams shut. Hands up. Earphones in. Mothercain. Breathe. Go.

Breathe.                    Walk.                                 Breathe.                                                   Walk. The world outside is an immense river of fine sand caught by the gravity of the sun. Of unknown lives brushing past my sides. Sink to rise again. Into an outer space, finally starless, where far enough from the family well, time itself seems to gradually speed up.

« I'm going to Vally's ». One metro and a tunnel. Six stops.

Ding « Bestie, where are you? ». « I'm on the metro ». Ding « You look hot? We're going to the Sin tonight ». « You're kidding? I've got nothing to wear!! ». Ding « You're shitting me? Come onnn. I'll lend you everything ». « I told Mom I'd be back after dinner ». Ding « You're serious? I have a surprise ». « What surprise? ». Ding « You come to Sin and I'll give you the surprise ». Blink Blink « :D Fine! ». Ding « Good girl. I'll meet you there ». Heart Heart

« There she is! Hey, Chi!!! » A voice and an arm waving from the top of the escalator. And an electric girl waiting just for me at the metro exit: black boots on a white marble wall, tartan skirt, an original tee with the original flag of the New California Republic.

« Hi! ». The bestie blows me a kiss, but I slam on the brakes right away. « Who's he? » She's got this guy next to her I don't know. Tall, lacquered beard, two gray eyes on smooth skin like a model who just lucked out and popped out perfect from a pattern. Obviously, he's dressed to perfection. And he soaks up daylight to the point that girls like me look like toads. Vally catches on instantly. « Chiara. This is Mariano. He's coming with us to Sin. He did the DJ set last Friday. The amazing one you missed because... »    ...because I was stuck at home with Mom anxious and Grandpa in the ER... « ...because you were busy finishing your portfolio ». « My what? ». « Your designer portfolio. The one for... », and she points to her Bethesda tee. « Look, Mariano is twenty-two. He understands responsibility ».    ...are you serious? « Yes, Chiara, I understand », he finally chimes in. « My dad owns a company and raised me with a strong sense of responsibility ». God. Twenty-two years old. Three and a half more than Vally. Almost five more than me. God... God... wasn't it enough making me a toad? You had to downgrade me to the rank of a dumb tadpole! But God, unmoved by my complaints, keeps mocking me. And through Mariano's mouth, he serves it up very brutally. « One day, my father said: Mariano, my son, if you really want to be a DJ in life, you have to act like a good manager. You must manage yourself even before the crowd that listens to you. Mariano, my son, you must turn that turntable and that console into your desk. And now, Chiara, I am at Sin, and that is my desk. And I feel that you will soon do the same ». « What is he talking about? What the hell is he saying?! », I ask Vally in our secret language of hands and glances. « Get with it! », and she makes the gesture of screwing with her finger. « Obviously! » I say out loud, realizing how into him Vally is. Mariano, who from his desk can't see beyond his dick, nods responsibly.

(click here for part #2)