[Public] Journal Entry: Introduction: Daniel Jackson

[om_thoth]

Hi, everyone. I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Daniel Jackson. I'm what you could call a New York native, although I've only been living here permanently for the last few years. Before that, I spent most of my life in and around archaeological digs throughout the world, though my parents' specific expertise was in the Old Kingdom era of Egyptian history. Think pyramids.

I'm in my sophomore year of high school, though from what I've heard, this school doesn't necessarily have 'grade levels'. At least not how most American schools seem to.

If anyone is interested in history, anthropology, archaeology, or linguistics, I've also got a Tumblr [link] that I update pretty regularly.

Comments

[om_ghost]

Hello, Daniel Jackson. I'm Felix Harrowgate, I'm 17 and a junior (insofar as we count those things here). You can recognize me by my red hair and the leafy vines that look like tattoos on my arms. They aren't, but "unusually colored and patterned skin coloration for no particular purpose" seems like a mouthful.

I'm desperately interested in things like anthropology and linguistics! I started learning languages too late, but I'm doing pretty well with Latin right now. Mostly I'm interested in myths and legends and symbols because of how those affect the way people conceptualize ideas in their subconscious.

Oh, my powers are mostly related to dreams and astral vision. I can control other people's dreams and see things that only exist astrally, like ghosts and psionic entities.

Welcome to Xavier's. If you see me in the dining room, please don't hesitate to come sit down.

[om_thoth]

Ghosts? I always thought those were nothing but myths themselves. But then, I suspect I'm about to be introduced to a lot of things that I thought were only myths. Apparently, when I touched an object at the Met in New York, I started talking in tongues. What little the security guard was able to repeat back sounded as if it might have been Egyptian. Ancient Egyptian actually being spoken. I wish I could remember.

I'm working on a few new languages myself. If you ever want help or to study together, I'd be up for it.

[om_ghost]

I'm pretty good at learning new words and grammar and translating back into English, but I struggle a lot with producing my own Latin and I'm awful awful at pronunciation. I don't know what to pick up next; they only allow you so many electives and I'm full!

I think I saw something about that on a news site somewhere. I do hope you're all right. Powers manifestation can be traumatic.

Ghosts are most definitely real, they're just not terribly frequent. Many of them don't even realize they exist.

[om_thoth]

It sounds as if you need to actually speak with someone. I've found that you can know all the words you want, but if you don't use them in conversations, you don't really 'know' them. It's more that you recognize them. I'd be happy to speak in Latin with you if you wanted.

It probably would be if I remembered it.

How so? Do they think they're still alive?

[om_ghost]

It's more like the ghosts are just impressions or memories, doing the same thing over and over. There's a ghost in the library who just sits there and reads. There's no thought behind it, not really. I can't even say she's a real entity; I don't think she can think. But... since she doesn't talk to me, I don't really know.

I only know two other people who can see ghosts so there isn't a whole lot to know about them, I guess.

[om_thoth]

So it sounds like you're saying that certain people or events leave a residual impression on an area. That or they're actual beings who either can't perceive or don't care about our world.

[om_ghost]

Yes. One or the other is most likely.

I was too afraid of them for a long time to do any further scientific investigation, but the topic's started coming up more lately. Maybe we could investigate ourselves?

[om_thoth]

If you're interested in an outside observer helping compare the experiences, you have a volunteer.

[om_ghost]

Splendid! I have not done much that's scientific before. Outside of science class, I mean.

[om_thoth]

I haven't done much in the last few years and my parents only let me do select things without supervision before that. Do you think everyone else will be okay with it?

[om_ghost]

Probably, unless we get ectoplasm or something all over the library. (I don't believe ghosts actually have ectoplasm so we are probably fine.)

[om_thoth]

Ectoplasm?

[om_ghost]

It's that gooey stuff ghosts have in the movies and such. I don't think it's real.

[om_thoth]

Oh. I don't think I've ever seen those movies.

[om_cypher]

Hold it - Ancient Egyptian? Seriously? Do you remember ANY of it?

Sorry - I'm Doug Ramsey. My powers involve omnilingual translation. I'm not sure how it works with a language you don't completely know, but I'd love to try it.

[om_thoth]

I wish I could. I'm only guessing, of course because we only have an idea of what the language would sound like and clearly the security guard wasn't the best source. It could have been...something else.

Omnilingual translation? How does that work?

[om_cypher]

Wish I knew. There's a psi component - has to be - but basically, someone starts talking and I sort of intuit the rest of the language by the end of the first five minutes? So, also available for Latin practice, or whatever other language you're studying - you can usually find me down in my lab. Stop by sometime!

[om_thoth]

And you remember the languages after? I'll definitely be stopping by.