Shiva’s not my real name, you know.
What is it?
Sunil.
I prefer Shiva.
It’s a badass name. Cicero came up with it.
Cicero? What did she have to do with it?
She gave us new names. Actually, she gave herself a new name: Cicero wasn’t her real name. Her real name was something Eastern European.
Yeah, but why Cicero?
I don’t know.
Did she identify with Cicero?
She never said anything about it, if she did.
So you just let Cicero give you new names.
Sure. It seemed fun.
It’s like you joined a cult.
Yeah, it is a kind of cult. I didn’t want to be who I was.
You guys are so fucked up.
It was kind of like the Magic Band. Do you remember how Captain Beefheart gave them new names?
But this is like a philosophy department.
Sure.
And Cicero got your email addresses changed.
Yes.
Thorough. You know, I don’t even understand the names she gave you. Why did she call Barbarossa, Barbarossa? Was it actually after some Holy Roman Empire? Did it have anything to do with Operation Barbarossa.
I think she just liked the name. How it sounded. Apocalyptic names, she called them. Like you’re supposed to different names at the apocalypse in the Bible. You get white robes and new names – so long as you’re one of the righteous.
Work in Progress 