Six friends. One
birthday. One
beautiful city.

How did we all end
up in Vienna
together?

And why did everyone
recognize me? I swap
my face in every
blog photo.

It began in Cologne,
where three very
different work trips
overlapped.

Chocolate, 
coconut,
and a little Mekong
mischief.

Oui, I can cook
perfectly well in
this outfit.

International Sweets and Biscuit Fair,
Cologne

Slap the jack
— not your 
opponent.

Eyes on the deck.
This is a precision
mission.

Anagam had somehow
turned a casual card
demonstration into a
boss battle.

Gamescom,
Cologne

My research examines
how changing ocean
temperatures affect
marine life.

Thank you, Professor
Pebble. Excellent
moral support.

Lima brought
research,
enthusiasm, and a
very supportive rock.

BIO-Europe,
Cologne

Anagam! Lima!
 Your events are finished
too? Meet me at the
Flora gardens.

My most
enthusiastic slapjack
correspondent—
in person at last!

I contacted you 
for the game. I stayed
for the chaos.

Shall we take
the scenic train route
to Vienna for the
weekend?

Lucky will be
there for his blog.
I asked if we could
join him—he said
yes!

My bag is 
ready. So
is Professor
Pebble.

Optional
side
quest
accepted.

They chose the long way:
 the Rhine first, then
connections south
and an overnightstop.

Castle
spotted.
Excellent
defensive
position.

Or an 
excellent
place
for lunch.

By Friday, their
deliberately
winding route
brought them
north over the
Semmering line.

Good morning,
Count
Branchula.

Did that tree just
get a promotion?

My birthday
is tomorrow.
Vienna
seemed
like a good
place to
wake up.

Tomorrow?!
Mais quelle
chance!

A birthday
side quest.
Those always
have better
rewards.

Meanwhile, Sofia
came for the
conference—the
society’s first
Vienna gathering.

The City of Dreams,
Freud, and archives.
My professional
composure never
stood a chance.

Any questions?
And what might
your question
reveal about
the questioner?

ESHHS conference, Vienna

Conference suit off.
Feelings on.

This is not a loss
of professional
composure. It is
philosophy for the
feet.

Her first evening in
Vienna ended with a
very expressive
argument against
standing still.

Even I need a
different problem
to solve.

This weekend: visit
Grandma in Vienna.

And no, that is
not permission
to stop 
showing your
working.

Green is for class.
Burgundy is for
Grandma.

Two days, one
suitcase, zero
tolerance for “I’m
just bad at math.”

Jaksy’s agency had
booked an affordable
Vienna showcase—an
independent concert,
not a replacement
stadium show.

Vienna! 
Let me hear
you!

When her song
mentioned a heart,
she committed her
entire skeleton.

Concert done.
Tomorrow: coffee,
sightseeing,
absolutely normal
behavior.

That last one was
aspirational.

Saturday morning.
Café Sacher. I was
waiting for Nongnuch
and her two friends.

Three other familiar
faces walked in
first.

A coffee, please.
And perhaps the
story behind why I
need one.

Lucky! We
follow your
blog!

How? My face is
different in every
post!

Your 
backpack
is a
constant.

You cannot disguise
a personality with a
replacement chin.

Nongnuch, Anagam,
and Lima are coming.
Join us?

St. Stephen’s:
Vienna’s great
Gothic landmark.
Start with the
roof—then let your
eyes climb.

That tower
absolutely
contains
a final boss.

Or an
excellent
geometry
exercise.

Inside, we use
quieter voices. This
is a living place of
worship, not just a
landmark.

What does
this space
make each
of you
feel—
and why?

Very small.
Remarkably
unarmed.

The Venus of
Willendorf. A tiny
object with an
enormous presence.

I expected
something
bigger. I was not
prepared for
something this
powerful.

What does our
surprise say about
our expectations?

Sir
Crunchington!
There you are!

You have 
met before?

No. But
introductions are
important.

Welcome to 
Burggarten.
A little breathing
roombetween 
Vienna’s grand
sights.

Do—re—mi!

A different Austrian
city is entering the
conversation.

The Sound of Music
connection you’re
thinking of is
Salzburg. We’re in
Vienna.

I know!
My feelings
have taken
the wrong
train!

Even your joy
requires
coordinates.

Let us not interrupt
a highly mobile
breakthrough.

Next,
Belvedere:
palace
gardens
outside,
art waiting
inside—

Pincelio?!
Mais non!
Vienna too?

Nongnuch! From
coladas in Mexico
to this magnificent
palette.

That garden green
deserves its own
canvas.

Gustav Klimt’s
The Kiss. Gold and
pattern surround an
embrace, but notice
the tenderness in
the pose.

Look closely:
geometric shapes
and floral forms give
the two figures
different rhythms.

My city briefing
had acquired
a much
better art
department.

Pose-copy
challenge
accepted.

These angles are
surprisingly
demanding.

I will
supervise
the flowers
instead.

Oh là là… 
pas moi!

Four
interpretations.
An entirely new
palette.

Tonight, 
my suite.
It has a proper
kitchen—and
Lima has
a birthday.

You 
remembered?

Of course,
ma chère.

How does being
celebrated change
your relationship
with getting older?

Can I answer
after cake?

I must finish my
work tonight. Save
me the story—and
describe the colors.

I need to edit
today’s blog first.
Then I’ll come by.

No replacing our
faces in the
birthday photo!

That policy only
applies to mine.

Bienvenue to my
temporary kitchen.
Please leave room
for everything.

Everything
is not a
portion size.

Tonight it is.

For once, I approve
of this mathematical
ambiguity.

I knew your voices
from “Am I Me Yet?”
Now I get to hear
you laugh in the
same room.

Lima, this is much
calmer than that AI
math class after you
brought Memezen.

Dame
Spoonabelle
says we should
focus
on dessert.

À Lima—and to
finally sharing a
table.

Sorry I’m late. The
blog tried to become
a novel.

All six of you—
closer. Yes,
even Sir
Crunchington’s
representative.

Professor Pebble
would like proper
credit.

Ready? No swapped
faces. Just this
moment.

The online world
brings us closer
than ever. It is how
most of us found one
another.

But meeting in
person—traveling
through a beautiful
city, sharing a
table, laughing in
the same room—
has a value
nothing can
replace.

The map showed us
Vienna. Friendship
showed us why.