two.

[thraxios]

The number of books available in the library is astounding. If not for the lack of comfortable bedding, I think I should be content to live there permanently.

I've started with books of philosophy; the selection is wide and many of the writers, unknown to me. They do present a curious problem, however, since most of them come from unfamiliar cultures.

A great number expect familiarity with a figure called Jesus Christ, which has stymied me for the moment. From what I've been able to gather, he was the central martyr or pacifist god of a mystery cult (perhaps both?). It seems a remarkably well-traveled one, which makes it all the more intriguing.

Reading with that assumption in mind is enough to make sense of the text. It's clear, however, that a deeper familiarity with the cult's theological tenets is required to fully appreciate the writers' arguments.

If anyone reading this is better acquainted with "Christianity," any recommendations for introductory readings would be appreciated. Its holy texts are rather long, and thus far, they offer little in the way of context.

[And if you're interested in bugging him, Gideon can be found in the library. He's sitting a table stacked high with books and sheets of paper, on which he's taking careful notes with pen and ink. Someday we've gotta introduce this boy to ballpoint pens. Among the open books are an atlas open to a map of the Mediterranean, several books of philosophy, a King James Bible, and his wax tablet (just in case).]

Comments

[wishmadeinfire]

_{[ And there it was. His eyes gazed for a long time at Felix's name, wondering on this very thing. He had given it much thought, actually, arguing with himself back and forth over what he would do should he meet Gideon outside of Felix's presence. Wondering what they had spoke of in the tower, without him. What Gideon thought of him. What he would do if...}

So many ifs. Gideon was made of so many ifs and it hurt his head and, at times when he was at his lowest after the dreams, he thought Gideon had more right to be with Felix than he himself did. Gideon knew his world, his ways, what Felix was and had done. Ashura realized he knew, in fact, so little...

But the underlined word caught his attention finally, and he was reminded of Mildmay. It seemed he was good at saying the wrong things to the people of Felix's world.

And he was to tired, now, to be coy and walk around and play with words. To tired and he hurt. ]

I am sure Felix would rather we not talk, actually. And I am rarely condescending, thank you - that you and Mildmay both chose to see it that way is none of my fault. As for why... I dare say I do not really know myself.

[thraxios]

[Gideon would be tempted to laugh if it didn't require making a sound before a man he's quickly coming to loathe. Keeping his mouth shut tight, he shakes his head at Ashura's words and begins writing even before the man is finished talking.]

You can't even state your lack of condescension without being superior about it.

[He pauses, looking wearily at what he's written so far on the tablet. Talking with Ashura has been an exercise in frustration more than anything. Just over a fortnight since his own death, his arrival not to the goddess he worshiped but an unknown, and the discovery that his lover has taken up with a different man--and now the rival in question is desperate to befriend him. He wants little at this juncture but to have the time and space to decide what to make of his situation, and yet he's arguing the relative condescension of a king.

Gideon cannot begin to guess why Ashura wants so badly to chat with him, given everything between them--and apparently, he isn't the only one.]

If you don't know why you're here, perhaps you should return when you do.