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

[thraxios]

[And Gideon hears it, even if he can't reciprocate.]

If you could, I'd be interested in seeing it.

[3nterprising]

I'll see what I can do, then.

[thraxios]

Thank you.

[He pauses, considering what to write. Faye is the first person he's proposed meeting in person since arriving here--well, the first person not from some part of Meduse.]

When you've found it, I'll be in the library.

[3nterprising]

I'll be sure to look for you.

[thraxios]

An old man surrounded by books shouldn't be difficult to find. [He'll be waiting~]

>> [Action]

[3nterprising]

[It had been over three years since Faye had set foot in a library. Fortunately, all libraries are roughly the same. They even have cameras to borrow, which aren't too extremely different from the ones she used to know from her past.

It isn't long before she finds Gideon, and although he might be a little farther ahead in age, the description of old man doen't quite seem to fit. Faye had even passed him by once or twice before finding no one else who fits the description closer. He's actually rather handsome in spite of being an older gentleman.]

An old man surrounded by books.

[thraxios]

[It takes Gideon a moment to come back from the unfamiliar world in which these books are all set. But he does, and glances up to see--well, she must be Faye, as he's described himself so to no one else. She's not quite what he expected--he's actually not sure what he expected, but he'd never have guessed an outfit like that. It's...well, a bit revealing, by both Marathine and Kekropian standards. And it leaves Gideon a little self-conscious, despite his lack of sexual interest in women, let alone the particular woman wearing it.

His eyes firmly on hers, out of a (perhaps misplaced) sense of politeness, he raises his eyebrows and shrugs, as though to say You've caught me. And then he gestures to an empty chair, hooking a foot around one of its legs to pull it out for Faye.]

[3nterprising]

[Even if Faye had known what Gideon was thinking about her attire, she's used to the attention and wouldn't have minded either way. Retaining her expression, she comes to sit in the offered seat and places the camera bag she'd been carrying on the table on top of a small stack of books.]

One camera, as requested.

[thraxios]

My thanks, Maselle Valentine.

[He hands the wax tablet to her so she can read his message before turning his attention to the camera bag, opening it carefully and lifting out the camera within.]

[3nterprising]

[As he examines the camera, Faye reads his message, thinking about its implication. He hadn't spoken into the journal either.]

You can't talk?

[thraxios]

[Gideon glances up from the camera--he has absolutely no idea what to do with it--and at Faye's expression. After a moment, he shakes his head.]

I'm afraid you'll have to show me how it works. I've never seen anything like it.

[3nterprising]

[Faye scoots a little closer to examine the device with him. It's different, but there were enough similarities for her to be able to give him the gist of it.]

Look through the viewfinder. [She points at the part she identifies.] That's where you see the image you want to capture. When everything looks good, you push this button. [Pointing again.]

[thraxios]

[Gideon spends another moment or two examining the parts Faye points out before lifting the camera towards his face. He holds it awkwardly, feeling nothing short of silly as he peers through the viewfinder at the bookcases across from him, then over at Faye, and then at the papers and books spread out before him. He presses the button and is surprised at the audible click he hears in return.

And then he gingerly sets the camera down so that he can write.]

It seems like a simple process so far.

[3nterprising]

There's a little more to it, but I'm no expert or anything. If something's blurry, you turn this, [she gently twists the shaft of the lens] if something's too far or too close, move this little nob back and forth, [she points out the tabbed ring around the shutter button] and if it's too dark, push... this.[There's a pause while she finds the button that makes the flash pop up.]

That's about as far as my camera knowledge goes. It's mostly trial and error, really.

[thraxios]

[And Gideon pays attention to where she gestures and demonstrates, sorely tempted all the while to take notes. It isn't a lot to keep in mind, but the device is so far from anything he's known before.

He has one lingering question, one he's mildly embarrassed to have to ask, but he's genuinely unsure.]

And how does one get the [and he pauses a moment, trying to recall the word] photograph?

[3nterprising]

[She examines the camera once more.]

It isn't digital, so you'd probably have to get the film developed. [Where she's from, it's an outdated and vintage process. She knows very little about it.]

I'm sure there's somewhere around here that can do it for you.

[thraxios]

[He's a bit disappointed that he can't see the results of his attempts at photography right then, but perhaps he can find a way later. For now, he has another question.]

What is 'digital'?

[The word does actually have some meaning for him, but that meaning is "related to the fingers." And he suspects that's not what Faye means--after all, one uses one's fingers to make the current camera function.]

[3nterprising]

Uh...

[Faye pauses. It's quite difficult to explain something like to someone who's from so far in the past.]

It's kind of hard to explain.

[thraxios]

Perhaps I should find a dictionary.

[Actually, he has one at hand at the moment. He starts thumbing through it and the light smile on his face curls into a frown of concentration.]

You're right - it is hard to explain.

[3nterprising]

I guess it has to be something you grow up with to fully understand.

[thraxios]

Perhaps.

[He's frowning at the page still--because let's be real here, Gideon doesn't like when he can't understand something. Perhaps, he decides, it's a matter best demonstrated. And he can certainly see about researching it further if need be. For now, he really ought to thank Faye.]

In any case - I am in your debt, Maselle Valentine. Thank you for coming.

[3nterprising]

Don't mention it.

So what else is it you do besides studying things? [Because one can't spend all their time reading.]

[thraxios]

[Gideon smiles, then shrugs. What does he do? In Mélusine, he studied and quarreled with Felix. Here, even that activity is curtailed. On the other hand, he left his quarters far more rarely in the final years of his life; the change of setting (and more importantly, people) has returned to him the pleasure of not living as a hermit.]

Little of interest - I occasionally take walks.

[Every afternoon, in the gardens. Gideon looks up at Faye curiously, eyebrows raise, as though to say and yourself?]

[3nterprising]

There isn't much to do around here, is there? I guess you could always take up photography now.

I'm in the same boat. I go out into the town when life calls for it.