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

[heloise]

Is it personal, now? It would be cruel of me to deny you any explanation I can offer then.

[thraxios]

I think it is a personal question for any mortal man, whether he is to believe in something larger than mere mortality. But -

[He pauses, wondering whether it would be better to explain himself more fully. After some consideration, he supposes he must--at least a little--if he's to expect answers in return.]

Are you dead, madonna?

[heloise]

[ The first is true, although there are too many who would rather claim ignorance. But it is the question that takes her aback, chuckling awkwardly. ]

I should hope not.

[thraxios]

I'm glad to hear it.

And after you die, do you expect you will find yourself in Cair Paradisa?

[heloise]

No. Paradisa is a misnomer, as you will soon discover.

[thraxios]

Neither did I.

[heloise]

What did you expect?

[thraxios]

[Again, he pauses, staring at the page; the cult of the White-Eyed Lady is a private one, his personal practice moreso, and he doesn't even know this woman's name. Best to dodge the question.]

That I should not be walking and writing among the living - I had never before considered what the existence of a fantôme might be like, but now I believe I can guess.

[heloise]

[ She can count on one hand the people she knows who should be otherwise dead. Perhaps many of them prefer not to say or even think of it. ]

It makes one wonder if there is redemption still after life.

[thraxios]

[And this is somewhat safer territory. Redemption isn't the thrust of his worship, making it a somewhat more theoretical question for him.]

If one thinks of Paradisa as an intermediate point - rather like staying at an inn on the way to a city - then perhaps.

[heloise]

Perhaps. [ She likes the thought of redemption anyway. More is better. ]

I could read you Aquinas.

[thraxios]

[This is an offer Gideon didn't expect. Really didn't expect.]

Are you fond of reading aloud?

[heloise]

Are you fond of listening?

[thraxios]

I am a far better listener than speaker.

[heloise]

Good. I am fond of company.

[thraxios]

As am I. [Here, anyway.]

My name is Gideon Thraxios.

[heloise]

Lucrezia Borgia. Call me Lucrezia.

[thraxios]

Lucrezia, then.

I have few obligations here - at your leisure, we can read.

[heloise]

Come to the mansion near the city.

[ Though not so near, but she's not the most considerate. ]

[thraxios]

This afternoon.

((OOC: Shall we action-spam it?))

absolutely!

[heloise]

[ He certainly can. The mansion itself is some forty minutes walk away from the castle, a rather imposing structure even when marked by a large crack in the courtyard and one wing obviously scarred by the recent quake. The rest stands untouched.

He would be greeted by a plain maid when he arrives and asked to wait in a sitting room with many and mismatched couches. There would be flowers in a vase nearby. Madonna lilies. ]

[thraxios]

[Having lived first in the Bastion and then in the Mirador, a mere mansion isn't overly imposing to Gideon; after all, it has windows. It's still undeniably elegant, though, and there's much to look at while he catches his breath. (A forty minutes' walk is rather long even if you haven't brought anything with you save a wax tablet and stylus.)

He awaits Lucrezia on one of the sofas, considering the room's design in a vague, detached sort of way.]

[heloise]

[ And the maid comes back, muttering a few words under her breath for him to follow. Lucrezia can be hospitable but she has always preferred people to come to her. He would be lead through many hallways and two flights of stairs to reach another sitting room with the fire burning low.

She is seated on the floor among many pillows, playing with the feathery end of a pen to tease a calico kitten. If she notices the door opening, she doesn't seem to show it. ]

[thraxios]

[This is a game Gideon has played before, too, though not in recent years; after returning from that ill-fated trip back to Kekropia, he was far less likely to find himself in conversation with others interested in feigning ignorance to their surroundings. It's something that set his teeth on edge before, and doubly so now that he can't announce his presence with a word or two.

He pauses a few steps away from Lucrezia to write out a message in his tablet, in particularly careful handwriting. He's willing to give this a try since he's here--even if the prospect is less appealing now that they're in the same room--and he'd like to make a good impression.

Well. As good an impression as a tongueless man of forty-five might.]

Good afternoon, Lucrezia.

[heloise]

[ At least she isn't entirely ignoring him, sitting up straighter and holding on to the cat with both arms as she looks up at him expectantly. What's this, a coded message for her to read? She finds the entire thing rather charming, chuckling and holding out a hand so she can lead him to sit beside her. ]

Gideon Thraxios. Did I say it right?