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]

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.