07-26-2016, 08:19 PM
The pair of kids gossip and glean, enthuse and frown, bent over the copy of the mapping with an enthusiasm that is steadily eroding their caution. More and more information begins to pour out into the open, William's sketches a very real and concrete level of commitment devoted to the entire process. Margot's willingness to take it seriously and, perhaps absently, confirm where her own experiences may well demand she do. The room's eccentricities, the study and the books on the shelves and the vast stories to be told throughout the volume of Arturo Nihm's lifespan have all been put aside for this moment. This one. Singular moment:
He leans back in his chair, giving the pair of students a chance to examine. What he's said as well as what they're gleaning. His hands rise, elbows resting on his chair's armrests, fingers steepled before him while his gaze travels not to either of them but between and into the distant presence of the Chessboard with it's enigmatic game being played. He is still. Quite and very. A solid presence that is as much part of the room while they talk and bandy words about, as the books and artifacts.
It isn't until William finishes his flush of information, his depictions of what was, could be and probably isn't, that Arturo's attention sharpens. Just slightly. Enough to give the perceptive the indication he's paying them mind. Or has been and only now feels the need to respond. Those bifocals are adjusted and he leans back into his desk chair with a soft squeak of leather to catch them both with a glance.
"Religious dictation is often used as the foremost description in much of what we know, if only because of Scientific inquiry being as new as it is. Unfortunately, much of Religious dictation has gotten wrong or simply been replaced or re-purposed to suit the needs of those few who want Power rather than respect. So whatever truths may exist are, unconfirmed, easily denied and often times, outright impossible to prove. It's quite a mess actually..."
He sighs, nostrils flaring, hands moving around the desk suddenly in search of something.
"Drawing any relation between the direction any planes may or may not reside is a bit false, given Religious context was invented by Humanity, who haven't been around long enough to warrant anything more than a footnote in the book of Existence. That level of importance for such a minor presence in the scheme of the world, is....a difficult argument to make." He looks amused. Even on the very of laughter but quickly pushes on with a wriggling of his mustache. "Rather than explore the Religious quantities, the focus, which is often ignored, should be on the proven and simplified quantities of where and what. Location is, despite European theft of the concern, of most likely important."
Arturo's finger points skyward and than downward at the floor, indicatively, a frank twist to his features given, before his free hand finds a drawer and he is pulling it open to retrieve what looks to be a well carved, mahogany pipe, complete with a silver buttress ring and curved black bowl.
"But then-" And he's producing some matches and a small tinderbox from his vest pocket "-we're quite aways off the Ritual Sacrifice of some ancient civilizations at this point. Beyond even theory, really." A match is produced, the same hand leaning out to tap William's map. "This would get you laughed out of every institution across the board followed by a police pat down for the good drugs, Kids."
The tinderbox is opened, away from them, a pinch of something pulled out and stuffed into the pipe, the smell of mint and something else beneath it, taking to the air. The match is lit and the box closed, before the pipe is lifted to his mouth and he takes several quick puffs, a vaguely blue smoke tinting the air around his face.
"So what's a couple of bright younglings like yourself doing pissing away their tuition following silly myths and superstition that isn't going to get them anywhere?"
He leans back in his chair, giving the pair of students a chance to examine. What he's said as well as what they're gleaning. His hands rise, elbows resting on his chair's armrests, fingers steepled before him while his gaze travels not to either of them but between and into the distant presence of the Chessboard with it's enigmatic game being played. He is still. Quite and very. A solid presence that is as much part of the room while they talk and bandy words about, as the books and artifacts.
It isn't until William finishes his flush of information, his depictions of what was, could be and probably isn't, that Arturo's attention sharpens. Just slightly. Enough to give the perceptive the indication he's paying them mind. Or has been and only now feels the need to respond. Those bifocals are adjusted and he leans back into his desk chair with a soft squeak of leather to catch them both with a glance.
"Religious dictation is often used as the foremost description in much of what we know, if only because of Scientific inquiry being as new as it is. Unfortunately, much of Religious dictation has gotten wrong or simply been replaced or re-purposed to suit the needs of those few who want Power rather than respect. So whatever truths may exist are, unconfirmed, easily denied and often times, outright impossible to prove. It's quite a mess actually..."
He sighs, nostrils flaring, hands moving around the desk suddenly in search of something.
"Drawing any relation between the direction any planes may or may not reside is a bit false, given Religious context was invented by Humanity, who haven't been around long enough to warrant anything more than a footnote in the book of Existence. That level of importance for such a minor presence in the scheme of the world, is....a difficult argument to make." He looks amused. Even on the very of laughter but quickly pushes on with a wriggling of his mustache. "Rather than explore the Religious quantities, the focus, which is often ignored, should be on the proven and simplified quantities of where and what. Location is, despite European theft of the concern, of most likely important."
Arturo's finger points skyward and than downward at the floor, indicatively, a frank twist to his features given, before his free hand finds a drawer and he is pulling it open to retrieve what looks to be a well carved, mahogany pipe, complete with a silver buttress ring and curved black bowl.
"But then-" And he's producing some matches and a small tinderbox from his vest pocket "-we're quite aways off the Ritual Sacrifice of some ancient civilizations at this point. Beyond even theory, really." A match is produced, the same hand leaning out to tap William's map. "This would get you laughed out of every institution across the board followed by a police pat down for the good drugs, Kids."
The tinderbox is opened, away from them, a pinch of something pulled out and stuffed into the pipe, the smell of mint and something else beneath it, taking to the air. The match is lit and the box closed, before the pipe is lifted to his mouth and he takes several quick puffs, a vaguely blue smoke tinting the air around his face.
"So what's a couple of bright younglings like yourself doing pissing away their tuition following silly myths and superstition that isn't going to get them anywhere?"