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tampered2007-09-24 01:53 pm
fateddance.livejournal.com) wrote in tampered2007-09-24 01:53 pm
LOG; Incomplete/Abandoned
When; September 24th, a few days after this exchange.
Rating; G
Characters; Ptolemy [![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
i_am_ptolemy] and Zhang He [fateddance]
Summary; Two people from ancient cultures meet to discuss their respective homes.
Log;
Though Zhang He remained new to the City, the perculiar layout of the apartments meant that he had little trouble finding his way to his destination - Ptolemy's residence. After their talk through the network, the Wei General was looking forward to learning more of this Alexandria, and Ptolemy himself; though he was a soldier by profession, Zhang He had always indulged in the scholarly arts, and he held great respect for true scholars. The chance to meet one from a distant land that new trade had just begun with back home was something he would not turn down.
With a hand-painted map in his possession, Zhang He came to a stop at the door of Ptolemy's home, and knocked upon it - he had been told this was the way to announce oneself, in this place.
Rating; G
Characters; Ptolemy [
i_am_ptolemy] and Zhang He [fateddance]Summary; Two people from ancient cultures meet to discuss their respective homes.
Log;
Though Zhang He remained new to the City, the perculiar layout of the apartments meant that he had little trouble finding his way to his destination - Ptolemy's residence. After their talk through the network, the Wei General was looking forward to learning more of this Alexandria, and Ptolemy himself; though he was a soldier by profession, Zhang He had always indulged in the scholarly arts, and he held great respect for true scholars. The chance to meet one from a distant land that new trade had just begun with back home was something he would not turn down.
With a hand-painted map in his possession, Zhang He came to a stop at the door of Ptolemy's home, and knocked upon it - he had been told this was the way to announce oneself, in this place.
no subject
"Come in, Zhang He," he said, the combination of sounds foreign in his mouth--even after eight months, pronouncing the names of some citizens in the City did not come to him naturally. Ptolemy gestured a thin, wrinkled hand at the couch, next to which sat a small stack of books on an endtable. "Please sit down?"
no subject
He took a moment to observe his surroundings, before his gaze turned back to his host. The wheelchair was a curious invention, and no doubt convenient for someone aged and frail in body, whom would otherwise be forced to remain bedridden.
"I trust you are well?"
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"I am," he answered, following Zhang He over to the couch. "The City has had something of a rejuvenating effect on my body; I find that I feel marginally better every day I spend here." Not that the incremental 'healing' of sorts went quite quickly enough to keep up with his ever-increasing daily schedule.
"You fare well, too, I hope?" As he spoke, he reached for the first book on his stack.
no subject
It was something to consider, in the least. While he had no doubt that there was no harmonious balance in the City, it seemed the whole situation was infinitely more complicated than the Orochi wars had been.
"I do," he answered amiably, before he turned his attention to the book Ptolemy had sought. He tilted his head ever-so-slightly, and a sudden, rather important thought came to him. "With this mixing of time, have you found it possible to read of the future of your land?"
no subject
"I have found it possible to do so, yes. However, I live with other people from a future time in my world of origin, and they have been able to tell me of happenings in their time." Ptolemy began to page through the book idly, looking for an appropriate image to start with. "If you are interested in reading about the happenings of your homeland, I could search for books on the subject at the library."
no subject
no subject
"My life's work was to change the enslavement of beings of essence...spirits," he added, remembering that most in the City did not speak of essence as those from his world did. "However, my death obstructed the possibility of seeing it carried out. My friends have told me of what has happened since...and it is possible that such a change will now take place. What is the reason behind the war in your home?"
no subject
At the question returned, Zhang He sighed, and gestured elegantly with a hand as he spoke. "A failing dynasty, treason, an child Emperor made puppet, a tyrant's rule... even when he was disposed of, divided loyalties lay between noble families, and warlords vyed over land..."
"The recent history of my homeland is but a mass of entangled thorns, and of all the promising buds that have emerged, only three have bloomed. One dressed in red, the Kingdom of Wu; one dressed in green, the Kingdom of Shu; and one dressed in blue, the Kingdom of Wei."
Zhang He paused then, and observed the picture Ptolemy had opened to. "Ah, there is time enough for talk of war. Where is this...?"
no subject
Ptolemy looked down at his lap at the open page, tracing the inked lines with a finger. "This," he said, a smile curving his thin lips slightly, "is the Library of Alexandria."
A pause, as he adjusted the book so that Zhang He could see clearly the drawing in question. "The artist who attempted to capture it here was overly fanciful in his execution, but it gives an idea of the structure. I spent nearly all of my life either here, in the royal palace, or in the marketplace. I had planned to travel, to study the techniques used by magicians in other lands, but..."
His words trailed away a moment, and when he began to speak again, it was to describe the library itself: the vast number of manuscripts it held, the scholars and tourists who came from far and near to visit it, a few other sites of interest near to it. Ptolemy's words lacked the grace of the metaphors Zhang He employed to explain himself, but he spoke precisely, his tone low and thoughtful.
"...But I had meant to show you examples of photography," he finished, beginning to page through the book again, pausing at a photograph of Alexandria's appearance as of Kitty and Nathaniel's time. "Unfortunately, the art form was developed several hundred years after the Library was destroyed by an afrit--a spirit--and so a photograph of it is an impossibility."
no subject
After the final comment, however, he remarked somewhat wistfully, "How terrible that such a magnificent place was lost."
The Wei General then turned his eyes to the photograph, and a small gasp escaped his lips; he reached out a hand to gingerly touch his fingers to the book page, clearly entranced by it. "Amazing... I have never seen a picture like it."
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Ptolemy handed the book to Zhang He so that the man could more closely examine the photo. "It is a picture of Alexandria two thousand years after my time, taken from the air. The concept of photography is most intriguing; the ability to capture a scene, instantaneously, exactly as it is seems very valuable to me."
no subject
"Very valuable, indeed!" he smiled, then looked to the other curiously. "What magnificent device is capable of producing these... photographs?"
OOC;