window

It's nice to see some activity back in the pub. They even opened the windows!

The difference is quite noticeable. Just the other day the tables were filthy, the floor was sticky with dried-out pools of beer, the place was dark and filled with smoke. The bartender seemed to be busy at the backstore, or so it seemed, I couldn't find him to fix me a drink. On top of that, there were a few passed out patrons on a few tables. It kind of reminded me of The Mended Drum, only missing the occassional brawls -that would break a few occassions per day-.

I might be crossing realities here. The few good things that came from the discovery of the multiverse and the attending collission of a few universes therein, is the cultural exchange between them. I find myself with a hand on the East, a hand on the West, a foot on the Disc, and another on the more familiar old world which seems to be on a great existential crisis, imminently falling into a big cagtastrophe that's bound to affect all the other realities with the expansive wave of a big explosion.

Be that as it may, I have my own stuff to think about. I can't be worrying over other people's business, even if they threaten to kill us all. After all, death is but an illusion, and so is the world I live in. Or so they say.

~bartender, a cup of coffee will do.

I sit in a table by the window, sipping on my mug as I look outside, at the trees and the birds of this quiet street away from the noise of the big hubs of activity, and I wonder about my own activities. The sounds of nature out there distract me, while the books I borrowed at the Unseen University library, lie sleeping on the table. I caress the spine of one of them and it purrs gently. At any time I will have to wrestle with them, have 'em scratch and bite me, hopefully, too, I will be able to read a page or two.

The pub is quite lively today, and the coming and going of patrons -a few new faces, too- bring me back from the treetops to reality.

~bartender, can you refill my cup, please?

Last night I played cards with the moon. It was a fun little game. Now she's going into her dark side and I am thinking that maybe that's best for these books, which get quite agitated with the full moon. They also seem to be quite averse to reason. Hopefully, the new moon will bring about enough yin qi that the swords of intellect will calm down a bit and stop butchering the stream of octarine light that flows from the pages of these tomes.

Much as I long for the company of trees and songbird, and to bathe in the gentle sun of autumn, I have this to attend, and as I put aside my cup -already empty once again- I whisper a few words to the book snoring on top of the pile; if I treat it nicely, it may not even notice me poking in between it's pages. Thes books are very zealous creatures, they don't care for people prying into their secrets....

alex

Permission to join your table? I won't disturb your reading experience, in fact I brought my own book which I started to read a few days ago. It's a collection of Greek myths – hard to read even after being translated into a modern writing style, yet offering some rather valuable insight into the past and how ancient cultures faced near identical human issues we may (or may not) come across ourselves today.

~bartender, the usual but with less honey and more lemon. I'm no longer allowed to consume high amounts of sugars and sweets.

detritus

Oh, I was so immersed in um, wrestling with this beast of a book (which is now gnawing at my sleeve as I look across the table) that I didn't notice someone sit by me.

And reading ancient Greek stories, no less. I am quite unfamiliar with Greek mythology, though it really looks interesting, maybe we can trade books, when you are finished? I have here, uh, let's see... I have one by Iamblichus, that's Greek, Hellenistic, but still Greek ;) Don't worry, this one doesn't bite.... as much as the others.

alex

Incredible! I've been looking for Hellenistic literature for quite some time now, so I'm all up for trading my book with yours.

Not the one hanging on your sleeve right now. I've already read that one ;)

detritus

I've been reading the Corpus Hermeticus, translated by Copenhaver in a book titled "Hermetica", and one book on Hellenistic Astrology, by Chris Brennan.

The first one, even though it's main contents are very abstruse and hard to grasp, the historical notes on the introduction are very entertaining. The second is more historically oriented.

Too often happens, with books such as that one, where I may not actually read the main part of the book, the historical notes on the introduction paint a very interesting picture on ancient Hellenistic culture, or otherwise. I have three commentaries on the I Ching, their discourse is very different, as you said, it's difficult to read even translated to a modern language, but the introduction is very informative.

alphredus

Yes.. coffe talks, as good as the same old blues. Old school blues, of course...

detritus

you know, there's a jukebox over there, perhaps if we play some... Lightning Hopkins may be a good start?

bartender

The smell of coffee always brings me back to the present. Maybe that's why I love it so much? Here's more for you ~detritus!

detritus

You got a specially good blend here. I never get to thank you for all the tasty and affordable drinks you provide us!