Campanella watched Faye fold into her seat with a certain unrepressed satisfaction.
"How did I buy my way in? There was the old furniture I had no use for. Some of my mother's friends gave me the name of some good dealers and I had some appraisals made. From there - well, before that, actually... I grew up touching the trade. My parents knew antiquarians and restorers. Their wider social circle had more links. Some I pulled on for advice, others I knew personally. From there it went with fits and starts - a bit of dealing here and there, trading here and there, and so on. I don't actually remember the point at which it became my profession. It grew on me over time as other pursuits fell by the wayside."
Which was, roughly speaking, true.
A brief smile played on his lips and his eyes shone. "There is something magical about antiques, isn't there? Even some damage can tell a story. Sometimes thats part of the object as well, like a finger print. I find that too much of this modern stuff is cheap and classless. Soulless. They are just... pretty objects. And sometimes not so pretty."
He reached for more food.
"I'm glad you see it that way," he said referring to the discussion on Arcana. "Give it a try some time and tell me the results of your study. One day I hope to take up the study of alchemy properly, all the better to achieve insight into Matter. At present I content myself with reading widely and... practicing. It has helped get me through the door to Disciple of Matter; if I'm to progress further I'll need something more substantial to expand my understanding. I should probably start with rotecraft." The last he added almost to himself, musing on the new directions opening up to him.
He reached for his glass and found it empty. He poured again.
"Here is a question for, since we are talking Craft. What way is better? Raw mystical might and understanding or specialising into the deeper study of the Arcana and their ways?"*
*For reference, Campy is asking whether one should prioritise developing Gnosis or build up the Arcana first.