The not so secret garden

[Thirteen]

"Even public libraries require a card and have late fees. Access may be free but they still keep an eye on those that use it. Much as they can, anyway. But they want encourage people to use the facilities. Too many hoops to jump through will just discourage the public. The goal is to educate, not micromanage." Thirteen knew education was key to humanity's magical potential.

"Fine, there are exceptions, but those are depressingly uncommon," was all she added on that idea.

The Acanthus looked at Chambers, and inclined her head, "Don't think I'm devaluing the lives lost. I wish that had never happened, and I'll never envy that Oppenheimer. Too see his brilliance put to such an end. It broke him. But that same science can find solutions to such threats. Research needs to be encouraged. Nothing will improve if we shy away from it."

"Ah, Tetris. That's pretty old school." Did people still play that? "I suppose you'll find out soon enough." Thirteen came to the checkout counter and set the cactus and book down for the cashier to scan. While she waited, she turned back to look at the Stygian. "How long before those herbs show results?"

[Chambers]

Yes they did that was fair enough. "I might have muddied the waters when I used the example of the ma working for his money." He can see that now. "I was trying to exemplify the point of hard work gives value to what you earn. I do not think you can place a price on knowledge be it late fee, fine or fortunate." No that was another expression of a system built on the principles of the lie. "I would sooner earn these." Indicating the books. "But I don't think they take trade, barter or services." Any of which would have been preferable. "The goal is to develop the wisdom to handle the knowledge you have." Education had many flaws the lack of wisdom being chief among them.

Indeed far to few. "Yet critically important as exceptions to the rule. Proof such things can be strived for an achieved to a degree." Many would not, and those who actively sought power for powers sake, pride or self acclaim should be kept the furthest from it, but yes exceptions did provide role models.

A man he himself had very little sympathy for. "Now I am become death destroyer of worlds." Oppenheimer quoting Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. "If you build a bomb you lose the right to feel sorry for yourself when its set off." What else was a bomb going to be used for. If it had killed a single person or ten times as many it known and intended use for always the same. "But witch checks, balances and restrictions or else the same happens again just on larger and more deadly scales." The bombs we have now make his look puny by comparison.

Old school sure, Jenga was older though. "Well I've had people joke I belong in a museum." A pause. "Well I hope they were joking." The chuckle says he knew they were. Waiting his turn in line. "I would have to check the books to have any idea." Until today this had not been a hobby of his.

[Thirteen]

"There might be some clever saying about treasure in muddy water, and if not, there should be. Anyway, I see what you were going for. I agree," the redhead nodded, "Information, the truth, wants to be free." She rand a finger over the leaf of some sort of fern that was sitting on the checkout counter, "The difference between knowledge and wisdom, now? Knowledge tells you it's raining, wisdom tells you to go inside before you catch cold?" She chuckled, "Book smarts and street smarts."

"Oh, he brought it on himself, no doubt," she spoke of Oppenheimer, "He signed up to build the bloody thing. Another example of knowledge without wisdom, perhaps, but there were no checks on him. The Americans didn't really hesitate to use the bomb once it was finished, did they?" The checkout girl, most likely an American, looked at her askance. Thirteen ignored her.

"Better than a mausoleum, right?" She smirked and turned back to her purchases when the checkout woman was ready. The price was named and the Acanthus paid in cash. Low-tech for a Libertine, but it left no paper trail. Buying a cactus wasn't a suspicious activity, not by a long shot, but it never hurt to keep your tracks clean when feasible. An incomplete picture of her purchasing data for the corporations.

With that, she scooped up Angus and the book, now in a bag, and stepped aside for Chambers.

[Chambers]

Okay that's really not what he meant. "No. Not what I'm saying and you know it." And the twist of his words had not been appreciated this time. "I'm saying you can't put a monetary value on knowledge." Hefting the book. "Who decides what this worth in terms of money?" It made no sense and the lore house practice of doing exactly that was part of why their orders did not get along well. "There is a price it is not simply monetary." A few wise old saying do come to mind but not about muddied water or treasure, and The Moros bites his tongue. "Knowledge is knowing, Wisdom is understanding." Such as understanding information doesn't want anything at all. The free council's pet line the one they trotted out to justify their foolishness certainly id not hold water with him. Not when he had experienced otherwise.

No they did not. "I think the British government signed off on their use as well." Not going to shy away from that. "But yes a very good example of why checks and restrictions are important." Asking what will this do, what else could it be used for how dangerous is it. Stop doing and actually see what's going on.

He doesn't respond immediately, instead a moment to think on it. Yes he actually considerers it. "I don't know one has a lot less people gawking at you through the glass and I do value my privacy." Also Moros the idea of being dead, not as crippling a fear to him as some. He also pays in cash probabaly for the same or similar reasons making it as quick as possible as if the act was dirty or unpleasant. But short of theft his options were limited. "Well I think that's everything." After checkout there really was little left to do.

We still got time left if you want to continue but it feels like a decent point to wrap it?

[Thirteen]

She'd touched a nerve, or at least annoyed him. The agitating Libertine in her marked one in the win column for that, however petty that might feel, but Thirteen kind of liked this Mystagogue a little, and didn't want to push too hard. The debate was the fun part, anyway. So, she backed off with the taunting, but she wasn't going to back down from her point. "Okay, okay. However, how does one gain the wisdom if one doesn't have the knowledge first?" And pet line or not, if the Diamond Orders' beliefs and methods were so superior, why were the Seers still around? Why was humanity still Asleep? As irritating, and occasionally juvenile, as the Free Council could be, they put forth an important point. Old dogs may very well need to learn new tricks.

"Yeah, true. I suppose some would claim 'It was war!' as an excuse. Morals do tend to get tossed to the wayside in war, I suppose." How often have the Pentacle done that in this war for reality?

The Acanthus chuckled, "Lookie-loos would disturb your rest, yeah?" Once Chambers was checked out, she hefted Angus in one arm and nodded. "Well, this has been... interesting. Fun talk. Mostly. See you around then. Ta!" She turned on her heel and headed for the exit.

Yeah, this feels like a good point to wrap. Been a very fun RP! Thanks!

[Chambers]

Taking his purchases back, now the seeds and books were in a bag which did make things considerably easier. "I find patience, humility and self reflection help start you on that road." The ego, the need for instant gratification, the lack of empathy present in the world today serving as both zeitgeist and anathema to wisdom.

But that is fair point she made a he ponders it for a moment brow furrowed turning it over. "Yes war makes monsters of people. And ethics often heads the causality list." Killing was after all so very easy, as was much worse when you could do as they do. But we must not. That didn't stop many resorting to it.

Well he wasn't pressed for time the bus wasn't for a while yet. "See you." He might have waved but arms being full and such. Instead he watch's after the vanishing afro of red curls. Curiosity writ across his features, pondering. It's not everyday he has such an animated, fast past debate.

Indeed it was a ton of fun thank you for the scene!