Constellation 07

[scienceandgod]

[Arthur sits at his desk, hunched slightly forward, his head resting somewhat on his hand. He's got a history book opened up in front of him, several more stacked around him. Its opened to one of the chapters regarding World War II.

His expression is hinted with confusion, sadness, and anger. But mostly, he just looks very tired. In his left hand is

Comments

[salvagestime]

[The Doctor ends up leaning against the desk, glancing down at the pages.]

Have you already read through them all?

[scienceandgod]

[shakes his head] Only about half of them so far.

Religious, economical, and political causes. Death tolls, estimated scale of destruction, how many wounded. Military strategies, extermination camps, memorials......[He trails off, closing is hand around the watch]

[salvagestime]

[Gently.]

I think you should stop reading, just for a bit. That's a lot to take in all at once.

[scienceandgod]

Just a little longer won't hurt.

[quietly]I....I read about Einstein. And the Manhattan Project, and the atomic bomb, and Japan. He wa- is, he is anti-war.I don't understand.

[handysparehand]

[sort of flops over to where Arthur is, sitting on an unoccupied corner of the desk. he picks up one of the history books and flips through it]

This is all a bit ahead of your time, isn't it?

[looks up from the book to Arthur, and his brow furrows in concern]

You all right?

[scienceandgod]

I'm only reading a few years ahead, nothing more.

[handysparehand]

Only a few years ahead is a few years too many by most accounts. Should never know the future, takes all the fun out of the present.

[scienceandgod]

Ah well, a bit late for that. I probably won't live to see most of it, regardless.

[scienceandgod]

[Looks up, still not closing the book] But you've already told me about part of it, and so has someone else.

[scienceandgod]

But I needed to learn, Master. I needed to understand why.

[galeforcehero]

[If Dorothy had a dollar for every time she's walked in and seen somebody hunched over a stack of books bigger than they are, she would have at least two dollars. Anyway, she's going to bug Arthur, because it's fun to annoy people trying to study. She leans over, trying to peer at his book.]

Well hey there. Whatcha readin'?

[scienceandgod]

[A bit surprised] Just history books.

[galeforcehero]

Oh? Whose history?

[This is Dorothy, hopping up to sit on his desk next to him.]

[scienceandgod]

Earth's history. Though it tends to focus more on the European countries during later centuries.

[oldoldghost]

[Peering over his shoulder] ...Oh, world war II.

[scienceandgod]

Are you familiar with it?

[oldoldghost]

...I wasn't there but I've heard of it.

[scienceandgod]

It's not very...pleasant to read, overall.