Kata had flushed crimson, and adjusted the indiscrete angle of her robe.
"Hey Brian, would you do me a favor and go ask Imbrium who this guy named Descartes is?" Even as he continued distractedly to clutch 'Kata, Arden sounded sincere enough that Brian paused. For a moment.
"The spiritual torpitude to which you both have sunk disgusts me. Repent! Your soul is already irreparably damaged! CHEOM cannot save you! Clothe yourselves in steel wool and eat only fungus and common household pests for ever after, and you may yet become one with CHEOM!"
Brian was just hitting his stride. As he took a breath (in order to expel more friendly advice), Arden interrupted.
"But don't you see, old bean, that's just what I need you to ask Imbrium about. See, this Descartes guy, he was a mathematician, but he also wrote about existence and stuff, stuff like theology. She could explain it better. I mean, I really can't worry too much about the state of my soul until I have the existence of God proven mathematically," Arden persuaded. He had detached himself from 'Kata and moved toward Brian to clap him on the shoulder.
"Sinner!" hissed Brian, and jumped back, as he realized Arden's intent. "Uh, I shall go find Imbrium and speak to her about this heretic, Descartes." Brian hastily removed himself from the dangers of being approached physically by an unbeliever.
Arden shut the door. "Neil, will you please tell me when someone is trying to get into my rooms and not open my door unless I tell you to?"
"Uh, sure Arden. Do you, like, want me to, like, tell you when people want to get in?"
"Yes. That would be nice. And while you're at it, make those instructions only from the corridor into my room, but leave access from my room into the corridor normal. Okay?"
"Okay, man."
'Kata looked at him, interested. "That wasn't very nice."
"What, to Imbrium?" He smiled at her anyway.
"Oh, I doubt she'd mind explaining Descartes to Brian. She may even be patient enough to get him to hear it. But still... I wonder if he'll end up a devotee of Descartes." She looked up at him mischievously. He leaned over and bit her ear.