#2) dee is only catholic ironically

[sometimes-love-is-enough]

Looking at your art makes me really curious about what your fics would be like if you wrote about your sides instead of thomas's. They're similar but different, you get me?

loop twenty-one.

“You’re… taking notes,” says Dee, coming to a halt on the front-of-theatre pavement. “Goodness fucking gracious. All right. You do you, I suppose.”

Min has not bothered getting up from a face-down position on the ground after her usual trip down the theatre steps. Her forehead and nose took the worst of the collision, but she barely seems to care. She’s propped herself up on her elbows, has her phone out, is typing rapidly into it. “We got hit by lightning,” she says, visibly delighted.

“I know,” says Dee with a soulless smile, tucking her hands behind her back. “I was there.”

“Actual, proper lightning,” Min reiterates. “Like, with the… electricity. The thunder. The everything. It hurt so fucking bad! I’ve never felt anything like that before, Dee!” She looks up, eyes bright and beaming ear to ear. “And I’m in near-constant physical agony, 24/7! Do you understand what great writing fuel this makes?”

“No,” says Dee. She turns her gaze towards the other side of the darkening street. Predictable as clockwork, the same time it always happens: Passion bursts out of the bookstore on the opposite street corner, followed by a barrage of angry yelling and a fully furious storeowner. She dances like a thistle caught in the wind, giggling like a maniac, gathering twenty-or-so paperbacks close to her chest and trying not to drop them all at once.

“Don’t worry! Don’t worry, they’re going to a better home!” she says, dodges a furious swipe from the end of a broom, and pirouettes elegantly before taking off across the street at a dead sprint.

As usual, she catches sight of Dee and Min on the other side of the road and brightens like she’s been filled head-to-toe with sunlight. The shopkeeper’s too close on her tail for her to stop near them, though.

“Hi, Dee! Bye, Dee!” Pash shrieks at the top of her lungs, skipping and tripping backwards down the pavement, waving as best she can with her arms full of books. “Hi and bye, person I don’t know! See you tonight, Dee! Love you, Dee!”

“Love covers a multitude of sins!” Dee calls back wisely, raising a hand in acknowledgement. “But I refuse to cover yours! Do not get arrested, and I will see you tonight!”

“It’s fine! I’ll just fuck my way out!” Passion carols with a musical little cackle, and then she starts running. In less than a minute, she’s out of sight, and the early-evening street is quiet once more.

Min is still taking detailed notes on what it feels like to be spontaneously cooked by Zeus himself. “…Seriously, what’s wrong with her?”

Dee stands sentinel beside her on the sidewalk, smiling at any pedestrians who look like they’re going to try to walk right over Min. Unsurprisingly, most people give the two of them a wide, wide berth. She says, “Lord only knows. I’ve always suspected she’s more hollow than the rest of us. Our loving creator gave her immense fuckability, but neglected to give her any semblance of brain. Praise be. Really, are you done yet? This seems unnecessary.”

“…I’m an author,” Min says after a sulky few seconds of typing. “I know it sucks that we’re dying over and over, but… if I can’t get inspiration from getting hit by lightning, what can I get inspiration from?”

“Praise be to our gracious creator, who said, lo! Let there be light! And in accordance with his spoken word, a light from the heavens arrives hence and blasts us to screaming smithereens. Call it a miracle, a blessing of the muses, because surely what else could have you taking notes on your phone in the middle of a time loop?” Dee rolls her eyes, turns her ever-present bland grin onto Min, tilts her head in vague condescension. “You do realize, of course, that none of this is going to carry over. You will lose all of those notes.”

“Ah,” says Min, suddenly downtrodden. Slowly, she puts away her phone. Slowly, she rises to her feet. Awkwardly, she brushes herself down – brings up the collar of her loose T-shirt to try to smudge the blood on her face away. “Right. Shit. Okay, well – what were you thinking we should do this time around?”

“Rat ought to be in the clockwork.” Dee shrugs, makes the vaguest of gestures right the way downwards. “We haven’t told her that we’re all dying at once, yet. Perhaps she’ll have something new to say about all of this with added context. Or maybe she’ll have a panic attack again.”

“The panic attack was your fault,” Min says, with only the barest edge of accusation. “You made her have a panic attack.”

“I deny all charges,” Dee says, and keeps on smiling.

“Sure. Okay. I don’t know if I want to go down there again. We could find Pash. Or the painter on Ursa Street, she seemed to know a thing or two. Or your angry mean ghost,” Min says, after another second of contemplation. “…Who keeps saying that she hates me, and I should know why, and she hates me even more for not knowing.”

“She says that to everyone, love, don’t take it personally,” Dee smiles, and takes Min’s hand. “Ursa Street it is. Let’s see what that lovely street artist of yours has to say about getting hit by lightning.”

[project-rebirth]

Fallen Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church (ローマ正教 Rōma Seikyō?, lit. "Roman Orthodox Church", Yen Press: Roman Orthodox Church) is the world's largest Christian organization, boasting a number of 2 billion worshippers, spanning across 113 countries. It is one of the three major Christian denominations, alongside the Anglican Church and the Russian Orthodox Church.

Their central base is the Vatican City State, protected by a barrier that incorporates a magical formation that involves 90% of the buildings in Rome, and a 'lock' that changes every hour, a security which supposedly not even Index Librorum Prohibitorum can break through.

However, after their defeat in World War III, the church was weakened as a result and their standing in the world was lessened. At some point before the start of Rebirth, Pope Pietro Yogdis was assassinated by Mathias Benedictus who stole the infamous Grand Grimoire by John Dee and wished to obtain power. The assassination worsened the division of Roman Church, and eventually, Mathias managed to pact with the new Terra of the Left, one of the members selected to become part of the remade God's Right Seat, and eventually become the Pope. He framed and banished Cardinal Peter Francis for Yogdis's assassination.

By gaining everything he needed - the Grand Grimoire, the Frozen Sapphire of Arendelle, the Shard of Anubis, all of 30 Tyrian shekels, the Bell of Awakening and so on - Mathias managed to empower the Fallen Catholic Church's power. During Mathias's reign, the Catholic Church became known as the Fallen Roman Catholic Church, or the Fallen Church for short, and they worshiped the Outer Demon Gaelion instead of God. It is said to be the modern reincarnation of the "evil" Catholic Church that reigned during the Dark Ages. It serves as the main antagonistic faction the majority of Series 2 of A Certain Magical Index: Rebirth Testament.

Background

The City of Vatican

The Vatican has its roots in Vatican City, the pre-WWIII sovereign territory of the Holy See. Although Vatican City was founded in 1929 AD, the history of the modern Vatican is tied to the far older history of the Holy See. As the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church, the Holy See dates back to antiquity; and in this regard, the Vatican represents one of the oldest institutions in human history.

By the early 21st century AD, the status of Vatican City remained largely unaltered since its founding; it was a walled enclave within the city of Rome, encompassing a total area of approximately 44 hectares (110 acres), and a population of less than a thousand citizens, making it is the smallest internationally recognized independent state in the world by both area and population at the time.

Joining the Romefeller Family

After the coronation, Pope Mathias officially declared his support for the Romefeller Family, resulting in a very mixed reception among those within the Church.

During Mathias's rule of terror, he used some of his most insane killer machines in flesh and blood to commit oppressions, like the notorious Neo-Hellfire, run by Mother Superior Melancholia, Cardinal Franchesco di Medici, Sister Paula Souwauski as well as Brother Petros Orsini. In the south of Vatican, suicidal events rose and many people wrote in their last letter with despair, saying the world was going to end after the new pope took control. Even so, some were believed that Aleister Crowley was responsible for the corruption of Mathias, a man whom they trusted and respected.

Hiding beneath the depths of St. Peter's Ballisca, Michael took ten blood samples of Akatsuki Miyuki's blood and believed it would make people harness power they desired most, making them into uncontrollable "monsters". Later, knowing the time had come, Mathias ordered the assassination of Peter Francis and sent a brainwashed Cardinal Antonio Borgia to kill Francis for assassinating the former Pope, Pietro Yogdis, who was in fact killed by  Fallen Terra under Mathias's order.

Government

The government of the Vatican has a unique structure with influences from absolute monarchy, elective monarchy and theocracy. The Pope is the sovereign of the state. Although the Pope takes the highest legal authority in the Vatican, his actual control over the government is entirely dependent on his character. In the case of a weak-willed sovereign, the College of Cardinals wields considerable influence and power as the seemly de facto form of leadership of the Vatican. Despite the influence of the cardinals, they cannot legally overrule the authority of the Pope. They must therefore seek the Pope's approval before taking certain actions especially military actions that involve the state. Although the Pope is technically an elective office—its succession decided by a papal conclave held after the death of the incumbent Pope.

The Concistoro, the seemly highest decision-making body in the Vatican, is the legislative branch of the Vatican government. Composed of high-ranking members of the Catholic clergy, the Concistoro is also responsible for making final decisions on whether to investigate clerics suspected of corrupt practices. The majority of its membership consists of older, higher-ranking clergymen, who regard Cardinal Medici and his supporters as dangerous extremists. As a result, they consistently support Cardinal Sforza in order to limit Medici's influence in Vatican politics. Pope Mathias Benedictus and Cardinal Cedric Cronqvist are between the two Cardinals and had an balancing influences. In cases such as captivity where the Pope is no longer able to competently exercise the powers of his office, the College can assume direct leadership of the Vatican until the Pope is either rescued or killed.

Before Mathias Benedictus, even if the Concistoro seemed to held the highest power, the de facto ruler of Vatican behind the Pope was a secret faction known as God's Right Seat, led by Fiamma of the Right who held the highest authority until he was defeated by Kamijou Touma in World War 3.

Neo Inquisition

Set by Pope Mathias himself, the Neo Inquisition, also known as the Department of Inquisition, the Inquisitorial Department, the Bureau of Inquisition, or simply the Inquisition, is a special division of the Ministry of Vatican Papal Doctrine—the department responsible for promulgating and defending the creed and doctrine of the Catholic Church. Its membership consists of elite warrior monks, known as Inquisitors, who serve the Ministry of Doctrine as the chief enforcers of the Catholic faith. Their reputation as a group of uncompromising hardliners, dedicated to the Vatican and committed to their duty without question—has earned them the nickname "Fangs of the Church."

The Inquisition headquarters is based in Rome, the capital of the Vatican Papal State. Due to their status as an elite order of holy warriors, the Inquisition is tasked with the duty of providing security to high-ranking members of the clergy,, such as the College of Cardinals and especially the Pope. As such, Inquisitors are often stationed in the San Pietro Cathedral and other key areas of the Vatican headquarters, especially during important ceremonial events that involve the Pope and leading members of the Church. Despite their primary role as a domestic force, as well as their association with the domestic-based Ministry of Doctrine, Inquisitors can also be deployed outside of the Vatican's territory, but only to provide security to clerics of high rank such as the cardinals or the Pope.

Inquisitors are led by the Minister of the Inquisition, although they also work directly for the Secretary of Vatican Papal Doctrine; since the current year, both offices have been occupied by Cardinal Francesco di Medici as well as Mother Superior Melancholia.

Ministry of Holy Affairs

The Ministry of Holy Affairs, also known as the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Division of State Ecclesiastical Affairs, or the Ministry of State, is the pontifical government branch responsible for the international relations of the Vatican. The Ministry is headquartered in Rome, the capital of the Vatican, and is currently led by Cardinal Caterina Sforza.

The Ministry was created to resolve diplomatic situations by using peaceful methods, although the Ministry considered this task to be difficult due to the instability of the international community. In situations where diplomacy fails, the use of force is exercised by the by the AX—a special division of the Ministry of Holy Affairs. The AX consists of elite priests and nuns, all of whom are trained to undertake unconventional missions as a special forces group of the Vatican.

Others

  - Ministry of Vatican Public Relations - responsible for managing relations between the public and the Vatican government; headed by Cardinal Cedric Cronqvist

Military

The Vatican Military is responsible for the defense and security of the territories controlled by the Vatican. It is composed of several different branches, including the Army, Air Force, and Special Forces.

The Military is not completely separate from the political organization of the Vatican. The Department of Inquisition possesses its own military assets, including soldiers, tanks, and air battleships. The Papal State Affairs Special Operations Section, also known as the AX, consists of priests and nuns who are trained as a special forces group in order to perform unconventional missions for the Vatican. Furthermore, the AX has access to its own battleships, such as the Iron Maiden and the Iron Maiden II.

Secret Subfactions

Neo-Hellfire

Neo-Hellfire is dedicated to the original Hellfire Club, an infamous Satanism Cult founded by many people, most notably Duke William Wharton who founded the first Hellfire Club in 18th century's England. Different Hellfire Clubs serve different demon kings, and one of them serves Gaelion.

God's Right Seat

The God's Right Seat is a political organization deeply active within the Roman Church, even run everything of the Church. They often advise the Pope on matters of the church and is more powerful than the actual clergy in general.

The organization was disbanded following Fiamma's defeat in World war III, however, when Mathias came into power, he had remade the Organization into Gaelion's Right Seat and had devoted followers dark side magicians, or straight up demons become members of the group. Unlike the original God's Right Seat, the group was made in a way that made them submit to Mathias, who aptly called himself "Tenenbrae of the Centre."

@tetsuwan-atom​ @xbloodsoakedx​ @lawain-dimensional-heroes​ @x-ame-x-damnee-x​