#oh i meant to add the qualifier of not really being raised in religion as well as looking at it from a more… anthropological view? maybe.-

[majorshatterandhare]

Okay. I typed this once and my phone died and it lost the post and I have a bad memory and was struggling with words anyway so I’m gonna try again but it might not be as good.

When there is an object involved in prayer or ritual it often is symbolic in someway. If he needs the drum stick between his teeth to pray it probably respresents something. And since its only one thing (AFAIK) that’s necessary it probably represents who he’s praying to. What I’m saying is that he’s praying to himself. He’s Jesus, he’s the Drumbot, it makes sense.

THE IVON YOURE USING IS MY FAVOURITE OUT OF THE DRUMBOT BRIAN ONES IVE MADE DO FAR IM GLAD YOU LIKE IT 🫶

YOU MADE IT?? THEYRE SO FUVKING GOOD I CHOOSE THAT ONE BECSUSE IT LOOKS LIKE HES PRAYING (and im a sucker for brian snf fucked uo religion)

[overlyimmersedarcana]

Define "Faith"

Trigger warnings: religion (Christianity specifically) and mild swearing (this story takes place in January year 3. It's probably one of the dumber stories I have. It's not very important to the overall plot. It's not even a good indication of Maranwe's relationship with Nahara. Sorry for the text wall. Sorry this exists actually. If the information isn’t perfectly accurate, it’s not necessarily meant to be. It’s what Maranwe knows from her own experience, she’s not an expert. Just the grown up version of a kid who’d tend to sleep through Sunday School, and only went to Youth Group for the free pizza.)

"So this is your faith?"

Maranwe's startled yelp echoes off the marble walls as she slaps her hand over her mouth. She stays like that for a few seconds before turning to see asked the question.

"Nahara..." One of Nazali's sisters. They're all in Vesuvia for the masquerade. "You have quiet steps..."

"It comes with the training." She comments with a smile. She steps closer, stopping beside Maranwe and looking up at the statue. A man nailed to a cross.

Maranwe shifts her gaze from Nahara back to the statue. She can see why one might think that, seeing her knelt in front of a statue inside a church in the Temple District. She certainly must look like a worshiper. But...

"No." She answers simply, deliberately. And Nahara glances at her for it, the tone makes it sound like she has no intention to elaborate. But the feeling in the air makes it seem like Maranwe has a lot to say on the matter. "My parents' though... I was raised on it. Seems like it's pretty rare here, small church. Though I'm honestly surprised it exists at all... " She continues, trailing off at the end.

Nahara listens before turning her attention back to the effigy. It's an interesting choice. The statue is all marble white, but the scene looks a little gruesome nonetheless. The man appears to be suffering, or dead. "I'm not familiar with this one."

"Ah well..." She pauses, running her tongue against the inside of her cheek as she thinks, "I suppose it's easier to explain then some. If only because it's monotheistic." She glances at Nahara, to gauge how much she actually cares, deciding that this actually was the point of the comment, she continues "Um, well it's called Christianity. It has a number of branches that all have their own names -the branch I grew up on is called Baptist- and, uh, Christianity as a whole is kind of, like, an off shoot from Catholicism, I think. They believe in the same god and a lot of the same things, but there's differences. Catholicism is older. Anyway, Christians believe in a single omnipotent, omniscient God who created the universe and everything in it. Though this," she motions to the statue, "is not him. Exactly. This is his son, Jesus is the name. He had a human mother and was a product of... what's it called...'immaculate conception'. Because purity, or something." As she goes, her tone is becoming more and more unamused. "He's on the cross because he was crucified for preaching the word of God. Heresy or whatever. His death was intended by God to clean the sins of humanity so we can go to Heaven when we die. So that's why," she motions to the statue again "this. God isn't really personified himself, so we -they-, use Jesus as the face of Christianity. Which kinda makes it seem like there's more then one deity to the whole thing. But Jesus is kind considered to be an extension of God so they're still kinda the same thing... I guess... God is supposed have created humanity in his own image and supposedly love all of us as his children. There's also angels and demons and Hell. He created angels, and then some of the angels were... Bad? Like one in particular -he's referred to as Satan, or the Devil but his name was Lucifer- decided he wanted to be as powerful as God or something, something God really really didn't like, so God sent him to hell and now he's the ruler there, in charge of punishing and tormenting the souls of sinners for all eternity. He's also responsible for tempting humans to sin. I don't know why, I guess he hates us. I think he was jealous of God's love for humans or something. I don't know everything about it. "

"I see." Nahara comments after Maranwe finishes her rambled explanation. "And, if I might ask, why did you turn away from this faith?"

"Ah..." Maranwe's reply comes flatly, with a displeased expression and Nahara wonders if that was an overstep. "I don't really want- eheh..." Maranwe attempts to elaborate, "It's a stupid story. It's really stupid..."

"If you'd rather not-"

Maranwe cuts her off with a sigh and a shake of her head. "It's just so dumb, and embarrassing... And I'm not exactly sure it qualifies... As turning away. I certainly don't call myself a Christian these days, but usually when people turn away from this religion they stop believing in God, out-rightly."

"And you still do?" Nahara questions.

"I don't actually know. I don't *worship* god. I don't worship anything. But I don't think I know enough about existence to say weather God is real or not..." There's pause between them as Maranwe orders her thoughts, and Nahara considers what's already been said. "I'd be more inclined to think he is, based on the story you asked for." Maranwe adds with a dry-humored smirk. After a second she sighs "Y'know boys suck..."

Nahara can't help a bark of laughter, she's too caught off guard. That certainly isn't what she was expecting.

Maranwe gives a laugh of her own, a little incredulous at herself. "Every sever problem I've had in my life started with a boy."

"Then I'm surprised you've not given up on romance yet." Nahara comments with a smirk.

"Well I'm not dating a boy right now." Maranwe shrugs and laughs, a more honest one this time. "And Nazali has yet to cause me any problems, so that tracks!" She laughs again, before waving her hand to dismiss the topic, "So anyway, this story of course starts with a boy. His name is not important. I was... Thirteen? Bad year, awful year, anyway, so I was with this boy and back then I'd actually just gotten back into being an active member of the faith. Wearing symbols, going to church, the whole bit. And then this boy... Got hurt. Very hurt. He was in the hospital for many days and every night I prayed to God for him to be ok. And he was, he survived, he got better. And the day he gets out of the hospital I find out he's been cheating on me... So I threw my cross necklace across the room and concluded that if God does exist, he's a prick and he doesn't love humanity. So that's how that happened... "

There's a pause as Nahara tries to figure out how to respond to that.

"See, I told you it was stupid..." Maranwe insists with an incredulous scoff.

"I would not call that stupid." She begins carefully "it is...unfortunate..."

"Weather..." Maranwe pauses to choose her words with a little more care "Weather it's a stupid reason or not, it's a stupid-ass story... it really does just sound ridiculous! Like God was like 'sure, I'll save him. But not for you!' Bitch!" She laughs incredulously, then slaps her hands down on the marble floor and pushes herself to her feet. "Well I'm over this. Do you wanna, like, do literally anything else? Lets go get some food or something."

"Sure." Nahara smiles, letting the topic drop. And the two exit the little church. "So, is everything in your life complicated like that?"

"Oh god! Don't even get me started... "