DOUMAN

[aubins]

Comments

[aubins]

[ yuri is sticking the umbrella in his own hair. at least douman's getting some alcohol in him now. ]

So you're taking the "remain silent until whatever this wears off" plan as seriously as possible then. How're you going to know if you're back to normal if you're not talking though?

[commedia]

...Fuck off, I know when it will wear off.

[....]

[Douman just. Closes their eyes. SO TIRED OF CURSING, THANKS]

[aubins]

[ yuri just grins and tops up douman's glass. ]

I hear saying what you really think can be quite freeing from time to time. Don't worry about it.

[commedia]

I do not take pleasure in...this. It does not feel freeing.

[And a pause.]

It is not in my nature to be like this.

[aubins]

Politeness in the face of anything is more your thing then...?

[ hm. ]

[commedia]

...

I am but a humble priest, after all.

[aubins]

Do humble priests drink, or is that allowed in situations like this?

[ he says

you know. after douman has had a drink, but it's fine. ]

[commedia]

[Now that just makes them grin.]

Ha! Yuri, I am in a place that rewards indulgence. Do you believe mere alcohol would offend my sensibilities?

[aubins]

There are some very intense priests out there in the world. I would be at loathe to assume.

[ speaking of he is going to take one of these really cute bottles, specifically the one that says Long Island, and pour himself a drink as well. ]

[commedia]

[Sipping at their own.]

Ahaha. You sound like you know some.

[aubins]

The Church of Seiros is powerful. And their believers are normally pretty devoted.

[ he shrugs, and sips his own drink, nose wrinkling slightly at the taste. ]

It's a combination that's served them well.

[commedia]

Hm?

[A curious look.]

I have never heard of such a church. You sound like one who isn't such a faithful follower.

[aubins]

Why, does a faithful follower have to throw their lives into the church and nothing but the church?

[ he shrugs. ] I have my own ways to believe, and my own things to be doing without joining a priesthood because there's no other option.

[commedia]

No, not at all.

[And a wide smile.]

But you seem to have a more realistic look on it than others, that's all. People deep in religion wouldn't actually call themselves "intense". But it doesn't mean you don't believe at all.

[aubins]

... For some people it's a support and a comfort. And for others, well, the church can't do much for them either way.

[ ... ]

What works for some people doesn't work for others, ultimately.

[commedia]

...

What do you find comfort in, then, Yuri?

[aubins]

The things I'm able to do, myself.

[ ... ]

What about you? You're a priest, but a priest of what?

[commedia]

How nice. Confidence in one's self, one's ability...

[A slight smirk.]

I am a faithful follower of Buddha. He is no god, however. He is the Enlightened One who was able to escape the cycle of birth and rebirth.

[aubins]

Maybe resourcefulness is a better word. Sometimes there's things you just can't drop in other people's laps.

[ hm. ]

... Now that's something I don't recognise. Same as you, you said you didn't recognise the name Seiros, right?

[commedia]

Mmm, the best work is the one does themselves, right?

[They agree, either way.]

Yes. Of course, we hail from different worlds. I'm hardly surprised.

[aubins]

Yet, religion is still a big part of ... well, multiple worlds I'm assuming. People like the concept of higher powers, or some form of spiritual guidance, I guess.

[commedia]

People naturally look to a higher power, and there are beings who claim they have such power.

[And a light laugh.]

But gods can be just as fallible as humans, too.

[aubins]

And then they just walk right into their hands, huh?

[ ... ]

If gods are existing right there alongside humans, it's probably be to expected they won't be acting anything other than human. All the way down to their wants, desires and goals. It's when you raise them up as something more than that, that's when you run into trouble.

[commedia]

But that's the point, you see. You raise them up, and treat them as something else, another being, and that god simply buries the flaws like a child burying a precious thing under sand and takes that treatment for granted.

If you blow that sand all away, why-! They're exposed for what they really are. In the end...they're just as weak as anything else.

[Are you speaking from experience, Douman.]/small>

[aubins]

[ or depending on the fire emblem route you're on: off the entire string and going feral, or misguided and just a bit sad. ]

Sometimes they have the power to back themselves up, though. Or, that seems to be the fact with the gods I'm thinking of. But even then, they can be defeated because they're a physical presence in the world.

[ is... is he? douman? r u ok. ]