video.

[enactors]

( marc still isn't entirely sure where he falls on the 'is this actually real?' question he's asked himself more than a handful of times since finding himself here, since finding the parchment with his crime(s).

still: it feels real enough, and for now that's enough.

he's dressed in a suit — it's white in its entirety, with small crescent moons serving as buttons and cufflinks. it's — fine. it's an outfit that says he — before here, at least — probably spent a small fortune on dry cleaning, and begs the question of how long it's going to stay looking Like That (answer: not long).

with one leg crossed over the other, there's a breath of a pause before he speaks. this isn't how he normally does this, but then, this isn't normal by any — even his — definition of the word. )

My name is Mr. Knight. ( is it? of course not, but there's nothing to marc's demeanour that says otherwise; and for those familiar, his accent says 'chicago!' ) I'm a priest. ( certainly, by A Definition, and by that, we mean 'by marc spector's definition and no-one else's, except (maybe) an ancient egyptian moon god's'. )

At home, I ran a mission — the Midnight Mission — through which I protected my community and my people. Travellers of the night. ( a breath of a pause and he holds up a hand (gloved, white, because of course) and gestures vaguely at his surroundings. ) A change in circumstances doesn't change my duty. If there's anyone that requires help or assistance with, ( at night, because marc is Dedicated, ), no matter how strange or unusual, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Comments

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[fatalism]

i am pleased to find a man of god in this place or is it 'gods'? you did not specify which religion it is you follow.

[enactors]

( in theory, it's a simple question. in practise — no. there is no religion, not with regards to khonshu. it's about fulfilling his duty and that's it. there's not a single part of marc that would wish following khonshu on anyone else, in spite of his mission and his (self-)proclamations of being a priest.

the other answer to the question is the religion he no longer practises, the one he'd thrown away in selima in favour of khonshu and a chance to live. )

god, singular.

( or: ignoring the unasked question as to what religion. )

[fatalism]

[ dostoevsky considers the answer, easily taken at face value. his own religious leanings aside, he does appreciate an individual with whom one may speak frankly of the divine and its texts. ]

monotheistic then, and you are trying to continue your work here. that's admirable. what other qualifications do you possess? are you a doctor? a warrior? or simply a shepherd of lost sheep?

[enactors]

( admirable certainly isn't the word marc would use: khonshu's still imprisoned with the aesir, and marc—

—marc doesn't have anything else. )

I was a soldier, in a past life.

[fatalism]

left the war for the priesthood. don't you think being a priest is just a different sort of battlefield?

[enactors]

in a manner of speaking. ( at the very least, what marc does doesn't involve less violence. ) they're not experiences I've ever spent much time comparing and contrasting.

[fatalism]

i hope my questions are not too impertinent. i enjoy seeing what drives people into the arms of god, or gods depending on the religion of choice.

[enactors]

( there's a delay before marc responds, not because he does find the questions impertinent (not at all), but because he's weighing how to reply — and how he wants to reply.

he's sure that dr. sterman would say something about his father, but that's not a conversation he's overly willing to have with just anyone.

the truth of it is that khonshu had spoken to him where his father's god had shown nothing but indifference. it's a weak argument and a weak explanation, and the more time that's passed since his father's death and the more time that's passed since his death and resurrection in selima, the more marc has grown to understand his elias' point of view. the less he's thought of elias as weak.

convenience, then, is one answer. the other answer is the one that has always had people questioning his sanity, which—

—actually, was fair enough, given everything.

eventually, then: )

I died.

[fatalism]

[ how many people here are dead??? re-dead, almost dead? alright... he has so many questions.

he takes his time to reply too, thinking. ]

so, resurrection is a possibility in your world. but you did not die before arriving here, correct?

[enactors]

( listen, marc has died like three times. it's a Thing. )

not that I recall.

( weird question, but okay. )

did you?

[fatalism]

[ sounds like a Fun Thing ]

no, i did not. though i thought this might be the afterlife for a second or so upon arriving

[enactors]

for what it's worth, this isn't anything like where I'm supposed to end up.

[fatalism]

oh? what is it like where you're supposed to end up?

personally, i was expecting either pearly gates or fire and brimstone. perhaps a dash of purgatory in-between

[enactors]

not a place of judgment. from what I understand, it's simply a resting place. eternal death.

( marc doesn't actually know the full details, badr did. badr knows far more about the history and experiences of khonshu's fists that marc has ever known, for reasons that marc hasn't been able to work out.

if he was to hazard a guess, he'd say it's probably because badr was a lot more receptive of khonshu than marc has ever been. more respectful. )

...you're christian?

[fatalism]

that sounds rather pleasant, especially for an ex-soldier like yourself. no battles, no blood, just silence.

yes, of the russian orthodox persuasion if you want specifics.

[enactors]

we'll find out when it happens.

I can't say I'm very familiar.

[fatalism]

ah, do you feel it might be a trick?

there's some fundamental doctrine disagreements with the catholic branch but mostly nuances, we all believe in god whether catholic or orthodox or whatnot.

you are not christian then?

[enactors]

khonshu is a miserable bastard. I'll believe in it when I see it.

jewish, actually. but you've undoubtedly gathered that the god I speak of is not the god of my people.

[fatalism]

miserable in what way? a trickster?

we all worship in our own way, i did not wish to presume anything given that religion can be a deeply personal choice.

[enactors]

an asshole.

I'd say you'd be surprised by how many people would disagree with you, but I'm not sure you would be.

[fatalism]

[ snort ]

i see, well most god-like things are a little at least.

you are correct and i'm perfectly aware of the ridiculousness of their arguments.

[ he is a murderer, a terrorist, a manipulator, and worse etc but he is not a religious bigot so yay for that??? ]

[enactors]

I think it's part of the job description.

( HI-5!!! )

[fatalism]

oh? do you not believe there could be a god who values order over chaos?

[enactors]

that's not what I meant. when I said that khonshu's an asshole, I meant he's self-serving and petty.

order and chaos have nothing to do with it.

[fatalism]

oh, my apologies.

although i would argue that they do, would a self-serving god not place his own sense of order over what ought to be?

a selfless deity by contrast would value harmony and order as it ought to be.