ataraxion | 001 ∞ VIDEO

[He's been lurking on the networks since his arrival, reading everything he can get his hands on, but no sign of that shows in his expression. (Better to show trust and goodwill towards his fellow passengers by showing his voice and face. He's wearing the uniform, in order to foster a sense of common ground among those who haven't got other clothes.) Leoben smiles, calm and candid.]

Hi. I'm new here, and it seems to be the custom to introduce yourself. I'm Leoben.

I was wondering - does anyone have any religious texts they'd be willing to share? Or any works on prophecy, divination, or philosophy? Seems like my universe has some things in common with most of yours, but a lot that's different. I'd be glad to know more about other people's faiths, and to introduce them to mine.

I've got a complete copy of the Sacred Scrolls of the Twelve Colonies, and I can provide a digitized copy to anyone who's interested. [He says this as though it's normal, as though it's not blasphemous to set the Sacred Scrolls in print instead of keeping them handwritten, besides being abhorrent for scripture to be in the hands of a Cylon.] Our faiths are similar, but the Colonials look to many gods, while we look to one. It's a little complicated.

I'm very happy to have this opportunity to learn more about such a diverse group of people - human and non-humans of all kinds, their cultures and beliefs - and to spread God's word, in accordance with His holy will, among you all. [He seems to actually mean this, and to be downright thrilled to find himself captive on a creepy half-abandoned spaceship adrift in the stars.]

And Kara? I'd love to see you, whenever you've got the time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I could probably give you a good idea of what His plan is. But I'm pretty sure you wouldn't like what I have to tell you. [ He's just rolling with it. ]

The name's Bells. Now we're not strangers.

Nice to meet you, Bells.

It's not for me to like or dislike the will of God.

What do you mean it's "not for" you? You have opinions, don't you? Free will and all that?

Sure I have opinions. I've even been given the gift of prophecy. But my ability to interpret what I've seen is imperfect, especially in comparison with His knowledge, which passes all understanding.

Free will? [Curiously]

To be honest, you might want to try forgetting all about that kind of thinking. It's not gonna help you in the long run. [ Who is this guy? ] And yeah, you know. Free will. The ability to, uh, decide on your own? I'm not exactly an expert on it or anything.

We all make decisions based on what we know, which is necessarily incomplete. But some - prophets and oracles - are given special insight into the foreshadowing that precedes every action. And none of us can act contrary to our destinies and the will of God - if we try, we only make it become true.

We? So, you're one of these oracle things then? Or am I hearing you wrong? Because I used to know one of those from, well. From before, and he was all kinds of crazy.

Some people just aren't meant to know that stuff, you know? It messes with their head and gets to 'em in a bad way.

[Amused, quotes:] To know the face of God is to know madness.

Some of the Colonials believe it's a sin to try to know too much about their gods. Which tends to be convenient for their priests.

I don't think it counts when He stands right in front of you, and you actually know what His face looks like. [ SIGH. ] From my experience, humans are nothing but a bunch of petty assholes fighting each other for no good reason. No use wasting your time on 'em.

What should I be wasting my time on, then?

Whatever you want to. That's the beauty of deciding for yourself.

If I make my own choices, then I choose to serve God, freely and in gratitude. If my will is my own, then I am God: I create myself, and I am a creation meant to serve the love that binds all things together. And that love is God, and we are all God.

And that's the beauty I know.

[ Give him a second (or fifty). Trying to process. Process failing. Failed. ]

What kind of fucked up drugs are you on, and where can I find some? Because I really need to know.

[Goodnatured ~~and creepy~~ smile] Nothing right now, sorry. You might try chamalla, if you can get your hands on it. It's what the human oracles use.

[ Huh. He hadn't been expecting that. ] What's chamalla do? I've got some stuff from back home with me, but I don't think I'd ever give it to a human. It'd probably kill 'em too quick for them to enjoy it properly.

It's an entheogen, with hallucinogenic properties - gives the users visions, which may be true or false, depending on the user and the use. It also works as an analgesic, so it's sometimes used in therapy for some illnesses. Terminal cancer, some immune deficiency diseases.

I know of some stuff like that, but I haven't seen any around here. Sorry if you were hoping to hear any different. [ Just because he can, he adds: ] At least I don't have to worry about things like diseases. I've heard that can get kinda nasty.

A couple of my brothers died of disease or radiation sickness. From the deaths I can remember, it wasn't especially fun. But I suppose it depends on what sickness you have.

Dying never usually is. It kind of, well, hurts.

Some ways more than others, though.

Guess so. It's only happened to me once, and that was enough. I've had to deal with it for the past few centuries.

Deal with what, your first death?

Falling from Grace, yeah. [ A shrug. ] Not exactly the pretty picture it paints for some people.

I wouldn't have thought that was a pretty picture at all.

Like I said, some people. They've got a weird sense of humor in Hell.

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