punnier | ★ ( LUCAS PROUST. )

[OOOOUGH IT'S THE FUCKIN CHURCH. Siffrin is so cute...

Lucas is back in his usual outfit which is distinctly less comfy, but at least makes him look right at home in a church. He'd been hanging out at a back pew, but it's quiet enough in here to catch even a soft mumble, so he pipes back in response:]

Forgive my nosiness, but - the Change faith?

[ The way I belatedly realized we have our normal clothes too NOOO that's okay, Siffrin has his hat on at the very least. Yaaay. Though he perks at the voice and offers a small wave.

He'll come over to take a seat? Plops down. Takes a moment to think, before answering as if reading off a script, but at least in a normal manner of speaking and not so monotone. ]

It's a religion practiced in most of Vaugarde whose ideals are about change in both its practitioners and in the world as a whole. [ How was it put... ] It encourages its practitioners to constantly change things such as their appearances, personalities, interests, and aspects of their life.

[ Starts to swing their legs a little. ] It's very welcoming towards people from all walks of life, and apparently anyone can choose to join at any time even if you aren't Vaugardian and hold beliefs in a different religion.

[NOOOO it's okay siff can have hat... and other clothes later...... THEIR CLOTHES.

But welcome to the back pew, friend. Lucas shifts where he sits so he's facing Siffrin more fully, hands placed politely in his lap as he listens.]

Ah... I see! That's a very unique-sounding religion. I've never heard of anything quite like it... Though I do enjoy how open it sounds. I would love to see more faiths represent themselves in such a kind way.

[Imagine being part of a religion that boos other religions for no reason, how wild.]

[ When Siffrin finishes speaking, they do look a bit sheepish, unused to talking that much. But they nod quietly along. ]

It's not the belief I follow but some of my.. friends were a part of it, beside one who is from Ka Bue. Her own beliefs follow thousands of minor deities, called Expressions, and they pray to the ones they need in communal shrines from what she told us.

[ IMAGINE TRULY... continues to kickie their leggies back and forth. ]

Ka Bue... [Just repeating back the foreign word. So many things are foreign here to his ass.] I see! They both sound very fascinating.

[He'll glance down at their lil kicking leggies. They are sooo short. But then, looking back up to their face curiously:]

What belief do you follow, then, if you don't mind my asking?

There's different practices in other places too but I've only just gotten a bit more familiar with those.

[ Becomes self conscious when Lucas glances down and sits still, oops. And as the attention draws on them they grow quiet, staring at the church before them. None of it looks familiar. It's all so foreign. New. Different. Siffrin breathes quietly in, and out, before a hand reaches up to gently tug their hat a bit down. ]

I.. don't really remember. [ (You try to. Because you know there is. You try, and you try, trying to grasp at anything at something but...) ] "The Universe Leads. We can only follow."

[After a second, Lucas' gaze also follows theirs out into the church at large, quiet for a few moments. But again, he looks back once they speak.]

You don't? Oh, dear... [MEMLOSS????] That does feel true enough as a statement, at least, but... May I ask why it is that you can't recall? It feels like such a terribly important thing to forget.

[ (It is a terrible important thing to forget, isn't it? Terrible. Awful. Poor, poor Siffrin. Something as simple as what belief you follow and you have no answer.)

(...)

He looks over, offering a smile. ]

I'm not too sure. I've always been pretty forgetful.

I see... [He does not see, since that does seem like such a wildly important thing to forget, but he also just assumes this is a lie that he's wont to let go of instead of pressing for more.]

...Well, I hope that you can at least take comfort in some of the beliefs you find while you're here, then. My god is also very benevolent and kind, and would certainly smile upon you even if you belong to another path.

[ Their shoulders ease a little as the conversation seems to move on rather than prodding for more. Even though he isn't too sure how to respond to that.

Comfort in some of the beliefs... ]

Some deities do seem to be really nice like that. [ (...) ] What kind of beliefs do you follow?

[Just a little guy with a little ominous bracket buddy.......]

They do... I've heard of quite a few since arriving here, in fact. There's something heartening about it. [Like Shadowheart and her loving and totally normal god!]

Ah, but my faith celebrates humanity and places emphasis on fairly classic tenets. Love, respect, diligence... The god that I follow is very appreciative of the spectrum of emotion and is certainly more accepting than some of the other deities I've heard of. As long as one is the type of person who does good within the world, that alone is enough to earn my god's blessing.

[ It could honestly be worse but I'm being nice. ]

Hm.. there's plenty as is with one world, so I imagine with multiple there's even more to hear about. [ With varying cultural differences and so forth. But they remain quiet as Lucas shares, because they're good at this! The listening thing. ]

The spectrum of emotion? [ A curious tilt, listening... before nodding. ] Has their.. blessing done anything? For those blessed by them?

[ Or maybe it is a more figurative mention? ]

[HOW LONG WILL THE NICENESS LAST...]

That does seem to be the case... [So many worlds, so little time! Except so much time, actually. Until they find they're on a deadline for redemption sorting?? SURE.]

But yes, in the sense that every emotion is valued and cherished. [Even the ugly...] Yes to that, as well! I've received a very fortuitous blessing, myself.

[ who can say..... ]

What kind of blessing was it? [ (...) ] If.. that's okay to ask?

[ Doesn't feel right to not offer something in return though. ]

The Change deity was well known for being too lazy to really do much but.. I think if they wanted to, it would be able to do at least one thing to help?

[ Maybe. ]

[eyes narrow.....]

Oh, yes, of course. My sister's health was restored during a very crucial moment in her life.

[AMEN! GOD IS GOOD!!! But also fucking help what the heck kinda deity is too lazy to do much except for like one thing maybe.]

I've never heard of a lazy deity before...

They did that?

[ It's surprising to hear. Because... yeah. Sometimes a deity is just so fcken lazy and their followers know that. ]

That's how the Change deity was. Would rather.. watch than really do anything.

[All of the followers just like that's just how this fuckin god is...]

Yes. [A nod! A bright smile! He loves his god very much.] Deities in general do seem to do a lot of watching, but I think it's grand when they also take action alongside it.

[No offense to the Change deity...]

[ Lucas's love for his god is very much how Vaugardians love their Change god, it is very familiar. ]

Mm.. do you think us being here has to do with this place's God then?

[ Honestly full offense to the Change deity, fuck that god ]

[GET A BETTER GOD, DAMN. Like his!]

Perhaps...? Though it could also be any number of other gods, I suppose. [A little wistfully:] I would love to meet my own.

[ Listen he doesn't follow the Change god and even if he did (redacted) ]

With varying gods, it'd be weird for all of us to end up here though, wouldn't it?

[ Who knows maybe Lucas will be able to meet god-sama... ]

[WHAT IS THE REDACTED.]

It is very strange, yes... Though they seem a bit disorganized, so perhaps a mistake was made...?

[A bit of a clerical error on the way to the pearly gates.]