capeandcowllogs | The weary world rejoices

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The weary world rejoices

WHO: OPEN
WHERE: The Church
WHEN: From today and onto the New Year!
WARNINGS: Kirei.....
SUMMARY: Rejoice, Cityzens! The Church is hosting an event for the holiday season: accepting donations and offering dinner for all those in need during this harsh December! Donate yourself or take part in some free food. You don't have to worship to take part, but you may get a priest breathing down your neck about that.
FORMAT: Whatever you please!

Even in this day and age, certain tired methods of communication remain. A Church flyer is a old tradition and the City has had several passed by hand, or stapled onto walls. They are all advertising open invitations not just for worship but for food on behalf of the City's generous inhabitants -- regardless of beliefs or credo. On top of that, there is a certain tagline which appeals to the City's imPorts:

Be a Hero to one less fortunate than you this holiday season.

It's a sticky, blatant piece of baiting; hamfisted and obvious. Of course, no Church has ever really excelled at subtlety. Guilt is a powerful motivator, especially this time of year. That shows in the turn out: there is quite a few natives already participating, which leads to generous spread.

The Church is welcoming all without distinction -- however, you'll only get to taste wine if you're one of the faithful.

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Perhaps more plague than poison. [ she puts up her hands with a closed-eyed frown that still manages to look haughty. ] I haven't touched them. Call it a diet, but paranoia is probably more true.

[ He looks wary again, clearing his throat of any remaining traces of spice and setting the brownie aside. ]

I should be on a diet. Maybe it's a message about resisting temptation. Normally I'm much better about it, but it seems impolite to ignore food at a function.

[ that's an angle she hadn't considered. maybe in trying not to be impolite, she's actually just being impolite in a completely different way. ]

Well, I came more to assist in the distribution than the consumption. I, uh...wasn't entirely sure that eating it myself was allowed.

Hence the paranoia.

Oh.

[ He could stand to relax, maybe, but he doesn't. ]

They normally wouldn't put it out if you couldn't eat it. It's a gesture of, er, hospitality.

[ relaxing is a thing that could probably benefit them both. it's a shame that there won't be any happening. ]

Hospitality is something extended to guests. For those working in concert with the hosts, it would seem a bit bad form to take advantage of it as well. ...Wouldn't it?

[ Maybe one day. Or maybe not ever. ]

Well -- it really depends. If they put out food for a party, the hosts aren't excluded from eating. Besides, this is the season of togetherness and generosity. Everyone ought to enjoy themselves.

Yes, but... It's better to give than to receive, isn't it?

[ That earns a smile, even if Nelson only believes that adage himself when it's most convenient. ]

No one does just one or the other. Here-- [ He avoids the brownies, but reaches for a tray of decorated gingerbread cookies and puts one of them on a small plate. ] It can't hurt to try just one, right?

[ she stares at it like it's some kind of dead animal. not even one with good blood, either. ]

It might've been more appropriate to offer an apple. [ they're in a church after all. she's read a few things from the holy book in question, and at least that much. ]

An apple? Why an apple?

[ He's not certain there are apples here -- or at least fresh ones, the religious connotations going over his head, of course. He puts the plate aside and picks up a bottle and a cup instead. ]

Is cider is close enough? It's not alcoholic. And very good.

[ He offers it nervously. ]

[ her eyes widen as her lips stretch into a line, fighting a smile. it's almost how funny how oblivious the offer is, but she takes a look around, making sure that kirei in particular isn't watching.

he'll probably know anyway, somehow. ]

Well, should I be cast out of the garden, I hope you know that I'll be holding you responsible. [ she accepts the cup, taking a cautious sip. ]

[ ... Ah. He gets it now, and smiles a little (still nervously), raising his eyebrow. A little wryly, he says: ]

I think you'll be safe. The last thing I'm out for is to corrupt anyone's sensibilities... I just think it's the time of year people ought to be enjoying themselves.

And something can be said for the importance of knowing where good ends and evil begins, anyway. Is there corruption in knowing that some actions would be corrupt?

[ her second sip is a little more relaxed, the cider's actually good, after all. but she'll be avoiding the brownies. ]

I wouldn't say so. Everyone ought to know the difference between good and evil. Particularly where one becomes the other, but even I know that isn't always the simplest distinction.

[ He pours some cider for himself, not even wishing for something more alcoholic. It's festive enough, no need for champagne. ]

Sometimes you have to guide yourself through the grey areas.

Which raises interesting questions about the Original Sin, as it implies that either humanity wasn't meant for that knowledge, or that their punishment had been within the plan from the beginning. It's difficult really to tell which, but from the narrative, you would imagine it's the first.

[ she speaks very much like someone in a book club, because she might've done a bit more recent reading due to knowing she'd be here tonight. and that's how they talk about the bible in church, right? ]

Er--

[ He hesitates, considering the story; not that he's unfamiliar, because who doesn't know Adam and Eve, but biblical analysis always makes him hesitate. Nelson has complex feelings about the bible. ]

That must be why they tell you "ignorance is bliss" -- though I think there are limits. Some things you're happier not knowing, but others... well, I'm sure everyone has one or two things they don't feel they could live without knowing.

[ and complex feelings are difficult to appreciate when you're approaching the subject like a tourist, the way she is. ]

But it didn't seem as if the choice between those facets was available. Just all or nothing. If you could forget the things you didn't want at the cost of the things you couldn't part with, would it be worth it?

I think I'd rather live with both, personally.

Well, in the barest of terms. We're not limited the way they were in the story.

[ His lips tighten and he rubs his mouth nervously before taking another sip from his cider. ]

But I do think you need both. You, uh... need one to appreciate the other. Difficult as it may be. Life can't just be a picnic -- it's the struggle that makes it meaningful.

And often the struggle is itself to derive meaning from it, yes. I suppose it's like good and evil that way, in that it's difficult to practice the one with no conception for the other, your appreciation for joy is deepened when you know suffering.

[ which is maybe not entirely true, at least not always, but she certainly wants to think it might be. ]

Precisely. Really, you can't know success until you've had to climb your way out of failure first. There's nothing like having to work for something to make you appreciate it.

[ He smiles uneasily at that. It's a very simplified summation, but in his eyes no less accurate. ]

As long as you remember that sometimes you never stop working for them.

[ her brows knit in thought, but mostly agreement. ]

Oh, absolutely. Few things worth having are freely given. [ but that bit of thought gives her pause. ] ...Though I suppose it's the ones that are most significant that are impossible to earn. Which is still no excuse to make no effort, as the most we can do is hope to deserve them.

[ Oh, ouch. For a teenage girl Kanaya has insights that startle Nelson a bit... intimidating if only because they are often things he'd rather not face the reality of.

Still, there is an easy way to frame it in his mind. ]

Difficult, yes, I wouldn't say necessarily impossible. Maybe it's the Marine in me speaking, but you don't go in to fight a battle you have no hope of winning. Or resolving at the very least. Sometimes the odds may be against you, but victory is rarely out of reach completely. [ He pauses. ] And if you have earned something, there should be no question about deserving it or not, if you ask me.

[ she shakes her head. love is a very complicated thing, but if there's one thing she knows about it for sure, it's that the only battle she fights for it is with herself. ]

But when it must be given, I don't think the attitude that we've earned it is the right one. Often it can be more in spite of our striving than because of it.

The best we can do is make ourselves someone worthy of being offered that gift.

[ Nelson's brow furrows uneasily. ]

Um...

[ He has conflicting feelings about that sentiment, though it's difficult to pinpoint why. ]

Well-- in those cases, how are you ever supposed to know if you're good enough? Sometimes it isn't about being worthy, it's about holding on to what you have while you still do have it.

[ "because they haven't left you" is on the tip of her tongue, but she could do better as far as phrasing goes. ]

I don't suppose there really is a way to be certain. Just to know what you are receiving, and that even you are is itself a miracle.

Tell me, is it really something you have, or is it something that has you? [ is it as simple as that? hardly, but it's the way she at least wants to think she sees it, more possessed than possessing. of course, she's far too clingy in practice for it to be entirely true. ]

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