caughtinanetwork | Sermon Two

[Signless has chosen his location carefully; when he turns on the video function, there's a wall of water behind him, and a school of brightly colored tropical fish swimming past. He's very clearly in the bubble again.]

My friends, today I want to talk to you about fear.

[His voice is low and soothing, his story-telling voice.]

I have known great fear in my time. In my world, the color of my blood was a source of fear, something that drove me into hiding for a long time. Then, when I dreamed of the world that could be, rather than the world that was, I was afraid again... afraid that I would never see what I knew we were capable of come to pass. I was afraid to speak out, afraid to make a ripple in the still, stagnant waters of our society, and tried instead to live my meager little life underneath the notice of the highbloods.

But then I saw what my silence was doing, what those in similar positions were suffering, and I knew I could not stay silent. I could not sit idly by while our world rotted away from its very core, while its corruption bled away the talents and very lives of so many trolls who had done nothing beyond being hatched the wrong color. I could not wait for another to come along and demand change, or I would wait the rest of my life. I needed to cast aside my fear, to find a reserve of strength within me, and rise to what my world needed me to be.

[His voice falls, becoming hushed and soft, almost painfully honest, and he looks down, his cloak hiding his eyes.]

I was terrified. Casting off fear is one of the most difficult things I have ever done. Fear is something I knew, its cold comfort as familiar to me as my guardian's face. It would have been... easy to live my entire life in fear, I thought.

[He looks up then, and his eyes are burning, his voice strong once more.]

I thought that fear was a cloak to hide me, but it was a chain I wore around my neck. When the fear was gone, when I made the decision to cast it aside, I have never felt so free in my entire life. It was how I imagine it must feel to wake up one morning with wings, and look out the window into an endless sky. When the fear was gone, I could breathe a deep breath for the first time in my life, and look to the future not as an ominous, foreboding thing, but as a path bathed in light and redemption.

I am not afraid any longer, Vatheon. This is my home now, and it is worth fighting for. I will not be driven out of my home again. I will not let fear control me.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Nepeta nods vigourously, still quite speechless.]

That was...I don't even know! I'd nefur heard anyone talking like that but you make it sound all so furry real and true! It was wonderfur.

I'm glad you thought so. I hope you take those lessons to heart, my young friend.

I will! Will you tell me more, Signless?

Of course! What do you want to know?

Efurything!

[Wait, no, that's a bit much to start off with.]

Anything you want to tell me? Something impurrtant to you.

[Yeah, slow down there, little one, everything is a bit much!]

Well... you know what I said about fear? And how you can't let it control you? I think you already know how to do that, Nepeta.

Do you really think so?

Pounce used to teach me that being afuraid nefur helps, and it's not too hard if it's just for me...but when it's for other people that I care about it's much much harder.

I do. Remember when you were sad about your moirail, but you went to him anyway when you thought he needed you? That was brave, little one, a special kind of bravey, and you didn't let your fear control you.

It is hard when it's for other people, because you don't want to disappoint them. But if you care about them, that makes it even more important to not let fear make decisions for you.

I remember. Without you talking to me about it I don't know if I'd have managed to go, though.

But I think all of that makes sense. [She nods, leaning in closer to her SFC.] It's not just disappointing them though, I'm afraid they'll get hurt or in trouble too.

[He nods sagely.]

Sometimes, it take bravery to let go, and let your friends and loved ones make their own mistakes. And then it takes another kind of bravery to still love them afterwards.

I think that that sounds the most difficult of all...

It is, but it's worth it in the end, because you both grow from it.

Hmm, yes, I think you're right! So the more difficult it is the more it helps you as a purrson if you manage it, right?

You got it, little kitten. No one ever said the things that make us grow are easy.

Signless!

[making kitty eyes at him. Someone wants a hug.]

[Someone would like to give her a hug! But...]

All that said, I think it best for you to stay on the island for awhile longer. At least until we get the issues here dealt with.

I know. But can you visit us at least maybe? I miss you, Dad.

[Oh, Nepeta...]

I miss you too, little one. I promise I'll come up and visit you later today, all right?

[She's grown very attached to him! More so after a few days of everyone living in close quarters.]

Ohh, yes, yes, that would be purrfect! I can't wait! I need to tell you something too.

Oh? And what's that?

No, no, I want to tell you in purrson!

Then I suppose I have extra incentive to come see you later, don't I?

You do! And I'll be waiting fur you!

Sermon Two

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