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

[She is the biggest little shit.]

I am not blushing. No theories need to be revised. Do close your mouth for once.

I like you too, Dorkleer.

[ Cherish that admission, for it is not one she gives out easily. ]

[He does.]

I do not know what I am ever going to do with you.

[Even if he doesn't really say as much.]

You know, there's a pamphlet in the city which details you the basics of this place, since Dualscar seems to be as helpful as a rotting whale carcass.

Isn't he always as helpful as a rotting whale carcass?

[ Why does the rotting whale carcass have to be so sexy. 8888( She sighs the sigh of a troll very much put-upon, shifting slightly in Darkleer's lap. ]

Well. I found him useful enough, but then, there aren't many interested in following his orders.

[A shrug.]

Did he at least tell you the Grand Highblood is in the city?

Fuck that. [ She's instantly dismissive. ] I'd prefer to have him on his knees, thank you.

-No, he neglected to mention that.

Hmm. That's unsurprising. I am sure he has also neglected to mention that, as far as we know, death has few, if any, negative consequences. If one was dead back in their particular universe, than they remember their death but are brought to life here.

If one dies in this city, than they remain dead for... Hmm, I would say perhaps a week or so, only to suddenly reappear in the plaza, soaking wet.

I imagine the reason Dualscar was in no rush to inform you of this was because he has suffered from both of those occurrences, and almost by the hands of the exact same individual both times.

Oh. So that's why he was so wet. The fool.

[ shrugs a little, contemplating this. ]

Quite.

...Do keep this information to yourself, or at least who told you. I am attempting to stay on good standings with him despite... certain difficulties.

Don't worry, Chiron, he'll just assume I was clever enough to put it together myself. Which, technically, I did! There's no reason for him to think otherwise.

Good.

...So. Black relations with him then?

He just. Makes me feel so inadequate. No one else can do that to me! Me, of all people!

While it would certainly be a move upwards in term of your usual behavior, please don't start writing black poetry of your hatred towards him. At least while I am in the same room.

Ew. No way. That's your thing.

It is working quite well for me, as a matter of fact. Highblood manners actually have a purpose, goodness, what a surprise.

Wait, wait. You're pitching woo at someone? And it's working?

[ Brb, gigglefit. This is the funniest thing to her. ]

You mean someone actually likes that crap? That is hilarious. Who is it?

[Wow whatever Mindfang! His poetry is... actually pretty crappy, which is why he's been quoting other people's poetry at Summoner.]

[Also?]

I hardly see any reason to inform you. It would serve you quite right to be unaware of something for once.

Tell meeeeeeee. You know I'll find out!

[ She grins up at him, wiggling in his lap. ]

Come on, it can't be any worse than your first time.

You know, you are quite reminding me of another meddler I am not all that inclined to-

[A pause. A pained look, visible even with his shades.]

Please don't start with that.

Sermon Two

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