in which the jaunt was failed because sera spent the wholetime stealing an entire populations pants

[unagreeable]

Ugh, I hate using this head talking magic!

Hey, so, acording to that guy in all of our heads-there's a bunch of people over in the Caliphate that think they can tell people what to do. Think they can tell people what to wear, and stop girls from kissing girls, and I think that's fucked up.

So I'm going to go steal their pants. As many as I can. Who else is in?

Comments

[loyalrebel]

I officially regret giving any of you advice on how to survive a culture that has different viewpoints than yours.

I will not be offering as freely again after this Jaunt.

[unagreeable]

Good, keep out of our brains!

[loyalrebel]

When you get whipped and beaten while watching someone you love be treated the same because you ignored someone who knows what he's talking about I will have no pity for you.

I told you all because I have seen it happen and actually care enough about you to not wish to see you suffer it.

[unagreeable]

Nobody should be getting beaten. That's the whole point of this.

[loyalrebel]

Two wrongs do not make a right.

[oftoomuchfaith]

But that second wrong can be very very satisfying.

I'm a vengeful goddess, it's kind of my thing. Haven't you ever heard about how it's safer to cross Hades than Persephone?

[loyalrebel]

I know it can, very well in fact.

I also know that whomever follows the path of it is best off to dig two graves, one for their enemy and one for themself.

[oftoomuchfaith]

If it's any consolation, I would've been like this anyway.

I would've recognized them for Muslim pretty quick. Plenty of 'em round where I grew up.

[loyalrebel]

It isn't.

It just shows how little I fit in amongst the rest of you that you think acting like... this will do anything other than cause more backlash and difficulty for those who only want to live in peace despite their differences in belief.

[oftoomuchfaith]

I have no reason to think any of this is real, so I guess that's part of my issue.

I have issues with a lot of religious beliefs I've run into but... Real world? I'm not gonna go around stealing hijabs or anything. That's bullshit. But this?

I have yet to find a reason to believe any of this is any more than the Trumps fucking with us. I personally don't give a damn about probably-fictional people. Maybe that makes me a bad person.

[loyalrebel]

It is real, for those here life goes on after we leave.

While the others went off to wherever they were, others of us re-visited a world where a Jaunt had already occurred. They recognized people and attacked us over it.

[oftoomuchfaith]

Yeah, because that's not something that could be planned or programmed.

Other than that, do you have any proof? Because they can do that in video games, so.... it's not really a compelling argument.

[loyalrebel]

...what is a 'video game'?

[unagreeable]

What else should I do? You're telling me they throw rocks at people, until they die, just for, just for

just for being different. For being like me! You want me to just ignore that, after you've told me that?

[loyalrebel]

This is not your fight, not here or now. You cannot change what people believe their god says is right any more than you can yell at rain to stop being wet.

People who are different will always be a target by those who want to fit in with the rest of society, hurting those who hurt them out of fear and spite will only make it worse. Help those who are different by being their friend, by being kind and listening to what they want and need.

Anger only begets more anger, which turns to hate which ends in people being killed as an example.

[private]

[bypartisan]

Malik, I'm so very sorry about their... well, everything, I suppose. I had no idea we had such idiots among us.

[private]

[loyalrebel]

As I said, I will not be so quick to offer advice again even if I know things.

Re: [private]

[bypartisan]

I know. I... don't think I blame you.

[private]

[loyalrebel]

I was trying to help, because I know that there would be difficulty in relating. I have difficulty relating to them because I am from a time gone by and morals and what is and is not acceptable has changed.

Re: [private]

[bypartisan]

As it naturally would. To be honest, I'm sure the only reason I'm not having the same trouble from the other direction is that my planet, well, regressed when it was cut off from everyone else for about five centuries and we're still having to work at catching up with the rest of the galaxy.

[because I don't feel like starting a new post, after she's had a chance to calm down overnight]

[oftoomuchfaith]

Malik, you there?

I didn't...

[ a pause ]

I'd still like that mapmaking lesson one of these days. If you still want to give it.

[ She's not going to apologize for losing her temper, but it wasn't really about him, or even the Caliphate, and she does feel a little bad that she might've... fucked something up.

He seemed nice. ]

[loyalrebel]

[He's a bit cold, and disappointed sounding.]

If liminal space permits it when we are done, I will likely be working in Leonardo's workshop.

[oftoomuchfaith]

[ ah. ]

...You don't have to. I just--

[a pause, and she's clearly making an effort to be calm] I grew up getting told if I was good enough, and respectable enough and didn't make a fuss, that I'd be okay. That nobody would... throw racial slurs at me. That I wouldn't get told I was too white to be black or too black to be white. That I'd be accepted.

But I wasn't. All it did was make me stay quiet when people did that. So when she said-- when she said that, I just... It doesn't work. Being unoffensive and laying low. It doesn't change anything. And I don't think I'm going to change anything either, probably, but I'm not going to pretend that being "respectable" will do fuck all.

[ she is pure Laura right now. She's the Laura that was gracious enough to comfort the person she thought had gotten the divinity she'd desperately wanted, because they were friends. She really needs to learn to bring more of that into Persephone. Well. Time will help - after all, it's only been about a month that she's been herself since she became Persephone, and she hasn't had even Ananke's dubious guidance to help her deal with it, and without Lucifer's immediate meshing of her divinity and mortality. ]

That's why I got angry. You gave good advice, and I... made light of that, and that wasn't fair or right of me. That's your religion, right? Islam?

Second half private!

[loyalrebel]

No, I do not actually follow any religion. I simply grew up in the Levant, knowing how to act to not offend those who follow different rules of conduct is something I grew up doing. It is why I can speak four languages and know enough to pass as a member of different groups so long as there is not much scrutiny. Besides, I somehow doubt any religion would accept me.

[He pauses, considering her story and the implications. The following continues in a private channel.]

We all wear masks, showing the world different faces of ourselves.

I show the world that I am a cripple, a man lucky enough to be taken in by scholars who makes maps for a living. It is a truth, but also a lie that is respectable to society for me to be.

Beneath that face is a killer and a thief. In fact I killed someone long before I kissed anyone let alone had a desire to do so.

Sometimes, you have to be what is acceptable to do what is not. A knife you do not expect from behind is deadlier than a sword wielded by a screaming madman.

[hooray private!]

[oftoomuchfaith]

[ Ooooookay, so he's an assassin. Okay. Well, he doesn't seem to want to kill her so... whatever. ]

That... I'm sorry? [ She sounds sincere enough, if unsure - having killed someone that young kind of sounds like it was part of suck? ]

I just... I understand that. But that's... There is nothing I can do about who I am. I can't change who my parents are, I can't change who I'm attracted to. They're just facts. And I don't see why I should have to pretend to be unhurt by people hurting me, or pretend I'm someone other than who I am just to be treated like a human being. And I don't see why I should be quiet if people treat me like shit, or say I should let them.

[ she's getting worked up again, and she falls silent for a couple of seconds as she breathes deeply to calm herself down ] Sorry. I just. It's sort of a sore subject.