| Sadness of the Gods |
| Summary: | Noelani talks about the Gods' grief with Bannik. |
| Date: | 20 Mar 2041 AE |
| Related Logs: | None. |
| Players: |
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| Chapel — Deck 9 — Battlestar Cerberus |
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| The hatchway opens into a dimly lit corridor, stark grey walls now and again painted with some mural appropriate to the religious season, stretching from floor to ceiling and then sloping down away from the ceiling in two triangular forms that bracket off the tiered seating areas to either side. Straight ahead, in the center of an open space, stands a simple rectangular altar, the emblems of the Lords thereupon arrayed to receive sacrifice in the tall room when the altar isn't decked for some more specific use. Hestia, who is not vouchsafed her own emblem on the altar, is etched in relief on one side of the altar itself, shown tending the hearth in her usual fashion. |
| In the wall behind the open area are three evenly spaced hatchways which can only be opened and closed from the inside. The small cubicles behind each hatchway are each furnished with a small altar against the back wall, upon which sometimes the dark shape of a sacred object can be discerned even from the tiered seating for visiting on the sacral days. The hatches can be closed to block out profane eyes from rites they were not meant to see. The walls between each little cubicle can be retracted to create a larger space for more well-attended mysteries. |
| Post Holocaust Day: #22 |
| Condition Level: 3 - All Clear |
The chapel is always a quiet, serene place - when there's no drunken revelry, that is. Today, there is not, and thus the room is mostly occupied by people quietly praying, along with a single chaplain standing in the back if she's needed.
Bannik makes his way into the Chapel in his off-duty uniform, a necklace with a symbol of Demeter around his neck along with his usual dog tags. He takes a deep breath as he moves towards the rows, looking, well, heavy-hearted as many tend to be.
Noelani offers the man a reassuring smile, but otherwise doesn't move from her place. If she went to speak to everyone in the chapel when they entered, she'd never get done.
Bannik at first moves to just settle into the row and pray, but then he pauses, as if reconsidering something. Then, instead, he moves out of the row and over towards Noelani, dropping his voice to a whisper as not to disturb the others here. "Sister?" he says softly. "Can I ask you something?"
Noelani looks to Bannik and nods, lowering her voice to match. "Peace be with you, child. Of course you may," she replies.
"And also with you." The response comes from Bannik almost unconsciously, the prompted sort of response that comes from regularly going to services. But then he continues with his question. "Do you think the Lords of Kobol are watching us? I mean, even now? And hearing us?"
Noelani laughs softly at the question, though it's not a condescending sort of laugh. "Do I think they exist as a board of divine voyeurs who spy on everybody's everything? No. However, if you have something to say to them in this place, they will hear you."
"Well. I just can't help but wonder what they're thinking right now. I mean, They see what's happened to Their Colonies and —" Bannik's voice trails off. "Do you think they're just as sad as we are? Scared? Do the Lords even get like those things?"
Noelani shakes her head a little. Thankfully, she had no one left to lose, so she's not quite as griefstricken as everyone else. "Just because the Gods grieve does not mean that they are powerless," she replies. "In fact, I'd venture to say that they're even more determined to help what's left, if only to ensure that we remain."
That seems to make some sense to Bannik, so he nods. All right. Then he asks: "What do you pray, for Sister? I mean, we're all praying for a lot of things, but I was wondering what a cleric prays for."
"Wisdom," the Sister replies simply. "Wisdom to pass on to the people I serve. Without that, I may as well not be here."
"I pray for hope." Bannik smiles a thin smile. "And for my Mom. And for my girl, Veronica, and everyone on Aerilon. And for Wolfe down in Sickbay, that the Gods might help her cope with what she's seen. But mostly, I pray for hope. Because if we don't have hope, we don't really have much of anything. But there are others out there, and we're going to find them. Soon." That, it seems, is his bit of hope.
Noelani smiles, reaching out to put a hand on Bannik's shoulder. "Those may be some of the wisest words I've heard yet today," she replies.
Bannik chuckles and glances downward, shrugging his shoulders. Aw, shucks. "I'm not a theologian or anything. And I'm not really into those big 'so say we all' speeches. I just figure that if each of us looks out for the people we can, that'll make a difference."
"And that is what we need most right now," Noelani replies. "People who look out for each other." She smiles warmly and adds, "With an attitude like that, Lady Demeter will likely be more than happy to call you her own when it comes time."
That seems to give Bannik some comfort. "Thank you, Sister," he murmurs. "I appreciate your time. You'll be in my prayers." He offers up another small, tight smile. "The Gods be with you."
Noelani smiles and nods. "And also with you, child," she replies, before looking back up at the rest of the chapel.