the last voyages // 4. video. no filter except for t-x.

[tobecaprican]

Some corners of my culture happen to take religion literally.

[ Gaius is using video, and sitting in his cabin. The lights are currently playing up, as they're wont to do, reflecting off all the glass and chrome of his replicated expensive apartment. He has a cigarette, a cup of tea, and little better to do but seek some conversation to defeat nerves and loneliness.

But not lonely enough to go outside. Visibly on edge, but his voice is calm, where the video feed doesn't flutter. ]

As in, there are-- were-- colonials in the universe who would swear up and down the pantheon that we really did travel in a boat down the river Styx in the afterlife. [ ffrrzzzztttt ] easy to make fun of, but they'd be the ones laughing now, I suppose. I'm dead, and look where I ended up.

I suppose they [ ffrrzzzztttt ] ing pass.

I haven't talked religion in-- well. Ever since I've been here. Not something I miss, to be clear, but there's a

discrepancy

that I'd like to explore. So talk [ ffrrzzzztttt ] your beliefs, Bargeites. Earthers, witches, the lot of [ ffrrzzzztttt ] first and last time - I'm trying to get it out of the way and over with.



[ OOC: My terribleness -- posting and running! I will tag back solidly in a couple of hours, may sneak in a couple here and there beforehand. ]

Comments

[scentbombed]

[She decides not to ask what a phone is. The technology in this place, it's all a little much.]

Probably a safe bet... The first part, not the second. I'd be careful who you say that around, sir. Some people might be inclined to take you all too seriously.

[tobecaprican]

Oh, come off it. If anything, this place should be offensive enough to their precious belief system. Some outer space computer programmer won't make a lick of difference for mouthing off.

[ Spoken amiably enough. ]

[scentbombed]

[Outer space computer... even Angua, normally thought of as one of the smart ones by virtue of being able to punctuate entire sentences, finds herself moving her lips as she repeats that back to herself in her head.]

Er... anyway. Why, because of the afterlife... issue? I suppose you have a point, there. Incidentally, are there any religions that claim that the afterlife is a great big ship?

[tobecaprican]

None so specific, no.

But I suppose if you look hard enough, there's bound to be someone. Not here, as far as I'm aware. I think I'm safe.

[scentbombed]

It's not impossible. Have you ever heard of Anoia?

[tobecaprican]

I'm afraid not.

Is this an Earth thing? You've a variety.

[scentbombed]

No -- I'm from the Disc, not Earth. I suppose that makes me an... outer space... person, too.

Anyway, Anoia is the goddess of Things that Stick in Drawers. And yet, she's developed quite a following, this past year.

[tobecaprican]

[ Welp. ]

I. Can't say that sounds any more or less ridiculous than the mythology I'm used to, frankly. Not that I'd love her work, but at least she isn't trying to get me to accept me as her lord and saviour.

Are you having me on?

[scentbombed]

No -- that's my point. People really will believe anything if they have enough reason to.

[tobecaprican]

And her name's Anoia.

Funny.

Then what's your beliefs, miss...?

[scentbombed]

[Hmm. To title, or not to title? He seems innocuous enough, but she's new and young and a woman and probably many other things that lose her Automatic Respect points, so she decides to press the issue.] Captain, actually. Captain Angua von Uberwald.

I don't know, really. Like I said, we know gods exist, so it's not as though I can call myself an atheist. Possibly just... uncommitted?

[tobecaprican]

Captain. [ Less cynical about her womanliness and the title, more cynical about cultural context. ] Right you are, Captain Uberwald. I'm Doctor Gaius Baltar.

So there's not much banking on the whole 'faith' idea. Well, if I were to be in any way religious, that'd be my preference.

You'll find for most-- not everyone, apparently-- come from places where gods are a bit more elusive. To the point where they probably aren't real.

[scentbombed]

Von Uberwald, I'm afraid. [That, she sounds a little embarrassed about.] Captain Angua will do.

Anyway, it's sort of like having faith in a table, isn't it? The gods are real, but beyond that... [She shrugs, thoughtful.] Well, the Postmaster General claims that Anoia bestowed upon him the secret of gold, or some nonsense like that, but...

[tobecaprican]

Captain Angua it is.

I can't determine whether you're barking, or the place you come from is particularly strange.

[scentbombed]

[She manages to stifle a snort at "barking."] Er... no. From what I can tell, our world's sort of the odd one out. I mean, even we think it's strange most of the time, but doesn't everyone feel that way about the world?