Will you or won't you

[attheclocktower]

Characters: Anybody and everybody
Setting: Floor 1, before noon
Summary: Riki's offered a way to help keep the Tower powered a little longer. Obviously this is going to cause a lot of discussion and debate so let's CONSOLIDATE
Warnings: Nothing as of yet. Possibly eventually, so keep an eye on subject lines and I 'll try to change to reflect any developments

[No doubt Riki's announcement would be polarizing, but the instructions themselves were clear: Floor 1 at noon if you want to help out. And if you want to meet people, try to talk them in or out of it? Or hell, maybe even just talk about the revelation on who is behind those explosions? Well, this is as good a place as any for that too.

Just remember to be careful near the staircase]

Comments

[glassceiling]

[She smiles back and nods.]

Thank you. And forgive me if it seems odd. It is a greeting from my homeland.

[thirtybits]

No, not at all. It is from mine too. It's just strange to hear someone here use it. Where are you from? I was in Judea, at least, that's what it was at the time. Kerioth, near the sea of Galilee?

[glassceiling]

You are from the Holy Land? I am from the mountains, in Arabia.

[thirtybits]

Yes! I've never been out that far. What's it like, is it very different?

[glassceiling]

Everything was very plain where I lived. The people I knew all devoted their lives to God (Glorified and Exalted be He) and lived only by what He would grant to us.

What of the Holy Land?

[thirtybits]

Actually, very similar. Most people...just accepted our lot. If the Romans were unjust, if they were poor - and of course they were - if they couldn't feed their families, the accepted response was, 'God will provide if He sees fit'. 'This is a test for our people'. I believe in the grace of God as much as, or more than, anyone else, but that isn't any way to change things. Sitting back and allowing things to happen, whether they're good or bad, isn't any way to live...you can't just expect God to do things for you or use Him to explain your hardships. They were sheep. Blind.

And of course, there was Rome. I think that speaks for itself, though. They were just cruel. We weren't treated like people, in our own land. While the priests sucked up to them. It was disgusting, really. While groups like the Zealots only made things worse, trying to fight them.

...Don't get me wrong though, it was nice other than that! It's a beautiful land! And making your own happiness wasn't difficult if you were so inclined.

[glassceiling]

[She shows him a sympathetic smile.]

Of course, my people did not sit back and expect God (Glorified and Exalted be He) to do things for us. For any test He poses, there is a solution, and we must find that solution for our selves. And we are always quick to defend our Faith. I trained so that I may do that, though I am still inexperienced.

...Surely, the Zealots' efforts to drive away non-believers would not make things too much worse.

[She nods as she hears his last statement.]

That was also possible for many in my land. Perhaps not in the exact place where I grew up, but I know there are people out there who made their own happiness.

[thirtybits]

Well at the time the Zealots focused their efforts on the Romans...which was what everyone wanted. My people wanted and aimed for the same. But the manner in which they went about it... Violence, armies, calling attention to themselves, that only ever made Rome lash out against innocent people.

I believe it's always possible. So long as you're not entirely alone. If there's even one person you hold dear, then it's very much possible to be contented even in the worst of circumstances.

[glassceiling]

I see. My people always remained in the shadows. I suppose keeping innocent people safe must have been part of their reasons.

Yes, having one important person next to you is a great comfort through any trial. I am blessed with having one such person here.

[She's just worried because Claudia has been missing lately.]

[thirtybits]

Probably. It's the wise thing to do. It's the main goal, after all, so if your means don't adhere to that, what's the point?

[He smiles at the mention of having such a person in the tower.]

Really? That's great, I'm happy for you. No one I knew from home is here, but, everyone is very kind, at least.

[glassceiling]

Yes, I have also met many kind people here, whether or not they were Believers. That is why I want to protect them all. It would both be the wise thing and the just thing to do.

[thirtybits]

Do you normally only protect believers...?

[glassceiling]

Yes.

...Then again, before coming here, I did not know very many non-believers.

[thirtybits]

That's true, it's about the same for me, basically everyone was in our area and time. ...I assume we're from about the same time, anyway.

[glassceiling]

Perhaps we are. I would like it if we were. There are few from my time here.

[thirtybits]

Then let's see, I lived from about...the year 5, until 33, by the Christian calendar. And you?

[glassceiling]

...

[She quickly shakes her head.]

N-no, not so early. I come after the Prophet Muhammud (Peace be Upon Him). That would be many hundreds of years after your time.

[thirtybits]

Ah, well, that might seem like a long time, but, things didn't change much back then, it might as well be much closer...

[glassceiling]

[She nods.]

Perhaps the only thing that changed was the details of people's faith. The Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) guided us back to God's true words.

[thirtybits]

[He shifts a little awkwardly. How should he feel about their different sects? Rather, he doesn't care, but how much offence would this woman take to who he is? He's not really sure. Being without two thousand years of worldly knowledge is a lot of trouble.]

I confess I don't really know much at all about your system. I'm sorry. However, I'm sure his teachings were great...

[glassceiling]

They were. All Prophets give the words of God (Glorified and Exalted be He) to humans. My faith is most complete version of God's word, though there are others who would believe in other Scriptures.

[thirtybits]

Mm, of course. There was a lit of that in my time, especially. It was all a little much, really.

[glassceiling]

Really? Then...how did the people realize which Scripture was the true faith?

[thirtybits]

Aren't they all derived from the same point? It was just slight variations...so I don't think it really matters that much. It's just that people made a big deal about it...

[glassceiling]

The truth of God's (Glorified and Exalted be He) words are very particular. What He allows and what He denies to us, the way we pray to him. All these must follow His will.

Is it not that way in the Holy Land?