GLORYFOREVER

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[gemma-a]

@dt-332 HI GRETCHEN I MADE AN ACCOUNT ON THE WEBSITE YOU USE. AND I FIGURED OUT THAT I NEED TO PUT YOUR USERNAME IN THE POST IF I WANT YOU TO SEE IT. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT BUTTON MAKES THE CAPITAL LETTERS TURN OFF?

[dt-332]

There should be a button that says "Caps Lock" on it, or something like that. That's the least of my worries though -- how did you even get computer access?? Are you at home??? Why is that your profile picture?????

[dt-332]

*pokes blog with a stick*

you alive there, gretchen?

stop your brooding and update us on the hip happenings

Unfortunately alive, yes.

And I'm not brooding -- I'm busy. The assemblage is soon, not that I would think you care considering your blunt verbiage. Glory, the work never ends with these people.

[dt-332]

On the body and Sanctity

I see confusion sometimes in exchanges I have with those of district who are younger. Occasionally with those who are older as well -- doctrine can sometimes become muddied with time if one does not keep their knowledge of it sharp and crystalline. Most recently it's been the relationship of human flesh with the physically unobtainable tends to baffle even the most steadfast of believers. Is the skin and bone we wear something to be treated with of the utmost respect, or is it disposable? Of the earth?

In Cartan's writing, he astutely points out that it is not the body that is so easily thrown away -- if that were such the case, then we would not waste our precious times inside of it. No, it is the opposite. We are remiss to treat our bodies with such sudden and violent hands; tithes and lines that at mangle the cheap vessels we spend every waking moment in. The body is precious, for without a body, there would be no soul. We would aimlessly wander the Trenchian cliffs and feel ourselves drift without shape or purpose. Bodies are what begin to mold that sensibility.

But we do it anyway. Why?

No man is perfect. Often he must be adjusted. When I look to my neighbour and see what I should not – skin that is smooth and unblemished – I should feel pangs of guilt strike me in my sternum; first for imposing my unworthy judgements on another, and second for the envy I feel. I see people who are of a stronger spiritual resilience than of my own and do not need to cut themselves open to reach aside and make changes to themselves. I should also feel pride for them, thankfulness for them, and see that they move onto the next world swiftly and gloriously.

I should, I should.

[dt-332]

OOOH Heratic and Gretchen are FIGHTING. Come on, don't we have bigger things to deal with that bothering with Vialists?

We DO actually. Hence why I haven't been particularly active -- lest we forget that this is a side-job that I volunteer with and my main job is working side by side with my Bishop to make sure the district runs as smoothly as it can run.

We'll be taking in a fresh import of citizens soon. End of the year always has us sorting out these rosters -- I think that we should do this in the mid-moons, frankly. Otherwise it's just so close to the Assemblage and it's just so stressful to manage one thing while thinking about the other, you know?

Plus, I imagine travelling during June is much nicer than travelling in October. But I suppose the weather is the same once you get to Dema regardless of when you get here.

[dt-332]

Are you done being a ***** yet? Stop pretending you don't miss me. I've seen enough.

- Heretic

WHY THE **** WOULD I MISS YOU?

I want NOTHING to do with you. And I'm just about as close as I can get to getting rid of you and the vermin that live outside the walls. Are you liking the new patrol routes? I don't give your webpage much more than a cursory glance but you seem to be stressed out about it. Maybe now you'll realize that kicking and screaming against the hand that ******* feeds is a stupid idea.

I know you're sending messages to me because you have nothing better to do. Nobody will let you do any work. I bet that's fun. Sitting around in camp, rotting, withering. Purposeless.

You can figure that out for yourself. I have actual pressing matters to get to.

[dt-332]

Thank you for granting me this mercy. I’ll come to the chapel after the sermon, as you said. I look forward to your guidance. You have always seemed the most devoted out of everyone I've met.

-Calen

Thank you. I do look forward to seeing you, Calen. Don't be a stranger.

[dt-332]

Dear Gretchen

Someone who I take classes with is trying to influence me into trying to escape. I have tried to let my Bishop know, but he is to busy with preparing for the next sermon. This person is a nightmare and I'm afraid her influence is rubbing off on me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Your initiative is commendable. Don't forget though that there are others who wish to root out doubt as it soils the earth of our city.

Tell your teacher. Tell your classmates. If either of you still have guardians to return home to, tell them. Tell us, the netizens of the net. Tell those within your vialist youth group. Let the sin of your aggressor be known throughout your district.

A Bishop can do many things. At the end of the day, though, he is but one man. That is why we the people are armed with thought and judgment, and why there are guards posted in the street, and why there are instructors in all of your classes -- it is why we live together at all. We can quash these defective ideologies before they stick. We can isolate those who mean to hurt us from our circles, and we can bury ourselves in the comfort of good, like-minded thinkers to keep such darkness away.

Do not let them twist your mind, child. Thank you for telling me. I will pray for you.

[dt-332]

High Acolyte Gretchen,

Can I confess to you something the Bishops wouldn’t forgive? I believe I spoke something to the wrong ears. I was deceived..

Hm.

My authority given my position DOES grant me the ability to help those pay penance. The Bishops are busy enough as it is.

You can. It'd probably be wise to come see me in person, though -- put a name to a face. Half of confession is accountability. It's a useless practice if you're saying it without any identification at all. You might as well be confessing to the wind.

So, if you truly do want free yourself of guilt, come see me in the chapel -- the one by Father Reisdro's hall. Just stay after the sermon tomorrow morning.

I'll be speaking at it, anyway.

[dt-332]

:// [ UPLINK ESTABLISHED TO 'host.archive.LIVE_FEED' ]

[dt-332]

Ah- You may have misunderstood my last communication. I am not the Father Himself, merely a Cleric serving under His Presence. My job is managing the schedule of His Church, who speaks when and such.

I look forward to listening to you speak. It is always a delight.

Also, I heard what happened. Truly terrible it is. If you need any help with Cleansing, my door is always open. I doubt you'd need it, though. You are one of Vialism's most dedicated followers. I'm sure you know every ritual there is.

- Holy Church of Father Reisdro, Administration Department. Rm. 17

Oh my word, I'm so sorry. That's embarrassing -- I suppose I just have him on my mind a lot as of recent. That's very silly of me, the Holy Father wouldn't concern himself of online squabbles.

And he would merely speak to me directly, of course.

Thank you for the invitation, but my repentence will be paid for on my own, in my own time. You understand. It is not something that can merely be prayed and confessed away.

[dt-332]

I won't speak to traitors and heretics. I have work to do.

[dt-332]

tell your father reisdro he chose well. you did what they never could.

you broke me clean.

and i almost thank you for it.

- H

I'm not speaking to you.

[dt-332]

oh yes absolutely.

I didnt think whatever happened was bad enough for that.

cleanse your vessel for its Holy Mission. I'm sure you will feel much better afterward and feel reset on the path to Righteousness.

-♤

You're right. Thank you for messaging me -- I feel better knowing that there are still faithful and honest people in the world who will walk their respective paths alongside me.

[dt-332]

Gretchen, are you assigned to anything during the next Day of Rest?

The acolyte scheduled to preach can't make it. Can you provide a sermon for the citizens instead?

- Holy Church of Father Reisdro, Administration Department

Oh, no sir, I'm not busy and I can cover it. Haha- You know you can just ask me when you see me next, right?

... If we're communicating in this way though, I should just tell you that I'm deeply sorry for the way I acted this morning, it was terribly unlike me and just a poor display in all. I can continue with my duties tomorrow as usual -- it'll be like none of this ever took place. I promise.

[dt-332]

spend some time at the Holy Church praying. it always makes me feel better.

-♤

I will, certainly.

First though I'll be spending the next few days cleansing myself. I feel...

... dirty.

[dt-332]

I'm sorry something happened -- it must have been rather extreme to warrant a personal guard! Stay safe, and remain suspicious! You never know who has bad intentions.

- Ace, of the Glorious Father Keons' District

Thank you for your kind concerns. My faith, as strong as it may be, can only grant me so much safety. We must remember that we too have the ability to protect our own city, with our own will and our judgment.

In turn, I will be in that office building less often. I never liked it much in there anyway, it is too far from the actual sermon hall. Father's presence will grant me the reassurance I need to readjust from the incident.

To not go into much detail of the events, I would simply say I do not wish for you to experience the same fright as I did.

Go with Glory, sister Ace. It might be wise to remind your students too of the lurking dangers of strangers in the night.

[dt-332]

There was an incident last night in my office building, but it has been sorted. I've alerted the appropriate authorities, including the Bishop Reisdro -- over the next moon watchers will be cracking down on those who violate the 21:00 curfew, and I will personally be having a guard escort me to and from my home.

The city will NOT tolerate outsiders within our midst who come in with the sole purpose of wreaking havoc and terrifying the decent and sacred men and women of the municipality. The city will not tolerate disruption and chaos. The offending outsiders that I have identified will be brought to justice, should they enter our city again.