(Heaven's BBS)

[cieled]

From: Ciel Phantomhive (Asteria)
Date: October 5th

As gods and goddesses, should we expect live sacrifices? Depending on the culture, it seems a fairly regular practice.

If you witnessed such an offering, would you praise those responsible? Or would you punish them?

(He keeps this as text because he realizes his expression may not be...charming. But the thought is a little amusing. At least to him.)

Will you abide by what your deity stands for or branch out on your own?

Comments

[bussounoshima]

What a controversial question. You've definitely shocked us.

[So edgy. She's appalled.]

[cieled]

I did not intend to shock anyone. If you have not thought of the possibility or witnessed the act personally, you are not accepting all of your role's aspects.

[bussounoshima]

Or perhaps I haven't accepted my role at all.

Animal sacrifices were once quite common in the faith Aditi belongs to, though it is a controversial issue these days. In many places, it's illegal. Should I praise my followers for sticking to ancient traditions, when they're defying the law of their land? What a deity stands for can often be rather contradictory.

[cieled]

Then you will find your time here difficult.

Those are decisions you must make. Each choice dictates how you see your god, your followers and what sort of person you wish to be while you hold your lofty position.

[bussounoshima]

[She's kind of amused by someone trying the wise advisor routine on her. It's been a while.]

You've put a lot of thought into this, I can see. I personally consider it rather arrogant of me to attempt to take on the role of a god and so I do not. However, I do think those that do are very ambitious and I admire them for it.

So what of Asteria? Animal sacrifice was certainly a part of Greek worship. Even human sacrifice occasionally, if I understand correctly.

[cieled]

(This is how he lives his life, pretending to be an adult while looking hopelessly like a young child.)

I have plenty of free time for thought. (His mind is rarely at rest.) It is not the Master that suffers when they refuse to guide the dog. Your followers need you to take up the role regardless of whether or not you are deserving.

Indeed. I cannot say I like any of it.

[bussounoshima]

And now our followers are dogs.

Asteria, were you at all religious before coming here?

[cieled]

Servants, followers - It was merely a metaphor.

I did not believe in any deity.

[bussounoshima]

Would you have liked to? To believe in an inhuman outsider, watching over you, solving your problems and answering your prayers in return for your devotion?

Where I'm from, the gods don't pay humans much mind. I wouldn't trust many of them with the responsibility.

[cieled]

I did once, but I was only a child then. (Well...more of a child, anyway.) One experience changed my opinion. No one is listening to prayers - and even if they are, what good can they do me?

Precisely. So why give them attention?

[bussounoshima]

[Ah, good old childhood trauma. Probably rather close trauma, if she's judging his age from his conversation with Goten right. Well, they've all got that.]

People can take comfort in the thought of some higher power watching over them, but in practice it does more good to help ourselves and those among us. People are more effective than gods any day. If I help the followers of Aditi, I do so as Sharak Sanzo and let them call me whatever they want.

From what I've seen, in this world the gods need their followers far more than the other way around. So who is the servant?

[cieled]

(Goten is what a child should be. Ciel is...not.)

Why would they follow or listen to Sharak Sanzo? You have no rapport with them and they have no reason to trust that you will fulfill their prayers.

We are one and they are many. Of course we depend on them.

[bussounoshima]

Does that matter? Whether they trust me or not if their own decision. I don't ask them to follow me,
I just do what I want. They do the same, whether they believe I'm Aditi or not. Hopefully, in the end, that leads to them being a little happier.

What business of mine is it who they worship or how they do it?

[cieled]

I do not follow how. Happiness is usually acquired and kept through - (He actually doesn't know. He cuts off the sentence quickly.) You are their god. It is your business and to assume otherwise is negligent.

weird line break up there that I swear I didn't put in

[bussounoshima]

I'm just the substitute. However, I'd advise them against animal sacrifice anyway. As I said, in most places it's illegal now.

Are your followers happy with you?

it happens to all of us.

[cieled]

What about human sacrifice? Does that matter less to you or are you assuming that falls under "murder"?

As far as I can tell.

[bussounoshima]

It absolutely falls under "murder". I encourage all of Aditi's followers to obey the law in that matter. I don't think I'll get much argument from them.

What do you do to make them happy?

[cieled]

Fair enough.

I fulfill the prayers that seem of particular desperation or necessity. I give those sensitive to it insights in their dreams in order to better their lives or the lives of others.

[bussounoshima]

Does it make a difference to them whether or not it was "Asteria" giving them those insights? Do you think they'd be able to tell the difference?

[cieled]

They seek Asteria and so that is the mask I wear. Ciel Phantomhive means nothing to them and, frankly, I do not care for them as Ciel.

[bussounoshima]

[Cold.]

You've taken on a second identity rather easily then.

[cieled]

I do what I must to survive. (This is not the first time nor the last.)