nerdeology | IC Communication

Before then, I hope. Just being off-planet has done wonders for my health. But yes, in theory.

Got it. In that case, you're always welcome to hang around the Center or the lab.

[Even if he can't exactly see his bro yet. Baby steps, right?]

[Baby steps indeed. He's still got a better chance than most.]

I'll keep that in mind, but for the moment it's wiser if I stay close to Sorey. He's still technically my vessel, so I think his presence is purifying the damage.

Your... vessel? [The confusion's more than audible.] Like you sometimes play "Grand Theft Sorey" vessel?

[???]

What are you talking about? It has nothing to do with stealing!

I'm sorry, I'm still not following...

You said he's your vessel, right? Where I'm from, that usually means possession.

Oh, that's what you meant.

[Hmm...]

I suppose that's just another word for it, then. For seraphim, it can be dangerous to live among humans without "setting up shop", so to speak- dwelling within a shrine of some sort, known as a vessel, and creating a protective domain to fend off malevolence, which can poison us. The power of the domain depends on the strength of the seraph maintaining it and how well the shrine is cared for by humans.

Sorey's a human who's made a pact with a seraph, so he's become a vessel for her, and the protective domain is connected to him rather than a fixed place. I in turn made a pact with that seraph, so I too have to use him as my vessel.

[That wasn't even remotely close to what he was expecting. Stefan's quiet for a couple of seconds as he processes that information.....]

That's... pretty symbiotic. So as long as you're with Sorey, you're better off than when you're by yourself.

[A long pause,] Just so I've got this straight, a human can be a shrine in addition to a fixed place?

There are certain risks and restrictions when it comes to human vessels, but yes, that's accurate.

Huh. I've never heard of anything like it back home.

[Then again, he was raised on Abrahamic faiths. Who knows what the other, lesser-known religions are preaching these days...]

Are seraphim - er, are you then considered a religious figure?

Not, ah. Not me specifically.

[Cue a quiet, somewhat awkward cough. Yeah, about that.]

To many humans, seraphim as a whole are revered as unseen, benevolent protectors... though how it might compare to other religions, I'm not sure, as we don't have a wide variety where I'm from.

In an ideal world, seraphim dwell in a vessel like a church or a sanctuary, housed in human territories and bless the area- they're known as Lords of the Land. In exchange, the humans give thanks and gifts to the seraphim to keep them strong. When they work in tandem - as you said, symbiotically - the land and its people thrive.

So you're like a jinn. A good one, I mean.

[Unseen, benevolent protector? A creature with free will? That's a jinn in a nutshell, even if they're not typically associated with water.]

That's... that's really cool. I believe other faiths would call seraphim "angels," but mine draws a pretty firm distinction.

I've been compared to angels before, but that one's new. What's a jinn?

[Honestly, he's not overly fond of the comparisons at all - a seraph is a seraph, always, in his mind - but if it helps people understand, it's alright.]

They're beings made from smokeless fire. Back home, only humans and jinn have free will.

I've never seen one, so it's hard for me to describe, but they're creatures that have the power of choice. They can choose to protect and work in tandem with humans, or they can cause mischief and harm - whichever seems most fitting for them.

[Hmmm. Slightly less familiar, there, but pretty interesting stuff nonetheless.]

Well, the smokeless fire is way off, although a fire seraph might relate. Humans with no resonance see nothing but our element when we're casting artes, so there is that.

And the majority of seraphim prefer to either help humans or leave them alone, but I can't deny that there are a few out to cause harm. In general, we have no interest in hurting humans - those who do are hellions, not seraphim. Otherwise it would be self-destructive to cause them any strife.

Edited 2016-06-18 02:02 (UTC)

So I might be thinking more of hellions...

[That would be the sound of a pen against a piece of paper, because Stefan's trying to take notes.] Sorry. Analogies usually help me understand this kind of thing, but it sounds like seraphim are unique to your world.

Maybe.

If you need a comparison for it to make sense, you could perhaps say that this "jinn" represents the duality between seraph and hellion. The seraph as benevolence, the hellion as malevolence. We have the potential to be one or the other; it all depends on our hearts.

That's... Huh. That makes perfect sense. Thank you, Mikleo.

[He is so pleased at how it's all finally clicking into place! He can't shed his Earth-centrism, but he's sure gonna try.]

Let me know if my questions get too bothersome, by the way. I've been on the receiving end of it before, and I know it can get exhausting after a while.

It's not a bother. I'm a little grateful for the distraction, to be honest- I've done nothing but lie around in bed since I got sick. It's driving me crazy.

I'd imagine. [...] Hey, I know I can't see you, but I could bring some books over. How do you feel about mysteries?

Mysteries? I'm not sure I've ever read one before.

Seriously? Then I'm definitely bringing them over - they're all about things like people solving murders or crimes. Most aren't that great, but it's fun to puzzle out who did it.

Oh, it's like a puzzle! I love those. Consider my interest officially piqued.

Great! I'll bring them over as soon as I can.

I'll look forward to that, then. Thank you.

[THANK GOD, HE IS SO BORED]

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