victory_road | 3rd Sacrament - Marked [CW: Mention of cutting]

The video opens with a buzz of static; between the fuzzy lines and crackling noise, there's a figure trying to 'shoo' away the video, so it would seem. But then it cleared with a loud cackle, as a Rotom appeared beside the figure on screen; a Cubone, who then shooed away the Rotom again urgently but quietly. In the background is the park and the side of a man in a blue raincoat who appears to be writing in a journal, sitting on the bench with Assumption who grinned and gave an eager wave to the camera.

"Hi! I...didn't know Omi's or Warden's or....anyone's number but I wanted to show my friends! Look!" He tipped his head a little, showing the forehead of his skull; which bore a circle with three smaller circles within it, each with a line striking out. It seemed to have been painted in blood which, for the Pokemon out there, Assumption then confirmed.

"Isn't it amazing? My trainer has a Holy symbol like it cut into his skin, where he was blessed by an Angel! I asked if he'd do the same but instead he cut my arm a little and put this on me! It hurt a bit, but that's okay. The pain's all gone and now I have the Halo on me forever!" He was clearly so proud and happy! "It's dry now, so I can touch it or rub my club on it for good luck, and so the Holy Mother will know that I'm thinking of Her, and so will my Mom!"

"Assumption." The man's voice drifted through Assumption's happy talking. Assumption jumped and the screen was quickly blocked as he tried to hide it behind his back. Evidently someone had been caught playing with their trainer's PokeGear.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

_{[Heather has been more concerned with the keeping of the peace than anything else. As long as Walter stays away from the house and Henry keeps content with building his wards and doesn't go off on a Murderquest (tm), she's doing her job, as far as she's concerned.]

[But this... oh man. She can't ignore this. Is that blood?!]}

--what. Did you. DO?!

_{[The words are hissed softly between her teeth-- she doesn't sound furious so much as just shocked with an edge of angry disbelief.]}

Why would you put-- something so disgusting-- on your Pokemon!

[ OH GREAT. Walter held Assumption a little closer, rubbing his thumb over his Pokemon's head. He spoke calmly however, hiding how ruffled her words got him. Assumption was completely non-plussed by Heather's tone. Why was she being loud at his trainer? ]

It is not disgusting. He noticed the mark I have on me and repeatedly asked for one like it. So I cut his arm and used the blood to draw it onto his skull.

That-- ... that cursed shit has NO place in this world, how dare you. _{[EVEN CLAUDIA HADN'T GONE AROUND DRAWING THE HALO OF THE SUN ON THINGS.]}

And you cut him?!

What the hell is wrong with you!

_{[She's still not yelling, but the disbelief is fading more into anger now.]}

[ 'Cursed shit'. Walter's calmness cracks just a little, as he holds Assumption to his chest. Assumption looks worriedly between them. Why did she look so angry? ]

It is a Holy symbol. I didn't want to hurt him. But he had asked so often, whenever he saw mine. I cut his arm once, drew the Halo, and then used a Potion. And he is happy.

[ He knows he is. For one thing, Assumption had clearly just been showing it off, gleefully chattering to the screen. ]

_{[If she weren't so appalled, she might pick up on his referrals to 'his' mark. But for now she's emotional and stuck on the fact that he tagged his sweet little Cubone with it.]}

He doesn't know any better!

If he knew how-- the evil it stands for!

_{[There is a rustle and a glint behind her-- Warden the Vulpix is watching what's unfolding closely.]}

[ Assumption spots Warden. He gives her a shy wave, before looking up at Walter. He hadn't noticed her, breathing deeply and completely focused on Heather and her blasphemy. He curls a little around Assumption. ]

Would you prefer I drew the Seal of Metaton on him, or would you also consider that a symbol of 'evil'? He knows what it means. He knows that it is the symbol of the Holy Mother and Her Resurrection, in this form. He knows that to bear it upon him is to be blessed in Her eyes.

_{[Warden shifts her tails in response, letting out a very small sigh through her nose-- probably not picked up by the mic. Her expression is unreadable, but she's obviously not surprised by this argument.]}

The Seal of Metatron is a neutral symbol-- its purpose comes from whoever's using it.

So, no, that wouldn't offend me.

But the Halo? That shit's loaded and don't you dare tell me it's just about resurrection.

I'm sure all the people who've been slaughtered or tortured with that scrawled on or over them feel super blessed. I'm sure they REALLY feel like She was watching benevolently from above while Her worshippers ripped their lives away!

_{[Boy, she never thought she'd be irritably snapping back and forth with someone about Order symbolism specifics, but she sure is.]}

[ Walter almost wants to laugh. In fact he does. He can't help it.He calms down, exhaling deeply. Contrary to whatever Heather might think, Walter actually loves his Pokemon too much to repeat the cruelties he's seen upon them. ]

Her worshippers...should be ready to accept the suffering that comes to them. Especially, if they inflict pain on others.

_{[She visibly grits her teeth at his laughter, however brief it may be. She doesn't pick up on that one subtlety in his words: 'should be', rather than 'are'. She's too upset]}

You fucking hypocrite.

I know you've murdered innocent people. And I know how the Order conducts its filthy business. Inflicting pain is what they've always done, and I've only known one who accepted the suffering she'd earned from that with dignity.

_{[That's something she never thought she'd say about Claudia, after everything her old friend had done. After all, it didn't make any of her actions any better, any more forgivable. But hell. It had still set her apart from the rest.]}

If you think they have ever sought to receive actual repercussions for their crimes, you're completely delusional.

[ He nods sagely, not denying her claims. He knows his crimes. And believe it or not, he's being very genuine as he speaks about it. ]

I did kill the innocent. There are...there are two that I regret. But if the World could be brought to Salvation, the blood of some will save the many.

[ but oh, at the mention of repercussions. He can't hide a smile. An eeriely blissful smile. ]

Oh, I know they did not seek it. But I sought them. Every priest who was involved in running the Wish House, who ever tried to re-open it, the guard who oversaw the Water prison; I brought them into God's light. [ And there it is. The Order had made a weapon but failed to create any sort of safety lock to protect themselves from it. From him. ]

_{[That's new information. She hadn't known he'd turned on his own.]

[That kind of thing was certainly not unheard of in the Order-- god knows how many Dahlia'd probably had a hand in the death of in the process of working her way to the top. But those were the struggles of the power-hungry. Not those of someone actually seeking justice.]

[But, well. It hardly erases the part where innocents also became fuel for the neverending search for Paradise.]

[She snarls.]}

Well, whoop-de-fucking-doo.

I guess I'm glad you took some monsters down with you. Because in all the suffering you caused, that's the only good that you did.

You delusional, self-satisfied butcher.

_{[And then she hangs up.]}

3rd Sacrament - Marked [CW: Mention of cutting]

[Video] SO LATE, THE LATEST, OH GOD

THIS IS WORTH IT

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject