02 | action + video

[stefanged]

Who: Stefan Salvatore and you!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: The Iskaulit
When: August 21st

[Stefan promised Allen that he would scout the Iskaulit for potential locations for an interfaith space. The formal name would come later, should he think up something catchier... While he's poking around the entire ship, he finally settles upon a moderately-sized room (with a few springline windows on one side and a wooden floor) towards the back of the ship.

He'll be in the room for a while, trying to guess measurements and sketch ideas for how this space could best work. Around the time he settles in, he switches the feed on:]

There's a lot of great stuff happening right now - makes this feel more like a community. Which is kind of why I'm wondering, would anyone else be interested in an interfaith space?

[He moves the camera so that everyone can see the space clearer.] Back home, I did interfaith ministry. No matter what you practiced or who you believed in - or who you didn't - these prayer rooms would be sacred spaces for you to stop and take a moment to reflect. Prayers, meditation, even just a cup of tea or a chat with a religious counselor... I'd like to make all of that happen here.

But... to do that, I'll need your support. If you're interested in helping me, or in just using the space, let me know. Just tell me about your faith, or your spirituality, and what you'd need, and I'll try my best to make it happen.

Comments

video;

[timelapsed]

That sounds like a really cool idea. People need a place to just chill and get in touch with their spirituality.

[ Says the girl who's not religious at all. But one of her good friends is, and it helped her friend through some tough times. ]

video;

[stefanged]

Thanks, Max. [Shipmate support is the best kind of support.] I hope people'll feel comfortable enough here for that, once it gets up and running.

video;

[timelapsed]

It's not about comfort. People need religion for the trying times. And being trapped in space away from everything you've ever known is pretty trying.

Having a place they can think and pray can really help people out. It's important. You'll be doing good work.

video;

[stefanged]

Definitely. It's more - uh, me wanting to make sure that people know they're always welcome to this space. It's not just for people of one particular faith. Or people with faith to begin with.

[His cheeks turn red - and he unsuccessfully tries to hide it with his hand.] I, uh... yeah, I hope so.

video;

[save_the_souls]

[This meanwhile is making him smile. Yeees Stefan followed through.]

Is that the room you found? It looks great! [Windows and everything!]

video;

[stefanged]

[Of course he followed through! He made a promise, and he hates breaking them.]

The one and only. There were a few other spaces, but the windows were the deciding factor. [He smiles in return.] It's also big enough for tea carts and shoe storage, though I guess the hallway could work for that too.

video;

[save_the_souls]

Mm! Windows and room for tea certainly sounds like a winning combination to me!

You know that I'll help with getting what you need.

video;

[stefanged]

Thanks. I don't think we'll need much, beyond what we talked about. A nice rug, a tea cart, maybe some shoe storage, extra floor cushions for meditation and candles...

Maybe some paper if people need to write or draw something? I should hold off on big-ticket stuff until I learn more about faiths on other plants.

[mylegacy]

[Interfaith ministry is . . . a pretty new concept to Caesar, because hey, Catholic-majority country. But it doesn't sound like a terrible idea in principle, and he's getting a little homesick.]

[. . . Has been a little homesick, okay, so sue him, there are no cathedrals in space.]

I'd be interested. In helping, too, if you still need hands.

[stefanged]

Sure. With a place like this, we could always use extra hands. [The relief on his face's more than a little obvious - for a while, he thought it would just be him and Allen.]

I'm still not sure which religions're most popular here, but if you want to suggest a service, I could try to find someone knowledgeable enough for it. Or incorporate some of it into an interfaith service.

[mylegacy]

Mm, I'm Catholic, although . . . I don't think I'm qualified to lead a service.

[He doesn't know how he feels about an interfaith service with Catholic components, but he sort of feels like a nun would yell at him about it.]

Do you need help now? I could fly over.

[stefanged]

[THANK GOD. After hearing about other non-Earth religions, he wasn't sure how to begin to approach those... but Catholicism? He can approach that easy.] Yeah, that... I don't know what I can do about mass, sorry. The only thing we've got so far is some kind of communion service.

Um, sure? I don't think there's much I can do today. Mostly measurements and getting a feel for what we could add to the space.

[video]

[summerschild]

I don't believe anyone else here knows of the Old Gods, and there is no godswood here for prayer. But it would be good for others, to have such a space.

[video]

[stefanged]

[His expression softens significantly - of course Atroma would think to kidnap children. Of course, because clearly adults aren't good enough for ratings.]

Maybe not, but... if you could tell me more about godswood, I could keep an eye out. [Just one more faith on his ever-growing list!] You're always welcome too, you know.

[summerschild]

[Northern lore is Bran's thing okay.]

Before the first men came to the North, the children of the forest spoke to their gods through the weirwood trees. They're pale, with red leaves, and people used to carve faces on some of them. Those are called heart trees, and all the families of the north have one in their godswood. We pray by them, and someone told me that if you listen, you can hear the gods answer.

[stefanged]

[He pulls out his diary and jots it down: pale trees with red leaves, called "weirwood." While Stefan's never heard of this, it doesn't sound impossible to find.]

That's entirely possible. So... heart trees and godswood. I can't promise anything, but I'll try to bring one in. [Absolute worst case scenario, he'll ask a carver to mimic what the kid's told him.]

Um, I'm Stefan, by the way. I guess you could call me an interfaith chaplain?

video;

[initforthemoney]

Is there really a need for that kinda thing out here? We're in the middle of damn space.

[Sorry, he's trying to be open minded, but religion is really just not much of a Thing where he's from.]

audio;

[stefanged]

[Seriously??

Penguin bro, that is the worst thing to say to a Muslim. Forget the tone, Stefan's gonna switch to audio because he's not keen on revealing his vamp face to the public. His voice gets raspier, though still as assuring as possible:] I'd say so. People's beliefs don't suddenly disappear when they're in outer space, and for those who aren't accustomed to this.... it's comforting.

Even if they weren't spiritual or particularly religious before.

audio;

[initforthemoney]

[Tact has unfortunately never been this guy's strong suit unfortunately.]

Hey pal, no offense or nothing. Just kinda surprised it's something people are still into. System I'm from, there ain't nothing people are worshiping other than the god of cold hard cash.

audio;

[stefanged]

[Well, that does earn a laugh out of him - a genuine one, too.] People still worship him on Earth, don't worry.

It's more... back home, people aren't always great about anything interfaith. Much more so when someone who practices my faith is involved. [Islamophobia's a hell of a drug, let him tell you.] I don't think people on the Fleet care, but it's still something I have to keep in mind.

video;

[geonomy]

Dude, Stefan, that's a really good idea! If you need any help with anything, just let me know, all right?

[Sure, this guy has no religion whatsoever, but hey, he knows how important it is to people, and definitely knows how important it is to Stefan.]

video;

[stefanged]

[Stefan knows - and that encouragement's more than enough to make his uneasiness fade away.] Thanks, Clay. I'm still knocking around ideas, but I'll call on you once I've got something concrete.

Hopefully the whole thing won't cost a lot.

audio;

[heresyandlace]

[well... as a direct and powerful conduit for a very omnipresent god, someone is a little pinged by this.

though, he's keeping his interest sounding casual for now, and he keeps his broadcast at audio-only. this topic is one that he's going to approach carefully.]

"Interfaith?" ...I don't think I've heard such a concept advertised.

How does something like that work, exactly?

audio;

[stefanged]

[If he had a nickel for how often someone asked him this... Stefan doesn't notice anything wrong immediately, since it is the most common question in his work.]

So, interfaith's all about cooperating with and listening to people of different faiths. On Earth, "interfaith" refers to things like prayer rooms that anyone can use, no matter who they do - or don't - believe in. That's... pretty much the point of what I'm proposing.

There's no way I can make specific prayer rooms for every faith represented on the Fleet, but I can supervise a space where everyone can feel comfortable.

audio;

[heresyandlace]

Interesting...

[it's a concept that he likes and has been toying with for some time, but goodness... it would not have been popular back home.]

And, is it a space that can be used by several different people at once, or are they meant to patiently take turns?