03 | video + action

[stefanged]

Who: Stefan Salvatore-Alesci and you!!
Broadcast: Fleet-wide
Action: Iskaulit
When: January 19, early afternoon

[The feed opens to a wide-panning shot of a few rooms clustered together on the Iskaulit - a bright prayer room with a wide open window and carpeting, which is attached to two smaller rooms: a small kitchen & dining area with all the necessary utensils + more than enough tea, and a washroom behind a wedged door. All well-lit and inviting, with yellow paint on the walls and warm lighting in the ceiling. Once the camera focuses back on the prayer room, it's flipped so Stefan can greet the Fleet with a smile. (It doesn't quite reach his eyes, though, and his shoulders are unusually tense.)

There are bookshelves behind him, though they're filled with things like prayer beads, bells for prayer, and little kneelers that people can move around. One shelf has the Lord's Prayer, although it's written in Italian rather than English. In general? This space is as warm & inviting as it can be. Stefan's tried his hardest to make it feel more like a home than a sanctuary.]

Hey everyone. I'm Stefan [a hesitant pause, before he forgoes his surname altogether] and uh, for those who don't know me, I'm the Paisley's lab support. Anyways, a few months ago, I told the Fleet that I'd like to open an interfaith space. Thanks to the support of a lot of people, it's finally here.

If you need a space to pray, or talk to someone about your faith, or sit down and have some tea... you've got it. Still working on the final touches, but we've got most teachings from Abrahamic faiths, an interfaith service every Thursday, and of course, jumu'ah on Fridays.

If you'd like to lead a faith service, or to help with spiritual counseling, you're more than welcome to. This is for all of us, not just those who believe in one particular religion - but let me know so I can either get you situated. If you don't have experience, that's okay. I can show you the basics.

The prayer room will always be unlocked, but if you need to access something when I'm not around, give me a call. Oh. [He focuses the camera on white shelves by the door. Eagle-eyed viewers could probably see his lying around on the top.] Don't forget to take your shoes off before you come in.

This is technically a sacred space, and well... [jokingly:] Not every faith believes in shoes.

[ooc: With this post, the Interfaith Center is a location you can use! The prayer room (+ adjoining washroom) will be unlocked 24/7, though you'll need Stefan's permission to access the kitchen! If your character would like to become a spiritual counselor, PM me! The pay is non-existent, but you will get as many cookies & tea as your heart desires.]

Comments

video;

[huaaaaagh]

The place looks amazing. I didn't know you'd have it ready today.

[He may not be religious, himself, but he can certainly appreciate all the hard work that's gone into the project.]

This might be a little belated, but do you need a hand with anything last-minute?

video;

[stefanged]

Thanks! I figured, if it wasn't today, it was gonna be open by the end of the week.

[He blinks, glancing back towards some of the light fixtures]

Maybe. How good are you with light fixtures?

video;

[huaaaaagh]

Ah...

[When is the last time he did something like that...]

W-well, I've done some work with wiring. I can't say I'm an expert, but I'm pretty sure I can manage it without setting anything on fire.

video;

[stefanged]

Ah, good. I can't say spontaneous combustion was on my to-do list.

[more seriously:] The wiring's mostly done. It's more getting these last lightbulbs in and making sure it won't overheat so easily.

video;

[huaaaaagh]

Oh, that's not so difficult. Sure, I'll come by in a bit.

[He thought you were talking advanced light installation, bro. That stuff's dangerous.]

Voice

[monolike]

What a great idea! You put a lot of work into it.

[A thoughtful pause.] Can we bring in items of our own?

Voice

[stefanged]

Thanks, Sorey.

Sure. You're more than welcome to bring in what you need. [He pauses for a second] If you don't want other people using your stuff, I can lock it up in one of the smaller rooms.

Voice

[monolike]

Oh, no, that's okay! In fact if other people wanted to use them, that'd be even better. It'd just be stuff like...mm, like a rock, maybe a candle or something. I'll have to think on it.

Actually, do you know where I could find a rock here? Or quartz, or crystal; pretty much anything that's just a raw unprocessed mineral.

Voice

[stefanged]

I think the meditation room has some candles you can borrow. Don't quote me, though. Worst-case scenario, you can buy some at waystations.

[Stefan doesn't typically keep candles around because of his weakness to open flame, but if Sorey wants them around? More power to the guy.]

Good question. We were just on an ice planet, so someone's bound to have a salt rock. I wouldn't have any on me [he thinks, he's not into salt sculptures], but someone on the Fleet might have extra. I'll double-check with my crew too.

video;

[enshields]

[So he hasn't really been a practicing anything since 1944, but--]

That's a kind thought. I'm sure there's a lot've folks that'll appreciate it.

[His tone is genuine as anything. He means it sincerely, but he's thinking of Kate and her quiet faith.]

video;

[stefanged]

Thanks. I sure hope so - but you know you're always welcome here. Interfaith's about accepting everybody, no matter what you believe in.

[He smiles, more genuinely]

Besides, these cookies [and salted caramels, and whatever he could get his hands on] aren't going to finish themselves.

video;

[enshields]

[He gives Stefan a faint smile, mouth turned up at one corner. His facebook relationship status with religion is 'complicated']

Thank you for the invitation. Maybe one of these days I'll take you up on it. [Not an empty statement, he's seriously considering it.] - Name's Steve Rogers, by the way.

video;

[stefanged]

No problem, and uh - it's good to meet you, Steve.

[He can get those complicated relationships. "Devout Muslim forced to compromise on his faith for survival" isn't something he wants to advertise.]

I feel like a quiet place'll be hard to find soon. The ships do seem more crowded than usual.

video;

[survivalistcookbook]

Wow, that looks . . . really cosy, actually.

[And this from the guy whose religious leanings are questionable at best. But, hey. He's seen what it can mean to people. And he'd be a liar if he claimed he'd never lingered in the outskirts of it just to leech a little of that warmth.]

Good job, man.

video;

[stefanged]

Thanks, Eugene. That was the whole idea, actually - to bring a little warmth from home here.

[So far, so good - Stefan had been bracing himself for the worst, and for people wondering why on Earth interfaith needed to be a Thing.]

If you ever want to drop by, I wouldn't say no.

video;

[survivalistcookbook]

I can swing by on my way to work, sure. Who's doing the Thursday services?

video;

[stefanged]

Oh, just me. Unless other people're interested, I think that's how it's gonna be for a while.

video.

[mucked]

How lovely. Indeed, how thoughtful of you. I hope it draws a good crowd. From what I can see, it's too fine a space to go unused.

[ peggy hasn't paid proper attention to her spiritual well-being since she left st. martin-in-the-fields. and a dour anglican all-girls school wasn't precisely the best place to flourish in one's faith. so her beliefs went elsewhere, sewn into queen and country. but a quiet place of reflection should never be disregarded. ]

video.

[stefanged]

Thanks, Ms. Carter. I can only hope it's half as popular as the center back home.

[This is nowhere near his first attempt with building a space, and the effort probably shows. Stefan relaxes, letting out a sigh he didn't know he was holding in.]

I don't really believe in excluding people, even the non-religious ones, so you're always welcome to stop by. [beat] I think I've still got some sugar cookies left over.

video.

[mucked]

[ she almost laughs. is her position so obvious? but then (she thinks) he's likely being polite rather than assumptive. so, with enthusiasm: ] Wild horses couldn't keep me away.

video.

[stefanged]

[It's only obvious to a man of faith! Work long enough in interfaith ministry, and trends start to emerge. Stefan's polite enough to let anyone in, regardless.]

Glad to hear it. I'll even set a mug aside for you.

[He's only partially kidding.]

video;

[heresyandlace]

[hey, his smile almost reaches his eyes as he takes in the view of the space.]

...Well done.

It's a little bright for some of the faiths I've known back home, but I'm sure it suits many others.

video;

[stefanged]

Thank you.

[HUZZAH - well, he'll take this praise where he can get it. Stefan's smile grows more genuine.]

Well, we could always turn the lights off. Or dim them, once I get an engineer on that.

video;

[heresyandlace]

Where I'm from, darkness is a key element to many styles of worship, so it wouldn't be a bad option to add.

Have you thought about adding any natural elements as well?

video;

[stefanged]

Sure. If you could walk me through that, it'll happen.

A little. [Headtilt] I've been meaning to ask Ino and Dr. Crusher about potted planets from the garden, but I don't trust myself with anything green.