interfaith dinner mingle!!

[stefanged]

Who: Interfaith Center regulars & the not-so-regulars (party crashers are welcome too!!)
Broadcast: Nope
Action: Interfaith Center on the Iskaulit
When: Forward-dated to November 4th

[The Interfaith Center sounds far more bustling and busy than usual - and anyone peering inside would quickly figure out that a communal dinner is underway! Take off your shoes and walk in: the lounge has extra tablecloths on the floor as well as buffet tables with non-alcoholic beverages and all sorts of food, including Jordanian cuisine (or the outer space equivalent of Jordanian food).

The board games are out of their hiding nooks; the furniture's arranged for the maximum seating possible; and even the teddy bears donated by Kitty & Winn are out for cuddling, should anyone want them.

The kitchen's bustling with helpers - Stefan's running around at vamp-speed to make sure everything's a) done on time and b) cooked to perfection - but he sure wouldn't mind an extra hand. And if you're still not up for some food? Well, the prayer rooms are open as usual. There's always a quiet moment to be found, even if the laughter's louder and the scent of freshly-baked mansaf's wafting through the long corridors.

Anyone and everyone who's ever been inside the Interfaith Center has been invited (via text message - and Stefan even used the fancy emoji). If you're not particularly faithful or devout? Well, drop by anyways. There's more than enough food to spare.]

Comments

[stefanged]

Sometimes, yeah.

[He gives Sorey an almost apologetic smile, half-surprised that he even admitted something this honest. Normally, he tries to couch it in neutral language or side-step the issue altogether - but his bro's like a Prophet. If anyone would understand, Sorey would.]

You know how being the Shepherd's this big, important job right? You just can't "turn it off," so to speak? It's kind of like that - even though I'm not remotely important, just someone who worships Allah. The smallest, tiniest thing isn't something I can take for granted. People don't know that Allah is just another word for God, just as they don't know what Ramadan is, or - or why I don't drink or eat pork, and they kinda fear those differences?

Which is... [He sighs, letting his shoulders sag.] It wears down on you after a while. I like teaching you, and I like teaching people on the Fleet, because I can turn it off. It's never been this big giant thing the way it was back home.

[monolike]

[Yeah...wow, yeah, Sorey can definitely understand how exhausting that must be. He's not quite sure he can understand completely; he's never really had to repeat himself over and over about simple concepts, except maybe for the major "no like killing people is still actually kinda bad," but having to explain over and over why your holy days are holy, or why you call something this and not that? Stefan isn't saying it outright, but it's pretty obvious what he's had to put up with.

Sorey folds his hands in his lap, heart going out to Stefan in sympathy. He's like that girl who could see seraphim, who tried to tell people over and over, only to have her own words thrown into her face. She'd probably wished she could turn it off, too.]

...then, I'm glad this place has afforded you that rest. You deserve to just be yourself without having to explain anything.

[stefanged]

[He's quiet for a couple of seconds, his gaze falling onto his hands as he turns them over. Now that he has the sympathy he's always wanted, he doesn't know what he should do with it. Thanking Sorey, of course, but it feels weird. Like he still has leftover adrenaline and he's not sure what to do with it, since he's that used to fighting a never-ending battle.

Maglor's music is definitely helping on that front. Stefan lets out a slow, deep, and very purposeful breath.]

Thank you. [Stefan's voice gets a little shaky as he peers back up at his brother,] That uh, that means a lot to hear. I don't - I don't know if things're getting any better back home, but if the Fleet's any indication? It could be the world I've always wanted too.

[monolike]

I hope your world gets there sooner rather than later. [Well. Maybe minus the forced captivity, reality TV show aspect of it.

Sorey grins and reaches over to thump Stefan on the back.] But while you're here you'll always be just Stefan to me; no addendums or identifiers you don't want.

[stefanged]

[He's already said his thanks, so anymore would be overkill - but he's so, so lucky to have someone who understands that need to be just Stefan. Not Stefan the Muslim, not Stefan the vampire, or even Stefan the incarnation.

Without thinking, he'll reach over in turn and give Sorey a one-armed hug.] Likewise, akhi.