driftfleet | interfaith dinner mingle!!

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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[At some point after the food has been blessed, Caster is going to approach, curiously. Notably, she was bustling around from the start, but as soon as that praying started, she was nowhere to be seen.]

This is quite an interesting group you've brought together.

Thanks? [Stefan's never, ever sure what to say to Caster, but that could be a compliment. Maybe?] I wouldn't say I brought them in...

But they either practiced a faith back home, or they were raised in it, and they just kept going.

And you gave them a place for that. Westerners have their churches, and we of the east have our shrines. Location is as much a part of religion as the prayers you chant, and this location was made by you, wasn't it? Don't sell yourself short.

[She sounds genuine, if flattering, with all of this. So, naturally, she's probably plotting something.]

[Whoa. Stefan's stunned into silence for a couple of seconds, nervously rubbing the back of his neck. . .]

Thank you. I don't - that's really high praise.

Of course. My praise is as high as the sun itself!

[... aaand she ruins it.]

There it is. [He laughs, remembering to muffle it with his fist.] So, what's up? Having a good time?

It's certainly interesting to watch. I hope you'll forgive me for making myself scarce during the blessings- I thought it would be a bit callous to do that myself to representatives of so many other faiths.

Not at all. I should've warned you.

[He's gonna forever be impressed at that level of thoughtfulness, honestly.]

But uh, it didn't feel right to not bless it, either.

I understand. [She pauses, considering.] ... Somewhat, anyway. Blessing food is more of a Western thing, save offerings.

Really? Then how did people honor you, outside of shine offerings?

[He knows a little about Shintoism, but nowhere near enough to call himself an expert - and well, he can trust Caster to be somewhat honest here.]

[She sighs at that.]

Every province seemed to have their own way, you know? Some of them did yearly incense, some did festivals, there were a lot of prayers and ceremonies... Though to be honest, I ignored most of it back then. Or, the main body did. I'm just a wakemitama, I never received that kind of prayer.

[Note to future Stefan: ask what a "wakemitama" is.]

Got it. Either way, I'm gonna be more careful about lumping in blessings with everything else.

Just some warning is good enough. Unless you have fried tofu! That I might just bless to claim it.

[behold, the divine equivalent of licking something to make it yours.]

Um... [???] I don't think we have that, but if you find some? It's all yours.

Edited 2016-11-08 03:13 (UTC)

If you don't, then I'll humbly request it for the menu next time!

[that shit is her catnip ok]

I'll see what I can do, then. [beat] Hey, uh - thanks for helping me in the kitchen too.

It's been a long time since I've had good Japanese food.

Don't worry about it! It's been a long time since I've gotten to practice what Uzume-chan taught me, after all. It's just training for being a good wife!

[Headtilt.]

Maybe it's just me, but I certainly hope your future husband'll help you out from time to time.

Eh? No way. I wouldn't want that at all.

[super-bluntly]

Really? [Now he's just confused.] You... don't want a future significant other to help you cook...?

Well... If they truly wanted to, of course I would be happy, but... No, I would rather do it myself. I am, after all, an incarnation of the desire to serve. I wish to serve someone, to give my all to make them happy.

I see. If that's your true wish, then... I'm sorry. It seems like I've got a lot to learn.

It is my wish, and I accept your apology.

But you shouldn't worry about it too much. Even as my mortal identity, I'm nine hundred years old now. It only makes sense if my desires seem a bit outdated compared to you.

It does. Honestly, I've met some pretty ancient vampires, and they've... adapted, for lack of a better word.

[read: they're antagonists in a YA supernatural romance, of course they'd come off more modern than usual.]

Well, they're vampires, so of course they would. I'm the incarnation of the desire to serve, you know? That concept given flesh, and all.

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