crowspace | call me out v. 15.0

[It's probably fine. Sometimes pamphlets move on their own. It's fine.]

Fascinating. It must be quite difficult, having the responsibility that comes with prophecy.

[She knows that other Servants have had divine revelations, and as far as she knows none of them hand out pamphlets, but they all have at least a little baggage.]

Must it? [They tilt their head, looking faintly thoughtful.] My God found me in hard times, and I chose to serve Her knowing there would be more hardship still... but speaking to Her brings me joy, even when it is difficult.

[They smile warmly.] In any case, this much isn't prophecy- only helpful advice.

Prophecy tends to happen whether you allow it or not. It has a way of making itself heard by any means.

[Well, there's definitely not no baggage here.]

[Well, if it's not prophecy, then it makes handing out pamphlets a little less understandable.]

Have many people appreciated your advice, Esteemed Preacher?

[They consider the question, thinking back.] Ah, I believe that some have found it useful, in the past. Others have not.

[Preacher shrugs, apparently at peace with this.] As long as people who it will help do hear it, I don't mind speaking to others as well- everyone may find their own path, in the end.

[It's like tossing out a spiritual drift net. Sometimes, in order to catch the tuna of Someone Who Really Needed This Pamphlet On Making Peace With Their Childhood, you need to also scoop up the octopus that is Some Dude Who Is Late For Work And Frantically Trying Not To Get Sucked Into A Conversation With You.]

That is very thoughtful of you.

[And also makes this harder to do, because she can't just say 'you're making people uncomfortable' when they're doing their best to help people. What can she say...]

Um. But I believe your presence in the cafeteria may be causing a traffic issue?

[It's technically true, in that people have to walk around them to get their food.]

Oh! [Preacher blinks and looks around, then nods.] Yes, I see that I am blocking the pudding- I apologize.

[It's chocolate today, too. Very important.]

[They step politely to one side, thus unblocking the dessert bar, and ponder the issue.]

Do you think it might be better if I stood out in the hall? I had considered it at first, but I did not want to risk blocking the corridor, in case it should prove a fire hazard.

[Listen, they lived on a spaceship. Fire drills are serious business in space, you don't fuck with that shit in an environment where oxygen production is a big deal.]

[Fire hazards are serious business. Chiyome understands.]

I believe that unless Lord Ivan or Lady Kingprotea come by, there should be enough room in the hallway.

Perhaps if they do, that will be the sign that I am meant to stop for the moment. [God works in mysterious(?) ways.] I will move, then.

[They smile warmly at her.]

You are a very considerate person, Lady Chiyome.

Oh - thank you very much. I do my best...

[Even if she doesn't think asking someone to move slightly is really worth the praise?]

Consideration is taking thought for others, yes? [They gesture lightly at the spot where they were standing.] If you had only wanted food for yourself, I do not believe I would have presented an obstacle to one of your skills.

[Like, she is literally a magic anime snake ninja. They'll admit they don't know a lot about ninjas, but they're pretty sure she wouldn't have trouble getting past one person just standing in place if she wanted.]

So, you must have approached me for the sake of others. [Therefore, she is considerate. The niceness math checks out, they showed their work and everything.]

[As modest as she is, she can't deny that. Any ninja worth their salt could retrieve pudding if necessary.]

-I simply did what I thought Master would have done, if they were not busy.

[Nothing especially worthy of praise.]

[Ninjas get all the pudding they want.]

Ah... Master Ritsuka is a caring person, that is true.

[Preacher, like every Servant in the building and probably also the entire Chaldea workforce, is Not Immune To Ritsuka Fujimaru.]

I admit that I am concerned about this, at times- there is so much to handle among all of us, for only one person. [...Preacher has been starvation-thin ever since they were summoned and has shadows under their eyes so dark they could be mistaken for bruising, and they're worried about Ritsuka's self-care habits.]

[That may be a new low.]

[Chiyome can't really argue that Ritsuka needs to take more time for themself, but probably Preacher could also take some time off to have a spa day or something.]

Indeed there is. That is why I would like to be helpful to them whenever possible.

I would as well.

[A spa? Well, they do enjoy being completely submerged in water... Apparently it "makes far clearer the voice of God".]

[There's a nonzero chance that at least one person in Chaldea has walked into their room to find them in the bathroom, lying fully clothed at the bottom of the filled tub with their eyes wide open, communing with the divine.]

[At this point, it's probably just a relief that they're not risking the Artic weather to go throw themself in the ocean. Even for Servant durability, that's a bit much.]

I have asked Her where this path may end, but... [They look briefly rueful.] Unfortunately, divine sight is difficult for mortal souls to comprehend. Even when I see, I do not always understand.

Still, She is patient with me as I learn how to better speak with Her, as She has always been.

Clairvoyance does seem to be quite complicated for those who do possess it...

[Admittedly she mostly knows of it from Merlin, who is Merlin, but. It's got to be complicated.]

Mm. [They nod.] It's complicated enough only having it secondhand, listening to Her tell me what She sees... to face it directly is surely very trying.

Perhaps that explains Merlin. [A beat of silence.] Or perhaps he is just Like That.

[It's unclear what Servant class feature lets Preacher audibly pronounce capital letters, but they sure use it a lot.]

[It's a useful skill to have.]

Lord Merlin... is trying his best. At least, I believe so.

I am often unsure what he is trying to do, but surely he is trying. [They smile.] One must have faith, after all.

[And what is faith if not, simply, the choice to trust?]

...I asked God once and She just said "don't worry about it" and that it was "mostly fine".

I see. If God says so, then I will put it out of my mind.

[Until Merlin does something especially ridiculous, at least.]

There was also something about arcades, but I am uncertain what it meant.

[They shrug, largely at peace with this.]

I find that sort of thing tends not to make sense until it happens. We will probably know it when we see it.

Indeed. I am content not to know the future, personally.

If one wants a particular future, it is better to make that future then it is to ask if it will happen.

There's never just one answer, in any case. Fate is... like a river, perhaps. [Or maybe someone just tends to use water-based metaphors a lot. Stick with what you know, I guess.] The water will, of course, flow down a given course, and that course is known to those who have followed it- but each individual current may go any number of ways, and flow into any branch of that river as it leads on to the sea.

All things begin in one place. All things will end in one place. In between... that is up to us.

I... believe I understand. [Maybe.] Some things are set, but the way events lead to those fated things is not?

call me out v. 15.0

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