roleplaying thread
((so a Priestess of Primus and somewhat disoriented Cognitive Sculptor walk into a Cityformer...))
roleplaying thread in which Catalyst wanders around Metroplex, plotting misschief for want of anything better to do
*Catalyst listens as the Priestess explains her view on healing, and life in general*
Peace is not the cessation of motion. Peace is learning to flow with the motion, to take life in stride, but not struggle against it, and let it break you. I agree; we would not grow if there was no change and no conflict in our lives. But you can either become bitter and fearful of the past and the 'what ifs' of the future, or you can be confident that no matter what has happened and what will happen in your life, Primus will give you the strength needed to endure.
"So happiness can only be found through your deity?"
*eyes her levelly, hand under his chin, then smiles, lazily, obviously not believing her*
Because it is supernatural. I can sense the emotions of others, I have had visions, and have had them confirmed by others. And... the depth of the relationship I have with Primus... *she sighs, finding words inadequate to describe it* It is beyond delusion, beyond mere wishful thinking. I speak with him, I can allow others to speak to him through me. I can feel his presence and power in the planet, in the Matrix-bearer, and he once used me to banish the power of Unicron from one of his victims. He has even had control of my mind and motor functions on a few occasions. I am very certain these abilities do not come from me, my own sensors, or a delusional mind. At the very least, Unicron knows him, and there is quite tangible evidence of his existence.
*while he finds it interesting how this idea of Primus plays such an important role in the priestess' mind, and he certainly won't deny he can notice something special about her, a talent or gift of sorts, Catalyst frowns, not sure how much more of this religious talk he can abide. Even if it were true, he is somewhat annoyed that religious mechanisms always assume others must relate to their god, that even denial of a god is relating to that god. Catalyst doesn't do either, doesn't bother to believe or disbelieve; it's simply not part of his reference grid. Still, he smiles a little. Comforts himself with the though that knowledge is power, and the more the priestess talks, the more she'll give away about how she thinks.*
They're missing out on quite a bit. There are other ways of coping, yes, but often it will only further embitter the mind and spark. Anger can overcome weakness, but it brings its own weaknesses, that do not balance the original. So too denial, obliviousness, and facades.
*Catalyst's irritation shows, the sharp decorations on his shoulder stand up a little. In part this is frustration at his inability to convey the Decepticon frame of mind to this Neutral. His thoughts run in the line of "Is it really that hard to grasp that your group's cultural values and even emotions are not universal? That wrong and right and proper ways of dealing with problems can vary? I do not bother with Autobot values, but I at least know what they are", but he can't quite put it into words. Instead he resumes his walk through the hallway.*
*He turns to face her when he hears her speak*
And how do you know that it wasn't for that very reason, that I said it?
*he appreciates her humour and answers her smile with a goofy grin of his own, before growing serious again. Seriousness is not a mode he is accustomed to. Catalyst is also quite uncomfortable that he is being baited into this discussion, but his urge to rant is getting in the way of his wish to keep his own secrets, like common sense would dictate. ((well he never had much common sense to begin with))*
"I have listened to you, but will you now listen to me? By all means feel free to disagree with what I am going to say, and the way I phrase it
but first hear me out, okay? Let's examine this deity, shall we? So I gather from the stories that he cannot fight his own battles, no, he has us do that, expects us to do that, guilts us into it; our sole purpose is apparently to live up to an absent deity's expectations. Well no one asked me if I wanted to. Such manipulation would, ehm... befit recruiting officers I've known."
*Catalyst grins at that, before continuing*
"Cybertron, the idea of Cybertron as much as the buildings and the mechanisms that live on it, is more my home than Primus could ever be. A planet that is what we make of it, that changes as we change; that I can believe in. Maybe Primus did begin or reshape this planet, but even if the old stories are true, I do not see their relevance. So he and the other mech were gigantic beings with super powers; their battle may have been epic, but to call them gods, and worship or fear them, submit to them simply because they are bigger and more powerful?
Now let's say someone pointed a gun at my face. Sure I would be afraid and I would probably do what they tell me to, out of self-preservation, but I would never in my mind surrender. I would never internalise that gun, never for a moment believe that their authority is based on anything more than just that gun. And I keep this in mind even when I am the one holding the weapon. It is a simple matter of seizing opportunity. For most of my fellow Decepticons power is a way of realising a dream of creating an Empire, making a name, or in some cases, having a fun time blowing stuff up. Power is a means to an end for me, a way to be creative for as long as I can, to leave a mark and change things like I feel they need to be, to better others. I say better, because I have skills others do not have. But as the saying goes, everyone's a critic. Others will have different views on what 'better' means, will try to gain power to do their own thing, that is the way things are. It's a pity the Autobots regained control over Cybertron; they do nothing interesting with the power they wield. It's the sad truth that they wouldn't know what creativity was even if it ambushed them and tore their limbs off and then danced a cheerful jig, flailing the severed limbs above its head, proclaiming 'Creativity I Am! So Nyah!'
My own resculpted personality freed me from a need to submit to old stories, if I ever had such a need. I do not remember, nor do I care to. Resculpted minds are the way forward, don't you see? Everywhere we are surrounded by things we created, why should thoughts be any different? If old thought patterns cease to have purpose, they should be remodeled or discarded. Mental health is a construct, a template, not a constant. Ultimately, balance and happiness are whatever we want these concepts to mean."
roleplaying thread in which Catalyst wanders around Metroplex, plotting misschief for want of anything better to do
*Catalyst listens as the Priestess explains her view on healing, and life in general*
Peace is not the cessation of motion. Peace is learning to flow with the motion, to take life in stride, but not struggle against it, and let it break you. I agree; we would not grow if there was no change and no conflict in our lives. But you can either become bitter and fearful of the past and the 'what ifs' of the future, or you can be confident that no matter what has happened and what will happen in your life, Primus will give you the strength needed to endure.
"So happiness can only be found through your deity?"
*eyes her levelly, hand under his chin, then smiles, lazily, obviously not believing her*
Because it is supernatural. I can sense the emotions of others, I have had visions, and have had them confirmed by others. And... the depth of the relationship I have with Primus... *she sighs, finding words inadequate to describe it* It is beyond delusion, beyond mere wishful thinking. I speak with him, I can allow others to speak to him through me. I can feel his presence and power in the planet, in the Matrix-bearer, and he once used me to banish the power of Unicron from one of his victims. He has even had control of my mind and motor functions on a few occasions. I am very certain these abilities do not come from me, my own sensors, or a delusional mind. At the very least, Unicron knows him, and there is quite tangible evidence of his existence.
*while he finds it interesting how this idea of Primus plays such an important role in the priestess' mind, and he certainly won't deny he can notice something special about her, a talent or gift of sorts, Catalyst frowns, not sure how much more of this religious talk he can abide. Even if it were true, he is somewhat annoyed that religious mechanisms always assume others must relate to their god, that even denial of a god is relating to that god. Catalyst doesn't do either, doesn't bother to believe or disbelieve; it's simply not part of his reference grid. Still, he smiles a little. Comforts himself with the though that knowledge is power, and the more the priestess talks, the more she'll give away about how she thinks.*
They're missing out on quite a bit. There are other ways of coping, yes, but often it will only further embitter the mind and spark. Anger can overcome weakness, but it brings its own weaknesses, that do not balance the original. So too denial, obliviousness, and facades.
*Catalyst's irritation shows, the sharp decorations on his shoulder stand up a little. In part this is frustration at his inability to convey the Decepticon frame of mind to this Neutral. His thoughts run in the line of "Is it really that hard to grasp that your group's cultural values and even emotions are not universal? That wrong and right and proper ways of dealing with problems can vary? I do not bother with Autobot values, but I at least know what they are", but he can't quite put it into words. Instead he resumes his walk through the hallway.*
*He turns to face her when he hears her speak*
And how do you know that it wasn't for that very reason, that I said it?
*he appreciates her humour and answers her smile with a goofy grin of his own, before growing serious again. Seriousness is not a mode he is accustomed to. Catalyst is also quite uncomfortable that he is being baited into this discussion, but his urge to rant is getting in the way of his wish to keep his own secrets, like common sense would dictate. ((well he never had much common sense to begin with))*
"I have listened to you, but will you now listen to me? By all means feel free to disagree with what I am going to say, and the way I phrase it
but first hear me out, okay? Let's examine this deity, shall we? So I gather from the stories that he cannot fight his own battles, no, he has us do that, expects us to do that, guilts us into it; our sole purpose is apparently to live up to an absent deity's expectations. Well no one asked me if I wanted to. Such manipulation would, ehm... befit recruiting officers I've known."
*Catalyst grins at that, before continuing*
"Cybertron, the idea of Cybertron as much as the buildings and the mechanisms that live on it, is more my home than Primus could ever be. A planet that is what we make of it, that changes as we change; that I can believe in. Maybe Primus did begin or reshape this planet, but even if the old stories are true, I do not see their relevance. So he and the other mech were gigantic beings with super powers; their battle may have been epic, but to call them gods, and worship or fear them, submit to them simply because they are bigger and more powerful?
Now let's say someone pointed a gun at my face. Sure I would be afraid and I would probably do what they tell me to, out of self-preservation, but I would never in my mind surrender. I would never internalise that gun, never for a moment believe that their authority is based on anything more than just that gun. And I keep this in mind even when I am the one holding the weapon. It is a simple matter of seizing opportunity. For most of my fellow Decepticons power is a way of realising a dream of creating an Empire, making a name, or in some cases, having a fun time blowing stuff up. Power is a means to an end for me, a way to be creative for as long as I can, to leave a mark and change things like I feel they need to be, to better others. I say better, because I have skills others do not have. But as the saying goes, everyone's a critic. Others will have different views on what 'better' means, will try to gain power to do their own thing, that is the way things are. It's a pity the Autobots regained control over Cybertron; they do nothing interesting with the power they wield. It's the sad truth that they wouldn't know what creativity was even if it ambushed them and tore their limbs off and then danced a cheerful jig, flailing the severed limbs above its head, proclaiming 'Creativity I Am! So Nyah!'
My own resculpted personality freed me from a need to submit to old stories, if I ever had such a need. I do not remember, nor do I care to. Resculpted minds are the way forward, don't you see? Everywhere we are surrounded by things we created, why should thoughts be any different? If old thought patterns cease to have purpose, they should be remodeled or discarded. Mental health is a construct, a template, not a constant. Ultimately, balance and happiness are whatever we want these concepts to mean."