136 - Long, long, long time coming was this decision.

[buywithme]

[Video clicks on, annnnnd PREFECT TIME! The Camera is set up on Prefect's desk, and he's sitting in front of it. He looks slightly agitated, as if he's just trying to think of something, but he can't get it to come to his mind. Finally, he speaks, but his voice is slow, careful. As if he's not quite sure if he wants to be saying this.]

We used to say that-- that god was dead, and that history was dead, and that we'd built the Factory on their bodies. So that was always how I used to think of God, as this... abandoned idea, that didn't matter anymore. Or as a historical figure. It was like saying the Queen of England was dead, or that Elvis was dead. They were these insignificant institutions that had no meaning to me. Honestly, I think we only even said that he was dead because it was catchy.

[Pause. Prefect is obviously thinking haaaard about this.]

I used to just ignore Howie when he talked about God. I think... in my head, he was like this person, who desperately wanted to talk about something that no one else anywhere cared about, and that nobody else wanted to hear about. People would get into arguments with him, and say things just to upset or offend him. Eventually people began targeting him and attacking him because he wouldn't stop talking about this completely pointless thing, but he kept on talking about it.

[He gives a helpless little shrug.] It took me a long time to make the connection between the entire way Howie lived his life, and that thing he wouldn't stop talking about. He was such a good warden, Comrades. In times when there really weren't any good wardens, he was always such a good warden. He was here for years, and in that time, no matter what happened to him, he is... literally, the only person on this entire ship that I can think of, who never acted out of pure selfishness. He was always driven by the belief that he had to do what was right. For his inmate... his friends, his enemies... for all of us. [He shakes his head, looking up slightly.] And that, Comrades, is absolutely unique here, and this thing that he believed in? That I only ever saw as this weird, unpleasant tendency? This thing that got him into trouble and made his life hard and that irritated me? That was the same thing that he got his strength from, and that made him believe that it was important to be that kind of person.

[Prefect frowns now, his forehead knitting slightly, as he looks down at his hands.] The thing he got from it... I don't know, I don't know if it made him happy. His life never seemed happy to me. It didn't make him stronger, or more convincing, or smarter than anyone else, but he never gave it up. It was like his faith made him... unstoppable. Indestructible. And it made him a better man than any of us.

[As Prefect speaks, his voice gets a little distant, forlorn even.] Sometimes, I think he must have felt about God, the way I used to feel about the Factory. Only for me... the Factory tore people down, it made them into components, or functions. For Howie, being God's creations elevated people. It made them more than what they were. [He has his arms wrapped around his stomach, and he's looking off Camera a little. His expression is almost sad. Finally, his eyes flick back towards the communicator.]

So, Comrades... I was wondering...

[Prefect visibly steels himself:]

...does anyone know what you have to do to become a Christian?

[Added after speaking to O'Brien, Private to Barron]

Comrade, do I owe you a drink?

Comments

[equalsfive.livejournal.com]

...

You have got to be kidding me, comrade.

This is just a...

Do you feel alright?

((AT SOME POINT it's assumed that Barron will hold Prefect's hand, but commenting from before then))

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

I'm not kidding, Comrade.

[PAUSE]

But actually, Comrade, I don't feel that good either. I feel kind of... I don't know. Restless. Like there's something I need to do, but I don't remember what it is.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Yes, I do!

Although I'm afraid I can only really speak for Protestantism.

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

That's all right, Comrade, I only know any of the others by reputation anyway.

[Pause]

So... is there a quiz you have to take? Or an evaluation of some kind?

Private - POST BARRON-STUFF

[happinessboys.livejournal.com]

Religion is a perfectly acceptable way to spend time. But it's just a waste, really.

I do have a digest that might consolidate the facts for you, if you're interested.

Private - POST BARRON-STUFF

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

A digest?

[Aww, we're BONDING C:]

I would really appreciate that, Comrade. Thank you.

[captain-jtkirk.livejournal.com]

What happened in the last month?

1/2

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

Comrade! Welcome back!

[BIGGEST GRINNNNN.]

[ifightfor]

Suggest Warden Neil Howie correct in approach to most tasks. Warden Prefect correct in recognizing Warden Neil Howie as exemplar of Class:Warden.

[HE MISSES HOWIE ALREADY.]

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

I know. He didn't make a lot of sense, but he was always fair.

[PREFECT MISSES HIM TOO.]

...Do robots believe in God?

[BECAUSE THAT'S OBVIOUSLY WHAT YOU ARE, RINZLER.]

[naughtbutlife.livejournal.com]

Believing in the words of Christ, the son of God, for one.

What I think you are looking for is the feeling, sir, the essence of being a good Christian, and to that I say: love. Love often, do no harm to others, and forgive when harm is done to you. There are other things that make a person Godly, but that faith in the goodness of God is meant to fill our hearts with love.

In the end, it is supposed to inspire us to be better - always be charitable, kind, and fair, though one does not need to believe in a Heavenly Father to strive to be that way.

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

[This is... pretty great sounding to him :c]

Thank you, Sister.

...I saw that your inmate graduated. Are you going to have your deal fulfilled then?

[acid_rayne]

He was an idealist, Prefect. That's not always a good thing. Means you can be short-sighted, too.

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

I know, Sister. I didn't always agree with Howie, and I don't necessarily think that he always made the smartest decisions. I just think... that I always admired the reasons he made them for.

[veni-vidi-valui.livejournal.com]

That little Jewish cult of his?

Whyever would you want to...?

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

Because--

...

Well, because of all the things I just said in this post about valuing people and being selfless.

[requiresssacrifice]

You don't have to follow a two-thousand-year-old rule book to be a decent person, you know.

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

Well, no, but Howie represented an extremely strong correlation between following a two-thousand year old rule book and being an exceptionally good person.

[thefuckening.livejournal.com]

God? [CHORTLE.] What kind of an unimaginative deity just calls himself God? That's like, like if I was walking around just declaring myself Sorcerer!

You shouldn't follow a farce of a god named God. [GRANDLY:] You should follow Cherrox, the Great Devouring Worm!

[Not so grandly:] I have some literature, should you require it.

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

No, Comrade! I strongly dislike non-human creatures of almost all kinds, and I refuse to worship anything without limbs!

[timesbureaucrat]

He had conviction and some selflessness, I grant you, but conviction and selflessness doesn't make one right.

If you want a new set of rules to live by, Prefect, read up on ethical philosophy, not a primitive, incoherent superstition.

[Narvin is sharp-toned and bitchy (more than usual) in part because he's recently had it confirmed that Howie did *not* go home. And the idea that Howie might be really and truly gone from the universe forever distresses him.]

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

No offense Narvin, I like you very much, but I'm not inspired to investigate the spiritual path which led you to your moral code.

[That's okay, Narvin! Prefect has seen Howie being given grief about his ridiculous religion for AGES.]

[what_ho_jeeves]

George has about the right of it. Faith in Lord Christ is the most important bit. "I am the Way and the Truth and the Light. No one comes to the Father except through me" and all that.

Baptism is important as well, to make it all official, but that has to be done by a priest, so you'll have to start with faith. Which you should rightly start with anyway, so it all works out for the better in any case.

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Comrade.

...

What does being 'The Way' mean?

Private

[una_persson]

[Long, astounded silence before she finally gets her tongue back.]

I'd listen to Angelica and George, for starters. Yes.

...I miss him too. He was a rare man.

Private

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Sister. I'm getting the impression that I should get hold of a Bible.

...It's not just that I miss him, Sister, it's that... I worry that when someone does something wrong next, there'll be this gap, where somebody should be relentlessly doing the right thing even if it's extremely annoying.

[doctor-scarf.livejournal.com]

I've got multiple Bibles if you want to borrow one.

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

I would really really appreciate that, Comrade.

...Do you believe in anything like that?

[symbiotastic.livejournal.com]

You should go Catholic. It's like the Original Recipe of Christianity.

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

What's the difference, Comrade?

[most_feared]

I'm not really a fan of it myself. But whatever floats your boat. [Kay is a font of support, yo.]

[Text] I CAN'T STOP EDITTING I'm sorry

[truth_is_cold]

[He's trying to take the edge off nigh on losing his shit, so he comes back to this post.] I don't believe that religion should dictate morals. I believe those should be your own.

That said, they are your own to decide, based on what you admire. [He didn't admire Howie. He likes Prefect a little, and would be sad to see him go religious, but... that's the story of his life, and people choose their own way.]

There was a poem I know. It was called "Success".

He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much;
Who has enjoyed the trust of pure women, the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children;
Who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;
Who has never lacked appreciation of Earth's beauty or failed to express it;
Who has left the world better than he found it,
Whether an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul;
Who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best he had;
Whose life was an inspiration;
Whose memory a benediction. -Bessie Anderson Stanley

However you get there is the important part.

Re: [Text] I CAN'T STOP EDITTING I'm sorry

[buywithme.livejournal.com]

...But, Comrade, It's not like I'm subscribing to the religion and then accepting the morals as an afterthought, I admired Howie's morals, and that's why I want to know where they came from.

Still, thank you, Comrade. That's a very moving piece of poetry.

[Private]

[sharpememory.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I thought you'd forgotten. I'll meet you in your room?

And seriously, you're thinking too hard about all that Howie stuff. He's gone home now, so he'll be drinking with his family and all that. He'll be happy. You don't need to worry about it.

[needshumility.livejournal.com]

But... comrade. Is their Rulebook so drastically different to yours?

The idea seems... very similar, to me. What's the difference, do you think?

I mean, at home, there's good Yellows and bad Yellows. Most of them still enforce the Rules, but it's about how they use them, and what they will let go and what they won't.

Isn't it less the actual Rulebook and more how you apply it?

[shortsghtedlove.livejournal.com]

Oh, nonsense. He was just a sanctimonious fool. Nothing good ever comes from religion. [Someone has very bad experiences here :|]

[the-shooter.livejournal.com]

You speak like that and you want to become a Christian?