( video, un: koriel )

[passio]

[ it’s this guy again. although he seems considerably less sad than he did the last time he appeared on the network to talk about accidental sympathy with the oracles of the sinless, that may not be the best thing in the world once he begins speaking. he's also wearing small angel wings, visible in the view of the camera—they're definitely fake accessories, however, rather than being a moonblessing or even a more permanent effect of the bracelet. ]

…hello.

[ he's nervous? he's nervous, and his shoulders fidget slightly. he can't look at the camera. ]

There’s been a lot of people asking about churches. [ ah. ] …I am a member of one that recently opened. It is… a re-establishment of the Order I used to belong to in my world before.

[ it isn't a ringing endorsement, but it is the truth. ]

We don’t worship any god. It is an order that focuses on the internal self and what people are capable of. A man named the Archangel is our leader. If you’ve met him… um, anyway, please come by.

[ and included, information about the Order of Malkuth, located in a primo spot on level one. go ahead, join the cult. ]

Comments

[graftage]

Keep people safe through a sense of community?

[Sure, church groups could be powerful in their own right, by bringing people together. He can understand that.]

[passio]

…and through defense forces. The Order of Malkuth kept normal people safe from the monsters that began to plague our world.

[ he wisely does not drop the term ‘executioner angel,’ however. ]

[graftage]

So kind of like a home-grown militia.

[How intriguing.]

So does your Archangel want to do the same here? Keep people safe from whatever this place throws at us?

[passio]

…that’s one thing.

[ something that dextera can genuinely stand behind, too. the moon knights are helpful, but the archangel is independent enough to want his own force. ]

He’s looking to create a peaceful world, inside and out.

[graftage]

[Hmmm.]

Hey, Dextera, who else is in this church besides you and the angel guy?

[passio]

The Archangel.

[ dextera doesn’t mean to correct him, but like, they’re kind of all angels. ]

…um. It’s us, my brother, and a few other people… in the world we left, almost everyone is a member.

[graftage]

Wait, your brother is here?

[That's a bit of a surprise. He vaguely recalls in the past when he met Dextera as a child, and him telling him that his brother was dead...huh.]

That's quite a big church. I wonder how the Archangel feels about that since it's gone down in size.

[passio]

[ there’s such a story to that… dextera would honestly much rather talk about it than the church, but they’re so completely intertwined that he can’t divorce them entirely. ]

…

[ he nods. ]

It’s a long story… but yes, he’s here. He looks exactly like me. [ a moment of hesitation. ] We were both born to the church.

[graftage]

A twin brother, huh.

[Hmmm.]

It must be nice to have him here, at least.

[passio]

It is nice. [ dextera can admit to that, completely honestly. ] I always miss him, even when he’s right next to me.

[graftage]

[awwwww]

Is he a lot like you?

[passio]

Um… I think so.

[ they’re different in some fundamental ways, but dextera doesn’t like highlighting the differences between them. although his brother seems to crave being his own person, dextera is still working on that particular aspect of his identity. ]

I don’t know him very well. [ a pause. ] I don’t know who he is now, very well.

[graftage]

Well, you can talk to each other, right? Get to know each other as brothers.

[passio]

[ it’s a nice thought, but dextera doesn’t know what he can learn about his brother. everything he thought he knew has been wiped away, and his brother is being changed by this place every day. ]

Y… yes.

[ he’s lacking some conviction. ]

I’ll try. But I’m not good at conversation. We used to just talk through letters.

[graftage]

[HMMMM]

Letters? Well, maybe you could write each other letters, and just...read those out aloud? Maybe that will help bridge the gap!

[passio]

…!

[ dextera clearly never thought of that, and the idea seems so blatantly obvious that he’s a little embarrassed he didn’t. but his eyes widen, some genuine life returning to them at the thought. ]

You’re right. I never…

[graftage]

See? You can always find a solution!

[He beams.]

So try it out! I'm sure it'll work.

[passio]

[ it takes a moment, and then… dextera manages a smile, small and hesitant though it might be. steinbeck is very good at drawing that out of him, even when he feels sometimes hopelessly down. ]

You’re always helping me.

[graftage]

...Of course.

[Why wouldn't he? He smiles in return, something fond in his eyes.]

I like you, Dextera. I'll always help you out.