Attn: Catholics & their Priests

[hourglasspriest]

To any and all "Catholics" and their priests,

Could someone please explain to me the supposed need and practice of burning witches?

-S.D. SaDiablo

((If anyone wants to seek out the writer, he is reading a book nearby. The air is decidedly chill near him.))

Comments

[revmother_livia]

Livia was once very nearly a nun, so perhaps she qualifies. She's also been gifted with a sharp tongue and contrary nature that might have gotten her dangerously close to a burning of her own, had she not grown up in the later half of the 20th century.

She reads the notice with dark amusement.

"Well, how else are we supposed to keep warm in winter?" she murmurs wryly to herself.

[hourglasspriest]

Her comment carries to his alert ears, and Saetan watches her closely. Her attitude doesn't help his mood.

"Why commit such a heinous crime merely to keep warm? A witch's males would slaughter you."

He doesn't rise or even put down his book, but his voice carries just as well as hers does.

[revmother_livia]

The corner of her mouth quirks at the sound of his voice but by the time she turns, her face is impassive once more.

"I was being facetious. I should have thought that was obvious. Witch burning is a cultural phenomenon, widely viewed as a kind of hysteria. Religion is merely its excuse."

[hourglasspriest]

"Can you explain how that came to be?" Although he's angry, he's trying to keep polite.

[tanstagi]

Hagbard, being an exceedingly well self-educated man, at least on the topics of religion and psychology, and also a very sarcastic and blasphemous one, walks over to the Saetan.

"I'm a holy man, but not a Catholic one. The nearest I can figure it is, they assume that witches want to castrate their phallic savior-symbol, the cross. Fire is, presumably, their favorite alternative to Soap and water." He resists asking the pronunciation of the chilly man's name.

Typist has retconned the previous comment.

[hourglasspriest]

Saetan stands and sets his book aside. "What quarrel has this savior with witches that he should fear that of them? Castration is only for the worst of crimes." He smiles, not warmly. "Such as harming witches."

[tanstagi]

Hagbard smiles quite warmly. "No clue. Catholics are a cowardly lot in general. That is, when they're flipping themselves and each other over for power. It's a religion ostensibly for the slaves, and really for the masters. Most Christianity is." He shakes his head. "Terrible, really."

[hourglasspriest]

"I think I'll find a better expert." He's seething angry, but perfectly willing--without Jaenelle to consult since she's currently a small child--to gather more information before flaying anyone.

[tinylittleonion]

*though not quite a Catholic, Alyosha was and is still a man who was almost a monk, and the notice cannot but make him frown -- it strikes him as wrong, and wrongly intentioned, but his good nature cannot allow him to dismiss anything out of hand (even, it appears, as the cost of missing the joke)*

[hourglasspriest]

Because the man doesn't approach him, Saetan merely watches from behind his book. The room seems just a hair colder.

[tinylittleonion]

*ah, but Alyosha is Russian -- it is not the cold that catches his attention, but something else* Hello. *looking him in the eye, with a warm, genuine smile* Are you the one that wrote this?

[hourglasspriest]

Saetan sets the book down. "I am. Do you have an answer for me?" His voice is deceptively calm and soft. His eyes are focused on Alyosha, but still seem slightly glazed.

[o_i_am_slain]

Typist: don't forget the Puritans. :D are any of the Crucible pups still active? also, I just wrote "Crucicle".

[_hellblazer_]

Typist: Oh man, I don't even remember Mary Warren's journal XD

[hourglasspriest]

((He doesn't know about the Puritans. He heard about this from a child who said he was learning from Catholic priests))

[dukes_daughter]

"Sure, sir, there is much else to do with witches," Ganymede offers, mostly to be facetious.

[hourglasspriest]

In just a moment, he's beside Ganymede, the air chilling to the point they can see their breath form frost. "What else then?" he asks.

[dukes_daughter]

"What else?" he says, giving a little shiver but otherwise trying to remain nonchalant. "'tis out of fashion, burning. Now they do whisper, point, speak not to those they think to witches be."

[hourglasspriest]

"That's good to know, but I want to know why it's done. How could such a terrible practice become fashionable?" His tone is far too soft.