[Jonathan takes hold of the cross with absolutely no incident. He holds it up and examines it before slipping it over his own head and letting it rest against his chest to make the point.]
Because intent is important for my world, Father. There is no god or devil, as far as I'm aware, only the Red Queen. Those who become vampires have made no pact with the devil, just a supernatural creature.
[He takes off the cross and hands it back to Anderson.]
I cannot claim to understand the rules I am now subject to completely. I had little time to examine them while I was working to prevent London from falling into disease and chaos. And there are no other vampires from my own world here. I was an Ekon for less than a month when I was brought here.
And both received what they wanted in the end. Mr. Hampton is safe to run his night shelter. Sir William is no longer suffering.
[Anderson stares at the cross as it sits on Jonathan's sternum, slightly offended. It's just instinctive, at this point. As is the urge to express his discontent, but he bites his tongue, extending a hand to accept the cross as it's handed back.]
Regardless of the necessity of intent, it sounds as though this Red Queen is associated with the devil. Hence religious symbols having the capacity to cause harm. [He frowns down at the cross, then back at Jonathan.] If it's only such symbols, then it would make a great deal more sense than simply giving the equivalent of a shrug to why they work with belief and intent.
And is Mr. Hampton not suffering? He is called the Sad Saint.
It is not. Non-believers have their own ways; I recently tested it. A religious symbol did not work for them, but another they had personal faith in did. [Perhaps he shouldn't be detailing this to Anderson, but he wants to make a point. It's not about religion, as far as he can tell. Religious people just have a ready symbol of protection at hand to repel a vampire.]
Mr. Hampton's title is a commentary on the life circumstances of his youth, not his personality, Father. He has had a very hard life. He is called a saint because in spite of trials that would break many men, he has maintained his kindness, generosity, and faith. He and his night shelter are respected even by the gangs of the East End. People do not trouble him or those under his care, at least while they stay with him.
So if one had personal faith in - I don't know - the peace sign, that could be successfully brandished at you? Sounds like your weakness is conviction.
[He's still going to assume God has some hand in religious symbolism having an effect, though. Predictably.]
I wasn't associating the 'sad' with his personality. I was associating it with his status as a vampire who struggles with control, which one would reasonably consider a sad development and regard Mr. Hampton as suffering. But evidently that wasn't the right interpretation either. [He folds his arms.] He sounds a good man, despite his affliction.
[A pause, and then:]
Could the Red Queen not be forced to turn people back, or are they only capable of spreading their disease? Or do you simply not know?
[Jonathan very nearly rolls his eyes at the first comment. It's not as though he has personal control over what works and what doesn't.]
He is. And his struggles have been laid to rest. The blood of an Ekon seems to be enough to sate the hunger of a Skal. It is unfortunate that he needed that, but I am glad to have relieved him of some of the burden of his condition.
I do not know if the Red Queen could do that, I'm afraid. My one meeting with her was a violent confrontation. She had a discussion with my maker while I was ignored after that, then vanished. Myrddin offered no indication that this disease he inflicted on me could be cured. But I expect he would not tell me, even if it were so. He might have a use for me in the future, after all. [There's the barest edge of anger that creeps into his tone, but it's clearly not directed at Anderson.]
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no subject
Date: 2019-05-05 05:55 am (UTC)From:Because intent is important for my world, Father. There is no god or devil, as far as I'm aware, only the Red Queen. Those who become vampires have made no pact with the devil, just a supernatural creature.
[He takes off the cross and hands it back to Anderson.]
I cannot claim to understand the rules I am now subject to completely. I had little time to examine them while I was working to prevent London from falling into disease and chaos. And there are no other vampires from my own world here. I was an Ekon for less than a month when I was brought here.
And both received what they wanted in the end. Mr. Hampton is safe to run his night shelter. Sir William is no longer suffering.
no subject
Date: 2019-05-08 04:35 am (UTC)From:Regardless of the necessity of intent, it sounds as though this Red Queen is associated with the devil. Hence religious symbols having the capacity to cause harm. [He frowns down at the cross, then back at Jonathan.] If it's only such symbols, then it would make a great deal more sense than simply giving the equivalent of a shrug to why they work with belief and intent.
And is Mr. Hampton not suffering? He is called the Sad Saint.
no subject
Date: 2019-05-08 06:13 am (UTC)From:Mr. Hampton's title is a commentary on the life circumstances of his youth, not his personality, Father. He has had a very hard life. He is called a saint because in spite of trials that would break many men, he has maintained his kindness, generosity, and faith. He and his night shelter are respected even by the gangs of the East End. People do not trouble him or those under his care, at least while they stay with him.
no subject
Date: 2019-05-10 06:23 am (UTC)From:So if one had personal faith in - I don't know - the peace sign, that could be successfully brandished at you? Sounds like your weakness is conviction.
[He's still going to assume God has some hand in religious symbolism having an effect, though. Predictably.]
I wasn't associating the 'sad' with his personality. I was associating it with his status as a vampire who struggles with control, which one would reasonably consider a sad development and regard Mr. Hampton as suffering. But evidently that wasn't the right interpretation either. [He folds his arms.] He sounds a good man, despite his affliction.
[A pause, and then:]
Could the Red Queen not be forced to turn people back, or are they only capable of spreading their disease? Or do you simply not know?
no subject
Date: 2019-05-10 03:19 pm (UTC)From:He is. And his struggles have been laid to rest. The blood of an Ekon seems to be enough to sate the hunger of a Skal. It is unfortunate that he needed that, but I am glad to have relieved him of some of the burden of his condition.
I do not know if the Red Queen could do that, I'm afraid. My one meeting with her was a violent confrontation. She had a discussion with my maker while I was ignored after that, then vanished. Myrddin offered no indication that this disease he inflicted on me could be cured. But I expect he would not tell me, even if it were so. He might have a use for me in the future, after all. [There's the barest edge of anger that creeps into his tone, but it's clearly not directed at Anderson.]