video @bodaiju

[gurge]

[ there's a monk. a buddhist monk, dressed nape to ankle in ceremonial robes, bare feet on hard tile floors. the penthouse behind him is classy and tasteful, but a jarring modern contrast to his clothing. it doesn't take much movement to realize his right sleeve, however, is completely empty. cheerful and chipper, he smiles and waves at the camera. ]

Hi hi~! Oh. I've been here since the first of us and not properly introduced myself on the network. My apologies, I'm a bit shy. [ yeah right. ] I'm Getou Suguru — [ the bow of his head is just deep enough to not be impolite. ] — a shaman from Japan. Back home, I specialized in hauntings and strange phenomena, as well as karmic work and even some chakra alignment. If you're suffering from strange aches and recurring nightmares, compulsive thoughts or stranger whispers, unprecedented cravings...

[ he's extremely animated through each of these symptoms even though he rattles them off like a medication commercial: acting out an ache in his nonexistent arm, a hand over his eyes for the nightmares, holding his head for thoughts and whispers, and... something a little more devious for cravings as he winks. ]

Please don't hesitate to visit.

[ a map link identifies his location. he's not very worried about stranger danger, is he? there's a long beat where he just smiles, and it seems like the feed might end, but then he acts on another thought that's been rolling around in that silly head of his: ]

Ah, and... Satoru.

[ to throw himself at the mercy of the public image is... a lot. he must know it, this man who values his pristine image. is it apology enough then, to make himself look like such a fool? he slides onto his knees mid-screen, clapping his hands together in prayer. are there tears? there might be tears. ]

Can't you please finally forgive meeeee?

[ what an embarrassing note to end on. ]



[ note: this character is a villain who hates humans so please check the journal for content warnings! i caught covid in the middle of sept so sorry for the abrupt hiatus; i'm working my way through backtags soon. no worries if anything's too old! cheers ]

Comments

[immortalpoet]

[RAISING HIS EYEBROW (NOT SEEN BECAUSE ITS AUDIO) LIKE DON'T TELL HIM THERE"S A DICK CHAKRA]

I think I'll go for the brute force route, myself. No use in being gentle.

[gurge]

Is that how you like it back, too? [ that's a sleazy grin right there ]

Well. Buddhism isn't like the other religions; we welcome all kinds.

[immortalpoet]

Sure. Better than people wagging their tongues.

[not going to take the bait NOT GONNA....]

Buddhism. What's that? A cult?

[gurge]

[ — he could say something about wagging tongues, but instead: an unexpected, abrupt laugh. it isn't a joke most would understand. ]

No, no! Although I'm sure there are some despotic monks out there. Like I said, we welcome all kinds. Complicated, but mostly it's a diverse religion built around the belief that life is full of suffering that can be minimized by presence of mind.

[ the sparknotes version. after all, who has time to explain a whole religion to someone who's never heard of it — and probably doesn't actually care that much. ]

[immortalpoet]

...

[nooooot impressed]

If it was that easy, tons of people would have peace of mind. Myself included.

cw self-immolation, vietnam war references

[gurge]

But it isn't easy, is it? That's why you have monks who practice it for decades, frequently without fruition.

There's a story from my world about one monk who self-immolated in protest of his corrupt government. He said not a word and moved not an inch until his body collapsed in on itself. That's the kind of "peace of mind" we're talking about here.

[immortalpoet]

And, what, exactly, did that protest do? Did it change the world?

[He doesn't mean to, but he sounds almost a little distant, more stern.]

Does self-destruction truly result in anything? Even through "peace of mind"?

[gurge]

Mm, depends on who you ask! [ and he laughs and laughs, far too much levity for the topic. ]

But isn't it wonderful to consider? Isn't it funny how the strong always die for the weak?

[immortalpoet]

...

[A long pause, here.]

Depends on what you mean by "the weak".

[gurge]

[ for once, he doesn't sermon or volunteer it himself; the man who seems inherently frenzied comes to a still, perhaps unnerving only in its suddenness. ]

How many definitions could there be?

[immortalpoet]

[If he notices the change in the other man, he doesn't note it. He sounds more distant, as if back in the well of memories with no vision of land.]

There's many.

Someone without power. A person who has lost everything. A person whose soft heart makes them vulnerable.

A child.

[gurge]

You're mixing weakness with victimhood.

[immortalpoet]

And what should I make it out to be then, if I'm making such a mistake?

[gurge]

There's a group whose circumstances are fixed and a group whose aren't. Which do you pity more?

[immortalpoet]

Circumstances...such as the concept of "fate"? Or circumstances in terms of the context that they live in?

[gurge]

Is it "fate" to be born what you are, I wonder? You either have power or you don't.

[immortalpoet]

But if that power is predestined, or set up for you, would you still consider that fate?

[gurge]

Who knows! That's beyond me. I only care about what actually happens practically. If you know of a way to meddle with fate and decide who suffers the least, I'll reconsider my whole life philosophy.

[immortalpoet]

Sort of strange for a man of religion to take on things practically, but what do I know.

[gurge]

"If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him."

[immortalpoet]

I do that for most people.


[WITH NO SHRED OF IRONY OR SARCASM]