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FluffandCrunch

Flash Fic: Mutou, Nurse/Fantasy: Theology

Nov 9th, 2012
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  1. The tavern is smoky and old, the smell of mildew and old beer soaked into the wood. A fire roars in a nearby hearth doing little to chase away the chill and damp air outside with it's monsters and shadows. A young and very thin girl places a pair of ceramic mugs on a table for two travelers, one decked all in spotless white, a red cross around his neck, the other wearing a long greatcoat with many belts and harnesses, tiny vials of liquid in holsters and bandoleers across his chest.
  2.  
  3. “When are you going to give up this lame attempt to explain everything with your science, Mutou?“ the man in white asks as he takes a sip of the ale.
  4.  
  5. The other man stares a moment at his drink, wondering what impurities may be inside it. “I'm an Alchemist, Nurse. I can't bring myself to accept the existence of miracles.“
  6.  
  7. Nurse tugs at his holy symbol for Mutou to see. “I've enacted countless miracles on your behalf over the years. I've healed wounds, I've turned undead, I've even brought the dead back to life! Clerics like me interact with the divine every day, you've seen it! With your own eyes you've seen me bring the dead back to life! Explain that!“
  8.  
  9. Mutou shrugs, finally sipping at his mug and wincing as he does. “Those aren't miracles, that's magic, same as any Wizard can do and they don't claim their power is from the Gods. It just doesn't sit well with me. We've seen plenty over the years and I just don't believe in them.“
  10.  
  11. “Yet you're willing to accept gold from the Church of Yamaku when they send us to clear a dungeon, aren't you?“
  12.  
  13. “That's different. That's business. I don't have to believe to know their gold is good.”
  14.  
  15. Nurse laughs. “Business, he says! Gods give me strength! We've fought Devils and Demon, met Angels and Outsiders and you still have trouble believing in the Gods?“
  16.  
  17. “That's exactly my point. All of those things can be studied, cataloged. They have a place in the natural order of the Spheres. How often have we seen monsters and creatures do things we don't understand until we study them? That's all the Gods are, creatures we haven't studied. If an Angel showed itself to someone who had no idea what it was, they could very well call it a God and end up worshiping it."
  18.  
  19. "So you're saying the Gods are running some con on us? I think I may be insulted."
  20.  
  21. Mutou shakes his head, setting the mug back down and deciding against any further partaking due to the odor coming off of it. "Maybe, maybe not. Some of them, like the God you follow, seem to do a lot of good in the world. Maybe they're so advanced, so powerful that the only way we can comprehend them is in a Worshiper/God relationship. One day, when we've reached a certain level of awareness, perhaps they'll share what they truly are. Until then, I just can't bring myself to accept them on faith alone and bring myself to worship one."
  22.  
  23. The door to the inn bursts open and a well dressed fat man in a flamboyant hat, complete with a long feather in the brim steps in, the quintessential looking Bard. A buxom Elven woman with a bow stands next to him, a smirk on her face. The fat man throws his arms wide at the two men. “Nurse! Mutou! It's time for an adventure!”
  24.  
  25. Mutou groans at Nomiya and his behavior. Nurse gives a sly wink at the Elven woman which she returns.
  26.  
  27. “Some goblins were sighted outside the town walls. The village elder wants us to handle them,“ the Elven woman says with a smoldering glance at Nurse.
  28.  
  29. Nurse leaps to his feet and puts an arm around her. “Meiko, we can always count on you to find us some work."
  30. Meiko smiles. "I have to keep you busy, Father."
  31. Nurse grins. "I like when you call me that. Let's go, Mutou! Perhaps I'll be able to inspire some faith in you with a show of my so-called 'miracles.'“
  32.  
  33. Mutou shrugs. “Fine. I'd rather deal with goblins than a debate on theology.”
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