Entry #A-4: "Ante" [February 21, Text]

[dead_black_eyes]

Though the police and the Blood Keys obviously represent a threat to many numbered individuals, I have a question about organized religion, and what pulses might mean when framed within certain philosophical contexts.

No matter how natural it might feel, if there really is another being nudging its way into an existing consciousness, changing a person's aptitudes, physical attributes and even their personality... there have to be at least a few churches that would consider that demonic possession, right?

Has anyone tried to reconcile what's happening with influential religious practices, and do we have any resources for assisting anyone who might wind up the subject of an attempted exorcism? Those still happen today, they can be extremely dangerous, and I'm concerned about the possibility of frightened numbered people seeking out such assistance, or being subjected to it by their families and communities. Thinking you're crazy is one thing, but sincerely believing that the devil is wielding you as an instrument is another entirely. Probably not something that the FAQ page can successfully assuage, for the most tenaciously convinced.

Comments

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[dead_black_eyes]

I'm saying no such thing. Just implying that someone, at some point, may think so, and we should be ready to deal with it.

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[occasus]

But what if that's what they want you to think?

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[dead_black_eyes]

It's possible, but more likely that's wild speculation, at best.

I haven't seen your number before.

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[occasus]

No, I'm relatively new.
Don't really like it. Keep hoping it's fake.

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[dead_black_eyes]

This entire situation? Is that what you keep hoping is fake?

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[occasus]

Yeah. Not a fan.

You actually enjoy this?

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[dead_black_eyes]

I don't enjoy most things... but like most things, it is what it is, and I have to deal with it.

Things might look up for you though. Maybe you'll echo back a huge pile of money or an ability to count cards expertly at the Blackjack table.

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[occasus]

What have you echoed back to? A huge pile of money? Blackjack?
I was dancing with a corpse. That shit doesn't really fly with 'well respected rich guy' like I'd hoped.

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[dead_black_eyes]

Me? Try suicide notes and handcuffs. But such things aren't outside the realm of possibility.

A corpse? Were there any emotions associated with that? Anger, vindictiveness, love...?

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[occasus]

oh, shit...

Sorry. About the suicide thing.

[ Guess who's avoiding the question? ]

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[dead_black_eyes]

Is suicide a sensitive topic for you? I don't want it to distract you from my questions.

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[occasus]

No, I just didn't want to be an asshole

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[dead_black_eyes]

The suicide note I got back was't mine, if that's what you're worried about. It was written in blood, but the content was pretty mundane, and I like to think that if I wrote one it would be more interesting.

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[occasus]

It's written in blood but it's mundane.

what the fuck.

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[dead_black_eyes]

The content is mundane. Just your typical "cruel world, can't go on, no options left" reason and rhetoric.

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[occasus]

See this stuff is actually interesting.
Figure out what it was for?

I mean, asides from suicide. Why you have it?

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[dead_black_eyes]

The most interesting thing about the note by far was the fact that a single line of hiragana, when read horizontally instead of vertically, spells out "Shinigami." I received the photograph of this note after someone said the word "shinigami", so I would assume it had something to do with that.

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[occasus]

What's that mean? sounds asian.

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[dead_black_eyes]

I guess it's the Japanese word for "god of death."

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[occasus]

you think the note was supernatural?

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[dead_black_eyes]

I don't know what it was. It could have been coincidental, since the rest of the note makes sense... but I doubt it. Even if the note's not supernatural I think that message was deliberate.

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[occasus]

Meant for you, but not to you?
That's kind of cool.
I want something like that. You're like a detective.

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[dead_black_eyes]

I am a detective.

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[occasus]

The sherlock holmes variety?

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[dead_black_eyes]

The good variety, and not the fictional kind.