fandomtownies | Sunday Night at the Perk

Angel came into the Perk and bought a black coffee for himself. He spotted CJ at her table and came on over.

"Ms. Cregg. Thanks for meeting with me."

Angel. Sit down. [She sits up a bit, professional posture for a professional interview...with a vampire. She chokes on her cocoa.]

Smooth...excuse me.

[She snatches a napkin to wipe her face and hide her smile.]

What are we talking about again?

{ooc: Yeah, that one's hard to resist, innit? ;) }

"Religion," Angel said, picking up on the vibe that CJ wanted to keep things professional. He did give her a quick glance to see how she was doing. "And deviance. Dr. Grissom said you might be a good person to talk to about it. Um - because of the religion part, I mean."

Religion? I'm evidently deviant too, I don't agree with the church on a lot of things. [She leans back, stretching her legs out. SHe just hopes he's got more tact than Anya.] Ask away, Angel. I'm an open book.

((yeah, it made me choke because it caught me unawares...so I had to MS it on to CJ. sorry.))

Angel caught the way that CJ phrased things. "So you're Catholic?"

[ooc: Hee! I do not blame you at all.]

Born and raised. Went to Our Lady of Mercy for high school, and I go to Mass every Sunday. Say my prayers , do my penance...but more than all that, I believe. I have faith...outside of the church.

"Me too," Angel said. "Irish Catholic. Though me and churches now aren't exactly relaxing. You said you had some disagreements. Could you talk more about that? The project I'm working on is about how people use religion to bolster beliefs that are themselves deviant. Like 'It's God's will that gays go to Hell'."

Well, let's start there. I believe God is love and love is where you find it. I have so many gay friends who are the epitome of Christ's teachings...love, compassion, acceptance...I simply cannot believe that God would condemn them to Hell for who they love with their bodies.

I don't believe that monogamy is always the right thing for everyone.

I don't think that anyone who calls God by a diferent name is automatically going to Hell.

Honestly, Angel...the list of what I don't agree with regarding Catholocism is too long to name.

"Never understood no women priests myself," Angel said. He folded his arms on the table, listening to CJ avidly. "Why stay with the Church then?"

[She blinks and looks at him like he might have hit his head hard when he walked in.]

Because...it's the church. Christ charged Peter, and it's where God abides on Earth. Regardless of what men do to the organization or the establishment, it's...home. Buildings come and go, Angel, but the metaphysical idea of 'church' is interwoven with faith...and not just for me.

There was a hint of an understanding smile on his lips. "I get that. Believe me - " he gestured at himself " - might not want me in the building, but doesn't mean I think I'm not part of the family."

You, um...can't go to church? I guess I don't know how it works for vampires. [She sips her cocoa and looks at him soft, her gaze unwavering.]

"I can," Angel said. "Just can't touch the crosses, the Holy water, or take Communion." He sat back in his chair. "That last one was a little disappointing. You'd think I'd be able to drink it if nothing else. All things considered, you know?"

[She blinks several times, not entirely comfortable with the thought of the consecrated host and vampires...in general.] Uh. Right. Um...next question?

"What are your views on those of the Protestant faiths?" Angel asked, picking up the cue that again CJ preferred this to stay on a more professional level. "Since arguably they're a deviation from Catholics."

Arguably, Luther was a crackpot. I think that Catholics and Protestants are the exact sme...they only differ on building and human dogma.

"How about the Evangelical Fundamentalists?" Angel asked. "The ones who say everything in the Bible is true, and we all need to agree with that?"

They have misplaced faith, in my opinion. They worship the word of God as solidified by man. Even the Vatican admits the revisions of the Bible. That's not where belief really is, Angel.

Of course, I could be wrong. But I doubt it.

"By misplaced faith are you saying that in a way they've forgotten the first commandment?" Angel asked.

Yeah. I think one of the biggest problems in the world today is deviance from the first commandment. And I don't mean other gods before Him. I mean...money, words, blind obedience...so many things interfere, and people are to stupid and lazy to notice. That might be the only point I'll ever agree with Mr. Crowley on.

Angel's interest was peaked. "What'd Crowley have to say about it?"

About religion? Nothing. He's just constantly harping that people are stupid and cruel, and if given a choice, we'll make the wrong one. And, I hate to say it, he's right.

"'Hell is other people'?" Angel quoted with a slight smile.

Hell is us, yep. Deviance from God...that's Hell. The essential nature of it, anyhow. Yeah. [Taking another sip, she leans forward.] Is this helping, Angel? Your assignment, this is what Dr. Grissom expects?

"It is, yeah," Angel said. "I'll admit I'm going on the seat of my pants here a little because I had to change the assignment mid-stream."

Figuring CJ wouldn't want to talk about the whys of that since it involved talking about his unsouled self, Angel moved on to another question. "What about those who would agree with you that not deviating from God is the true path, but would disagree with you on things like homosexuality? Are they wrong and you right?"

I'm right. I'm always right. [She shrugs her shoulder and sips her cocoa, a twinkle in her eye.] Honestly, I don't know. That's where free will comes into it. I really don't think God cares one wat or another how people achieve pleasure. I mean...really. You have a soul and you like Manilow. I'm sure someone thinks that's a sin. [SHe laughs softly] I mean...we can't know, really, God's mind. It's all human conjecture.

"What would you say to somebody who said you were the one who had deviated from God's true path?"

[Her voice softens, and she looks past him...through him, really.] I'd tell them I was already damned and nothing they thought would hurt me.

Angel couldn't help but feel a bit of fellow-feeling at that, but he knew CJ wouldn't want that sort of sympathy from him.

"I think that'll do it for now. Is it okay if I call you if there's any followup questions?"

Certainly, Angel. And if Dr. Grissom has any problems with your changing horses midstream, point him my way.

Angel looked surprised at that, but pleased.

"Thank you. I really appreciate the help."

[ooc: And ditto!]

It was my pleasure. I'll see you around, Angel. [SHe gets up and slips on her coat, depsiting her cup in the trash.]

(ooc: heh. that's going up 3rd week of January. If you're in the Detroit area, want front row seats? ;D )
*implodes beacuse fandom and real life parallel*

Sunday Night at the Perk

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