entranceway | 004; video (demon)

[Before he even speaks, there is something distinctly, perceptibly different about Armin. For one, he is lounging. Armin does not lounge. He barely even relaxes. Secondly, his eyes just aren't... right. They lack their normal clarity and alertness. They are hazy, and subtly scrutinizing, as if he's sizing you up.]

Good and Evil. Hmm.

[He presses his fingertips together.]

I think such broad terms are too... confining. It depends on the situation, doesn't it? You can harm a person to save yourself, or someone you love. Or your kind actions, or good intentions, can lead down an unwitting path of destruction. No, drawing a line line in the sand between what is and is not sin-- that isn't very fair, is it?

Stipulations. There needs to be stipulations. The Commandments should be open to amendment. Humans aren't as simple as they were... How long has it been now? 4000 years ago? It's not all first borns and blood sacrifice anymore. We need to modernize. Preferably democratically.

Not every good action is good for you. Not every bad action is bad for others. Think about that.

[This, of course, is a logic trap. Any action you would take would then end up being a sin. But that's exactly what he wants. Spreading little discontents is so much more effective than traditional tempting.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh, but Sin exists, whether you think of it or not.

Perhaps it's better that we forget, though.

Don't you have to believe in god to believe in sin?

I suppose so. Strictly speaking, to "sin" is to act against the Ten Commandments, which were given to man by the Lord. But there are many other things a person can do, that I think should qualify as sin.

But that isn't the only way to look at things. Some things that would be considered bad are things that happen to you, not things you do.

Like what?

Impurity.

Ah... Ah-ha! Amazing! I had not even thought of it that way. You're absolutely right. That's a conundrum!

I'm surprised you have so much interest in this, Armin.

[Ah, that's right. Reign it in a little. Be a professional. It's just so rare to get word like this straight from the horse's mouth; hearing their opinion is simply fascinating, and he can't help himself!]

Oh, you know, nothing gets me going like a little intellectual discourse.

It can be pretty interesting.

[What Armin wouldn't give to be able to tempt a person like Souji. Now that would be a feeling of accomplishment.]

I don't get to talk like this much.

We can talk some more, if you want.

[It is pretty interesting. Maybe he's tempting Souji a little bit after all?]

I would like to know more about you. You speak as though you understand these subjects intimately.

I read a lot.

[Well...that's part of it.]

Like what? Philosophy?

Mm. [Souji nods.] And I talk to all kinds of people.

[And then he really thinks about what he's heard.]

Hmm. You said you keep people around you, that you trust to keep you on the right path?

Right. To help me know if what I'm doing is right. [Souji is curious to see where Armin is going with that.]

Then, do you think it would be too far a stretch to say that you have faith in them?

No. I do have faith in my friends.

Then your system of belief simply exists on a mortal level. You trust people, not gods.

There are gods I've put trust in. But humans are more reliable, and I think most gods where I'm from expect us to put in effort before they'll do anything for us.

And what gods would those be?

[As a literal past of a monotheistic religion, Armin operates as if these "gods" are nothing more than idols, because he knows. He used to be in the second seat of angels for, well, Christ's sake.]

There's the kami at Tatsuhime Shrine. [There were actually two, and he only knew the identity of one of them.] And Izanagi.

That's Japanese, correct? I only have a cursory knowledge of Shintoism.

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