January 14, 2081
Things have settled down a bit the last month. Poor Mary's rape actually caused a big of an upswing in sympathy among most of the people in town. Though the real kicker is when we asked Henry to help with religious services.
At first he was reluctant. He was forced to hide his faith during his time in the camps and do many unconscionable things during his quest to survive. He tended to his own, but there was something of a reluctance. The last few years had seemingly shaken his beliefs and he seemed to be holding to them more for the good of his fellows than true faith.
So I asked Pastor Jacobs to talk to him. I know it might sound strange asking a Christian priest to help a Buddhist monk rediscover his faith, but it's really not. The Pastor is a good man who believes strongly in the value of faith as a force that uplifts us. Believe me, we've had many discussions on the matter and he is a very good man.
Anyways, their conversation was their own but when they were done, Henry seemed to have a new energy about him. My guess, knowing the Pastor, is that he probably just listened to him. Believe me, in a time like this not having to keep it in and simply being able to vent will save your mind and soul.
Anyways, they agreed that he'd stop holding his prayer and meditation sessions in private and instead would use the church and have them open to any who showed interest. It's this that really changed things.
The Chinese Communists were strict atheists, so seeing the 'Godless Chinese', worshiping in their own way did a lot to change things. Even more profound an impact was had when people started accepting the standing invitation.
He lead people in meditations, he taught them the Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Path, and at no point did he ever challenge their existing beliefs. The discourse on the nature of suffering really hit home in these trying times.
Helen's little band of Bohemians were the first to join, lead by Helen herself. I also was there the first week, though I'll admit much of the reason was to show my approval and frankly, I could use some meditation time.
Though what really caused people to notice was when Pastor Jacobs joined him in his meditations. It was a beautiful thing seeing the two of them united in prayer.
Some were against it, but most? Most were open to listen. There isn't a single person here who hasn't seen hell and hasn't had their beliefs pulled through the mud. Buddha and Christ were both teachers and their messages were hardly mutually exclusive. In fact in many ways they can be seen as complementary.
I think we might be looking at the beginning of something different, something new. And personally, I'm all for it.
Mei Ling is now effectively Bear and Helen's adopted daughter. I suggested the idea to them and while Bear was ambivalent and taciturn as he is about just about everything, I think he likes the girl. As for Helen, well, I don't think there was a moment of doubt in my mind that she wouldn't be entirely for it.
The girl actually ambushed me with a hug and then thanked me. I was sweet. She's really a good kid.
In slightly less pleasant news, I'm going to have to deal with Mary's hosts rather roughly. She was staying with one of the surviving married couples from Cody and seems that the husband was friends with her rapist. It turns out the main reason they invited her into their home was because they frankly wanted a servant to do their chores.
Now, being demanding and unpleasant while making you a piece of shit, is hardly the crime. But the fact is they were trying to shuck their duties off on her. I'll be the first to admit, we don't do very much during the winter that involves going outside. It's too cold and too nasty to really expect too get very much done. But I do try and make sure everyone does their fair share.
You know, basic stuff like shoveling snow, chopping wood, standing watch, making sure public areas and buildings are kept clean. Everyone is supposed to do their part. Except they were dumping them off on many in addition to households chores.
Seems he was using the time to drink and the prick who raped her was one of his drinking buddies. While we don't think he arranged for what happened, or was in any way paid for it, but he abused my intentions, neglected his duties, in this and from the sound of things was the one who let him know her schedule.
The wife isn't quite as culpable, but she's always been a really nasty piece of work. Lazy, demanding, arrogant, and it seems trying to bring her in as her own personal "coolie maid" even though I outright said that that was not the intent.
I really need to figure out an appropriate punishment for their bullshit and have decided to let you weigh in before I make my final call.
That said, I want to make one thing clear. Lucas was working with me in the background the entire time and in general our opinions tend to be in line. Believe it or not, I do have some legal training myself. Only a Paralegal, but I know enough that together we're able to bang out something logical. Believe me, I'm asking for your opinions as your POV is useful as an outside perspective.
They gave Ninja Turtles to Michael Bay. Well fuck. Between that and the abomination it seems Fallout 4 was made into if those Lets Plays are any indication, well, there goes the beloved franchises of my youth, circling the drain. Fallout 4 is especially wince inducing not just because of the Settlement crap but because it is extremely gamey, the writing is bad, and divorced from reality.
Though knowing my luck, it's all happening.
The reason I asked for those FO4 Lets Plays is a matter of information and perspective. The more I know about possible situations the more I will be prepared. Frankly I'm sitting here with my butt puckered wondering what the hell is going to rise out of the woods once the mutations settle. I mean if Yao Guai are what BLACK bears turn into, the the HELL are BROWN bears, their bigger, meaner, and more aggressive cousins going to become?
Though I don't think our mosquitoes are becoming Bloodbugs. They're just virulent and large. I hope.
I have to seriously ask. What the hell does Deng Xiaoping have to do with anything? I just told you what the People's Republic of China in this world was like.
Yes, we have listening posts though the mountains tend to wreak holy hell with radio transmissions.
Thank you for the Vault Wikia index and I already suspected Necros has some form of ESP.
I know what a Biofilter is, we've been using them for years, and I make it a rule to never drink anything that glows.
Now, recoilless rifles are more complicated than rockets which while not the most accurate things in the world are much more forgiving. And as for digging underground... the ground is frozen solid and it's below freezing outside on a warm day. So no. Not happening. The only shoveling being done around here is the goddamned snow.
