Wedding

[Bunny]

Isaac knew that at this point, it would be best to have Esau killed.

But he also knew that, doing so at this instant, would be most unwise. To leave the boy's words standing without any sword cutting them down would be foolish.

Isaac was the Giver of His Word. Not a fool.

"The holy world," Isaac's voice had lowered to a dangerous growl, answering the last question. "The world where the Lord walks among our very crops!" He gestured to the corn around them. "To speak against the God, when he stands right before us, would be foolish. What has your God done, Esau?" he challenged. "I have tolerated your outbursts, your references to this complacent God for far longer than I should have. He has done nothing to aid you. The only word you have to prove that your God is forgiving is his own. Even if - and, my Lord, who I serve, knows that I do not mean this - was unjust. He still remains the true God. He has created us, and has given us life.

"When we followed your true God, three years ago, this entire blessed land almost died out. Do you recall, Esau? Going to sleep hungry? Not knowing if you would be fed in the morning? Did your God feed you? Did he send rain?

"No. My God did.

"Your 'kind, loving, forgiving' God, does nothing for you. For he does not exist. If he does, he is poor, and cannot look after all the world. He Who Walks Behind the Rows is the true God.

"He came to me and told me what he spoke to you about," Isaac changed the subject. "He wanted you to love him, so he offered you riches. He was testing you. Testing to see if your love is merely conditional. Loving a God merely for they offer what you perceive to be an adequate gift from the heavenly father. He wanted to see if maybe you would turn from your ways, once you had seen his Holy abilities for yourself, as you were absent on the day he came to all of us.

"But still you denied him. He told me that I may now do with you as I wish."

OOC: I mucked up HWWBTR's motive. I had it in my head. Poof. Gone. >_<

[esau12]

Esau sighed, "No, you do not understand. You are unwise. All you go on is this three year period. That your god gave you rain. What if this rain was not meant to come. What if He Who Walks Behind The Rows is not infinitely wise. Allow me to offer you an example.

"A hunter is in the woods and he comes upon a bear who has happened into an illegal bear trap. The hunter knows that in order to save the bear he must first push his paw deeper into the trap, causing more pain, to release the mechanism. The bear does not initially see that this will ultimately do him good, but how can he know, he is merely a bear. The hunter, being an intelligent human being, knows what is best for the bear in this situation.

"Now answer me this. How much wiser is an infinite being compared to us? Would he not know the outcome of events? Would he not know what is best? Is it possible that the drought was merely a tool He was using to better us? What if He Who Walks Behind The Rows came along and ruined this master plan by swaying innocent children to his ways. HE WANTS NOTHING BUT YOUR DEMISE, HE IS NOT INFINITE!"

[Bunny]

"You speak of a God merely of your creation!" Isaac shrieked. "You speak of a God of what you perceive to be perfect, of what you think God should be. But your God is nowhere, Esau! Your 'perfect' God exists merely as your own creation. He does not exist!

"How much wiser is an infinite being compared to us? Far wiser, Esau. You are correct on that point. We have spoken to him. We have seen him. You choose to ignore him because you don't feel that he meets your expectations. You have your own image of God, and you so busy yourself with that thought that you forget to meet God's image of you.

"Where is your God, Esau? That is what you cannot answer. You speak for a God, but aside from your words of him and his Glory there is no evidence. My God walks behind the rows! You can speak to him, and he will respond. Yours does not.

Speak no more," Isaac finished. "You have interrupted a ceremony with your blasphemous talk. I have been charged as your keeper, and I have deemed that you are delusional. It would be an insult to the Lord to offer him damaged flesh. And it would be merely cruel. Speak no more heresy."

[Sly Cooper]

A small voice came from Damon, it was deep and smooth, but small nonetheless, "Can my fare Rebekah and I continue our ceremony before the noon sun is lost?"

[esau12]

Esau was flabbergasted (OOC: I don't care if I use it too much, or if it's been used a lot. It is fun to say and type) at how Isaac could poke holes in all of what he said. He grew angry at his smug dismissal of him. "HOW DARE YOU! YOU SAY I'VE NO PROOF!" Esau began with a good scream, all stops were out. His deep voice continued with it's high decibal transition of sound waves from the disgusted voice of Esau to the ears of those around him. "I HAVE LIVED WITH YOU FOR THREE YEARS! I STAND BEFORE YOU NOW WITH FAITH IN THE TRUE GOD BECAUSE HE HAS HELPED ME. HIS WORD IS TRUE!" He stopped his screaming and continued calmly.

"You say I've no proof, but what is this?" At that, Esau reached into his pocket and pulled out his cherished Bible, bumping his hand on his sickle while pulling it out. "This is God's word. He inspired writers over centuries to write this. It contains wisdom that only an infinite being can offer, and a love story like no other." Esau paused and looked into the eyes of the audience. "The love that God has for His creation. For he sent down his only son to die for us so that," He raised his voice emphasis, not because he was angry, "WE DO NOT NEED TO SUFFER AS THIS, BE SACRIFICED AS THIS!" He once again peered into the eyes of Isaac and spoke, "What about this," Esau gestured to his Bible, "what do you have to say about this, oh wise speaker of his word?" He finished with a sarcastic tone. Realizing that this may be his last chance, he braced himself for failure.

"My God in Heaven, please forgive me for my sins, and my your will be done on Earth as it is done in Heaven," a final prayer was spoken in Esau's head before his final evaluation from Isaac.

[Bunny]

Isaac stretched his hand forward. "May I please see that Bible, Esau?" he asked politely, keeping his voice calm and level in stark contrast to Esau's wild panic. Knowing what the boy might protest he added, "You have my word before He Who Walks Behind the Rows that I shall not desecrate it."

[esau12]

Esau did not hesitate. Perhaps this was foolish, but it was too late, Esau handed over the bible.

[Bunny]

Isaac took the book, and carefully, with great direction, opened it and read a few pages. "You are correct," he said, eyeing the book of Exodus carefully. "This is the book of the true God. I have one beside my bedside, and I read from it nightly. I have ordered that the young children be schooled their alphabet through it, to begin instilling his ways while they are still but innocent and pure" He lifted his gaze, and stared blankly at Esau.

Then he turned his attention back to the book, noting its thickness. "It contains some lies though," he observed. "Contradictions and lies added by tainted adults. It also does not contain the whole story in which the Lord chooses a new chosen people, the children of Gatlin, and gives them a sanctuary to protect them from outside corruption." He cocked his head to the side, eyeing Esau carefully.

"I spoke to you of this before," he recalled. "I told you that I have served your fictional God. I know what you speak of," he assured him, as though talking to a much younger child. "I also know how it failed. I lived in the outside world." He pointed out. "I saw true sin. We are safe here. We have our God protecting us which is far more than -- " he broke off. "I have a wedding ceremony to perform," he decided, glancing at the sky. "I have troubled myself with you long enough."

[esau12]

Esau stood there. Silent. He had no more fight in him. He sat down a few yards from Ruth and quietly watched the ceremony.

[Bunny]

Isaac took a few moments to calm himself. His heart was thudding in his chest, and he would have sworn on His God or the Fictional God or any deity in listening vicinity that he could feel the blood flow through his body in massive tidal waves.

He had stumbled, he knew. He had become consumed in his rage, his indignity. He had not allowed the Lord to speak through him. He had become self-consumed during the argument, battling not for his God but for his pride. That had to have been why Esau didn't silence himself.

He believes in the God of his dreams, Isaac thought sadly. He does not wish to accept that The True God is different than what he expected. All the boy's arguments had rested on that fact alone: that he didn't think He Who Walks Behind the Rows was merciful enough.

Isaac eyed the sitting Esau, a glare in his irises.

The fact that Esau still lived, after spouting such unholiness in the cornfield, was testament to his mercy. That was the mere reason Isaac did not send Ruth for Malachai or one of the other warriors to dispose of the wretch. If the Lord had not already struck Esau down, then he willed for him to live.

He was obviously meant to be a test. A test for Isaac. A test, a haunting of what he used to preach. When Isaac wallowed in sin.

The thought was alarming. He was eager to perform the ceremony, before his God, and feel his closeness.

He continued as though there had never been an interruption. "The sewar of seeds must be a child so that what is planted without corruption untainted with the poison of age. Let Rebekah..." he nodded at the bride, "and Damon be joined forever. As one. As they are one. Lift up your hands," he ordered, slowly unsheathing the small dagger he had had in a inner chest pocket.

Rebekah's eyes bulged. "Um...uh...." She hesitated, but finally did.

Isaac swiped it across her palm, drawing blood.

He looked towards Damon, and prepared to do the same.

OOC: >.>

[Sly Cooper]

Damon turned his hand over and looked at the palm, before slowly handing it over to Isaac. He squirmed inside, but kept a look of coolness on the outside. He then outstretched his arm and let Isaac preform the duty.

[Bunny]

Isaac nodded. "You may now press your palms against one another, so that your blood may meet in union as you now meet in union before He Who Walks Behind the Rows."

Rebekah squirmed. "You mean, we gotta like, high-five each other while bleeding? Ewe..." She contorted her face into something much less than pleasant. After a sharp look from the already-in-a-fowl-mood-thanks-to-that-dip-jerk-mean-face-Esau, she offered a smile. "I'm still thinking about those Hemingford sheep," she declared, and lifted up her palm for Damon to slap.

[Sly Cooper]

Damon shook his head, then high-fived Rebekah. "Why Hemingford sheep? There are other sheep." He asked in pure curiosity. He felt the blood ooze between his fingers and he made a disgusted face. But he made sure to quickly try and wipe it off.

[Bunny]

"Wait -- we have sheep?" she was shocked, and such was her shock that she didn't even flinch when the scarlet liquids squished between her fingers.

Isaac spoke up, allowing the blushing bride to ramble as she willed, for once. "Your bodies now belong to the other. May you be fruitful and multiply, and rear children who will honor your sacrifices as they serve He Who Walks Behind the Rows. May your children be healthy and strong, and bring nothing but honor to those who proceeded them. May all your descendants share in this blessing." He waved them away, indicating that they may go consummate the marriage.

[esau12]

Esau got up and walked to the new couple. "Congratulations," He offered, "I am deeply sorry for my rudeness. Hey, at least now you're wedding will be really memorable." He finished with a sort of half laugh to get the ball rolling. He went to hold out his hand to be shaken by Damon, but thought better of it.