Remedies for rodents//Rags&Cephas

minie
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Remedies for rodents//Rags&Cephas Jul 8, 2023 5:27:38 GMT -5

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Post by minie on Jul 8, 2023 5:27:38 GMT -5

c e p h a s .

"So I surrender all
All I want is to live within your love"

Mother and I gathered in our office, a humble building adjacent to our family’s house. Fresh white paint coated the wooden structure with a medic’s symbol painted on the door and little symbols inscribed into the building walls. Papers scattered in an order only the two of us could make sense of, we shifted the papers around handing them to each other to review and placing them in piles. There was a bond between the two of us when it came to our work that always expressed itself in silent agreement. I was an extension of her tender teachings, her healing heart, and her blessed brain.

Members of our community were fortunate enough to enjoy the comradery of our earthly companions. Animals of the god’s creation were welcome to join us in our holy salvation from the grand reaping. It was vital that we attended to their health as we attended to the health of our human members. Although we were available on call for any emergencies that would occur throughout the year, we took initiative in our community. We reviewed the files of the animals under the care of our members and would choose a few to visit once a year for a random house call. Doing our due diligence to make sure that even the smallest of curses and condemnations do not go unnoticed amongst our furry friends.

I picked up the file on the rats kept and bread by Raghnall, critters that were of the utmost importance to our faith and belief. Sadly, creatures I knew were all too well prone to the horrors of illness and disease.

”Mother, I think that this year I would like to go check on the rats” my eyes glued to the file about their latest checkup and medical history. Normally, if we were to check up on the rats, my mother would have the privilege of ensuring their health. I was eighteen now, slowly it was time for me to take on more responsibility. I truly believe the lord placed the file in my hands to point me in the direction of an assignment of higher status. Soon enough I would leave the family nest, maybe start a family of my own and would have to function independently from my mother’s guidance.

I truly believed I was ready to leave the nest.

The file tucked under my right arm, I made my short walk over to the rat keepers’ den, a place I did not often visit. Rags was a faithful member that seemed to keep more to himself. Devoted to his work, it was not uncommon for him to seem to spend more time with the rats than with his peers. I could not blame him, since the acquiring of the Alpacas, I spent my free days in the stables with my latest project. I found company in the animals and on our daily walks I found a sense of healing in the ability to tell them whatever crossed my mind in that moment. Even if some of our members still feel weary of the creatures, I stand by my decision and soon I am certain more would come around.

On arrival, I raised my fist to knock three times on the door to Rags’s house calling out in a warm and welcoming tone, ”Brother Trantham, its Brother Mayweather. I am here on an official church wellbeing check for your divine critters.” I patiently waited with arms crossed in front of me for Rags to open the door and welcome me into his dwelling.

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marcellus rhodes 11b arc
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Remedies for rodents//Rags&Cephas Aug 16, 2023 10:59:38 GMT -5

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Post by marcellus rhodes 11b arc on Aug 16, 2023 10:59:38 GMT -5

He wakes up to the light that filters in through his white curtains. A light hum of rats is below his feet, only slightly muffled by the concrete surrounding the holding place. In the corner of his room, khaki-brown slacks and a yellow button-down shirt lay neatly folded over a chair. Their placement looks thousands of miles away due to the barren nature of Rags' bedroom. His place of rest consists of the following things:

- An old, brown, wooden desk. On top of it is a vanilla folder that holds data and records of the rats. Size recordings, weight, number, names. Next to it lay an old, dusted book. He knows that he should open it more often, but the words of each verse stay the same each time he does. He's well familiar with the text that guides him. A chair is placed next to the desk which holds his clothing.

- The old bed that his feet hang off of. His long, slender frame seems too large for the mattress, but he's never complained. Having his own bed is a blessing bestowed on him from The One. Raghnall thanks Him for it daily.

- A dresser with the same brands of long and short sleeve shirts. Able to cover the entire spectrum of brown shades. His shirts are a variety of whites.

Nothing else fills the room, leaving space for a light echo. The rats below create more noise than he, given his resting state. He knows that he cannot rest long. Sylvia is due to arrive home soon, so he must get dressed. His feet cause the floorboards to creak. The rats below give life to his movement, knowing that his awake state will soon bring a meal.

Dressed, he goes downstairs to provide the small community of rats with their food. Vegetables, pellets, various bits of liver, and bread crumbs fill small bowls that line the floor. They eat happily, and he does his counts, checking in that each labeled ear has been accounted for. He hears a knock on the door, bringing him upstairs to open the door. At the door stands Cephas, son of a line of clerics. While Raghnall is confident in his ratkeeping, an occasional check-up is expected. ”Brother Trantham, its Brother Mayweather. I am here on an official church wellbeing check for your divine critters.” Mayweather folds his arms, awaiting his entrance. The authority that comes from Brother Mayweather's stance makes Raghnall easy to fold. Despite his confidence, he understands that nobody should question the authority of an elder.

"Hello, good day to you, Brother Mayweather." He bows slightly, respecting the older figure. "Yes, feel free to come in." Stepping back, the sound of rats continues to lift from the floor. "I have my own files of recordings as well, but the church has not come to retrieve them in quite some time." It's an attempt to cover up his missing files. For a while, the church came to retrieve the records. Lately it had been Sylvia's job, but the vanilla folder hadn't been touched in a few weeks. "I'm afraid Sister Sylvia has been behind on the message." She's only a novice, after all, the sweet girl doesn't know any better.

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Remedies for rodents//Rags&Cephas Sept 16, 2023 6:42:30 GMT -5

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Post by minie on Sept 16, 2023 6:42:30 GMT -5

c e p h a s .

"So I surrender all
All I want is to live within your love"

I am aware that I hold a higher status in the church than the majority of the members. I know that I have always had a responsibility that almost put me on a pedestal. Then there was also the very notion of the family I was born into, my parent’s role in the church. All of this together gave the impression of importance and most members, just as Rags was in the moment, held themselves differently in my presence. Despite it always being so since I could remember, I had never felt comfortable with any of it.

Instead, I shifted my body awkwardly as he slightly bowed before me. I would have loved to say that none of it was necessary but of course it was. Just part of church protocol that ensured that our community operated smoothly without fault. The hierarchy was there for a reason and the gods had chosen me to be put in a position of power. For it is those that do not really desire it that will do the best. I truly believe that I was given a gift because even though all I ever do is want to help, I do not want to be seen as anything more than a kind soul.

I carefully step into brother Rags’ humble home that could have done with a little light. The creatures could be heard from all corners of the house. Scratching, crawling, and gnawing away at the floorboards and walls alike. I could already tell that it would take me a long time to examine each and every one of them. It was most definitely a good day’s work ahead of me and I did not have the experience that mother had checking up on them.

Before I had left, she had warned me that the rats whilst the most blessed creatures of the gods, were also the most doomed of them all. The carrying of the holy vessel took a toll on their body’s. They would be subjected to lumps and cancers of all sorts often ending their lives prematurely.

Power has consequences.

I was well aware of that myself. I saw the toll healing took out on my mother. The days when she was so drained after consultation that she could hardly utter any more words. I had felt the life force drain out of me when attempting to heal someone who’s heart was not fully pure of evil. When there was a case so drastic that it felt like it took a piece of mine and my mother’s soul to complete the healing process. That was our price to pay, and the rats unfortunately had their dues as well. I could only hope that I could do enough to make them comfortable if it was too late for them. Then helping ensure the health of the next generation would soon become the next priority.

”If you would not mind bringing the files, brother, they could probably give me some valuable insight to the current situation. Help speed up the process.” I suggested as I wandered around his home. My eyes darting around, often catching glimpses of the critters crawling about.

”Where is Sister Sylvia? We could really use all the help we can get.” I pondered hoping that it would not just be the two of us and this gigantic task.

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marcellus rhodes 11b arc
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Remedies for rodents//Rags&Cephas Sept 19, 2023 9:06:32 GMT -5

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Post by marcellus rhodes 11b arc on Sept 19, 2023 9:06:32 GMT -5

Internally, he prayed Sylvie would appear. His heart felt strained under the stress that any of the files had been wrong. It's under his home, so he understood it meant it was his wrongdoing. Just like his predecessor, he had to blame the apprentice.

The issue was that the apprentice wasn't here to take the blame. He feared that, somehow, his failures would finally catch up. Raghnall's mouth felt dry at the thought. He couldn't let them see inconsistencies. How would the church feel, getting told that their rats aren't being properly taken care of? Would they send him away, leave small Sylvie to take over the rats on her own? Well, Sylvie in charge wouldn't end well, certainly, he hoped that was enough justification to keep him in the good graces of Him.

Being inside Rags' home could overwhelm anyone who wasn't used to it. He rarely had visitors, aside from the girl and occasional higher-ranking members. As Brother Mayweather entered, Rags worried that a typical person couldn't handle living with a colony of rats. However, there was no immediate reaction. Rags thought to himself, "Maybe he's able to hide it," as he figured that Mayweather was a strong-willed man - stoic, without a budge to the flow of ammonia and rat feces that could tornado up the inspector's nose. Ever since the breeder's parents died, he found himself finding the smell of the rodents the closest thing to his mother and father. He believes that somewhere, the parental figures live within the rats. Not the rats, no, there was little chance his mother had ever been reborn into such an imperative function of their religion.

The rats were always safe, and healthy. Or at least healthy enough. They sometimes just... don't make it, but that's okay to Rags'. The ones who can't serve the people fed the least just as much as the most can't be worthy of such religious prestige.

Mayweather spoke, alerting Raghnall to return to the focus at hand. ”If you would not mind bringing the files, brother, they could probably give me some valuable insight to the current situation. Help speed up the process.” There was little time to waste, having so many rats to clear. He quickly retrieved the folder from his bedroom. Inside it had several different pages. Each page was a "generation" of rats, despite how difficult it sometimes got to track birth records. Each generation had a different color - the oldest being red, then green, blue, and a few yellow rats. It was the best way to track them, understand their progression and whether they met specific measurements for their age. Those colors were attached to the rats by an ear tag, also numbered, which provided enough structure to record the animals consistently.

"Here's the record, brother," he hoped it made sense. Brother Mayweather asked about Sylvie's whereabouts, and he wasn't quite sure, unfortunately. It's hard to track that girl. "Unfortunately, I do not know, brother. She may be with her parents. We weren't expecting a..." he paused, and tried to think of a better way to put his train of thought, but it didn't work. "We didn't expect a visitor, per se, but she may come by later." Raghnall held doubt, but he didn't care to inform his brother about that.

He opened the vanilla folder and explained that "these rats are color coded by age, we can go by the youngest and fewest first, or start with the oldest..." which was entirely up to the recorder.