Work Text:
Towards Formation of Their Own Side: Mutual Influence within an Ethereal/Occult Pair During a Human-Inspired Encounter
Authors: Creator, Almighty; Christ, Jesus; Spirit, Holy
Institute: The Universe
Publication Date: 2500 B.C.
Abstract:
Previous research (Creator et al, Before the Beginning, or BtB; and Creator et al, A Comparison of LOVE Development and Expression) has followed a pair of angelic and demonic subjects (A and C respectively) who have formed a small group (a group of the two of them) through the power of LOVE. The Authors hypothesize that Subjects A and C will become more like each other over time through mutual influence and less like others of their subspecies. To test this, the Authors accepted a wager with Our Adversary that would bring Subjects A and C together but on opposing sides. Subject A wanted Subject C to not fully implement his assignment. By working together, the two subjects prevented the loss of three human lives. Subject C introduced Subject A to the habit of consuming matter like humans. By the end of their interaction, they demonstrated that neither of them fully belongs to the side they’ve been assigned to. Additional study is needed to determine how close the two will become.
Introduction:
After the separation of the Angelic species into two subspecies (Ethereal and Occult), an alpha member took over leadership of each side. They instituted opposing standards of behavior for each subspecies. Beings on both sides are expected to adhere to these standards or risk severe punishment.
As discussed in Our previous work, an Ethereal being (Subject A) and an Occult being (Subject C) have been drawn into a dyad through the force of LOVE (Lavish Obscured Violent Emotion). These subjects are the only representatives of their sides permanently stationed in the EARTH (Everything Assigned Really To Humans) habitat. Both subjects are often called upon to perform assignments for their sides, and sometimes their assignments involve the same human, allowing the subjects to interact directly with each other.
The Authors hypothesize that the force of LOVE will not only draw Subjects A and C together more frequently than required by their duties but also inspire them to influence each other. Would this influence be stronger than the obedience demanded by each side? Given that Subjects A and C are already atypical members of their separate subspecies and spend more time on EARTH than in their respective headquarters, We hypothesize they will prefer each other’s company over that of other members of their alignments. The Authors staged an encounter between Subjects A and C to test Our hypothesis.
Materials and Methods:
To gain the cooperation of the Occult beings while keeping them ignorant of the true experimental design, the Authors accepted a wager proposed by Satan, the alpha member of the Occult group, regarding Our favorite human, JOB (Just Obviously Best). Satan and his ministers were allowed to destroy all of Job’s belongings, his creatures, and his children to see whether these trials would cause Job to turn against Us. Satan delegated the task to Subject C, along with the scroll specifying the terms of the trial.
Subject A was not informed of the wager by his immediate supervisors and only learned about it from Subject C while attempting to thwart the occult entity. Subject C graciously allowed Subject A to take the scroll to Heaven to be authenticated by an expert scrivener. Additional clarification regarding the fate of JOB’s offspring was provided by Subject A’s superiors.
Once Subject A had established the terms of the wager, his superiors allowed him to return to EARTH and interact with Subject C. We observed the pair’s words and actions until it was time for the Lead Author to instruct JOB in cetacean creation.
Results:
Subsequent to Subject A returning to EARTH, he and Subject C engaged in tense discussion regarding the fate of JOB’s children. Subject A said that as a demon, Subject C could do anything he wanted (though Subject A was unaware at the time how Subject C’s side worked.) Subject A insisted he was content doing whatever We want, but he had no evidence for assuming We really didn’t want JOB’s offspring to perish.
After arguing with Subject C over how well he knew him, Subject A then appealed to Subject C’s original angelic nature. Subject C insisted that angel was no more. He further said, face to face with Subject A, “I long to destroy the blameless children of blameless JOB, just as I destroyed his blameless goats.” Displaying apparent grief, Subject A asked Our forgiveness for Subject C and turned from him. At this point, Subject C revealed that he had not destroyed the goats; instead, he had hidden them in plain sight as corvids. Subject A evinced non-angelic smugness at this discovery.
Sharing a joint goal, Subjects A and C sought out the children. Instead of killing them, Subject C set the house walls on fire and asked Subject A if he trusted him. After Subject A’s affirmation, Subject C transmogrified the children into amphibians and abruptly relocated the entire group downward. The amphibians were given time for extended exploration of an earthen vessel.
While Subjects A and C watched over the transformed children in the basement, occult beings destroyed the rest of JOB’s house. Subject C passed the time by drinking fermented grape juice. Subject A expressed disgust when Subject C offered him some, but he was willing to try cooked bovine muscle attached to ribs. Once Subject A got over the initial taste of gross matter, he couldn’t get enough of it. Subject C couldn’t get enough of Subject A devouring the ox ribs either.
As the night wore on, the two conversed about their respective sides and how well the two of them (didn’t) adhere to each side’s standard. When Subject C declared he goes along with Hell as far as he can but he’s really on his own side, Subject A commented that that sounded lonely.
When daylight resumed, JOB approached Us with questions. In accordance with Our Ineffable Game, We only gave him questions of Our own. JOB remained unqualified to create whales or ask Us questions, but he persisted in his faith in Us, allowing Us to win the wager as We knew We would. Subjects A and C observed from a distance.
Following the conclusion of the wager, We sent several of Our angels, including the Archangels G and M, to JOB so he could be rewarded with twice as much as he had before. JOB and his wife, Sitis, were more interested in the fate of their children than their goats and sheep. When informed (incorrectly) that their three children had perished, Sitis was on the verge of cursing Me. Subject C interrupted her before she could finish, even though letting her speak would have allowed My Adversary to claim a last-minute victory. (When Subject C returned Below afterwards, he was required to spontaneously fabricate an innocuous-sounding explanation for his action to avoid punishment.) Together, Subjects A and C staged a natal experience of JOB and Sitis’ original three children, inspired by the creation of Eve in EDEN. When Archangels G and M grew suspicious about the offspring, Subject A lied so JOB and Sitis could retain their original children.
When all of the other angels returned to Heaven, Subject A, believing himself a Fallen angel, waited for Subject C to take him to the infernal region. Although Subject C laughed at Subject A for not realizing his unchanged appearance meant his status hadn’t changed, he refused to take Subject A to Hell because “I don’t think you’d like it.” Although Subject A was more honest and direct with Subject C than he was to the Lead Author of this paper, Subject C agreed to keep Subject A’s lie a secret. Subject A realized his situation parallels that of Subject C: Subject A can only go along with Heaven up to a certain extent, so he’s also on his own side. And while Subject C lied about not being lonely, the members of this nascent dyad can be lonely together.
Discussion:
From the moment Subject C pretended he hasn’t seen Subject A since the Flood (which will be discussed in Our next paper) to the time the dyad sat on the same rock, one does not need to be omniscient to sense the connection between these two beings. Despite being on opposite sides, they do not regard each other as enemies to engage in battle. The intra-dyad smiting is purely emotional.
While both subjects were pleased to encounter each other, they had to put the business of their sides first. Subject C went along with his side as far as he could, and Subject A had to attempt to dissuade him. However, the two of them realized they can be on the same side (or, as Subject C puts it, “temporarily not on opposite sides”.) Although Subject C had already previously stated that he doesn’t approve of terminating subadult beings, Subject A’s intersession not only solidified Subject C’s intention to spare JOB’s children but also made it possible to fool the beings who expected them to perish.
Since this is the first instance where the subjects spent an extended amount of time together, the two of them had the opportunity to perform not just work for their sides, but also leisure activities. Subject C has already acquired a taste for alcoholic beverages. Subject A was less interested in gross matter, but he allowed Subject C to influence him into trying some. Once he overcame the hurdle of his initial reluctance, he found it so enjoyable that he consumed the meat from three bovine bones. While in humans this would be a sign of gluttony, Subject A was merely preparing the props necessary to fool Archangels G and M later.
Although Subject A has acted against expectations before while attempting to conceal his actions, direct lying to his superiors raised his defiance to a new level and added another “aziracraw” of LOVE to the bond holding this dyad together. While Subject A’s behavior would be considered “too evil” for his side, Subject C’s actions would be considered “too good” for Hell. The pair are narrowing the gap between their sides by proving that situations are seldom all one thing or another.
Further directions for research are listed below:
- Will the two find other reasons for seeing each other outside of their duties?
- Will they continue to develop common interests and ways of defying their sides?
- How long will it take them to attempt human-style intercourse?
As always, additional funding for this research is appreciated.