41st Devotion: Contemplating the Past

[favoritetraitor]

[Filtered away from Saya]

Is there such a thing as redemption for the past? Can a person ever progress beyond what life has handed them? Or are they forever stained beyond any hope of forgiveness of their circumstances...

An idle thought, but one which I would be interested in hearing others opinions about...

[Private to Aya]
Mr. Fujimiya, I'd like to order a bouquet of Red Tulips to be sent to the following address.

Comments

[cal-sitter.livejournal.com]

That's dependent on the circumstances and those in a position to forgive, isn't it?

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

Yes, I suppose you're right. I fear this is one of those 'unanswerable' questions... there would always be far too many factors for there to be an easy answer.

[cal-sitter.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, that's been my experience.

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

Do you believe in redemption, Mr....?

[nogoodpeople.livejournal.com]

There is no easy answer to that.

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

Yes... I suppose philosophers have spent their whole lives debating such questions, and yet... died without ever finding the answers they were looking for...

[nogoodpeople.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately so.

Private

[redabyssinian.livejournal.com]

Alright.

Private

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

Could you please address them to Saya Otonashi?

Private

[redabyssinian.livejournal.com]

Yes.

[valentineluke.livejournal.com]

History books seem to dictate otherwise.

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

Indeed. I've seen it so many times before... but there are always exceptions...

[valentineluke.livejournal.com]

It's been said second chances are possible in this world.

[horrible-phd.livejournal.com]

I think...I used to think people pretty much had set paths, had to do the best with whatever they had, whatever they were. Now, I guess I think it's possible to choose another path.

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

Any particular reason for your change of heart on the matter?

[horrible-phd.livejournal.com]

Being here, I guess--and having my friend Penny around. I mean, I think it's given me some perspective. Especially having friends who challenged me to think about what I was doing and who believed I could change. I'm not convinced I was wrong, the way I was before, but my priorities are different now.

Redemption's not what I'm talking about, though. I mean, I guess it depends if you think redemption is something you actually need or want.

[Filtered, voice]

[x-hammertime-x.livejournal.com]

Guess it all depends on whether you can learn from the past, huh?

[Filtered, voice]

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

A sense of internal salvation, Lavi? Perhaps, yes... But when others are concerned, it tends to complicate matters...

[Filtered, voice]

[x-hammertime-x.livejournal.com]

Maybe so. But "those who cannot learn from history are destined to repeat it," yeah? So if you can keep from repeatin' your mistakes, you can move on from your past.

Too bad most people don't, though... [murmured, almost under his breath]

[somekindofsin.livejournal.com]

...I suppose I should say that redemption is always possible, provided it's truly wanted. Well... and if the correct people are asked. I would like to think it's possible, although I suspect I know precisely why you're asking this.

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

And you'd be wrong, my friend. But... it does apply, doesn't it?

I think you're right, if it's truly wanted. Is there something that's been on your mind?

[somekindofsin.livejournal.com]

Oh, this and that. Blood-thirsty vampires and the like. Nothing terribly unusual!

[hiscountess.livejournal.com]

Oh, for God's sake, don't be so melodramatic, Goldsmith. If you want to choose another lifestyle and change the choices you have already made, go do it, there is no point to ask other people's opinions for validation of what you must do. This reeks to self-pity.

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

I hardly think I'm being melodramatic, Sir Hellsing. Did I ever say I was referring to myself when I posed this 'philosophical' question? Perhaps you are remembering my momentary 'weakness' of the last curse too strongly...

What more can I do that I haven't already done? The things I've sacrificed...

[hiscountess.livejournal.com]

In my experience, most of these "philosophical" questions that claim no attachment to a personal situation often does. You are either struggling for forgiveness or to forgive, regardless if that's truth or not my statement stands. Looking for external niceties is seldom a way for atonement.