Time for Mass

[feck-arse-girls.livejournal.com]

The old priest stumbles out of the parochial house and, with two feet on the ground and two hands on the wall, feels his way round to the entrance of the Church. A bottle can be seen protruding from each pocket of his jacket. He staggers through to the vestry and emerges a little later with some of his vestments worn back-to-front and at least one garment on upside-down.

Mass is said. In Swahili, with occasional forays into Latin.

The homily is inaudible, but the paper handout suggests that the text may have been taken from the Book of Proverbs, chapter 23 and verses 29 to 35.

At the end of Mass, he curls up in the shadow of the Altar and starts snoring gently.

Comments

[ac-brothers.livejournal.com]

[ooc--You win. That...you win. The verses are a scream. You own and you win.]

[feck-arse-girls.livejournal.com]

[OOC -- *bows*]

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara is very conscious of the noise her shoes make on the stone floor of the church. Not as loud as that snoring, though.

She clears her throat, and then calls hesitantly, "Hello? Um, Father?", and then a little louder. "Hello?"

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[CJ walks in, pausing at the basin to bless herself. She walks briskly to the front of the church to listen to Mass. When it's time to go she turns and can see everyone in the congregation]

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara approaches the tall woman. She looks like she knows what she's doing.

"Um, hi." It comes out more like a question than a greeting.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[Smiling] Hello...new to town or the church?

[puts her hand forward] I'm CJ.

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"Both, actually," Tara says, clasping CJ's hand. "Except I'm not in the church. Well obviously I am, but..." she takes a deep breath and tries again. "I came in at the end of the service. I just wanted to talk to the priest, but he fell asleep."

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

That happens more than you'd like to think. In fact, last week was his one and only lucid sermon. But it's the house of God and he's doing...[raises and eyebrow and smirks]...something holy I'm sure.

So you aren't Catholic but wanted to talk to the preist? Can I be nosy and ask why?

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"Okay, I'm not insane, but -" she waves the bottle of water in her hand. "I wanted to ask him to bless my water."

[feck-arse-girls.livejournal.com]

The man from the bookshop whispers something (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fandomtownies/158528.html?thread=5090624#t5090624), and the priest suddenly snaps awake.

Drink! Drink!

He looks round wildly with his good eye, and spots a girl stood there with a bottle. He staggers towards her.

Drink!

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"Um, sure. Okay." Tara offers him the bottle.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

That's not insane. Around here Holy Water is a good thing to carry. [Looks back to the basin] If he isn't up to it today, I suggest you borrow some. [Nods her head in that direction]

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"I thought of that, but stealing Holy Water seemed to defeat the purpose."

[mannybianco.livejournal.com]

Manny overhears the conversation, and catches Tara's eye.

Watch this.

He walks up to the edge of the sacristry, and speaks in the priests's direction, quite quietly.

Father Jack, I have a drink for you.

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara watches the proceding response in amazement. After handing her bottle to the priest, she smiles shyly at Manny. "Thank you."

[mannybianco.livejournal.com]

Manny smiles shyly back. He's totally delighted that she smiled at him. He can't think of anything to say. He smiles some more.

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Feeling slightly guilty, Elizabeth slips into the church. It's been... well, a long time.

Taking a seat, she just blinks when the priest makes his appearance.

[ac-brothers.livejournal.com]

Yet another new experience for the brothers, they had passed the building several times on their activities through town but had never seen any business transpire through the doors.

They pushed in and saw rows upon rows of benches. Kadaj remembered something like this. Vaguely. Perhaps it wasn't his memories he remembered.

Loz leaned over to whisper to Kadaj. "A church."

Nodding, Kadaj gestured to one of the back pews and with creaking leather, settled on it to watch the goings on.

One of the statuary caught Kadaj's eye. A woman with her hands spread before her with a look of kindness on her face as she gazed down. There was something comforting about her...,

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[She notices the three rough looking boys and smiles at them. She is tall, with red hair covered by a white scarf, a crucifix hanging around her neck. She wears a simple white cotton dress and a black cardigan.]



((ooc: if you don't mind, CJ would like to talk to you before she talks to Tara. Timeline ok?))

[ac-brothers.livejournal.com]

[ooc--Good for us..er..me...yeah. *snicker*]

Loz noticed the set of legs heading toward them and leaned forward with an eager grin. His eyes moved slowly over her, head to toe. This church thing might have been worth it after all.

With a heavy sigh, Yazoo shifted in his seat, disinterest clear on his face.

Tearing his gaze from the statue, Kadaj also watched the woman's approach.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[She walks confidently, and as she nears them she makes eye contact...and holds it. Not easily intimidated, she slows]

Welcome to church, boys. [Smiles]

[ac-brothers.livejournal.com]

Clearly unconcerned whether she felt intimidated or not, Kadaj nodded at her. He heard Yazoo snort off to the side and laughed, his fingers drumming lightly against the pew back.

Loz leaned back and hooked his hands behind his head, crossing his feet at the ankles. His open leer was quite unmistakable. He wouldn't mind a bit of that, if only to hobble that confident strut.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[She walks on past, headed out of the church. Before she reaches the end of the aisle, she turns around, kneels slightly, closes her eyes, and crosses herself, muttering Latin. She turns and begins talking to a woman, and is shortly joined by a man and the priest]

[ac-brothers.livejournal.com]

Rituals fascinated Kadaj. Not sure why...if it was something that touched off deep in him a need for rules and structures, the very things he loathed now or if he just found them amusing in a pitiful sort of way.

Turning to watch her walk by, Kadaj settled on the second one.

[12parseckessel.livejournal.com]

On his way to campus, Han stops in. He takes one look at the crucifix at the far end of the church and mutters "A death cult. That explains a lot about earthers."

He knows he won't find what he's looking for in the main area, but sidles around the edges until he finds Her. Blue robe on this world, a single moon under Her feet. Not too much different than back home.

He feels silly talking to a statue, but it can't hurt. "Look, I'm sorry about Thursday and Janet. Don't hold it against me, okay, if you're real?"

He shakes his head at his own superstition. But, you know, just in case.