fandomtownies | The Brothers and one of their favorite hangouts...The Park

Aziraphale checks to be certain the sign reads 'OPEN' and leaves the shop door standing well ajar. With Marty coming by on occasion now to help run things, and Kiki insisting on helping with inventory whenever she stops by, the angel has a bit more free time on his hands. Absently wondering where Crowley had got to and whether there'd be anyone coming around to see him today, he decides in the end to make a visit to the duck pond, where he can enjoy the crisp fall weather and still keep an eye out for visitors.

He settles contendedly on his favorite bench and begins feeding leftover bits of mushroom tart to the ducks.

[You haven't come to visit me yet, so I'm coming to you instead. :)]

It was one of the men from the other night and while the brothers didn't visibly shift from their spots, the tension that gripped their bodies was drawn in a tight cloak around them.

Kadaj had seen where the man, if he really were that even though to first appearances he was, came from and tapped Yazoo on the bottom of his boot to motion toward the bookshop. His brother was in one of those rare moods for projects and had mentioned he was having trouble finding the books he needed for something he was doing for one of the gun owners in town. Yazoo acknowledged Kadaj and went back to staring up at the sky in answer that could only be interpreted as "later".

Casual and just a bit curious, Kadaj shifted in his spot to openly watch the other man...feeding the ducks.

[ooc- I was waiting until Aziraphale was rested. *grin* And when I wasn't completely covered up. It's appreciated though.]

Noticing the young men he and Crowley had seen in park previously -- the ones who roared about town on their mechanical velocipedes (and he really would have to ask Crowley more about that subject) -- Aziraphale catches the eyes of the one who had approached them, smiling when he does so.

[ooc- That's very considerate of you. ;)]

The smile felt warm and comforting and Kadaj tilted his head down, peering at the man through his hair, to give him a small smile in return.

Loz's breathing was deep and even, an indication he was almost asleep and Yazoo had something on his mind. Kadaj looked at his brothers knowing that for all their restful repose, they would be up in a heartbeat if needed, he stood and walked to the man on the bench, once more keeping just out of arms distance.

Aziraphale can sense the young man's reticence -- it had been obvious at their previous encounter that the trio were mistrustful of him and his demon. He breaks off another bit of tart for the ducks and says in a soft voice, "Lovely clear day, isn't it?"

"You can see the sky," Kadaj said. His tone was one that indicated it wasn't something he was used to. Attention went from the man to the animal and back to the man. There was nothing in the man's body language that indicated he was uneasy with Kadaj and his brothers there, something else Kadaj was unused to as well.

Aziraphale nods, and his gaze leaves Kadaj's face and moves upwards. "There are too many places in this world where one cannot, aren't there?"

He pulls another stale tart from the small paper sack in his lap. Breaking off a piece and crumbling it for the little group of ducks beginning to form up, he holds out the remainder toward Kadaj.

Tentative, Kadaj took it from the man, stepping close enough to reach and stepping back again. He watched what the other was doing. With a nod, he crumbled a bit and tossed it on the ground for a group that had speedily determined Kadaj had treats too.

What Kadaj was doing had no purpose for anything. It was just useless gestures. Yet, for a fleeting moment a look of innocent glee crossed his face.

A small, pleased smile crosses Aziraphale's face as he watches the young man. It was funny how something as simple and seemingly pointless as feeding ducks never failed to create a bit of happiness in a person.

He sits patiently and waits for Kadaj to choose his own moment to speak.

The activity took most of Kadaj's attention, although he did have a lingering question that still haunted him, he really had no one else to ask.

His conversation with Spike about...her...had yielded up some answers but it was all still very confusing. The religion in this place was not anything he could understand. And the anger it brought when he thought about how she had been treated wasn't something Kadaj could easily shake.

When the treats were gone, Kadaj dusted his gloves off and looked at the man before he stood and moved to sit closer. Not too close, though. "Do you know about the religion of this..." his hand waved around him, "place."

Aziraphale gives Kadaj a speculative look. There were things about 'this place' that he had been trying to reconcile in his own mind since he had arrived. It had been difficult to admit, at first, that the...rules seemed to apply differently here. Accepting this was getting easier, now, although perhaps Crowley's presence had something to do with that.

Realizing that none of this was going to answer the young man's question, he gives Kadaj a small, rueful smile. "I know the religion of many of the people here. Whether that is the religion of the place, I'm afraid I can't say."

Frowning, Kadaj processed Aziraphale's comment. His hand brushed absently along his stomach where he kept the picture tucked away. He wasn't sure how to ask his questions now in light of the response he got and sat a long time in silence.

Finally, he looked up and in a specific direction. "The church here. That religion."

Aziraphale nods. "Yes, that religion I know very well indeed."

He crumbles another tart for the ducks and waits for Kadaj's question.

"Why?" Kadaj asked, looking at the ducks. "Why would a god come to this place, then abandon his mother?"

[ooc- I probably haven't made this clear (and should in the bio) that Kadaj is the youngest of the brothers at 17. Yazoo is middle and Loz is the oldest, probably in his early 20's. If that has any bearing...*laugh*]

[ooc- To give you a frame of reference, he's coming from this conversation (http://www.livejournal.com/users/ac_brothers/882.html#cutid1).]

[ooc- You don't ask the easy questions, do you? ;)]

The question take Aziraphale by surprise, and he takes a few minutes to consider how he wants to answer it.

"Because the sacrifice was necessary, to wash away the sins of the world."

Kadaj's frowned deepened. "Why was the mother made to suffer? Why did he leave her behind? Wasn't she the most blessed of all in this place? To give birth to a god?"

[ooc- My cracked boy has got some serious mommy issues on a like whoa scale. Can send email outlining them if you like.]

Aziraphale smiles gently. "Indeed, she was greatly blessed. And her sacrifice makes her doubley so, because through her all of mankind was offered redemption.

And it was her son's sacrifice as well, to leave her and give his life willingly to the world."

[ooc- Go ahead: some of it would be information Phale would pick up on, and it would help me him figure how to approach Kadaj's questions.]

[Off work, she walks home in her sweater set and black skirt that stops just above her knees. She wears trainers, and carries a bag over her shoulder. She walks to the TARDIS, but spies a familiar figure on the park bench. She hasn't seen Mr. Phale in days. She walks over, hoping to catch up, but sees he's talking to the boy from the church who works at Spike's. Smiling brightly.

Mr. Phale! Kadaj! How are we today?

Aziraphale gives CJ a smile. "Quite well, my dear. Would you like to join us? I'm sure Kadaj won't mind." One of the ducks waddles up to CJ and Aziraphale offers her a piece of stale mushroom tart from the sack.

[She takes the offered tart and bends down to feed the duck, making insane baby cooing noises to it. She stands again and wraps her arms around Phale]

I've missed you. Are you well?

Scowling now, Kadaj said nothing but clearly put off by not only this confusing conversation but by someone else walking up.

[ooc- email sent Aziraphale]

Aziraphale pats CJ's hand and smiles. "Thank you, my dear. I've missed you as well. Young Kadaj and I were just discussing the mystery of the Holy Virgin."

CJ smiles at Kadaj, taking a seat on the bench and offering bits of tart to the ducks that have congregated at her feet.

Turning back to the young man, Aziraphale says, "CJ is a devout practitioner of the religion we're discussing."

[ooc: Thanks for the info! (CJ modded temporarily with permission.)]

"I remember seeing her at the church," Kadaj said smoothly. His demeanor relaxed but he was now closed off once more, simply watching their interaction.

Loz hadn't stirred, it was clear he was listening now and Yazoo turned so that he could monitor the conversation.

Noticing the young man's reticence return, Aziraphale smiles encouragingly and gives Kadaj his full attention.

"As I was saying, the concept of the Virgin's sacrifice is deeply important to the religion as a whole. Do you have questions about it?"

Kadaj shrugged and brushed at his hair absently. He sat regarding the woman in quiet thought unsure if he wanted to continue. He had remembered seeing her at the church and there was even the thought he might try to talk to her about this.

This was shakey ground he was on to begin with and Kadaj disliked looking ignorant with an audience.

"I have a problem with someone who was to be revered to be at once forgotten by the one she gave birth to," he said, tone casual.

But he didn't forget her, Kadaj. He sacrificed himself so that she, and all of us, could live forever without sin.

"Sacrificed?" Kadaj laughed lightly. "Is this the part where he died but didn't stay dead? And when he came back to life, he left this place?"

Basically, yes. I'm not sure how much you know already, but Jesus was the Son of God on Earth, born to the Virgin Mary...the one among mankind born without the stain of original sin. Jesus was a great teacher, preached a gospel of love and peace, and had a large following. He respected his mother, went to her for counsel, and when he was crucified he promised her would come back from the dead. He did, appearing to his mother first, along with Mary Magdalene...a friend and desciple. He appeared first to the women he loved. When he rose to Heaven, he took the sins of the world with him, allowing us all to be clean.

I'm sorry, I'm rambling. I...feel very close to the Virgin Mother. [Quietly] I spent an hour speaking with her last night.

Kadaj was having difficulty wrapping his head around the concept. All he heard was that this god left the Mother behind. Whatever his mission was, this saving the world and allowing them to be clean. He left Mother behind and this was inconceivable to Kadaj.

When she said she spoke with the Mother, Kadaj started in his seat and stared at her, his eyes hard. "You did? You spoke to her? What did she say? What did she tell you?"

It seemed like an eternity since he himself had heard Mother's voice. It had become so quiet, like a soft whisper barely heard in his soul. If their Mother talked to them, perhaps he could talk to her...and reach Mother.

[Smiling gently] She only speaks to my heart, Kadaj. But it helps to talk to her, about things. There is a special prayer that draws her attention. It brings her to you to give you comfort. The Blessed Virgin Mary gives comfort and care to everyone. Because she was the mother of the Saviour, she is the mother to the world. If you ask her, she'll come to you too.

Having a mother in your life is very important...I turned to Mary when mine died.

Kadaj scowled again. He didn't understand and he shook his head.

Standing, he moved away from them, facing his brothers and trying to work it out in his thoughts. It wasn't making any sense to him and the frustration was rolling from him in thick waves.

Kadaj...did I upset you? If so, I'm sorry.

Aziraphale turns to him. "Kadaj," he says softly. "Would you like to walk with me for a few moments?"

He gives CJ a gentle smile and hands her the paper sack.

Sparing a glance over his shoulder, Kadaj nodded quickly and waited.

[ooc- He's not angry with anyone, just an angry young man and now angry and confused. CJ, he most likely will try to track you down after all this, when he's had time to think.]

With a final smile at CJ, Aziraphale stands and walks slowly down the park path. His route takes his near Kadaj, but he doesn't directly approach the young man, allowing Kadaj to join him instead.

Hesistant at first, Kadaj walked over near Aziraphale, his hand adjusting Souba against his back and falling to his sides again as he joined the older man.

He walks without speaking for several minutes, taking a course across the park that keeps them in view of the other brothers.

Eventually, he looks over at Kadaj and says, "You were upset by what Miss Cregg told you."

Yazoo and Loz both moved then, ready to follow until they saw Kadaj motion for them to hold, they sat back, their attention intense on the two walking men.

Shrugging his shoulders, Kadaj shook his head causing his hair to sway softly. "I am...not understanding," he ground out through his clenched teeth. "It's frustrating."

"Yes, it can be frustrating. Religion requires faith, and faith hinges on belief in something you cannot understand." The Ineffable. The thought makes Aziraphale smile. "There will always be some part of the Plan that remains hidden, to all except Him.

But-- I will try to explain as best I can."

Kadaj nodded and stopped walking, watching the man's back for a moment before he looked back at his brothers. He needed time alone to work through this. It was complicated and making him angry - the need to ride until his head cleared was rising steadily within him. Catching his brothers expectant looks, they rose and headed toward their bikes.

He half turned to face Aziraphale, frustration smoothing away as he steeled his expression to something more neutral. "Thank you," he said hesitantly. "If I could come see you another time..."

A very slightly disappointed look flits across Aziraphale's face, but he smiles at Kadaj. "I would very much like that, my dear. You are welcome to visit me any time you like."

He gave Aziraphale a short nod and walked quickly toward his bike. They revved their engines and took off fast, Kadaj leading the way and making fast time away from the park, heading out of town and toward the causeway.

[ooc- And they still have other business to conduct since Yazoo will be looking for a couple of books on antique books. I'll save that for another time. *grin*

Aziraphale smiles in response to the nod, and watches the brothers ride away. Then he returns to his park bench and the ducks.

[ooc- Sounds good. :D]

[ooc- antique guns...*head meets desk*]

Aziraphale smiles. Deciding to allow those who have the most invested in the subject to discuss it uninterrupted, if that proves to be what they want, he sits quietly.

The Brothers and one of their favorite hangouts...The Park - late morning

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