fandomtownies | Our Lady of Fandom, Friday all day

Karal's walk had led him from the dorms and into town.

It was part curiosity, part something that felt almost like homesickness for the warm wood and bright flame of the Sunlord's temple, which made him go inside, Altra walking close by his side. "Hello?" he called tentatively, hovering in the door of the church.

[ooc: I be sleeping soon, but will pick up in the morning.]

Gabriel stopped and turned, staring suspiciously at the new visitor. "You've come to chat with God too?" he asked, remembering the other young man who'd visited recently.

Karl blinked in surprise. "No, I haven't. Is that required if you wish to come in?"

Altra paced slowly into the church, leaving Karal still in the doorway, and stopped several feet from Gabriel, looking up at him.

"Hardly," Gabriel replied, then stared at the cat approaching him, backing away a few steps. "What is that?" It wasn't an ordinary cat, that was for sure.

Altra sat down, curling his tail around his paws, and looked serene.

Karal hurried inside to stand next to Altra. "That is Altra, he is, you could call him a guardian of sorts," he temporised, a bit puzzled by the reaction. "He will not hurt you. Is it permissible for him to be here? We can leave if we are disturbing you."

"As long as he doesn't bite," Gabriel muttered, then glared at Altra. "And just so you know, animal shape is so dated." Turning back to the boy he shrugged. Interruption wasn't too bad on this rather dull day. "It's a house of God, not that he bothers much. I'm keeping it open though."

Altra snorted and rolled his eyes, then yawned, showing very sharp, very white teeth.

"Altra," Karal hissed. "Don't be rude." He looked around the church, finding it somewhat peaceful, even if it was not one belonging to his god. "It is good of you to keep it open, but why do you think your god is not listening?"

"Oh, He's just occupied elswhere," Gabriel replied, an odd smile on his face. "I take it yours is the listening type?"

Karal was slightly confused by the smile, but he nodded. "He is. Vkandis Sunlord holds His Hand over the Kin, and in times of great peril, He has even intervened directly in the world."

"Oh, really." Gabriel sounded vaguely ironic. He'd never heard of Vkandis Sunlord, but the other claims sounded fairly standard. Not that it meant they were necessarily false, but the faith with which they were stated made him both amused and stangely irritated. "Well, you're welcome to perform any rituals or recite any prayers you might need. Just don't sing out of tune. Can't stand that."

"Thank you," he said, greatly touched at the offer. "That is very kind of you. But it is not necessary, and I would feel very strange doing so in a place belonging to another god." He smiled. "And that I promise I will not do. Why is it that people seem to feel what they lack in tone they can make up for in volume?"

"There's this assumption that God doesn't care, that it's the effort that counts," Gabriel replied, gesturing with a hand in the air. "Which is a complete lie. God hates bad singing." He added: "Don't know about your Vkandis, though."

He sat down on one of the pews and rested his legs on the one in front, picking up one of the hymn books next to him. "Here, have a look. It's the repertoire."

"Are you a priest as well, then, to know what your god doesn't like?" Karal asked curiously, walking over to look at the book. "And Vkandis expects that his people will think, use their minds, so while the Writ is silent on the subject of poor singing, I think He would expect them to do so quietly."

"Priest?" Gabriel looked slightly offended. "No. But we used to be close." Although that was a subject best avoided. He handed the visitor a Bible as well. "Here, take this as well. Holy scripture. I've read it twice since I arrived, and if you have something else to lend me I'd appreciate it."

Altra's head shot up. :Used to be close?:

Karal shook his head at the 'cat, unwilling to ask. "I am a Priest," he said quietly, not having missed the look of offence. "Karal is my name."

He accepted the book, and weighed it in his hands and Altra came over to peer at them. "Thank you for these. I will read them, and will get a copy of the Writ for you, as soon as I am able."

Gabriel frowned a little, noticing the exchange between cat and human. He paid no attention to Karal's reaction to his own offence to being called a priest however.

"Oh, that'd be appreciated." He'd actually hoped for something a little more entertaining, but he wasn't going to complain.

"I'm Gabriel," he added, feeling strangely compelled to return the introduction.

Karal held the books against his chest and bowed a little. "It is good to meet you, Gabriel," he said respectfully. There was something about the man which reminded Karal sharply of some of the senior priests, of Ulrich's friends. Not that he would be saying that. "Is there anything that you need? Assistance with the church, or, well, if there is anything I could do to help you, I would be more than willing."

Altra frankly stared. :Karal? Are you sure that's a good idea?:

Karal glanced at the cat. I am. He may not be a priest, his god may not be ours, but he deserves respect, and our help if he needs it.

Gabriel raised an eyebrow. Help could always come in handy. He thought for a moment. "Always need more books, and not just religious ones. And there's some kind of technology for playing these musical recordings in the shape of silver discs? I get tired of playing myself sometimes." He paused. "And a window recently fell of it's hinges."

"I know very little about the technology in this world, but a friend of mine works at the music store. I will ask her, and I believe I can obtain books for you. All mine are in Karsite or Valdemaran, or I would loan you those." He pressed his hands together. "I could attempt to help you with the window, but I do not know how successful I will be." Karal sighed quietly. "My offer of help is not overly useful, I'm afraid."

Not wanting to completely discourage Karal, Gabriel attempted a smile. He had to rely on the willingness of humans to help him, after all, and the religious ones were usually reliable.

"That's fine. You have food?" He hadn't had lunch yet, after all.

"Are you hungry?" Karal looked around the church. "Do you live here? And I don't, but I can get you something." Even Altra was looking slightly concerned. "Is there something specific you'd like?"

"I'm not picky," Gabriel replied. "But sandwiches. Bakery goods. Coffee." This guy might certainly be useful. "Yes, I live here. Good place. Just need to pick up that bed the lady at the hotel offered me."

Altra?

:Not a chance.:

I wil go and get you something to eat. And I may have some friends who would be willing to help move the bed. I will ask them." Karal smiled briefly before hurrying out the door.

Altra...stayed where he was, keeping an eye on Gabriel.

When Karal had gone Gabriel folded his arms across his chest and fixed Altra with an unmoving gaze. Spreading his wings would have added to te effect, but that was unfortunately not possible in his current state.

Karal returned about twenty minutes later and stopped dead, arms full, when he saw Altra and Gabriel facing off. "Altra!"

The Firecat flirted his tail and yawned, breaking eye contact.

"I brought you coffee, and some sandwiches, and some fruit." He set what he'd been carrying down on one of the pews. "And some pastries and cookies from JGoB which should still be good tomorrow." He was worried about Gabriel, living all alone in the church. "Do you have a fridge, or a kettle here?"

The food smelled delicious. At Karal's question Gabriel turned his eyes away from the sandwiches and looked up, a little distracted. "No, I don't think so." He'd never had to bother about that sort of thing before and it hadn't struck him that he'd need anything like that now.

Karal stepped back from the food. "If you had a kettle, you could have coffee or tea whenever you liked," he said. "Would you use one if I could find you one?" He'd need a mug and spoons, and there were essentials that Gabriel simply should have. It was wrong that he didn't. "Or some other things?"

"I assume you could show me how to use one?" Gabriel didn't show any embarrassment at not knowing this, but he could see the usefulness of a 'kettle'. "Do I have to make a fire?" Without his angelic powers that was such a hassle, unless he could get hold of some of those 'matches'.

"It is a special kind of technology they have here, so you don't have to build a fire. It simply plugs into the wall and then the kettle heats the water - in minutes!" Karal was making a list in his head, wondering if his stipend would stretch to cover it if he could even find them. Molly would be able to help, he was sure. "It is quite amazing. We have nothing like it at home, but people have been kind enough to explain how they work to me."

He smiled a little, happy to have something simple he could do to help. "I will leave you to eat, and I will return next week, if I may. If you can think of things you might need, please tell me, and I will try and get them for you."

Gabriel had picked up one of the sandwiches and took a big bite out of it. "You're always welcome, Karal. Especially if you bring food." The last sentence might be interpreted as a joke, but Gabriel certainly didn't realise this.

Karal warmed at Gabriel's words, and laughed a little, assuming the latter sentence was, in fact, a joke. "I will return. And I will bring you something to eat."

Altra slanted his ears back, obviously not amused. :Hmmph. Can we go now?:

He nodded at the 'cat. "Goodbye, Gabriel. Take care."

Gabriel raised a hand waving goodbye, now completely focused on his lunch, and quite pleased to have managed to find such a useful monkey.

Our Lady of Fandom, Friday all day

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