fandomtownies | Our Lady of Fandom

The last time Evie had been near the church, a troll-girl had whacked her over the head and carried her off to be kidnapped. Which hadn't exactly endeared the place to her. But, it's been long enough now, and Evie is bored enough, to wander around the graveyard and study the graves again. And wistfully wish for a hidden crypt to dig up.

After a bit of time, she wandered into the church, and started drawing pictures of the stained glass on the inside, not even noticing anyone else who was there.

Gabriel looked up from behind the altar. "Hey! People live here!"

Evie startled and dropped her papers, flailing a bit as she spun around. "What? Oh, dear. Ohhh, I beg your pardon, Reverend! Should I come back during public hours?" Evie bent down to pick up her papers, trying to keep them in order. "When are public hours, for that matter? I could have sworn this church was abandoned."

"It was abandoned. I live here now. And it's open, just don't... sneak up on me!" Gabriel looked a little annoyed. "You have food?"

"I see, and I am so, so sorry," Evie apologized, gathering her things. "Food? I have almonds and a cheese wedge in my bag. I shan't eat them here, if that's not allowed. Well, I'd eat them in the courtyard anyway, one doesn't want mice in a church...." Finally stopping flailing long enough to actually look at Gabriel, Evie paused, a little taken aback. Really, he looked a bit shabby to be a priest. But one didn't like to say so.

Gabriel shook his head, still annoyed. "No, no, you can eat it here, I just thought about ow nice it would be with some fresh donuts. You know, from that bakery?"

"Jeff, God of Biscuits!" Evie said happily, nodding, then frowned. "And now that you mention it, I do seem to be feeling a bit peckish too. I did want to spend the afternoon here, though, and-- ooo. I should go get some. Would you like one or two as well, Reverend?" Evie's eyes strayed the stained glass, half-distracted by historical things again already.

"You get some donuts and you're welcome to spend as much time here as you like." Not that the church wasn't open anyway. "And I'm not a minister," Gabriel added, looking a little offended at the suggestion.

This finally brought Evie's attention back to the person she was talking to, and she blinked. "No? But you said you lived here. I just assumed... are you perhaps the deacon?" She looked thoughtful, scrabbling to place her papers on a pew before checking her purse for cash. "And would you mind watching my papers while I obtain donuts? Oh, and sprinkles, or powdered sugar?"

Gabriel took a seat on the altar. "No, I'm not a deacon. I just live here. I'm Gabriel." He laughed to himself. "And one of each will be fine, Evelyn."

"I see," Evie said, though she really didn't. Perhaps he was camping there? "I'll be right back!"

It wasn't until she was halfway to J,GOB that she realized that Gabriel had called her by name when she'd been very rude and hadn't introduced herself. Curiosity prompted her to buy a baker's dozen of donuts, in hopes that Gabriel would keep talking to her if she gave him more pastries.

Returning as quickly as she could, Evie called out, "I have powdered and sprinkled and some of those ones with frosting," as she re-entered the Church. She placed them on the first pew, and gave Gabriel a judicious look. "One of each for you. And how did you know my name? Did someone mention me?"

Picking up a donut, Gabriel shrugged. "Just a talent I had." He took a big bite out of the donut. "These are perfect." It was very rare he ever considered something made by humans perfect.

"Hmmm." Strange talent, but then again, Evie *had* seen much stranger on the Island. And donuts were far more important. She happily took a sugar-and-cinnamon one, and said, "They *are* divine, aren't they? Sometimes I wonder if Jeff, whoever he is, really is a god. And he's in his retirement, baking just for Fandom." Happily she munched on her donut, then remembered what else she had been wondering. "Are you camping out here? The local constabulary don't mind?"

"Now, divine, that's something quite different. Very different. But they're good in a very... human way. You know, dust to dust and all that." Gabriel looked closely at the donut. "And I've neve heard of a god called Jeff. Or a god making donuts. Food is generally an obsession among mortals." And one he was now sharing, he had to admit.

"Camping? I just live here." He gave Evie a confused look. "I don't talk to the police."

"I suppose that's true. Angels and demons and ifritah and fairies are always eating such insubstantial things, aren't they? Moonbeams and ambrosia and dew and all that." Evie bit into her chocolate-frosted donut with gusto. "I very much prefer a solid rush of caffiene and sugar." She frowned, then looked sympathetic. "I seeeee. Well, I shan't tell them you're here, then. People get so silly about rents and trespass, don't they?"

"I'm sure they do," Gabriel replied. "The church was empty so I moved in." He glanced around the room. "It made me feel a little at home," he said, almost surprising himself.

"Really?" Evie looked around, absently picking up her pad of paper as she continued to nibble. "I'm having the hardest time dating the stained glass. Or the moldings. Or the architecture." She gave him an inquisitive look. "Where are you from, if you don't mind my asking? Do they have many churches like this one?"

"Oh, I've travelled around a lot," Gabriel replied vaguely. "And I never looked much at the art. They always get it wrong anyway." He licked the sugar off his fingers and picked up another donut.

"Well, I do wonder sometimes, about what the artists are thinking," Evie said chattily, wishing she'd remembered to bring napkins. For herself, too. "I mean, Jesus so often looks tormented, and the Virgin Mary looks rather sappy. And some of the angels... well." She gave Gabriel a considering look. "Don't they look a bit... drunk, on occasion?"

"Drunk?" Gabriel frowned, then shook his head. "Now that's unfair, I mean, who drank all that wine anyway?"

"Well, the Apostles, yes, that's true. And all those people at the wedding in Cana. Which just begs the question, what do artists think angels are?" Evie surreptitiously licked her fingers, then looked at the donuts, trying to decide which one to choose. "I mean, the artists here seem to think they were rather ascetic, and thin. Have you ever seen a fat angel? Aside from those baby cherubs. They're all rather roly-poly."

Gabriel made a face. "Baby cherubs. As if cherubs were anything like babies. Disgusting. And all that sweetness. Makes you sick." He shook his head.

"You don't like babies?" Evie asked. "Or not cherubs? I do prefer things that are more abstract, myself. Egyptian art is much less realistic. *And* sentimental, most of the time."

"Babies are disgusting. Cherubs are vaguely annoying." Gabriel shook his head. "Don't mind Egyptian art, but gods with animal heads? That's tacky. And kinda creepy."

"Tacky? It's symbolic," Evie said, frowning. "Those particular qualities, being represented as if in code. Although, I will admit that Anubis has always given me the shivers. And Sokar. And, oh, the Eater of Souls, that's not something I'd like to encounter...."

Gabriel looked amused. "I'd recommend staying away from angels too," he said. "But it's the animal heads. It makes them creepy."

Evie wondered if he meant actual gods, and if perhaps, he was slightly mentally ill. Albeit harmless. Or maybe correct... "I shall do that. Although the only people I know who've claimed to be gods work at the school, and don't have animal heads. And the Vice Principal is intimidating enough without everything else added in."

That caught Gabriel's attention. "Who's the Vice Principal?" he asked.

"Hades. I was supposed to go annoy him for my Annoying Your Teachers class, but I ended up having too many other things to do that week." Evie chewed her bite of donut, then swallowed. "And I don't know if he *is* who he says he is, but his hair is on fire. And he's blue."

Hades. Blue. Hair on fire. Gabriel just stared at Evie, wondering if she was joking.

He wasn't quite used to Fandom yet.

Evie nodded solemnly, taking his disbelief for wonder. "Ares doesn't look like him, and I'm not even certain he's the *real* Ares, but he looks completely human and can disappear rather quickly." Evie frowned. "I had him for one of my classes, and he taught everything wrong. I had to keep a second set of notes." She tilted her head. "I think I would be more upset if Bast arrived and started to teach the Care and Feeding of Cats. I've never been particularly interested in the Greek pantheon."

At least he'd heard about Ares before. But the whole idea of Greek gods - or even fake ones - teaching at a school was quite disturbing. "Of course he got things wrong," Gabriel muttered.

[And now I want Bast to teach a class on the Care and Feeding of Cats!]

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that any church on this island isn't exactly like any church I've seen before," Evie added, "considering the people who appear here. A Greek temple almost would make more sense, wouldn't it? But I think I'd be most unsettled to actually meet Mohammed or a disciple without warning."

[ooc: and now you're not the only one!]

Gabriel wasn't quite sure he could follow Evie's train of thought. He just looked at her, then picked up another donut. "Feel more at hom in a church."

"Hmmm." And now Evie was wondering how this man was going to get food, and the like. One thing did occur to her off the top of her head. "They have luncheons on Sundays in town, you know. I believe the food is free, because the local businesses are advertising." She bit her lip, and then asked, "Forgive me for being nosy. But do you have a job here? Or any money?" He wouldn't freeze to death in the summer, at least... or in winter, much, this being Virginia.

Gabriel gave her a surprised look. He might look into that free food thing, but a job? He was an angel! "I look after the church," he said. "Should give me some money. Just haven't been paid yet."

"Oh, that's all right then," Evie said, relieved. She thought she might bring him donuts anyway, but it was good to know he wasn't destitute. "Can I come by any day of the week, to look at the graves? And the church? Well, except for Sundays, I expect there are services then."

"Services? Oh, there are no services. Not that I've noticed, anyway." Gabriel actually looked relieved about that. "The place is open every day. And these donuts are perfect."

"Splendid," Evie said, pleased, and got up, taking her sketchbook. "Then I shall probably see you again. Do finish up the donuts. I need to make sketches of the little alcoves over here."

Gabriel gave a nod in reply and picked up another donut.

Our Lady of Fandom - Saturday all day

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