Our Lady of Fandom, Tuesday all day

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

The door was fixed and the window could be closed again. Now all he needed was to get someone to clean this place up. Gabriel looked quite pleased with himself as he sat on the front step of the church, drinking coffee.

[The church is open]

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[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

After their last encounter, Karal was hesitant about coming to see Gabriel, but here he was, carrying a small bag of muffins, beyond relieved to find him sitting outside. Vkandis, thank you. "Good morning, Gabriel," he said, slowly approaching, back clutched in front of him. "Have you had breakfast yet?"

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Morning, Karal!" Gabriel looked almost cheerful. "Looks like you're bringing me breakfast."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Yes." He smiled, a little shy, a little hesitant, and held out the bag. "Muffins, if you would like them."

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Do I like muffins? Of course I like muffins." He took the bag and looked inside, Picking one of them. "Help yourself to coffee."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"No, thank you, I think I have had enough coffee for one day," he said, pressing his hands together. "But I would sit for a bit, if you would not mind some company?"

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Being in a good mood, Gabriel had no objection, and besides this was Karal. He'd actually found himself missing the boy on occasion. "Have a seat," he said, gesturing with the hand holding the muffin. "Tell me about school."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal sat, smoothing his robes, and folded his hands in his lap. "The situation at the school remains, and I fear it is worsening." He lifted one shoulder. "There is nothing I can offer to help, apart from prayer."

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Prayer helps?" Gabriel replied drily. "Use the church if you want. I can go for a walk." It was a genuine offer and one of the most generous ones Gabriel had ever made.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I, thank you, Gabriel," he said softly, looking at his hands, deeply touched by the offer. "Your god would not mind?"

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"No." And if He did he certainly wouldn't bother to talk about it. Gabriel took a long sip from his coffee.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Then I would very much like that. It is not a temple of Vkandis, but it is a holy place." And sometimes he missed the serenity of the Temple, the warm glow of the wood and the comfort of the Presence Flame, so much that it hurt. "Perhaps this afternoon? And," Karal hesitated, glancing up at him, "and you do not need to leave."

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Suddenly looking a little uneasy, Gabriel said: "Have some errands to run. You'll be better off on your own."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Yes, I am sure you are right," he said quickly, responding to Gabriel's uneasiness. "This afternoon, then, while you run your errands." He took a deep breath. "And there is something I must say to you."

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Oh?" Gabriel raised an eyebrow, just about to take a bit out of his muffin.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Yes." He sighed a little. "I am sorry for my reaction last time I was here." No matter how disturbed he'd been - and still was - over Gabriel's suggestion, he shouldn't have reacted so badly.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Never mind," Gabriel said, shrugging. Yes, he agreed that Karal had overreacted, but he was human after all and that was to be expected. "I take it you haven't changed your mind, though."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"No." He said it politely, respectfully, but underneath it, his voice was steel.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Karal's tone didn't go unnoticed, and Gabriel chuckled. It didn't sound quite cheerful though.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I had to return the chinchilla you named," he said, deliberately changing the subject. "I am sorry you never got to meet her."

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Gabriel wasn't overly sorry since it was only an animal, but he didn't say anything about that. "You couldn't keep her?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"No, she was an assignment for one of my classes, and," he shook his head, "once she began talking, I was quite pleased that I could not."

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Gabriel frowned. "Talked? She talked? That's usually a sign of demonic possession." This wasn't good.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Talked, and sang." He rubbed his forehead, the memory of endless chick chicky booms still haunting him. "And were there an imp of the perverse, I could believe it had possessed her, but I think it was simply a sign of the strangeness of this place. I wished she could talk, and so she did."

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Wished?" Gabriel still looked suspicious. Perhaps Lucifer was up to something, but talking animals seemed a little beneath him.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Wished," he confirmed. "I will be far more careful with what I say from now on. But she eventually stopped, and now she is back with the teacher."