Our Lady of Fandom, Tuesday all day

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

This morning Gabriel had spent a lot of money on a large box of donuts. That didn't stop him from quickly devouring the contents, perched on the altar with a cup of coffee.

[The church is open]

Comments

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Watching Trenor play last night had given Karal the idea, so around lunchtime he'd groomed him until he shone, polished his tack, and led him out of the stable and down into town.

It was weeks ago that he'd told Gabriel he'd bring Trenor for a visit. Unsure if this was a good idea, he looped the reins around his arm and knocked on the door of the church. "Gabriel? Are you there?"

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Gabriel opened the door and looked. There was a horse outside the church. Yes, Karal had mentioned a horse before. "Huh. Is he scared of trumpets?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal moved back to stand at Trenor's head, shortening the reins. "I think he probably would be, yes," he replied with a cautious smile. "This is Trenor. I thought you might like to meet him?"

Trenor's ears were pointing straight forward and he was stretching out his nose towards Gabriel. New people often meant food and pats.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Trenor." Gabriel supposed that as Karal's friend he was expected to take an interest in the horse. He leaned forward, trying to get a better look at its teeth.

[lunch!]

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor whickered and stretched his nose out even farther, top lip wiggling back and forth in entreaty. Karal smiled and patted his neck. "He's very friendly, I promise," he said. Maybe Gabriel would do better with an animal than he did with most people. Trenor, at least, was almost impossible to put off.

[nom nom nom]

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Maybe. Gabriel smiled however, as he held out his had to Trenor as if he offered food, then pulled it back again.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor lipped after his hand, taking a few steps forward, ears still pointing straight up.

Karal let him, still keeping a good hold on the reins. "Have you ever met a horse before?"

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Oh, yes. Plenty of times." Which was true, as he had dealt with humans, and humans had kept horses. That didn't mean he had interacted with them much, though. "You ride him?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal nodded, scratching under Trenor's bridle, and the horse turned to nose his shoulder, before turning back to Gabriel. He was a bit confused that this new person had so far offered neither treats nor pats, but he was nothing if not persistent. "I've had him since I was eleven."

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"He seems to like me!" Gabriel said, as that was the only way he could interpret the horse's interest. He dug the cowbell out of his pocket and held it to to Trenor. "Eleven? And how old are you now?" He was never any good at judging the age of mortals.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor's ears flicked back and forth and he eyed the cowbell dubiously. "Seventeen, but only barely," Karal replied as Trenor closed his teeth around the cow bell, lifting it off Gabriel's hand, and nodded his head up and down, making it ring. "Trenor!"

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Oh, he can have it," Gabriel said, letting go of the cowbell. "Seventeen, huh. Almost grownup."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"He can't-- Trenor, give that back!" Trenor lifted his head up as high as he could, shaking the bell back and forth, and Karal had to stretch right up to grab it, tugging it free and leaving Trenor looking very woebegone. "Glory, I can't imagine what it would do to his teeth," he said, wiping the bell on his pants. "And some days I feel like it, some days I truly don't."

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

Annette came wandering in sometime late morning. She was feeling guilty. This last weekend had been her fault. She needed to repent.

She came bearing a dozen chocolate iced donuts.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Gabriel looked up. He could sense the smell of donuts. He would certainly forgive Annette's sins today if she gave him donuts.

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

She smiled a little and approached him slowly. He scared the crap out of her last time she was here. But she had donuts and a bruise on her face. He had to be nice, right?

"I brought you donuts," she said and stretched her arms out, holding the box out to him. "I, uh, need to confess."

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Oh really. Gabriel grabbed the box and placed it beside him. "And since you gave me donuts you expect me to listen and forgive?"

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"It's kind of your job, isn't it?"

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Is it?" Gabriel opened the box and began to chew on one of the donuts. He didn't offer her one.

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

"Well," she wrung her hands. "I thought so? You listened to me all those other times and you are here, like in the church, being a Father and everything. It just stands to reason that you perform certain duties." She wasn't talking very loudly.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Like selling absolution from sins in return for donuts?" He picked up a second one, wondering if he should mention that he wasn't a priest, but decided not to.

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

Annette looked down, shifted from one foot to the next. "I was just being nice. Thought you, uh, might be hungry."

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Gabriel just watched her, chewing on his donut, his eyes cold.

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

Man, those eyes of his totally freaked her out. "So, are you going to listen to my confession and give me my penance?" Head still bowed, she looked up at him through her lashes.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"No." His eyes didn't move.