Our Lady of Fandom, Thursday

[scruffnfeathers]

Castiel was back to his usual, stoic, ungremlin bit self, this week. Anyone expecting any sort of apology for his behavior the week before, however, would be waiting a long time.

Instead, he gave the congregation a long, hard look, cleared his throat, and began to speak.

"This Saturday," he said, "is Halloween."

Well, this was sure to be interesting.

"Halloween, as you may know, is an abbreviation of 'All Hallows Even', or the night before All Hallows Day. This is also known as All Saints Day, and occurs, as one might guess, on November 1st of each year. As you may also guess, All Hallows Even has very little to do with either pumpkins, costumes, or candy. These parts of the American Halloween tradition are said to be based on the old Celtic harvest festival Samhain, which, despite what some have claimed over the centuries, had very little to do with the Devil. You can thank early and Medieval Christianity for that one; I assure you, Heaven was as surprised as anyone by some of the conclusions that they drew.

"However, this does not mean that certain agents of Lucifer didn't . . . embrace Christian paranoia. One particularly powerful demon took full advantage of the early Church's demonization of pagan religion, renamed himself 'Samhain' -- without even pronouncing the term correctly -- and became so involved in the day that it became the only time of year when he might even be summoned -- which when you think about it, seems to be something of a tactical error.

"The ritual requires a witch -- that being a person of magical ability gifted to them by a demon in exchange for their eternal souls, not any of the other sorts of witches and magical beings we have on this island -- to make three blood sacrifices, the last of which just before midnight on the final day of the final harvest.

"I'd like to ask each of you to not attempt to summon Samhain -- or resurrect any dead -- this Halloween. It's just generally a bad idea, and I would hate to have to destroy the entire island." He gave the congregation a look that hopefully clearly said and, no, I'm not kidding on that last bit, then brightened. "In other news, the Church will be participating in Halloween this year by handing out sugary foods with no nutrional value to any 'trick or treaters'. I hope you all enjoy your co-opted, commercially driven holiday."

[ooc: OCD is on its way. up! Have at ye.]

Comments

React to the Sermon

[scruffnfeathers]

Revise those plans to summon demons and raise the dead, for instance.

Re: React to the Sermon

[wantstodirect]

Last week had been interesting enough that Tony decided to check out the sermon again. This one had him frowning and wondering if anyone really was likely to try and summon Samhain.

Re: React to the Sermon

[bitchprince]

Tony... might have been eyed from a few benches away, to be honest.

What? Arthur was just trying to make sure he wasn't damning his soul any further by doing horrible things to angels.

Re: React to the Sermon

[wantstodirect]

After a few minutes, Tony realized he was being watched. He looked back at Arthur. What?, he mouthed.

Tony hadn't heard last week's radio broadcast.

Re: React to the Sermon

[bitchprince]

Arthur's eyes slipped back towards Castiel quite expressively, and then back at Tony. Then he shook his head. Tony better not even think of it.

Re: React to the Sermon

[wantstodirect]

Tony rolled his eyes and made a dismissive gesture. Just because he was a wizard didn't mean he was planning to raise the dead. How stupid did Arthur think he was?

Re: React to the Sermon

[trigons_child]

After what had happened at Briarwoods, Raven was still in need of atonement and forgiveness. She let herself be drawn toward the church, hesitating a very long moment before trying to step inside. Lightning didn't strike.

She was surprised to hear the angel defending pagan religions, but the talk of demons made her twitch, just a little.

Re: React to the Sermon

[bitchprince]

You know, Samhain was one of those traditions his father hadn't been openly disapproving of, even if he was slightly discouraging. So Arthur was just going to sit here and listen to Castiel babble. Yes.

Re: React to the Sermon

[thatsamilkshake]

Francine had quite enough dealings with the resurrected dead, or at least the not at rest sort, this week, thank you. She sat silently - and a bit grimly - through the sermon, only wincing at blood sacrifices.

Afterward, though, she moved to the back and stared at the candles for a while. It wasn't her church's tradition, though she knew the purpose. It certainly wasn't the tradition of anyone from Karla's world, where they didn't believe in gods...

But there she was, lighting candles anyway, murmuring the names of girls she'd never really met under her breath.

Re: React to the Sermon

[bitchprince]

"Francine," Arthur murmured, some time between her lighting the candles and her departure.

He had nothing beyond 'Francine', but damn if he was about to back out now.

Re: React to the Sermon

[thatsamilkshake]

Unlike Tuesday, she'd got a bit of sleep last night, enough that she didn't jump three feet in the air when she heard her name, at least. She was grateful for it, even, since it broke her out of revisiting the things that went with those other names.

"Hi, Arthur."

Re: React to the Sermon

[bitchprince]

Right then. Now we got to the bit where you made up something to say. "That was an interesting sermon as per usual," was on offer today, "If by interesting you mean 'causing one's self to entertain blasphemous thoughts about angels being dropped on their heads'."

Talk to Castiel

[scruffnfeathers]

Maybe reassure him that he's really probably not going to have to destroy the island. Or ask what he's gonna dress up as for Halloween!

Re: Talk to Castiel

[rocksthescarf.livejournal.com]

"Here I've been my whole life, thinking Halloween was just about free candy and people dressing ridiculously," Chuck said, shaking his head. "Thanks for the history lesson."

In any other circumstance someone currently wearing a bright orange (http://i33.tinypic.com/33emwit.jpg) trenchcoat would have no business accusing someone else of dressing ridiculous but, since this was Chuck, it could easily be looked over.

Re: Talk to Castiel

[scruffnfeathers]

Well, it was a pretty impressive trench coat.

"You're quite welcome," Castiel said. "You have plans to . . . 'dress up ridiculously' this weekend?"

Re: Talk to Castiel

[rocksthescarf.livejournal.com]

"Of course I do. That's the best part of Halloween," Chuck said. "I've got to pass out candy at Caritas so it's only right I get into the holiday spirit."

Re: Talk to Castiel

[scruffnfeathers]

"I see. So . . . I'll be expected to appear in costume when people come to demand candy?"

OOC

[scruffnfeathers]

It should be noted that I love Halloween. Every last co-opted, commercially driven bit of it.

Also, who thinks Cass should end up in lederhosen on Saturday? I THINK MAYBE HE SHOULD. (and not just 'cause I already have the icon.)

Re: OOC

[rocksthescarf.livejournal.com]

I THINK HE TOTALLY SHOULD.

Re: OOC

[scruffnfeathers]

I figure it's either that, or he answers the church doorbell like this.

'Cause you know nothing says Halloween like looking like you're certifiable.

Re: OOC

[rocksthescarf.livejournal.com]

omg Misha. Don't ever change.

Re: OOC

[likethegun]

HE REALLY SHOULD! :D

Re: OOC

[scruffnfeathers]

Perhaps he can find it in the back of a random closet. . . . Along side a Santa kilt and some other fun items. . . .

Re: OOC

[trigons_child]

Two very enthusiastic thumbs up from this corner. ;)

Re: OOC

[scruffnfeathers]

Even though this will result in Castiel being the creepy guy handing out candy to children while wearing short shorts?