The Church, Early Sunday Morning

[bitten_notshy]

The sun was still rising when Father Jack took to the pulpit this morning, candles still blazing attractively and arrangements of poinsettias and lilies grouped about the altar. He smoothed his hair before beginning to speak, but an alert parishioner might wonder if he had ever been to bed at all.

"I bring you together this morning to speak of the value of forgiveness," he began in a deep, resonant voice. "As the good book says, 'Forgive, and you will be forgiven.' We know that is a challenge sometimes. When my half-brother impersonated me and emptied my bank account, it was very hard to forgive him. Yet I managed, because I knew he knew the secret of who are real father truly was. And he told me, because I had forgiven him." He smiled, seemingly at peace with this. "And when I learned my neighbor was using the basement of the rectory as part of a giant drug-smuggling ring, I forgave her. She showed her gratitude by knocking me out with a candlestick, but that was..."

He had a feeling he was drifting from the point.

"The point is, forgiveness is good, no matter what certain other priests in town might tell you. Bless you all. If you wish to give confession, come see me after Mass is ended."

He stepped back and took his seat again, furtively rubbing the marks on his skin from his secret session with Mistress Raven. Sometimes, pain helped him forgive himself.

[OOC; Open for all your early church needs!]

Comments

[scruffnfeathers]

First the wedding last night, and now the young man he'd never seen take to the pulpit was running the early morning service. Castiel stood in the back of the church and watched Jack's sermon with a faint frown on his face.

And what was that about a drug ring in the basement? Castiel was certain he'd have noticed that sort of thing.

Something strange was going on, wasn't it?

[bitten_notshy]

Jack gave the strange man a smile designed to make the recipient feel like they were truly in the presence of God. "May I help you, my child?"

[scruffnfeathers]

. . .

Did this human seriously just call Castiel his child?

Castiel leaned forward, quite likely invading Jack's personal space, and narrowed his eyes with all the pointed indignance and importance an angel could muster.

He'd show this kid "presence of God".

"You are not a priest here."

[bitten_notshy]

Jack looked utterly mystified, with a thin layer of guilt overlaying it. "I am," he said. "I have been ... since I left Seattle."

The soundtrack seemed to think there was something mysterious about his departure from Seattle, something to be explored at a later date.

"Did someone tell you something about me?"

[scruffnfeathers]

. . . Where was that music coming from?

No matter. There were more important things to attend to. "I've been given charge of this church. I've held it since this summer. You are not a priest here."

[bitten_notshy]

"Don't be absurd," Father Jack snapped, then adjusted to a more saintly tone. "Who would I be if not a priest? I have the collar on, don't I? And I've never met you in my life."

He was starting to wonder if the nice fellow had escaped from the local mental hospital.

[scruffnfeathers]

Castiel found himself tempted for the first time in a long time to just knock this guy unconscious and be done with him. Tempted enough that his hand twitched, two fingers already extended.

But patience was a virtue.

"As to who you are, I cannot say. But you are no priest, and you may well be corrupting my parishioners."

As for the "holier than thou" tone, well, that came naturally when one was rather literally holier than the fellow he was talking to.

[bitten_notshy]

"They're my parishioners, and if anyone is corrupting people in the name of the Lord in this town, it's Ned," Jack said, not keeping the snappishness out of his voice this time. He had to take another moment to think about how much he loathed Ned.

Remembering his gentler tone, he continued, "Let's not fight. Do you need me to hire a rickshaw to get you back home?"

[scruffnfeathers]

Good god, was this how he sounded to other people? Castiel's hand twitched again. It would be so easy to just put this kid to sleep and be done with it.

Come to think of it, the kid's tone did remind him of someone. "Did Zachariah send you?"

[bitten_notshy]

"No," Jack denied hotly, and lowered his voice. "Is he with the drug runners?"

[scruffnfeathers]

"He is an angel." Castiel left out the "of the Lord" part. Hey, even he could be a little petty. "My former superior. It's . . . possible you wouldn't know if he did."

Zachariah wasn't exactly above wiping people's memories.

[bitten_notshy]

"Come along," Jack said with infinite patience as he tried to guide the poor deluded soul toward the door. "We'll get you to the clinic so you can tell the doctors there all about it."

[scruffnfeathers]

Right, that was enough of that. Castiel reached out with two fingers to put Jack to sleep.

[bitten_notshy]

Jack made a brief noise of protest and sank to the church floor like a ton of bricks.

[scruffnfeathers]

That was much better. Now to get this kid out of the church.

He'd be just fine sleeping it off on the front steps.

[icecoldfrost]

Before the sermon, Emma went up to Father Jack, keeping her eyes demurly downcast.

If she looked at him, she would be forced to remember her old passions for the priest, and that would never do. Not on today of all days.

"Father," she began, glancing up at him just slightly. "I was wondering if I might ask you for a favor."

[bitten_notshy]

"Emma," Jack said, in a voice pregnant with feelings he would never express. He'd need another session at Mistress Raven's tonight, he could just tell. "Anything for you. What kind of favor?"

[icecoldfrost]

"A very...personal. Favor." Oh, she shouldn't be giving him a look like that. "Rosemarie and I are getting married, and we would like you to officiate."

[bitten_notshy]

Oh. He had hoped she would ask ...

Never mind what he hoped. Heart in his stomach, he looked off to the side as he answered, "Of course I will. It would be an honor. When were you hoping to hold the ceremony?"

[icecoldfrost]

"Here. And now, if you'd be willing," she said, looking at him with eyes full of hope. "I'm done waiting for things, Jack. I'm tired of always ending up hurt and alone. I want to be happy."

"She's just outside."

[bitten_notshy]

"It never does any good to put off happiness, does it?" Jack asked. They'd both learned that, ever so painfully.

"Bring her in."

[icecoldfrost]

Emma turned her head just slightly, sending a silent call for Rose's ears alone.

"It doesn't," she agreed softly. "When are you going to stop waiting, Jack?"

[bitten_notshy]

Jack leaned forward and brushed a quick, hungry kiss against her lips.

"I have my moments," he said in a husky voice. "Now, go find your wife."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Rose couldn't wait any longer. She pushed open the door to the church, smoothing down the dress that she'd magically changed into. Not a white wedding dress, no, white was the colour of her darling. But a rose red dress, just the colour her Emma liked best on her.

"Are you ready, my love?" she asked.

[icecoldfrost]

Emma broke into a huge smile, and held out a hand for Rose.

"Ready as I can be," she answered. "You look amazing."

[bitten_notshy]

"You both look amazing," Jack said as he finished adjusting his clerical robes. He kept his voice calm, betraying no hint that he had kissed one of the brides moments before. "Are we ready? No inconvenient siblings or ex-spouses about to pop up?"

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Rose took Emma's hand with what passed for a shy (so not overtly lascivious) smile and leaned in to kiss her fiancee lightly.

"Nothing could ever change my mind now," Rose said. There seemed to be something between her Emma and Father Jack. But their wedding was more important than wondering about silly indiscretions.

Which meant that next scene she probably would change her mind.

[icecoldfrost]

Emma had not been indiscreet! Father Jack had kissed her! So not her fault.

"Nothing will ever change my mind either," she said firmly, giving Rose's hand a squeeze. "We're ready when you are, Father."

[bitten_notshy]

"Then we should begin," Jack said, forcing a smile.

"You know, brides," he continued, "there's a song that uses one of your names. In it, the argument is made that love is not a river to drown us, not a razor to carve the soul, and not an endless hunger -- but a seed that will blossom into a flower. A rose." And there Rose, lovely Rose whose fiancée he had just kissed, got a more sincere smile. "This rose -- this love -- has already blossomed. I hope that in your marriage you will tend it and keep it free from weeds."

"Is there anything you would like to say to each other?"

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Rose made a face. Eww, rose things were only good when Emma was involved.

"I would," she said, forgetting the priest and turning to gaze in her beloved's bright green hazel sapphire eyes. "Dearest, darling Emma." Rose inhaled, her lovely white bosoms straining at the bodice. "After the - last years, never did I think I would find a woman that completes me as you do. I vow to always protect you, always guard you, always do my best to honour and adore you."

Funny how the promise to be faithful wasn't anywhere in there.

[icecoldfrost]

"Oh Rose," Emma sighed, distracted - momentarily - by the lovely white bosoms before her eyes flickered back up to her beloved's face.

"I was starting to think I would never find anyone who could accept me for me. My powers, my ambition, my pride, all the things that make me, me, have always alienated others."

"You protect me, you ground me, and you remind me that sometimes laughter is worth all the money in the world. I will always be there for you, to adore you, and make you as happy as I possibly can."

Funny how that faithful bit got skipped there too, huh? Oops.

[bitten_notshy]

Jack noticed they'd skipped the 'faithful' bit but decided not to mention it. "Then -- unless anyone would care to object --"

He let that hang in the air for a long moment,. Usually someone stood up then.

No one did, this time. He seemed faintly deflated as he went on.

"-- I pronounce you, Emma Grace, and you, Rosemarie, married under God. You may exchange rings and kiss."

[guardianborn.livejournal.com]

Rose lifted Emma's fingers to her lips to kiss - her eyes holding Emma's gaze promisingly - before she slipped the ring (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34046868&ref=sr_list_12&&ga_search_query=wedding+ring&ga_search_type=category&category=jewelry&ga_page=11&order=price_desc&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title) onto her lover - no, her wife's elegant finger. The rubies and diamonds made the perfect custom made (in under an hour!) ring symbolising both of them in one eternal band.

"I will always love you, Emma Grace Hathaway-Frost," she promised.

[icecoldfrost]

Emma had an identical ring for Rose, also custom made to the perfect fit in under an hour. Being a rich and unscrupulous telepath had certain advantages.

"You will always be first in my heart, Rosemarie Frost-Hathaway," she replied, before grabbing her girlfriend - no, wife - around the waist and pulling her in for a kiss.

A very, very, not-primetime-safe kiss. Possibly with tongue.

[bitten_notshy]

The good priest -- God above help him -- watched the kiss with utterly rapt attention.

He cleared his throat when the women seemed to be threatening to go horizontal, with something very like jealousy gnawing at him.

"Congratulations to the new Mrs. and Mrs. Frost-Hathaway! May your days together be long and beautiful."

...he was going to go drink all the sacramental wine again.