[Open] And Did the Countenance Divine

[graveling]

Who: Angel and You
What: Properly priesting, or trying to at least
When: July
Where: Yes!
Warning(s): None yet

1. I will not cease from mental fight [Temple Matters]
With Degas on his sabbatical, Angel is taking on the full mantle of Priest of the Mothers. He’s wearing the brown robes of a priest and the green stole with braided knotwork patterns similar to Celtic designs along it, even though doing so makes him feel a little like a child in their father’s shoes.

Still, he’s here if you need guidance or blessing, trying to fill the role.


2. Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand [Milk and Honey]
As he’s trying to fill the role of full-time priest, Angel’s still in his robes as he brings products from Kasprak farm into town. Vegetables and fruits, eggs and goat’s milk. And, of course, honey, in small glass jars all with a wax stamp on top–a bee with a pair of stylized feathered wings.

He’s visiting stores and restaurants, but if you catch him on the carriage Arcadia’s pulling, you might get tossed a ripe tomato or offered a melon. There’s plenty to go around.


3. Till we have built Jerusalem [A Day Off]
Sometimes, it’s all a bit much. Angel occasionally runs away from his duties. Never on days when there are services planned, never when he’s scheduled for something. But when restlessness strikes, Angel’s feet take him to the wild parts of the island. Paradesium, Lockwood Forest near Elsie’s Tree, and even nosing around the cave near Tawny Beach, though it’s been caved in since he and River had their adventure. He isn’t wearing his robes, he hasn’t combed his hair, he might be up a tree or sitting on a rock, and he surely isn’t expecting company.

But still, if you approach, there’s a sheepish little nod and a wave.


4. In England's green and pleasant land [Wildcard]
[find me on discord at darkersolstice to plot]

Comments

[abhorrently]

"I don't know if that's enough."

It should have been more controlled, on her terms. She should have reached out to the others sooner, known this would happen. Her mind rifles through concepts, looking for the one that suits her emotions best. There's a number of them, under her ribs.

"Is it?"

[graveling]

He looks her dead in the eyes.

"Do you think your expectation that you're going to be at peak performance with skills instantly is because you don't remember the work you've put into learning to be as good as you are?"

[abhorrently]

Her head throbs still, and she looks at him with the same tired, blank expression she's wearing.

"This isn't like picking up a new weapon when you already have another. I need to have this in hand, if there's going to be anything like that community."

[graveling]

"If just knowing that was enough, you would have it in hand already. Instead, there's progress to make, steps before you get to where you want to be. And that's okay."

[abhorrently]

Fever exchanges the bread for the tea, sipping and willing for the honey to work in her body. There's a lot that batters itself around in the cage of her chest, and her eyes go to the cup, before they settle back on him.

"It's really all right?"

[graveling]

“Really-really. You have time to get where you want to be with yourself. You’re allowed to need that time.”

There’s an impish part of him that whispers to take some of the bread for himself. But he doesn’t need it. He isn’t hungry, not really. It’s some other drive that he is not sure how to fill.

[abhorrently]

The heat of the cup fills her hands, and she tilts her head back to rest against the wall.

"...I'm late for work. Undoubtedly."

Still, she's not stirring to get up.

[graveling]

"The previous joking offer to call you in with religious ecstasy stands."

He's not either, but he idly pulls out his sending stone. Angel's is an oval-shaped piece of snowflake obsidian.

[abhorrently]

"Would they actually buy that?"

She doubts, but hey, things work different here.

[graveling]

"We're living in a world where people call in dead after the fact. It's probably not going to be a big deal. Want me to say you'll be in after lunch, or do you want the whole day off?"

[abhorrently]

"...whole day. I think it would make my headache come back if I go in."

Beat.

"Can't you just say medical issues? We're already lying."

[graveling]

"I'm not a doctor. I can't justify medical issues. I'll just be vague about it."

A handwaved conversation with Dahlia goes here.

"She'll wanna talk to you tomorrow, but for now, you're good. You're free."

[abhorrently]

"Thank you. But what the hells am I going to say to her tomorrow? Now I've got to pretend to be devout or something."

Sssssssip of her cup.

[graveling]

"Try this: 'I was having nightmares, so I went to the Temple and got help from Mortanne, but the morning after was rough and I needed some time to deal with it.'"

It's simple, to him.

[abhorrently]

"That's...actually not bad. At the least, unless she went and got really rude when I wasn't looking, she won't pry into the contents."

She sighs, leaning back more into the wall like she wants to simply remove her own bones.

"Mortanne told me to find her in winter. It feels like it's going to take forever to get here."

[graveling]

"We'll get there one day at a time. But we will get there." Promise and threat in turns. But the emphasis might be lightly on the 'we's.

[abhorrently]

"Both of us. We've got to have someone to call bullshit when it's needed."

Maybe the honey's working. Maybe she's tricking her own mind. Maybe this weekend she needs to go away to Paradesium, and go be a part of something without conscious thought.