Multipup post: May Sunday by the church

[witchfinder_general]

On this fine May Sunday afternoon, there are several people out by Javert's little church -- which is 'the church' for all intents and purposes by now.

• Father Harman, of course, who is busy pasting a rather elaborate exlibris into the inside cover of a stack of new hymn books
• Teja, who is checking all the hinges and locks on the door, and polishing the metal
• Dorian Gray, who is admiring the workmanship and sometimes asking questions of the other two
• and finally Dr. Hannibal Lecter, who had been collecting the last of the wild garlic in the woods and now strolls around the church with his basket of pungent herbs that give an almost heathen counterpoint to the lingering scent of cold incense.

[[OOC: Say in your tag whom you would like, or you might get several -- but never an uninvited Hannibal, of course!]]

Comments

[never_shall_yield]

Javert is out for a walk later, feeling the limitations of this place keenly today. He comes to the church as a matter of course, even though it is practically finished.

The amount of other people around is something of a surprise. He nods towards Teja - though still frowning - and gravitates towards Father Harman.

'Good afternoon, Father.'

[witchfinder_general]

"Good afternoon, Javert," Father Harman says, smoothing down the exlibris and looking up.

[never_shall_yield]

'What is that you are doing?'

Actually-

'And where did you get the hymn books? I had not thought to provide any.'

He is not complaining! It is a rather glaring oversight of his, in fact.

[witchfinder_general]

"I had the bar make them up, actually," Father Harman says. "They need to incorporate hymns from many different backgrounds, after all, starting with some employed by the Arrian church, and the Celtic church. Christians here come in many flavours."

[never_shall_yield]

'Oh.'

He would never have thought of that. He is reminded again that is a good thing Father Harman will be in charge.

'I will finish this week, I believe. I only have to piece the glass together, and set it in place. The confessional is in pieces in the shed, it will not take long to assemble.'

And that will be that.

[witchfinder_general]

"And then we should have a service to formally celebrate the church being finished," Father Harman says. "Next weekend is Pentecost by Milliways reckoning, so that is very fitting."

[never_shall_yield]

He looks a little uncomfortable at that, and makes a noncommittal gesture.

'You may do as you please, Father. When I have finished, I will give you my key. I am sure one or two people will come.'

He himself will not, unless Valjean makes him.

[witchfinder_general]

"Including you and Valjean, I hope," Father Harman says.

[never_shall_yield]

'I cannot speak for Valjean. I doubt I will attend.'

It would not feel right at all. He only finished it because he will not leave a job half-done. His disillusionment with the Church has not improved in the last year.

[onceholyknight]

Michael has taken advantage of Milliways to gain a little time to think out how he'll best explain this to Charity.

He walks into the church and kneels to pray - both in thanksgiving for Uriel's loan, and for guidance.

[witchfinder_general]

Father Harman nods to him as he comes in, but otherwise leaves him to his prayers while he carries on with the exlibris, slowly and precisely.

[onceholyknight]

When he finishes, he stands back up. There's no stick in sight, nor any sign of difficulty.

[witchfinder_general]

"Hello, Michael," Father Harman says when he sees the man coming towards him. "Your leg seems improved."

[onceholyknight]

"Not permanently", he says calmly. "The doctors of my world have done all they can in that regard. This was given to me just to allow me to complete a task."

[witchfinder_general]

"By whom?" Father Harman asks. "And what task?"

[onceholyknight]

"Lent, I should say, rather than given... an old friend of mine, by the name of Uriel. And it's a soul at stake, though I don't know whose."

Harry's, he suspects but doesn't know for sure.

[witchfinder_general]

"At stake in what way?"

[the_cupbearer]

"What do the bookplates say?" asks Ganymede, surprisingly comfortable in a church and, miraculously, not being struck down for it. "Or just the obvious?"

His booted feet are very nearly silent, the black and deep blue of his clothes making his skin seem light by comparison.

[witchfinder_general]

"Hello, Ganymede," Father Harman says. He turns the hymnal so Ganymede can read the exlibris.

It says Property of St. Melchior's Church, Milliways. Feel free to appropriate if you do experience the urgent need to own a hymn book. supplemented by an engraved picture of the church, and a complex crest.

[the_cupbearer]

"The urgent need to own a hymnal?" Ganymede echoes. "Have you heard of a thing like that happening?"

[witchfinder_general]

"This is Milliways," Harman says. "Stranger things have happened. Also, what is the point of claiming ownership if one doesn't actually mind the thing being stolen?"

[the_cupbearer]

"Not sure, but it seems to be the sort of thing most churches do," he says lightly.

[witchfinder_general]

"This isn't most churches," Father Harman says. "If somebody needs a hymnal, they can have it. Javert worries about the vessels and ornaments being stolen, but I am rather certain they won't be."

[the_cupbearer]

"Javert worries about most things. It's in his nature." And Ganymede can't really fathom why anyone would suddenly need a multiversal hymn-book, but then he doesn't spend much time in churches of the monotheistic sort anyway.

"It's a pretty place he's built. Not exactly my style, but I'm sure it's comforting to him."

[witchfinder_general]

"I hope so," Harman says.