{open party post | who is the tall, dark stranger there?}

[tubemods]

The sun rises on another day in Devil's Creek, painting the night sky a burnt orange and the edges of clouds a pale yellow. Although not a large town by any stretch of the imagination, the early morning hours are the most quiet it will ever see. The night's chill still holds close to the dirt, keeping people inside, tucked away in their beds.

A perfect time for a return.

Three horses, three riders with one less rider than they left with come into town at quiet trots. Anyone awake this hour and foolish enough to look outside their window may recognize the silhouettes, but most are smart enough to leave it be. The riders don't linger long, going their separate ways in town. A long, low howl of wind whipping through the distant gorge signals the night's work is done.

In a few hours, the sleepy town awakens. It's a busy day today. Although the general goods store is always there and always open for business, shipments and other businesses from the city have arrived today for some trade and everyone could use a few supplies they won't get for another couple of months. By the time everyone has set up their carriages and stalls, the sun has climbed into the sky, warming the city's dusty town square as well as its streets and alleys.

There also seems to be the arrival of some more new faces this morning and to these outsiders, there seems to be something that's going without saying among the natives. It's the same thing they've thought of the other newcomers to their little town over the past couple of days.

Old Nibbles might just have a feast in its near future.

Comments

[ohmygodfrey]

Whatever it was that planted him in this church to hear the crap this lady was spouting out. He showed up for the curiosity. He stayed for her tits. He approaches her at the end because he has a very important question.

Roman's biting at his thumb as he approaches her, eyebrows raised and eyes deadened as he stares her down. He'd showed up here for the shit that people claimed out of Devil's Creek, the good shit you could find. He was pretty sure it was all donkey crap, but that left the poor little rich boy mostly preoccupied with how fucking weird everybody in this town is.

And it's disgusting. Absolutely filthy.

"You believe all that bullshit you just spouted?" he asks in a clear voice, nearly loud enough to be overheard by other people in the room. Roman's not so much with the - caring.

[ensorceler]

As Anne ushers on a murmuring couple, two pairs of eyes pinned on him as they scurry away, ready to spread rumor about already. People causing such trouble among the Church should know better. But Anne is fully prepared to tolerate, and then to deal with those who hold dear their ignorance.

With both hands resting before her, as if posing for a painting, Anne seems to barely humor him with a sweep of her gaze, as if he may not even be worth that much. She is not so dim-witted as to show any smug dismissal, but anyone with wit can spot it in the wink of her judgmental looks. As with nearly every conversation, she wonders if one would be so bold speaking to a man.

"You offer such a loud voice in the house of God. You must wish wholly for Him to hear you. What pains you so, child?"

[ohmygodfrey]

He'd tell her that to a man he'd be twice as belligerent. But he's not sure if that'd be true. She is an easy target. So he thinks, anyway.

"Lady, I don't have any voices in my head. I don't think God's talking to anyone." Or hearing this, for that matter. There's a part of him that thinks of something vengeful that will surely strike him down for his efforts when given the chance, but it's not today, and it's not tomorrow either.

"If He's got commands, they're burdensome as fuck. You have no clue what he asks some people to do." He thinks about his sister, but only briefly. "So I guess what pains me is people quoting backwash vomit out of the Bible. It's all horseshit. It's infallible."

[ensorceler]

Anne allows his words to ring loudly, to settle, to linger. She is so quiet that only the other surrounding her can follow suit, so that she can be sure that as many as possible hear him. In how she is to fight her battles, when done properly, Sister Anne rarely has to be anywhere near when the weapons find her enemies.

Or the maws of darkness itself ravage the fools. That, in itself, is enough for her to give him a moment where he can figure out if he feels that he has won, or made a terrible mistake. It isn't only for effect, though. She does need a moment.

He hasn't a clue what God has asked her to do. And for that, she is barely able to keep her tone level, but she does, and as quiet as a mother's croon to her newborn.

"I am sorry that you have been so wounded as to think that He has abandoned you. I once thought so myself, before I came here and was granted my own absolution. I found that He is very much here. All around us." With lips once again softening to a smile, she steps forth and reaches a hand out to settle upon his shoulder as she looks to him without blinking. "You will never be alone under His gaze."

[ohmygodfrey]

She's kind of starting to shake him now. Only that little bit. Maybe because of that whole motherly voice thing, a tone he hasn't heard in ages since he was a child, and even then scarcely. She's got a hand on his shoulder and a comfort in her smile and all he can do is wrinkle his nose, giving a minute shake of his head.

"Jesus your Lord and savior," he quips back sarcastically. "That's the creepiest thing I've ever heard in my life. Is he watching me when I fuck somebody else? Does the Lord get off on that?"

He needs to stop. He really needs to stop. He just paws Anne's hand off his shoulder, watching her hand drop off as he pushes at her. "I don't remember giving you permission to touch me."

[ensorceler]

Oh.

Well, she tried.

There are many things Anne could say. A few poignant things she could do. Those who belong here know that she is not one to push, not one to taunt, and certainly not one to underestimate. Even if some of the townspeople enjoy speaking cruelly of her, none of them would be idiotic enough to make such open claims in the eyes of God, Sheriff, and Mayor.

But all she has to do or say is nothing. She merely steps back, certain to to wobble as if she might just nearly slip, and rests a hand to her chest as if she just might faint at his crudeness. Let those who know better deal with him now, for if their love for her won't guide them, then their fear of sacrifice surely will. If not here, then soon, as all ends come.

Little lamb, she damns thee.

[majesdean]

Sat dutifully with the other children - though she's almost a graduate, and isn't that a terrifying prospect - for the entire sermon and charged with waiting for the Sister before she can return to the house and change out of her church best, Karolina can't help but overhear the argument. More like all of Devil's Creek can't help but overhear, and she's not sure if it really counts as an argument anyway. You don't argue with Sister Anne. What's that guy thinking?

Wow, did he just shove her? Orphan to the rescue!

"Hey, what's your damage? The Sister was just trying to help."

[ohmygodfrey]

He's thinking he's new around these parts. He's thinking he doesn't know any better yet, and he still hasn't quite gotten this memo. This town is super-religious, takes their shit way too seriously. Go figure. By the time he's pawed Sister Anne off of him, there's someone else in his face. Smaller-like.

Roman sneers, gives a shake of his head and jerks a thumb towards the Sister. "I don't like when people try to spoon-feed me bullshit on crackers. If I wanted to eat something disgusting, I'd tell my mother to try cooking a meal."

That's a hilarious thought.

[ensorceler]

Don't worry, Roman. If you don't appreciate being spoon fed God's love, then you can soon be whipped by Anne's wrath.

Her eyes near glitter beneath the shadow of her habit as she takes a few steps behind Karolina, watching the foolhardy youth over her shoulder and his continued self-righteous blasphemy while he gestures at her. She stops nothing.

[ohmygodfrey]

She gives up that easy? Jesus.

Roman nips bitterly at his thumbnail again, fixing her with a look over as she backs up. "Guess he's not looking after me after all?" he offers with raised eyebrows.

"Whatever." He starts to take his own step back, eyes rolled towards the ceiling. "Hope you made peace with your dear and wrathful imaginary friend."