a se - until everything shines

[spiritusaequitas]

[as usual, Murphy's up with the sun, crawling out of bed to toss on his clothes and swiping his journal on the way out into the church proper. rubbing at his eyes, he plops the book down on the counter - the Paradisa equivalent of putting on the news - and starts making coffee. once his eyes have opened up sufficiently and his brain's online, he dictates idly as he goes about making breakfast]

Mornin', everyone. .... I gotta say, movin' out here to th' church was th' best decision me an' Connor made, so far. I'm gonna stop countin' the number of times I've been glad I haven't had to deal with all that random bullshit. No pretty little dresses, no riddles, no huffin' an' puffin' an' blowin' people's houses down ... s'been a pretty decent week. 'Course, we all know what goeth before th' fall, so I'll probably hafta answer fer that at some point or 'nother, but there's not much point in worryin' about it, is there...?

Anyways. Connor's got his own lil' project he's workin' on, lately, so I figure I may's well put my services out there. Anyone need any work done? Stuff fixed, or built, or whate'er? I can do a bit'a everythin', so just try me f'you do, and I'll see f'I can't get it done. Y'don't even hafta pay me, m'just lookin' to keep busy.


[speaking of busy. the coffee finishes and he pours himself a mug, then grabs a pencil from a cup on the counter and scribbles up a filter]

[Galadriel]

Good mornin', ma'am. Sorry t' bother you, but a girl name of Rin said I'd be wantin' to talk to you.

Comments

This man

[inafadingcrown]

It is no bother, I assure you. How may I be of assistance?

Galadriel, to end

[spiritusaequitas]

Thanks - I know some people aren't exactly up for bein' bothered first thing in th' mornin'. ... My name's Murphy, Murphy MacManus. Rin told me I needed t' talk to you 'fore I could help her with somethin'. Sort've a screenin' process, f'I heard her right.

Murphy MacManus

[inafadingcrown]

Well met, Master MacManus. I must ask- did Rin by chance tell you of what I may do? For I believe I owe you some explanation before you agree to such an undertaking.

[spiritusaequitas]

Uh, no, not really. I'm guessin' it's some sorta' screenin' process to make sure, jus' in case she doesn' think she's a good judge'a character?

[inafadingcrown]

To speak frankly, I have the power to look into the minds and hearts of men. There is little that I cannot see if I wish. [And she'll just wait for the reaction to that before deciding how to continue.]

[spiritusaequitas]

.... So .... [he frowns, thinking about that. it seems like a kind of magic, but she might consider it as natural as breathing. almost like an angel of the Lord, he thinks: they knew the hearts of men pretty well, too. and he's got nothing to fear from angels.

he breathes in, slowly] How d'ye do it?

[inafadingcrown]

[You know, she really hates that question. She's able to explain many things, but this- one might as well ask her to explain sight.]

It is difficult to put into words, for it is a gift I have had since birth and requires very little effort on my part. [So, yes. She does consider it as natural as breathing.] It is nothing overt. You will see no dramatics; you may feel a slight discomfort, but no pain, I assure you. Should you consent, I would require a meeting, nothing more.

[spiritusaequitas]

[so it's magic. okay. sure. he's ... seen enough of it now to be okay with the concept, as long as it's not used to harm.]

Anythin' with a lack'a dramatics is more'n welcome in my book. Where would you need t' meet me, an' when?

[inafadingcrown]

I will leave that you, so you may pick a time and location at which you may be at ease.

[spiritusaequitas]

I'm free t'day, if you feel like comin' down t' town. Or I can meet'cha at the chapel in th' castle. Sooner I can be of help t' Rin, th' better, I figure.

[inafadingcrown]

The town will do nicely. Where shall I meet you there?

[spiritusaequitas]

D'you know where th' church is? I can give y' directions, if not. [and he'll scrawl them into the journal]

[inafadingcrown]

Thank you. I will be there shortly.

[And she will be. She's been friends with enough of the resident Catholics that she's familiar with the inside of a Christian church by now, but she's never been inside this particular one. So, she takes a moment to look around as she enters.]

hope you don't mind a bit of copypasta from Arya's CR

[spiritusaequitas]

[it's a simple country church, nothing ridiculously impressive. there are a few simple stained glass windows, but most are plain, and the pews are all carefully oiled and cared for. the ceilings aren't too high, but they're a little vaulted, wooden beams forming eaves and arches above them, open to the roof. chandeliers hang down, fitted with simple oil lanterns - no electricity, but no dripping candles, either. at the back of the chapel proper stands the altar, the confessionals off to one side, a brace of candles at the other. at either side of the altar, there are doors - one a double set, the other a simple, smaller door that presumably leads to the priest's chambers.

when she enters, Murphy's up front, kneeling before the candles, rosary in hand as he sets his mind in order and prays for the Lord to guide his hand and his heart to the proper course of action, and to keep his mind steady and free from falsehood in the face of the trial to come.]

Not at all

[inafadingcrown]

[She waits for him to finish, deliberately making some noise as she seats herself in one of the pews. She's discovered that it's less unnerving to people if she makes an effort to make her footsteps heavier and more noticeable.]

[spiritusaequitas]

[finishing his prayer, he turned at the sound of someone entering, ready to welcome them - and his usual ready countenance turned to one of quiet awe at the sight of her. it wasn't just her beauty - no, it ran far deeper than that. there was something about her simple presence in a holy place that felt right. something about her radiated grace and ease, and peace. he knew she wasn't, but at the same time, Murphy's first impression was that he was in the presence of a genuine angel of the Lord. no wonder Rin trusted her to help choose her assistants.

Murphy's breath went out in a quiet rush, and he recovered his smile, moving toward her with a respectful nod]

Y'must be Galadriel. Welcome t'our church.

[inafadingcrown]

[She smiles softly and offers a brief nod of her own.]

I am. And thank you. It is quite lovely.

[spiritusaequitas]

Thank y'. We don't own it - no one truly owns a church, save th' Lord - but he led us to it, an' it needed lookin' after, so ... we figured it was th' least we could do for the place, since it was shelter for us when we needed it.

[inafadingcrown]

A dear friend of mine is a priest of your faith. He has since left the castle, but it would please him, I think, to know that this church has been a place of sanctuary.

[She smiles and gestures to one of the pews.] Shall we sit?

[spiritusaequitas]

Wait, y'mean Father Abel? [Murph perks right up at that, as he helps himself to a seat] Aye, he was a friend of ours, too. First person who really made us feel at ease after we got here. Helped us remember our purpose.

[he trusts her even more, now - perhaps as completely as he'd trust anyone here not from home. anyone who could consider Abel a dear friend was worth that sort of trust in his book.]

[inafadingcrown]

I do. [She smiles warmly, a genuine unguarded smile this time.] He is a good man. He brought me a great deal of comfort at a time when I was in need of it.

[spiritusaequitas]

He was good at that, for th' short time we knew him. ... [he's silent for a moment, looking around]

Alright. How're we doin' this?

[inafadingcrown]

You need do nothing but prepare yourself. This may discomfort you for a time, but I will do you no harm. You have my word. [And the gravity with which she says the last statement should tell him that that's not something she takes lightly.]

You need only tell me when you are ready to begin.

[spiritusaequitas]

[the gravity reminds him of his father, which is even MORE reassuring. he takes one more slow, steady breath, then nods]

Aye. I'm ready.

[he lets his eyes flicker to the cross over the altar briefly, before closing his eyes.]

if this doesn't work for you I can change it

[inafadingcrown]

Very well.

[It begins with a simple enough sensation, though, perhaps, difficult to describe for those who have never experienced such things. She brushes her mind against his, lightly, testing. She's a little hesitant, and much more gentle than she used to be, since she has seen that some in the castle are more sensitive than others.

But once she has been satisfied that he's not going to faint or lose consciousness, she will begin in earnest. She's careful, looking only for what she needs, taking care to leave him the privacy to which she believes all beings are entitled. She came here with a goal, after all, and to that end, she's focusing on all the things that might cause one to turn traitor- what drives him and how might it be exploited? What tempts him? Is he likely to cave to such manipulations? Who are you, Murphy McManus- what kind of man?

The end result is the feeling of being deeply and thoroughly questioned, though no words have been spoken.]