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[lovethyneighb_or]

Mulcahy here! Leave a message.

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[pineapplesalmon]

[César breathes out, making sure it's loud enough to be heard.]

... okay. I'll be over shortly.

[And he's actually walking into the temple five minutes later, which means he was in an alleyway somewhere nearby. César, why are you like this? He's easy to pick out, not quite hiding his nerves as he looks around for someone.]

[lovethyneighb_or]

[ Any noise in this space carries, of course; César's entrance is marked by the opening of the door in the Temple's quiet hours, though Mulcahy waits until he hears the man come a little closer before he gets up from where he's been sat reading.

There's a single small pew--more of a bench, really--in front of an extremely plain Catholic altar, which holds pride of place besides the local Mothers'. It's not much more than a table with a linen cloth, a bare wooden cross with two candles, and a regular chalice and plate made of silver.

Standing up, he meets César's gaze with warmth. ] Ah, Mr. Salazar. Welcome in. I'm Father Mulcahy.

[pineapplesalmon]

[Seeing Mulcahy in the flesh makes more of César's nerves slide off his shoulder, and César smiles to him. The familiarity without the judgement. And then his eyes drift to the bench and altar. It's a moment before César remembers to speak and tears his eyes away with a lump in his throat.]

Thank you. Please, call me César.

[He walks over to him, his footfalls a little more sure.]

[lovethyneighb_or]

[ From under the bench, Mulcahy draws up a small basket with something loosely wrapped in a kerchief; unwrapping it shows nothing more than a few rolls of bread, but it’s this that he offers to César as welcome. It’s been four minutes, where did he get those? Don’t worry about it. ]

You’re technically not really meant to eat in Church, but we’ve already broken enough rules to piece together a new stained glass window. [ Like having their place of worship inside a pagan temple. ] Take one, César, and have a seat.

[pineapplesalmon]

[César blinks and looks down at the bread basket, a small smile gracing his lips as he takes a roll. He sits down and pulls it apart, eyes searching as if it might have something to say.]

Thank you. ... well, I've broken enough rules to make several. Those would complain about the breaking of bread and easily swept up crumbs would expect little ones to sit quietly in the pews without anything to occupy them. I've never paid them any mind.

[lovethyneighb_or]

[ Mulcahy laughs mildly. ]

While I've always appreciated the reverence and respect that seems to be almost universally paid to these spaces, I've also often found them to be... a tad stuffy. Some of my fondest memories of church have been because of the little children having a little bit of independence.

[ He breaks off a piece of a roll for himself. ]

So what was it that you wanted to speak about?

[pineapplesalmon]

There can be such a thing as taking it too seriously. You're too focused on your presence and not being present.

[César's expression dims a bit, and then he looks up to Mulcahy.]

Two things, really. Grief: my parents were vaporized saving the world and my baby brother lost his memory, and I'm working through the loss of our family and my old self. And... faith: I want to set up a simple and private prayer space in a small wall cabinet of my bedroom.

[He makes a bit of an awkward face, realizing he should've started with the second one first, and also he doesn't want to admit the reason he needs to be able to close the door is because he'd feel the eyes of any crucifix he had would be. watching him. when Magne and him had sex. often. while incredibly unmarried.

César truncates that thought, turns one half of his roll upside down, and bites it, wanting to have the soft inside against his tongue while he tears the outside with his teeth. Look. It's a sensory thing.]

[lovethyneighb_or]

The shrine is easy. I can have that commissioned and set up for you in no time. As for the rest...

[ He's quiet for a moment. ] Thankfully, I have quite a bit of experience with grief. I was a hospital chaplain, and after that an army chaplain working in a frontline hospital, and I have... lost quite a few people close to me. I sympathize with the feeling and I've done the rites.

What do you think would help you, César? If you'd like, we could perform a funeral of some sort. Perhaps a memorial plaque could be set up somewhere. Or none of that at all, and something else entirely.

[pineapplesalmon]

[César starts to try to think of what to say about the first, but the second makes him pause. He chews as he lets that settle in. The father has been on the front lines of war....]

... I'd like a small funeral and some sort of headstone I can visit to talk to them. To work through the spiritual side of grief. It's my duty as their eldest son—something I need to do.

And for the shrine—I can make the shelves—I have a woodshop and some skill—and an excess of money to cover the cost of what goes on it. No candles, too dangerous. I just... can't bless things.

[He pauses and then pulls out a small ring box, opening it to reveal his parents' wedding ring and his mother's engagement ring.] These... somehow washed ashore. I plan to get a chain to keep them with me.

[lovethyneighb_or]

[ When César addresses the aspect of blessing, something about the situation suddenly becomes material to Mulcahy. It bears more weight, becomes more real. That he is a priest, and he is being called upon. That he can believe in the necessity of himself to help others. ]

That'll all be very easy to organize.

[ His gaze falls on the rings. After all this time, his thoughts still fall to all the boyish soldiers who only dreamed of such things. ]

Those are lovely, César. Do... would you like me to do something with them, or are you just sharing this with me? I am humbled either way.

[pineapplesalmon]

[It feels a little more real for César, too. Talking about the funeral, headstones, and the blessing of the shrine.]

Thank you. I—thank you.

[César's lower lip trembles for a moment..]

Just sharing. I haven't told Magne, yet. I want to wait until she's had longer with her normal life and business before marriage comes up. [You know, the brothel. César makes a slightly needy noise, despite his pain.] God, I want to marry her.

[lovethyneighb_or]

[ A fondness warms his expression like sunlight. Love persists in the darkest places, and Marrow Island is only a little dim. It’s a wonderful sight that’s in front of him, and César has more than shown himself to be an incredibly thoughtful man. ]

Of course. Both of you, take all the time that you need. But for when you have need of an officiant… I know you said you couldn’t do a Catholic wedding, but I did serve for the other denominations back in my unit, since I was the only chaplain around. Sometimes even other faiths—although I always made sure to defer to the right leaders for that, in the case that I couldn’t send for them altogether.

*Slaps car* You can fit so much ADHD in this scientist

[pineapplesalmon]

[César can't help but smile now. It's clear how much he loves Magne; just thinking about her makes his mood lift, if even for a moment.]

That's good to know for when we start planning. [He laughs.] I'm definitely a man with simple needs, but I'll share the planning load evenly.

[Mulcahy's earlier words snap back from César's subconscious: frontline military hospital. His chest tightens, his eyes distancing as his smile falls; he's seeing something else.]

I'm a scientist, so I've only seen the medical teams and caskets from afar when they arrive at the base.

[He breathes out—in.] Those casualties I almost ceased for everyone... but of those sins I'm not yet ready to speak. ... a third thing. [To talk about. César looks down to find his bread in his lap now that he's holding the rings, and he goes quiet, brows furrowing. A fourth: Rex's career, a thought he must chew on.]

I LOST THE NOTIF

[lovethyneighb_or]

[ A sort of consternation crosse shis expression. It's not an accusatory look. Commiserative, more like. ]

I understand. Come to me whenever you are ready; I will always be here. But remember that the courage often comes with the action, not before; some things you must do afraid.

OH NO IT HAPPENS

[pineapplesalmon]

[That look is noted. Father was behind the scenes like he was. He understands.

A self-deprecating laugh, glancing around at the temple.]

I know; I was terrified the whole time. But it was either that or genocide and the end of the world.

[Whether or not that's hyperbole, the delivery is matter-of-fact casually.]

[lovethyneighb_or]

[ His brows raise in a kind of resigned surprise, and he huffs softly. A faint skepticism scratches at the back of his mind, one earned from listening to far too many war reports and upper brass, seeing far too many bodies, but. César does not at all seem like one of them. It's easy to extend good faith. He'll pass no judgement until he actually knows. ]

That's... one heck of a call to make.

[ What else can he say, especially if they're saving this conversation for later? ]

[pineapplesalmon]

[César flickers a smile at Mulcahy's expression.]

I know, it sounds insane. But I've never been one to do things the simple way, even if my needs themselves are. Magne at least finds it endearing.

[He looks down at the rings, passing a pinky through his mother's engagement ring.] ... they would have loved her.