When we've been here ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun,

[powerinsong]

Characters: Edward Elric and Azmaria Hendric
Setting: An abandoned church in New York in 1924.
Content: After Edward wanders into a church to find Azmaria singing, they have a talk about religion.
Format: Prose
Warnings: None come to mind!

Comments

[powerinsong]

"So led by light of a star, sweetly-" Although she hadn't been able to detect the footsteps, it wasn't hard to hear a sneeze, particularly in a space devoid of people. With a squeak, like a little church mouse (almost ironic, given the circumstances), she whirled around. Her hair moved into her face, but she quickly brushed it back to see who the unexpected guest. For some reason, she was frightened - nothing to be scared of, it's just an ordinary person, she told herself. There's no reason anybody else would be after you.

When she took in the sight of the unfamiliar blond boy, she realized he couldn't be much older than her. Relaxing a little (still shaking) she took a step or two forward, calling out as she forced her voice not to tremble.

"Who are you?" It was soft, as though she didn't quite dare to ask the question for fear of the answer, but audible all the same.

[powerinsong]

She relaxed when he answered; there would have been no use in denying who he was if he was coming to take her, would there? When he could obviously win by force, there was no need for a strategy like that. After the slightly fearful expression fell from her face, it was instead replaced by that of a cheerful smile.

"It's alright! You can stay, if you like. I was just a little bit startled..."

[powerinsong]

She walked a few more steps towards him (wasn't it odd, talking to someone from the other end of a building?), maintaining the gentle smile. She had misunderstood the meaning of his words; if he came in to see what was in a church, the obvious assumption she jumped to was that he was religious himself.

"It's nice, isn't it? It could use some cleaning, though."

[powerinsong]

Almost unconsciously, she took a step back. It wasn't his response that shocked her, but more the harshness in his tone and the sudden change that had come over him. She blinked, looking to the ground as she answered. It was silly, she knew it was. He couldn't have meant to be harsh, and yet...

"It may not be very different from other churches, but it's still nice..."

[powerinsong]

She glanced towards the doors as they shut, startled by the sound. Then, she followed his gaze to the windows, beginning to speak as she did so.

"You don't believe in a higher power?"

[powerinsong]

"Was there something else you needed in here?" She asked. He had said he had come in to see what was in here, but why would he have been curious about a church if he wasn't religious? Especially since he had seemed like he didn't hold churches in high regard.

[powerinsong]

"Wait!" She called out, taking a few more hurried steps towards his retreating back. Would it be right to just let him leave like that? After all God and his children had done for her the last few months, it wouldn't be right of her to not at least try to help a little in return... She couldn't be so forward with a stranger, though, so she chose to ask another question, hoping to keep him there for at least a while.

"Why? I mean, I'm interested! I don't live around a lot of people who think that way..."

[powerinsong]

Although the urgency in her footsteps and voice was gone, she walked towards him, still, and began to speak again.

"Yes! I mean, if you're willing..."