White Picket Fence [3/11]
Title: White Picket Fence
Pairing: none
Rating: nc-17/18
Feedback: humour me
Warnings: for the whole fic - religious themes, character death, gore
Summary: In a quaint little town like this, things aren't necessarily always as nice as they might seem...
Disclaimer: All of this is completely a work of fiction. It is set in an alternative universe. Any events similar to anything that may have happened in real life is purely coincidental, and the town in which this is set is ficticious (I made it up, and checked that it does not exist. If it somehow does, then I'll be damned). I do not own Muse or anybody affiliated with them and the few original characters are my own Again, any relation to existing people is coincidental. This is not for profit , and everything in this work completely from my own (sick and twisted) mind.
A/N: gonna post a few chapters tonight. yeah. idek if people are reading this but hey!
The church hall is small, having an intimate and cosy atmosphere to it. Dominic heaves a surprisingly weighty container of banana muffins onto a table at the side of the hall. The tables are covered with red gingham cloths and the walls have multi-coloured bunting decorating them. People are already milling around from table to table buying cakes and slices of every flavour of pies.
Matthew stands behind his own table, preparing to sell. Dominic and Christopher see a man dressed in black approaching them. “Hello there, I don’t recognise you folks - I’m guessing you’re the ones who just moved in on Elm Hill,” he outstretches a hand to Christopher, shaking it firmly before moving on to Dominic. “I’m Tom, the pastor of this, our church. Welcome to Dillberg.”
“I’m Christopher and this is Dominic,” Christopher introduces them. “Yeah, we moved in next door to Matthew, he told us about the bake sale and brought us along to meet everyone.”
“I’m glad to see he’s taken you under his wing,” the pastor smiles. “You’re in good hands with our Matthew.”
Dominic grins. “That’s good to know,” he laughs, plunging his hands into his jacket pockets. “He's been a great help so far, and very welcoming, just like everybody else seems to be. Looks like we picked the right town, eh?”
“Oh certainly. You’ll be an asset to Dillberg, I can just tell,” Tom reaches out and pats him on the shoulder before shaking each of their hands once more. “I’ve got to tend to business, but you two fellas make yourselves at home. Be sure to introduce yourselves to the locals, I’m sure they’ll be eager to meet you.”
He walks off to greet an elderly couple who are entering the church hall, and the pair of them decide to do a round of introductions. They start at the first stall in the daisy chain of clothed tables. The stall is hosted by a young couple with a small child, a boy of around four years. They're a cheery couple with a plethora of gorgeous looking fruit pies, and Dominic and Christopher can't resist buying a few slices. It was for the church, after all.
Making their way around the stalls they meet people both selling and buying, and each person seems to become more and more cheery as they go. Back home people like this would have been considered sickly-sweet and overbearing, far too happy to be aware of the troubles which were in the world around them, but it's a novelty for the young men, and they simply lap it up. Progressing through the residents, they finally come to the last stall, a single woman in a bottle green shirtwaist dress with golden hair that cascades down over one shoulder.
“Good morning fellas,” she smiles with cherry red lips. “Are you the gentlemen who moved into number twelve the other day?”
“Yes, Dominic and Christopher,” Dominic introduces them, pointing from himself to the man next to him before extending a hand to the woman.
“I’m Kate. I live at sixteen, two doors down. I'm on the other side of Matthew,” she explains as she takes his hand and gently shakes it. “You should come and stop by sometime. It’s very nice to actually meet you both.”
“And you too,” Christopher grins and also shakes her hand.
“Now fellas,” she places her hands on her hips. “Can I interest you in some rocky roads? Made ‘em fresh this morning, they’re the best in town. And, of course, it’s all for a good cause.”
“How could we say no?” the taller man smiles widely, pulling out his wallet.
-
The two men take their seats on a pew nearer to the back of the church the next morning, waiting for the Sunday morning service to begin. They notice Matthew sitting on the front row, clearly an eager member of the congregation. They should have guessed, really.
They notice that he is wearing that garish tie again, the bright colours of the fabric almost offensive to the eyes, and it all adds to the character of the little man. His hair is parted neatly and his suit is spotless, and he’s sat forward eagerly with a bouncing knee.
The church is full, buzzing with anticipation, and Dominic reckons that almost the entire of the town's population must be in attendance.
They both sit forward as well when Tom takes the pulpit at the front of the church, clearing his throat before addressing the congregation and beginning the service.
Hymns sung and readings read, Tom announces that Matthew will also be talking to the congregation, and Dominic and Christopher both subconsciously sit up, already feeling an underlying loyalty to their neighbour and instantly giving him their undivided attention.
The small man walks up to the pulpit, pulling a folded piece of paper out of his inner jacket pocket. He unfolds it, clearing his throat before confidently beginning. “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls: we are all sinners.”
The people don’t move or speak, but they are all transfixed on Matthew, waiting for him to continue. “As we know, all people - other than Jesus Christ - have sinned. It is part of our nature as humans. However, life is not about how we sin, but rather how we repent.”
Dominic crosses his arms over his chest, watching Matthew intently, and Christopher shuffles next to him.
“How do we repent? I hear you cry. How do we stop? We live in such a sinful world that it almost seems impossible that we will avoid sin for the rest of our lives, doesn’t it?” A sound of agreement and interest sweeps through the crowd, and Dominic finds himself nodding slightly. “Well fear not, friends, for you will receive the wisdom and guidance you seek if you just ask for it. Turn to the lord, and all will be forgiven.” He pauses, bringing a hand to his chest and patting it a few times. “I am a sinner. Yes, I know that I have sinned, but I repent. Repentance is hard, it is true, but it is necessary, and we are all capable. To reach our salvation, we must turn from sin,” he says boldly, throwing an arm out in front of him. “We must turn from our sin and never fear, for if we repent then God forgives us, no matter what we do.” Glancing down to his paper, he takes a deep breath. “O God, you know my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from you, Psalms sixty-nine-five. And, my friends, how true it is.”
Another sound of agreement echos around the church.
“And John one-nine, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God is there for me, and He is there for you. Thank you."
The church erupts in applause, some people stand in commendation, and Matthew nods another thank you, stepping down from the pulpit and nodding to Tom as they pass one another. He sits down, receiving a pat on the shoulder from the woman sitting next to him, and the atmosphere of the service remains high as it eventually draws to a close.
Dominic and Christopher sit in awe of the passion displayed by the small man. It makes them smile, and they can't stop themselves from enthusiastically joining the applause.
Pairing: none
Rating: nc-17/18
Feedback: humour me
Warnings: for the whole fic - religious themes, character death, gore
Summary: In a quaint little town like this, things aren't necessarily always as nice as they might seem...
Disclaimer: All of this is completely a work of fiction. It is set in an alternative universe. Any events similar to anything that may have happened in real life is purely coincidental, and the town in which this is set is ficticious (I made it up, and checked that it does not exist. If it somehow does, then I'll be damned). I do not own Muse or anybody affiliated with them and the few original characters are my own Again, any relation to existing people is coincidental. This is not for profit , and everything in this work completely from my own (sick and twisted) mind.
A/N: gonna post a few chapters tonight. yeah. idek if people are reading this but hey!
The church hall is small, having an intimate and cosy atmosphere to it. Dominic heaves a surprisingly weighty container of banana muffins onto a table at the side of the hall. The tables are covered with red gingham cloths and the walls have multi-coloured bunting decorating them. People are already milling around from table to table buying cakes and slices of every flavour of pies.
Matthew stands behind his own table, preparing to sell. Dominic and Christopher see a man dressed in black approaching them. “Hello there, I don’t recognise you folks - I’m guessing you’re the ones who just moved in on Elm Hill,” he outstretches a hand to Christopher, shaking it firmly before moving on to Dominic. “I’m Tom, the pastor of this, our church. Welcome to Dillberg.”
“I’m Christopher and this is Dominic,” Christopher introduces them. “Yeah, we moved in next door to Matthew, he told us about the bake sale and brought us along to meet everyone.”
“I’m glad to see he’s taken you under his wing,” the pastor smiles. “You’re in good hands with our Matthew.”
Dominic grins. “That’s good to know,” he laughs, plunging his hands into his jacket pockets. “He's been a great help so far, and very welcoming, just like everybody else seems to be. Looks like we picked the right town, eh?”
“Oh certainly. You’ll be an asset to Dillberg, I can just tell,” Tom reaches out and pats him on the shoulder before shaking each of their hands once more. “I’ve got to tend to business, but you two fellas make yourselves at home. Be sure to introduce yourselves to the locals, I’m sure they’ll be eager to meet you.”
He walks off to greet an elderly couple who are entering the church hall, and the pair of them decide to do a round of introductions. They start at the first stall in the daisy chain of clothed tables. The stall is hosted by a young couple with a small child, a boy of around four years. They're a cheery couple with a plethora of gorgeous looking fruit pies, and Dominic and Christopher can't resist buying a few slices. It was for the church, after all.
Making their way around the stalls they meet people both selling and buying, and each person seems to become more and more cheery as they go. Back home people like this would have been considered sickly-sweet and overbearing, far too happy to be aware of the troubles which were in the world around them, but it's a novelty for the young men, and they simply lap it up. Progressing through the residents, they finally come to the last stall, a single woman in a bottle green shirtwaist dress with golden hair that cascades down over one shoulder.
“Good morning fellas,” she smiles with cherry red lips. “Are you the gentlemen who moved into number twelve the other day?”
“Yes, Dominic and Christopher,” Dominic introduces them, pointing from himself to the man next to him before extending a hand to the woman.
“I’m Kate. I live at sixteen, two doors down. I'm on the other side of Matthew,” she explains as she takes his hand and gently shakes it. “You should come and stop by sometime. It’s very nice to actually meet you both.”
“And you too,” Christopher grins and also shakes her hand.
“Now fellas,” she places her hands on her hips. “Can I interest you in some rocky roads? Made ‘em fresh this morning, they’re the best in town. And, of course, it’s all for a good cause.”
“How could we say no?” the taller man smiles widely, pulling out his wallet.
-
The two men take their seats on a pew nearer to the back of the church the next morning, waiting for the Sunday morning service to begin. They notice Matthew sitting on the front row, clearly an eager member of the congregation. They should have guessed, really.
They notice that he is wearing that garish tie again, the bright colours of the fabric almost offensive to the eyes, and it all adds to the character of the little man. His hair is parted neatly and his suit is spotless, and he’s sat forward eagerly with a bouncing knee.
The church is full, buzzing with anticipation, and Dominic reckons that almost the entire of the town's population must be in attendance.
They both sit forward as well when Tom takes the pulpit at the front of the church, clearing his throat before addressing the congregation and beginning the service.
Hymns sung and readings read, Tom announces that Matthew will also be talking to the congregation, and Dominic and Christopher both subconsciously sit up, already feeling an underlying loyalty to their neighbour and instantly giving him their undivided attention.
The small man walks up to the pulpit, pulling a folded piece of paper out of his inner jacket pocket. He unfolds it, clearing his throat before confidently beginning. “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls: we are all sinners.”
The people don’t move or speak, but they are all transfixed on Matthew, waiting for him to continue. “As we know, all people - other than Jesus Christ - have sinned. It is part of our nature as humans. However, life is not about how we sin, but rather how we repent.”
Dominic crosses his arms over his chest, watching Matthew intently, and Christopher shuffles next to him.
“How do we repent? I hear you cry. How do we stop? We live in such a sinful world that it almost seems impossible that we will avoid sin for the rest of our lives, doesn’t it?” A sound of agreement and interest sweeps through the crowd, and Dominic finds himself nodding slightly. “Well fear not, friends, for you will receive the wisdom and guidance you seek if you just ask for it. Turn to the lord, and all will be forgiven.” He pauses, bringing a hand to his chest and patting it a few times. “I am a sinner. Yes, I know that I have sinned, but I repent. Repentance is hard, it is true, but it is necessary, and we are all capable. To reach our salvation, we must turn from sin,” he says boldly, throwing an arm out in front of him. “We must turn from our sin and never fear, for if we repent then God forgives us, no matter what we do.” Glancing down to his paper, he takes a deep breath. “O God, you know my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from you, Psalms sixty-nine-five. And, my friends, how true it is.”
Another sound of agreement echos around the church.
“And John one-nine, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God is there for me, and He is there for you. Thank you."
The church erupts in applause, some people stand in commendation, and Matthew nods another thank you, stepping down from the pulpit and nodding to Tom as they pass one another. He sits down, receiving a pat on the shoulder from the woman sitting next to him, and the atmosphere of the service remains high as it eventually draws to a close.
Dominic and Christopher sit in awe of the passion displayed by the small man. It makes them smile, and they can't stop themselves from enthusiastically joining the applause.