003; action; open to all.

[protectmemaria]

[How odd that a place so stubbornly turned away from the Lord would have its own house of God, and yet here is the Beata Maria Chapel, a safe haven in what can only be the setting of Frollo’s personal nightmare. And now, with the arrival of the Strangelings, it has become unimaginably worse

Comments

[notasuggestion]

[Buildings did not simply spring up over night. Helga knew that much. Yet... she was sure the chapel had not been here all along, and she couldn't remember its construction.

Thoughts of Mass-- of severe men in vestments speaking Latin-- brought her no comfort. Talk of God and Heaven? Didn't help her troubled mind. No, Helga Sinclair had firmly left the Church long ago, and she saw no reason to return.

Still, the place was something to occupy her. It gave her something to do-- something that wasn't "sit around and try to think." All her tangents of research had, so far, brought her nothing.

So it was that she slunk through the chapel, examining familiar icons. All very grand-- Catholicism always was. She saw the man before the altar and said nothing. Someone else might have quietly bowed out, leaving him to her prayers. Helga didn't disrupt him, but she also didn't allow his presence to shoo her away.]

[protectmemaria]

[Frollo doesn't turn. In fact, he doesn't even hear Helga enter over the fervor of his own praying and the dreadful buzzing in his ears. Finally he stops to catch his breath, and he shakes back his hair to wipe his brow. Out of the corner of his eye he spots Helga and recognizes her as the military woman. Peculiar though she may be (and certainly inappropriately dressed for a woman in church, he might add), he takes a slight comfort in seeing another take refuge here.]

[notasuggestion]

[Helga kept to the back of the church. She wasn't a religious woman but she generally left those who were to their faith.

...Though something on the altar caught her eye. She resisted approaching, but she watched... whatever it was with a careful eye and a small frown.]

[protectmemaria]

[Frollo finishes with the Pater Noster, then finally eases himself off of his knees with a groan. Aging bones, as usual. He exits the pew and genuflects before retrieving his hat. With it back in place he immediately looks as composed as ever, and he nods to Helga in greeting.]

[tiatiatiatiatia]

[Lottie had made it a personal venture to explore her new school. he chaple seemed like a good enough place to start.

However, she didn't expect to see a man completely engulfed in prayer, staying some strange words over and over again. Lottie's curiosity trumped her common sense. She walked towards him.]

You alright there, sugah?

[protectmemaria]

[Frollo goes quiet, then glances quickly over his shoulder to glare at Lottie.]

It is rude to disturb a person's quiet contemplation with the Lord.

[tiatiatiatiatia]

I'm sorry, darlin'. I didn't mean t'cause any harm.

It sure wasn't quiet though...

[protectmemaria]

If you've no business here apart from disturbing others, I suggest you leave.

[fearthefool]

[Clopin sits next to him in the pew and waits for Frollo to finish.]

[protectmemaria]

[Frollo's eyes are closed, but he knows there can only be one person inconsiderate enough to sit right beside him. A prayer of protection won't do in this case, and he segues straight into the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel. Hopefully the fool understands Latin.]

Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle;
be our defense against the wickedness
and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him,
we humbly pray.
And do thou,
O prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God
cast into hell
Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

[fearthefool]

[fidgetting more than usual]

Are you done yet?

[protectmemaria]

What could you possibly want? [Frollo growls, piercing Clopin with a glare that could strip the gold paint from the candlesticks.] You and I both know someone like you has no place in a church.

[unraveltochaos]

[Of course Eris loves to bug those believing in 'One God'. One God her ass. She knew better than that, obviously.

Frollo's pitiful praying makes her snicker more than she imagined. She flies gently, with a wicked smile and appears before him.]

You can't seriously expect for him to hear you out.

[protectmemaria]

[Frollo falls back against the pew bench in surprise, clutching at his heart. Another demon, and in the house of God Himself? He scrambles to his feet and hurls himself from the pew.]

[unraveltochaos]

Don't tell me I scared you off.

[She stands on the ground, and walks towards him slowly, with smoke surrounding her body.]

Such a believer. After seeing a god with your very eyes, you should be glad.

[protectmemaria]

[Frollo turns to stand his ground, feet set apart in a determined stance and his hands clenched into fists.]

You can do me no harm here, demon, [he spits angrily.] Begone!

[outcastinparis]

[ It's just Esmeralda's luck that she's running into the minister almost everywhere she goes explores. She peers into the church, and sees him. Sure, she admires his willpower, but, Esme doesn't want to bother him any. She turns to wander away quietly. ]

1/2

[protectmemaria]

[Another visitor? So far everyone has entered for the sole purpose of shaking him from his prayers, and Frollo turns, ready to shoo the offender out.]

2/2

[protectmemaria]

...No.

[This was far worse than the fool or the demon, but the very reason he was praying so desperately for the sake of his soul... why was she everywhere he went?]

Witch! What is the meaning of this?!

|D

[outcastinparis]

[ She gasps, kind of upset that she'd, well. Upset him. Esme stays outside, hugging the doorframe. ]

Nothing.

I was just wondering what it looked like in here.