After the service is over, Lorcan circles the church to take photographs on his instant camera. He's mostly focused on Henhurst's chickens and the weeping statue.
"Isn't it interesting?" he asks the first person who hangs around just long enough for him to take socially hostage. "They seem to have developed their own culture and writing system."
Edited 2021-04-04 21:55 (UTC)
THE CHURCH: Lorcan the Researcher & Hugo the Converting
Aster knows what guilt is, of course. It's the feeling one gets after eating half a pack of Oreos in one sitting, or thinking too hard about what your mother was known for in school. Catholic guilt, though, is a unique experience, even in Chicken form. She's never had the particular experience of sitting down and thinking about every wrong she's ever knowingly or unknowingly committed against a higher pecking power. Super uncomfortable. So that's not what Aster is doing now, even though there's only a few people ahead of her for confession.
She is, instead, practicing her best contrite face, and for an actor, it's a little bad. She does a deep sigh, then what she knows of the sign of the cross ended with a soft "peep peep," and bows her head. The stillness and sorrow end when she peeks up and addresses the person next to her in a whisper.
"...What are you saying in there?"
This is between them and Gallus, ostensibly, but she does need ideas.
Edited 2021-04-05 01:59 (UTC)
THE CHURCH: Hugo Examines His Conscience With Aster
"What? Me?" Hugo looks up at Aster, completely unprepared to be asked this question. Although he shouldn't have been. He is in line after all. It's just... "Well," Hugo lowers his voice and scans for any chickens that might be eavesdropping, "I was going to make something up, if I'm being honest. Maybe... coveting thy neighbor's wifi?"
Another careful glance for any nearby chickens. "What about you?"
Slouched in her pew like a teenage delinquent as Father Peck's resonant bawking echoes across the chapel, Corrie glances around the room with her judgement face on. "I can't believe anyone's buying this," she mutters to the person nearest her.
"...I feel like I'm in the midst of a fever dream," Criswell returns, his dark eyes only subtly flitting in Corrie's direction and his words just a whisper. The last thing he wants to do is cause a scene. Zealots are always a little intimidating and these zealots have sharp little claws and pointy beaks. And besides...one never knows.
Really.
His fingers twist anxiously together in his lap and he adds dully, "Maybe it would make more sense if we spoke chicken." Though, he very much doubts that.
Edited (...I forgot to pick a word.) 2021-04-06 03:16 (UTC)
Corrie frowns. "Since when is chicken a language? Since when do chickens have... culture, and all? If they were clever we wouldn't eat them." If they were clever, they wouldn't be okay with folks eating them. She glances down at the chicken pamphlet, next to her on the pew. Since when did chickens get pamphlets made and printed off? "Someone's gotta be controlling them. Whatshisname maybe."
"Forsythe? Could be," Criswell answers and the suggestion does seem feasible. The man has already proven himself to be an eccentric and a string-puller and his aims have always remained unclear. But even for him...this seems like a bit much. And more than a bit pointless. What is there to gain from Chictholicism?
Exhaling a small breath, he leans back in the pew and finally turns to look at Corrie. "...Maybe they're Animagi and they're just taking the piss." This explanation isn't any better, though, and he appears to realize that. "But it all seems...harmless enough? I suppose?"
Re: THE CHURCH: Corrie the Skeptic & Cris the Shaken
She turns to face Cris, her eyes brightening in thought. A massive Animagi prank would be, it had to be said, hilarious. It would not only make the film but would turn the whole story into a comedy, and -- bonus points! -- would make it less creepy that folks were hot for Peck.
But: "That'd be a lot of chicken Animagi. Animagi aren't that common, are they?" Corrie shakes her head, more disappointed than anything. It would've made for a great plot twist. "I dunno. There's just too much," she gives the "miraculous" statue a resentful look, "actual belief going on here. Over a bit of water on some stone, is all. Wouldn't that be really easy to magic?"
This rebuttal is difficult to dispute. Animagi are relatively uncommon. So the number that can turn into fowls and would be willing to go along with something like this has to be absolutely miniscule. Criswell's eyes close for a moment and he nods in glum acknowledgment.
"...You have a point."
When he opens them again, his gaze drops back to his own restless hands. He doesn't need to look at the statue. He's seen more than enough of it. "It's nothing a first year couldn't manage," he agrees, pausing only briefly before he adds, "Though, I can't imagine why anyone would bother?"
"Boredom, someone dared them to, they were drunk and thought it sounded funny," Corrie says promptly - and a little too loudly: someone turns to shush her. She rolls her eyes and drops her voice again, leaning forward to compensate. "Psychology experiment about how quickly people accept whatever explanation they're given. Or about following instructions even if the person ordering you's an animal."
She shrugs. People do loads of things for loads of reasons. It's less clear to her why anyone's going along with it. "Maybe they're mind-controlling anyone who goes in to confess," she adds off-handedly.
While Corrie rolls her eyes at the irritated parishioner, Criswell winces and slumps down in the pew. Perhaps they should take this outside. Before he can make this suggestion, however, the girl continues in a whisper. He glances briefly in the direction of the confessionals, then back at her, his unease becoming even more obvious.
This prompts Criswell to straighten again and he comes perilously close to responding at normal volume, only catching himself at the last moment. He doesn't quite stop himself from making a small grab for her wrist, though. "I'm sure you're right," he whispers back, "But. Just in case. Maybe...don't. Do that."
This was clearly not as reassuring as she'd hoped it would be. The problem is, now she's said it she kinda... actually wants to do it. Not just to show him it's fine, but to see what it's like and what she can get away with. Curse her flippant mouth for giving her brain ideas.
"It'll be fine!" she says, patting his hand with her spare one. (Why would it be fine? Think of something that isn't just dismissive or telling him to calm down, that's never worked with anyone ever.) "My brother always says no one could ever make me do anything so I doubt they'd have any easier a time. And even if they did, it'd be really easy to tell I was under control. I'm the perfect person to test it!"
THE CHURCH: Corrie the Skeptic and Hugo the Peeved
"I think they're mostly just here for the photo op," Hugo grumbles back. "They only want a picture with the crying statue. They don't want to actually engage with the theology or the day's message."
Mind you, Hugo is a hypocrite. He's been mostly concerned with deciphering Father Peck's sex appeal, not the meaning of his sermon. And he's certainly a bit annoyed that he hasn't yet gotten a good selfie with ol' waterworks Gallus.
THE CHURCH: Corrie the Skeptic and Hugo the Peeved
Corrie rolls her eyes. Don't get her started on the weeping statue. Still... it's always nice to have someone else be just as grumpy as you are.
"Can you understand the day's message?" she asks. "Like, the different-from-Easter bits? I mean, the sermon is," she juts her chin at the pulpit, at the creepy-wrought-iron rooster addressing the crowd. No explanation needed. "And the pamphlet is what it is. So I've mostly checked out the pictures."
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henhursthall2021-04-04 12:33 pm
THE CHURCH
THE CHURCH: Lorcan the Researcher & Open++
"Isn't it interesting?" he asks the first person who hangs around just long enough for him to take socially hostage. "They seem to have developed their own culture and writing system."
THE CHURCH: Lorcan the Researcher & Hugo the Converting
"It almost makes me sort of believe in a God, if that makes any sense."
THE CHURCH: Examine Your Conscience With Aster (Open+)
She is, instead, practicing her best contrite face, and for an actor, it's a little bad. She does a deep sigh, then what she knows of the sign of the cross ended with a soft "peep peep," and bows her head. The stillness and sorrow end when she peeks up and addresses the person next to her in a whisper.
"...What are you saying in there?"
This is between them and Gallus, ostensibly, but she does need ideas.
THE CHURCH: Hugo Examines His Conscience With Aster
Another careful glance for any nearby chickens. "What about you?"
THE CHURCH: Corrie the Skeptic OPEN++
THE CHURCH: Corrie the Skeptic & Cris the Shaken
Really.
His fingers twist anxiously together in his lap and he adds dully, "Maybe it would make more sense if we spoke chicken." Though, he very much doubts that.
THE CHURCH: Corrie the Skeptic & Cris the Shaken
THE CHURCH: Corrie the Skeptic & Cris the Shaken
Exhaling a small breath, he leans back in the pew and finally turns to look at Corrie. "...Maybe they're Animagi and they're just taking the piss." This explanation isn't any better, though, and he appears to realize that. "But it all seems...harmless enough? I suppose?"
Re: THE CHURCH: Corrie the Skeptic & Cris the Shaken
But: "That'd be a lot of chicken Animagi. Animagi aren't that common, are they?" Corrie shakes her head, more disappointed than anything. It would've made for a great plot twist. "I dunno. There's just too much," she gives the "miraculous" statue a resentful look, "actual belief going on here. Over a bit of water on some stone, is all. Wouldn't that be really easy to magic?"
THE CHURCH: Corrie the Skeptic & Cris the Shaken
"...You have a point."
When he opens them again, his gaze drops back to his own restless hands. He doesn't need to look at the statue. He's seen more than enough of it. "It's nothing a first year couldn't manage," he agrees, pausing only briefly before he adds, "Though, I can't imagine why anyone would bother?"
THE CHURCH: Corrie the Skeptic & Cris the Shaken
She shrugs. People do loads of things for loads of reasons. It's less clear to her why anyone's going along with it. "Maybe they're mind-controlling anyone who goes in to confess," she adds off-handedly.
THE CHURCH: Corrie the Skeptic & Cris the Shaken
"...That...can't be true."
Right?
THE CHURCH: Corrie the Skeptic & Cris the Shaken
"It's not," she says -- too fast this time. "I'm sure. Pointless anyway, since the ones going in are gonna be the ones that believe anyway, right?"
That's not enough. "I'll prove it," she adds. "I'll go in there myself once Peck's done."
THE CHURCH: Corrie the Skeptic & Cris the Shaken
THE CHURCH: Corrie the Skeptic & Cris the Shaken
"It'll be fine!" she says, patting his hand with her spare one. (Why would it be fine? Think of something that isn't just dismissive or telling him to calm down, that's never worked with anyone ever.) "My brother always says no one could ever make me do anything so I doubt they'd have any easier a time. And even if they did, it'd be really easy to tell I was under control. I'm the perfect person to test it!"
THE CHURCH: Corrie the Skeptic and Hugo the Peeved
Mind you, Hugo is a hypocrite. He's been mostly concerned with deciphering Father Peck's sex appeal, not the meaning of his sermon. And he's certainly a bit annoyed that he hasn't yet gotten a good selfie with ol' waterworks Gallus.
THE CHURCH: Corrie the Skeptic and Hugo the Peeved
"Can you understand the day's message?" she asks. "Like, the different-from-Easter bits? I mean, the sermon is," she juts her chin at the pulpit, at the creepy-wrought-iron rooster addressing the crowd. No explanation needed. "And the pamphlet is what it is. So I've mostly checked out the pictures."