InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "it's over aaron"

Brother Athelstan (athelstan_) wrote in spinningcompass,
@ 2013-03-04 18:55:00

Entry tags:

!closed

Who: Athelstan and Éponine
Where: Churchyard
What: Athelstan arrives and assumes the vikings have a greater civilisation than he was aware of...
When: Monday afternoon
Rating: Low! He's a monk, for goodness sake.
Status: closed//ongoing

Athelstan had made peace with being taken in by Ragnar. He had made peace with the new life he was thrust into and the home he had been brought to, the people he was living with, the language, Gods, family- And now he was strolling through a yard of tombs, towards a derelict cathedral. It didn't look Norse. There were trees, but it didn't seem to be the kind he had grown used to. And the buildings that lurched up before him- it was some kind of sorcery. There must be some kind of sorcery involved. Something Ragnar had kept from him? He had stumbled upon something he was never meant to find? Lead by the grace of all of the Gods-

He looked behind him, supposing it to be the way he had come, but he did not recognise the path. Had he been in a trance? The ways of the Gods were mysterious, after all. He scratched his head, over the patch of hair that was growing back. It was an odd feeling. The short hair, the knowledge it was growing back, the theological upheaval he had been going through-

Athelstan tipped his eyes towards the sky. Looking for a sign.

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onmyown
2013-03-04 10:15 pm UTC (link)

Eponine didn't really know what she was doing here. She'd gone out for a walk, not really thinking about where she was going, and at some point she'd found herself at the church. She'd never been particularly religious- oh, she'd been raised to believe in God and the teachings of the church, but she had never attended regularly. She had visited the graveyard, clearing away some of debris and the like at her brother's and friends' gravesites, then remained sitting there, not crying, but not really doing anything, either. She simply sat and stared and thought, probably too much.

She didn't know how long she had sat there before she finally pushed herself up to her feet, turning to leave when she saw a figure down the way. Pausing in her tracks, she blinked, confused. She knew that face. "Grantaire? Is that- you're alive?"

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athelstan_
2013-03-05 08:35 am UTC (link)

Athelstan looked up at the noise, the sound of a voice, pausing himself to locate the source. A girl stood not far away, her attention obviously on him. It took another moment to place the language. French. He knew it well enough from his travels but had no idea that Ragnar had been so far south, nor indeed that he had brought back a girl so young and fair, knowing what certain danger she would be put in.

"I am not anyone of that name, I am afraid. My name is Athelstan. I am from the Isle of Britain and I am guest of Ragnar." he paused, holding out his hands in a gesture of peace and hoping his French was still up to scratch. "Whence and how came you to be here?"

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onmyown
2013-03-05 11:37 am UTC (link)

Athelstan. Ragnar? That didn't make sense. Eponine frowned a bit. He looked like Grantaire. And even sounded a bit like him, though his accent was a bit different from what she was used to hearing from her friend. What was this? Some sort of torture? "I don't understand. You look- you're not-?"

She broke off, shaking her head. "I- please forgive me. I just thought- you so resemble a very good friend of mine."

She glanced to Grantaire's gravemarker- no, it was most definitely still there. "I'm afraid I don't know any Ragnar here. I'm not sure how I got here- nobody seems to know how it is we come to this island. But I've been here for about a month? Nobody knows how to return to the worlds they've come from, either."

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athelstan_
2013-03-05 07:16 pm UTC (link)

"I think you are mistaking me for someone," Athelstan says gently. "But do not apologise. I'm sorry I resemble your friend." He followed her gaze towards the headstone. The name on it was the one he had been called by. What a terrible coincidence. "I am so sorry. For your loss." He took a few steps towards her, hands still raised.

They were on an island. Well that was something. The thought occurred to him that perhaps he had been kidnapped again, that his importance to Ragnar had been perceived as some kind of value, so he had been taken. To another island. Well-

"Peace, I mean you no harm," Athelstan said. "You have come from France?"

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onmyown
2013-03-06 12:08 am UTC (link)

"No, please, you needn't- you needn't apologize." Eponine nibbled at her lower lip, hunching a little with her arms deep in her pockets as he stepped closer. No, she needn't be afraid, perhaps, but- oh, he reminded her so much of Grantaire that it was all she could do to stay firmly planted where she was, to not throw herself at him. It wasn't Grantaire.

"Oui, France. Paris, actually. And you- are you of the church? I've not seen robes like that- not many like that here."

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athelstan_
2013-03-06 01:06 pm UTC (link)

Athelstan halted, because Eponine looked rather uncomfortable and he really meant her no harm, but he did to wish to make her fear him.

"Yes, the church. I am a brother of my order. Few of us remain after the raid on our monastery, so I am not surprised you haven't seen any others," he smiled. "I am sorry for startling you. Do you wish for me to leave you? I must see if I can find somewhere- I don't know where I am. I should try and find shelter. The church here- apparently not in operation."

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onmyown
2013-03-06 10:03 pm UTC (link)

"No, please- you needn't leave. I am sorry, it's just- it's still a bit of a shock." Eponine watched him for a moment and then turned her gaze toward the building of the church behind him. She took a careful breath and then looked back to him, offering a small smile. "I can help you find shelter. There are buildings not too far from here where many of us are staying-we can easily find you a room and a place to settle in. The island isn't terribly large and we've recently lost a number of our population. But for many of us it's another chance at living, so we're doing the best we can with what is here."

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athelstan_
2013-03-07 07:18 pm UTC (link)

Athelstan nodded. It was understandable. If he had met a friend he believed to be dead, he too would have reacted similarly. Or otherwise. But he remembers he had cried many times in from of Ragnar already, so there was no shame in the young lady crying over something so personal.

"Any assistance you can offer would be wonderful," he replied. "I would very much appreciate somewhere to stay. I do not need much. A roof and some straw will suffice. I am used to very humble sleeping quarters." The idea of them all being here- well, it makes sense in a way. From what he's just experienced. He holds out his hand. "You may call me Athelstan."

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onmyown
2013-03-07 10:49 pm UTC (link)

Eponine hesitates for the briefest of moments before she takes his hand. "Athelstan. And I am Eponine. You'll find the the lodgings here are probably more..extravagant than you are used to- it was the same for me. It took almost a month before I slept in one of the beds, and even now I'm still not entirely used to it."

She offers a smile and motions toward the buildings in the distance. "Just this way. It isn't too long a walk."

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athelstan_
2013-03-08 10:18 pm UTC (link)

Athelstan was surprised by the fact that there were beds. That there was apparently a home they were all allowed access to regardless. He didn't want to be too presumptuous or to reach above what was his lot. He had, for as long as he could remember, slept and lived in very humble surroundings.

Athelstan pressed his hands into the pockets of his robes and settled into a pace beside Eponine.

"What manner are these things? The-" he gestured up at the lights. "How are they being created? Is it some kind of...magic? Or- is everything such?"

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onmyown
2013-03-08 10:57 pm UTC (link)

"I don't entirely understand it myself. It seems like magic, but I've been told that it is- it is a science. Something called electricity. It powers all kinds of things here, the lighting, the way we heat our homes, cook our food- and it is a lot to take in, but if there is anything at all that I can help you with, I- please let me know and I will try." Eponine slid her own hands into her pockets and looked around them as they walked. "Honestly? Most of it still intimidates me a bit."

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