Who: Alex and Angelica Where: The tree When: Week 1, Day 5, evening/night What: Cursing at a priest....and arguing, not exactly good for your immortal soul. Rated: PG-13
Dinner had been meager, but that wasn't surprising given the situation and the numbers of people. After dinner, as the sun began setting, everyone began climbing the trees to sleep and Alex stepped off to one side and looking at a tree, knelt on his knees, crossed himself with rosary in hand and spent a few minutes in prayer. It was obvious that when he looked at the tree he didn't see the tree, but something on he could see. He had his blanket and pillow and his second blanket had been donated to...someone. He thought the red headed girl he hadn't yet met. Climbing up the tree quickly before it truly became dark, he settled into his space testing it gingerly. It held and he was glad. The red headed girl was closest to him and he tried not to think of it as sharing a bed with her, just because she was close and using his blanket. It was more like sharing a dormitory or barracks. And there were a lot of people there.
Angelica really could sleep just about anywhere, she'd gotten used to sleeping sitting up or in really strange positions, that had started in college, honestly. She could remember sitting against walls, the times that she went to parties, and sleeping. She knew once she was old that would probably change, it would get much more difficult than it was now. The thought of sleeping in a tree didn't bother her, other than the thought that she might fall out of the tree that is. She really didn't think taking a roll off a tree branch to the ground would be a good idea. It was a bad idea, especially since she had a gun strapped to her ankle and a pocketknife in her pocket. She had other random things on her, but honestly she wasn't as worried about them. Being as independent as she was, Angelica didn't like the thought of taking someone's blanket, but she knew she couldn't look a gifthorse in the mouth. She took it, with a thanks, but felt pretty awkward, it wasn't her's. She had her leather jacket on and it wasn't going anywhere, even if she had a blanket.
When other started to head towards the trees to sleep, Angelica honestly wasn't tired. It was probably the long hours that she was used to, but this was when the fun began. She was used to being out and about, doing something, and to think that she needed to sleep now, it was kind of bizarre. She, nonetheless, climbed into the tree along with the others. She figured if she got everything set and used to it now that it wouldn't be as difficult later. Still, trying to sleep in a tree with someone you didn't know pretty damn close? Not Angelica's idea of a good time. She didn't even sleep, actually sleep, with guys that she fooled around with or whatever. So with someone so close it was awkward. It wasn't like sharing a bed, but damn it was too close for comfort. Once the man was settled, or she thought he was settled, she turned toward him, clearing her throat.
"I'm not a heavy sleeper, so try not to make much noise if you can help it..."
Angelica shifted around, her blue eyes wide open, she wasn't sleepy in the least. And this shit was awkward.
"I'm Angelica, by the way..."
She finished awkwardly, rolling her eyes at how dorky she knew she sounded.
The truth be told, Alex wasn't tired either. He was used to going to sleep much later too, but he was not about to stay down on the ground after dark after Helena's description of the Laughers! He sort of sat in his hammock awkwardly, not sure quite what to do now. There were no books, no TV, no...nothing. Idly, he wrapped the rosary around his hand once more, fingering the cool beads. He wasn't praying, but it was something to do sort of. "I'm Alex," he smiled, not using his title. It was...sort of awkward to present onself as a priest when when wearing pajamas pants with flames on them and a def leppard t-shirt. "From Boston," that was obvious from his accent though.
Angelica could tell the moment she heard him speak where he was fun, but she'd heard a lot of different accents in New York. She'd seen a lot of different types of people too. It was strange to think that right now, if she were at home she might be going through a crime scene or questioning some asshole that they'd dragged in. It was probably pathetic on her part, but she missed it and wished that was where she was. At least there she had a little bit of comfort. She wasn't even bad around strangers, but this was just too weird. There wasn't anyone that was that much like her as far as she could tell. No cops, not PIs, nothing. She didn't know anyone, and her being a person with a gun and knife probably made her dangerous in the eyes of others, but she was a police detective, hopefully that made up for it, even if it didn't matter here. Reaching around to the back of her head, she pulled the hair tie out and shook her curly, red hair out, scratching her head and pushing her hair back.
"Alex from Boston, guess that's the way we're identifying ourselves now. I'm from New York."
She offered, a mite of sarcasm sneaking into her tone. Sighing, Angelica wished that she were better at getting along with people, but it didn't last long. It didn't matter. She didn't have to care, she just had to survive until she could get home, right?
"So...Alex from Boston. What do you do?"
She asked, not really caring all that much, but it was obvious from her tone that she wasn't sleepy. Conversation seemed like a better idea. It might bore her to the point that she was sleepy if she was lucky.
"I'm a priest," he replied evenly. "Are you the detective or someone mentioned a barista?" somehow, she struck him as more the cop type, but despite their small numbers, he hadn't met everyone yet, just Helena and Thorne briefly and Clay and now Angelica. Not many at all. Everyone scattered throughout the day to explore and work and whatever needed to be done. He had prayed for a while, but so far, no answers had come. That was alright, he was a patient man.
Angelica had been thinking all day. She always had ideas in the back of her mind. How were they all connected. There had to be something. Ethnicity wasn't a factor, age wasn't a factor, hair color, eye color, none of those were. Angelica was going to continue to think about it, but she froze when she heard what he did and sat up fuller, her eyes going right to him. Her mouth was hanging open slightly as she studied him. He didn't look like any priest she'd ever seen, he wasn't bad looking and she could honestly say that her image of a priest would have never been this guy.
"A fucking priest? What the hell?"
It came out as an exclamation, and she was really confused at that moment. She was staring at him and shook her head, realizing that he had asked her a question. She didn't believe him, honestly, and thought about lying, but figured that wasn't a good idea, she didn't do that unless she had to.
"I'm a police detective...."
She stated in a guarded tone, almost daring him to say something about it.
"Actually, no. Priests don't fuck. You have us confused with...everyone else really," he replied steadily, not batting an eye at her language or her comment. He was used to reactions like these. Few people ever expected to see young guys in the priesthood and fewer still expected them to curse. He didn't much, not often, but this was a special exception. And there was no reason they couldn't other than it was considered impolite. There were a lot of things priests couldn't do...almost all of which related to having sex. They could smoke, drink, travel, go to the beach, disney world or all sorts of other things. And curse. "Do you like being a detective?"
Angelica was shell shocked for a moment, her jaw dropping. Okay, there was no way that this guy was a priest! Priests did NOT curse. Priests weren't fairly attractive young men that Angelica might have picked up at a bar if she were drunk enough. Priests were not in band t-shirts and pajama pants with flames! She stared at him, and after a moment shut her mouth and rolled her eyes.
"No shit, sherlock...there's no way you're a priest, you're shitting me, right?"
She asked him, and she was studying him like she would a suspect actually. She was studying him, looking for any mannerisms, among other things. She couldn't see any of the tell tale signs of lying, but it wasn't light out, she'd be willing to bet he was lying, he had to be, right? His next question threw her off and she moved again, having to stop abruptly to keep from falling. Once she was stable she tilted her head, studying him, frowning.
"Love it, actually. Why, thinking of a career change?"
"No, I like what I do, but I've always thought being a detective would be exciting. Who doesn't at some point though? I guess it has it's good points and bad points just like being a priest," he shot her a glance that was hard to discern in the twilight, but it could have been anything from 'I hate you' to 'go away' to 'no I'm not joking,' "I was ordained six years ago...after becoming a deacon and completing seminary. I serve at Gate of Heaven Catholic Church in Boston. Father Alessandro Callahan. Alex to my friends," that was as close to name, rank and serial number as priests usually got.
"Not as exciting as you think, there's too much paperwork involved."
Angelica muttered, crossing her arms. She didn't know what he was playing at. He was way too nice, and people were never nice. Then again, this wasn't a normal situation either, that made things quite different, honestly.
"Most girls, from what I've been told, don't think being a police detective would be exciting, I'm one of the small group that did."
She shrugged and nodded, thinking. He seemed trustworthy, and normally she might want to go with her gut, but she didn't want to. She seriously wasn't sure about this...priest. Then he started to defend his title as priest after shooting her a look. It didn't intimidate her, and she didn't care what was behind it. She did listen to him, though, she didnt have much of a choice, he was one of the few close enough and awake. She'd heard similar short synopisis from people that worked under her, and half of her thought he was mocking her, she said nothing, though.
"Still don't know if I believe you, but what the hell. No reason to lie. One question, though: why the hell would you want to be a priest of all things? I've heard some kids say they wanted to be shit, but never a priest?"
Her mannerisms were the same, harsh, but she was slightly curious. So she asked.
Just because Alex did not curse himself did not mean he was overly offended by it. If and when he was, he would say something, but until then he would let her continue one. "Why did you become a cop?" he retorted tartly. The truth was...no one became a priest. They were called or not, that was it. There were people who became priests for other reasons, but it was rarer now than in past centuries. There were very few second sons without options now.
Angelica looked at him at the question and deadpanned.
"I want to make the world a better place."
It was obviously not the truth. The sarcasm that accompanied the deadpan was the easiest way to tell that. If he was going to be tart and annoyed for her asking a question, she could be a bitch too. She didn't have a problem with doing that to people that she worked for, she might as well cock off to a priest. It wasn't like she wasn't already going to hell. Her blue eyes were focused on him for a few moments.
"And technically, I'm not a cop."
She corrected him, her had actually moving to her back pocket out of habit because that was where her badge was.
"I'm a police detective, couple pegs above a regular cop."
She stated evenly.
"But you didn't answer my question. Kind of rude, don't you think?"
She asked in a slightly rude voice, a little bit annoyed.
He shrugged, eye brow raised, "To make the world a better place. Exactly. Not the same way exactly...but I want to help people. And I love what I do," it wasn't too different from her really, not in intent anyways. He brushed his thumb over the crucifix at the end of the rosary, "I want to make the world a better place," he understood that wasn't through converting people or preaching at them, but through just being there. Always and helping. And at the end of the day, he felt good about what he did.
Angelica didn't know what to say. It might have been the words, but she believed him, and it felt weird to believe him in this situation. He had no reason to lie, she understood that. Still, priest. She didn't get how that was helping the world, honestly. She didn't think that it was something where you helped people other than with their faith, and honestly, what good did that do? Faith hadn't helped anyone that she'd known. Her mom, her grams, neither of them had lived and they'd both been religious. She couldn't stand thinking about that, though and she turned away from him, frowning as she looked at whatever she could around her other than the priest.
"Noble, really."
She wasn't even going to move into the snark that she could throw at him. She could say a hell of a lot of things at that moment, but she kept her mouth shut for a few moments.
"Being here kind of puts a damper on your plans, eh?"
Her voice carried, but there was obviously little emotion to it, her voice low and slightly harsh. It was upset with him, but the whole situation was bringing more and more of the bad cop and the moody teenager out of her. She'd get over it, that much she knew.
He ignored her tone and the sarcasm. There was no good response to things like that. "Not really," he shrugged not at all deterred, "Apparently I am needed here instead of in Boston. I don't know why yet...but I will find out," he was certain of that. He did believe in free will, but he had no more choice in coming here than anyone else. There was a reason though, be it from God or from aliens or such. He just didn't know it yet. Time though, would yeild the answers. Time and prayer.
Angelica might have thrown something at him, or socked him in the face if she weren't in this precarious situation. She didn't know the guy, but he was pissing her off, and he probably didn't mean to. He didn't know about the lives of other people. He thought he was needed here. Were they all needed here, then?
"That your answer to why we're all here? We're all needed here?"
She shot at him, in a tone that obviously conveyed her feelings on that idea, which, as one can guess, weren't very nice.
"Well, no," he began momentarily distracted by the noises he heard in the distance. Laughers. "That is, I'm sure we're all here for a reason, though I doubt it is all the same reason. And who knows what mine is? It could be....anything really. I think we'll find out eventually," he hoped that made sense. He could tell she was annoyed at him, but he wasn't trying to imply that his job was to save their souls or some such. He would be more than happy to lead others in prayer or coucil them...but he would not force it on anyone. If that was what was needed, they chose the wrong priest. The Def Leppard shirt was probably a good indication of that.
She could hear it. The sound of the Laughers. It was kind of creepy, like group of sociopaths that were laughing at something that definitely wasn't funny. She could have jumped out of the tree and gotten away from this religious lunatic if it weren't for the knowledge that there was some sort of predator. She had a gun, but there were only so many bullets, she didn't have any more ammo on her. She wasn't stupid, just temperamental.
"Well, Father, I'm pretty sure the rest of us don't give a damn if we were brought here to do something, and I sure as hell don't want to find out."
The tone behind her voice made it obvious she was getting a bit pissed off, and that she though he was nuts, but what he was saying got to her. Angelica hadn't ever been religious. Her mom had died before she was born, she'd dealt. Then her nana had died, and that woman had been devoutly religious, and that had an impact. She didn't believe that the church made any difference, and she thought the man that was so damn close to her was full of shit and a moron.
"Though if we find a way to get back to where we all came from, I'll be sure to spread the word that you want to be here to finish out your purpose."
She shot off, turning away from him and crossing her arms moodily. This wasn't a very great first impression.
Shaking his head, Alex couldn't believe how...confrontational Angelica was. It was almost like she was looking for a fight. "A person can have multiple purposes, Detective. And while I might have a purpose here, I also have free will. I'd choose to go home if I could," who wouldn't? Alex just didn't think that someone was going to appear with that option for everyone, but there was no sense in fighting and bemoaning the situation instead of trying to see the best in it. "Given that the little green men that put us here aren't giving us the option of leaving just yet...we may as well make the best of it. I for one would rather not die here. Purposes though...they're always so much clearer in hindsight."
Angelica was a confrontational person. That was why she generally was the cop that played the stereotypical bad cop. She didn't like accepting her circumstances, or other people just accepting their's. She felt that people took their own destiny in their hands. She wasn't going to be happy here, and if she had to be here, she sure as hell wasn't going to say that she had a purpose! She was here, and it was probably because some idiot that thought this grand scheme was awesome. And when she got her hands on the person, they weren't going to feel too great. In fact, she'd probably do a lot of damage to someone if she found out they were behind this shit.
Yup, the priest was catching her tone, and went straight to Detective. That was fine with her. If she were in a tree she would have stomped off already to keep from doing something stupid. She didn't get people that were religious, she really didn't. And the priest, he was weird, and she didn't know if she wanted to get him.
"Whatever, Father."
She stated evenly, a hint of warning in her voice that she wasn't going to listen to him talk about free will or purpose anymore because she wasn't particularly happy with what he had said already. She was facing away from him and snorted at his next comment.
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, Father, no one is going to die if I have anything to say about it."
Angelica didn't let people die if she could help it, and she meant that. Her word was good right there. She'd protect anyone that she could. She didn't know a damn one of them, but that didn't mean she'd let anyone die. That was what she did. She put her life on the line for others, she was used to investigating deaths and keeping order, punishing the people that were bad. It wasn't the same here, but that didn't mean that Angelica wouldn't do what she'd set out to do.
"Hindsight, sure, look back on it later."
Angelica mumbled with a shrug. She wasn't going to meet his eyes. She knew she was wrong for being pissy with him, but that didn't mean she felt any different. She didn't need to make enemies, but damned if she didn't end up doing it half the time anyway.