The weary world rejoices

[toolongdidntrejoice]

WHO: OPEN
WHERE: The Church
WHEN: From today and onto the New Year!
WARNINGS: Kirei.....
SUMMARY: Rejoice, Cityzens! The Church is hosting an event for the holiday season: accepting donations and offering dinner for all those in need during this harsh December! Donate yourself or take part in some free food. You don't have to worship to take part, but you may get a priest breathing down your neck about that.
FORMAT: Whatever you please!


Even in this day and age, certain tired methods of communication remain. A Church flyer is a old tradition and the City has had several passed by hand, or stapled onto walls. They are all advertising open invitations not just for worship but for food on behalf of the City's generous inhabitants -- regardless of beliefs or credo. On top of that, there is a certain tagline which appeals to the City's imPorts:

Be a Hero to one less fortunate than you this holiday season.

It's a sticky, blatant piece of baiting; hamfisted and obvious. Of course, no Church has ever really excelled at subtlety. Guilt is a powerful motivator, especially this time of year. That shows in the turn out: there is quite a few natives already participating, which leads to generous spread.

The Church is welcoming all without distinction -- however, you'll only get to taste wine if you're one of the faithful.

Comments

OPEN with some specific prompts but feel free to prod him whenever

[toolongdidntrejoice]

[ General Mingle ]

[ Kirei isn't a constant presence. Truth be told, the majority of this event isn't in his hands. There is a community among the faithful and volunteers who take care of most of the busywork. He will pry, every so often, when he feels like there is some entertainment to be gleaned. Given the time of year, his status here is especially glorified, and the amount of sycophancy to be felt and abused is obscene.

With the slightest prodding, one will feel guilty over anything; even taking food that is intended as free. It's amusing, and most company takes his amusement as mere holiday cheer.

Surprisingly enough, Kirei Kotomine can cook. It's talent bred from years spent with his late wife, when her illness made her rely on him more and more. It's nothing spectacular, but one will be able to pick his work out of the crowd when they taste it: it's anything that is unnecessarily and intensely spicy. ]

[ Christmas/New Years/Church service general ]

[ He will, of course, be performing the services and offering confession shortly after. Christmas is an event, but his true performance is the New Years mass. It's thrilling how much influence one speech has, and how in one night he can ruin two years: filling listeners with regret and guilt for the prior, and dread towards the one coming. Kirei Kotomine is a man of few enjoyments, and this is one of them. ]

[ December 28th ]

[ However, in between those dates, there is some difference -- although it's hardly noticeable. There are few in the City who would know of his date of birth, and Kirei does not intend to advertise it with any real significance. He does take a moment outside, dressed to guard against the cold -- and eating food hot enough to warm him from the inside out. ]

Christmas service

[hackeralastair]

[while he should be at his club, overseeing the 'fuck Christmas' crowd that has nowhere else to go but out dancing even on a holiday, Alastair takes time out for one very small thing. And lingers near the back, standing, so that if he feels like it, he can take off and disappear into the night and no one would know any better.

The last time he tried this was his first Christmas in the City, three years ago. Why he's trying it again, he doesn't know, but there he is, trying to reconnect to anything from his Croatian roots. He slips among people easily, wrapped in a long coat, and tries not to make eye contact, but often fails.]

[toolongdidntrejoice]

[ It's Alastair's obvious anti-social aura, the desire not to be noticed, which actually makes him noticeable. Considering the season, most of the congregation are happily mingling and being overtly affectionate. Alastair's brooding figure stands out to him, and Kirei singles him out with a smirk. ]

Hello. You're Alastair, aren't you? I believe we spoke on the Network.

Did you enjoy the service?

Christmas service

[gandere]

[ Rin's a good girl. She always has been by appearance, so it should come as no surprise that's here at the church services on another Christmas Day. The year before she spent her time arguing with Archer and volunteering at a soup kitchen. Now she's in a healthy relationship with her Servant and so she must play the part.

Her eyes never leave him even when he drones on in the same sermons she's heard years prior. She's obedient as the perfect daughter should be. ]

[toolongdidntrejoice]

[ Kirei knew she would come. Even with all that passed between them, there was no doubt in his mind that he would see her -- although she is painting a very different image than before.

When the service ends, he of course goes to meet her. ]

Good evening, Rin. You certainly dressed for the occasion.

( general )

[thanatophobias]

[Cole comes by often, when he finds nothing else to do with his day. It's a safe haven - the dead never visit him when he's in Church.

Cole passes by the various foods, hands kept to himself, gaze searching everywhere else. He may be wondering if he gets to try one of those treats...]

[toolongdidntrejoice]

[ Given that Cole is here without any hovering guardian at his side, he begins to stand out among the crowds. Kirei approaches him, remembering his face from the Network. ]

It's Cole, isn't it? [ His questions indicate concern, but his lips are smiling. ] Are you on your own?

general mingle;

[withamask]

[ Renee harbored her suspicions when she learned that Kanaya wanted to volunteer at the church over which Kirei Kotomine presided, but she dismissed her unease for the time being. Besides, this visit provided a good opportunity to verify whether her doubts are valid. Ever the detective, after she helps set the food out for the upcoming dinner, she explores the area. ]

[toolongdidntrejoice]

[ He had hoped he would see her again, but he didn't expect Renee to actually show at the church herself. When he spots her, he smiles, and he moves to greet her properly. ]

Hello, Detective Montoya. What a surprise this is.

OPEN

[retropolis]

( Dec. 24th )

[ Be a Hero to one less fortunate than you this holiday season.

There is, of course, one hero who that blurb appeals to in particular, and that is Nelson Gardner. He was raised Christian growing up, although neither he nor his family was particularly observant -- he only went to church and said grace on holidays and had done things that way since his college years -- but enough so that he saw no harm in attending this Christmas Eve, particularly since it was for a good cause rather than mass. For the old, washed-up hero who feels progressively more useless each day, each little grasp at making a difference still means something to Nelson even if he feels disappointment settle heavily in his chest each time he settles himself in for a compromise.

It was doing good, though; he could assure himself of that. The free food doesn't hurt, although he lingers by it after donating. It's only after much nervous hesitation he tries one of the brownies -- it isn't dinner but it's small enough not to be missed -- and after the first bite immediately feels sick for how spicy it is. Cue a brief coughing fit. ]

[glowsferatu]

[ kanaya hasn't touched the food. aside from not being a big eater to begin with, she's come with the very distinct impression that all of it's Not For Her. the flask of blood in her purse should be enough to hold her over until sh gets home, anyway.

she can't help noticing nelson's coughing, though, and the remainder of the brownie in his hand is enough to guess its cause. ]

That's likely karma at work.

[retropolis]

[ Nelson coughs again, touching his throat for a moment before he manages to look over at Kanaya. He seems at first surprised to see her, then his eyebrows wrinkle and he swallows. ]

Uh-- [ His voice is a little strained. ] How do you figure?

OPEN, Christmas day

[notadartboard]

[Even if he doesn't celebrate the holidays for any reason, Sanji always offers his services for free to the hungry. It's his one moral, the one thing that he can't ignore no matter what else is going on in his life. People are hungry, and he can fix that.

He saw the fliers, so this year, he's decided to station himself at the church suggesting that Imports do their parts. He's no hero, but one kitchen is as good as the next when the starving come in droves.

If anyone wants to help him, they will be welcome at his side, and if they need a meal themselves, this is what Sanji lives for.]

[boobwindow]

[ And through the doors comes a couple of volunteers leading in Power Girl, who carries around a dozen bags (reusable; you've got to be self-conscious about the environment around this time of the year) into the building. They're weighted down with so much food and the like inside, but it's no difficult feat for someone with super strength.

One of the volunteers points Peej toward the kitchen. She nods, making a beeline for Sanji, who she assumes is heading most of the cooking for the day. ]

Where do you want these?

[notadartboard]

[Hello lovely lady with food! It's like his own personal Christmas present!]

Oh, this way, this way! Here, let me make a spot on the counter.

[he's very quick about it, not spilling or wasting a drop of food or ruining any cookware in the process. That is a lot of heavy lifting, he's quite impressed, and makes enough room for Power Girl to set everything down]

That's going to make sure no one goes hungry, for sure. Ah, such kindness, miss! And such strength...

OPEN, 12/22 and probably scattered nights throughout the week

[glowsferatu]

[ kanaya is no kind of hero, she has and would balk at the title, and her faith is a joke that no one is laughing at. but when it comes to guilt she is very particularly susceptible, especially when it demands her to be useful to others. she has something of a predisposition to serving, all she really needs is an opportunity, but with that little bit of inadequacy if she abstains you will pretty much get her leaping for the hook.

churches themselves have always been a kind of weird place to her. she'll admit she doesn't know much about human religion beyond the stories associated with some major holidays, so there's a bit of curiosity as to how the whole thing works. the only religious person she's really known was a homicidal monster, but that's alternia for you. who's to say how it might be different on earth?

so she takes notes as she goes through the evening, mind the tables and serving the food. she pays attention to how the people interact with each other, looking for anything that might indicate a difference. she pays attention during the services, trying to determine what the whole point is. she couldn't say whether it's just skepticism or the want for something similar, some hope that there really is something these people have that she could be missing, but she's keeping an eye out for it nonetheless.

honestly, it's probably just the guilt. ]

[themisfit]

Ms. Maryam. Good evening. [ Kurt, of course, bought into this whole idea fairly easily. This is a nice thing that's been put together for the holiday season, and he's happy to participate. Kanaya, however... ] You look confused at best, my dear. Are you alright?

[glowsferatu]

Hmm? [ she looks up from the crowd to see the familiar face, realizing she must have stopped in the middle of removing the plastic wrap off a dish that had just come in. ] Oh, uh, sorry Mr. Wagner. I must have been lost in thought, I hope your evening's been well.

[withamask]

[ Renee enters the church soon after Kanaya arrives, and she looks around for any sign of her. In her left hand, she carries a gift; in her right, a paper bag filled with canned food. A small donation to help with the evening's feast.

Once she spots Kanaya, she approaches. ]

Hey.

[toolongdidntrejoice]

How good to see you've attended.

[ Kirei looks pleasant enough as he approaches her, with a smile and his hands folded neatly behind his back. Kanaya is a familiar face, and one he knows is connected to the pair of Servants in the City. It is worthwhile to get to know her. ]

Enjoying yourself?

christmas (open)

[heartlessglitch]

[ it's been some time since she was last at the church-- but it's more or less the way she remembers it. she sits in the very same pew she did the first time, somewhere near the back. the same sense of disconnect lingers in her mind. she understands the holiday as a concept-- much in the way that she has an academic understanding of "religion"-- but the ideas and the sentiments fail to mean anything to her personally. perhaps that's simply the nature of her being man-made.

she watches as church-goers bring food, compelled by the tagline on the flyers. she wonders what motivates these charitable acts. humans don't always strike her as so kind-hearted, especially to the weak or to those different from them-- but if she senses hypocrisy, she doesn't speak of it aloud, simply observing quietly from her seat as people come and go.

she must be a strange sight, with that blue hair and those blank eyes. it's obvious she doesn't quite belong there, in more ways than one. ]

[toolongdidntrejoice]

[ It's been quite some time, since that day she first entered his church.

It likely seems not so long ago to her, although he has spent time away. Still, he can remember that night in shocking detail. He has never met another being like her -- another being that may be so like himself. Not entirely, of course, but the elements are there. She learns, changes, and he learns too.

It's impossible to miss her, with her hair like that, and he approaches her. ]

Danger. [ His voice is oddly warm and he smiles. ] May I sit here?

christmas day | open

[boobwindow]

[ She didn't want to be alone on Christmas of all days.

Her first Christmas in this world and there's hollow feeling in her chest as she flies across the City, surveying the locals who have immersed themselves in the holiday spirit from a distance.

She misses Helena. She misses Kal, and the JSA, and Atlee. She misses the feeling of home when she isn't around those people.

But she's too stubborn to approach any of the Minutemen and ask if they want to spend some time together today. She dismisses the idea quickly; they likely have their own plans to tend to.

So, she spends her day helping volunteers bring in food to the church. She handles most of the bags, the heavier loads, and drops off food and other donations. She's not a religious person by any means, although she can't deny the possibility there's something out there watching them all, not when she's seen and fought gods.

When she's done with bringing in food and other necessities, she can be found toward a corner of the room or sitting in a pew staring off into space. ]

open!

[culver]

[Nill always feels most at home in churches. Her first days in the City, after all, had been spent in one. But it seems better to go to a different one for Christmas--there aren't many people who would go to a church that's technically abandoned, and she doesn't feel like sitting in a pew alone.

She's dressed up for the occasion: a simple blue dress with the back torn away and hemmed for her wings. She has a plastic bag on one arm, filled with pasta and jars of spaghetti sauce. She immediately begins searching for a box to put them in so she can eat a little something.]

[notadartboard]

[there's a cook in the kitchen supervising the donations who might be way too happy to see this visitor]

Miss Nill! It's wonderful to see you! Oh, you brought something? Let's see what you have, there...