05-10-2022, 02:38 PM
It shouldn't be in a holy man's nature to lie, but Edmund did not entirely believe that Father Brennan would be frugal with his and Mable's room. Still, he stayed quiet as he watched the man enter the inn. Alone now in the night, Edmund leaned against the building, sliding down gently as he could until he was sitting on the cold cobblestone ground.
In his absence, Edmund considered Father Brennan. More specifically, his title. It was strange to call someone other than Lloyd Greene by it, but doing so also felt unexpectedly good. Part of it was taking the meaning Lloyd had poisoned the word with and cleaning it away, stripping all context from it completely.
There was also comfort in the fact that, one way or another, Father Brennan had earned his right to be called so, not just by bearing children.
Using the hand that had been supporting Mable's legs when walking, Edmund traced lines gently over his sister's face to wake her up slowly, figuring she'd have to be woken eventually to eat. When it didn't work immediately, Edmund murmured her name, repeating it until her eyes fluttered open.
She made a number of quiet whines, all possibly words Edmund just couldn't decipher. He smiled softly, letting her vent as long as she needed before he spoke.
"We're getting a bed and some dinner in a minute here. I met someone while you were asleep - think you'll be able to walk by yourself?"
The girl grunted in response, but wiggled enough to move from her brother's lap. Edmund stood, supporting himself again on the wall and helping his sister up just as Father Brennan returned.
As long as they needed it..? And food too? Christ, Edmund didn't want to think about what that might have cost the man right now. He took the key with careful fingers, keeping it in his grip as if the moment he let it go, he'd lose it. Behind him, Mable blinked and squinted at the stranger before her, but said nothing.
"Thank you, Father," Edmund said, quiet but earnest. "You've been too kind to us tonight." I'm in your debt, he didn't say, but thought it firmly to himself.
"Where - if we want to find you again, where should we look?" At this, Edmund beckoned his sister forward with his free hand, hoping she was aware enough to be able to remember any directions offered to them. Edmund would do his best, but he was useless at interpreting them.
In his absence, Edmund considered Father Brennan. More specifically, his title. It was strange to call someone other than Lloyd Greene by it, but doing so also felt unexpectedly good. Part of it was taking the meaning Lloyd had poisoned the word with and cleaning it away, stripping all context from it completely.
There was also comfort in the fact that, one way or another, Father Brennan had earned his right to be called so, not just by bearing children.
Using the hand that had been supporting Mable's legs when walking, Edmund traced lines gently over his sister's face to wake her up slowly, figuring she'd have to be woken eventually to eat. When it didn't work immediately, Edmund murmured her name, repeating it until her eyes fluttered open.
She made a number of quiet whines, all possibly words Edmund just couldn't decipher. He smiled softly, letting her vent as long as she needed before he spoke.
"We're getting a bed and some dinner in a minute here. I met someone while you were asleep - think you'll be able to walk by yourself?"
The girl grunted in response, but wiggled enough to move from her brother's lap. Edmund stood, supporting himself again on the wall and helping his sister up just as Father Brennan returned.
As long as they needed it..? And food too? Christ, Edmund didn't want to think about what that might have cost the man right now. He took the key with careful fingers, keeping it in his grip as if the moment he let it go, he'd lose it. Behind him, Mable blinked and squinted at the stranger before her, but said nothing.
"Thank you, Father," Edmund said, quiet but earnest. "You've been too kind to us tonight." I'm in your debt, he didn't say, but thought it firmly to himself.
"Where - if we want to find you again, where should we look?" At this, Edmund beckoned his sister forward with his free hand, hoping she was aware enough to be able to remember any directions offered to them. Edmund would do his best, but he was useless at interpreting them.
