O"Malley was listening to the conversations he could hear, the laughter, coughs, other vocal tells, before moving through the break and getting a small glass and pouring himself a little bit of whiskey. He lifted the glass to his lips. Voices. Day in, day out. He knew secrets, and things to make even a best seller seem pale in comparison.
The deep scrapes on her knuckles were still healing. Anya tried a few times to figure out where they were from, but waking up in the alley didn't do much for her confession time. She bumped the back door opened with her hip and entered into the main room. The good father was going to get a bottle of the cheap Whiskey in the morning, well nearly at first light — which he might appreciate with the sweet treats. Slipping behind the bar, she stayed out of Panther's way, but she smiled. Dropping money in the till, she grabbed a bottle of the cheap stuff for the father and one for her. By the time she's done, all will be forgotten with the day's trouble. The basket was placed on the end of the counter and she went around the bar to sit. Unbuttoning her coat, she left it on the stool and she stared at the bottle for her. Goodness waiting to drown.
Minding her own business, because mostly when you tend to get in the way of others, they take you down. Seeing the Panther with Sjira, picked at her mind for a bit, odd, she wondered if the other stranger found the information he needed and hoped he was safe. Shaking it off, she sat on the stool and uncorked the bottle of cheap Whiskey and pour some in to the shot glass. "To you." Some unseen force of nature or force of secrets. Crossing herself before it went down. After, she didn't mean to act blonde, but she was and often forgetful like not body's business. Reaching into her basket, she removed a rather nice plate of chuck chocolate cookies, sweet apple tarts and berry turnovers. She's leave them for whomever wanted it.
Money flew around the place, like trash blew through the streets. He just had to shake his head, but the sign of the cross was studied.....and the voice.
Yanking her hat off, yellow strands of hair was electrifying. The shot glass filled again and she downed it and shook her head. The burn was welcomed.
Blonde hair, the cheap drink, and the voice, there were a lot of secrets there. Things that just made him wonder what other people did, since she was out doing them all. He said nothing yet, just lifted that glass again for a small sip "Or lord in heaven." Seeing herself in the mirror. Licking her palms and trying to smooth the fly aways. "Aye, I had an accident. They are healing though." Absently tugging at her sweater to hide them. "I have accidents all the time." The good father knew it, days she'd wake up not knowing what happened. "I did a good job at stitching." It hurt like hell and she cursed, oh did she curse. How many hail Mary's did she do"
Now that'd he had heard more, he was certain, and that just made him chuckle.
"At least I had my boots on." She smiled to Panther, because this was a huge miracle. "It wasn't so last month. It's really cold outside when you ...aren't with what you need." Naked in an alley is no fun either.
Panther found the box he was looking for he pulls it out and sets upon the bar top. Opening it he inspects the contents for a few moments:: good, someone has been keeping this thing stocked. No, nor is naked under a tree....::said absently as he pulls a couple of small pouches from within the box::
Now she should probably go outside, this is about the time talking too much got her in trouble. Was that the first aid kit' She's replaced a few things in there herself several times. A good thing to because there are people who get hurt "I imagine not. It's a horrible thing to be without." She smiled. Grabbing her coat, the basket and the cheap bottle of open Whiskey. The porch swing looked like a great place to be. Wait, she can't button up with her hands full. This was exactly what happened at confession, at least she didn't knock herself out.
Panther was preparing some healing salves for her, along with lavender oil, which S"jira went to get from her room.
She had no idea with the cat was doing, she was fine really. Pulling her coat back and buttoning it up, she missed a button, so it was all lopsided. Most of her hair was smoothed out, she pulled the knitted cap on and her gloves. "I'll try to bring some blankets for the kitchen, we're always short of blankets. Trough tossing I suppose." Corking the bottle of Whiskey and making sure the second bottle is down in the basket night and secure. She could always leave it at the back door like she had several times for the good father.
Panther pointed at her and said, "You...sit."
A lot. Blue eyes went wide. "I didn't do it, I swear, I paid...I paid for both bottles Panther, once, once I didn't pay, but I did the next time and left more. I swear it." Hands up and she crossed her heart. "I would never steal, dear god in heaven. Now I have to confess for something I d.." Maybe she did" Maybe she did when she was snockered off her arse" Patting herself down, she didn't have any more money on her. "I ...I can give you the bottle back, will be square" I'll do dishes." She does them often and also makes coffee and tea too. Heck, she even gave away her room here.
He hadn't heard her confess to stealing that he could recall, but he was watching all the while enjoying his cig.
Panther gave a dismissive wave. "Who cares about that' Just sit for another moment or three. 'jira will be right back with something you need." Soon she returned with the oil and Panther was kind enough to give her healing salves with a cinnamon stick, which hopefully she wouldn't eat.
Someone was laughing, but she had no idea who. Maybe it was Inn ward"
Father O"Malley dropped a few coins on the bar for Anya. "Tha' should help," Quietly said before he turned back to his own glass.
She's never stolen in her life, ever. She'd give the shirt off her back if it helped someone. "What do I need?" Blinking. "You aren't going to hand cuff me are you?" The woman looked exotic, and she knew about the desert savages. "I swear..." Seeing the dark haired man put coins on the bar for her. "Thank you sir....I will pay you back." She shoved them to Panther. "Please, please...don't send me to the guard." Really, when a cat said sit, she was terrified. She can't watch, no. Firmly closing her eyes, more like clamping, she was preparing for the worse.
"Ya already do more'n ya know." O"Malley refilled his glass.
Oh lord, this was going to be like when the witch cuffed her and she, god the snakes and confession. Wait' Do more than what? Peeking out of one eye, the voice. Panther was reaching for something and she closed it again. This is going to be painful isn't it"
"To the powders, add just enough liquid to make a thick paste. Each night before bed, pour some of the oil on a clean cloth, use it to wipe the wounds, then apply the paste. Then wrap clean cloth about your hands until morning." Panther explained.
It didn't feel like cuffs, it felt like pouches. Take" Take" It seemed safe to open her eyes to see the pouches. "Thank you." Having no idea what they were, but she took them. When the Panther speaks, she's listening. "Thank you." Repeating a few times. The coins weren't needed, so she tucked the pouches in her pocket and forced a smile. Anya didn't like trouble at all, really. She thought it was her fault. Bowing and trying to curtsy at the same time didn't work. "Oh, thank you...for the healing." THat was very nice of him. "Thank you...I'm sorry I thought.." Talk about red cheeked. "I will." Taking the stick. "Thank you, you are kind for giving these things....Excuse me please." Taking up the coins and taking them back to the dark hair man. Everything Panther said put away in her mind. Hopefully she won't end up eating the stick. "Thank you mister."Giving him back the coins. Two nice people....wait, three nice people in one night, she was so excited!
His hand came out for the coins. "Ya sure?" He turned to look at her a moment. "Don't want you in anymore trouble."
With her coat on it was hot in here, so she yanked off the hat again, continued static electricity. "I, think he forgave me, but I don't remember stealing,I don't think I did. I never have, it's wrong, not right, no, no." Nodding to Panther. She actually bartered with the cobbler with the other man. She hasn't put two and two together yet, so she had no idea about Panther being Dar. "Yes, sir..." Offering her hand. "You are kind, Panther and his woman...they are kind too. It's good to know it is here. He's a good one with being kind too." Blabber mouth McClaerie going at it again, chewing leather because of her nerves.
"'ello, Anya." He took her hand and shook. "I'm...complicated." He laughed. If he introduced himself, she'd have a breakdown, so the behavior was suggesting.
His voice sounded really familiar, but most of the time, she did the talking, he listened, and once in a while deny snickering. She shook his hand for a long time, then forgot what she was doing. Bringing it back and making a I'm sorry I shook your hand off smile. "You don't have to give your name, some people believe having a name is power." It must be his faith. "Thanks mister." Mister would do, yes it would. If he dared say his name, she would probably explode.
"Athair." Muttered to her.
"Athair." She didn't put two and two together. "Nice to meet you Athair."
He smiled at her and lifted his glass. "To meetings."
"Yes, Athair, to meetings." Damn it, she had to reach into her basket, uncork the bottle and raise a bottle to his glass. At this rate, she'd not even be fuzzy with Whiskey by the time she was home. "I haven't see you here before, I hope whatever your business may be, it is blessed." Licking her lips of the Whiskey.
He lifted his glass to lips, watching her with dark green eyes, he knew it was her, without a doubt. "Blessed." He smirked. "It usually is, dear Anya."
Her eyes were the same hue of blue, but one was much lighter than the other. "This is good, blessed is a good word." One of her favorite. She watched Panther for a moment, but then looked back at Athair. "You're Irish?" From the sound of his name he was. She didn't normally talk with an accent because it was better to blend in, and well, when she was drunk, it was much stronger...or singing the bawdy and slightly lewd shanties.
"Aye, a touch." He watched her as she spoke. "Why are you out on such a cold night, this late?" He did worry about his flock.
The Cloch na Blarnan was her reason for the blabbery mouth. "I'm out every night, I shouldn't be, but I don't like the quiet." She often complained about the O'Connor brothers, Padrig (Paddy), Seamus and Angus with their rabblerousing, fighting and talk of doing more than kissing a lass, it was crazy. "I don't mind the cold." It numbs everything.
The cheap whiskey was making him a little warmer, so he pulled that black dress coat off, revealing just a dark dresshirt, which made the white at his throat pop. "Nice lass should be somewhere warm, instead of bar, with drink and smoke." He grinned as he shook another smoke from the pack. Being the gentleman he was, he even offered her one.
She blinked three times and straightened. Athair. now she added up the numbers. "No thank you Athair." Maybe he wasn't, was he" "I was raised in a tavern sir. This is like home, in away." Since she had no family left. Still standing, she unbuttoned her coat before she burned up. Normally she'd wear it because she fell asleep outside and would come in with frozen parts.
He put the pack back on the bar. He wondered if it would ever dawn on her, but he really didn't want her running away, screaming into the night.
She's slow sometimes, because when you assume then it's horrible. She knew something, but not that Father. "Do you like the cold?" What a dumb question, but it came out of her mouth before she could stop it.
"I like any day I am blessed with, Anya." He took another sip from the glass. "What about you?" Sleeping outside and freezing your bits off, wasn't fun for her he was certain.
No, not normally. "Every day is a blue day, better than black."
"Ya need somethin' brighter than a blue day, once in a while." He refilled that glass.
"Brighter than the blue in the sky' " Absently moving her hand to smooth down fly aways. "Maybe yellow then." She hasn't had many of those in the last few years. She tried though.
"Aye, yellow." He nodded, certainly she was going to be some sort of angel when she left the world. He felt for her, he knew the blue days and black, luckily the black were fewer and farther between.
No angel, not at all. "If you ever need a place to lay your head, The Boar's Nest, I always keep a room if it is needed."
"I've, um, got a place, thank you for that offer, M..Anya."
"Oh, good. I thought you were new to Rhydin. Sometimes people end up here with no place to go. I met a man the other night, poor one...no memory, woke up after two years. I hope he's fine."
"No memory' That would be sad."
"He remembered the lass ..but I only hope he is fine. Well, maybe not any memory, he said it was two years before he remembered. My mind isn't so good sometimes."
"I'm sure that's not th' case, Anya." The smile was easy, the bottle was capped, before he looked at her again, seeing if she had something to drink. "Can I get ya a coffee" Or a wee nip?" He offered his bottle.
She finally took her coat off and put it on the stool, but she stood there. She smiled. "You are kind Athair....but it is true, I have no problem admit it...the good Father O'Malley knows it too. I'm sure I've driven him to drink for all of his flock." She corked her bottle, and well, she's not one to turn down a wee nip. Taking the bottle and helping herself to two nice nips! Putting his bottle back on the counter.
"Th' Good Father O' Malley, he does like a nip now and again."
"Two months ago, broke my ankle on the front stairs, just two weeks ago, opened up my knee, had to get stitches." Yeah, that was a good confession. Man touching her knee, oh lordy!
"It's fair to say that it wouldn't be just your confessions that would make the man have a taste of liquor."
"More than once in awhile. He told me since I confess more than anyone, it was my earthly duty to bring him a bottle of Whiskey twice a week. This kind." Taps his bottle. "No, I'm sure not, but I had to say Hail Marys because he said I confessed to much." Really"!
He looked at his bottle, and smiled as she tapped. "The man's got taste."
"He's a good father, he likes my compact cakes....but I think he likes anything sweet." Nodding. "Yes, yes he does. The old fish wives say he's a fat lush, I tell them to shut their trap. THey should be honored he's here serving."
She did come to the booth often, but some people needed that. "Seven is not too many for the same number of confessions in a day." Let himself slip a bit.
"I don't think so either!" Oh, slip" No, no. Someone agreed with her. "I have twice a day on Tuesday, once a day most days, except I don't count early morning."
He just laughed as he watched her. She was so animated, he wished he could see her in the booth now.
"Those bitty-butt-ins make me so mad." The fish monger wives. She frowned so hard it hurt. "Why does someone want to be so cruel" There's already enough shyte going on here without then adding to it."
"I've heard he's a strapping fellow." Offered helpfully. "Bit of an eternal five'o clock shadow."
Oh, yes she was, and he started talking about confession don't get her started. She was rocking back and forth in place. "They called Chen slant eyes, how rude ...it's true, but how rude, he can't help the way God made him. They have fish eyes and smell like donkeys." Covering her mouth.
A look of surprise when she was on the rant.
"I've never seen him, Father Jim preached, O'Malley confessions...is his thing. I don't know, Rhydin is strange. I'm just glad to have someone who cares. Those old bitty-butt ins neeed to be thrashed with a big...stick for how mean they are. I don't rightly mean it, but there da' shoulda whupped them an' teach them manners." Now she had to confess for hating, again.
He just smiled at her. "Maybe he's just got big ears and loves to listen?"
"Oh, even if he has big ears, God loves him...and so do others. It takes a special man to listen and no judge." Slowly nodding. "I hit one of them last year and Father O'Malley didn't make me confess for that, he said it was a lesson given and deserved. He called it righteous anger."
"God loves everyone," He nodded in agreement with Anya.
She smiled back, and she was talking fairly easily like she was talking to someone she's known forever. More giggles" Anya made a strange look, she heard, but thought not to look. God, hopefully she wasn't wearing a skirt in her knickers. She growled a little. "I don't. It's a good thing I am not god, I would smite the evil doers." She knew of a few people she'd like to do in and a few she would do. "Grr.." She tapped herself in the head to get Jane's words of random "D" out of her brain! The blonde and word association is really-really bad.
"Well, lets not be out smiting, or trying, yeah?"
Folding her fingers together like she was going to pray, but instead she moved them together, up and down, up and down. A really-really bad habit. Then she stopped herself and forced her hands down to hang. "I'm a sinner Athair, the last person who could smite even if I wanted to would be me." She even prayed for her tormentor more than once. Prayed redemption,but it didn't endwell.
"We all are." He shook another smoke from the pack.
Yeah, some don't care that they are. Her knuckled started itching. She tried to ignore the feeling. What does she say to his answer" Nothing really, she's already said too much.
"You are too hard on yourself, Anya." He waved to the departing woman, why not"
Moving out of his way. He was waving, she should let him enjoy his night. "THank you again for the coin." Shaking her head. "No, I am not hard enough, after all I've done wrong." Four dead, all her fault. She knew it. "I try though, hopefully some day it will be good enough."
He wasn't leaving, he was waving to Audrey, so Anya got a smile.
She didn't know.
He sighed softly with her words of not being hard enough. "Anya, you can not be too hard on yourself. You focus on the now, and as you live you keep asking for that forgiveness. You know his grace is great."
"His grace is for someone who deserves it, but maybe someday." She smiled with a shrug. "You sound like a priest."
He pointed at his collar, that small two and a half inch wide, three inch tall white square. "Aye, I do."
Blink. He's really pretty to be a priest. There's the nervous tick again, she rocked back and forth. "I see." Now she felt guilty because Father O'Malley was her confession-er. "You have a congregation in Rhydin?"
He smiled a little bigger. "Father Jim, has a congregation."
She scratched her head. "Father Jim, yes, Father Jim." biting on her lip, she might chew right through. "You must be one of the Luthern's than, they wear collars and have women."
He shook his head. "No..."
Scratching her head. "Oh, Methodist. Not Mormon, because they have plenty of wives, I doubt you'd be a bar if that's the case, you'd be busy with all your wives. I know about harems first hand." The desert savages tried to make her part of one, hell no, thankyouverymuch! Pulling her coat back on and her hat. She didn't want to betray Father O'Malley, Athair is really nice, but he didn't know her confessional history or her secrets, yeah, can't betray O'Malley. "It was nice to meet you Athair, I better get going, I have a long walk home. You come to the Boar's Nest sometime, and I'll make dinner for you." Feed the father, they needed feeding.
He just laughed. "Picture a wall between us, Anya. Small screen?" He stood and took up his jacket, sliding it on before the long coat was shouldered on as well.
"No, no, no!" Finger up, but she didn't mean to point. "I am not...I am not going to another Father, I can't and won't. Thank you for your help, but I will not betray him." Oh, this bad. Now she was kind of mad, but not red faced. She couldn't stay upset for long.
"Ya aren't....betraying me." He grinned, wondering if she was going to listen. "I'll walk with ya, if ya let me."
"This is not confession. Only one place to do that, only one!" She smiled, grabbed her basket and headed for the door singing really loud..."Do virgins taste better than those who are not' Are they salty, or sweeter, more juicy or what?" She didn't hear him say me. NO. She did not. THough she heard walk and nodded.
He just shook his head and followed her toward the door. Sooner or later, it would sink in.
"Do you savor them slowly' Gulp them down on the spot' Do virgins taste better than those who are not?" The door opened, and she stepped out. Athair was going to hear this song a good part of the way, it's a good drinking song! "Now we've found a solution, it works out so neat, If you insist on nothing but virgins to eat. No more will our number ever grow small, We'll simply make sure there's no virgins at all! At all! At all." She grinned at the new Father.
It was a catchy tune, not one he'd hear on Sunday but she was happy, so he hummed along as he walked.
Everyone else got a wave before she left the building. She intended on driinking all the way. Stepping around the big man. "Evening to you. Don't eat a virgin." She closed the door and walked with O'Malley however far he was going. "You too mister big man." He got a salute with the bottle and off she went.
Wave to the big man as well and he was following the bawdy singing blonde.
Thank you to Panther, S'jira and Father O'Malley for the live play.
The deep scrapes on her knuckles were still healing. Anya tried a few times to figure out where they were from, but waking up in the alley didn't do much for her confession time. She bumped the back door opened with her hip and entered into the main room. The good father was going to get a bottle of the cheap Whiskey in the morning, well nearly at first light — which he might appreciate with the sweet treats. Slipping behind the bar, she stayed out of Panther's way, but she smiled. Dropping money in the till, she grabbed a bottle of the cheap stuff for the father and one for her. By the time she's done, all will be forgotten with the day's trouble. The basket was placed on the end of the counter and she went around the bar to sit. Unbuttoning her coat, she left it on the stool and she stared at the bottle for her. Goodness waiting to drown.
Minding her own business, because mostly when you tend to get in the way of others, they take you down. Seeing the Panther with Sjira, picked at her mind for a bit, odd, she wondered if the other stranger found the information he needed and hoped he was safe. Shaking it off, she sat on the stool and uncorked the bottle of cheap Whiskey and pour some in to the shot glass. "To you." Some unseen force of nature or force of secrets. Crossing herself before it went down. After, she didn't mean to act blonde, but she was and often forgetful like not body's business. Reaching into her basket, she removed a rather nice plate of chuck chocolate cookies, sweet apple tarts and berry turnovers. She's leave them for whomever wanted it.
Money flew around the place, like trash blew through the streets. He just had to shake his head, but the sign of the cross was studied.....and the voice.
Yanking her hat off, yellow strands of hair was electrifying. The shot glass filled again and she downed it and shook her head. The burn was welcomed.
Blonde hair, the cheap drink, and the voice, there were a lot of secrets there. Things that just made him wonder what other people did, since she was out doing them all. He said nothing yet, just lifted that glass again for a small sip "Or lord in heaven." Seeing herself in the mirror. Licking her palms and trying to smooth the fly aways. "Aye, I had an accident. They are healing though." Absently tugging at her sweater to hide them. "I have accidents all the time." The good father knew it, days she'd wake up not knowing what happened. "I did a good job at stitching." It hurt like hell and she cursed, oh did she curse. How many hail Mary's did she do"
Now that'd he had heard more, he was certain, and that just made him chuckle.
"At least I had my boots on." She smiled to Panther, because this was a huge miracle. "It wasn't so last month. It's really cold outside when you ...aren't with what you need." Naked in an alley is no fun either.
Panther found the box he was looking for he pulls it out and sets upon the bar top. Opening it he inspects the contents for a few moments:: good, someone has been keeping this thing stocked. No, nor is naked under a tree....::said absently as he pulls a couple of small pouches from within the box::
Now she should probably go outside, this is about the time talking too much got her in trouble. Was that the first aid kit' She's replaced a few things in there herself several times. A good thing to because there are people who get hurt "I imagine not. It's a horrible thing to be without." She smiled. Grabbing her coat, the basket and the cheap bottle of open Whiskey. The porch swing looked like a great place to be. Wait, she can't button up with her hands full. This was exactly what happened at confession, at least she didn't knock herself out.
Panther was preparing some healing salves for her, along with lavender oil, which S"jira went to get from her room.
She had no idea with the cat was doing, she was fine really. Pulling her coat back and buttoning it up, she missed a button, so it was all lopsided. Most of her hair was smoothed out, she pulled the knitted cap on and her gloves. "I'll try to bring some blankets for the kitchen, we're always short of blankets. Trough tossing I suppose." Corking the bottle of Whiskey and making sure the second bottle is down in the basket night and secure. She could always leave it at the back door like she had several times for the good father.
Panther pointed at her and said, "You...sit."
A lot. Blue eyes went wide. "I didn't do it, I swear, I paid...I paid for both bottles Panther, once, once I didn't pay, but I did the next time and left more. I swear it." Hands up and she crossed her heart. "I would never steal, dear god in heaven. Now I have to confess for something I d.." Maybe she did" Maybe she did when she was snockered off her arse" Patting herself down, she didn't have any more money on her. "I ...I can give you the bottle back, will be square" I'll do dishes." She does them often and also makes coffee and tea too. Heck, she even gave away her room here.
He hadn't heard her confess to stealing that he could recall, but he was watching all the while enjoying his cig.
Panther gave a dismissive wave. "Who cares about that' Just sit for another moment or three. 'jira will be right back with something you need." Soon she returned with the oil and Panther was kind enough to give her healing salves with a cinnamon stick, which hopefully she wouldn't eat.
Someone was laughing, but she had no idea who. Maybe it was Inn ward"
Father O"Malley dropped a few coins on the bar for Anya. "Tha' should help," Quietly said before he turned back to his own glass.
She's never stolen in her life, ever. She'd give the shirt off her back if it helped someone. "What do I need?" Blinking. "You aren't going to hand cuff me are you?" The woman looked exotic, and she knew about the desert savages. "I swear..." Seeing the dark haired man put coins on the bar for her. "Thank you sir....I will pay you back." She shoved them to Panther. "Please, please...don't send me to the guard." Really, when a cat said sit, she was terrified. She can't watch, no. Firmly closing her eyes, more like clamping, she was preparing for the worse.
"Ya already do more'n ya know." O"Malley refilled his glass.
Oh lord, this was going to be like when the witch cuffed her and she, god the snakes and confession. Wait' Do more than what? Peeking out of one eye, the voice. Panther was reaching for something and she closed it again. This is going to be painful isn't it"
"To the powders, add just enough liquid to make a thick paste. Each night before bed, pour some of the oil on a clean cloth, use it to wipe the wounds, then apply the paste. Then wrap clean cloth about your hands until morning." Panther explained.
It didn't feel like cuffs, it felt like pouches. Take" Take" It seemed safe to open her eyes to see the pouches. "Thank you." Having no idea what they were, but she took them. When the Panther speaks, she's listening. "Thank you." Repeating a few times. The coins weren't needed, so she tucked the pouches in her pocket and forced a smile. Anya didn't like trouble at all, really. She thought it was her fault. Bowing and trying to curtsy at the same time didn't work. "Oh, thank you...for the healing." THat was very nice of him. "Thank you...I'm sorry I thought.." Talk about red cheeked. "I will." Taking the stick. "Thank you, you are kind for giving these things....Excuse me please." Taking up the coins and taking them back to the dark hair man. Everything Panther said put away in her mind. Hopefully she won't end up eating the stick. "Thank you mister."Giving him back the coins. Two nice people....wait, three nice people in one night, she was so excited!
His hand came out for the coins. "Ya sure?" He turned to look at her a moment. "Don't want you in anymore trouble."
With her coat on it was hot in here, so she yanked off the hat again, continued static electricity. "I, think he forgave me, but I don't remember stealing,I don't think I did. I never have, it's wrong, not right, no, no." Nodding to Panther. She actually bartered with the cobbler with the other man. She hasn't put two and two together yet, so she had no idea about Panther being Dar. "Yes, sir..." Offering her hand. "You are kind, Panther and his woman...they are kind too. It's good to know it is here. He's a good one with being kind too." Blabber mouth McClaerie going at it again, chewing leather because of her nerves.
"'ello, Anya." He took her hand and shook. "I'm...complicated." He laughed. If he introduced himself, she'd have a breakdown, so the behavior was suggesting.
His voice sounded really familiar, but most of the time, she did the talking, he listened, and once in a while deny snickering. She shook his hand for a long time, then forgot what she was doing. Bringing it back and making a I'm sorry I shook your hand off smile. "You don't have to give your name, some people believe having a name is power." It must be his faith. "Thanks mister." Mister would do, yes it would. If he dared say his name, she would probably explode.
"Athair." Muttered to her.
"Athair." She didn't put two and two together. "Nice to meet you Athair."
He smiled at her and lifted his glass. "To meetings."
"Yes, Athair, to meetings." Damn it, she had to reach into her basket, uncork the bottle and raise a bottle to his glass. At this rate, she'd not even be fuzzy with Whiskey by the time she was home. "I haven't see you here before, I hope whatever your business may be, it is blessed." Licking her lips of the Whiskey.
He lifted his glass to lips, watching her with dark green eyes, he knew it was her, without a doubt. "Blessed." He smirked. "It usually is, dear Anya."
Her eyes were the same hue of blue, but one was much lighter than the other. "This is good, blessed is a good word." One of her favorite. She watched Panther for a moment, but then looked back at Athair. "You're Irish?" From the sound of his name he was. She didn't normally talk with an accent because it was better to blend in, and well, when she was drunk, it was much stronger...or singing the bawdy and slightly lewd shanties.
"Aye, a touch." He watched her as she spoke. "Why are you out on such a cold night, this late?" He did worry about his flock.
The Cloch na Blarnan was her reason for the blabbery mouth. "I'm out every night, I shouldn't be, but I don't like the quiet." She often complained about the O'Connor brothers, Padrig (Paddy), Seamus and Angus with their rabblerousing, fighting and talk of doing more than kissing a lass, it was crazy. "I don't mind the cold." It numbs everything.
The cheap whiskey was making him a little warmer, so he pulled that black dress coat off, revealing just a dark dresshirt, which made the white at his throat pop. "Nice lass should be somewhere warm, instead of bar, with drink and smoke." He grinned as he shook another smoke from the pack. Being the gentleman he was, he even offered her one.
She blinked three times and straightened. Athair. now she added up the numbers. "No thank you Athair." Maybe he wasn't, was he" "I was raised in a tavern sir. This is like home, in away." Since she had no family left. Still standing, she unbuttoned her coat before she burned up. Normally she'd wear it because she fell asleep outside and would come in with frozen parts.
He put the pack back on the bar. He wondered if it would ever dawn on her, but he really didn't want her running away, screaming into the night.
She's slow sometimes, because when you assume then it's horrible. She knew something, but not that Father. "Do you like the cold?" What a dumb question, but it came out of her mouth before she could stop it.
"I like any day I am blessed with, Anya." He took another sip from the glass. "What about you?" Sleeping outside and freezing your bits off, wasn't fun for her he was certain.
No, not normally. "Every day is a blue day, better than black."
"Ya need somethin' brighter than a blue day, once in a while." He refilled that glass.
"Brighter than the blue in the sky' " Absently moving her hand to smooth down fly aways. "Maybe yellow then." She hasn't had many of those in the last few years. She tried though.
"Aye, yellow." He nodded, certainly she was going to be some sort of angel when she left the world. He felt for her, he knew the blue days and black, luckily the black were fewer and farther between.
No angel, not at all. "If you ever need a place to lay your head, The Boar's Nest, I always keep a room if it is needed."
"I've, um, got a place, thank you for that offer, M..Anya."
"Oh, good. I thought you were new to Rhydin. Sometimes people end up here with no place to go. I met a man the other night, poor one...no memory, woke up after two years. I hope he's fine."
"No memory' That would be sad."
"He remembered the lass ..but I only hope he is fine. Well, maybe not any memory, he said it was two years before he remembered. My mind isn't so good sometimes."
"I'm sure that's not th' case, Anya." The smile was easy, the bottle was capped, before he looked at her again, seeing if she had something to drink. "Can I get ya a coffee" Or a wee nip?" He offered his bottle.
She finally took her coat off and put it on the stool, but she stood there. She smiled. "You are kind Athair....but it is true, I have no problem admit it...the good Father O'Malley knows it too. I'm sure I've driven him to drink for all of his flock." She corked her bottle, and well, she's not one to turn down a wee nip. Taking the bottle and helping herself to two nice nips! Putting his bottle back on the counter.
"Th' Good Father O' Malley, he does like a nip now and again."
"Two months ago, broke my ankle on the front stairs, just two weeks ago, opened up my knee, had to get stitches." Yeah, that was a good confession. Man touching her knee, oh lordy!
"It's fair to say that it wouldn't be just your confessions that would make the man have a taste of liquor."
"More than once in awhile. He told me since I confess more than anyone, it was my earthly duty to bring him a bottle of Whiskey twice a week. This kind." Taps his bottle. "No, I'm sure not, but I had to say Hail Marys because he said I confessed to much." Really"!
He looked at his bottle, and smiled as she tapped. "The man's got taste."
"He's a good father, he likes my compact cakes....but I think he likes anything sweet." Nodding. "Yes, yes he does. The old fish wives say he's a fat lush, I tell them to shut their trap. THey should be honored he's here serving."
She did come to the booth often, but some people needed that. "Seven is not too many for the same number of confessions in a day." Let himself slip a bit.
"I don't think so either!" Oh, slip" No, no. Someone agreed with her. "I have twice a day on Tuesday, once a day most days, except I don't count early morning."
He just laughed as he watched her. She was so animated, he wished he could see her in the booth now.
"Those bitty-butt-ins make me so mad." The fish monger wives. She frowned so hard it hurt. "Why does someone want to be so cruel" There's already enough shyte going on here without then adding to it."
"I've heard he's a strapping fellow." Offered helpfully. "Bit of an eternal five'o clock shadow."
Oh, yes she was, and he started talking about confession don't get her started. She was rocking back and forth in place. "They called Chen slant eyes, how rude ...it's true, but how rude, he can't help the way God made him. They have fish eyes and smell like donkeys." Covering her mouth.
A look of surprise when she was on the rant.
"I've never seen him, Father Jim preached, O'Malley confessions...is his thing. I don't know, Rhydin is strange. I'm just glad to have someone who cares. Those old bitty-butt ins neeed to be thrashed with a big...stick for how mean they are. I don't rightly mean it, but there da' shoulda whupped them an' teach them manners." Now she had to confess for hating, again.
He just smiled at her. "Maybe he's just got big ears and loves to listen?"
"Oh, even if he has big ears, God loves him...and so do others. It takes a special man to listen and no judge." Slowly nodding. "I hit one of them last year and Father O'Malley didn't make me confess for that, he said it was a lesson given and deserved. He called it righteous anger."
"God loves everyone," He nodded in agreement with Anya.
She smiled back, and she was talking fairly easily like she was talking to someone she's known forever. More giggles" Anya made a strange look, she heard, but thought not to look. God, hopefully she wasn't wearing a skirt in her knickers. She growled a little. "I don't. It's a good thing I am not god, I would smite the evil doers." She knew of a few people she'd like to do in and a few she would do. "Grr.." She tapped herself in the head to get Jane's words of random "D" out of her brain! The blonde and word association is really-really bad.
"Well, lets not be out smiting, or trying, yeah?"
Folding her fingers together like she was going to pray, but instead she moved them together, up and down, up and down. A really-really bad habit. Then she stopped herself and forced her hands down to hang. "I'm a sinner Athair, the last person who could smite even if I wanted to would be me." She even prayed for her tormentor more than once. Prayed redemption,but it didn't endwell.
"We all are." He shook another smoke from the pack.
Yeah, some don't care that they are. Her knuckled started itching. She tried to ignore the feeling. What does she say to his answer" Nothing really, she's already said too much.
"You are too hard on yourself, Anya." He waved to the departing woman, why not"
Moving out of his way. He was waving, she should let him enjoy his night. "THank you again for the coin." Shaking her head. "No, I am not hard enough, after all I've done wrong." Four dead, all her fault. She knew it. "I try though, hopefully some day it will be good enough."
He wasn't leaving, he was waving to Audrey, so Anya got a smile.
She didn't know.
He sighed softly with her words of not being hard enough. "Anya, you can not be too hard on yourself. You focus on the now, and as you live you keep asking for that forgiveness. You know his grace is great."
"His grace is for someone who deserves it, but maybe someday." She smiled with a shrug. "You sound like a priest."
He pointed at his collar, that small two and a half inch wide, three inch tall white square. "Aye, I do."
Blink. He's really pretty to be a priest. There's the nervous tick again, she rocked back and forth. "I see." Now she felt guilty because Father O'Malley was her confession-er. "You have a congregation in Rhydin?"
He smiled a little bigger. "Father Jim, has a congregation."
She scratched her head. "Father Jim, yes, Father Jim." biting on her lip, she might chew right through. "You must be one of the Luthern's than, they wear collars and have women."
He shook his head. "No..."
Scratching her head. "Oh, Methodist. Not Mormon, because they have plenty of wives, I doubt you'd be a bar if that's the case, you'd be busy with all your wives. I know about harems first hand." The desert savages tried to make her part of one, hell no, thankyouverymuch! Pulling her coat back on and her hat. She didn't want to betray Father O'Malley, Athair is really nice, but he didn't know her confessional history or her secrets, yeah, can't betray O'Malley. "It was nice to meet you Athair, I better get going, I have a long walk home. You come to the Boar's Nest sometime, and I'll make dinner for you." Feed the father, they needed feeding.
He just laughed. "Picture a wall between us, Anya. Small screen?" He stood and took up his jacket, sliding it on before the long coat was shouldered on as well.
"No, no, no!" Finger up, but she didn't mean to point. "I am not...I am not going to another Father, I can't and won't. Thank you for your help, but I will not betray him." Oh, this bad. Now she was kind of mad, but not red faced. She couldn't stay upset for long.
"Ya aren't....betraying me." He grinned, wondering if she was going to listen. "I'll walk with ya, if ya let me."
"This is not confession. Only one place to do that, only one!" She smiled, grabbed her basket and headed for the door singing really loud..."Do virgins taste better than those who are not' Are they salty, or sweeter, more juicy or what?" She didn't hear him say me. NO. She did not. THough she heard walk and nodded.
He just shook his head and followed her toward the door. Sooner or later, it would sink in.
"Do you savor them slowly' Gulp them down on the spot' Do virgins taste better than those who are not?" The door opened, and she stepped out. Athair was going to hear this song a good part of the way, it's a good drinking song! "Now we've found a solution, it works out so neat, If you insist on nothing but virgins to eat. No more will our number ever grow small, We'll simply make sure there's no virgins at all! At all! At all." She grinned at the new Father.
It was a catchy tune, not one he'd hear on Sunday but she was happy, so he hummed along as he walked.
Everyone else got a wave before she left the building. She intended on driinking all the way. Stepping around the big man. "Evening to you. Don't eat a virgin." She closed the door and walked with O'Malley however far he was going. "You too mister big man." He got a salute with the bottle and off she went.
Wave to the big man as well and he was following the bawdy singing blonde.
Thank you to Panther, S'jira and Father O'Malley for the live play.