[D2 LE] Going to Church

[Tiffani Noelle]

"If you say so - but by the way you're clutching that Bible, I'd almost think you were using that to keep warm." Tiffani grins in an amiable sort of way, keeping him (she hopes) a bit distracted as she tries to understand what Henshall's reaction was all about. Trouble is, she didn't want to press the man too far or she'd be sleeping in the cold again - and one of these times, she knew she wouldn't wake up. "I mean, the Catholic Church has literally hundreds of billions of dollars in money and assets - and yet they can't afford to heat a small town church with, at best, a few hundred congregants?"

Then she waves the whole conversation away with a dainty little flick of her wrist. "Well, how you heat your private dwelling is up to you, I guess. So ... about that motel room? You have absolutely no idea how good a hot shower would feel right now. I plan on draining their hot water tank dry." She giggles outwardly again, trying to put the priest at ease. At least as much as he can be.

D2 LE: Contesting Henshall's Poker Face: Wits 3 + Composure 1 + Acute Senses 2: 6d10o10h8 2

[Fr. Robert Henshall]

Once more the reverend answered with an insincere smile. If he noticed the movement of Tiffani's wing, he gave no sign that the young woman could see. "I'm a man of faith," his voice was commanding, he was probably pretty good at the weekly pounding the pulpit, "we could heat this church as hot as the fires of hell, but only faith can keep your soul warm." He seemed affronted by the suggestion that his frugality was due to poverty, and he seemed almost eager at the idea of getting the young woman out of his church post haste.

"Yes, let's do that," he took two steps away, taking a phone out of a pocket and tapping the screen a few times. Holding the device up to his ear, "yes, Ray, yes, I'm sorry to be disturbing you this late." A murmur could be heard on the other end. "I have a young woman here in need of a place to stay," another murmured response, "a few days ---- yes ---- yes? ---- Excellent, God be with you, ---- I'll send her right down." Father Robert glanced at the young woman and her outdated mode of dress, "you'll know when you see her Ray. ---- God bless."

Finally, he hung up. The reverend pressed his lips together as he forced himself to look at Tiffani once more. "Everything's arranged. You can head over there now, unless you'd like me to hear your confession first?"

[Tiffani Noelle]

"No, thank you, Father. I would need to get my head together before I could make a complete confession. Perhaps in a few days." Tiffani thought this guy was a loon. I mean - so much fuss just over heating the church. Yeah, something was horribly wrong there and she made a mental note of it, using her eidetic memory to record in her mind that which was said, that which she saw. In any event, she thought it best to play along and not give him any reason to think she wasn't Catholic.

As she headed for the door to meet this Ray person who would know her when she saw her - what the hell did that mean(?) - she asked the Father one final question.

"I do humbly thank you for your hospitality what, with the motel room and all. But there is something I must ask." She deliberately allowed a pause to hang in the air. "Why won't you look at me? I ask not out of vanity, but when a person refuses to ever look me in the eye, well ... I'm sure you know what that means just as well as I do. Am I that abhorrant to you?"

[Fr. Robert Henshall]

Faced with such a bald-faced accusation, Father Robert crossed himself and lowered his voice. “Begone from this holy place. I see what you are, demon, you cannot hide from God’s sight.”

[Tiffani Noelle]

Tiffani stared at Father Henshall incredulously as she backed toward the door. There, she reached out and took hold of both sides of the door jamb, her eyes having not left his beared face for even a nanosecond.

"I came here for help, not judgment," she said in a quiet voice, one that was twinged with genuine sadness. "If God were really in this church, you wouldn't need to be so heavy handed to keep your congregants coming back every Sunday. "

She releases one side of the door jamb presenting her profile in the door. "You claim to see me for what I am - but calling me a demon proves that you don't. You haven't the slightest idea who I am or the kind of life that I've led - or the sacrifices I have made to be just as moral as any good Christian. Hide from God? On the contrary. God is hiding from me! For over three decades I ...." Tiffani caught herself then, closed her eyes for a moment, and let the sudden burst of anger clear itself before she continued.

"Have a good night, Father, and thank you again for your succor. Perhaps one day God will grant you the wisdom to see the truth that lies beyond your prejudices."

And with that, Tiffani turns around to face the bitter cold darkness outside before leaving the church in order to find Ray.

[Fr. Robert Henshall]

Father Henshall crossed himself again as the Changeling left, part of him relieved to see the back of the young woman. However, Tiffani’s appearance at the Church had unnerved him. Clutching his bible all the tighter, he hurried back to his quarters, falling upon his knees, lips moving soundlessly in desperate prayer.