Storyteller / Shared NPC
Posted April 18, 2021 / Character of Thomas written by Boshmi
Thomas had spent the past hour or so surrounded by the sulfuric smell of gun oil, his shotgun lying disassembled on a little wooden bench behind him. Though he had no need for self-defense or hunting these days, a prudent regimen of care was good for the soul, and of course, good for the equipment.
His newly-constructed abode, for it's part, served the purpose well; pot-belly stove, cot, and bench being all the spartan requirements he needed. Having a room to himself was good, for more than a few reasons. The few nights spent in the saloon with Arabella as a primary source of company had been a little trying, to say the least, and with Mr. Ryker's kind offer of help, producing a structure that was both comfortable and convenient had been fairly simple. Planks of wood were certainly more homely than the open forest and musky smell of horse.
He whistled a little song as he worked, tune to The Unquiet Grave punctuating the scratching of a ramrod against metal, and so engrossed was the priest in his task that he hardly noticed the silhouetted figures through the curtained window until there was an all-too familiar knock at the door. That Arabella had turned out to be quite the reverent saloon girl, spending enough time playing that harmonium that she'd up and established a secret code for her comings and goings.
“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” came the whisper at the door, and Thomas set down the bore of the weapon with a sigh, before sweeping it's deconstructed pieces to the side. Martin Luther's retelling of Psalm 46 was a bizarre choice, but arguing with Arabella would no doubt have been a pointless affair.
He stood and crossed to the door, mumbling a 'come forward' to indulge her, before opening it to not one, but three teenagers.
"Hello Arabella. Who've you brought with you?" he asked, as he gave a welcoming smile to the other two, though already he was wondering what antics the rest of the afternoon held in store.
Posted April 19, 2021
Clara stood behind Arabella as she approached a freshly built shack...well, it was nicer than a shack but it was certainly not up to the standards of a residence in her opinion. So the new clergyman was living in this place? They had not even thought to go around to the back of the church when the couple had first searched for the man. Still, what he did or how he chose to live was none of her business, as long as he married people. Her mind was racing even now as the trio stood there waiting for some sort of response to Arabella's rather over complicated attempt at getting the attention of whoever was inside.
The door suddenly opened and a white haired old man greeted them as Clara straightened her posture and tensed up for this crucial conference of sorts.
"Hello Arabella. Who've you brought with you?" he asked, as he gave a welcoming smile to the other two.
Clara, at the best of times, was not much of a smiler and was now far too nervous to attempt it now. However she was determined to do the introductions rather than depend on Arabella to do them as that would be a meandering possibly incoherent rigamarole before she ever got to actual names.
"Good day, Reverend. I hope we did not catch you at an inconvenient time? I am Clara Redmond, daughter of Aurelian Redmond. We are regular attendees at Sunday services. And this is Jacob Lutz, he too is a member of the congregation," she spoke quickly before Arabella could get a word in edgewise, no mean feat, that!
"Yes, Dear"
Posted April 19, 2021
"Good day, Reverend. I hope we did not catch you at an inconvenient time? I am Clara Redmond, daughter of Aurelian Redmond. We are regular attendees at Sunday services. And this is Jacob Lutz, he too is a member of the congregation," she spoke quickly before Arabella could get a word in edgewise, no mean feat, that!
Weirdly, instead of yapping incessantly, Arabella silently nodded at Jacob, as if prompting him to speak, like she fancied herself the major-domo of some great Priest King of the Old Testament, silently ushering others into the potentate’s presence.
“Er, that’s right, Sir!” Jacob nodded, gripping his hat which he had removed, of course, as soon as he entered the strange hermitage. Arabella nodded at him urgently, as if to say go on! And Jacob continued. “We were wondering if you would marry us… we want to get wed.” he announced, a little tautologously.
“They are both very good people, Brother Thomas!” Arabella confided to the white bearded holy man in a sort of hushed whisper. Well, apart from all the premarital sex, of course, but she didn’t mention that. God knew, that was enough.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Posted April 19, 2021 | Thomas written by Boshmi
"Good day, Reverend. I hope we did not catch you at an inconvenient time? I am Clara Redmond, daughter of Aurelian Redmond. We are regular attendees at Sunday services. And this is Jacob Lutz, he too is a member of the congregation."
“Er, that’s right, Sir! We were wondering if you would marry us… we want to get wed.”
Well, wasn't this a surprise? A matrimonial union! It had certainly been a while since he'd conducted one, but such a joyous occasion would be good for the town. At such a young age, he could only assume it was one of love, which was the best kind of marriage. Unless, of course...
"Why, I can't say why I shouldn't." Thomas said, beaming. "I'd invite you in to discuss matters but, well, I'm afraid it's a little pokey in there. The church should be empty this time of day, if you'd like somewhere to sit?" he offered. "I could fix something to drink? Tea perhaps?"
Marriage was an elaborate and mostly-quite-subjective affair, dependent on the intentions of the couple - and at this age - their guardians. Deciding what exactly they wanted to happen could take all day, though of course, he'd probably need to visit the parents Lutz & Redmond at some stage.
Posted April 19, 2021
“Er, that’s right, Sir! We were wondering if you would marry us… we want to get wed.”
Clara blinked. Gosh, Jacob moved fast. She was going to ease into it but there it was now. She settled for a quick nod of agreement and waited, heart beating rapidly, for the clergyman's answer.
"Why, I can't say why I shouldn't." Thomas said, beaming. "I'd invite you in to discuss matters but, well, I'm afraid it's a little pokey in there. The church should be empty this time of day, if you'd like somewhere to sit?"
"Oh, well certainly. If you would rather talk there. Anyplace is fine with us," Clara would have agreed to discuss it even if he had suggested the middle of a river. She just wanted to get it done!
The man then offered, "I could fix something to drink? Tea perhaps?"
"No thank you, we do not wish you to have to make a fuss on our account," she gently shook her head in the negative.
"Everybody can feather their nest, but it's not just anybody that can lay an egg!"
Posted April 20, 2021
"Oh, well certainly. If you would rather talk there. Anyplace is fine with us," Clara would have agreed to discuss it even if he had suggested the middle of a river. She just wanted to get it done!
The four of them shuffled back to the rear of the church and through the little-used back door, into the main part of the building where the pews were neatly rowed and the pulpit stood empty at the far end.
The man then offered, "I could fix something to drink? Tea perhaps?"
"No thank you, we do not wish you to have to make a fuss on our account," she gently shook her head in the negative.
“Ooh, It’s no fuss Clara! I’ll fix that, Brother.” Arabella gushed obsequiously “You three will want to talk privately.”
She would also, perhaps a little too optimistically at this point, fetch out a blank marriage certificate, for she knew where Pastor Evans stored them. In fact, she’d had a good root through most of the drawers and cupboards in his little office, off the vestry, and found some amazing and interesting stuff. Her favourites were a collection of pictures in a little book which, she assumed, the good Pastor must have confiscated off some sinful parishioner in the past.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Posted April 20, 2021 | Thomas written by Boshmi
They entered the church, light filtering through the windows in a flickering pattern of shadow on stone, and Thomas made sure to shut the rear door, lest he forget to close it for the night.
"No thank you, we do not wish you to have to make a fuss on our account." Clara told him, at his offer of a drink.
“Ooh, It’s no fuss Clara! I’ll fix that, Brother.” interjected Arabella, ever eager. “You three will want to talk privately.”
"I... thank you, Arabella." Thomas said. No doubt she would go rooting around the office cabinets while she was in there, but it would at least keep her busy. He could restore the room to its original state after she left.
In the meantime, he rounded on the young couple, leaning nonchalantly against the lectern as he offered them a seat on the foremost pew.
"Now, Jacob, Clara, the first thing I should probably ask is what sort of ceremony you're after. We could, of course have an open reception, a private affair, or even something smaller." he said, fixing them with a look in turn. Something about their clandestine visit seemed peculiar to him, and he intended to step carefully in order to uncover it.
Posted April 20, 2021
Arabella was actually being really helpful (and that included not engaging in her usual non-stop chattering which Clara particularly appreciated on this occasion) as she offered to make the tea and let them have some privacy with the reverend. She and Jacob sat demurely in the first pew while the dignified old clergyman leaned against the lectern.
"Now, Jacob, Clara, the first thing I should probably ask is what sort of ceremony you're after. We could, of course have an open reception, a private affair, or even something smaller." he said, fixing them with a look in turn.
Clara glanced at Jacob who seemed to have been struck dumb since the introductions. If she was nervous perhaps he was scared speechless? Well, Clara had a take charge personality so she decided to take the bull by the horns then in this matter. First she cleared her throat, her mouth was suddenly dry.
"Oh all we want is a very small very private affair. We are not ones for expense or ostentation. All that matters to the both of us is that we are married in the eyes of God," she answered him.
"Truth be told..." for she decided at least this part would certainly not be deception on her part, "we cannot afford a fancy wedding. We need to save every penny for setting up our lives after." And raising a child but that part she definitely was NOT including aloud.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Posted April 21, 2021 | Thomas written by Boshmi
"Oh all we want is a very small very private affair. We are not ones for expense or ostentation. All that matters to the both of us is that we are married in the eyes of God. Truth be told... we cannot afford a fancy wedding. We need to save every penny for setting up our lives after."
"A very sensible decision, Miss Redmond." Thomas said approvingly. "You have wisdom beyond your years."
He'd half expected friends of Arabella to be just as overeager and muddle-headed as she, but Clara had an authority and ambiance that was quite to the contrary. She carried herself with the wit of a woman, rather than a girl, and it was impressive. Still, there was something she was holding back...
"Well then, you'll no doubt want your immediate families in attendance." he continued. "Traditionally, Jacob, you'll take Clara's hand from her father, or guardian, after the groomsmen and bridesmaids have their procession, but if we are keeping the attendee number as low as possible, we could potentially do away with a procession. That would be for you two to decide."
"Yes, Dear"
Posted April 21, 2021
"A very sensible decision, Miss Redmond." Thomas said approvingly. "You have wisdom beyond your years."
This last comment made Jacob wince, neither of them had been very wise a couple of months ago and now they were in a pickle. That said, there was nothing more he wanted in the world than to marry the beautiful Clara and raise kids and crops together, but if only they had been able to do it at their own pace and without all this nerve wracking secrecy and haste. Still, it was good to be here now doing something toward sorting it all out.
"Well then, you'll no doubt want your immediate families in attendance." he continued.
Jacob’s stomach did a somersault at the mention of their families and he reached out for Clara’s hand: more to steady himself than her. She was like a rock in this stormy sea of troubles.
“Traditionally, Jacob, you’ll take Clara’s hand from her father, or guardian, after the groomsmen and bridesmaids have their procession, but if we are keeping the attendee number as low as possible, we could potentially do away with a procession. That would be for you two to decide.”
“Yeah, I don’t like the sound of a procession.” Jacob spoke at last, his words were a hasty blurt, unlike Clara’s measured responses to Father Thomas’ questions. And ‘groomsmen’? Nobody suitable came to mind. And, God!, Father of the Bride! The thought of telling Mr Redmond, or how he would find out if they didn’t tell him, made his palms sweat and his tummy start to dance inside him again, but he steeled himself to continue.
“Say, Father, is there any rule that says the person that gives Clara away has to be a man?” he was thinking of Mrs Blakesley, if, indeed, they didn’t tell Mr Redmond about it until it was all a done deal.