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 Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 5:15 pm
Gary grunted dragged Ranis into the Church. He was determined to bring Ranis to God. If Keirro wouldn't do it, then Gary certainly would.
"Come on, Short Man. You gotta like this place. Just give it a chance." the dark-skinned man pleaded with the barbaric toddler. He pointed out some of the more beautiful aspects of the Sanctuary.
"Look, they got stained glass. It's also quiet and smells...pleasant." said Gary. He found the incense to be too musky to his taste. Nothing like old fashoined Myrr to calm the spirit.
Ranis spat like a vicious cat. He didn't mind the church. It was nice and quiet and almost empty. If Gary and the scented candles weren't around, Ranis could actually enjoy himself here. The toddler growled as he felt a head ache pound his sinus cavity.
The smell was really getting to him.
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 5:27 pm
Asmadai had been making an effort to avoid the paperwork that inevitably came with the running of the church by making sure that all the bibles and hymnals were in their proper places. His rosary, a posthumous gift from his sister, clacked against the side of the pew as he replaced a copy of the New Testament back into its proper place. But when the doors opened and he heard someone- two someones, by the sound of it- enter, he stood right up. Though he managed to smack his head on the back of the pew in front of him, Asmadai looked admirably composed as he stepped out into the aisle.
"Welcome," he said softly. His voice could have, and maybe should have, been louder in the comforting weight of age and tradition that filled the church. The priest brushed off a little dust from the shoulders of his floor-length black cassock. "I am Father Asmadai. Might I ask why you are here?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 5:40 pm
Gary sighed nervously. He was not a catholic man, but he would try.
"I would like to find a way to raise this boy with the Church in his life. He couldn't stand the protestant churches I brought him to. I'm hoping he will find the Catholic church more soothing. I'm not Catholic, so I'm not sure where to begin." said Gary nervously. He tightened his grip on Ranis's leash.
"Bah! Izaglehgah!" Spat Ranis as he sat on the ground and pulled at the leash. He did not seem to notice the priest. The toddler was much too focused with the marble flooring. The strange natural patterns on the ground intrigued him and he followed one of the veins until it vanished under Father Asmadai's foot. Ranis growled again and flicked his tail.
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 5:45 pm
"Ah, er, yes," Asmadai said, preoccupied with the young boy that was growling and speaking gibberish. The tail and horns were a tad bit unnerving, he would say, but he knew that Maria would not accept prejudice, so he ignored it. They did remind him of the guardian spirits from the book of angels he possessed. He could bear it. "It is quite all right to let him go, sir. All items of worth I believe we keep in the sanctuary when we are not giving the Sacrament."
He deliberately moved his foot out of Ranis's way. "Has he been baptized?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:05 pm
Gary grinned sheepishly as he released Ranis off of the leash.
"His guardian is an atheist. I'm pretty sure that he hasn't been baptized." replied Gary. HE Watched the toddler nervously as Ranis explored the church.
"Don't you guys dunk the children in water? I'm not sure he'll take to that well."
Ranis, realizing his new freedom, dashed away from the two men and crawled under a pew to watch the two men talk. His animal green eyes sparkled as the toddler found renewed interest in the marble flooring. The veins were so pretty and Ranis eventually followed them right back to Father Asmadai and Gary.
Ranis looked up at the priest and noticed the rosary. The toddler grinned and reached for the beads.
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:13 pm
"Don't chew," he warned Ranis. "This is very valuable." But he let the child have the pale pink rosary, then returned his attention to Gary.
"None of them ever seem to, but it is traditionally done before they are old enough to bite." Asmadai shrugged, then crouched down to Ranis's level. "Hello there."
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:36 pm
"What should we then? He hasn't tried to destroy anything yet. I think he likes it here." replied Gary.
Ranis sniffed the rosary. It was such a strange object, but very pretty. He sniffed the priest suspiciously
"Hai." he grunted.
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:41 pm
Asmadai didn't answer for a moment. "My sister gave that to me," he said to Ranis. "She wasn't very old when she died." His shoulders slumped for a moment, then he straightened back up and stood, brushing his hair behind his ears. He seemed to shudder for a moment, as if shaking off some kind of demon, before taking swift strides to the altar and busying himself by straightening the cloth covering the old wood.
"I would first look around and find a church that your son feels predisposed towards, then arrange for a baptism, if you may."
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:00 pm
Gary bit his lip. He wasn't Ranis's father, but he did feel responsible for the boy's upbringing.
"Could we do it here?" he said nervously as he braced himself for rejection.
Ranis's ears perked as he watched the priest walk away. The toddler could feel the priest's sadness. Ranis couldn't understand why someone would feel sad. The toddler started to handle the rosary more delicately and whined a little bit.
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:03 pm
He paused, trying to review his schedule. "I think we have an opening in two weeks, if you would like." Ranis's change in demeanor towards the rosary did not go unnoticed, and he smiled a little at the toddler.
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:09 pm
Gary smiled.
"That would be great." he sighed. "I suppose I better brush up on Catholics. I can't rely on the Guardian to take him to church, ya know."
Ranis, unaware of the decision made for him, continued to explore his surroundings. He noticed the similarity between the cross on the rosary and the cross on the altar. What was this cross thing about? There appeared to be a figure attached to the crosses. Ranis felt something stir in him, but he couldn't explain it.
He had never seen this symbol before and yet it was somewhat familiar. The toddler scratched his head in confusion.
"Wha? Wha?" he grunted as he pointed to the crucifix.
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:16 pm
Asmadai smiled again. "That is our Lord, Jesus Christ, as he died for us on the cross." The priest sat down on the steps leading up to the altar and patted the spot next to him on the floor, looking at Ranis. "Catholics use it to count their prayers."
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:25 pm
Gary smiled in relief. Things were going much better here. Ranis seemed more relaxed, but still had that feral streak in him. Maybe a bit more church in the toddler's life could help with that. Gary sat across from Faher Asmadai and Ranis and watched the two interact.
Ranis blinked and looked at the rosary. He sat near the priest but instinctively kept a bit of space between himself and Father Asmadai.
"Chriissss." Ranis mumbled the new word. His ears flicked in curiosity. Why would someone do something like that? The answer seemed to already be there for Ranis. Yet, it was so far away and distant. Ranis whined in confusion.
"Why?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:31 pm
Asmadai put his elbows on his knees and cradled his face in his hands. "Well," he said, addressing Ranis, "Because he loved all of us. And because his father desired it so."
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:48 pm
"Do you guys have Sunday school for kids his age? I don't want to keep you from your duties, Father." Gary said. He never imaged Ranis looking so calm.
Ranis frowned. He had never heard of such a person before. The toddler remained quiet as he reflected on this information. It was strangely familiar. He could recall something someone said before:
Jesus was meant to save man, and only man.
Ranis could not recall who specifically said it. Yet, he was certain that he had heard it before. Ranis focused his attention back on the prayer beads.
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