open; i should have seen it when my hope was new

[ensorceler]

who; Anne Boleyn & OPEN
what; After a failed visit to the church, Anne wanders until she eventually ends up at the new orphanage.
where; City Royale; the church and orphanage and dark city alleys in between.
when; January 31st, after leaving the party early.
rating; PG for now.

[ Perhaps it's all of the proverbs, or maybe the food doesn't sit right with her, but Anne doesn't stay until the party ends for once, leaving early without much of a word to anybody. She first goes to her room on the second floor to trade unforgiving red for mourning black, wrapping herself in a heavy cloak to shield against the cold she's preparing for.

It may not be an overlong walk to the city proper, but Anne's leg aches still, calling back to a time in Paradisa she can never be permitted to forget, no matter what mercy she was allowed in following her life to her death. She is ever reminded that she has yet to see Heaven, and though the flamboyance of the Eastern party had called out the queen in her, the woman in her still cries in the dark halls of her mind ever so. The woman has been trapped; trapped by a new loss that chokes and strangles her prayers.

She rides the horse she'd long since been borrowing to the city, stopping before the church and hugging her cloak tight about her as she enters. Who she mourns need not be public. She can only hope that in this one place she is allowed to speak as a Christian woman should, to kneel and plea and thank. To not weep but bow one's head in humility. Her former loss has been most humbling, but this is suffocating.

So she does weep even though she should not, because this is something that will show no mercy. Anne doesn't stay for very long, but when she leaves with her eyes dry, she lets the horse remain tied up just outside, feeling in a daze as she wanders away, her breath fogging the air and her steps remarkably silent for someone paying so little attention to where she walks.

Soon her leg will remind her of past pains here, of her husband's pains and betrayals at home, perhaps when she finally stops unexpectedly at the outlandish orphanage built by The Once-ler. For now she merely wanders and pretends at breathing. A ghost has little else to do. At least Anne is hardly in a fitful state as she had been the last time she wandered these streets at night. This isn't a woman looking for anything, anymore. ]

Comments

[indirectcause]

[Ben is never a big fan of parties anyway, and welcomed the chance to slip away and get some fresh air. He's not sure how he ended up in the town, he just went where his feet took him, pondering the events of the past week. Clem was still pissed at him, Ellie too, he knew that much.

He's heading into the church when Anne steps out, and he pauses to let her go ahead of him.]

Uh. After you.

[ensorceler]

[ Anne sweeps to the side at the appearance of another, hood pulled more securely so that the redness of her eyes need not be visible. She is surprised to find another coming here, though, telling by his garb that he isn't a native to the city. ]

There is no bishop to offer mass.

[indirectcause]

[He'll just stand there awkwardly for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck.]

That's alright, I was just going in to... [the word 'pray' is on the tip of his tongue, but he knows it's not completely true, not yet, anyway. After everything back home, he still needs to make his peace with God. As it's a lie, of course, it doesn't come out] work stuff out.

[ensorceler]

[ She's at a crossroads, then. It would be most rude to crowd him when he means to pray for reasons secret only to him. But she is intrigued to know that the Lord's faith is not lost on all Travelers.

Finally peeking from beneath her hood, her light eyes reflect the moonlight from behind the shadows hiding the rest of her face.

She is not King of England, and she cannot offer the same blessings, but she has her own blessings she can offer, as is her right. ]

Would a lost soul receive a queen's blessing?

[indirectcause]

[He blinks, surprised. Because well, that's something new.]

Oh wow, you're a queen? Like...an actual queen? [Oh my god that is the dumbest thing to say to a queen.]

[ensorceler]

[ She's already suffered such ridiculous responses from people in spades, especially those from America. That's what happens when they abandon true monarchy, isn't it?

She nods, calmly holding out a hand protected with a leather glove. ]

Queen Anne, consort to His Majesty King Henry the Eighth of England, Ireland, and France. Though this be not His kingdom, [ Henry's OR God's, ] God's blessing is never far.

[indirectcause]

[This is totally what happens.

He stares at the hand for a moment, before...yeah, he's gonna shake it. Sorry, he's American.]

Oh...wow. Uh. Pleased to meet you your...majesty?

[ensorceler]

[ Try not to look so deadpan at the handshake, Anne. Come on Ben, haven't you watched any period movies?

Anne draws her hand back beneath her cloak after, like she needs a moment to recover from such a silly attempt at respect. ]

You are American, yes? You have room to learn, you need not fear my wrath. But it is customary to introduce yourself in kind, and bow, even for visiting royalty.

[indirectcause]

[No, he watches MTV.]

Yeah, I'm from Georgia. [Does Georgia even exist for her? He doesn't know, wow he should have paid more attention in history class.]

Oh...sorry. I'm new to this. [Does he bow now? GOD HE DOESN'T KNOW.]

[ensorceler]

[ Well, it exists as a country... So he's getting an even stranger look for a moment, before nodding. ]

You came here for God's guidance, not to worry over worldly expectations.

[ Still, try not to look so annoyed, Anne. She cares less about him bowing and more about him giving a fricking name. ]

Do you have a name or shall I give you one?

[indirectcause]

Yeah, I'm Ben. Ben Paul.

[So awkward.] Sorry, I'm new to this.

[ensorceler]

New to introducing oneself?

[indirectcause]

N-no. New to talking to royalty.

...Are there, like, certain times when I should bow?

[ensorceler]

[ Now this is getting tedious for her, but she's surprised he's even willing to bow. So few here do. ]

Worry not over such details, for now merely do so in greeting and when asking my leave to depart.

[ Even she doesn't follow all the rules here. Sometimes it's insufferable; at other times freeing. Anne waves holds her hand out for his. ]

Please.

[indirectcause]

[Oh god she's offering her a hand again. He...bows awkwardly, not sure if it's the right time or not or if he's doing it right oh man he is totally screwing this up.]

Okay.

[ensorceler]

[ If she were a couple years younger, she'd be tempted to smack him just for his stupidity. But she finds patience easier to grasp at the moment, and instead just observes him while he attempts a (poor) bow, then slowly shakes her head and reaches to take his hand in hers. ]

I will always find time for the Lord and His children. Come.

[ She leads the way back in, though in truth is careful to keep her step equal to his, so none is ahead of the other just for the moment. She'll lead him to the front, though there is no bishop upon the dais or speaking at the podium. ]

Your prayers are your own, but you must feel free to receive blessings where they are needed.

[indirectcause]

[He nods, still nervous, walking with her. He's nervy around most people, but this is a queen, that makes everything a whole new level of things to be conscious about.]

Thanks, I don't get to this as much as I used to.

wowwww i did not get any notifs from this log, so sorry!

[ensorceler]

[ She raises an eyebrow, in a way that could almost be construed as judgmental, or perhaps just curious. ]

Has something caused you to stray from His gospel?

tis ok, DW is a butt!

[indirectcause]

Oh, no...not...exactly like that.

[He sighs.] Things have been tough back home, you're too busy surviving, even if you could find a church, it'd be ruined.

[ensorceler]

[ That seems to be a running theme. ]

You do not need a church to speak with God, child. Times of trial are when you must strengthen your faith, and not allow it to weaken.

[indirectcause]

Yeah well...times of trail were really bad. We didn't have time to sit ad breathe, let alone pray. [There's a touch of guilt in his tone, really he was far to bitter, too angry that God would do something to the world like that.]

[ensorceler]

[ Anne can understand bitterness, knows it so deeply she can easily recognize it. Sitting with him in the front pew, she rests her hands over his. ]

These are excuses, thoughts that the Devil can too easily nurture during such hardships. You must remember that Jesus Christ loves you; that he will not abandon you so long as you do not forget that He is your savior. You must not forget, even when you feel the most alone. You are not.

[indirectcause]

[His hands instantly tense. Even after months of living here, he still hasn't learned to trust people Outside the Group. Still, at least he doesn't tug his hands away. It's an improvement. ]

Even when the world has ended and fallen apart?

[ensorceler]

[ Does it help that she's wearing gloves? Well it's cold of course she is. ]

Why do you say? Are you not still living in it? How can it have ended?

[indirectcause]

[This is always the worst thing to talk about.]

The dead came back and attacked the living.