|
|
Post by Esme M. Lolland on Oct 11, 2008 23:44:25 GMT -1
Esme wandered mindlessly through the winding paths of the garden. The scent of the flowers wrapped around her entire being, a sweet familiar scent. It had been so long since she had taken time just to be herself and after a long day of classes she determined that it was worth her time to stop at the park and take a walk around.
She had veered into the park with her law book in hand. She had traveled through the park for what seemed like forever but most likely had only been approximately 20 minutes. Finally she found a bench placed right in front of a beautiful water fountain and sat down.
The fountain was very large and the sun shone brightly, Esme's bench was placed underneath a tree that shaded her in the afternoon sun. She had opened her book to read, an early attempt at studying for the test she had the next week, but nothing seemed to stick.
"If only I had something else to do," she whispered to herself in frustration.
|
|
|
|
Post by faust0 on Oct 12, 2008 17:21:18 GMT -1
Micheal Sullivan strolled lazily along the walkways. It was one of the few times he had time free, and he couldn't think of anything else to do. In his hand was a water bottle- labelless, filled with tap water- and resting in the crook of his arm was a book, one of those theology pieces by some famous reverend or other, arguing just what he believed God's will to be concerning events in the world.
He loitered around the fountain, running his finger along the water absently and looking into his constantly shivering and warping reflection in the water. He made almost a full circuit before he decided to finally sit down and, finding a shaded bench, he made his way over. "Ah, pardon me," he said quietly to the lady who was already sitting there. "Is this seat taken?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Esme M. Lolland on Oct 12, 2008 22:51:03 GMT -1
Esme looked up from her book. The words had long ago begun to blend into one another, she was quite sure she had read the same paragraph about five times but none of the information seemed to sink in. The person who stood in front of her was holding a book, she figured he wanted to read in silence... but that wasn't what she wanted to do.
"No, it's not taken. It's yours if it so pleases," Esme said, she tried to smile as kindly as she possibly could, seeing as how she was so frustrated it was hard for her to do.
She looked at the book tucked in the man's arm, theologically related, was the greater good attempting to test her in some way? She had long ago attempted to swear off all religion, even though she still saw herself as a Christian of sorts, like she was raised, but many others would call her a Wiccan. Perhaps her recent abandonment of any sort of faith that decided to test her ability to withstand theology all together.
"Are you studying theology at the University?" Esme questioned, nodding toward the book as she crossed her left leg over the other and turned toward her newest companion.
|
|
|
|
Post by faust0 on Oct 13, 2008 13:42:17 GMT -1
Micheal smiled genially and took the seat with a murmur of thanks. He put the book on his lap, but didn't bring himself to open it. It felt wierd, his being outside about to read, having absolutely nothing to do. He used to keep himself so busy when...
"Eh?" He looked down at his book again, then to the lady when she asked her question. "Oh my, no. I haven't been in school for years now. No, this is merely for my own enjoyment. I'm sure that seems like an odd thing to say, but I find it's very easy to study on something when you're already interested in the field. I've just had an interest in God for a long time now." He rubbed the crucifix around his neck, almost involuntarily.
"Is it the same for you, Miss?" He looked down at her book, scanning a quick passage from a page. "Being a lawyer requires a fair amount of zeal as well, so I'm told."
|
|
|
|
Post by Esme M. Lolland on Oct 13, 2008 17:29:25 GMT -1
Esme looked slightly surprised. The man didn't quite look like he was old enough to have been out of school for a while, but knowing who she had met in the past few days it wasn't all that ridiculous to see someone who looked younger than they truly were. And to have found herself seated next to a person thoroughly interested in the thing that she decided to ignore entirely, upset her slightly.
She glanced down at the book in her lap when he mentioned it, just looking at the words when she was asked if it was something she enjoyed made her sad. It wasn't as if she had never thought of law as a major she would pursue, it's just not what she was interested in... at all. She may dress like a lawyer when need be, and there were times that she certainly spoke like one, but she had never been passionate about studying it.
Her parents had always told her to be happy she was going to be promised a place in the law firm, and that one day she would be in charge also. But she never seemed to convince herself to enjoy such a feat. So when she was asked if she enjoyed it she surprised herself with her answer, she had never admitted it to anyone before, so why him?
"Not really. My parents want me to take over the family law firm but I'm not partial toward law, not in the least. But I'm not quite sure what I prefer more; so I feel as if I owe it to my parents to merely study what they want of me."
|
|
|
|
Post by faust0 on Oct 13, 2008 19:09:09 GMT -1
Mike nodded gravely, but not unkindly. "I see." He said, "I've seen people like you. You've been raised to consider jobs and lifestyles that are guaranteed to give the best possible outcome. Living up to the expectations of your parents can also be a very daunting prospect. Of course, as cliched as it sounds, I'm sure your parents also want to see you happy."
He stared out over the fountain. "I've heard that everyone wants to be a lawyer these days. Good pay, instant prestige, and the chance to be Perry Mason. Of course, the problem occurs when you think about it in an abstract way. After all, what does God want with a million new lawyers? Why doesn't he need bakers, or plumbers? I believe that God does his greatest work on the people who don't know what they want to do. One day, you just recieve inspiration, and you know where you're headed." He nodded. "Of course, I'm being presumptuous."
|
|
|
|
Post by Esme M. Lolland on Oct 13, 2008 22:45:45 GMT -1
Esme sat and listened to the man speak. It seemed that he was used to spouting such seemingly prophetic phrases. It bothered her slightly that he would assume that she's attempting to please her parents by studying law. She knew that her parents wanted her to be happy, but they also wanted her to remain safe. That's why she hadn't told them about her life in the shadows, the nights that she's spent in London's back alleys.
She wanted to please them, but they would be happy if she pursued law and another field of study. God only knew that the money was boundless, she could quadruple major if she truly wanted to, and her parents wouldn't have cared in the least. She wouldn't have had even study if necessary, her parents would make a generous donation to the university of her choice and it was easy sailing from then on.
But that wasn't the life that Esme wanted. The life she was currently living was the one she dreamt of. It was perfect, she did what she wanted and kept her parents happy. All while protecting her family in whatever ways possible. And who was this stranger to pass judgement on her lifestyle.
"And were you one of those people, the ones who found out what they wanted to do later in life? Or did you start off with the idea to study theology? Or were your parents ministers and wanted you to follow in their footsteps?" Esme tested, perhaps he knew what she was going through in a slight way, then perhaps she would forgive his judgement.
|
|
|
|
Post by faust0 on Oct 14, 2008 19:26:01 GMT -1
Mike laughed, a practiced, reassuring sound cultivated through years of acting as moral guardian. "I started out like most people did. I jumped from job to job, never really sure where my life was headed. I used to listen to those pastors who said to put your faith in God's plan with little more than a scoff and a rolled eye, because I used to have no idea what they were talking about. And then one day, I just sort of... fell into the church. Some of the happiest stories I can tell about me revolve around my years as pastor. I wasn't in it for the money, or for the high position in my neighborhood, but because I was certain it was where God wanted me to be at that moment in time."
He sighed at the remembrance. "For the record, I may not be with the church in the political sense any longer. But I've still got the church in my heart, and I go out everyday certain God will guide my steps, as corny as I'm sure that sounds."
|
|
|
|
Post by Esme M. Lolland on Oct 14, 2008 23:42:22 GMT -1
For some reason this man got underneath Esme's skin. Somehow he made her very uncomfortable, and why: she couldn't figure out. Perhaps he sensed something about her, maybe that's why she was worried about being around him. But whatever it was, she didn't like it... she didn't trust him.
"What took you away from the Church, if you don't mind me asking," Esme felt that finding out more about this stranger was the best way for her to ease her fears.
But from this point on, she was going to play it safe by no longer playing the role of Esme Lolland: witch and lawyer's daughter but the role of someone else entirely. If only she had been more talented at story writing so that she could have a new persona entirely. But this new persona didn't matter a bit until he asked her her name. Until then, she needed to figure out what about him made her hair stand on end.
|
|
|
|
Post by faust0 on Oct 16, 2008 20:49:23 GMT -1
Mike sighed, looking out over the fountain wistfully. "You may certainly ask. I... was involved in an investigation. Something happened in my church, something very serious. It involved a good friend of mine, and a few of my parishoners, a year or so ago. I... would not want to trouble you with the details, but it was of a sufficiently criminal nature. It was very disillusioning for me, to see my dear friend fall so horribly without a hint of warning or outward sign. I wanted to learn why. What causes a man to go insane? What could make even the pious turn down the path of darkness?" He kept his gaze straight ahead, still as stone save for the motion of his lips. "I couldn't find out in a small town like that, so I guess that's what brings me here."
|
|
