Are they truly faithful? (open)

[Adina]

Sunday, the day before the celebrated birth of their savior. Masses huddled together in their Christmas best hurried up the steps of St Paul's to prove their devotion to their God, in at least one of the most holiest of days for humans. Children ran beside grandparents and parents, cheeks rosy from the cold. Everyone promising to be good the coming year...and ...faithful.

Adina sat on the second story 'balcony', hirr wings folded flat near hir back. To the mortals, shi was nothing. They couldn't see hir, as the angel wrapped hir long slender arms about the dress the flowed over hir bent knees. Not the icy blue hues that gazed down upon them, seeing even the slightest hints of their darkest desires curled up like waiting lions in their heads.

Shi tries not to feel disappointment, attempts to brush off the despair of those huddled in worn clothing at the base of the cathedral. Those who come in hopes for charity, and yet get not a single glance from the women in the bright red heels.

The winter wind strokes against hir wings, playing in the feathers. Frolicking in the curls of Adina's golden mane. As if to lure the angel from hir ever hopeful gaze. Just maybe, there is something good down there, among them. Something that would give Adina hope for mankind, at least another year.

[Cadence]

It was the day before Christmas and like most everyone else, Cadence went to church to celebrate. It was a habit, something she'd done since childhood. Her mother had taken her to the church in the town where she'd grown up and walk her up to the nativity scene. She could almost hear her mother's voice, could almost imagine her standing beside her.

"Baby, look and don't you forget this. This was the beginning of everything that we know, I think that deserves a little respect don't you?" Her mother would say, year after year and then she'd kiss Cadence on the cheek before leading her aside so someone else could pay their respects.

Today, Cadence stood before the nativity scene, alone. She wondered if her mother was doing the same back home. Cadence put one hand to her cheek and a soft smile spread across her face, she had to turn her head to hide the tears that began to trail down her face.

She stood and stared at the little figure cuddled in the hay, surrounded by the gifts from the wise men. She'd done some terrible things in the past ten years. Did God still hear her? If she were to send up a prayer, right now, would it mean anything? She didn't know. She'd always been told that murderers went to hell but she hadn't meant to kill anyone. Did that count for something?

Cadence shrugged to her own thoughts. Happy Birthday. She thought at the little figure before turning to let someone else take their turn.

[Adina]

Adina had watched, as the last of the crowd funneled within. Not one heart beat loud enough to lure hir attention, at least not enough to remove the slight discontent that Adina felt in that moment. Hir head had lifted, chin rising to bring the angel's gaze to the heavens. Lips parted, as if to sing the soft silent hymn of angels to Adina's Lord. But, at that moment, something brushed on hir lips. The taste of salt, wet. A tear?

Hir head titled, sapphire eyes seem to dirvert to a cloud. And then suddenly fell. A figure moved away from the elegant Nativity scene displayed before the cathedral. It felt broken, and tugged on the heart of the angel. In one fluid movement, Adina's wings swung outward, gathering wind that lifted the throne swiftly into the sky above the front steps of St. Paul's.

Shi flew about in a wide circle, watching the mortal being with a peaked curiosity. There was something different about this mortal, and as Adina let hir powers briefly swim over the being, shi realized the difference. With a gentle fold of hir wings, Adina lowered hirself just behind the human. The etheral white wings faded into hir surroundings, so that Adina seemed nothing more then a human female. Hir voice was soft, almost melodic in it's calming resonance, "You know, all are welcome to the Mass. If you are alone...I could join you."

[Cadence]

Cadence jumped at the sound of a footstep behind her a second before she heard a woman's voice offering to sit with her during the mass. The way the woman talked, she must work at the church, a volunteer or something. She'd said everyone was welcome at the mass. "Everyone?" She asked before she could stop herself and then mentally kicked herself for being rude and not accepting the woman's invitation. It wasn't the blonde's fault that she felt more lost and alone at christmas then any other time of the year.

"Shi-uh, crap, I'm sorry. It's been a long day." She said, wiping at the wetness on her cheeks. Why did this always happen at the most embarassing moments possible? Now this beautiful woman would think she was either insane or off the deep end religious. Great, just great. She'd been raised to believe, but there was a life outside religion to, there had to be or else no one would make any money to live on. Her life outside religion just happened to be a bit more complicated than most.

She talked with her hands. It was an annoying habit, especially at moments like now when she didn't know what to say. One hand turned in an aimless circle before she ran it through her hair. "I mean, what I'm trying to say is that yes, I'd like to have some company."

Cadence held out her hand in greeting. "I'm Cadence."

[Adina]

Adina tilted hir hed gently to the side, a sly smile caressed the angel's lips. Shi was not surprised by the woman's questioning if everyone was truly welcome to the mass. The angel understood. Not all churches welcomed just anyone. But, it had always been that way. Selection, even for those who would be welcomed into a building that was supposedly made for all.

"Do not be sorry," hir voice was soft, caressing the winter breeze that blew about them. Adina stepped forward when she saw the tears on the woman's cheek. Shi lifted hir hand to brush the glistening liquid further away. Although, the angel could not feel the wetness, Adina could see the woman's cheek seem to become more clear. Shi always wondered what a tear truly felt like. But, never did one allow hir to know, each time Adina smoothed one away.

"Perhaps, with such a long day, voices from a pulpit are not what is needed," the angel smiled tenderly, letting hir hand fall to join the other before hir. "We could walk, if you like?"

Seeing the hand, the tall blonde reached out and took it tenderly. Long fingers curled about the woman's hand, and it was then that Adina felt the brush of who this woman was beneath her skin. Hir smile was warm, welcoming. For there was a part of Adina, that was very much like the woman before hir, "It is very nice to meet you, Cadence. My name is Adina. Where you headed somewhere? I could join you."

[Cadence]

She gave a soft smile when the woman told her not to be sorry. She didn't know what it was but this woman seemed to give off heat, light and love. It felt good to be near her, like nothing else really mattered except that moment in time. Cadence felt the woman brush the tears from her cheeks. It was odd, to have a stranger touch her in such a caring gesture, something that was usually reserved for close friends or family. Even more odd was the fact that it didn't feel awkward. She held her eyes open wide for a few moments to dry them out and stop the flow of tears.

She nodded. Cadence couldn't help but agree. A sermon that was sure to be full of the meaning of equality, family and togetherness wasn't exactly what she needed right now. Christmas was lonely enough for her without being reminded that almost everyone else was anything but alone.

She's gorgeous. Cadence found herself thinking as the woman took her hand. Adina's long, graceful fingers reminded her of a pianist. It made her own hand look about ten sizes larger and clumsy. The woman's smile was bright and more perfect than any she'd ever seen before. Even her name sounded beautiful and exotic. She wondered why a woman like her was working at a church rather than walking down a runway somewhere.

Truth be told, she'd been thinking about going back to The Marine and taking advantage of her employee discount. Now of course that was out of the question, she couldn't take a church volunteer to the smoke filled pub, especially this close to Christmas. There had to be a place where they could get some hot cocoa somewhere nearby though, right? Something warm to battle the cold weather sounded pretty good to her.

She smiled. "I was thinking about finding a place to get something warm to drink. Maybe some coffee or hot cocoa? You're more than welcome to join me, I'd love the company. I'll wait here if there's anyone inside you want to tell where you're going...?"

[Adina]

"No, there is no one inside the church that I answer to. Please, I shall follow you, but I am not thirsty. However, I would very much like the company, as well," shi gentle squeezed Cadence's hand, Adina's hand felt warm, comforting in the touch. Then the angel released the mortal's hand, and took a step up beside her. The movement showing a promise to join her in a simple step, and to not let her feel alone in such a time when so many others found welcoming arms to hold to.

It was not every day that Adina actually met another shapeshifter. Many angels could take various forms. But, most were visions of the various races and varieties of humans. Adina was not. Shi could not change into the deep chocolate hue of an African, nor the soft golden glow of an Asian. But, shi could shift into a beast of the creator. It gave hir a kinship with the animal world. Not only watching out and leading the strayed humans, but offering protection to one of the creator's creatures. Were's were not given the same blessing as the Throne. Their shift caused a darker hunger, giving them to hunt. And so many times, given to kill other mortal humans.

[Cadence]

"Oh, ok." Cadence said when Adina told her there was no one inside the church who would miss her if they left without giving warning. Strange for around christmas time but not in a supernatural way, maybe the woman's family or friends were out doing something else while the woman herself volunteered? Possible, probable, though she still didn't know if the woman did in fact work for the church, it was just a feeling she got from the way Adina talked. It seemed like the way a church follower would talk. She felt the woman squeeze her hand before releasing it. There was something unbelievably comforting about Adina's touch.

Coffee sounded good to her and there was bound to be a stand somewhere along the road. She started off in the opposite direction then the one she'd come to the church from, she hadn't seen a coffee stand that way, so she'd try a new one. Cadence pushed the emotions she'd been feeling since before this woman came and spoke to her further down inside of herself, she'd have a nice visit with Adina and worry about her soul later.

"So, do you volunteer with the church?" She asked, figuring it was a way to both keep the conversation going and have her curiosity answered.

[Adina]

"I am not a volunteer, no," Adina thought of hir answer. Shi wouldn't lie, it was not in hir. But, Adina could not truly explain to the mortal who shi was. As an angel, Adina was well practiced in the art of vague answers. They had to, lest they open up secrets and thoughts to and in a mortal that would cause them more trouble in seeking peace for themselves and with the creator. "But, I find that it can bring solace to my thoughts. And at times, gives me someone to talk to."

Adina lifted turned hir warm and gentle gaze to Cadence, "When I feel that I am alone, I soon find I am not when I am around a church. It is a lighthouse for the soul, bringing you to find those who can help you in what you seek." The angel became quiet, as hir own thoughts danced over the idea that many could look at the 'lighthouse' and only see darkness.

[Cadence]

Her answer was so passionate, her gaze so steady and strong! Cadence had never been so envious of anyone in her entire life. She wished that she could find that kind of confidence, that kind of solid belief in something. It would make her life so much easier, make the burdens lighter. But how could she believe in something that she wasn't sure would even accept her anymore? Oh, the churches would invite her in quick enough, but would she just be sitting there and lying to herself, praying in vain?

Cadence met the woman's steady gaze and couldn't stop the words as they tumbled out of her mouth. "You sound so sure. What could someone as confident as you possibly be seeking?" She shook her head and took a deep breath, knowing her voice was full of the envy that she felt.

Her chest was tight and her throat burned with all the things that she wanted to say, but figured she probably shouldn't. Like how some people could try all they wanted to fit in, but in the end they just didn't. Or how scary a church could be for someone who had done some bad stuff in the past, how the thought of a soul could be a haunting thing instead of a comfort.

So the woman wasn't a volunteer. Maybe she should be, Cadence had felt this emotional in a long time. It might have had something to do with the season but that definitely wasn't all of it.