valdemars: (lady 2)
Lady and Lord Valdemar ([personal profile] valdemars) wrote in [community profile] aungier2013-07-01 02:21 pm

All Soul's Day- November 2nd, 1888

Date: November 2nd, 1888
Time: 10:00am - 10:30 am (service- characters may stay for longer, though)
Location: The chapel
Characters: Everyone [OPEN/CLOSED]

Summary: The household gathers together in the chapel for a short All Soul's Day service.
Warnings: None.


The Valdemar family are not, by and large, particularly religious. "My faith," proclaimed Lady Valdemar once, to the horror of her husband's parents, "lies while science and science alone. If God should have a hand in that, so be it. I couldn't care less either way."

Yet here they were, gathered together in silent prayer before the altar and the glassy purview of King Solomon and a host of angels, huddled in the dark pews at the front as if in collective repentance- not that Her Ladyship seems particularly repentant. From the slant of her shoulders to her poker-straight back to the upward jut of her chin, all of her bearing is far too proud for a humble servant; she watches her husband take to the lectern with an almost feline boredom, thin lips pursed. Even a servant watching from a second floor balcony might note the smear of carmine on them, as if brushed on for the sole purpose of better expressing her disdain.

"The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil." Lord Valdemar seems uncomfortable with so many eyes upon him, and he studiously avoids his wife's stare. He dabs at his brow with a handkerchief before continuing. "Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death."

His voice, though low and quiet, echoes throughout the space with a new importance that could only have been built into place by a canny architect with an ear for dramatics. A Madonna relief rolls her eyes piously to the ceiling; a spider inches its way down her shoulder and drops onto the organ, silent for years now.

The final stretch now. "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite," he finishes- and, the bible closes in a dusty thump. With another mop of the brow, he murmurs something pleading about feeling faint before bolting for the hallway wearing a martyred look.

Lady Valdemar sniffs. "A migraine," she informs no one in particular, rising from the pew. She makes it sound like an accusation. "His health is so tenuous these days."

But for all of her snide comments, that she is the one left rather than her husband does allow for a little breathing room. If anyone should want to light a candle or speak a silent prayer of their own, now is the time.


[This is an open post for all of the household. Threads may either take place during, before or after the service. Lady Valdemar will also be available to speak with, assuming your character is either of the right station or has an excuse to do so- say so in your post's subject line if that would interest you.]
failedprotagonist: (when I was young)

[personal profile] failedprotagonist 2013-07-03 05:08 am (UTC)(link)
"That's right. If you want to, and you have someone to pray for." He assumes most people do. Most people have lost someone important to them. Loss is part of life. "Then you can go back to your duties, I assume." He has no say in what the servants do, and no knowledge of what they might be ordered to do. It could be some of them would get the afternoon off.
puppy_lancer: <user name=cu-chulainn> (And on my leaning shoulder)

[personal profile] puppy_lancer 2013-07-03 05:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"...Do pets count as people?"

He could call himself a fortunate man. Everyone in his family that he knew was still alive. The only ones he needed to mourn for were the semi-official pets that he had adopted from the forests during his childhood.
failedprotagonist: (I carry it well)

[personal profile] failedprotagonist 2013-07-03 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, youth, thought Kiritsugu again. He was a lucky young man, if he hadn't lost anyone dear to him.

"Pets? I'd say they do." From a theological standpoint, a clergyman would doubtlessly have disagreed with him, but Kiritsugu isn't too concerned with the clergy and what they might have to say.

"I've had more than a few good dogs myself, that I liked better than most people." Every gamekeeper needed good gun dogs, and so Kiritsugu was not without.
puppy_lancer: <user name=cu-chulainn> (In a field by the river)

[personal profile] puppy_lancer 2013-07-03 08:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"Lucky. I've only had things like deer or birds."

The servant wing really didn't have enough room for indoor pets.

"You gonna light candles for them? The birds, I mean."
failedprotagonist: (I was born to bring)

sorry about my tense slip ups, I will keep to past tense now!

[personal profile] failedprotagonist 2013-07-03 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
"Deer and birds? You might want to go in for gamekeeping, if you like animals." There was no shortage of animals in his own life, whether he was dealing with his dogs, feeding the wildlife, or hunting.

"Ah, no, I'll stick with lighting candles for people. I'd be here all day, otherwise." He'd witnessed a great deal of death in the course of his work, but there was only one death that had truly stayed with him, which he would never escape from.
puppy_lancer: <user name=aicons> (for the pure and free)

it's okay

[personal profile] puppy_lancer 2013-07-03 09:36 pm (UTC)(link)
He shook his head.

"Nah, I'm better off doing what I'm already doing."

He'd be the laziest gamekeeper otherwise.

"Ah. Got any particular person in mind?"
failedprotagonist: (I carry it well)

[personal profile] failedprotagonist 2013-07-05 07:55 am (UTC)(link)
It was true, a gamekeeper couldn't be lazy. They had to work all the time, like Kiritsugu. Fortunately, he wasn't recruiting, and he nodded good naturedly.

"Just try to keep awake while you're doing it." He smirked, faintly.

"Most people have someone in mind, on a day like today." He wasn't one for talking about his problems.
puppy_lancer: (From glen to glen)

[personal profile] puppy_lancer 2013-07-05 02:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"I think I can manage to stay awake on the job easily."

His job is many things, but it's never boring.

"Hey, how about the time we're both off, I get you a drink? I've got a feeling that would make you feel better about the past than lighting any candles can."

Leave it to Lancer to say something so sacrilegious in such a holy place.
Edited 2013-07-05 14:19 (UTC)
failedprotagonist: (never had me a name)

[personal profile] failedprotagonist 2013-07-06 07:27 am (UTC)(link)
"I'll take your word on that." There was no sarcasm in the remark. Falling asleep in church, he knew, didn't mean one fell asleep on the job. Entirely different matters.

At the offer of the drink, Kiritsugu's lips quirked into a smile. "You may have a point. I'll take you up on that offer."

The sacrilegious nature of Lancer's remark didn't appear to bother Kiritsugu in the least. He had to admit, he couldn't drink a candle, and he'd never say no to a free drink.
puppy_lancer: <user name=hound-of-ulster> (She passed the salley gardens)

[personal profile] puppy_lancer 2013-07-06 04:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Lancer gives Kiritsgu a thumbs up.

"Great. And your cottage is still in the same place, right? I'll just drop on over there with the drink in hand."
failedprotagonist: (Default)

[personal profile] failedprotagonist 2013-07-09 12:47 am (UTC)(link)
Kiritsugu shook his head, with a smile.

"They haven't moved it, so far as I know. Looking forward to it. I'll try to have some food ready for you."

By rights, he should have had a wife, to do his cooking for him and help manage the cottage, but he'd never found it in him to marry.
puppy_lancer: (Where are your legs that used to run)

[personal profile] puppy_lancer 2013-07-09 12:51 am (UTC)(link)
"That sound even better."

He licks his lips. A childish gesture, but he really does like Kiritsugu's food.

"What sort of food?"

Say scones, please?
failedprotagonist: (I carry it well)

[personal profile] failedprotagonist 2013-07-09 01:02 am (UTC)(link)
Lancer's face was the very picture of eagerness, and Kiritsugu stifled a laugh. They were already misbehaving. Best not to compound their sins.

Kiritsugu wasn't the greatest cook, himself, but they were kind to him in the kitchens, as he provided them with the best game available, and he knew that being friendly with the kitchen staff went a long way.

"Anything you had in mind?"
puppy_lancer: (And white with snow)

[personal profile] puppy_lancer 2013-07-09 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
"Hm...I'd like scones. Or a pie if it wouldn't be too much."
failedprotagonist: (I carry it well)

[personal profile] failedprotagonist 2013-07-12 06:11 am (UTC)(link)
"Scones, it it?" He shook his head. Lancer wasn't shy, that was certain. "I'll see what I can do. Now it sounds more like me doing you a favor than you bringing me a drink." Not that he minded. "You might have to give me a bit of warning, if you expect a feast."
puppy_lancer: (And white with snow)

[personal profile] puppy_lancer 2013-07-12 06:29 am (UTC)(link)
He chuckles lightly.

"Well, I'll bring you some meat and some drink. So I can compensate you enough for the cooking."