002 ♥

[thenewnancydrew]

A. Action | The Church of Salvation

Forgive me, Lord, for I have really screwed up, and I'm not even sure how it happened.

[ The words are said softly

She's sitting on a pew near the front of the church, hands clasped tightly in her lap, her head bowed. She finishes the rest of the prayer in her head, asking for forgiveness for the past week. She doesn't know why, or what came over her, but she spent the last week not being very... Christian-like. She remembers doing a lot of swearing and a lot of inappropriate flirting. She figures it's probably one of the terrible things their captors do that she was warned about, but she still feels the need to come ask God to forgive her of all this.

So she'll just be sitting in the church for quite a while. A heart-to-heart with God will do her good. ]



B. Action | Bodine Fashion

[ Maybe a little bit of shopping will cheer her up. It usually does.

Except all the clothes in Mayfield are way outdated, and on top of that, they're knock-offs.

She's looking anyway, though, biting her lip and wincing at each article of clothing she pulls off the rack. Occasionally, she'll pause to hold a dress or a sweater up in front of her and look in the mirror. ]

Comments

[kinship]

Oh dear, does that mean you would be reluctant to befriend any other non-Christians, if your experience was so bad?

[Perhaps he shouldn't mention his absolute disgust for religion in any shape or form...]

[thenewnancydrew]

Not necessarily. [ This is something she's thought really hard about. ] I mean, I definitely won't date anybody who isn't a Christian. The Bible says not to. But I think people can be good people without being Christians. And I think I can be friends with those people.

[kinship]

I'm really glad you think that, because... I'm not a Christian, and I shouldn't like to not be friends with you.

[She's going to be so disappointed, none of the church crowd are religious.]

[thenewnancydrew]

What?

[ She looks at him, her expression flipping over to confused. ]

But you said... your brother's a priest, and, well, you're here.

[kinship]

My brother is a priest, and I'm always here... a lot of my friends are the clergy and I like to spend time with my brother. But I'm not a Christian.

[He looks up at her, all wide eyed innocent concern.]

Does that bother you?

[thenewnancydrew]

[ She just stares at him for a second, her mouth slightly open in shock and surprise. Shockprise?

But then she puts on a smile and shakes her head. ]

Of course not. I'm just surprised. Guess I didn't see it coming. We can still be friends.

[ Because she still thinks he's a sweet kid. ]

[kinship]

[Hopefully she won't find out the clergy here are mostly atheists too, that might shake her a bit.]

Good! I'd hate to think that just after making a new friend, I'd suddenly have lost her again... especially when I might have a fashion disaster any day now.

[thenewnancydrew]

[ Yeeeaaah, she will be so shaken. As if this town wasn't bad enough. ]

You're not losing a friend, promise. [ She giggles. ] Bring it on. I'm always up for a challenge.

[kinship]

[He looks down at his own drone-like clothing for a moment, before shrugging.]

One of my friends hates my choices in clothes, what advice would you give?

[thenewnancydrew]

[ She looks him over, tilting her head. ]

Some jeans, to start with. Probably something light wash. But not any of those weird stiff, off-looking ones that the kids here wear. And not any of the super tight jeans that the creepy greaser boys wear, either. Probably something worn-looking and looser. Since you're young, you can probably get away with wearing cute t-shirts with button downs over them. Open with the sleeves rolled up a little. Or one of those short-sleeved over long-sleeved combos. Try to stay away from dark, dull colors. They'll clash with your skin tone.

[kinship]

[Most of that goes well over his head, considering his idea of awesome clothes are Hawaiian shirts and novelty sunglasses.]

I'm not sure I could get all of that here...

[thenewnancydrew]

Not at the stores in town. Because, sadly, 'good fashion' isn't something the fifties have heard of. [ Rolling her eyes. ] But I hear there are a bunch of tailors and stuff in town.

[kinship]

I don't see what's wrong with the clothes of this era... everyone seems to hate them, but they're not entirely terrible.

[Says the boy who looks like a drone.]

[thenewnancydrew]

[ She can't help but make a face at that. ]

I guess people are just used to the clothes from their world. Change is hard, even if it is just clothing.

[kinship]

I've never felt the need to wear the clothes I regained from home, when in Rome...

[Either that, or he just hates the clothes from home.]

[thenewnancydrew]

Do as the Romans do, I know. [ She sighs. ] It's just too much change for me at once, I think. It's bad enough that I've been brought here. Why'd they have to take away all my stuff, too?

[ Though she can't say she misses the scars she used to have. ]

[kinship]

You'll get it back in time, though you may wish you hadn't.

[He would rather have nothing from home and not have to have lived through what happened here.]

[thenewnancydrew]

[ Crap, that doesn't sound good. ]

Why do you say that...?

[kinship]

The town only delivers packages filled with things from home after it's... done something. Usually horrific.

[thenewnancydrew]

Are you serious?

[ Look of appall is a go. ]

That's completely morbid! What is wrong with them?

[kinship]

I'm afraid so, some of the things...

[Well, he isn't going to talk about them. There's a slightly haunted look in his eyes, Mayfield is no place for children.]

[thenewnancydrew]

[ She shakes her head quickly. She doesn't want to hear them, anyway. ]

... I guess having my cat and my car and my laptop and my clothes will make this a little bit easier.

[ But only a little bit. ]

[kinship]

[He doesn't want to scare her, but it's obvious that he thinks she's an absolute fool to believe those things would help in any way.]

You're wrong, no placating gesture can make up for what they do here.

[thenewnancydrew]

They'll remind me of home. They'll be small comforts. [ She cuts him a glance. ] Maybe things from home won't make you feel any better, but they'll help me a little bit.

[ Especially since she's a girl who's so used to material items. ]

[kinship]

[He pulls his knees up towards his chest, feet on the pew despite that probably being a sin or something.]

Many of the people here have died, some more than once. Some have lost limbs only to have them reattached in a grotesque parody of how they were before, others have lost their minds, forgotten themselves and the people they loved. Do you think some clothes would make that easier to bear?