RP - Ynez comes to church

[on_holy_ground]

Once mass was finished, Darius moved to the front of the chapel by the doors in order to say a few words to those who wished to speak with him. He smiled and shook hands, speaking softly with most everyone as they left the church, and making sure that anyone who might need more private conversation could schedule a time in which to see him.

As the chapel started to clear of people, he noticed the young woman who had visited him earlier and smiled to see that she had made it to the service.

Comments

[ynez-castillo.livejournal.com]

Ynez had been running late, though not really late by her own standards, especially since she had gotten there in time for the homily. That was the most important thing that first morning. She likes Father Darius so far, both for what he says and what he doesn't say. After mass ends, she waits to say hello to him, greeting him with a huge smile.

"Good morning, Father."

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

His own smile causes the corners of his eyes to crinkle as he takes one of her hands in both of his and squeezes gently, his typical greeting. "It is indeed a good morning. I am glad to see that you were able to make it."

[ynez-castillo.livejournal.com]

"I told you I would."

And that settles that, as far as Ynez is concerned.

"I enjoyed your homily."

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

"I'm glad to hear that, as it tends to be one of the more difficult areas for me."

[ynez-castillo.livejournal.com]

"Really? I wouldn't have guessed. You seemed very sure of yourself and what you have to say."

She smiles up at him.

"I brought you something to help stave off the rib-pinching for a bit longer."

She searches in the Really Big Purse of the day and pulls out a box to hand him. Inside are a dozen cookies, cut to resemble pigs. A faint smell of cinnamon and brown sugar puffs into the air when the box is opened.

"They're called puerquitos."

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

He laughs softly as he takes the box and sniffs appreciatively. "They smell positively heavenly, but I don't recall having seen them before. Do they have a special significance or story surrounding them?"

[ynez-castillo.livejournal.com]

She shakes her head.

"Nothing exotic. My aunt used to make them for me when I was little because they were my favorite. I learned from her."

She smiles at a memory.

"There's a secret way to eat them, though. First the nose, then the toes. After that, it's anybody's guess."

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

Darius chuckles softly. "Well thank you for the cookies, and for telling me the secret. I would hate to have eaten them the wrong way."

He has a sudden thought and lifts an eyebrow slightly in question. "Since the weather will soon be turning chilly, I was going to eat my lunch out by my garden and enjoy the sunshine for a bit. I wouldn't mind some company if you would like to join me."

[ynez-castillo.livejournal.com]

"That's very kind of you. I would enjoy that, I think."

It's a perfect day to sit out in the sun for a while.

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

He smiles and starts to walk back through the chapel towards the back of the church where his rectory was located. It was easier to get to his small patch of garden this way than it was by going out front and walking all the way around the building.

"I do hope you like Lasagna. It's Mrs. Valerio's specialty."

[ynez-castillo.livejournal.com]

She follows him, smiling at his remark.

"I'm sure it will be good. Am I sworn to secrecy that you didn't eat it all yourself?"

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

He glances at her and smiles as he opens the door to the western entrance of the church, the closest one to his rectory. "Only if your not questioned directly, and I hardly think that you will be since only you and I are aware that we are dining together."

[ynez-castillo.livejournal.com]

She nods. "How has your week been?"

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

"It's actually been rather slow this past week, although there has been several people in to pray for their families in the path of the latest hurricane."

[ynez-castillo.livejournal.com]

Ynez looks around curiously as the walk into a part of the church she hasn't been in before.

"I understand the impulse. Half my family is in Louisiana. The past few weeks had some distinctly... nervewracking moments."

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

The west entrance to the church leads to the sacristy (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v259/RogueDarling/Muse%20Gifts%20and%20Stuff/Darius/Sacristy01.jpg) where a small marble sculpture of the Virgin and Child rests on top of the capitals. There is then a large entryway that leads to the door itself and then outside. As they walk around the corner of the building and into the parklike courtyard of the church there is an old tree held up by two concrete supports stands in a little island of green grass surrounded by a curb. Beyond that, along the northern side of the building, there is a park bench which sits close to another island of grass, which holds what appears to be a small garden.

His voice is soft with sadness and a hint of regret. "I can only imagine how difficult it must be for you. Are any of them situated along the Gulf Coast close to the harder hit areas?"

[ynez-castillo.livejournal.com]

She can't help it. She snorts with something very like derision.

"Most of the people from the younger generations are right on the coast."

Right where they can make the most money and accumulate the most power to do whatever it is they feel like doing, no matter who it hurts.

"I wouldn't worry about them, Father. They always land on their feet. I was mainly concerned about my grandmother and great-grandmother but they're about forty miles upriver, so their experience of the storm was much different. But they are both fine. I think it's fair to say that my great-grandmother didn't even notice what was going on."

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

He glances at her at the sound, curious as to the cause, but doesn't say anything as he doesn't want to pry.

"I'm glad to hear that no one that you care for has been hurt in the tradgedy."

[ynez-castillo.livejournal.com]

"None of my family, at any rate. Nor the handful of friends I still have there. But it's small comfort, considering how many people were hurt. And are still hurting."

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

He nods. "It is indeed a great tragedy. I only hope that things to not get to much worse as the season progresses."

[ynez-castillo.livejournal.com]

"Yes."

She nods. There doesn't seem to be much else to say in that regard.

"Do you want any help carrying anything outside?"

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

He smiled at her offer and nodded. "If you like, you can bring out the salad while I warm the lasagna. It should only take a few minutes."

[ynez-castillo.livejournal.com]

"Lead the way."

She hadn't been angling for a chance to see his kitchen, but now that the opportunity is there, it must be taken. Kitchens tell you more about a person than their book or music collection, in Ynez's experience. Plus, well, how can you go wrong in a kitchen?

[on-holy-ground.livejournal.com]

He nodded and moves to the north side of the building, opening a small, almost unseen door and holding it open for her to walk through. It lead down a small hallway that went past a small bathroom, a kitchen, and then finally his rectory before leading back towards the chapel itself.

Stopping at the small kitchen, he went to the refrigerator and pulled out a long pan covered in tinfoil. He then turned on the oven, setting the temperature to warm and then slid the pan inside.

The kitchen was small, just big enough for the fridge, an oven, and a sink, with an aisle that ran alongside them just wide enough for two people to pass. There were three cupboards over the oven and sink, and everything was done in dark woods that matched the general coloring of the wood in the rest of the church. Even the appliances were brown in color. It was neat and tidy, with no dishes to be seen in the sink or drainer. The fridge held the salad, some cottage cheese, several kinds of fruit, some milk and apple juice, some cheese, and some lunch eat.

[ynez-castillo.livejournal.com]

She waits in the doorway to the kitchen, curiously watching him move around the tiny space. The room says something about order and control, she thinks. The austerity doesn't particularly surprise her. It doesn't seem to be a place for refining any culinary arts so much as it does for refueling his body. Such asceticism is foreign to her these days, and as such, deeply interesting. Does he even own a decent knife?

"Do you do all your own cooking? Besides Mrs. Valerio's lasagna, I mean?"