✞[ XII. ]✞ Station of the Cross

[sanctus_cineris]

[ ✟ ] O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, no more will you weep; He will be gracious to you when you cry out, as soon as he hears he will answer you. The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst. [ ✟ ]

No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see him

Comments

[Action]

[13th_crusader]

[There's suddenly a weight on his arm, Maxwell's claws digging into the fabric of the priest's cassock. The man connected to it was positively thunderstruck.]

What is it? What the Hell is it?! Is it Armageddon? Are we in the middle of Sodom and Gomorrah?

What!?

What did you see!?

[Action]

[sanctus_cineris]

[A sharp exhale, and that hand would come away bloody, a sticky wetness still clinging to his sleeve. The wound was raw, and he instinctively grit his teeth, taking ahold of his superior's collar to give him a slight jostle.]

Coorie doon! Thaes es nae time tae be oop en ae panic.

Half th' citieh es en chaos. We're under attack....Frem creatures unknown.

[He had to keep his head in this situation-if his own Commander and Chief wasn't sound then someone had to be!]

...Thaer's been ae loot o' structural damage.

[Action]

[13th_crusader]

[The fierceness in Anderson's gaze was more terrifying that whatever was going on beyond the church's doors, and he froze as he was shaken and clutched at his hands.]

P-perdonami.

I.. Please..

[The sight of the blood was what brought him back to his senses. His determination to keep his Knight in check taking over and poising him.]

Please get inside, they've heard your plea! You cannot take damage like you have before, Anderson.. please!

[Twinning their fingers slaked in blood he tried to pull and lead him inside. Losing him once had been hard enough on his psyche.. to lose him a third time rattled the younger man to the icy core.]

[Action]

[sanctus_cineris]

[Massive shoulders hug the curve of his draping cassock, and he lumbers forward obediently, unresponsive beyond a curl of fingers over his leader's own. Touch was such a rarity, and even in this stage of city-wide bedlam, the dusky-fleshed Templar could do no more than clasp to his brethren for a reinforcement in strength.

He would Follow his Chief into the inner walls of the sanctum without protest, an uneven grimace displayed upon his holy lips.

His exhaustion showed plainly as the solemnity upon his stern countenance, adamantine strength keeping him resolute.]

Th' enemies ar' formidable. Ahn thaer es nae time...Th' city es en shambles. Maxwell...Ah have tae go back oot thaer. Ef ah dinna...Ef ah dinna th' price o' lives ah fear es far greater than we've yet tae realize.

[Perhaps the incident with Cain, which he had not discussed, was weighting on him. It was clear at least that he would reap Vengeance, "I will repay", sayeth the Lord.]

. . .

Voice

[sancta_sedes]

F-Father....

Voice

[sanctus_cineris]

Yer Holiness!

Ye're alrigh'...?

Voice

[sancta_sedes]

I'm s-s-scared.

Voice

[sanctus_cineris]

Hang en thaer lad..

Ef ah can reach ye..Es thaer ae way oot fer ye?

[ video ]

[listeningto]

[ Nai was still at the underground, figuring out how to use the device when he recognized the voice and face ]

Mister!!

[ video/action? ]

[sanctus_cineris]

[He blinks, looking over in the direction of the altar from his vantage point in the aisles. Had...Maxwell left him..?

The soles of his boots shuffle atop the flooring before he leans down, glancing at the screen.]

Ye still en thaer, lad?

[ video/action..? ]

[listeningto]

Uh-huh. Are you okay, mister?

[ video/action..? ]

[sanctus_cineris]

[He was a little scratched up from his encounter with the

Elder spawn, but he hadn't sustained any major wounds.]

Ah'm alrigh', lad...

[Action!]

[heinesangel]

[For nearly an entire minute, Nill had been standing close to an open door with one small hand resting against the frame. A look of intense worry on her face...

Jackie had accompanied her here, leaving her in the care of Father Anderson and Archbishop Maxwell, before turning back to join in the fight against the Lavos Spawn in Discedo. He had the ability to do so, and the girl knew that. Yet she still didn't want to see him leave her alone. Not like this. She was so afraid that something would happen. That he wouldn't come back.

But at the sound of one of those creatures crying out in the distance, Nill let out a startled gasp and the door fell closed. She had pulled her hands away from it quickly as if her fingers just touched a searing hot pan, bringing them close to her chest while her little wings trembled.]

[Action!]

[sanctus_cineris]

[Coming face to face with the timorous creature Father Anderson drew up short of the holy building's entrance, vivid green hues fixed on her before long arms outstretched without hesitation, and he had her clutched to his chest, fingers lightly tracing over the feathers of her wings.]

O'...Dove...E-et'll be alrigh'...Nae harm will befall ye here. Ah proomise. God will watch o'er ye. Ahn so will ah.

[A great palm soothe down her back and he lifted her up into his arms in a warm embrace, wanting nothing more than to ease that aching little heart.]

[Action!]

[heinesangel]

. . .

[As soon as Father Anderson appeared, the tension crawled up quickly along her back, drawing Nill up as straight as an arrow. Her mouth hung open carelessly, the poor girl was stuck on how to react appropriately to being discovered like this.

When he pulled Nill close, that was no resistance. She didn't move a finger, but her entire body was trembling softly, making soft uncertain noises with her lack of voice as if she couldn't get a word out, which stopped as soon as he began to speak.

Then she couldn't take it anymore. Hot tears began to stream down her cheeks, and her hangs clung to the front of the Father's cossack after he had lifted her up into his arms, burying her face against his chest.

It was all too much.]

[Audio]

[emperor_cowboy]

You said you'd offer some form of protection for me... if I take refuge there, are you gonna count that as your good deed?

[Audio]

[sanctus_cineris]

Th' Church es open tae all. Ef ye need sanctuary, ye ar' welcoom here.

Ef et es protection ye seek, ye will find et here, mae freen. We'd nae turn ye away.