via veritas et vita

[bright_and_beautiful]

Jenny loves the church. It's beautiful even for a small church, of course, but it's just... she feels peaceful here. It's relaxing. She likes it here. She doesn't go to Catechism herself any more, but her siblings are still there for the most part, and she would just have to come back for them anyway. If it was a nice day maybe she would go outside while she was waiting, enjoy the nice weather, but it is one of those cold and miserable sort of drizzle days that no one likes. Even Jenny. So, she'll be in the church, waiting for Catechism to end.

She curls up in the side of one of the pews towards the back and settles into a half doze. So peaceful and quiet. She'll just be here, feeling content, until otherwise disturbed.

Comments

[bright_and_beautiful]

Not squealing in church, not squealing in church, not squealing in church. Even if it's not Sunday and no one's here. It is disrespectful. But- "Maaaaaagic?"

[keyed_up]

"Just a little bit, I don't want to overdo it, apparently it's addictive, but I can do a little bit."

[bright_and_beautiful]

"Well, don't be addicted to things on my behalf," Jenny says immediately.

She's still not totally convinced that Soph's okay, she's awfully old to believe in magic, but she's willing to be disproven. Because magic!

[keyed_up]

"Also I'm sort of worried that if I cast a spell in a church someone will decide to burn me for being a witch. I can call you next time I'm going to cast something anyway? A lot of it doesn't look like anything though."

[bright_and_beautiful]

"Whatever you like!" Jenny agrees cheerfully. "I mean, right now I'm stuck here till the ducklings are done with Catechism, but you know me. I don't do much except play mama duck. Time is a thing that I have."

[keyed_up]

"Okay. I'll call you next time I do a spell with like... any visible effect. ...And wear your cross all the time, vampires don't like those either."

She finishes collecting her holy water.

[bright_and_beautiful]

Jenny pulls her necklace out from under her sweater. It is tiny and simple but it is actual gold; it was her confirmation present from her parents and she wears it everywhere.

"Waaaaaay ahead of you!" she reports. She eyes the full container of water Soph's holding. "...should I ask my uncle if he has more of that? It'd be weird if he started running out, I think he usually only checks it after Mass."

[keyed_up]

"I probably won't need more any time soon but it'd be nice if it was there if I did. I'm usually not out after dark, and vampires also don't like sunlight. I just needed a new batch because what we already had is in water balloons, and Bella can throw those hard enough to burst on contact and I really can't."

[bright_and_beautiful]

Jenny cracks up. "You have holy water water balloons? That is the cutest thing ever!"

[keyed_up]

"It's not sacrilegious or anything? Oh, good."

[bright_and_beautiful]

"I have read lots and lots of the Bible! I promise there is nothing condemning the use of holy water balloons." She rolls her eyes. "But poly blends are scaryyyyy, whoooooo."

[keyed_up]

"I may or may not be wearing poly blends."

[bright_and_beautiful]

"Shame on you! Three Hail Marys and a Glory Be!" She tilts her head side to side mock-consideringly. "Hey, go for broke, say the whole rosary while you're at it."

[keyed_up]

"I'm not actually Catholic, remember? I'm one of those sort of vaguely Christian maybe people."

[bright_and_beautiful]

"Then I refer you to an acceptably Vague Christian Maybe penance. Build your own!"

[keyed_up]

"How about I continue helping my sister fight the forces of darkness?"

[bright_and_beautiful]

"Yessss! Do it. Soon, my pretties, the forces of good will triumph!"

This does not come out very commandingly. It is somewhat ruined by giggles.

[keyed_up]

"Well, at least we'll try really hard. Thank you for not burning me as a witch."

Soph salutes her, and departs.




Later that evening, she calls Jenny.

[bright_and_beautiful]

"Hey Soph! What's- Patrick, I said down, buster- what's up?"

[keyed_up]

"Hey, if you don't mind risking being out after dark to get over here - which I mostly recommend only if you have a car - I'm going to do a spell, and I thiiiiink it may cause something to glow, if you want to see."

[bright_and_beautiful]

"Caaaan you wait a bit? My parents aren't back from work yet. I can probably borrow the car once they're home, but in the meantime- no car, no one else to watch the ducklings, and Patrick has decided he is a monkey and is trying to climb the side of the staircase."

[keyed_up]

"Yeah, I'm still doing prep work. I just translated the part about the glowing and thought I'd let you know."

[bright_and_beautiful]

"Yay! Okay, I'll call before I head over."

About forty five minutes later, after ducklings have been rounded up and extracted from miscellaneous climbing projects and readied for bed, Jenny makes a heads-up call to Soph. Shortly thereafter, Jenny's mom drops her off at the Swan's.

"Hiiii, I'm here!"

[keyed_up]

The porch lights come on when the car approaches. "Hi, Jenny!" says Soph, sticking her head out the door.

[bright_and_beautiful]

"Hi! I hear there is glowing to be had!"

Jenny is actually mostly expecting this to be sleight-of-hand, but she's excited regardless.