marcus keane (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
exorkismos) wrote2018-01-22 06:55 pm
exorkismos) wrote2018-01-22 06:55 pm
ic log | "yes dear"
For the first time in a long while, Marcus' neck doesn't ache and his eyes aren't itchy from bad sleep. He and Tomas have found an ally in the local parish priest, Father McCabe; they spent last night in the rectory guest room, enjoying a softer bed than they've had in weeks. In the morning, McCabe -- a Liverpudlian lad by birth -- had insisted on making them bacon and eggs, and talked Marcus' ear off about England. Marcus had happily indulged him, accent getting even stronger as he did.
But close alignment with the local Catholic congregation is a drawback as well as a benefit in this particular case. The reported-possessed is Adrian Kelly, a young man newly back from his time at university, returned to the small Midwestern town of his birth after three years of mind-broadening experiences. Or whatever it is happens at university. Weed, Marcus guesses, alcohol, lack of interest in religion. His mother Maria came to McCabe in tears. Privately, McCabe thinks that she's having trouble adjusting to her son being grown up and not necessarily so well-behaved as she wants him to be. Nothing to do with demons. Marcus is hoping he's right. It'd be a nice change, that.
Maria Kelly is hosting a welcome-home party for Adrian's benefit. Marcus and Tomas have already spoken to her: she doesn't seem like the sort of person to cry possession after catching her son rolling a spliff, but there's no telling for sure until they can talk to Adrian properly. So she has invited them to the party, under a specific condition: collars off. No priestly garments, no religion talk, no mention of their work. "It'll upset him," she says, and something passes across her face which looks more like fear than concern. "I'll say you're friends of my sister. She's always gallivanting around. She's in Trinidad at the moment. You met her travelling, you were in the area, you popped in to say hello. It's a small town, so new faces will get attention. Just -- just don't mention religion, please."
So there Marcus and Tomas stand, getting out of their truck in front of the Kelly house. Marcus is rubbing the St Benedict medal around his wrist, unsure if he should take it off or not. It's not a massively recognisable symbol. He could be wearing it as a fashion statement.
As he considers the issue, he glances over at Tomas and the sight of him makes a smile spill helplessly onto his face. "It's no use," he says, and nudges him."You're too priestly. Too young-priestly specifically. You're always going to look like you just got done telling kids that Jesus is cool."
But close alignment with the local Catholic congregation is a drawback as well as a benefit in this particular case. The reported-possessed is Adrian Kelly, a young man newly back from his time at university, returned to the small Midwestern town of his birth after three years of mind-broadening experiences. Or whatever it is happens at university. Weed, Marcus guesses, alcohol, lack of interest in religion. His mother Maria came to McCabe in tears. Privately, McCabe thinks that she's having trouble adjusting to her son being grown up and not necessarily so well-behaved as she wants him to be. Nothing to do with demons. Marcus is hoping he's right. It'd be a nice change, that.
Maria Kelly is hosting a welcome-home party for Adrian's benefit. Marcus and Tomas have already spoken to her: she doesn't seem like the sort of person to cry possession after catching her son rolling a spliff, but there's no telling for sure until they can talk to Adrian properly. So she has invited them to the party, under a specific condition: collars off. No priestly garments, no religion talk, no mention of their work. "It'll upset him," she says, and something passes across her face which looks more like fear than concern. "I'll say you're friends of my sister. She's always gallivanting around. She's in Trinidad at the moment. You met her travelling, you were in the area, you popped in to say hello. It's a small town, so new faces will get attention. Just -- just don't mention religion, please."
So there Marcus and Tomas stand, getting out of their truck in front of the Kelly house. Marcus is rubbing the St Benedict medal around his wrist, unsure if he should take it off or not. It's not a massively recognisable symbol. He could be wearing it as a fashion statement.
As he considers the issue, he glances over at Tomas and the sight of him makes a smile spill helplessly onto his face. "It's no use," he says, and nudges him."You're too priestly. Too young-priestly specifically. You're always going to look like you just got done telling kids that Jesus is cool."