The Deck, Early Saturday Morning

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

Winter was a while off yet, but it was considerably cooler than a few months ago. Naturally, this called for hot coffee. It was a good thing then that Edmund had been into town to the bakery and coffee shop. There was a large Thermos of hot coffee with some disposable cups and a box of pastries on the table if anyone came by. For now, Edmund was content to sit back in his deck chair and enjoy his breakfast.

[OOC: Open as decks often are. I'm asleep now though. Sleeeep.]

Comments

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"Hello Merlin," Edmund replied, looking up. "I haven't seen you in a while. How goes?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Well." Kinda sorta. "No brownies, at least?"

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"No brownies is certainly a good start," Edmund agreed. "Chuck tells me he's now on his best behaviour. Going to church even."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

...yes, that got Merlin to pause.

"Is he doing anything to the church?"

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"I haven't heard anything bad, but I understand the church has a caretaker again, so perhaps he's protecting it."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Are you certain it's really Chuck?"

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"He seems as arrogant as ever despite that. I'd be more inclined to believe he's up to something than being possessed."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Perhaps turning the church into a brothel?

"I suppose people are able to change..."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"They are," he said, tone suddenly serious. "And I hope he has seen the light and is trying to change. But it doesn't hurt to keep a healthy dose of scepticism on hand in case it's a ruse."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

A lot of scepticism, yes.

"Have you gone to the church as well? Arthur and Francine seem to enjoy it."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

Edmund shook his head. "I haven't been to a church in a very long time. I haven't needed to."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Really? I thought it was required to go." Because Merlin was so very wise to the ways of modern Christianity, you know. Or Christianity in general.

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"In some denominations, I suspect it is. I find that church is for those who need a way to worship, to express their faith and to reconnect with the Almighty. When you've met Him, church doesn't seem necessary anymore."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"...Him?"

When a Christian allegory and pagan turned Christian allegory meet.

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"In my world, he's called Aslan, the Great Lion, creator of all things. Here I'm pretty sure they just call him God. Or Jesus. Both, technically."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin opened his mouth as if to say something, but... yes. What does one respond to that with?

"I think I need to learn a bit more about this now."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"There are probably plenty of books in the library," he replied encouragingly. "Or the caretaker at the church might be able to answer your questions. Keep in mind though that with all of the different worlds meeting here, there are probably a lot of conflicting explanations, and for all we know, they're all right."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"We never really had much of... the church in Ealdor. Still a bit of the old religion there."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"Ealdor is...home?" he guessed. They hadn't started out in Camelot in the books, after all.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"It's the village I'm from," Merlin replied brightly. "It's just outside Camelot's borders."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"And you still follow the old ways at home?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"As far as I can tell, it's a bit of a mix of them?"

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

Edmund nodded in understanding. "Arthur doesn't give you trouble for not going to church with him?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"He goes with Francine," He said with a shrug. "I always thought it was a bit of a peaceful time for him."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"That's a good thing for him to have. And that's a good thing that he doesn't give you trouble. Some people, no matter their religion, can be insistent about you doing what they do."