Participants:
| Scene Title | Women Are More Religious |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | A convergence of three's A's in the Guiding Light Baptist Church. There is clergy provided snacks even. |
| Date | July 15, 2009 |
There is no mistaking this building as anything but a church, with its arching glass windows and concrete cross fixed to the edge of the pointed roof. Curving stone steps lead up from the pavement to a set of black double doors, often kept closed during the colder weather, but unlocked during the allocated hours written on a blue sign fix to the brick wall. In white, formal letting, it reads GUIDING LIGHT BAPTIST CHURCH and lists its hours of worship.
Through the doors, you first step into an open, nondescript foyer, with access to an unobtrusive staircase headed upwards, and a second hallway leading off somewhere less public also. Mainly, this room opens straight out to the much more spacious worship hall, with immovable rows and rows of pews. A small church, it only seats an absolute maximum of around one hundred and fifty people at a time. It has a high ceiling and is warmly lit, simple and reverent in design, colours light and earthy. The stage before the pews is wide open, with seats off to the side for other pastors and guest speakers, and there is a podium placed off center. On the other side, there is a small organ with music sheets kept nearby.
Classes were let out early, thank the lord above because it has been a very nice sunny day and Abigail longed to get a nice leisurely drive on the scooter back to Greenwich. Wednesday means it's church, evening service won't start till 7pm but she likes to arrive early. That and she can maybe stop in at old lucy's and see if there's anything needed. Life these last few days hasn't been un-hectic, but at least it's not ripping around at an outrageous pace. She managed to even get sleep above old lucy's after giving her bed up to Buck. Or well she hopes it got given to buck. Of leo slept in it.. well. There'd be some broken things.
So the snap pea colored scooter comes to it's ever present stop in front of the church and abigail begins the process of shedding the requisite jacket and helmet, stuffing them away in the seat, trading it for messenger bag and hairband. Sunday best already on.
Stepping into the church she felt hesistant. How long had it been since she'd been in a building like this of her own accord- this was probably first time in her life actually. IT'd always been someone takin her. She leaned on one of the pews.
Abigail bounds up the stairs and enters into the lobby then into the church till she's behind Adelaide. "How do!" Really, this is a good mood.
A secret some might not know about Adam, is that he goes to church. He doesn't go with any particular regularity or fervor, but he goes. He's quite familiar with the Bible and places of worship. After all, in a roundabout way, he's lived through the years that Europe still felt the remnants of the Inquisition. However, it's clear when he enters he's no baptist. He kneels as he enters, makes the sign of the cross and then walks to a back pew and sits down. He leaves his men outside, even Michael.
Adelaide nods. "Hi." she looks almost startled, like she's ready to fall over. "ahh.. hi." she breaths looking like a cat who's just been spooked badly. She smiles. "It's a nice church." she breaths.
"Pastor Ashby and Sumter won't bite. Maybe encourage you to come here more than once" Abigail offers her hand to Adelaide to shake. "Abigail Beauchamp. You came in to Old Lucy's not long ago. I didn't meet you properly the.." Adam Monroe just walked into church. There's a wierd strange thought that crosses her mind about huh… he didn't burst into flames. "Mr. Monroe" She tries to slip in before he looks like he might slip into prayer. There's a look around past him to see if the tin of cookies that seem to forever be waiting for her are there and yes, they are. Within arms reach of Adam. "You can come in and look" this offered to Adelaide. "Really"
Adam did look like he was about to pray. What exactly Adam would pray for is…well, no telepaths, so no telling. But he does look up as Abigail addresses him and his lips tighten a moment and then glances at Adelaide who he doesn't appear to recognize. There's a slight sign of agitation, but then he smiles and is charming old Adam as ever, "Hello Ms. Beauchamp." he says. Then he glances towards the other woman, "Miss." he turns and follows Abigail's gaze to the tin, then back to her, "Are those for charity?"
Adelaide smiles. "Ahh." she says as the click of mental wheels hit her. She extended a hand, she was almost tentative, the last thing she needed was mental tug, to be thrust into another daydream, another person's mind. She worked nods "AA pleasure. "Adelaide Xylander."
Abby's grip is firm, strng and she gives Adelaide's hand a few shakes before letting go. "No Mr. Monroe, Pastor Sumter leaves them for me. Habit. He's been trying to.. cheer me up. But you are welcome to have some. They were peanut butter last time. I usually sit there when it's not regular service. Adelaide meet Adam Monroe, Adam, meet Adelaide. She's going to be audtitioning at Old Lucy's soon"
Adam ahs a bit as he turns to pick up the tin. He opens the tin quietly to look inside of what might be in there. If there's no preset understanding, we'll call it oatmeal raisin. He tilts his head a moment and takes such a cookie and leaves the tin in his lap. He glances up towards Abby, "Ah, yes. I heard the former owner met with.." he trails off a bit and shrugs, he never knew her. "So who owns the establishment now?" he glances towards Adelaide and says, "Hello Adelaide Xylander. That's quite a name."
Adelaide smiles. "Quite a name?" she looks at Adam but she seems to go quiet at the mention of the death of the owner of Old Lucy's. "Yeah I've been wondering about that, out of the respect I didn't want to push my audition, but I kind of am unsure about many things right now."
okay, good mood going… going.. "Isabelle owned it. Now the owner is myself. I won't be selling it thought things will stay as they were" She's sure of that, she wants it to stay as it was, as it is. It's not like it's a money sink. "I'll give you an audition. we already have a guy who comes in and plays but we'll see" Abby doesn't make a move to take the tin away from Adam. Not yet at least, though oatmeal raisin. There's a smile back. Her favourite.
Adam takes the bite of the oatmeal raisin cookie and chews on it quietly. He glances between Adelaide and Abigail for a moment before noting Abigail's look at the tin. He looks down and then holds up the tin to her, "Cookie?" he questions and doesn't ask anymore about the bar. After all, now he owns one too. "When you say audition, if I can ask, are you referring to some sort of job interview, or is this music you're talking about?"
Adelaide smiles. She looks at the the tin of cookies, the scent of oat meal cookies trigger her own mind. "Can I have one?"
"Sure. I'm pretty sure that by the time I get to the tin, that others have helped themselves." She lets Adelaide pick first, a soft thank you for Adam. "Musical. Last I knew, Isabelle was offering to let her play a night or two. I think" Abigail looks over to Adelaide for confirmation. "I think we have our full roster of bartenders.
Adam nods a bit in response as the women help themselves to cookies. Then he lays the tin on the pew between the three of them as he finishes off his. "I see." he says, which he does on an apparent level when someone says 'Oh, looks like rain'. He considers Adelaide for a few moments, rather than Abby, then says, "So, Ms. Xylander, are you new to the city?" he questions.
Adelaide apparently, has wandered off, heeding Abigail's advice, and thus, Adam's question never gets answered. But abigail deposits her bag on the pew in front of Adams and sits down. not before grabbing another cookie. "How are things these days. No more trips to Japan?"
Adam glances sidelong at Abby before he says, "Japan? No. Wasn't anything like I remember it. It's changed a lot, even in forty years." he says offhandedly. He pauses a bit, "I hear that, perhaps, you are no longer a person to see about healing."
good mood has flown the coop and every the one who's emotions are generally seen on her sleeve so to speak, the nod is only confirmation to what's seen on her face. "It's gone. There's been attempts to get it back but.. I test negative for the evolved gene and someone who's managed to help other afflicted by Tyler Case was unable to help me" Abigail looks over her shoulder to the cross. "She said that I should never have had the gift in the first place. I didn't have the necessary genetics to be evolved" she doesn't like that last word, and she looks away from the cross to Adam.
Adam considers this and nods quietly. He's silent for some moments and only breaks the silence to get another cookie. He eats it quietly for some moments before he says, "I think, perhaps, that genetics alone does not explain it. It's simple and understandable, but our powers came from somewhere first." he pauses again, "Perhaps, you need only wait." he says, "Perhaps not. Perhaps God has something else for you. Unless you got water from a rock and claimed credit for it. God's vindictive like that."
Hearing the words evolved and the like, Adelaide is curious but slips into a pew and quietly begins to Pray, to who she's got no idea.
"he has other plans. It's hard to think so but.. he has other plans. I won't be getting it back. I've seen it. The pastor here can give you glimpses of the future, of god's plan. He gave me one, before I tried to get.. fixed. Of a person, the person who tried. They grew a tree of knowledge and plucked a fruit from it, offered it up, but there was a snake twining around her arm and the apple. The next day I met the person. All she was able to do was to change my hair back to blonde. There was nothing to fix" Abigail shakes her head. She opens her mouth to tell him what Hiro was then telling her about buuut thinks better of that. "I know, that I was ungrateful Mr. Monroe, after the fact, for what you did for me. I shouldn't have been the way I was,. You were just trying to do a good turn and I thank you for it. I appreciate it, and you. You gave me something that I really needed that no price ever really could be affixed to"
Adam is quiet again. He's finishing up his second cookie. Oatmeal raising isn't his favorite, but a cookie is a cookie. He turns to Abby and is quiet. Rather than launching into something, he simply says, "Thank you." he's quiet again after some moments and looks thoughtful, "so, what's your new path. Did you find it yet?"
Adelaide sits back after her prayer and pulls out a small PDA, she begins looking at it ,a picture on the small screen. She stands slowly.
"I think Isabelle chose it for me when she passed. I'm still going through school. Emergency medical Training. I'll try and keep the bar too. It seems to run by itself and I can find a good accountant. For now.. for now I'm up to god's will, what he wishes to do with me. Maybe i'm just meant to.. not do anything for a spell, after everything that's happened" Abigail looks over at Adelaide quietly then back to Adam. "you?"
Adelaide blinks Her eyes were a bit clouded tears. "Me?" she asks softly, in a quiet tone. She looks at the woman trying to understand what she meant by that ."Exuse me?"
Adam considers this EMT business and nods quietly. There's something so primitive about that to him, but what does an immortal with healing blood need with basical medical skills. Still, he says, "Perhaps." he says, "I suppose one never knows for sure." when she asks him his plans, he says, "Well, I've got business to take care of. I'm waiting to hear if the scooby doos will team up with me or go it alone against Petrelli." he shrugs. Then he glances at Adelaide who comes back. He doesn't appear to know how to respond.
"no, no, sorry, I had been asking Adam" The blonde apologizes. "Sorry. I should have made it more clear" Abigail looks between the two and then down to her watch. The minute hand and hour hand ever always moving. "I should stop in at the bar. It was a pleasure to meet you officially Adelaide. Mr. Monroe" She inclines her head to him before pulling herself up from the pew and grabbing her bag.
Adam nods a bit and holds up the tin, "Don't forget your cookies." he offers to Abby as she leaves. Glancing towards Adelaide in a briefly unsure manner, since he really doesn't appear to know what she's talking about.
Adelaide Smiles. She holds up her hands. "Don't mind me." she says brushing a few tears from her eyes. She nods to Abby. "It was nice to meet you too."
'Leave them, take them. I just take a few each time" Abigail turns down the tin and with that, disappears out the doors that lead to the foyers.
Adelaide exhales. She turns towards Adam and licks her lips. "Cookies?" she asks quickly. The sound, idea of such a thing made her curious. "You're offering?" she asks approaching him carefully. "Mr. Monroe was it?"
Adam considers the cookies quietly and then holds them up to Adelaide, "Well, apparently they're not mine to give. They're here for everyone." He nods when she makes sure of his name, "And you are Ms. Xylander, yes?"
Adelaide nods. "Yes." she takes a pro offered cookie. "Well if they here for everyone I'll take one." she says swiftly. "Now, Mr.Monroe, can I ask what you think of the Evolved? I mean just in general."
Adam considers the question a bit as he tilts his head to the left and studies Adelaide quietly, "Well, that's a bit of a loaded question." he says briefly. After a moment's thought, "I suppose I certainly don't think they're the boogie men that some people make them out to be. What do you think of the Evolved, Ms. Xylander?"
Adelaide thinks. "I think they're people." she says. "They're just people. I don't think they're any more or less human. It's about your gifts and how you use them. Some people can, write, some can make music, others are good doctors. The Evolved are just… like that."
Adam hmms a bit and considers the analogy, "Well, I suppose there's something to be said for looking at it like that." he tilts his head a moment as he studies her for a few moments, "So…are you ok. I couldn't help but notice you were crying."
Adelaide nods. "Yes. I guess just being back in church made me thing about the family I lost. I hadn't been in one since they died. I sort of lost my mainstream faith. Mostly due to the fact that I'd had it pushed on me by them. Did you know that women are actually more likely to be religious?"
Adam listens carefully and considers that bit of statistical wisdom, "Well, no, I suppose I didn't. But, I suppose it makes sense. Women seem to usually have a rougher lot in life. So, what better way to deal with that than to concentrate on the rewards of the after life." he pauses as he puts his hands on the back of the pew in front of him, "Sorry to hear about your family."
Adelaide shakes her head. "No. It's more of the anthropological reasons really. Women are more religious because it affords them a community-a stable structure in which to raise children, and be connected to others." she exhales. "And its ok. My family is gone. I can't trust any of my distant relations… so a lot of time I am adrift in life."
Adam hmms, "Adrift in life. What an interesting term that is." he says thoughtfully, "So then, why drift to New York of all places. It's no longer the shining mecca it used to be, hm?" he considers Adelaide quietly, "I'm not sure it's really the place that a person really wants to make new connections in."
Adelaide laughs. "I've lived her my whole life." she tells him. "But in truth. I always have my family, around me, but once the bomb, hit and evolved gap started, it got worse. I realized all I had were superficial relationships with people, on the surface nothing lasting."
Adam purses his lips a moment as he quizzically listens to what he hears, "What would the evolved gap have to do with you losing your relationships?"
Adelaide thinks. "Well those around me took sides, some were pro some were anti, but I also realized that I was still a child in a world of adults. I mean. I didn't have any /real/ friends that now with my world in shambles, I could turn to for help because like me they were all 'just kids'."
Adam mms, "And is that what you're looking for now? Friends to turn to?"
Adelaide frowns. "That, people who I can depend on, who will help me grow. I need to be come an adult, but I need to remain myself. Loves, friends… I am all to unexperienced, all to green… those I remember talking with made my naivete the butt of jokes."
Adam ahs a bit, "But what are you hoping to grow into. There are many kinds of…adults."
Adelaide blinks. "Many kinds of Adults?"
Adam nods, "Sure…those are those with quiet determination and those that fill their lives with unreal expectations and those who simply…get by. What are you hoping to be?"
Adelaide thinks. "Quiet determination, live my dreams to their fullest, probably engage in some very deep loves, fall from some very high heights and live like every day was my last-to the fullest."
Adam hmms a bit, "Well, that's a pretty big order." he pauses as he puts the tin of cookies down on the pew and stands, "I hope you get there, Ms. Xylander." he moves aside a moment, "I have some business to attend to, but perhaps we'll run into each other again.'
Adelaide nods. "Perhaps we will, and of course its tall order."