Adriana was enjoying having Jessica in the office, it meant not working so hard. Plus after Halloween, it was always quiet, people tired of hearing about ghosts and zombies. As Adriana walked down the hallway of her condo out into the living room, she smiled at the blanket that was left on the couch from when Gabe was here.

It had been a few days and it seemed his shoulder would heal and wouldn't cause any permanent damage which was great to hear. She picked it up and folded it before bringing it back to her bedroom. It still smells like him she thought with a smile as she walked into the bathroom and started the hot shower.

Today was a day to herself. Adriana woke up early enough to go on her run and came back to a wonderful pot of Columbian coffee and made herself breakfast. There was no date to keep, no appointments, no clients and best of all no Richard.

Adriana was tempted to call Gabriel, but settled for just sending a simple text message to make him smile. Walking back to the bathroom with her cell in hand she placed it on the counter top, after sending the message, by the sink and hoped in the shower. Adriana blow-dryed and left her hair hanging free and decided to go without make up.

Stepping out, she felt refreshed. There was something going on with her and she needed answers. Adriana wanted to tell Gabriel, but the timing never seemed right or something came up.

She hadn't been able to see Gabriel again since the graveyard picnic, which still made her smile, a few days ago. As she slipped into jeans, she perused her closet and found one her her favorite fun looking shirt. She also reached in for one of her favorite pair of boots, deciding the heel was okay since she was not heading toward any graveyards, dealing with any zombies, or planning on running into any vampires.

Grabbing her purse and running back into the bathroom to grab the phone, she headed out the door and into her car. She knew exactly where to go.

As she parked in front of the church, she smiled up at the stained glass. Catholic churches were always beautiful to her. Hopefully Gabriel's friend would be here, she really needed to talk to someone about her dreams lately. Walking into the church she took a deep breath and began looking around for hopefully Father MacNamara.

((OOC: Seeing as how your thread says its open and how the person you intended to speak with has not replied yet, I felt like replying in his stead. If you do not want to rp with me that is fine we can merely end it as quickly as it began. Just felt it might be fun to rp...))

The werehyena gave a sigh as he looked up towards the ceiling and took note of the many pillars that kept the roof stable. Ray wasn’t very big on church or God for that matter, but yet here he was. It wasn’t that Ray had never been introduced to the idea of the Messiah. However, where he came from God didn’t seem to make his presence known. Why should Ray believe in someone who was willing to watch his people die, but not help them. Ray had decided to come to these hollow grounds regardless in the end. He had just recently met with the mistress of the city and though she her call had lessened considerably from his arrival it wasn’t gone. It went from being almost something he couldn’t resist to just a buzzing in the back of his head. It was as if a bee had some how trapped itself inside his skull and now was just flying around becoming quite a nuisance. Ray had just wanted to get away from the call for just a moment and thus found himself taking refuge within a church.

Ray couldn’t complain much however. Not only were there minimal people there to annoy him, but the crosses really helped when it came to toning down the call. A part of Ray was a little bored and wanted to start at least some type of trouble, but he held himself back. Ray figured that there would be plenty of chances for mischief and if there was ever a place to draw the line a church was it. Instead Ray settled for smaller acts of rudeness, such as eyeing neighboring believers, and kissing at elderly women. It didn’t take long however, for Ray to become quickly bored of his little games and he almost got up and left. It was just as he was about to rise from his seat that a peculiar scent hit his nostrils. His nose flared bringing in the scent dissecting it and analyzing it. He could tell that whoever just entered smelt of death, human, and raw magic.

Ray turned his head slowly around, partly curious and partly intoxicated by the feel of the untapped magic. As he did so he noticed a fairly attractive woman scanning the room as if looking for someone. Ray cocked his head a bit noting each individual about her, what he did for most good looking women he met. From the way she dressed she wasn’t necessarily his type, but then again almost all women were Ray’s type. Ray smirked joyously as he leaned back upon the pew and allowed his feet to rest atop the pew in front of him. He chuckled a little inside as he realized that perhaps his hiding within sanctuary wouldn’t be as boring as he had originally thought it would be. Ray then allowed a little bit of his power to slip out, sending it towards the necromancer like a bait and string. He wanted to test out just how strong she was. Ray wanted to know whether she would be able to tell if he was a lycanthrope just by the taste of his power and whether she would know what flavor he was. Most of all he wanted to talk to this woman and see what sort of powerful people he would get to meet if he stayed within Miami.

((OOC: Not a problem, I don’t mind at all))

The last time Adriana was in here she had seen Gerard. The man, or uh vampire, she thought, who was the reason for her coming. As she walked down the aisle, she saw a man who seemed to be watching her. She looked around and didn’t see anyone else around her and she kept walking.

Adriana walked up to him and smiled, “Um, excuse me, but I was wondering if you knew where Father MacNamara may be?” He seemed to have a warm feeling, it semi enveloped her skin giving it goose bumps one would get from cold, but this was pure energy. Interesting.

Looking at the windows once more she admired the stain glass. The last rays of sunlight bouncing of the multicolored glass, she loved Cathedrals. Being a Catholic never left you even if the Pope denounced the very gift God had given you.

Ray smiled confidently as his sense picked up the footsteps of the necromancer. She was heading right towards him and he could already feel the hair on his body standing on end to what little power she leaked out. A lycanthrope didn’t react to a necromancer like a vampire or another undead creature did. However, just because a lycanthrope wasn’t afraid of loosing all control of his body when a necromancer was around didn’t mean that a necromancer’s power didn’t rile a lycanthrope. Ray knew that she had finally reached him seconds before she ever spoke, his ears easily picking up the heavy footsteps that echoed off the marble floor.

Ray actually chuckled a little bit as he listened to her speak. He had just recently moved into town and already people were asking him where people he never met were. Ray titled his head as he thought seriously about where a priest could be at this hour. Several thoughts flittered through his mind and none of them were very endearing of the priest. Ray could care less however, for a person’s feelings, especially someone who so foolishly and blindly believed in God. Ray only believed in one person and that was himself.

Ray placed one of his fingers upon his lower lip a he playfully acted as if he was thinking very hard on the matter. After a few seconds of playing along with the façade he turned towards the necromancer, a devilish smile upon his face. Ray then said, “I don’t know where the little priesty is… Maybe you could find him in the confessionals getting off on peoples’ problems? Or maybe in the back, I think I saw a little usher boy go back there a few minutes ago.” Ray then allowed his face to twist into an arrogant expression as he turned back looking towards the crucified Jesus against the far wall as if waiting for God to punish him for slighting one of his faithful in God’s own house. He didn’t really care whether the necromancer girl liked him or not. However, he was very interested on just how she would react to him and if his little visit to the church would get much more interesting then a simple trip to escape a vampire’s call.

Adriana was hopeful that he would be able to help her, but that soon diminished. She could not help that her jaw had dropped a bit at his comments. She blinked and shook her head. “What is your problem? Someone asks you for genuine help and you have to be an ass about it? Who peed in your cheerios this morning?”

Adriana usually didn’t get so ruffled by anyone but Richard and this guy who she just met was quickly going right above her boss. “Look do you know or not” she asked frustrated. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you just sitting there and staring off into space doing nothing, I just asked a simple question and you come back with rude stuff like that. You must have women falling at your feet when you walk into a room with that attitude.”

Ray took in the shocked expression that was worn by the stranger before him, almost like a wine taster took in every aspect of a fine merlot. He smiled joyously as he could tell the anger that was beginning to bubble up within the necromancer. He did so enjoy pushing the buttons of people and causing them to go against their normal nice natures and tap into the dark nature that they buried deep inside. His smile almost broke out into a full out laugh as she began to almost berate him and stated a rather comedic comment about his cereal this morning. He could tell that she was becoming more frustrated with every word. He listened, a dumb smile on his face, as she went on to ask one more time about the good father and this time added on with a further comment in concerns to the werehyena’s love life.

It was at that time that Ray actually broke out hysterically laughing, the laugh becoming warped. Being that Ray had allowed himself to stay in animal form for far too long it had deformed to barking yelp of an actual hyena, the sound that he was producing now. Ray knew that whatever patrons that were left within the establishment and had not noticed them earlier were now keeping a close watch, it was just as he wanted. Ray quickly stood up in almost a flash, his face several inches away from the female’s. Ray then said, “Who said I even bother waiting for women to like me before I have some fun with them? Besides in a town like this women are willing to sleep with a furry no matter how he acts just for the sheer thrill of it. I swear you ladies can get off on the craziest and most psychotic things. As for your dear father fraid I don’t know who he is or where he is. Now if you want me to help look for him then I guess I could offer my services, but I doubt you would like my company very much. I like to speak my mind and don’t usually give into the blindly believing crap, something a good Christian like yourself wouldn’t really appreciate.” Ray then went silent that wicked grin of him practically plastered across his face. He was enjoying this conversation oh so much and with every passing second was becoming more and more grateful that he had chosen this church as his sanctuary from the annoying callings.

Adriana couldn’t believe the man in front of her was so damn irritating after just a few moments. “You ladies, I like how you just lump us in to one big group!” Adriana knew by now the old ladies in the pew were staring at her, her voice was loud enough to get anyone’s attention at the moment.

“You couldn’t have just said that in the first place. ‘Ms I don’t know who you are talking about’” she lowered her voice not wanting to draw more attention to her than necessary, but that soon changed with the next words out of his mouth.

Adriana was pissed now, someone in a church insulting Christians, oh this was fan-fucking-tastic. “Look buddy, I have no idea who you are or why you are even here. I assume because you have insulted me and my religion you wouldn’t be a Christian here yourself. Oh but wait, you are in a damn church now aren’t you?!? So I assume you have an explanation for hiding in here while insulting God?”

Usually Adriana wouldn’t be in such a bad mood, but lately she had not been able to sleep after waking up from her dreams and her sanity was hanging on by a thread now. Sleep deprivation was not good for her. She wanted answers and wasn’t getting them because of the idiot in front of her. She needed help and the church and God were her only resort.

Ray practically laughed out loud as the woman he had just met only minutes ago was now angrily yelling at him. He cocked his head like a curious dog as she began to berate him about lumping all women in the same category. He thought it rather humorous how she got so uptight over something so little. Why wouldn’t women be placed together, they all had the same parts? Ray also placed men in the same category as well after all both had parts that made them in common with other members of the same sex. He smiled all the more wider as she tried to teach him something about manners and politely stating something. Ray couldn’t get enough of this lady she made him want to die of hysterical laughter. Not even Ray’s own mother had tried so vehemently to teach him manners. That was probably because she was too busy doing drugs, but that was beside the point.

Ray watched the angered face of the girl’s become even more rage filled, surprising even Ray. He hadn’t expected her to some how get even madder, but he was definitely enjoying it. He smiled wickedly as once again she began to yell at him this time bringing up the fact that he himself was within a church. When he was positive that she was done trying to emasculate him with words he began to laugh. He then turned to her his eyes seeming to become suddenly dangerous and said, “Naughty, naughty, a good Christian girl would never curse in the house of God now would she? As for what the hell I am doing here, well I got my own problems. The details aren’t any of your concern, but it involves an annoying vampire and this church sadly being one of the only places I can go without hearing her incessant calling…” Ray’s eyes quickly quieted down after he was done speaking, his face returning to that cool confident demeanor that it had started as when the necromancer had first arrived.

What was wrong with her, she was so upset with a man she had never met and she was cursing at him. He had a point though she would never admit it out loud. Her anger began to fade and she got control of her emotions, “Look, I am having my own issues with vampires right now ok. I am” she sure wasn’t going to apologize but she felt bad.

With a sigh, she sat down in the pew across from the one he was at. She put her head in her hands and took a deep breath, “My name is Adriana. Yours?” she said hoping to start over. “I haven’t been sleeping well and it has…affected my moods.” It wasn’t an apology, but it was as much as he was going to get and she was going to give.

“I shouldn’t even be in here. The pope has excommunicated all necromancers from the Catholic church and yet I still come here for guidance” she mumbled.

Ray slowly began to raise one of his eyebrows as he quickly noted the woman’s anger subsiding. He wasn’t really sure what to make of the event, but he had to admit that it was a little depressing. He was enjoying this argument all too much and it would be a shame to end prematurely. However, Ray wasn’t really one to instigate it much further if the person had some how shook him off. He decided he would play it out until he saw fit to rile things up again. Ray smiled politely as the woman began to make her own form of an apology by stating that she was currently having her own problems with a vampire. That tid bit of information was particularly interesting to Ray seeing as they were in the same predicament. However, Ray didn’t look into it too much she was a necromancer and vampires were never too kind to ones who could control them. Chances were high that it was a very powerful vampire, possibly the mistress of the city, who wanted to make sure her power, was under control.

Ray watched silently as the woman moved to a pew nearby and allowed her face to sink comfortably within her hands. Ray smiled intrigued as the woman suddenly gave her name to him and explained that she hadn’t been getting much sleep lately. Ray thought the fact that she wasn’t sleeping another interesting development, was it possibly because of the vampire? Was this vampire so powerful that he could invade her dreams? Ray had heard small and dying rumors about such things, but he had never actually met a person plagued by such things. Ray was quickly coming to realize that out of all the towns he had visited, even his hometown of Los Angeles, Miami was quickly becoming the most interesting. Despite wanting to question her further about her insomnia, Ray remained silent allowing her a chance to continue. He was glad he did so for moments later Adriana confined to him that she didn’t understand what she was doing in a church when the pope had deemed her a minion o the devil. It was then that Ray could no longer contain himself and he burst out chuckling, though not as loud as his previous laughter.

When Ray was sure that he had once again caught the attention of the necromancer he decided that he would be at least slightly nice. He didn’t like the church or Christianity in general and he found that many of their ideals were faulty. Seeing as one of those ideals directly involved Adriana he could find no reason not to complain about it to her. When Ray was certain of what he was going to say he expressed just that when he said, “I honestly could care less what the old man with the largest hat thinks. Pope? Don’t make me laugh… The pope acts as if he has been chosen by God. God didn’t choose him other clergy men who think they too speak to God elect him. Their words mean nothing to me. They excommunicate anyone who differs then as they preach about how their Gods forgive all, they send out their activists to kill us. Answer me this, how could God possibly hate someone who didn’t have a choice in their lycanthropy, vampirism, or magic abilities? Its not like many of us go running for someone to change us. Yet still the pope gives out his judgments and lycanthropes and vampires are killed everywhere by members of the church who think they are doing God’s work. They are all fools, if God wanted us dead it would have happened long ago.” Ray then went silent wondering if perhaps he had gone way against his character and been too nice. Ray didn’t really mind though he wasn’t trying to cheer up the necromancer merely stating his disgust for the order that now called itself the Roman Catholic Church.

So much for an introduction she thought as he once again flew into a rant about Christianity. She sighed at his comments too tired to argue as they had earlier. “Look, I differ in opinion with the Pope and the Church. I am not a blindly following person who asks no questions. I know for a fact that those extremist groups are not part of the Roman Catholic Church, he wouldn’t endorse such behavior. There are people in this world who are prejudice against lycanthropes and vampires, hell even necromancers like myself. You think I haven’t heard it all? Devil woman? Possessed child? Demon spawn? I have even been kicked out of my church back in New York. I couldn’t go with my parents-“ she stopped.

Adriana shut her mouth and looked away from him. “I was brought up a Roman Catholic where the Church was everything. Now, I am an outsider and the only person I can think to help me is Father MacNamara. Have I seen the light with the Church because of this particular conversation? No. I knew it had faults when they excommunicated necromancers. My faith in God though, that you could never shake” she said as she shook her head.

“I would really hate to refer to you as ‘furry’, do you have a name?” Adriana asked as nicely as she could, though it sounded more weak than she wanted.

Ray didn’t even notice her sigh probably due to not caring about his comments. He had sort of let himself get carried away with his complaining of the church, but Catholics were just one of his pet peeves and he couldn’t contain himself. Ray remained silent as Adriana began her own conversation about her disagreement with the church. Of course hers was a little more lenient then Ray’s. Ray actually closed his eyes and smirked mockingly as she tried to explain to him that the Pope did not endorse the extremist that targeted their kind. How would she know? She definitely wasn’t as bad off as the lycanthropes and the vampires. Though Ray had never met any sort of holy warriors that hunted there kind, Ray wouldn’t doubt there existence. The church had tried to impose their holy law all the time in the past, why would they suddenly stop doing such now just because of a few laws that protected their enemy.

Ray did suddenly open his eyes as Adriana finally let something slip up, a comment about her parents. She didn’t go on enough to really let Ray in on any of the details, but it did let Ray know that something in her past had an effect on the relationship with her parents. Ray didn’t push the subject though letting her finish what she had been speaking about, including her extreme faith in God. Ray once again didn’t like the fact that she was so religious, but what could he do about it. Even Ray believed that there was something out there. He didn’t think that God was the all merciful being that Adriana so blindly believed in. However, Ray did believe in a super power, or the crosses that so many humans wore would not light up like a Christmas tree before a vampire.

He sighed as Adriana asked him of his name, not really in the mood to give it out so freely. Ray rolled his eyes subtly as he turned to her and said, “Ray… Ray Benjamin. As for your little priest afraid I don’t have a fricken clue where he could be. While we wait you can tell me about your little vampire problem. We can have a little fun sharing game, you tell me about your vampire problems and I will tell you mine.” Ray turned to her giving a mocking smile as he waited a reply. The statement had been made to be a barb at her, but if she was willing to tell her tale he would listen. He was thoroughly bored and was willing to do anything to escape the boredom.

Locking the dark polished mahogany door, Quinn was careful to place all the boxes back in front of the doorway exactly as they had been. The room was filled with the thick pungent smell emanating from the crates, a mixture of herbs and garlic which was more than enough to put off even the weakest of human noses. Pleased with his mornings work Quinn brushed the dust from his robes as he made his way back round from the rear storeroom.

Before making his way into the Nave, Quinn liked to listen in on the small conversations and the prayers of his patrons. So it might be deemed as cheating but it did give Quinn a little extra time to think up solutions for there problems or offer a sympathetic word. With a smile Quinn knew that Mrs Blair was having problems with her eldest son, Ms Tate was coveting her neighbour’s husband (again) and Billy the choir boy had got his first girlfriend.

Believing he had heard everything that could have been of use to him, Quinn was just about to make his presence known when another conversation caught his ear. A young woman that he did not recognise had come in search of him but was now being accosted be a rather strange and exceedingly rude gentlemen. The scowl on Quinn’s face grew deeper as the man mocked the church before bringing his own integrity into question.

Stalking silently into Nave, Quinn approached the man and woman from behind before ghosting unnoticed into a pew just a foot behind them. With a small polite cough, Quinn announced his presence. “I’m away for but ten minutes and already someone has stepped into my shoes to listen to my parishioner’s problems. I thank you Mr Benjamin, it is so rare to find a person willing to help others in these dark times.”

As Ray seemed to be in the sharing mood, Adriana wasn't sure she wanted to say 'Oh I just keep having sex dreams about a vampire' to a perfect stranger. Luckily she was saved from having to disclose it or chose to lie in a church.

She smiled at Ray, trying not to look so relieved "Maybe the Father can help you too." She turned to Father MacNamara with a smile on her face. "Nice to finally meet you Father, I am...a well, I know Gabriel Fischer. He has spoken of you and I thought maybe you would be able to help me. Is there a place we could speak privately?"

Chuckling to himself on the inside, Quinn watched as Adriana turned on Ray. "Maybe the Father can help you too." She had said in a gentle, innocent voice which had miraculously managed to sound sarcastic all at the same time. Quinn could already tell that he could come to like this young woman, which was more than could be said for Benjamin.

Hyenas had never been one of Quinn’s favourite animals. He had always considered them filthy creatures that thrived off of the dead or weak, attributes so often mirrored in their lycan brethren. “If there’s anything I could assist you with Benjamin please let me know and I can be sure to clear a morning for you.” Which Quinn was sure would be the minimum amount of time it would require to help such an individual.

Turning back to face Adriana, he smiled as she introduced herself. The warm smile he was wearing slipped from his face as if he had been slapped. “A friend of Gabriel’s you say.” He frowned with a wrinkled brow, his timbre voice barely concealing his sudden weariness. “Then I take it by private you would be meaning the confessional.” Placing a hand gently upon the young woman’s shoulder and directing her to the rear of the church.

Adriana was very happy to be in the more gentle company of the Father than the rude harshness of Ray. Surprisingly, the Father had the same warm, lively feeling she got from the other man, but it wasn't radiating out as strongly. Adriana assumed he was a lycanthrope with more control. She was a little surprised that he was a lycan, but it didn't change anything.

Once they were far enough from Ray, she smiled at the Father. "I just didn't want to speak about my...situation...in front of everyone. The confessional may be a little easier" she nodded thinking how she did not want to speak of her dreams about Gerard while looking into the Father's eyes.

Reaching the confessional, she stepped in and sat down trying to remember the last time she had been to confessional. It was the week before the Pope had excommunicated all animators, so about 10 months. Wow, she thought, had it almost been a year since she left New York?

Hearing him settle into the confessional as well, Adriana began twirling her hair nervously. "Father, I must tell you that technically I am not a Catholic. I am a necromancer and therefore the Pope does not allow me to be apart of the Church" she blurted out before she could stop herself. Noticing she was playing with her hair, a habit her mother always hated, she stopped and touched her cross, feeling a little more at ease.