No Escape (Faustus/Joan) (Casual)

[JEHANNE MARIE D'ARC]

Joan lay curled up on the pile of blankets, an extra one wrapped around her shoulders. In spite of the extra warmth, her teeth were chattering. No matter how many blankets she added, she couldn't seem to get warm. She couldn't get sick. Once she got warm, she'd be fine. Or so she told herself.

Father Robert knelt beside her. "I really think you should go to the clinic."

Joan shook her head. "No. I will be alright, Father. You will see. I am only cold. Once I get warm i will be alright."

The priest shook his head. "You have every blanket I own, and several I 'borrowed' from the nursery around you. Don't tell Sister Agatha I loaned you them." He winked at her.

She managed a soft laugh. "Your secret is safe with me." Sinking down into the nest, she sighed as the warmth finally began to seep into her body. "It's better now. You can stop looking at me as if you'll have to give me the last rites at any moment. I'm not dying."

Father Robert frowned at her. "You really shouldn't make light of such things." He tried to sound stern, but he was trying not to laugh..

"You are right, but still. I am fine now. You can go, if you like. I'm sure you must be tired. I won't let anyone take anything."

"I'm going to leave the lights on for a while and the front door open. I'll be in my office if anyone comes. Fetch me, will you?".

"Yes, Father." Joan closed her eyes, listening to his murmured thanks and receding footsteps.

[yolanda7g]

"You need to get yourself to a church boy, you know I'm gonna keep tellin' you that."

It was always his momma that brought him back to the church. Not God really.

No, God probably was smokin cigars, drinking whiskey upstairs, looking down at Faustus. And when He saw Faustus, He'd almost choke (if He could do that of course. Maybe He just pretends to choke) and He'd tell His angels to change the All-Knowing, All-Encompassing channel. Maybe He'd rather watch an exciting religious war or something. Or maybe He'd turn to a Packers Game where the players thank Him for helping them not suck on the football field.

Anything but to watch Faustus further drive himself into the metaphorical ditch of damnation. And boy, was he deep in it now. Thats why Faustus didn't even care anymore. He was living the high life! Big Man with the Plan - Hector Tormei - had his back now. Sure at any moment Mr. Godfather could call his cronies to bury his feet in cement and chuck him over a bridge, never to be seen again, but why dwell on the petty stuff?! He was getting paaaaid!

But Faustus had one weakness.

He was a momma's boy.

Daaaaammmnnn, Faustus thought. Now I know I ain't got no business up in here! I could be chillaxin at home, watchin' Don't Forget the Lyrics while I plan out what i'm gonna do with my future fortune.

Not to mention, figure out an angle to win over that Penelope girl. He was her date to Hector's shindig (little did she know) and he had to work to impress that girl. She was so wound up, it didn't make no sense!

But no, instead, he was walking inside the church, for no reason. Ever since he made that deal with Hector, Thing 2 and Thing 1 had disappeared (THANK THE LAWD JEBUS!). So no one was pestering him to do anything anymore. It was like he had crossed a threshold of epic proportions.

He looked up at the cross at the front of the church and his eyes followed up to the high ceiling as he walked further inside.

He was there.

Now what?

Was he supposed to have some sort of epiphany? Hell no. God only reserves those for people whohaven't participated in assisted murder.

"Jesus Wept. Amen," Faustus murmured indifferently to the cross. "Happy? I'm outta --"... here.

As he turned around he saw a woman huddled in blankets. Yeah that wasn't good. The doctor side of his personality led the way, although everything else about him just wanted to walk the other way. Seriously, this is exactly why he doesn't go to church - he was always coerced into helping people. It was a conspiracy! a C-O-N....spiracy. Ugh.

Faustus, dressed in dark jeans, a white button up and jacket, walked up to the woman. "Hey, you alright?" Faustus asked. Naw she aint alright, cause it wasnt that damn cold up in the place. "It ain't my business or anythin but it's not normal to have all them security blankets, girl," He cracked with a grin. "You feelin dizzy right now?"

AND....

If this woman was really sick and was relying on' faith' to heal her, Faustus was really gonna start trippin.

[JEHANNE MARIE D'ARC]

"No, I'm ok." Joan stirred and looked up at the guy standing in front of her. He was very nicely dressed, she thought. Struggling to sit up, she wrapped one of the blankets around her and studied him. "Just cold. But thank you. Are you here for the priest? I can get him." she glanced around the church again. It was just the two of them.

If he did need the priest, Joan decided,s he was closing the door and turning out the lights after he left. She'd almost been asleep when this stranger walked in. "He knows I'm here," she added. "I didn't break in. He gave em a key." She dug it out from under the blankets and held it up. "And I didn't take anything. He lets me stay cause it's warm in here." She wasn't really sure why she was telling him all this, but she didn't want him to think she was a criminal.

Her gaze roamed around the church again. "It's beautiful in here, isn't it? So nice and peaceful."

[yolanda7g]

Faustus twisted his face at her - an 'are you serious?' kind of look. "Hell naw, I ain't here for no priest. In fact I was just on my way out but I saw you up in here lookin like you're tryin' to make a home made cocoon for yourself. I don't know why I even came up in here."

She went on some rant about how she didn't break in the place. What did she think he was? NYPD?? He didn't care how she got up in her or why she was even telling him all that. See? This is why he should've just stayed his butt at home, got himself some Doritos, and chilled out in front of the TV after a long day in the O.R. Then he wouldn't have to run into homeless crazy people where ever he went.

"Look, girl. I ain't a cop. I'm a doctor. You ain't got nothin' to worry about, put that key back, I don't need to see that." Faustus shook his head and rolled his eyes a bit. She said that the place was beautiful and Faustus grinned. Yeah, when Thing 2 and Thing 1 wasn't bothering him. Luckily he didn't have to hear any crap from them any more. His deal with Hector must've done the trick.

"Yeah, real peaceful. So peaceful that when I used to come here every Sunday, I'd got some good naps in. Best sleep I ever had." He cracked as joke, but there was truth to that.

"You sure ain't nothing wrong with you?" He bent down and put the back of his hand to her forehead. "No fever. You sure you're ain't havin' any dizzy spells? Fatigue? Somethin' like that?"

[JEHANNE MARIE D'ARC]

Joan scowled at him. "You shouldn't swear, especially not in a church." She bit her lip and looked down. "But thank you for checking on me. I..I didn't know you were a doctor. I don't like the police. They don't understand my..."

She bit down harder on her lip. Where was her brain today? The man had just told her he was a doctor and she'd been on the verge of blurting out her secret about her Voices. "I...I'm fine. Really." She tried to smile and forced herself to look up at him. "Just a little hungry. " That much was true. She was hungry. Joan studied the stained glass windows, listening as he talked. "Why are you here then, since you think so little of church?"

She wanted to kick herself the moment the words were out of her mouth. She wasn't usually this sharp with people. Though she often thought such things, she rarely said them out loud. Something about this guy though....Joan just couldn't seem to stop herself. He seemed like he needed guidance. Desperately. "Look. You wouldn't have come here if you didn't have at least some sort of...of...feeling that you should've, right? The weather's fine, there's lots of other places that you could go. But you're here. Why?"

[yolanda7g]

She was hungry. Well, if he had an urge to do something generous, he would totally give her something to eat. Besides, for all he knew, she could be one of those homeless people pretending to be worse off than they were just to get an extra buck. Or some how ninja your credit card and become the new improved James Faustus on the internet.

"Why are you here then, since you think so little of church?"

"You know...that is a good question. I asked myself that very same question and I answered it. That was the part where I started heading towards the exit."

She started talking again and the questions she asked made Faustus feel like she was fishing for something. What did she want him to say? That he came here to repent? Hell no. Pun seriously intended.

"Look the only reason I came here is cause my momma told me to came here. I ain't tryin' to hear her naggin' about it every time I call her. See, I'm not a church man. I don't do church. There are plenty of other things I could be doin' than bein' up in here, wastin' time. You do too. Like goin' and tryin' to get yourself somethin' to eat." He shook his head. "Besides, it ain't like the Big Dog Upstairs is gonna give me a wag of his finger and still send me to the heavenly gates anyway."

He had no idea why he was telling her this. Maybe he was tired of his momma and those angels that kept following him around (thank goodness they stopped when he made that deal with Hector) telling him what he needed to do to save his soul. Who cares? He was making paper now. In the present. And that wasn't even the half of it.

[JEHANNE MARIE D'ARC]

Joan rolled her eyes. "It's freezing out there and I'm not that hungry. And no, I don't expect food to materialize in front of me, if that's what you're wondering." She shook her head, then added in a softer voice, "You must really love your mother if you're in here because you know she'd want you to be." Pushing herself upright, Joan shook off her blankets and ran a hand through her hair. She rocked back on her heels and studied the man standing before her.

"I'm sorry. I"m not usually so...harsh. You're just trying to be nice to me. But you shouldn't talk about God like that. I don't think He appreciates it." She chewed her lip, trying to think of something else to say.

A gut feeling told her there was more to the man's story than he was letting on. "So...you just came in here to make your mother happy. There's not something else going on?" She chuckled inwardly. Maybe she'd been hanging around the priest too long. She was starting to pick up his sixth sense.

[yolanda7g]

"I'm sorry. I"m not usually so...harsh. You're just trying to be nice to me. But you shouldn't talk about God like that. I don't think He appreciates it."

Faustus watched her stand and couldn't help but crack a grin. Hey, if she thinks he's trying to be nice to her, why steal her joy? All he was trying to do was do his job. Still, he'd be glad to take that apology. To her comment, Faustus said "Pfft, God got enough to worry about. You really think He's worried about what I said about Him? Girl, you must be playin'. I ain't even on His radar, trust me."

"So...you just came in here to make your mother happy. There's not something else going on?"

Nothing much. Just helping someone murder his brother and helping some mob boss sell drugs illegally. Nothing worth mentioning.

Faustus chuckled a bit, nervously. "Naw," He said pretty quickly, running a hand over his hair. Despite what he said, he felt like he was going to be struck by lightning any second. "Naw, why do you think somethin' else is goin' on?" He shock his head. Why was he nervous in front of this chick? This wasn't True Confessions.

"Look, for the record, my momma is the best momma in the world." I'll always love my momma! She's my favorite girl! Yeah. The Intruder's song came to mind. "And yeah, that's really the only reason why I'm here. What? Are you gonna tell me that I need to 'talk' to God too? Because trust me, I've had enough sermons."

[JEHANNE MARIE D'ARC]

Joan snorted. "Okay," she said, deciding to drop the argument. What was the point? It wasn't like anyone listened to her anyway. Still...she narrowed her eyes. "You sure something's not going on?" He was hiding something, she knew it. Maybe he heard Voices like she did? But he was a doctor. She couldn't very well tell him that. Could she?

Glancing around the church, Joan realized that they were alone. "IF I tell you a secret, will you promise not to tell anyone? and will you promise not to go all 'doctor' on me?" Joan wanted to take the words back the moment they left her mouth . She couldn't believe she was doing this. He was a doctor! But now that she'd said it, she couldn't un-say it. Besides, maybe then he would tell her whatever was on his mind. And she could get rid of the nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach.

[yolanda7g]

"You sure something's not going on?"

"The only thing going on is the fact that I'm gettin' along just fine without makin' visits to this place. I just need to convince momma of that." He rolled his eyes. "You thinkin being one of the most successful doctors of like...all time would give her a clue."

That question was supposed to make him feel guilty, wasn't it? See, Faustus could tell when these religious freaks tried to make him feel like he should feel ashamed of himself. Why should he feel ashamed? Yeah he's done some pretty bad things but at this point, he ain't got nothin' to lose. So no, he wasn't going to fall for that little trick. She wasn't gonna get a sob story out of him, no way, no how - this ain't no confessional and he wasn't gonna turn it into one.

"IF I tell you a secret, will you promise not to tell anyone? and will you promise not to go all 'doctor' on me?"

Aw hell. So much for not being a damn confessional!

Well whatever this secret was must be something juicy. She seemed to be a pious girl, Faustus was willing to bet she was a secret hooker or somethin' - preachin' all that jazz about not offending God. She probably was a closet freak, trying to look all innocent with those big doe eyes. Who was she trying to fool?

And if that was the case, maybe he was 'led' to come to this place for a reason. Maybe to give her some extra business. Faustus could definitely be charitable when he wanted to be.

To her question a slight amused smirk appeared on his lips, mostly towards his inner thoughts and not at her. "Alright. Your secret's safe with me. Go on 'head. Vent, girl."

[JEHANNE MARIE D'ARC]

Joan narrowed her eyes at him. Though he hadn't spoken aloud, she could guess the thoughts that had gone through his head. "This is serious, you fool," she growled, almost spitting the words at him. She was starting to regret her decision. "I..." She looked around the church again. No one else was there but them. "I hear Voices. Good Voices," she added quickly. "The Voices of Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret. They speak to me and give me counsel."

She held up a hand to keep him from speaking. "I'm not crazy. and I"m not dangerous, I promise. I...I'm not even sure why I'm telling you this." Joan sighed and stumbled to her feet, abandoning her blankets. Maybe if she hurried she could make it to the door before he called the police. "Please do not tell anyone." She clasped her hands and stared at him. "You seem like a good man for all your silly talk. I think..." She narrowed her eyes. "I think you know exactly what you need to do, you just refuse to do it. You may regret that choice." She had no idea why she'd just said that; the words had simply come from her mouth without any forethought. Perhaps her Voices had told her to say them.

[yolanda7g]

"I...I hear Voices. Good Voices. The Voices of Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret. They speak to me and give me counsel."

....

.....

..................


Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

Oh hell, Faustus had to get the heck up outta here. Was he like a crazy people magnet?! DAMN! Faustus opened his mouth to say something like "Ya know what it was great meetin' you and everythang but I gots 'ta go, you is one crazy ass chick! What's wrong wit' you?! Ya know what, don't even answer that mess cuz you probably can't even name all the things wrong wit you so I'mma make my exit RIGHT NOW." But he didn't say all that because Joan interrupted him before he could get a word out.

"I'm not crazy. and I"m not dangerous, I promise. I...I'm not even sure why I'm telling you this."

Faustus looked at her bug-eyed, and somewhat outraged. "Yeah 'I'm not dangerous, I promise' - that's what all the serial killers say before they chop you up like sushi!" He watched her closely as she got out of the blankets and backed up a step. "No sudden moves, girl. Or I'mma take you and your voices to church - for real."

"Please do not tell anyone. You seem like a good man for all your silly talk. I think...I think you know exactly what you need to do, you just refuse to do it. You may regret that choice."

Faustus paused, becoming at ease for a moment, but still suspicious. Something about what she said hit close to home. After all, its not like he didn't have 'voices' of his own. Maybe those angels were back and were talking to random people he met on the street in order to get through to him!

Well that was just ridiculous.

But given the situation, quite plausible.

"A-a-alright, now look," He stammered, his hand out in front of him in order to keep his distance from her. "I don't like cryptic messages comin' from crazy - I mean, 'blessed' people, okay? Did these...'voices' tell you you were supposed to say that? Huh?!"

[JEHANNE MARIE D'ARC]

Joan giggled at his comment. "Really, do I look like a serial killer to you? Do you think I"d be talking to you if I meant to harm you?" She shook her head, still chuckling. Honestly. What was wrong with this guy? Just because she heard voices didn't mean she was dangerous. Of all the silly notions.

Joan frowned at his last question. "I don't know," she said. "Sometimes they tell me what I should say, so maybe." She shrugged. "Would it matter if they had?" She peered up at him, her heart racing. Something was going on. She just knew it. She didn't know why she was so interested--she rarely got involved in people's personal lives unless her Saints told her to--but she was. "Are you a serial killer?"

[yolanda7g]

"Really, do I look like a serial killer to you? Do you think I"d be talking to you if I meant to harm you?"

"Look, I dunno what to think and I dunno a thing about you girl except that you're talkin' crazy!" Faustus said, voice elevating, practically interrupting her mid sentence. He didn't even care if she thought this was funny - this was NOT funny. Especially when he knew he heard things himself - things that he knew were insane as well. "Now did your imaginary friends tell you to say that to me??" He repeated.

"I don't know. Sometimes they tell me what I should say, so maybe. Would it matter if they had? Are you a serial killer?"

Faustus opened his mouth to answer her first question but froze when she asked if he was a serial killer. "WHAT?" His eyes were bugged and brow furrowed in offense now. Yeah sure he was part of an assisted murder...assisted! BIG difference! And hey - wait a minute! Faustus saw what she was trying to do there and he wasn't buying it.

"Ohhhh no no no no no no, you don't get to play that with me. I'm not the one saying that I hear voices," Even if he did. "You don't get to ask me if I'm a serial killer. I only get to ask that. Stick with the program." He shook his head. "And fine, even if I were to believe you - how come you only get to hear 'em, huh? If these voices of yours got something to say to me, they need to man up and say it to my face. So why can't you just pass me the phone and let me talk to these saints?"

[JEHANNE MARIE D'ARC]

Joan rolled her eyes. "It doesn't work like that," she explained, trying to be patient. "Believe me, I wish it did. My life would be much simpler." She sat down on one of the pews and watched him. He really was strange, she decided. Still, there had to be a reason he was here, talking to her, right? Yes, she was sure there was some purpose to the meeting. If only she could figure out what

She narrowed her eyes at him. Why did he get so defensive when she'd asked if he was a killer? Maybe..."Have you killed anyone?" she asked, no longer joking. "I can ask whatever questions I want," she added sharply, "I'm not crazy!" Maybe he was the crazy one. The thought hadn't occurred to her until this very moment. Perhaps this fellow was the infamous murderer stalking New York's prostitutes. Joan bit her lip. Perhaps she should leave...but no. He didn't seem dangerous, just odd. Besides, she knew the church like she knew her own house. She could get out if she needed to. Tucking her feet up beside her, she propped her chin in her hand and watched the man, waiting for his answer.