Welcome to the Banks of the River Jordan (Open)

[Father Stanley Cupper]

The old church wasn't much to look at, same sort of structure that dotted many cities both in America, and across the world, but to the elderly man driving up to it in a restored 1948 Hudson Commodore, it was beauty in brick. Father Cupper pulled into the parking lot of the River Jordan Catholic Church and looked over both the structure, which had sat unoccupied for the last few weeks once the old minister moved on, and the nearby neighborhood, Wonder how many of them stopped attending Mass once they had to go past walking distance. The well fed Irishman thinks to himself as he steps out of his car, the summer heat instantly making him rue the dark clothes he was wearing, and limps to the back of his vehicle, "Get out and stretch your legs." He says in lilting Gaelic accent at the door he left open in his wake, prompting a series of noises to precede the sudden appearance of a black spotted teacup pig, and a red furred English Bulldog who immediately dashed for the nearby grassy field to start frolicking about. The old man shakes his head with a smile as he pops the trunk, readjusting the supplies he brought to revive his mission as he starts planning how to get it all inside.

[Mathis Reeves]

Mathis still hadn't fully come to terms with the fact God might not smite him for having a... Boyfriend. Though even thinking the word still brought a blush to the young boy's cheeks, let alone admitting it out loud. For now it was easier to just admit that Cameron was special and not go into detail about what all that entailed. Demetrius had educated him on what it entailed, actually, but Mathis was feverishly pretending that incident had never occurred and hopefully never would again.

That really had been embarrassing.

Mathis grinned some as he ran a hand through his short hair, still jogging peacefully through the heat filled town. Summer break had put the Texan in a weird sort of mood, somewhere between homesick and excited. So instead of dwelling on it (instead of telling anyone) Mathis just threw himself into endurance training. Which explained why the boy was running despite the heat of the afternoon. Trainers hit the pavement in a steady rhythm as he jogged through the town, turning a corner only to be greeted with the sight of someone parked in front of what he was sure he was an abandoned church.

Without contemplating his actions, Mathis sped up to reach the man, only slowly when he saw the animals and the fact the man was fiddling with something in his truck. Blue eyes blinked in confusion as the Texan paused, walking up slowly before the basic manners ingrained into him by his mama's wooden spoon won out.

"Y'need help, Sir?" He asked the question rather eagerly, giving the two animals a cheerful wave when he spotted them on the other side of the car. Matty took a few steps closer and gave the stranger a wide smile. "M'names Mathis, Sir." He offered this without any real fear of giving away information to a stranger.

[Father Stanley Cupper]

Father Cupper heard the runner approaching, put paid no mind as he hauled out a box of Pine Sol bottles, when he was greeted, though, he turned to look at the speaker, "Ah... yes." He says, bracing the box against the trunk and offering the young man a hand, "That is, if ye've the time. I just got put in charge of trying to bring life back to this old place, though till I find me a few deacons around here, Im afraid its only my own hands on the task." Weather the lad takes the hand or not, as Cupper lowers his hand, the two animals come over, curious about the new human that their master seems to have accepted, "Ach, right, manners, Im Father Cupper, these are my dear friends, Mort, he's the pig, and the pup is Bert." Mort sniffs curiously at Mathis's shoes, while Bert just sits and stares up at the young man, as if trying to will a head scratch from the southern boy.

[Mathis Reeves]

Mathis took the offered hand, giving the older man a rather eager shake as he listened intently to the man's words. With a rather serious nod Mathis walked closer to the stranger's trunk with the intent of taking the box of Pine Sol from him. Another serious nod at the explanation, Mathis quickly followed the expression with a smile of happiness. "I don't mind helpin' none! If y'wanna I gotta few buddies I can call over 'n if my brother's off work he'd come and help. I dunno if we got any deacons out here but we can scrounge up some help no problem!" He offered this up as easily as his name, having no fear that he wouldn't be able to deliver on his promise.

The Texan grinned wider as the two animals came towards him and willed himself to not make any sudden movements. "Well hi there y'all!" Once he felt he had successfully greeted the animals as though they were people, Matty slowly knelt down -taking care not to disturb the pig sniffing his shoes- and reached out to scratch Bert's head, grinning like an idiot. "Aren'tcha a nice li'l dog, huh Bert?"

[Father Stanley Cupper]

Cupper gives a laugh as his eyes give a bright twinkle, overjoyed at the simple light this boy seems to be kicking off, "Cheerful lad, aren't you?" He says, setting the box by the boy as he moves to fish out a few more, "Though that'd be just grand, I could use all the arms I can get."
As Mathis starts scratching the dog, Berts tongue lolls out and he gives a loud, low, contented groan, while Mort moves to press his snout under the boys other hand, hoping for attention his own.
Cupper straightens again, carrying a pair of Spackle buckets, "Alright, you two leave the lad alone." He orders, sending the animals scampering off, "C'mon in." he says, limping for the church, "Get these set by the pulpit, then I'll figure out what needs be done. You one of the faithful, if you don't mind me asking? Don't make no never-mind to me if you aren't, of course, Im glad for the labor, just curious if I've also managed to snag a parishioner for mass this coming week."
The inside of the church has a thin layer of dust over everything that isn't covered with sheets, "Lord above..." He sighs, "This'll be some doing..."

[Mathis Reeves]

Mathis nodded his head rather easily as Father Cupper complimented him. Or at least he thought it was a compliment, and that is how he was going to take it as well. Granted he wasn't sure how being called cheerful couldn't be a compliment but still. "Well I'll go ahead and send outta text ta see who I can get comin'." He said, still busily scratching the dog's head. Though his free hand came to scratch the pig in the same manner when it came up to him.

However as Father Cupper sent the two animal's away, Mathis frowned slightly but bounced up on the balls of his feet so that he could pick up the box again. After all he was supposed to be helping, not girling out at the two animals. So the Texan gave the trunk a small glance as he passed by on his quest to follow the stout Father. "Well, Father... Me an' ma brother do believe in our God, but we ain't been ta church since we left Texas. We ain't sure we'd be welcomed back inta mass." He spoke honestly and freely, having been taught to be more open to a Father than to even his own mother. After all your mama should only be able to ground you, but a priest could speak to God and get you sent to hell.

Mathis didn't comment on the state of the church and instead just took the box to the pulpit as requested, setting it down before he pulled out his dated flip phone to send out a group message to just about everyone he knew.

[Father Stanley Cupper]

Father Cupper listens to the boy talk as he limps in, and turns to him with a frown at his last statement, "And why wouldn't a bright soul like yerself be welcome in the house of God?" He asks, heading back to the parking lot for another load, "Keep in mind, I ain't trying to twist yer arm or anything, but unless you defecate in the pews, yer more than welcome he..." He pauses and snaps his fingers, "Let me guess, yer a meta, aren't you?"
((If Mathis answers in the affirmative))
"Pay it no never-mind then, I am myself, and contrary to popular rumor, God loves meta and plain sod alike. All he asks is that you love Him with all your heart."
((If Mathis answers in the negative))
"Then like I said, if yer free during mass times, come on down, bring yer brother and anyone else ye can. Man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that decendeth from Heaven.
((In either case.))
Father Cupper then turns back to start lugging more supplies to the church, "By the by, not sure if I'll be able to pay for the help, but depending on how many lads you bring in, I might be able to round up some lunch."

[Mathis Reeves]

Mathis gave the box one final glance as he finished up his text, not really sure how he was supposed to go about revealing things to Father Cupper. At least he wasn't sure how he could reveal the most important thing. Not to a stranger. He turned quickly and trailed after Cupper much like a duckling would follow its mother. Stopping just beside the trunk, arms awaiting the cleaning supplies. When Father Cupper spoke again, Mathis offered a hesitant smile. After all it might not have been the main reason he didn't think churches would like him, but it was reason enough for his parents to hate him. "Yessir... I'ma animal mimic, if y'know anythin' 'bout us metas."

Then he paused, blue eyes blinking rapidly before he turned to gaze at Father Cupper. "You're a meta...?" His voice sounded slightly incredible, as though he couldn't quite believe what Cupper had said. Because he quite honestly didn't. Mathis adjusted his newest load of cleaning supplies before trailing after Cupper again. "Well. Mosta my friends are gunna be busy or wit' no ride but I think I could round up... I dunno. A few people."

[Father Stanley Cupper]

"Aye." Cupper chuckles at the 'fish out of water' look that Mathis adopted at his revelation, "Liquid transmuter, they call what I do. Handy little power, specially when I'm at me sisters house and she serves the swill she calls coffee." He gives a soft laugh at that while he loads the boy with most of the rest of the tools, then grabs whats left for himself and closes the trunk, "Animal mimic... tha' mean ye kin make animal noises, er take animal traits, or...?" He gets back inside, setting down his last load, "Gimme a hand gettin all these dust covers off, would ye?" He says shifting to start exposing the pews.

At Mathis comment of the friends, he waves off the concern, "Dont let it rustle ye, I've done bigger jobs with less help, though if rides are the issue, I could use a tour of town at some point, and my car can seat three or four, dependin on size a rumps."

[Mathis Reeves]

Mathis frowned lightly at Cupper's explanation of his power before he slowly made the connection. "Transmutation! Like what they do in Fullmetal Alchemist? Do y'gotta know the properties of what y'are transmuting as well or can y'do it without knowin'?" Finally. All his hours of watching anime had a use, at long last. Mathis gave the older male a wide grin as he followed the other inside, going to put these supplies with his last load. "Kinda traits. Like... A cheetahs speed, a rhino's strength. That sorta thing." He explained easily, with a small shrug before rushing over to start pulling off the dust covers with Cupper.

As he pulled off the first cover, a soft beep filled the empty church as his phone went off. The mimic quickly scrambled to check his messages before grinning widely at Cupper. "Well. Looks like I can manage ta steal only 2 others, but m'brother says he can pop on by after work if it is still needed."

[Father Stanley Cupper]

    Cupper chuckles at the sight of gears clicking in Mathis' head, "Aye, like the cartoon." He says with a nod, only recognizing the name because one of his nephews drew a similar conclusion and forced him to watch a few episodes, "And sorta. I gotta have some kind of idea what I'm going to and from, but I'll be blaggard if I can tell you how many of what molecules is in what I've got. I usually just make or spoil beverages anyway. Yers sounds MUCH more useful." He says, getting the rest of the covers off, "I can imagine the liver of a mules handy on a weekend."
    He lifts his head at the beep, then nods, "Twos grand... aught be able to clean out the fellowship hall and get the Sunday school rooms set with that many." He blinks, "Dinae ask how old you were, by the by."

[Mathis Reeves]

Mathis resisted the urge to correct Cupper on calling Fullmetal a cartoon. It would be rude to tell the man that it wasn't a cartoon but an anime. Plus anime was essentially Japanese cartoons anyway, so it really wasn't that big a deal. "Well that's good! It'd be horrible if y'had to do a bunch of science with your power. Take out all the fun of bein' a meta for sure." Matty bobbed his head along with his words, quietly agreeing with everything he said. However a confused smile pulled at his lips at the mention of a mule's liver. "Wait... Why would that be useful?"

Another beep and Mathis finished with his phone, grinning up at Father Cupper looking like a cat that caught the canary. "Ant says they'll be here 'bout ten minutes. He and Dem are gunna be showin' up. Ray might come here later when she finishes eatin' 'n she'd bring at least Jay with her." He explained, slipping his phone into his pocket before walking away to remove another dust cover. "Oh! I'm sixteen, Dem's only fifteen 'n Ant's twenty-four."[/b]

[Father Stanley Cupper]

"That's the truth." Cupper nods, "I'm not a dumb man, but if chemical formulas and all that nonsense were involved in my gift, I'd just not use it. Complicated enough as is." He shakes his head.
At the question of the liver, Cupper gives a chuckle, "Sorry, lad, just a bit of a test. Loads a these college towns have lads and lasses who fall in with bad crowds and start hitting bars and trying drugs. Dont get me wrong, everyone's got their vices, even Lord Jesus..." He makes the sign of the cross, "seem'd fond of wrecking the odd establishment, but if you go overboard its never a good thing. Temperance, best of the Sacred Virtues, and if not practiced, will always lead to ruin..." He pauses and shakes his head as he pulls off the last sheet, "Cor... I'm babbling, aren't I? Curse of getting old, your filter goes right out the window."
He's quiet for a moment as Mathis answers his phone, then nods, "Sounds a grand thing. Mind taking the sheets to the storage closet over there? I need to head back and check the Baptisteries pipes."

[Mathis Reeves]

"Chemical formulas are..." Matty shuddered some, over reacting just to make his point. Sure, the Texan was a whiz when it came to mathematics and he wouldn't be surprised if he got to get a college level mat class his senior year. However, chemistry? That was something Matty wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole.

Mathis' lips pursed some when Cupper revealed that it was a bit of a test. Why would someone be testing him? It just seemed a bit mean. However he quietly pushed aside his hurt feelings and nodded along with Cupper. The man's explanation made enough sense that Matty really couldn't hold it against him. Mathis was careful to keep his mouth shut as the older man spoke, letting his usually forgotten manners sweep over him again.

"Oh, I ain't mindin'. GO ahead an' keep on talkin'." Matty offered charitably, humming a tune of nothing as he folded up the sheet. "No problem, Father." Another nod as he grabbed the other sheet and took them both to the storage closet as instructed, quietly going about the room to gather the rest of them. "So, Father, where'd y'move in from?"

[Father Stanley Cupper]

"All over." He says to Mathis's question, "Most recently from El Paso, though, will say, its nice to see water again, but I'll be blaggard if the humidity isn't working marry hob on every bit of me body." He shakes his head, "Still, the Lord calls, and I go. They wanted to get a meta priest in Pilot Ridge, and I was the first one free to get moving."

He grabs from his pile of supplies a pair of brooms and two water bottles, "Whats your preferred beverage?" He asks, listening for the answer and transmuting one of the bottles as he offers it over, turning his own into something purple and taking a swig, "Lets get back to the fellowship hall, imagine that needs a bit of sweeping." He says, ambling back to the little dining area to set to work.