sixwordstories | (no subject)

They don't always, do they? I think there'd be an overabundance of holidays, if that were the case.

Aye, but they all have feast days. I think nearly everyday is a feast day.

I was thinkin' more along the line of martyers being the only ones to get a holiday. Why can't we celebrate someone who was clever enough NOT to get killed horribly by a bunch of Romans?

That's interesting. Just for Christians?

...I don't know, actually! Aside from Halloween. Obviously we need new holidays.

Aye, I guess. Doesn't seem to be much point to it if you're not. It used to mean ye got two parties though; one on yer birthday and one on the feast day of the saint ye were named after. Although sometimes ye'd get ripped off and be named after a saint whose feast day was yer birthday.

But even Halloween is the eve of Hallowmas, the Feast of All Saints, which is like the main party for martyrs!

Obviously. Talk Like a Pirate Day just isn't cuttin' it.

That's...um, confusing. I say this as if Islam is any less confusing.

Not just martyrs! Ghosts in general, if it's old-school Samhain and not just Halloween. Although apparently no one can really agree on what Halloween is for, anyway, so maybe I ought to just leave it.

Well, then. Ideas?

Poetic irony?

I never saw that as bein' a good reason for anythin'.

You never said anything about it having to be a good reason. Just a reason.

I'll remember to be more specific next time

Just out of curiousity? What brought about this particular remark?

Not a fan of holidays, I suppose?

Because sometimes people need a reason to celebrate, or other times it is a way for those in power to show the 'people' that they are in power and will crush any opposition,

...

Ye are distinctly less cheerful then ye used to be.

That come from having my heart ripped out of my chest, stomped upon and handed back to me without so much as a thank you, I'm sorry or anything.

In Spira we have days to honor our High Summoners to show gratitude and to encourage people to remember of the men and women who died to give Spira Calm.

Edited 2008-02-14 20:28 (UTC)

My saint's name is Sébastien. Do you have a saint's name, Leo?

Edited 2008-02-15 02:25 (UTC)

Did you choose him for yourself?

I was given no saint's name, but I chose Julian as my patron, before I even met you, my little saint.

*eyes widen*

You did?

*grins and kisses him, wrapping his arms around him*

It is Fate, Leo. We were meant to be together.

*rests his head on Leo's shoulder, smiling happily*

Oui. I chose it myself. I do not think the priest approved, but I had my mind made up. Sébastien was always my favorite.

He is patron of childless couples and knights. I prayed to him even in life. As for later...well. He is also patron of murderers. How could I not love him?

*hugz*

Why did ye choose him, the prickly martyr full of arrows? Why was he yer favorite?

*smiles*

Oui. It is why Mama and Papa named me after him. When first they were married, they could not conceive. Mama wanted a baby, but there was none, and she cried and cried. They lit candles to St. Julien, and prayed for him to intercede. When I was born, they were so happy and grateful that they gave me his name.

*snuggles contentedly in Leo's arms*

There was an engraving of St. Sébastien in one of my schoolbooks. It always fascinated me. I used to stare at it all the time. He looked so beautiful and so tragic. I do not know why I was drawn to him, only that I was, and I decided at the age of eight that I would take his name when I was confirmed. The priest would frown and say I should choose something more suitable, like St. Francis or St. Peter. I never knew why he disapproved so, or why he got so annoyed whenever he saw me looking at the picture.

I looked up to him, and always did what he said, except in this. Sébastien was mine, and when I turned thirteen, his name became mine as well.

*strokes his hair and smiles* That is a sweet story, Julian.

And that is how it went with me and my Elfleda. Two years of appeals to Julian and Andrew and anyone else who would listen. Finally, we were able to concieve. Of course, it probably had less to do with saintly intervention and more to do with her turning thirteen and getting her period.

*nuzzles him*

The priest did not like it because saints are not supposed to be beautiful and because men are not supposed to notice the beauty of other men.

Julian nods.

"That must be why he made me memorize the deeds of Saint Thomas Aquinas," he says with a sigh. "He was not pretty."

He smiles at Leo.

"I am glad the saints listened to you." He pauses and looks up at him curiously. "How old were you when you married, Leo?"

Leo smiles and kisses the top of Julian's head.

'Fifteen.'

"So young," Julian says, his hand on Leo's cheek. "This was the custom in your time, no?" He looks up at Leo and smiles. "I wonder what you were like then."

‘Yes, well. People didnae live very long. Given that I died when I was 27, I was technically middle aged when I was married.’ He shrugs. ‘I was very different. I doubt ye would even recognize me.’

He gives him a squeeze.

‘What were ye like at fifteen?’

Julian ducks his head and grins.

"Skinny," he says with a laugh. "And shy." He shrugs. "Typical country boy, I guess." He smiles up at Leo. "It was not so long ago."

He cocks his head, studying Leo curiously.

"How were you different?" he asks, toying with a lock of Leo's hair. "I wish I could have known you then." He smiles and rests his head on Leo's shoulder. "Imagine, we two at fifteen. I wonder what sort of mischief we would have gotten into."

'Ye were shy? Shy? As in...not walking around introducing yourself to everyone you meet and then hissing at them?'

Leo lets his head tilt away, as if he can see his past more clearly from that angle. 'I didn't get into mischief. I was serious. Pious. God-fearing.' He looks back at Julian with a smile. 'I would have bored the pants right off ye.'

Julian gives Leo a playful swat.

"I don't hiss at everyone," he says, poking out his bottom lip in a mock-pout. "Just the ones who scare me. Or make me angry."

He reaches up and nibbles at Leo's neck.

"I can be fierce," he murmurs, then ruins it a bit by giggling. He looks up at Leo and smiles, his eyes faraway as he imagines this serious, pious, God-fearing boy his Sire once was. "I would have liked you," he says, nodding decisively.