"Pwaaaahh! Nothing beats fresh milk in the morning."
Rosen chugged the rest of her bottle. Bathing solo was a bit lonely after getting so used to bathing together, but it was nice having the whole tub to herself. And Moo was kind enough to pour her a bottle worth before heading back to the fields. Rosen surveyed the garden, the sun still not fully risen. Even the Rooster Cockatrice hasn't crowd yet. These days Rosen was rarely up this early, especially after a night like that. Farm work was never a strength of her's so she's usually the last to wake up. And even that required some coercion.
Today is an exception, though. The Church will be getting its newest member. This mysterious Sam person should be arriving within the hour. Just in time for breakfast. The Morning rituals will have to be cut short, but Eros is not a strict God. These are largely niceties, after all. We just need to make sure to really enjoy them next chance we get. And with some new meat on the fire, tomorrow's Rituals should be very tasty.
The rest of the Clergy, having finished picking veg and plowing fields, walked past to take their turn in the baths. With the chores done, breakfast still simmering on the pot and her bed currently being occupied by an adorable Cat Kin and Man Kin couple (plus one very large Horse Kin on her floor) Rosen had a rare moment without anything to do.
She tiptoed through the pews full of sleeping souls. Everyone's lives were going to become very busy soon. The planting season will soon come to an end, snow will begin to fall and for many life will be focused on just staying warm. Some of the people here will be staying at the Church though the winter, as they have no place else to go.
Rosen stops to watch some very special people sleeping soundly across the floor. A young woman, it would be rather disingenuous to refer to her as a girl now. She slept with a blonde haired boy to her right and a black haired boy to her left, both clutching her as they slept. There was a wide, cheerful smile across Julia's face. Rosen spoke her blessings in a hushed whisper.
"May your journeys together give you many years of Bliss. Eros protect their Happiness and bring them only Joy. Amen."
With nothing much left to do, she decided to get a snack. The Kitchen was full of the aromas of breakfast soon to be had. A small treat shouldn't ruin her appetite. She poked through their cupboard for a suitable taste. They still had a few Almond biscuits. Might be a little stale but would still make a tasty treat. Perhaps a small piece of Brie ala Moo and a fresh Fig from the garden. Just to top things off, a little leftover sparkling wine. It's already gone flat so no real harm. Looking at this luxurious platter that some would pay good coin for, taking that first bite of rich Brie melding with the subtly sweet fig, Rosen knew she truly was blessed by Eros.
She cleaned up just in time to pretend her little cheat meal didn't happen. Her Clergy now dried and dressed in time for their new arrival. As they waited, gossip began to spread.
"So, what crimeses you think they'se do?" Joizz spoke to no one in particular.
"Not every person who gets sent to us is a criminal." Plip yawned back. "We are a Church, not a prison. No offense Thera."
Thera just grunted and rolled her green eyes.
"Well I just hope they are super nice." Sugar was cheerful as always, hopping as she spoke. "Maybe we'll get another boy! I would like another boy."
Moo leaned down, trying to talk on the same level as everyone else.
"It doesn't have to be a boy. You have lots of fun with us old ladies, don't you?"
"Yeah," Sugar pouted. "But boys are funner."
Thera grunted again, as if wanting to disagree but also not wanting to put the effort into doing so.
"Well I care liddle fer race and pants ornaments. Long as they ave ah hearty appetite they good in me books."
Nash laughed as if there was supposed to be a joke in there somewhere. He swears he's not a father, as far as he knows, but he sure jokes like one. Rosen decided to do a very quick Admiration despite their clothing being on. A good first impression is always important. She walked down the line, which had no particular order.
Moo, lovely view as alway. Joizz, barely paying attention, nothing new. Plip, hansom and studious. Sugar, cute and perky. Thera, astoundingly gorgeous as if a black swan blessed by the gods themselves. Nash, looking… hold up.
"Uhhh, Thera?" Rosen said in total confusion. "What are you wearing?"
In all the rush, Rosen only just noticed that Thera wasn't wearing her normal attire. She had her collar and chain, thankfully, but the rest was different. Her dress was dark green and hung lower than was usual. There was definitely a corset underneath because of how much was spilling out of the open top. It flowed straight and low, reaching her ankles, but had an open side which kept her legs in view.
Rosen couldn't help but notice how she stood, hiding one and showing off the other in an inviting pose. She also noticed she wasn't wearing anything beneath for a change. Silver lipstick and eyeliner matched her hair, which was trimmed neatly and swept to the right covering part of her face. There was a hint of blue blush on her cheeks and layered foundation covering the small scar down her neck. Even traded her flats for heels. She looked like she was about to spend a night at the ball, or given the chain be sold at one.
"What!" Thera half screamed, trying not to look at her. "Is it a sin to want to look good once in a while?"
Rosen couldn't hide the doubt in her face. Good huh? Only good? She thought of how hard it was to get Thera to wear anything nice even when the occasion called for it. Especially the heels. Thera hated heels. Something about not being able to run fast in battle. During a wedding between some minor nobles a few months back Rosen had to pay Thera with a week's worth of lip service just to get her to dress half this good.
Thinking back once again, something like this had happened before. Thera is the second newest of the Clergy with Sugar being the newest, before today of course. When Thera heard we were getting a cute young Rabbit Kin, she ran off and returned with applied lipstick and a dress a size too small. Sugar joining was a rather hasty affair with not much warning. This Sam had a few weeks' warning. Had she been planning this the whole time?
No more time to speculate. The carriage came into sight across the horizon. Barring the six armed cross of the United Order, this came straight from the Holy Capital. Whoever this person was, someone very high up favored them.
All watched it come down the dirt road pulled by pure white horses. Slowing to a stop mere feet in front of them, they had a few moments to admire the gilded gold etching across its doors. The driver, a very well dressed High Elf, jumped down from the driver's seat and rounded to open the door. With gloved hands and a showman's flare, he opened the door.
Stepping down in plain, worn black flats was the oh so mysterious Sam. They kept their head down and out of sight, their arms up and together as if in prayer. They wore a long black robe that hovered just above their feet. Long sleeves ended in black gloves. The collar went high, bleeding into the Monk's habit covering their hair and much of their head. On the chest embroidered in plain white thread was a small symbol of a cross with two sets of patibulum. One directly across, another lower and angled. This was the symbol of the Third Sister Goddess, Vestalia, Patron of Temperance and Chastity. This… may be the worst possible outcome.
Rosen stepped forward regardless. It would be rude, and potentially daming (literally) to not properly invite a guest of the Grand Priestess herself. So she stepped forward and held her hand out in greeting.
"Good morrow to you our welcomed guest. I am Priestess Rosen Mary. You will be in my care for the foreseeable future. Please, ask of me anything you need and I'll be sure too…"
She trailed off, stopped in her tracks by shock and awe. Sam raised their head just ever so slightly, finally giving the group a look at their face and a real guess at their identity. The first thing they saw was the eyes. Blue and shining as sapphires that pierced your very soul. Demanding attention while staying soft and demure. Surrounding those eyes was a face that a master painter or sculpture or some other artisan would spend decades trying to replicate only to fall woefully short. That face could end a war with a glance as they would all be too entranced to carry on. A small tuft of blonde hair defiantly poked through the habit, so yellow it made the actual gold just behind look rusted by comparison.
Rosen had spent many long and wonderful nights with many beautiful and powerful people of all kinds across the land. Barons, Princesses, Dukes and Lords of many kinds. Even had a night with a man who later became a King. But for the first time in what seemed like ages, she felt something she had not in ages. She was nervous. Her words escaped her. Her palms became sweaty, butterflies filled her belly, a blushing heat erupted across her face. There was a pervading feeling of embarrassment and giddy excitement the likes of which she had not known since the first time she lied down with another. And even that pales in comparison to this encompassing burning.
"Too.. that is, if you… W-what I mean is.."
Rosen continued to stumble on her words. Perhaps this could work out after all.