Paul didn't know what to think as he slowly walked up to yet another church for the second time in less than a month. He had always considered himself an agnostic but here he found himself about to talk to yet another person that had some sort of religious views. It was a rather strange situation but for the moment he had to set aside his own thoughts and feelings to focus on what needed to be done. Sebastian could very well help him understand his ability better than he already did or he could have absolutely nothing to offer. It was a risk but Paul felt that it was worth it.

He had gotten a basic description of what the man looked like but he had never actually seen a photo or anything so he kept a close eye on everything around him. Sebastian could be inside, he could be outside, or he might not even be here. Paul was at least somewhat confident that Sebastian would be here since it seemed to fit with the schedule that he had slowly been uncovering but there was never any guarantee. All he could do was try and if need by, try again until he finally achieved his goal.

Since there was no clear cut etiquette on what to wear to these sorts of meetings Paul had decided that it was best to remain casual as well as to wear something that would let him make a quick escape if necessary, after all the last time he had been in a church building it had gone up in flames around him and he had died and resurrected once again. Taking that into account he had decided that sneakers, denim jeans, and a maroon polo were the way to go. As usual he had his keys, ID, and cash in his pockets but he now also carried a cell phone in a holster on his belt. He had learned just how important they were to have and after everything he had gone through to get enough cell phones cloned for his purposes there was no way he was going to leave home without one.

For a moment Paul paused outside of the building as he tried to map out the way he wanted this conversation to go. Unfortunately he was drawing a blank because no matter how long he spent thinking about it, it would never go as he planned. There was just no way to predict what Sebastian might do or so. Finally giving up those useless thoughts, Paul approached the door and boldly stepped inside. Time to find an immortal.

Sebastian stared at the post it note, then back at the screen.

"www.viewtube.com/watch!x=vRn9DsW12"

This was a 'website'. He was supposed to visit it on the 'internet' to see the bug girl that Malako thought would make a good addition to their recruits.

The problem was he didn't know how to get to the internet. In fact, he was having trouble doing much of anything on his computer. He had pressed the power button to turn it on, and it was making whirring noises like it was thinking of waking up, but the screen remained completely black.

Sebastian wiggled the 'mouse' as added encouragement, but nothing happened.

The unicorn man started when he heard the front door swing closed. There weren't any activities on the schedule until that evening's weekly Feed the Hungry Feast. He hadn't been expecting anyone to wander in. Then again, word of the church was spreading quickly, maybe this person was on a pilgrimage to join them, or he might have been hoping for an early dinner.

“Welcome to the Church of Everlasting Life,” Sebastian stepped out of his office and into the narthex into which the man had wandered. “How can I help you?”

For a brief moment, the church seemed empty after Paul had pushed his way through the doors but then a man with shockingly white hair came out to greet him. It wasn't the gray/white of age neither was it the pale white/blond that the rare person had, it was a pure snow white that seemed very unnatural. But then could a man that burst into flame and came back to life really talk that much about what was natural or unnatural?

"My name's Paul McCoy." It was amazing just how natural a name could begin to feel after you had lived with it long enough. The first few months after an identity change was always difficult but then it became second nature. Even a lie detector would show anything when he said his name now because he really was 'Paul McCoy' and no one else... for the moment. "I'm looking for a someone."

Lori had made the comment that both Hunter and Sebastian seemed like they had stepped right out of a fairy tale. One had been a vampire and one was a unicorn. Seeing the horn that was protruding through the white hair, Paul had the distinct feeling that this might be the very man he was looking for. He certainly didn't look like a person that would cause an Apocalypse. "Somehow I think I might have found who I'm looking for already. Are you Sebastian?"

If he was right and the man standing in front of him was Sebastian then things were coming together quite nicely. It almost seemed like everything was being handed to him on a silver platter if he was honest. Of course, that immediately brought to his memory a line he had once heard in a movie. "Never trust a silver platter."

A man stood in the entry way, tall, grey haired and blue eyed. He looked to be about forty years old and was in good shape for his age. Sebastian didn't recognize him.

“I am indeed, Sebastian Csendes. It's my pleasure to meet you.”

It only made the situation more curious that this stranger would already know his name. What did he want? The only way to find out was to ask.

“Again, how can I help you?”

One thing about not needing to eat, sleep, rest, or use the loo, you have a lot of free time. Emily had just discovered the Food Channel and it just so happened a Cake Wars marathon was on for the last twelve hours. This inspired the Southern Belle to make sweets: pies, brownies, cakes, rice-crispies, cupcakes, and cobbler. After stuffing deliciousness into the mouths and arms of her co-workers, she had at least twenty pans of baked goods to get rid of. Her boss had allowed her to borrow the Hurst to take the food to the homeless around the city.

She had stopped at a gas-station to fill up, but was confused on how to pump gas. What happened to people pumping your gas? When did you have to start doing it yourself? She went inside to ask the cashier for help. Good thing she was attractive, or the young man probably wouldn’t have given her the time of day. On her way out she saw a woman passing out flyers about a Feed the Hungry Feast and her church. Emily questioned the woman about it, hoping maybe they would want some pies. The woman with grey hair spoke of a man who, apparently, could perform miracles.

Emily had heard of many false-prophets in her unlifetime. She did not know if the woman spoke truth about the man, but she did say he would like pies. Time to head in that direction.

Emily wondered about the man’s healing powers. Could he heal Emily’s old wounds? Could he bring her back to life? Emily didn’t want to hope, but the thought kept playing back in her mind. Maybe she would go to a few sermons to see what this man was all about.

She walked into the church with a peach cobbler in hand. Inside she saw two men. One was an older man, in his forties. The other looked…different. He had white hair and a horn. Was it a unicorn horn? Emily wondered if he was a mutant. Could this be the man who could heal? She had heard of unicorns being able to heal with the power of their horns. “Excuse me, I heard there was a dinner here this evening. I made some dessert and was wondering if you would like some for tonight. It’s delicious…" She hoped that she hadn’t come in during a private conversation. “I could come back later, maybe.”

Sebastian Csendes... it WAS him. Things were running much to smoothly and while Paul wasn't going to argue with it he also was going to be at least a little bit cautious. "From what I've gathered you and I have some similarities that I would like to discuss with you." Paul responded slowly to the man's question after a moments thought, "You see, I..." His voice trailed off as he heard the doors open behind him. Not particularly wanting to share his story with just anyone he instead stepped to the side of the aisle and turned slightly so that he could see the young woman that entered carrying some sort of pan. She looked to be in her late teens or perhaps early twenties and apparently was here to make a donation to the church... how touching.

"It's no problem." Paul responded in answer to the young woman's slight hesitation at the end. It seemed as though she was being apologetic for interrupting which meant she had some manners. That was a rare sight in many people her age so Paul was willing to step aside... plus it meant he might get some privacy. "My matter can wait."

“Similarities? What do you mean?”

The other man's response was cut short by another entrant through the main portals. All kinds of people were wandering into the church today! This was a good sign. One of the apostles was doing a good job of advertising apparently.

>>“I could come back later, maybe.”

>>"My matter can wait."

Sebastian blinked in mild surprise. It seemed strange; there were so few people in this city that would be so polite, for two or three to end up in a room together seemed to truly defy the odds.

“I'm sure we can work out everything. Would anyone like a cup of tea? We can drop the pies off in the kitchen at the same time. Do you need help carrying anything, Miss...?” He left a blank for her to fill in her name.

“This is Paul McCoy, and I'm Sebastian Csendes. It's my pleasure to meet you.” He declined his head, in a polite gesture, as if he was tipping an invisible cap to the lady. He would have kissed the back of her hand, as well, but her hands were quite occupied with pie tins at the moment.

“Leveau. Emily Leveau.” She gave a sweet smile and a nod in return. “I honestly have about twenty baking pans out here, if one of you wouldn’t mind helping. I’ll gladly take a cup of tea if you will enjoy some cookies I made. I have sugar, chocolate-chip, and fudge.”

She turned around and headed outside toward the Hurst. A person on the street might find it odd that a funeral home would allow an employee to borrow such a vehicle, but her eccentric employers looked at it as a kind of advertisement. It was a very nice and comfortable vehicle. Someone could lay back there and take a nap if they were so inclined.

Emily hoped the men weren’t too busy for a cup of tea and a chat. She was hoping to ask about the church and maybe Sebastian’s gifts. Don’t get her wrong, she was a Catholic, through and through. Except, of course, for her dabble in voodoo. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t look at other denominations or religions to see what they had to offer. It wasn’t a sin, was it?

Paul's comment about similarities had piques the unicorn man's interested just as he had intended. Sebastian would most definitely take the time to speak with him even if it meant waiting for a little while just so that he could satisfy his curiosity. Tally one point in the column of the flaming immortal.

"I'll be glad to help carry everything though I have to decline the offer of tea. I'm a coffee man through and through." His response was cordial and while he was more than willing to postpone his conversation with Sebastian until Miss Emily Leveau was done with her matter, he wasn't completely sure if just wanted to sit around sipping hot beverages and eating sugary goodies. Of course, since he didn't really have any other place to be, there were worse ways to spend an afternoon. Although he would probably avoid mentioning this little meeting to Lumen... at least for now. No reason to let on that he was sharing snacks with a unicorn or an attractive brunette.

As he fell in with Emily to help her carry in the sweets, Paul was continuing to think back over what he and Lori had discusses almost a month before. She had said that Sebastian was an immortal unicorn but hadn't she also made some sort of comment about him being a healer? Perhaps that was what had led him to the church. Was he simply out to share his gift with the masses or was there something more to it? Was healing a trait that was shared by all immortals and Paul simply hadn't discovered it yet? The idea that he had abilities he had not yet accessed was both exciting and unnerving all at the same time. After 80 years was it really possible that he didn't fully understand his own abilities yet?

"What inspired you to bake so much?" He asked as he launched into the polite conversation that would probably take up the next hour or so until he could move onto more weighty matters, "Did you just get caught up into it or was there a specific reason?"

Ms. Leveau led them outside to her vehicle. Oddly enough, Sebastian had driven the same type fo car for awhile. Before his medical clinic had been closed down, he had used a modified hearse as a sort of ambulance. There was plenty of room in the back to store any equipment necessary for emergency rescues or for transportation back to the clinic if Sebastian wasn't the one picking up the patient.

Or one could use the extra space to store dozens of pies and tins full of cookies, plates with full cakes and pans of bars.

“That is quite a few pies, you must have a lot of free time on your hands.”

Maybe this enterprising young woman needed a job. They could always use someone to make deserts for their ever-expanding crew of hungry people that filed through their doors on a weekly basis.

It took several trips, but eventually they got all the deserts set up on a table in what served as their dining room. During the last trip, the unicorn man stayed in the kitchen to start brewing tea, as well as a pot of coffee, in deference to the other man's tastes.

Emily was quite pleased with herself. She had made quite a bit of baked goods and the sheer amount seemed to impress these two men. And it seemed everyone was going to sit around and drink tea while enjoying her confections. It was just like old times at the plantation. Food brought everyone together.

She answered the two men at the same time. “There was a baking special on television yesterday. I have trouble sleeping, so I spent the evening in the kitchen, inspired by what I witnessed. I do have a bit of free time I guess. I enjoy cooking. It’s rather therapeutic.”

She sat down next to the older man. “Hello Mr. McCoy. That is a very charming polo you have on there. Wherever did you get it?” She touched his sleeve lightly. Emily loved this. For the first time in a long time she was able to sit and enjoy time with other people. Let the world outside these walls slip away just for a moment. Let people enjoy each other’s company with no hidden agendas. “How long have you been in this congregation? I was thinking of staying for the dinner this evening. How many people usually attend?”

Emily waited for the younger man to come back into the room. She wished she was the one serving the drinks, but this wasn’t her place. She would need to host a tea party soon. Did people still have those? Of course they did. Tea would never go out of fashion.

Miss Leveau's comment about his clothing seemed like something of an odd way to start a conversation but he went along with it for the moment. Having never attended a proper tea party himself he had no idea what was construed as proper decorum. He was more comfortable sipping whiskey or scotch with the men not sipping tea with the ladies. "I believe I picked it up at one of those small boutiques near Central Park... I'm afraid I've forgotten the name." He answered politely before having to take a stab at answering an even more awkward question. "And as for this congregation... I'm a visitor as well. It was suggested to me that I should come and have a chat with a man named Sebastian. In fact we had only just introduced ourselves before you arrived."

The unicorn couldn't arrive soon enough with the tea for himself and the young lady. He was floundering at what sort of conversation he should carry on with this young lady when he had been completely focused on conversing with Sebastian. Perhaps some sort of comment about her outfit was in order after all, in his vast experience most women enjoyed being complimented about their clothing.

"I have never seen a scarf quite like the one you're wearing." He offered with a smile, hoping beyond hope that he wasn't treading the wrong path, "Is it a recent purchase or have you had it for a while?"

Sebastian put the tea kettle on the stove and started heating up water. Then he turned to face the coffee maker.

It was industrial sized, had an attachment for filters, lit up on the front with several types of lights, had more buttons than he knew what to do with, featured two different nozzles where coffee supposedly came out, had a display screen that currently wasn't displaying anything, and had a bin on the top where beans were supposed to go.

After several minutes of study, he found the button marked “power”. This he pressed with triumph then watched with alarm as all the lights turned on, the display lit up, and the whole thing began whirring. Was it supposed to do that?

He squinted at the display.

“Espresso, macchiato, frappé, cappuccino, latte.”

Fast, spotted, chilled, small cup, milk?

Even for someone who actually spoke Italian... that made no sense. Why wasn't there a button for “coffee”? Maybe he'd just have to make it the old fashioned way. Even if it took a little longer.

Behind him, the teapot was already whistling cheerfully.

Emily smiled at Paul’s question. “Oh this old thing? I have hundreds of scarves. I lose track of where I have gotten them all. Actually, I think I made this one.” Her laugh was the sound of songbirds. “If you would like, I could knit you one. It would look great with your shirt.” Emily had a strange feeling Paul was feeling a little uncomfortable. She wondered why. Did he not like talking to women? Eh, maybe she was imagining things.

“It is your first time here, too? How nice. Were you planning on staying for dinner? I will, if you do.” Emily nudged him playfully. “So what brought you to Sebastian today? Was it spiritual enlightenment? I had just heard about this church today. It sounded like an interesting place. I’m a Catholic myself, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt if I came and just checked the place out. The man seems nice. Unicorns have always been interesting to me, ever since I was a little girl. I wonder if he has other attributes of the fabled horse. I have also been interested in the Pegasus. Oh look at me, prattle on like an old hen. Silly me.”

Emily smiled, her eyes shining on the man in front of her. “Where are you from, Paul? Have you lived in New York long?”

Taking a deep breath in, Paul let it out slowly, doing his best to clear his mind with that one simple move. It wasn't nearly as effective as a nice ten or fifteen minute session of meditation would have been but it was amazing how much a person could accomplish in only one breath when they had the proper training. Fate had conspired to throw an obstacle in his way and he had been floundering like a fish out of water. It was time to adapt to the situation and show fate who was the true master of their own destiny.

"I might have to have you do that... although I don't know if I'd want it to go with this shirt. Perhaps something bright that would go well with a black sateen shirt. I often where black to slightly more formal events since I've been told it helps to accent my hair." Paul responded with a smile as he relaxed into his chair, purposefully allowing the tension to melt away from his muscles.

The young woman was both a talker and a flirt. In fact, she almost reacted like a person that was completely starved of conversation. Perhaps she didn't have a whole lot of friends that she could talk to? Small wonder considering the fact that she was driving a hearse. That probably scared off a lot of girls that might otherwise be her friends. Then of course her self confidence might scare off some of the men as well. She was interesting and if it weren't for the fact that there was a certain blond in his life, Paul might even have asked her out. Of course, even if that off the table, there was nothing wrong with a little harmless flirting of his own.

"I actually hadn't thought about staying to assist with the meal but with a lady such as yourself here, how could I ever leave?" Paul responded with a slight twinkle shining in his blue eyes. "As for my presence here, I don't know that I'm exactly looking for spiritual enlightenment. I something have a hard time actually believing in some all powerful being out in the cosmos that is sitting back to watch us scurry around the planet. However, I have heard that some of Sebastian's teaching are interesting and slightly different from the main stream so I'm a little curious."

The questions never seemed to stop and really the only thing Paul could do was smile just a little more broadly. Even with her apologizing for prattling she still threw out yet more inquiries as she tried to get to know him. Off in the distance, he assumed from the kitchen, he could hear the sound of a kettle whistling. Hopefully that meant that Sebastian would soon be joining them with tea for the lady and the unicorn.

"I'm actually from here though I've just come back. I spent quite a few years in California and only returned maybe six months ago. It's changed a lot since I was here so long ago but there are some things that always stay the same." He finished the statement with a slight smile of satisfaction. Yes, the streets never seemed to change. Sure the players changed as different gangs killed off others but the basic system of street society never changed it simply survived.