Children are far more tactical and calculative than one would ever think. They corner him while he's relighting the lamps along the altar where the great figure of Mother Mary stood, looming over all who came to pray. Hands clasped together, head bowed and eyes closed in eternal prayer. Some of the oil had spilled out onto the base of the pedestal, soaking into the porous stone and making it start to erode in on itself with all the air pockets now trapped inside. 

 He wasn't sure what he would do when the structural integrity of the base of the statue was compromised. If it fell down on someone someday, considering it was made of solid granite and weighed a ton, he wasn't really sure how exactly they would replace it...nor what they do about the unfortunate victim under the statue, but that seemed less important to him. The statue had been a pillar in the church for a long time, having stood the test of time. It had been a constant fixture in their lives, a sort of special symbol. The children had passed by it everyday to the point that didn't even see it anymore when they walked passed it, but surely they would notice it when it finally crumbled. If it was any time soon. Who knows, by the time that this sentimental piece of carved stone had finally worn itself away, the children might already have grown up and gone away. Gotten married, settled down with kids, lived long full and happy lives. And he would be....elsewhere. 

 For a moment, he put down the lighter and leaned against the stone. Taking a moment to himself before soft footsteps from behind make him whirl around to find the one person he wanted to see least, armed with a crowd of children. God have mercy.

 It's not an outrageous request by any means, but the children did just have their lunch outside the previous week and he didn't want the dirt and dust to get into their food. Something that happened often when they were half busy kicking up the soul and playing around their food. 

 The angel wasn't not helping his decision either and for a second he felt an urge. Not [i]the urge[/i], but a lesser one that just wanted to take the back of his hand and connect it with the man's cheek in order to hopefully knock out those annoyingly bright eyes. He doesn't wish for the urge to get any stronger and turn into something else though and he doesn't think he can handle the wide eyed stares of disappointment the children often give when they're not given what they want. He spoils them a little, that he has to admit.

"Fine, I will allow it, but Athena will supervise you and you will have to listen to what she says. If I hear one complaint that you've misbehaved, then you shall have to assist me in lighting up all the lamps in the dorms." He gives an ultimatum which the children don't really hear over the sound of their cheers. 

"Father, why don't you join us?" 

"Someone has to take care of the church whilst you play." He politely declines,knowing that there is still much to do around the church and he isn't in the most sociable of moods. Wishing the children a good time, he turns to continue his relighting of the oil lamps, but he doesn't fail to pick up Javier's insistence and tugging at Laisander's sleeve.

 "Quick! Quick! Convince Father Xephos to come to the picnic with us! You have to!" He cries and the rest of the children are quick to beg as well.