Private Conversations

[dominioned]

The confessional before you is ornate and well maintained, ebony colored wood embellished with the visage of two angels. A jet black curtain separates the confessional from the rest of the Church, offering a surprising degree of privacy to any eavesdroppers nearby. Unlike the rest of Krakow, the inside is dimly lit by a small light bulb securely attached to the ceiling which emits a faint red light. While the atmosphere isn't exactly cozy, it is private.

A smooth voice calls out to you once you've sat down, familiar enough to identify the speaker despite the partition between you.

"Welcome welcome. I take it something is on your mind?"

We're in a museum now, Harry.

Comments

[pr159]

Exactly. Even the ones sacrificing their lives get to be remembered as heroes. That type gets so indignant when you point it out, too, which really just proves the point further.

[dominioned]

You speak from experience, no?

[pr159]

What, with calling people out, or seeing so-called "charity" in action?

I can at least safely say that hardly anyone gives bread or money to a child on the street unless someone else is watching, and that those who do generally think pretty highly of themselves.

[ It's not like he gives them anything either, because why should anyone else get for free what he had to work for? But, you know. ]

[dominioned]

More the latter, but I would not discounter the former given your performance so far. [ Keep bein yourself in trials Rideaux. ]

...or if they could use those children for something. A fed belly tends to buy loyalty.

[pr159]

I think that's starting to bleed into another subject, if we're talking about conscious exchanges.

[ Which he also has plenty of experience with... ]

Though yes, the ones who say they're doing it out of the goodness of their hearts do tend to get bent out of shape when they think you're not being grateful enough.

[dominioned]

As things tend to do.

[ So yeah, agreed. ]

Their egos are typically very important to them, or their prestige, or both. [ A beat. ] But tell me Rideaux—you speak so plainly of sensitive subjects, and similarly in trial. Do you not mind what others think of you?

[pr159]

As long as they aren't denying my accomplishments or capabilities, it doesn't make any difference to me whether they think I'm nice or not.

Though with that said, I'm also not openly antagonizing everyone here for no reason, which I think is more than can be said for some. I'm not so stupid as to make myself into everyone's enemy when anyone here could be looking for someone to target.

[dominioned]

So you hope to sit somewhere in the middle while still speaking your mind, interesting. You do possess skills that others are lacking in as well—I hesitate to think what would happen if Zangetsu were to find a victim first.

[pr159]

Goodbye to half the evidence before the rest of us even hear the announcement.

But yes, that's roughly the plan. I can hold my tongue when I need to, but I also do what needs to be done and do it well, so as long as everyone can begrudgingly accept that, I think I've earned the right to speak my mind to some extent.

Are you looking at your watch over there yet?

[dominioned]

That might prove interesting were it not disgusting.

[ There's something of a jingle, maybe he is checking the time. ]

Yes and no. You are far from the only patron I have who likes to talk at length.

[pr159]

Oh? You look forward to some of those more than others, I assume.

[dominioned]

Like is a strong term. Ones I find more enjoyable than others however, certainly.

[pr159]

Well, I hope ours have a respectable place on that ranking.

[ You know, NOT THAT HE CARES ABOUT BEING LIKED.

He does, however, care about being viewed favorably by people who have a certain level of control over his life, so.

also as we're wrapping this up i'm going to move to week 3 i'm sorry ]

[dominioned]

Perhaps.

[ You're good! ]

But we should conclude this session regardless, there are tasks I need to see to.

[pr159]

Fine with me. [ He has things to do too, of course. (???) ] Until next time.

[ ...

Next time he needs to shut up before his foot falls asleep. He's not going to just stand here like an asshole until feeling comes back, so he will just... leave carefully. Don't watch him. ]