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

[bawcock]

[ Please, Rembrandt, you're practically a secret factory. But he receives a slight, worried smile in response to his laugh anyway. ]

Point taken. There's at least one treasure out there I'd give anything for—and, sometimes, I want it so badly it even hurts. [ His smile fades as he speaks. Then, with a sigh, he leans back against the confessional wall. ]

At the same time, it doesn't feel fair when with a wave their hand and the flash of some lights someone can magically tell you what your deepest, darkest desires are. Especially when you can't do the same for them.

[dominioned]

Ah well, these circumstances are slightly irregular. It's not like I acquired that knowledge just now, it was done prior. All I did was make it easier to recall the specifics, that's all. [ That might be a comfort and it might not, the assuaging smile likely not helping any. ]

Nonetheless, if you possessed such an ability you would be welcome to try it on me.

[bawcock]

[ Not really comforting!! ] That just makes it more mysterious.

And unfortunately for me, I've got nothing like that in my kit. My pal the Luminary, on the other hand... he might be able to do it.

[dominioned]

I do entertain guesses, you know.

[ It's in his nature to always push when he could very well just sit. ]

Oh?

[bawcock]

Don't I know it. You've been "entertaining" my guesses since week one!

[ Which is why if he had any, he'd say them. ]

"Oh," he says. If I didn't know better, I'd say that sounds like genuine interest.

[dominioned]

[ This is also why Erik gets farther along than most other people have in getting useful (?) info. ]

Are you implying my interest so far has been insincere?

[bawcock]

[ Good question. He'll give it some proper thought! ]

That all depends on the subject. We've gone over so much, there have to be a few misses. [ He doesn't know statistics but he knows people. Leaning back into a slouch. ] But if you really wanna know what I think you think of me, I don't mind answering.

'Course, I don't mind saying your interest in my friend is near zero either. His powers, on the other hand... well, that I figure is high. If only 'cause you wanna know if he's like you.

[dominioned]

No, I don't think for one moment that he's like me at all. [ Firmly said, a finger curls under his lips. ]

Power doesn't interest me in the way it lures others. To them, power is a means to achieving their goal, or a status symbol. To me...I suppose it does help me realize what I desire, but there was a time I was challenged to do so without yielding many of the skills in my arsenal.

And besides, I am plenty powerful already.

[bawcock]

Color me surprised! [ Fair though, and he would've said outright the Luminary is not. No one shines quite as brightly as his pal the Luminary.

Anyway, huh. Listen to him go, what a philosophy... ]

I never got the "quest for power" myself. Which... might be ironic, considering. [ A sigh, a shrug, and a shake of his head. ] I guess your take does make sense though.

[dominioned]

Why thank you. [ It's a weird take so that might be genuine acceptance. ]

Everyone defines power differently, however. Including the Lady, of course. [ They don't talk about her much which might be the reason that their talks go on like this, but end of his words hang like a stray thread. ]

[bawcock]

[ Boy, that's one obvious hook. He's pretty sure this is the only time the Lady's come up in anything but passing.

And this context... actually, this is pretty funny. No, wait, this is really funny. It takes a second, but Erik starts laughing—or maybe it's closer to giggling—before turning his head and laughing into his hand. He waves his hand at Rembrandt as if to say "wait, stop."

When he's done, he leans back with an amused exhale. ] Sorry, I promise, it wasn't you. [ A beat. ] Okay, it was, but not in a bad way. Just... man, what a line! I couldn't help myself.

You were saying something about her and power?

[dominioned]

[ Rembrandt seems taken in a different way, with not so muted surprise as Erik laughs. He shakes his head from side to side with a smile. ]

I couldn't help myself either. [ Needs to be said, even if its obvious. ]

She desires power of course, that's why she hired me. That in itself is boring, but the methods and deeds she has committed herself to in doing so is anything but. It takes a certain type of individual to distort themselves until they're hardly recognizable even to themselves, yet never lose track of their goal regardless.

I find it interesting, even if it does leave some things to be desired.

[bawcock]

[ Super obvious. Rembrandt's itching to gossip about the Lady and oh does it ever show! No matter how polite or coy he's being, he's still leaving this obvious trail of breadcrumbs in the hopes someone will follow them. Seems easier to just say it outright, but at least this way is pretty funny. Until he starts speaking, that is. As far as gossip goes, this is pretty weak.

Is he holding back on the juicy stuff? Propping his elbow on his knee and leaning in. ] Interesting on one hand, boring on the other, eh?

[dominioned]

If you're interested in the specifics, in this case my hands are tied. [ He moves one hand over the other, mimicking handcuffs. ]

On the other hand, there may be ways around it.

[bawcock]

Sounds like you need an out. Or a friendly thief to find a way through all those loopholes.

[ Gonna put his hands over Remmy's and pull them apart. He can't promise much of anything, the Lady is a total mystery to him, but eh. Might as well try. ]

So, are we playing charades or should I start guessing?

[dominioned]

[ Blink, blink. He either didn't expect to hear that or he didn't expect the contact but this is the second time today that he's visibly ruffled. It doesn't last long until he manages one of his customary smiles. ]

The former, given we're meeting face to face. And you'll have to pick a topic, as there's plenty you don't know.

[bawcock]

[ It's okay Remmy, sometimes you don't expect someone who busted into your chapel like a hurricane to get progressively friendlier during the exact same conversation!! Apparently having a soul matters a lot? Kidding, kidding. It's more like he realized you're still you so whatever.

Also, it's awfully funny to watch Remmy get rattled. He's usually such a calm and collected guy, despite the fake smile. ]

That makes it more of a mix, doesn't it? But let's see here, topics, topics... [ Leaning his chin on his palm, his elbow now propped against his knee again. ] I want to say "souls," it's too bad that might be too broad a subject.

How about her desire for power? [ Remmy called it boring so he probs wants to shit on that more. ]

[dominioned]

It might not be. [ A difficult subject to be sure, but worth saying nonetheless. They can table it for now though, because Erik's intuition is on point as usual. ]

Well that's just it, isn't it? Strange how someone who desires power would so freely give it to others, and I think it's fair to say she's not exactly the charitable type.

[bawcock]

[ Huh. That's interesting, but also something he's going to have to think about and circle back to. For now, he puts his hand at his chin and mulls. ]

That's not all that different from the big bad back home. He might not have done it like this, but all he seemed to want was power. He was even willing to dish some out to get more.

[ Build an army, secure your kingdom, so on and so forth. Except that's absolutely not what the Lady is doing here. ] But I will say, his methods were a lot different than hers. He wanted to rule the world, meanwhile I've got no idea what she's after.

[dominioned]

[ A notable pause and then he just.

Laughs? Oh man he laughs a whole lot. When he's done he just, points at Erik with the widest grin, pointed incisors and all. ]

[bawcock]

[ —!? He's not expecting the pause, much less the roaring laughter. If it weren't for how it sounds, he might actually be offended. But, this is... good? He thinks it's a good laugh, anyway.

So after a few seconds he puts his palm through his hair and lets out his own little chuckle. It's good-natured, if a little nervous. ]

Oh man. If that laugh means what I think it means, we might be in more trouble than I thought!

[dominioned]

Oh? [ He's mostly recovered by now, but his grin is still wider than usual. ]

How much trouble do you think you're in?

[bawcock]

Enough to know I won't get a wink of sleep tonight.

[ A quiet exhale before he droops back against the confessional wall. ]

[dominioned]

There are plenty of remedies for that. [ At least he won't name them? But his perpetual smile isn't helping matters any. ]

[bawcock]

[ your cr is not high enough to ride this ride ]

If I didn't know you so well, I might misunderstand what you're saying here. As is, I'd bet anything you mean a warm cup of tea and a good book.