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

[dominioned]

I don't mind sharing, but keep in mind this isn't a one way street. [ Regardless he continues after a beat. ]

Certainly you have your own thoughts on my visit to last week's, yes? It was very peculiar that such an invitation was extended to me without any bartering on my part. I can't help but wonder what the motives involved were. [ As much as he says this, it's clear that he already has come to his own conclusions, but talking like this is more fun. ]

[pr159]

I think everyone there wondered that, actually. If he wanted anyone to trust him, he certainly didn't do himself any favors... but I assume he would have been able to predict that.

[ He can't stand Dazai, but he knows he isn't stupid. ]

He said he wanted to show you that there was no de facto leader among our group.

[ Though most of them are obviously shitty villains who wouldn't want to follow anyone anyway, so that doesn't exactly seem like a role anyone would have assumed to have existed. ]

[dominioned]

I imagine that is true to an extent, but there has been someone responsible for holding the majority of the meetings and there are those who contribute more so than others. [ He sighs. ]

But I am supposed to believe that no such group dynamic exists, which makes me believe he aims to hide something or someone.

[pr159]

To be fair, I think most of us are just attending to get information for our own purposes. Well, and for free food, obviously.

[ He saw Rembrandt at that meeting, he knows he gets that part. ]

But yes, if that really was his reason, I would assume he was concerned specifically because he thought there was someone who would be targeted.

[dominioned]

And Dazai is not what I would call the amiable type.

[pr159]

Is that so? I mean, I can't stand him, but I wouldn't attribute that to a lack of amiability. Or is that what you're saying has changed?

[dominioned]

Hm, perhaps that is the wrong word for it. Selfless, perhaps. But yes, I find it peculiar that he is seemingly protecting someone who is not from his world to start.

[pr159]

Not the type you'd expect to get a crush?

[dominioned]

...not the word I would use, but yes. I assumed he was more of the casual type. [ What's romance. ]

[pr159]

[ Don't ask him. ]

I don't know, he seems immature enough to me. He's a teenager, isn't he?

[dominioned]

[ A beat. ]

I admit I do not have much experience with teenagers, and the experience I do have was... a special case.

[pr159]

Consider yourself lucky. They're insufferable.

[ Boy would he love to shove Ludger's friends off a cliff. That doesn't only apply to the teenagers, of course, but still. ]

What was the special case? I certainly wouldn't have taken you for a babysitter.

[ ...Then again. ]

Well, not an actual one, anyway.

[dominioned]

Worse than children? [ Judging on their teenagers here (past and present), that seems pretty accurate. ]

I don't consider myself one, no. But it often feels like that at times, this circumstance included. As for the case it was related to my former job, before I met the Lady.

[pr159]

Tough call, but quite possibly.

What was the official job title?

[dominioned]

Before I answer that, do you even know my official job title here?

[pr159]

Do you have one? I was assuming something vague like "assistant." I wasn't under the impression that you had a typical employment agreement.

[dominioned]

Assistant is one of them, yes. You're right in that regard as well, which is to my point, my arrangement with my last employer was much the same.

[pr159]

Was your employer the kid?

[dominioned]

[ A pause. ]

Yes.

[pr159]

Really?

[ ...Well, he'd kind of been joking, but. ]

What were you paid in, candy?

[dominioned]

Dear me, no. I don't particularly like candy.

[pr159]

It's not that far a stretch from those pastries at the meeting, is it?

[ He just kind of lumps all sweets into one category... ]

But seriously, what was it? The younger someone is, the fewer valuable things they'd have to offer, I'd imagine... In most respects, anyway.

[dominioned]

I didn't care for the tart either, I was merely interested in seeing if Dazai would try to poison me.

[ Well okay then. ]

There is such a thing as inheritance you know, and not only in the monetary regard. And youth possesses what age does not retain at other times.

[pr159]

I can't say I'm that familiar with inheritances.

[ Not personally. Obviously he knows they're a thing; that's why he hates Cumore. ]

So was it money?

[dominioned]

No, not at all. If I wanted money I would have removed all of it from Krakow and your persons, and left shortly after you awakened. [ That would have been something. ]