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]

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.

[dominioned]

[ wow he would be insulted if he wasn't everything he is. ]

A warm cup of tea with honey does tend to lull even crying babes to sleep.

[bawcock]

[ it's ok dude, come back in a week and he'll wonder if you're trying to date him ]

Heh, I knew it! You can't pull the wool over my eyes, Rembrandt!

[dominioned]

[ it was the rose wasn't it. ]

Maybe, maybe. A cup of brandy provides similar relief as well.

[bawcock]

[ the voice projection didn't help ]

Somehow I think that might keep me up even longer.

[dominioned]

[ excuse him for not wanting to yell. ]

Only if you don't drink enough.

[bawcock]

Jeez, just how drunk are you trying to get me? I'm starting to think you just want to gossip, then force me to forget everything you said!

[ The real loophole was the booze we drank all along. ]

[dominioned]

That wouldn't be that fun, real enjoyment comes from risk.

[ Obiv but hey he can get the good stuff too. ]

[bawcock]

Is that one of the reasons you joined up with the Lady?

[ He'd rather have good food than good drink! ]

[dominioned]

...partially, but curiosity was a large factor.

[bawcock]

And now I'm the curious one.

[ Shaking his head. ] As much as I want to hear more, I don't know how many more of the Lady's secrets I can take tonight. What say we leave things at that and try that drink instead?

[dominioned]

If you're trying to put me to sleep, you'll be disappointed. But certainly we can.

[ I only have a general idea of the time space continuum of this thread, but give him a second and he will conjure up (in view or not depends on the space time continuum) a hot toddy using green tea and brandy. ]

[bawcock]

If that's what I was after, it wouldn't be much of a plan. One look at us and it's obvious who'd win a drinking contest!

[ His victory would depend on Rembrandt being an extreme lightweight, which is almost definitely not the case. Anyway, time-space continuum says not in view so Erik is only impressed he had that ready and waiting. ]

Wonder what some people would say about keeping booze this close to a confessional.

[dominioned]

[ He chuckles and after sliding Erik his drink, makes one for himself. ]

Looks can be deceiving, but in this case you're quite right. [ A pause as he leans in to enjoy the aroma of the cocktail. ]

I told you already, didn't I? I didn't much make a good priest.

[bawcock]

[ Now he's trying to figure out how he can get snacks out of this deal. There have to be some somewhere around here!

Don't mind him as he sips his (unbelievably good) drink and blinks in surprise. ]

Somehow, that might be underselling it. You might actually be guilty of every sin in the book—and then some! What made you enter the priesthood in the first place?

[dominioned]

[ Plenty as long as you don't ask him for something he's never heard of before, like fruit yakisoba. Because that did in fact, happen. ]

Nonsense, I've never been called slothful in my life. [ He takes a sip, his expression neutral. That sure is liquor, but it's not any less appetizing than most food. ]

Oh, it was simply the easiest course I had at the time to achieve my goal.

[bawcock]

But you have been called vengeful, lustful, gluttonous, prideful, greedy, and jealous? [ Hilarious as it is Rembrandt objected to that one personally, most of these other ones don't fit either.

A strange acknowledgment considering he's the one who said it but here they are. They are also here sipping drinks so, like, apparently this is happening. ] What were you up to anyhow?

[dominioned]

[ Okay mood, but this matters the most to him personally. ]

Only the third, fourth, and fifth. [ Might as well clarify it anyway. ]

Something similar to what I'm doing right now.