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.
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I assumed it was an alias. But my assumption was also that you named yourself that because you enjoy that painter's work. So you've poked holes in my theory and proved me wrong.
[He doesn't sound particularly bothered by it; he's very used to being wrong by now.]
Is it your real name, then?
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But it is also not my real name, either. [ It's been a while since they talked and several things have happened, and several things haven't, but regardless of the cause he seems much more eager to play ball now, as it were. His gaze is fully focus on Iago now, the pamphlet forgotten. ]
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I see. It is a nice name, so you chose well.
[He admittedly has no knowledge of the painter, but you definitely look like a "Rembrandt", okay.]
Why did you abandon your original name?
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I've told you, haven't I? I am whatever the Lady needs me to be.
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Is it because you want to be whatever the Lady needs of you, or is it because she's forcing you?
[That might not be the exact right way to word it, but it's probably close enough.]
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Those are both true yet also false. You've asked a lot of questions and it's been such a long time since we spoke, I hope you think I hadn't forgotten how our conversations used to go. [ His smile grows, barbed. ]
Who would ever enter into a relationship that would put themselves at a disadvantage?
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[Don't worry, he's smirking; he knows.]
I can't imagine you would willingly enter such a relationship, but maybe you didn't have a choice in it at all.
But I have been terribly rude, so do excuse me for questioning you so much without anything in return. What questions do you have for me?
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We may continue to talk like "normal people" if you like. But just know that I haven't forgotten, that's all. But if we're going to continue speaking we should have proper seating, don't you agree?
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Of course, there's no sense standing around and having a conversation. Do you have somewhere in mind?
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Without any fanfare he sits down and crosses his legs. ]
This is much more fitting.
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Impressive. I can certainly approve of the aesthetic.
[goth as hell, a++
Anyway, anything particularly noteworthy about the furniture set as he sits down?]
Is this magic or some other sort of ability?
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How would you differentiate the two?
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Excellent taste, then. [goth aesthetic is best aesthetic] As for your question... Well, there isn't nearly as much of a difference between them here as there is in my world. "Magic" requires a conduit - a spell tome or staff, typically - and is channeled, while abilities are something innate that don't require any sort of casting.
[A pause and then he shrugs.]
At least, that's how I've defined it back home. Things are quite a bit different here. Illusio should technically be considered magic, but it doesn't require a cast. That's not to mention any of the other worlds, with vastly different methods of utilizing magic, if it even exists in the first place.
[...this is a really long-winded reply to say "idk man".]
I'm curious if you differentiate between them any.
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Most "magic" I encountered prior to meeting all of you was common sleight of hand, or illusions based in deceit, not actual magical ability. Humans have always been fascinated with the supernatural, ever since stories and tales were passed on from lips to parchment. Their desire for more—power, knowledge, however you call it, has remained constant throughout however.
But moving back to the original topic, the answer is not in particular. I am capable of what I am not because anyone taught me, or because of a spell or tome, rather they are a facet of my existence, as much a part of me as your hands and locks of hair.
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I see. Your powers continue to fascinate me as always, Rembrandt. Perhaps when this is all over, I'll have the opportunity to learn more about them.
[But that's neither here nor there, and it's reminded him of the reason he was planning on seeking Rembrandt out later on.]
I have a... request of you, I suppose. I understand that I'm in no position to be making requests, but this is something I would ask of you if things don't go how I'm expecting them to. Will you hear me out, at least?
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[ He visibly brightens up at the mention of a request. ]
I don't see why not, but do not consider this acquiescence that I will carry out the request. [ He waves his hand for Iago to continue. ]
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[But. With that said.]
While I don't anticipate this happening, I greatly prefer to have a plan in place in case things don't go the way I'm expecting. [Nothing has gone the way he's expecting since he woke up here.] So my request is this: if Rideaux kills me and they're successful in voting for him, I would appreciate it if you made his death as agonizing as possible.
[Before now he's been fairly controlled, but once that's out there his expression goes dark and wild in a way it usually doesn't get.]
I want him to beg for mercy. I want him to break. He deserves it. If I die, I want to drag him down with me in the most humiliating and horrifying manner possible. Make him suffer.
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Of course, as I said, I don't foresee this happening. Rideaux isn't stupid enough to attempt something like that right now, anyway.
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My, my, what a wanton request. Your hatred of him has grown from a seed to a full bloom with more to spare. This is certainly in my power of course, and I doubt the Lady would be opposed. But I do hate to get my hands dirty without proper cause.
As we are speaking in hypotheticals of course, allow me to offer one of my own. In this instance I would be happy to undertake this agreement given an incentive. But this would be impossible if such a situation were to come to pass, at least without proper planning.
I think you know what I am interested in, do you not? And I find it highly likely that you take notes, both in the meetings and out.
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You're right. I loathe him. If I had my magic, I would have killed him already. [Dislikes: being talked down to.] He outlived his usefulness long ago, and should he decide he's done playing nice, then so am I. I refuse to let him think he's won.
[Is it a good thing or a bad thing that most of Illusio's secrets were revealed in the first trial? That he was given a power he couldn't easily exploit to kill without proper planning?]
My soul, you mean? You would want that in exchange for this, am I correct?
[It's not a yes or no, just a clarification.]
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You're right, I wouldn't.
[That gets him to settle and he shrugs a bit.]
As much as I would like that vengeance, if I can't see it, it's certainly not worth my soul.
[He's not entirely clear on exactly how souls work and all that, but he's pretty damn sure giving up his soul means giving up a shot at whatever afterlife the ghosts have and he'd rather not risk erasing himself entirely just to screw Rideaux over.]
Rideaux's suffering would be worth quite a lot to me, but not that much. And again, this was all hypothetical, since I doubt he'd be stupid enough to kill me right now.
[A couple more weeks and maybe he'd need to be worried, but it sounds like things are going to end soon anyway.]
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The most grievous being that souls linger after their vessel has died.
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[ghosts, what ghosts......... but also he doesn't really know how souls work so who knows maybe those aren't even their souls???? mysteries.]
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[ what ghosts indeed. ]
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