dominioned | Private Conversations

Private Conversations

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I don't have a favorite color, but I think black suits me best. [ It is ornate that's for sure, and the material it's made of doesn't seem to be either metal or wood. Most importantly, it's much more comfortable than it looks. ]

How would you differentiate the two?

[Ooh, comfy. Not metal or wood though, huh... Definitely cool. Maybe Rembrandt can teach him how to make furniture appear out of nowhere, that'd be neat.]

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.

[ He brings a hand to his face, tapping a finger against his cheek while leaning back in the chair. ]

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.

[He nods at that.]

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?

We shall see.

[ 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. ]

Oh, of course, I am fully aware that it may not be something you're able to do.

[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.

[...Ah, he's being a little too intense, isn't he...]

Of course, as I said, I don't foresee this happening. Rideaux isn't stupid enough to attempt something like that right now, anyway.

[ Oh. His reaction at first is subtle, just the barest inclination of his head as he leans forward. A thin smile finds its way onto his lips as Iago continues to speak as it often does, but there's something different in its veneer compared to usual. What isn't subtle is how his eyes have inexplicably shifted from his usual caramel to red. ]

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.

[Red eyes... Fascinating.]

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.]

...you would give up your soul for vengeance you wouldn't be able to witness yourself? [ His smile is downright pointy, literally. Since have his incisors been so long? ]

[Gods, Rembrandt is terrifying. He is the last person Iago wants to make an enemy of.]

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.]

Of course, of course. This hypothetical scenario was filled with several assumptions, after all. [ He leans back, folding his hands neatly on his lap. ]

The most grievous being that souls linger after their vessel has died.

Of course. I assume you would have to be present at the time of death to take the soul anyway, which is a bit much to ask.

[ghosts, what ghosts......... but also he doesn't really know how souls work so who knows maybe those aren't even their souls???? mysteries.]

What makes you say that?

[ what ghosts indeed. ]

Presumably the soul fades immediately after death, correct? So if you were present at the time of death, perhaps you could take the soul before it fades. Possibly. I'm not entirely sure how souls work, however, so that is merely speculation.

It does. But it really isn't too much to ask. Surely you're aware I can teleport by now?

I am, yes. It is quite a convenient skill to have. [he uses dark magic, but close enough, right!!] Though that would require you to keep an eye on me at all times, and I'm certain you have more important things to do. Not to mention you'd have to sleep sometime... actually, do you need to sleep?

Iago. [ Unfolding his hands, he flexes the fingers on his left, the leather glove more than supple. ]

If you undertook a job, ensuring you could actually collect on the payoff is the first step.

It is, yes.

[He watches and considers Rembrandt's words carefully. There's more he could say, more he could ask, but...]

I apologize for bringing up such a hypothetical when I'm not willing to commit to such a trade. I've been trying not to be openly furious with Rideaux for everything he has decided to be, but it's difficult. I suppose I just wanted to hear that you'd be willing to be cruel on my behalf.

[...okay, that part's clearly a joke.]

I don't need an excuse to be cruel, all things considered. [ So it was, but he responds regardless, his tone smooth and his smile wry. ]

As I said, there were several hypotheticals at play. One of them being that I would be interested in the first.

[ Point proven, probably. ]

That certainly is true. And here I thought I was one of your favorites.

[It's joking!! Unless...?????]

Who makes interesting conversation and who I am interested in are not necessarily mutual. [ So not saying, but hm. ]

I suppose I'm not going to get an answer for that, am I...

[gods rembrandt, just stroke his ego a little!!!!]

Fair enough, though. But now I'm curious... Is there anyone here you dislike? I have a hard time imagining anyone actually angering you.

Correct. [ He says so cheerfully, though his eyes are still more red than brown. ]

In a way, I suppose there is. But you're correct in that no one has actually angered me here, as that's a rather difficult thing to do.

[what is it like to not get angry every five seconds???]

You do strike me as being even-tempered most of the time. I suppose it would be difficult to handle all of us if you were easily riled, however!

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