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

[pr159]

Well, let's see. It didn't really start until after the second murder, if the lights at the opera house were your own work, as you said. On both the second and third weeks -- and this one, though the pattern so far indicates that we're still too early to see a result -- someone elected to make a deal to have a hint revealed, assuming Shin still counts in that regard. If we believe that taking a hint means trading a part of your soul, and that souls are what she's after, along with usable power, it seems like there could be some connection to that. Or it could just be the souls of the dead, and there wasn't enough of a... stockpile, so to speak, until after the second week.

My own world's technology relies on spirit fossils, including our electricity, so this all doesn't seem that farfetched to me.

[ What else is there to add... ]

Each time so far, the places that have had power restored have been within one general area at a time, so it seems that certain parts of the power grid are gradually being brought back online, not that individual buildings are having it restored haphazardly.

That said, it doesn't really explain the particular timing. It's happened on Wednesday nights both times so far, I believe? And the fact that you're so curious about this is curious in itself. Does she know why it's happening?

[dominioned]

[ Rather than verbally answer, he wags a finger side to side. ]

The souls of the dead...and you believe in such a thing? [ He cant his head slightly, the movement so minute not a single lock of hair gets displaced. ]

[pr159]

What, in souls?

[ Is that a question at this point? ]

The fact that the Great Spirit Origin can't keep up with the soul purification needed to carry out the reincarnation process is one of the central reasons my life has been what it is.

[ i.e. garbage ]

[dominioned]

No, no. In that they linger like seaweed atop waves.

[ That sure sounds like a situation, but he's pretty focused at the moment. ]

[pr159]

[ It's fine, no one needs his rant on why spirits are dicks, and he wants to hurry up and get to Iago's weird face anyway. ]

I suppose that's one way of putting it. You think otherwise?

[dominioned]

It violates a principle I am quite familiar with.

[pr159]

And that would be?

[dominioned]

Just what I said, that souls linger after death. Humans die and they are judged and then handled accordingly, in most cases. And while this world is not my own...

[ Very much hmm. ]

[pr159]

What would you expect to be handling them?

[dominioned]

"Neutral arbiters". [ It's clear he doesn't take that term to heart. ]

[pr159]

And you think those exist here?

[dominioned]

Not to my knowledge, and in this locale in particular...I'm positive they don't. But souls don't just tarry around regardless, unless they're particularly vengeful.

[pr159]

To be fair, most of the people who've died here are probably pretty pissed off about it, so I don't know that "vengeful" would necessarily be inaccurate for some of them.

[ Shrug! ]

But anyway, it's just a theory. Do you have one of your own, or?

[dominioned]

Some of them, but not most.

[ He taps a finger against his lip. ]

I do, but that wasn't in the terms of our agreement. Before I fulfill my end of the deal, which theory do you personally consider most likely?

wow i totally missed this in the midst of trial stuff

[pr159]

I'm not that desperate for the details anyway, I'm just curious why you're so interested in what others think about this if you're not too hard up for information to form a hypothesis of your own.

But if I had to make a bet, I'd put my money on the dead having some involvement. In one way or another.

no worries

[dominioned]

I see. Because sometimes humans grasp onto the most peculiar things.

[ ... ]

But regardless, I shall fulfill what you asked of me. [ He brings his hands together and claps with a bold smile. ]

What lies under Iago's mask is simple, really—absolutely nothing of note at all. No blemishes, no scars, unmarred skin exactly like what surrounds his other eye. He is however, nearly blind in the eye he keeps obfuscated.

[pr159]

[ Just... deadpan stare. ]

Are you serious?

[ He guesses it's not bad to know what side to attack him from if he ever decides to kill him, but that was pretty obvious already, actually.

What a fucking baby.

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. ]

No offense, but I'm glad I didn't sleep with you for that.

[dominioned]

[ Laughing. ]

Indeed I am, that man is petty. [ Not said so derisively, because it's really amusing actually? ]

None taken, those matters interest me little in most circumstances.

[pr159]

I mean, I knew that much, but this seems ridiculous even for him.

[ Amused but still derisive in this case. ]

I won't deny being a little curious about the exceptional circumstances when you put it like that, but that's probably a conversation for another time.

[dominioned]

Next meeting, then.