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

[bawcock]

No kidding. Most priests don't go around kidnapping people and telling them to commit murder.

[ You have zero credibility as a priest, dude. ]

[dominioned]

Most priests. [ He has to quibble here apparently because there are some terrible priests out there with the last name Kotomine okay. ]

Aside from slandering my past professions, what other questions do you have Erik?

[bawcock]

[ What kind of priests is this guy hanging out with...? Wait, scratch that. He probably doesn't wanna know. ]

Would you prefer if I asked what led you to a life of crime? [ 'cause he could do that. It is, however, a pretty personal question and also he doesn't really care what the answer is. Sometimes you gotta commit a crime but also he probably wouldn't, like, pick murder as a profession.

The pay's not good and also morally it sucks. ] Nevermind, that's not the question I wanna ask anyway. What I'm after is information on that "survivor" title.

[dominioned]

The reward. [ Ask and you shall receive anyway. Maybe he's rolling in Zloty, you don't know! ]

What about it? It is an apt title for every single one of you.

[bawcock]

That's a pretty common answer, you know. But whatever's worth all trouble this must be big.

[ Strange that Remmy answered though. He wasn't expecting that one—then again, he wasn't expecting either of them to be so chatty in the first place. ]

So I've heard. [ From both lady and the tramp. ] The question on everyone's tongues is—why? There are plenty of theories floating around, but one in particular's got my eye.

That's why I'm here. To ask you about it directly.

[dominioned]

I think it is. [ Erik will get the impression that he's smiling, even through the partition. ]

Then by all means, go on.

[bawcock]

[ He sure will. He's not too surprised by this answer, at least. Everybody thinks their big score is worth it.

Even him, not that he involved other people in it. Uh, not like this that is. ] Here goes.

This thing we're meant to have survived—was it whatever you did to give us these "powers"?

[dominioned]

[ The sounds of clapping, as muddled as they are between his gloves and the way they reverberate around the confessional should be answer enough. But just in case they aren't— ]

Yes. It really was terribly amusing watching you think we destroyed your homes, though. What a waste that would be.

[bawcock]

Excuse me?

[ His voice cracks. Look, he didn't really, truly, seriously think his world was gone. But if he did, and if anyone else did, then it isn't on them. They shouldn't be mocked for caring!

He bangs his fist against the side of the confessional. Hope that's near your dumb face, pal. ] Is all just some joke to you?! You're the ones who planted that idea in everyone's heads in the first place!

[dominioned]

How feisty. [ It might have been, but he apparently appreciates all of this. ]

Far from it, I take my work very seriously. But to correct you, it was my Lady who sowed those seeds, not I.

[bawcock]

... [ Dammit, this guy's just toying with him. Not that knowing that stops him from being pissed off. He sits in silence for a few seconds before regaining his composure. Or at least, enough of it to move the conversation along. ]

It may have been "your lady" who started it but you're not exactly innocent here. You're the one who sat idly by and let everyone think the worst. And then you actually mocked them for it.

[ Nice people don't do that, not in his experience. ] Or are you gonna tell me a mook like you can't go against their boss?

[dominioned]

A...mook? [ He might sound more offended if he didn't sound so puzzled. The answer for Erik's question will have to wait a moment. ]

[bawcock]

[ Why is he confused??? This is a perfectly ordinary word that normal people use every day. ]

... you're not going to tell me you don't know what that means, are you?

[dominioned]

I can guess. [ Yeah he. doesn't know what it means actually. ]

[bawcock]

[ Not sure if he should feel bad for exposing this guy's wanting vocabulary or not.

Leaning toward not??? Like, it's just one word and clearly there are some world shenanigans at play in this place. Not knowing one silly word isn't the end of the world. ] I could explain it to you if you want, but if you got the general meaning it's probably not that important.

[ Also, it feels kind of weird to explain the insult he used. ]

[dominioned]

...that would be an embarrassing experience for us both. [ He clears his throat and coughs. ]

Regardless—I cannot act against her word under most conditions. But you're not incorrect in that I find no fault in how she acts or what she does. We have differences of opinions on some matters, but in the end we both entered into our agreement knowing the cost and the reward.

[bawcock]

[ Got him there. He can't say he's thrilled at the prospect anyway, especially given he was mad at Rembrandt just a minute ago. ]

That makes it sound like you need each other, though you might need her more than she needs you. [ 'cause Rembrandt's an underling. ]

[dominioned]

I'm certain she thinks so. [ And he thinks otherwise doesn't need to be said. ]

[bawcock]

And you don't. [ Putting his hands on his hips. ]

Okay, so what exactly do you bring to the table? What makes you so important?

[dominioned]

[ ....... ]

How exactly do you think she was able to manage the logistics of your stay here? Or acquire the information necessary to complete your profiles? She's only human, you know.

[bawcock]

And you're not.

[ If he remembers right, they already established that. ] But all that really means is she needed you then, not now.

[dominioned]

That's right.

[ He shifts in the confessional and then sighs. ]

You don't seriously believe she's the one who keeps this place tidy, do you? [ Can you even imagine her with a broom. ]

[bawcock]

[ You are doing a terrible job of convincing him of your use, dude. ]

... I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I think I'm actually starting to feel sorry for you here. You're basically like her janitor.

[dominioned]

...I am not a janitor, I am—

[ Yeah this is not going as planned. He takes a breath and refocuses. ]

I am whatever she needs me to be, that is all.

[bawcock]

[ Damn. So close.

He has to stop himself from goading Rembrandt further—after he collected himself, it probably won't work again. ]

I think I can let you off the hook with that. You already told me what I wanted to know anyway.