TDM #4

[apocalypsehowmods]

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➥ Arrival

(cw: potential for severe disorientation/vertigo, claustrophobia, arachnophobia, body horror)

It happens in the blink of an eye. You may have been asleep. You may not have. You may have stepped through a door or turned a corner. You may have seen a flicker of something at the corner of your vision and turned to look. Or maybe you didn't.

It doesn't matter. What matters is that you find yourself somewhere entirely new and entirely unfamiliar. The arrival point is not always the same. (If you're lucky, it might be a canteen or an open office. If you're not, well... you aren't claustrophobic, are you? Or arachnophobic. These ducts do seem to be a bit cobwebby.) There is no one waiting for you but you don’t seem to be alone, either. Even in a janitor’s closet or the bathroom, you’ll find at least one person who seems to be just as out of place as you are.

If characters have arrived in a location devoid of NPCs, they may want to work together to figure out what is going on... or to avoid their 'kidnappers.' If you’ve arrived in the middle of the entry foyer or the gym, there may well be a few people who startle a bit at your arrival and try to approach (or discreetly leave the room... where are they going?). Will you cooperate or fight? Do you even understand what they're saying? You might need to find a translator, if you’re not immediately willing to follow a stranger.

After characters follow their new hosts (or are forcibly taken in) there will be a limited tour and the chance to settle in at the ADI-provided housing. (Do you enjoy living with strangers? Well. It's a new situation to navigate, anyway.)

➥ Toying With You

(cw: creepy toys, possible violence, supernaturally induced emotions)

Weird things happen in Dogtown, everyone knows it. The Apocalypse Disruption Initiative (ADI) is not above taking advantage of that to test out the waters for its newest arrivals. They're not looking to send anyone to their death, though. That's far too much paperwork, you'd been assured with a wink from the employee who'd directed you to the park trailhead. You've been left with another person. Maybe they're a new arrival, as well, or a more seasoned 'veteran.' Either way, you're together for the next while and you've been asked to find and record any paranormal activity in the park. You have your phones and any other equipment you might have brought with you. Those who succeed in documenting anything peculiar will receive a $100 reward to be used as they see fit.

This month...characters who enter the area will eventually stumble upon...a very interesting sight. Take enough confusing, branching paths, and they’ll find a variety of toys abandoned in...a variety of ways.

Some, reminiscent of the happenings of the past month, can be found dangling from branches, or from contraptions of sticks and string staked into the ground. Others might be found arranged in patterns...or simply discarded. Some appear to be tied up. Perhaps surprisingly, there is no evidence of the destruction of these toys. Some may appear to be disintegrating but that’s age, not malice. There are old toys and new toys to be found. Maybe it’s just a prank, or an art installation?

Nothing seems to happen to anyone who ventures to touch the toys. At least...not right away. However, any character who does decide to touch a toy will start to feel like they just don’t have...enough. It might manifest as being particularly possessive over things or people they feel are theirs...or in coveting what they don’t already have (be it material or immaterial). These urges will fade away on their own in time, but who knows what might happen before they do?

➥ Pick a Pocket

(cw: mention of vehicular collisions, supernaturally-induced sleep/fatigue)

There is an ethereal music spreading throughout town. It started in the graveyards last month, but now it's spreading, even as collisions and other accidents continue to pile up. Tourists and locals, alike, will find keeping awake incredibly difficult as October rolls in with a rumble of thunder and a splash of rain. Even caffeine doesn't seem to help much with the problem. The music is only just there, just at the edge of awareness, and it's a song that you know. You can't entirely place it, but it's maddeningly familiar.

The local gangs seem to have taken note of the situation, and have taken to sending out their seemingly more resilient members for some mischief. Specifically, pickpocketing those they might find sleeping or less alert than usual. You might be half-falling asleep on a bus when a hand reaches into your pocket or your bag. You might witness the thief in action, stealing from someone else. Or maybe you're someone keen to take advantage of the situation, yourself. There's money to be made for someone with even moderately light fingers when the target is snoring on a park bench or zoning out while sitting at a cafe.

There doesn't seem to be an even effect to the music. It impacts some people in the same vicinity more than others with seemingly no rhyme or reason. The one constant that does appear for those digging deeply, is that ADI HQ and the ADI housing complex seem to be less affected by the music. It can still sometimes be heard, but it's not nearly as prominent as it is throughout the rest of the city.

➥ Sleeper's Paradox

(cw: supernaturally-induced sleep/fatigue, mild memory loss)

For as much as everyone seems to be sleeping lately, it does not seem to be restful sleep. In fact, people dozing off regularly will find themselves even more exhausted and irritable than usual. Again, this seems to be far more pronounced for anyone straying too far from ADI's properties for extended periods.

Another feature of this latest round of supernatural irritation is that even those who tend to remember their dreams may have trouble with that. You might remember that the dreams weren't pleasant, but that's about it. The specifics are as elusive as the source of the singing.

Festive planning for the end-of-the-month Halloween Party is in full swing at ADI, and characters may find themselves strong-armed by Pam and other HR personnel, in spite of any grumpiness and exhaustion, into helping with some part of it. Will you be assisting with making decorations? Buying supplies for the kitchens? Helping those who might not understand Halloween to find the perfect costume? Everyone is feeling a little out of sorts, and having trouble focusing, so there's some particular pushing to spread tasks out to everyone possible so it doesn't fall on a single individual. Anyone who helps will be compensated for their time, and they might even get some extra cash to buy their own fancy costume or preferred food for the party.

➥ Mod Notes

• ARRIVAL (Oct 1 - 31): Two people will always arrive in the same general location together. Arrivals occur throughout the early month, not all on the same day or in the same place. Arrivals are not naturally fluent in English/other languages immediately upon arrival. Characters may attempt to evade capture, but they will eventually be snagged before they can leave the building. PC's already in-game are more than welcome to interact with and try to guide new PC's to get them oriented. Please refer to the Arrival page for details regarding the arrival and onboarding process.
  
  
• Toying With You (Oct 1 - 31): Characters who physically interact with abandoned toys will find themselves overwhelmed by feelings of jealousy and/or possessiveness. Depending on how much interaction they have with the toys, these feelings might be stronger or last longer. (Anyone who, for example, removes a toy from Dogtown will probably find themselves helpless NOT to act on the feelings.) Strength of feeling and duration of time is up to player discretion. The source of these feelings could be anything, including the toys themselves. The toys can be destroyed but are not clumped all in one spot. It may take some searching to find them all.
  
  
• Pick a Pocket (Oct 1- 25): Characters are welcome to experience, enact, or stop a crime. You may find yourself victim, hero, or perpetrator. The number of people asleep or having trouble staying awake will increase the closer you get to graveyards and seem to decrease the closer you get to ADI-owned buildings. The decrease in sleepiness around ADI buildings does not extend to anyone living at Bonnie's. Characters may find themselves falling asleep in the middle of trivial or important tasks, perhaps even in the middle of conversation. This is a supernatural sleep, but for the moment, it seems easy enough to wake someone up with a loud noise or a shake. Or, if you're feeling particularly vindictive, a splash of water to the face.
  
  
• Sleeper's Paradox (Oct 1-25): Characters are welcome to take part in whatever party planning they wish to for ADI's Halloween party. Everyone affected by the drowsiness that's taken over the city will find that they cannot remember the specific nature of their dreams; although, they will have the sense that they did have them, and they were unpleasant. The effects of the fatigue may affect other memories or result in increased irritability, and decreased focus and reaction times. Characters may find themselves more prone to error than usual, even those who are typically known for being on-point at all times.
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Comments

[septieme]

[It's not nice or polite to judge strangers with a marked lack of common sense, as tempting as it is with how ridiculous this tall and lanky platinum silver haired man in an oddly elaborate priest's cassock has been behaving. Something is (stupid) fishy... Chalk it up to her own experiences in handling ridiculous individuals,]

Father Nightroad, it's nice to meet you. Yes, it only takes one look at you to see you're not from around here.

[And before she can answer him further, they're already at the shop's door; it WAS a short distance. Tilting her head back to face him, she's squeezed the tray between her rib and arm as she hands him with her now free hand a clean paper napkin. ...For him to take, yes, that's the expectation:]

Before that, may I ask you to please pick up and throw away what you dropped earlier?

[The poor wasted chocolate éclair at their feet, slightly crumpled with a few ants already crawling over this most sugary sweet bounty. ...If any of this is reminiscent to someone training a newly acquired pet, the resemblance would be purely and entirely coincidental, really. But it's only right to make the one responsible clean up after their own messes, right?]

1/2

[inutilis]

Oh, just Father Abel is more than fine~! Let's keep it casual since we're friends now, right?

[ haha yes friends!!! they're friends through and through; look at his over-eager smile that does, in fact, give the impression Abel is sincere in this declaration!!! they are now Friends (she is doomed they're both doomed),

and he is automatically taking what is offered as if it's simply second nature to be given tasks and Do The Thing appropriately; thus, he is peering absentmindedly down at the napkin in his hand as she offers explanation a moment later. ...oh. oh, right.

the casualty must be disposed of...

...he sends a rueful, woebegone look in the direction of the fallen pastry before trotting over a step to crouch down and admire it. ah. pay his last respects and all... y-yes, he is making the sign of the cross, ]

You poor fellow...

[ why does he sound genuinely sad??? who knows, but he is delicately curling the napkin around the eclair corpse with one hand, dusting off ants and a bit of dirt with the other. alas, what a terrible fate for a perfectly delicious treat...

Abel is holding it for a second, something vaguely contemplative crossing his features-- before he glances back up at Ciel. ]

[inutilis]

...F-five second rule? It's still good...?

1/2

[septieme]

Yes, Father Abel.

[...While this hobo priest is in deep thots contemplation over the fallen and half-eaten éclair, he may hear quiet chanting from next to him:]

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever.
Amen.

[...]

[septieme]

[And with no delay, immediately after he's asked his question:]

Absolutely not! Desecrating a corpse? Just what are you thinking, Father? Come now, the departed must be permitted to rest in peace. [As in 'rest in pieces in the trash', yeah. Which is situated a mere two feet away from the entrance door, now pushed open by her other hand that's also holding onto the tray.

Said Chided very sternly with an open pout frown along with a tug on his hand, she's also giving a nudge of her head towards the inside of the ordinary café. Does he still want to tempt the Forces at this juncture and risk divine punishment...]

1/2

[inutilis]

[ oh, he perks up at her recital of the Lord's Prayer-- a woman of faith?-- before he ceremoniously drops his head, closing his eyes in studious memorial of Our Fallen Pastry.

.......what is happening,

Abel is lifting his free hand to gently dab at the corner of his eye-- misty, you see, h... he's just misty-- moved by her thoughtful respect given to the dead. ah, she is a truly kind girl, isn't she...? the priest has already decided that despite the way she seems vaguely Terrifying in some manner he can't quite put his finger on, she also is quite-- ]

[inutilis]

[ before he jerks his eyes open at her chastising, abject horror and incredulity seizing his features whole!!!! what?!?! desecrating a corpse-- when she puts it like that, i-it... ]

--Ah!! You'll spoil my appetite with that kind of talk... [ he is screwing up his face and holding the pastry at arm's length, now. CORPSE........ even if he was the one signing the cross and such to start with, details--

he is, strangely, no longer quite so sad or moved by Our Fallen Pastry Friend. fickle be thy name... but! this means he is accepting the lady's kindly invitation to step inside to his demise, giving her a grateful bob of his head before shuffling over and depositing """"THE CORPSE"""" in the trash receptacle.

a quick dusting off his hands,

and Abel turns to begin speaking to Ciel's right where an elderly woman has stepped inside, trying to brush past them to the counter to order. ]

Now~! Ciel, if you'd be so kind, I'm quite busy and the smell emanating from inside this café is making my insides gnaw at themselves in a pitiable and very unfortunate hunger, so I really must be going. Thank you so much for your-- help? Help! In putting that fellow to rest. Very sweet of you! H-haha, get it? Sweet? I-it was an éclair?

[septieme]

[She simply watches and bears witness quietly, for the good "Father" to finally lay the victim to his murder the poor wasted éclair to rest. That wasn't so hard, now was it?

...Only for him to obstruct an elderly woman, apparently, very classy! As an employee, she has the common sense to duck aside with a smile and polite apology, but this is also a SMALL shop, and it's apparent from the lack of anyone at the cash that she's the only one working right now.

Thus Abel may get his hand back, and flashing him a quick and polite smile too (the same one offered to that elderly lady as a matter of fact), she simply... leaves him there, in order to deftly resume her place behind the counter to sweetly greet the old lady.]

Good morning, madam, and welcome to Duncan's Doughnuts! How may I help you today~? ♥

[Seems he's free at last to leave now if he wishes, no one's stopping him anymore!

...She DOES still have his glasses clipped on her apron, however,]

[inutilis]

[ oh..... no more handsy holding 😔 blue eyes are trailing Ciel with a blink as she suddenly departs his side for the register-- i-is she really the only one working, presently? wow, what a dedicated hostess!!

...Abel is patting himself down in search of his glasses as he takes a step for the door-- ah, well, best to leave her to it, right-- when he remembers.

he remembers. she has his beloved spectacles, doesn't she... yes it happened like three minutes ago, he is not accepting criticism at this time, ah. ah, ahah. ah. that is... terribly inconvenient isn't it? terribly inconvenient.

...so, what is a priest to do? scratching at his chin thoughtfully... the practical little voice in his head states there's no choice but to wait until this little old bittie is done with her order. and yet... and yet, Abel is leaning to jovially rest his hand upon Grannie's shoulder, patting her as though they have been friends for years!!! YEARS. just years and years and years, even, ]

Good afternoon, ma'm! Goodness, is that a new coat? You look absolutely lovely; it is getting chilly, isn't it? By the way, I highly recommend the eclairs. [ pat pat, ] Oh, Ciel~! My dear, I'm terribly sorry to interrupt, but-- ah. Specs... my specs? [ he is pointing with his free hand toward those frames dangling where they're snagged on her apron...... ] You seem to have forgotten to give me back my specs, a simple mistake I'm sure... I'll just take those and be on my merry way, hm~?

[septieme]

[Ciel's customer service smile remains flawless. For a second, there is silence in the shop. All is quiet, all is still.

And before the most hardworking café employee can reply, it's the elderly woman who pipes up first. She's turned around to face the stranger with enough gall to give her, a veritable fountain of wisdom and life experiences, condescending pats on her shoulder. Wearing a wrinkly and open frown, the offending limb is shrugged and slapped off, and despite being towered over by a lanky beanpole with several heads over her, this granny is clearly NOT intimidated:]

"My God, how rude! I could excuse you for taking up space, but cutting in line and trying to push my order around? Keep your mitts to yourself too, you whippersnapper! Now I don't know what hippie gang you came from where pretending to dress up as the Good Lord's servant is supposed to be fun and fashionable, but you are clearly over your head if you're deluded enough to think that this could earn you special treatment around our neighbourhood. Have you no ounce of shame? Is this how your parents raised you?--"

[--and she just keeps going, jabbing her finger upwards while still maintaining solid hold on her dignity. This waman definitely has many children and grandchildren, without doubt. Why and how the poor displaced hobo priest managed to set her off with relatively innocuous commentary is anyone's guess, not that knowing would help much given the gravity of this new predicament. Maybe he's just unlucky?

The shop's hostess, however, has nothing to complain about. While the show is going on right in front of Ciel, she's plated a fresh, new, and whole éclair onto her tray, before swiftly and quietly making her way back outside the shop to serve it to the gentleman whose order had become incomplete thanks to a certain Sinner/Murderer getting chewed out in this very establishment. The old woman seems too preoccupied in her rant to notice; maybe Ciel really will get to ninja out and back in without drawing attention? It'll only be a jiffy, but just as it only took a jiffy for one pathetic pitiable soul to be caught in a spontaneous lecture, maybe she'll get unwittingly snagged by Fate, as well...?

--Or not, it'd be real swell if she could deliver the éclair to the man seated outside and then slip back behind the cash register as if nothing's happened. Surely the good Father can weather through this much by himself, in the meanwhile?]

[inutilis]

[ oh my god...?

oh my god, what--

Abel is abruptly cowing in the face of this onslaught, a strangled yelp of protest leaving his lips that is swallowed up by Granny's rampage that offers him no quarter, no mercy, no safe haven from her ire. DEAR LORD... he has awoken a seemingly sleeping beast and there is no hope for his soul. he is shrinking further and further as she jabs her finger at him, waggling it admonishingly--

well, this would certainly be a spectacle to observe, free entertainment for other patrons were there any in the establishment!!! but seeing as how Ciel is rescued from having to split her focus beyond her job any further than she already has, she is free to go and make her eclair delivery (re-delivery?) undisturbed. Abel will still be pitifully accepting his tongue-lashing, cowering like a beaten dog by the time she returns... tears sparkling in his eyes as he sends her a plaintive

desperate

agonized look. p... please. please.

SAVE HIM. this woman is STILL going-- ]

[septieme]

[Thankfully(??) this is a small café, if the limited floor space inside and the fact that only one employee is active during the day didn't already give it away. The morning rush has long passed, so things are relatively quiet. ...Or at least, were.

The opportunity is not wasted: while a certain hobo priest is getting bullied chewed tf out by the Powerful Granny he never should've laid hands on, the sleepy man outside has gotten his éclair wholly replaced. He'll be on his way once he recollects himself, then it'll only be a matter of cleaning the table. One (probably) satisfied customer fully served, the hostess has ducked her way back to the cash register as quickly as she's left it.

During her absence, the Almighty Granny would've divulged the following:
- She is a regular here, been so for the past twenty years;
- She goes to Church every Sunday like any self-respecting Catholic, and this overly dressed clown is no one she's ever seen, so don't even try to pretend;
- She's changed the diapers to at least a dozen boys, whether it be sons or grandsons or children she's had to babysit,
- She's been a supportive daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother her entire life, but the M E N have another thing coming if they foolishly delude themselves into thinking that this may let them walk over her even a little;
- Her coat is NOT new; she's worn it for the past three years because it was the last thing her departed husband had gifted her, and she's taken VERY good care of it for it to still look so nice after all this time, thank you very much--

...So on and so forth. Will this teach him to not randomly aggro smol old waman from now on?

...

ANYWAY! Now, where were they? Ah, yes--]

Excuse me, madam? [...] Unfortunately miss Tina isn't here today, she has a personal emergency to tend to. I'm the temporary hire, I hope to serve you to the best of my ability!

[At the mention of the name 'Tina', the old woman stops in her tirade to shift her attention away from her victim back to the front. Ah, that's right; the usual waitress who knows exactly what her order is without a word! She was going to ask about Tina, before she was so untimely interrupted.]

"Oh, dear! Something came up for Tina? She is such a sweet girl, may the Lord bless her. You wouldn't know what happened, would you?"

[And just as quickly as she went off earlier, she's back to being a kind and concerned neighbourhood granny. Looks like "Tina" was the magic word...]

I don't know the details, I apologize... But she should be back next week latest. Would you like for me to relay a message in the meanwhile? She mentioned you during my training! Ms. Williams, correct?

"Did she, now? Oh, that thoughtful girl really is like the daughter I've never had. The Lord may have seen it fit to test me with only sons, but in His boundless Grace, I was fortunately able to meet Tina anyway. Do let her know she can ask me if she needs anything, will you? You can just call me Gertrude too, dear. You young ladies have to look out for each other!"

[...They may or may not be at it for a while

How eager is Abel in getting his glasses back...]

[inutilis]

[ is this real life?

is this... really happening? is Abel getting punked, right now? listen. l... listen. half of him has been convinced he is trapped in some kind of fever dream or starvation-related hallucination or diabetic coma after waking up in ADI and everything that came afterward. and frankly...? maybe getting called out for his Éclair Crimes by a Cute Girl really was too good to be true, in retrospect. wouldn't he normally be getting chased down by local police by now were this the hard, unforgiving truth of his life--? maybe his glasses have gone missing because he was chased, dropped them, and they are now lost down a sewer grate where rats will pick them up and take them away to a cold, watery grave??

...

w-well. Abel looks utterly gobsmacked as Granny has done a total 180 and shifted gears to rattling off about Tina who, by her account, deserves to be canonized as some kind of saint. so gobsmacked, in fact, that he is just standing there like an absolute idiot for several long... long moments, mouth hanging agape and vacant, nothing but the tiniest, barely-there squeaks of a breath leaving him in way of noise.

you know what? he should just cut his losses and go. he should just take this opportunity as a sign of Divine Intervention and leave.

....................Abel is still just standing there menacingly, waiting. ]

[septieme]

[It's about as real as the pair of round spectacles still clipped on the hostess' cute white apron! Quite openly visible at that, at her front!

But since a quiet idiot is as good as background decoration, neither of the women in the shop are paying him further heed as they proceed to go through the following topics:

- Tina is an absolute angel, babysat granny's grandsons on short notice a few times when she was in a pinch! Gave her back pain remedy recommendations that did work! Asked her every day how she's doing! Always comes to Church every Sunday morning too! Etc...
- The original owner of the shop used to be one of granny's classmates in high school, they go waaay back. The business belongs to Duncan's son now, though the man himself only manages the assets; his wife acts more like a boss and shows up more often, but they at least kept the place's look and what it serves the same,
- Granny takes her coffee decaff and black. Sugar isn't good for her blood, and besides, she can more than handle the taste 💪💪💪
- She does enjoy switching it up with tea every Friday, but today is not Friday,
- There have been so many new faces around town lately, she wouldn't mind as much if they were polite, well-mannered, and contributed to Gloucester's prosperity. ALAS, that apparently doesn't seem to be the case... (not a single glance is spared towards any man's direction here, for better or worse),
- Halloween is coming up and that's always a riot even with the adults, granny needs to start preparing treats for all her grandkids... She never saw the appeal in pumpkin spice either, the usual muffin will do! Carrot today, please!
- Oh but do pack half a dozen double chocolate chip cookies along with a small box of donut holes, one of her son's family is visiting on short notice and she needs some sweets to placate the children,
- All to go, she has her royalty card she is absolutely still collecting points for,
- She will also need to run some errands for dinner ingredients tonight! She's thinking chicken, and she could use a second opinion... Oh? Something spicy? The weather is getting colder,

...

......

.........

How much time has passed? What even is time? Sometimes, it's best to just not think too deeply about things. Today may be such a case, and surely it makes sense: when one has awoken to a different world entirely from their own, isn't it only natural to take some down time to process things by yourself, instead of rushing straight out to God Knows Where in order to do God Knows What?

...

Does he even hear it, when goodbyes are exchanged in front of him? Or when the door inevitably open and close behind him? In any case, after a certain stretch of time, there's only the ever-smiling hostess left facing him from behind the register counter.]

Welcome to Duncan's Donuts! How may I help you today~?

[n_n?]

1/2

[inutilis]

[ w-wow can he be one of Granny's gaggle of grandchildren?? he wants sweets and candies and sugary delights... no? what do you mean that's not how it works--? the universe truly is an unjust place.

suppose there is no helping it; there is a new addition to Duncan's interior in the form of a statuesque, frozen shape of a man who may well constitute a part of the décor, now. he is barely moving save to breathe where he is huddled alongside the counter, wise enough not to obstruct Granny in her pleasant afternoon conversation with the barista slash hostess slash waitress slash till-minder... er, whatever!! if one didn't know better, they might sincerely think that his soul had left his body and there is nothing but a vacancy in this vessel. nothing behind the eyes, anymore. gone. he has departed this realm for the next. disappeared. up and vanished! so sad. another occurrence to add to the many of Dogtown.

...

oh, had he blinked--? all of the sudden, Granny has left the establishment and the counter is unoccupied save for a smiling, cheery-eyed face, and a certain familiar blue-haired girl is offering a far too chipper... greeting... ]

[inutilis]

[ as if once more spurred to life, as if the singular brain cell rattling around in Abel's skull made a sudden and triumphant return, he is once more moving to flap his hand with an exaggerated, far too loud and definitively nervous laugh that might just sound vaguely like a sob at the end. ]

O-oh! Ciel...! How funny to see you here...! I think I've just gone and lost my ENTIRE mind, you see, nothing to worry about~!! --How much is a hot chocolate?

[septieme]

What a coincidence, I was just wondering about that. Welcome back! You still remember my name and we seem to understand each other fine, so you sound well enough. Do you have your form of payment ready, just making sure? Judging by your appearance and demeanour, I can't help but wonder if you've listened to a word they said during orientation, Father.

[Her smile really is unbreakable, hands daintily clapped together in front of her chest as she continues sweetly berating chatting him up like absolutely nothing strange has happened since they met. Back to "business", yes?]

1/2

[inutilis]

[ Abel is lifting his fingers as if to prod at his glasses... again, but finding them bereft of his face-- RIGHT. --right!! that is PRECISELY what he was doing still stood here suffering waiting for his... kindly(??)... hostess friend to finish with her customer!! right, right, ]

Ah, well, to be honest... I was a bit perplexed at the time-- it was a lot to take in, you know? I'm not very good under pressure so I'm afraid I didn't absorb much, Ciel... S-surely you can't blame me for that! It's a very harrowing and frightening experience, isn't it--? You're...

[ oh. ...oh, so this definitely confirms it, doesn't it? Ciel, too, is... ]

[inutilis]

[ oh. this is a slightly more studious sort of look she is being leveled, now-- one with a little quiet niggle of worry behind it. ]

Miss Ciel-- you're from... um. Out of town, right? Like. Way out of town?

[septieme]

[She may or may not be keeping count, just how many times this man's been reaching for the glasses that are still in her possession...]

And from that "harrowing and frightening experience", you decided that your best and immediate course of action was to go out in town and get into trouble? Goodness. It wouldn't be difficult to find better behaved children...

[She doesn't sound particularly reproachful, but he MIGHT feel slightly judged as she proceeds to cross her arms over her chest, along with the once-over glance she's giving him (again) from head to toe.]

I moved here recently, if that's what you're asking. You heard Ms. Williams, there's been a lot of foreigners in Gloucester of late. I'm not as suspicious as her of your self-proclaimed vocation, Father, but she was right that your elaborate cassock sticks out like a sore thumb. Have you not at all considered getting a change of clothing before heading out? With the way you're dressed, anyone could pick you out for an outsider at first glance.

[inutilis]

[ what was that? questioning his life choices? pish-posh, Abel is waving that off as if it is water from a duck's back!! haha, what trouble, he wasn't causing trouble, h-he was just. you know... s... sampling a man's... eclair?? listen we don't need to talk about it,

it seems he is much more interested in the next subject of conversation, because he is tilting his head a bit in curiosity as she continues. hm, hm... what to make of this one? interesting... ]

Elaborate...? But this is standard Vatican issue...! Plus, money doesn't exactly grow on trees, you know? I barely have a pittance to my name, never mind a wardrobe...

[ he may or may not have been """"éclair sampling"""" for that reason. and... may or may not be too broke for that hot chocolate. ...ah, the woes of a penniless priest. ]

I don't see any reason I can't, you know, blend in with the clergy here. Right? ...I haven't been to the church, yet, so maybe I'm getting a bit ahead of myself. A-actually, I don't know where it is, and I may have gotten lost several times trying to locate one-- you wouldn't happen to know where it is, would you? With your rendition of the Lord's Prayer earlier-- might I hazard a guess you're a woman of faith~?

[septieme]

[...]

I see. So you either completely ignored the orientation, deeply entrenched yourself in denial, or are trying to get information in a very roundabout way. The last option feels the less likely, but that may just be me. Hmm, how to say this...

I don't think you'll be able to go back to the Vatican anytime soon, Father. Or get in touch with anyone you used to know, from there. The date today is October 2nd 2021, we are presently in the city of Gloucester in the state of Massachusetts, inside the United States of America. You are aware of this much, are you?

[Why yes she did just sidestep some of his questions for her, but this, their active predicament, is more important and pressing, in her personal and humble opinion...]

[inutilis]

What--?! N-no, I didn't ignore orientation, but... I mean, it's completely besides the point! I told you, I'm no good under pressure and that was a lot of information to take in while I was simply trying to gather my bearings, and... and then there was a very complicated matter involving a teenager intent on punching me rather repeatedly in a closet, a-and--

[ oh, dear, he is getting more flustered the longer she talks. C-- CIEL-- he is now resting a hand on the counter to lean further toward her to emphasize his... point?? (is there a point somewhere, here?? maybe.) ]

--Yes, I've heard all of this nonsense before which is absolutely part of the problem...! How, precisely, does one simply swallow THAT hefty pill, hm? Hm...?! I-I mean, really! That's asking quite a lot, don't you think, Ciel...? 2021!! America? At least pick a more plausible location for this whole charade...!

[septieme]

[Quite a lot to take in, indeed! One can hardly blame the poor man...

...Which may or may not be the reason why she decides to focus on one point of interest from his rambling in particular, just now:]

You came out of the closet upon arrival, Father? [Blinks, as she leans back a little, totally because he's the one leaning in,

...]

[inutilis]

[ she leans back, further-- he leans in, further!! it is the Magnetic Pull of Idiocy. does Ciel have some kind of invisible dumbass magnet tractor beam...? ]

Oh, yes! I did! I was lost in the closet, and with someone who decided to greet me and force me out of it with a kick from behind, none the less!! Can you believe it?!

[ there are so many jokes, here. so many. ]