[Beyond the ball of light illuminated by Ray's lantern, at one of the handful of wire tables scattered in and nearby the botanical gardens, Dr. Facilier hunches over what looks like a great big soup pot, taking pinches of ingredients from one after another of several little jars spread out on the table. Every once in a while he checks the position of the moon before continuing, and eventually notices Ray meandering around. He squints into the darkness, curious.]
[Ray suddenly stops dead in his tracks. His light dims for a brief moment a s his smile turns to a look of confusion and concern. He feels like something's not right... He turns and sees someone in the distance of the gardens. A tall, thin person, someone he doesn't recognize... not that he probably could even if he did know who they were in this darkness. He's not close enough for his light to shine on them and see. He hesitates between going with his gut and walking away... or approaching them.
[Again, Ray freezes. Though this mysterious man didn't say much, he was immediately able to tell the New Orleans accent. But there was something about his voice that added to that odd, suspicious feeling. And again he's personally debating between two choices. To go and meet someone new who also happens to be from hims home... Or actually listen to that nagging feeling he's still got of "This is a very bad idea, RUN. NOW" This time he picks the former, unfortunately]
Mos' lovely evenin' ah seen all dis year! Stars'a lookin' jus' beautiful... But wha'choo doin' out 'ere dis time'a night now?
A Cajun accent! Don' hear that very often at all! C'mon, come closer, tell me where you're from an' I'll tell ya what I've got goin' here. [Facilier waves him nearer to the table.]
["NO, DON'T DO IT, THERE'S SOMETHING WEIRD ABOUT THIS GUY" ... is the bothersome voice in his head Ray SHOULD be listening to right now. But his curiosity gets the better of him, and whoever this man is, he certainly doesn't SEEM dangerous. Quite friendly and inviting, in fact, nothing he suspects as malicious intent. Perhaps he's another one of those kind rich folk, like Miss Charlotte LaBouff!]
Ah, so ya ARE from the Crescent City! Sho'ting dere, Cap!
[Ray approaches the stranger closer, but holds his lantern especially close and tight]
[AW HELL NAW Ray immediately steps back, away from Facilier, and holds his lantern in front of him protectively. The light glows a raging red, and Ray's expression is one to match]
You...! Mama Odie warned me 'bout yous! Told me ya used ta be 'er student... 'til ya started consortin' wit' tha Shadows! Now ya goin' 'round makin' fools'a ev'rybody by tellin' 'em ya can make their dreams come true! Jus' what do ya t'ink ya doin' 'ere?! Posin' as a teacha, connin' ev'rybody outta all dey got?! Well ya gotta 'notha t'ing comin' if ya t'ink ah'm gonna let ya!!
[Well, at least now he knows why that little voice in the back of him was telling me there was some SERIOUS bad juju coming from this guy... Too bad he didn't listen]
[You think Facilier was sending hints of bad juju before they spoke? At the mention of Mama Odie's name he practically seeps it, and his expression thins. His smile doesn't fade altogether, though given the way he's staring at Ray, Ray would probably prefer that he scowled. His calmly controlled expression is more than a little unsettling, and the shadows seem to thicken around him.]
Now, now, those're some heavy accusations, don'tch'all think? Mama Odie, eh? Told y'all I was 'er student? Why, I'm hurt. She was like a mother t'me, taught me everything I know.
[Ray shudders, and shakily steps back just a hair... But doesn't let his guard down for a moment, despite being afraid without a doubt. He does everything he can not to show that fear, however. He simply hold the staff of his lantern tighter, the lantern's light glowing brighter and redder, as he glares at Facilier]
Ya sain' it ain't da troof?! Ah find dat real 'ard ta believe! YOUS da one hurt?! Ya betrayed 'er by becomin' a Shadow Man! Ya didn' wanna use Voodoo ta 'elp no one, 'elp 'em find what dey need! Ya jus' wanted ta use it ta give 'em whateva dey want an' 'elp you-self!
[Facilier flicks a glare up at the light, and a hiss from the darkness is enough to tell him that his shadow is not a fan of that. Not at all. But he smiles again, almost politely, when Ray finishes, and he leers at him, his face shadowed by the dull glow of the lantern and the moon.]
Passionate speech ya got there, 'specially since you don' know a bit o' what you're talkin' about. I don' remember a little firefly like you buzzin' aroun' durin' those days, so I'm not entirely clear on where you're comin' up with these accusations. You are a firefly, ain'tcha? Not the best transformation I've seen, maybe Mama Odie's touch is wearin' off.
[OH CRAP HE KNOWS, ABORT ABORT-- No, wait! He can't run away NOW! It's true, Ray wasn't even born yet when what Mama Odie told him about what happened between her and Facilier... But he still trusted her completely, and believed everything she told him. And he didn't have a reason to think otherwise, especially not from this shadowy, slimy stick of a man]
I... I may'a not been 'round when it happened... But Mama Odie been watchin' ovah an' helpin' me an' my relationals since she been in tha swamp, we ain't got no reason not'ta trust 'er! An' dat's mo' reason den ah got not ta trust somebody like yous!
It... It dun matta what ah am, as long'as know what's righ'!!
[Ray continues to glare back at Facilier, having suddenly gained a little more bit of bravery from realizing the fact the witch doctor's shadows do NOT seem to like Ray's lantern]
An' why d'y'all suppose I'm here, hm? Is it really wrong a-me t'be providin' psychological services t'the students here? Consider the facts, my friend. I still got a job, don' I? I ain't been fired yet. Don' look much like I'm breakin' any rules, don' look much like I don' deserve your benefit of th'doubt, at the very least. For all y'all know, little firefly, I've turned over a new leaf.
[Ray suddenly lowers his lantern, thinking about this for a moment... Facilier actually had a point. Had he really changed and started listening to what Mama Odie had taught him... or was all this part of one big con, and he had everyone at the Academy eating out of the palm of this hand? Ray believed the latter, and continues to look at the Shadow Man with a glare]
Den why ah still gettin' all dese bad juju vibes from ya...? Ah ain't gonna believe nuthin' 'bout yous changin' ya ways 'til ah sees it.
[Facilier shrugs easily.] If y'all insist. I'm just an honest man tryin' t'do some honest work. I'd be lyin' if I told you I wasn't still dabblin' in the shadows, but old habits, right? [Dabbling? Uhh, there's a cauldron right behind him. Doesn't look much like a little dabbling.]
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[Ray suddenly stops dead in his tracks. His light dims for a brief moment a s his smile turns to a look of confusion and concern. He feels like something's not right...
He turns and sees someone in the distance of the gardens. A tall, thin person, someone he doesn't recognize... not that he probably could even if he did know who they were in this darkness. He's not close enough for his light to shine on them and see.
He hesitates between going with his gut and walking away... or approaching them.
For some reason, he goes with the latter]
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And again he's personally debating between two choices. To go and meet someone new who also happens to be from hims home...
Or actually listen to that nagging feeling he's still got of "This is a very bad idea, RUN. NOW"
This time he picks the former, unfortunately]
Mos' lovely evenin' ah seen all dis year! Stars'a lookin' jus' beautiful...
But wha'choo doin' out 'ere dis time'a night now?
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... is the bothersome voice in his head Ray SHOULD be listening to right now. But his curiosity gets the better of him, and whoever this man is, he certainly doesn't SEEM dangerous. Quite friendly and inviting, in fact, nothing he suspects as malicious intent. Perhaps he's another one of those kind rich folk, like Miss Charlotte LaBouff!]
Ah, so ya ARE from the Crescent City! Sho'ting dere, Cap!
[Ray approaches the stranger closer, but holds his lantern especially close and tight]
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Ray immediately steps back, away from Facilier, and holds his lantern in front of him protectively. The light glows a raging red, and Ray's expression is one to match]
You...!
Mama Odie warned me 'bout yous! Told me ya used ta be 'er student... 'til ya started consortin' wit' tha Shadows! Now ya goin' 'round makin' fools'a ev'rybody by tellin' 'em ya can make their dreams come true!
Jus' what do ya t'ink ya doin' 'ere?! Posin' as a teacha, connin' ev'rybody outta all dey got?! Well ya gotta 'notha t'ing comin' if ya t'ink ah'm gonna let ya!!
[Well, at least now he knows why that little voice in the back of him was telling me there was some SERIOUS bad juju coming from this guy... Too bad he didn't listen]
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Now, now, those're some heavy accusations, don'tch'all think? Mama Odie, eh? Told y'all I was 'er student? Why, I'm hurt. She was like a mother t'me, taught me everything I know.
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But doesn't let his guard down for a moment, despite being afraid without a doubt. He does everything he can not to show that fear, however. He simply hold the staff of his lantern tighter, the lantern's light glowing brighter and redder, as he glares at Facilier]
Ya sain' it ain't da troof?! Ah find dat real 'ard ta believe!
YOUS da one hurt?! Ya betrayed 'er by becomin' a Shadow Man! Ya didn' wanna use Voodoo ta 'elp no one, 'elp 'em find what dey need! Ya jus' wanted ta use it ta give 'em whateva dey want an' 'elp you-self!
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Passionate speech ya got there, 'specially since you don' know a bit o' what you're talkin' about. I don' remember a little firefly like you buzzin' aroun' durin' those days, so I'm not entirely clear on where you're comin' up with these accusations. You are a firefly, ain'tcha? Not the best transformation I've seen, maybe Mama Odie's touch is wearin' off.
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No, wait! He can't run away NOW!
It's true, Ray wasn't even born yet when what Mama Odie told him about what happened between her and Facilier...
But he still trusted her completely, and believed everything she told him. And he didn't have a reason to think otherwise, especially not from this shadowy, slimy stick of a man]
I... I may'a not been 'round when it happened...
But Mama Odie been watchin' ovah an' helpin' me an' my relationals since she been in tha swamp, we ain't got no reason not'ta trust 'er!
An' dat's mo' reason den ah got not ta trust somebody like yous!
It... It dun matta what ah am, as long'as know what's righ'!!
[Ray continues to glare back at Facilier, having suddenly gained a little more bit of bravery from realizing the fact the witch doctor's shadows do NOT seem to like Ray's lantern]
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Facilier actually had a point. Had he really changed and started listening to what Mama Odie had taught him... or was all this part of one big con, and he had everyone at the Academy eating out of the palm of this hand?
Ray believed the latter, and continues to look at the Shadow Man with a glare]
Den why ah still gettin' all dese bad juju vibes from ya...?
Ah ain't gonna believe nuthin' 'bout yous changin' ya ways 'til ah sees it.
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