Of Saints and Sinners [closed]

[code_obsidian]

WHO: Garak and Elphaba
WHAT: After discovering she has made a horrible mistake, Elphaba seeks guidance and finds more than she bargained for.
WHERE: The Chapel
WHEN: After Elphaba interrogates Ford

Comments

[wicked_west]

After figuring out how to open up the compu-thingie, Elphaba pushed all the letter and number buttons before finding the one that turned it on. The network opened right away and she started reading the posts. She read for three days… every public post there was. People came… people disappeared. There were vampires turned human, the Goblin King, Time Lords (whatever those were) and other aliens. There was something about Naked Rugby. In the end, she could only conclude that this hotel was something far more sinister than the Wizard could ever come up with

[code_obsidian]

Garak was always attuned to his surroundings. He heard the door open not once, but several times before he saw a stranger sweep past him with a...creature of sorts. At first glance, he thought the woman was and Orion, but as soon as she began to speak, he realized it could not be so. Several times it was on the tip of his tongue to interrupt her and let her know that her confession was heard by more than her intended audience. However, old habits were hard to break. He had long been a watcher and listener, and what she said was fascinatingly strange and sad.

It was the weeping that tugged him into motion; that was something he never could bear. It pulled at parts of him best left buried. Standing silently, he drew closer, aware of the creature he had seen fly to the rafters. When he was close enough to speak without raising his voice but not close enough to touch her or pose an obvious danger, he said, "Whatever it is, my dear...can it be that bad?"

[wicked_west]

Chistery flew down to his mistress immediately as the man approached and tugged on her sleeve to let her know someone was coming.

Elphie looked around as the... man? creature? started to speak. She had read through three days of network posts, but hadn't paid more than cursory attention to anyone but Ford's part in them. She figured this guy must be an alien based off other posts. So, like Ford...

She was then painfully aware that A) she hadn't washed in days, B) she was crying... she hated crying, and C) she probably looked quite a sight. Therefore, she hid behind the disdain that so easily came to her.

"Can't a woman worship in peace?" came the sharp reply... with a heavy note of sorrow and a tremble of more weeping to come.

((OOC Deleted and edited for spelling and grammar... and still not perfect.))

[code_obsidian]

He didn't need to be good at reading others to see through that. Pride, well, he could respect that, and an effort to gather oneself. Had she met him a few scant years earlier, he would have retreated with a simple apology. That man died after the war. "I gather not," he said with a slight tip of his head, very blue eyes a bit more gentle than their usual wont.

Reaching to a hidden pocket of his tunic, he drew out a linen kerchief with the initials "D. G." embroidered upon it in delicate blue. He had no idea who "D. G." was, but he or she had exquisite taste in fabric. He offered it to her in a neat fold.

[wicked_west]

Elphaba looked from the alien to the kerchief. Had he heard her confession? Oh she hoped not. She reached to take the handkerchief and stopped midway through.
"D. G? Does everything here HAVE to remind me of that wretched girl? And you! How long have you been here listening to me?" the Witch shrieked.

She regretted the words immediately, remembering this was how she lost her last almost friend. Blushing a delicate purple, she shrank into herself as she cast her eyes to the floor and murmured an apology.

[code_obsidian]

"My name is Garak," Garak offered mildly. "I suppose you could consider it 'Dear Garak' or 'Dread Garak', or perhaps 'Debonair Garak' if you care to be flattering, but in truth I have no idea who our exquisitely refined 'D. G.' is. I found the kerchief along with its mates in a little case in the attic. Fascinating place really."

He tipped his head thoughtfully. "Long enough to ascertain that something has you terribly upset, not long enough to understand the half of it." It was a lie wrapped in truth, his favorite sort. "Please, do take the kerchief. You'll find it's just the thing for tears, and then perhaps we can have a proper introduction." He smiled pleasantly.

[wicked_west]

Elphie took the handkerchief with a meek thank you and mopped her tears with it. She thought a little... 'D. G.' could mean Dorothy Gale, or it could mean someone entirely different. She would go up the the attic to check at another time.

She drew her attention back to the man in front her her and looked him up and down, deciding how trustworthy he really was. She could at least give him her name.

"Erm, Garak. Thank you for the kerchief. Um... my name is Elphaba." Chistery flew up to her shoulder and pulled at her hair. "Ouch you dratted monkey! This charming creature," she continued directing her words to Garak again, "is Chistery."

[code_obsidian]

"Oh, think nothing of it," he said with a little wave for the thanks. "There are few things so nice as a well made object being put to its proper use, wouldn't you say? That's the tragedy of museums, wonderfully useful items that have outlived their design, sitting in a case gathering dust." Not unlike those stuck in the hotel, he reflected.

He inclined his head twice, once to Elphaba, a second time to Chistery. The little creature might not be entirely sentient. He couldn't really tell yet, but he saw no reason to be disrespectful. "Charmed indeed," he said, a closed lipped smile spreading. "Do you wish to remain here in peace for a while? If so I don't mind leaving you to it. However, I think it's about time for lunch for me, and I wouldn't turn down the company."

[wicked_west]

"Charm, Chirm, Charm!" Chistery chattered, albeit quietly. He decided to wait for his mistress's cue before going back to being his normal flying monkey self.

Elphie was all sorts of confused. Objects to proper use... she wondered about her broom, if it was being used properly as transport even though brooms typically swept. Why was she thinking about brooms now? She really hadn't expected to be interrupted at her confession/meditation. Then again... she had tried to find food earlier. Her stomach growled rather noisily.

"I was trying to find food earlier but the chapel was the only room I could find," she replied in way of answer. She thought a little more. "I don't think I heard you come in... which means you heard me... Why would you want to have lunch with someone as wicked as me?" So she was a little on the wary side. She felt broken... and she wasn't sure if allowing herself to talk to yet another person was a good idea.

[code_obsidian]

Garak's glance flitted to the creature when it mimicked in a way and then back to Elphaba when she began to speak again. "This place is like that very often," he said. "You will find yourself directed to specific places at times, no matter how many doors you open. Sometimes the reason seems obvious, sometimes less so."

His smile deepened, still closed lipped, but it managed to reach his sapphire eyes. "No one compelled to confess in such a heartfelt way can be all bad, my dear. Who doesn't have regrets or valid reasons for them? Besides, eating alone is wretched. Will you and your charming friend spare me the drudgery of it?"

[wicked_west]

"Well, when you put it like that, yes, we will spare you the drudgery." Though she never had much of a problem eating alone... perhaps because she always had Chistery. She turned and walked toward the door of the chapel with the man, but was at a loss as to what to say. He had heard her confession, she was sure of that. She didn't know how to talk to him after he heard her most private thoughts.

[code_obsidian]

He paused on the way to the door to gather his box. She needn't have worried. When he was in social mode, Garak could do enough talking for two people and a flying monkey to spare. "I'm quite sure you've never seen one of these before," he said conversationally. "Oh, I'm sure you've seen a box, but not what's inside. We'll have a look when we find a place to eat."

With it tucked under one arm, he opened the door for her. "Do you know, where I come from doors have the decency to open themselves? That has been an adjustment for me."

[wicked_west]

The situation was quickly getting out of hand for Elphie. She was used to sitting on the sidelines scoffing at other people, or not letting anyone get a word in edgewise. To instead be confused by everything this Garak person was saying while still trying to figure out the thoughts going through her head from earlier... well, it was different to say the least. The most she was able to get out was a confused, "Oh?"

[code_obsidian]

"Yes," he said, nodding and following behind. "They just whoosh right open when you approach, unless of course they've been told not to." He smiled a bit. "Now, let's see if our kidnappers are feeling magnanimous today and will let us get some food or make us work for it."

He approached the first door he came to, swung it open, and beamed. "Oh, I think they like you better than you realized, or perhaps they like Chistery instead. The dining room." Holding the door with his foot, he gestured grandly with his free hand, the smell of food on the buffet wafting out enticingly.

[wicked_west]

Elphie tried to think of the best thing to say and opted not to say anything. When he reached for a door however, she tensed and held her breath, ready to sprint if it turned out to be the awful cafe. To see a banquet hall instead didn't exactly assuage her feelings of discomfort. She did breath out a "Thank Lurline" however before cautiously stepping inside, looking all around her for Ford. Apparently Chistery thought the same thing and flew in asking, "Hoopy?"

"Shut Up Chistery. Not anymore!" she hissed completely forgetting about Garak behind her.

[code_obsidian]

Garak stepped in after them and let the door close on its own. "I know him," he said simply before heading toward a table to set down his box. "Ford, I mean."