Pastry!

[beheads]

[The feed clicks on to show Cain sat on the edge of his bed, he looks exhausted and pale but less harried than last time he had been out an about.

He makes a show of a smile to the camera.]

Does anyone know where to buy the best pastries around here?

--

Comments

action;

[damadiferro]

Just a minute Abel. What are you doing up at this hour?

[Caterina was getting ready for the day ahead. She hadn't seen much of Cain since he returned but, the Duchess made peace with it. That didn't make it any less surprising when she opened the door to see him.]

Cain...what brings you here?

[beheads]

[He just looks down at her hand over his arm, the barest twist of a dark smile at his lips.]

Harming a monster is no sin, Cardinal, you should know that.

[damadiferro]

[Her expression darkens at that. If he couldn't grasp guilt, perhaps anger would.]

Enough. You will keep the nonsense out of my room, do you understand me?

[beheads]

...Do you condone what I did?

[Did. Will do. May be destined to do. It was all one, it didn't matter.]

[damadiferro]

I do not condone what you are destined to do.

[beheads]

Please don't feel guilty, there is no reason to.

[damadiferro]

If you insist on needlessly feeling guilt for what you have not done, I will feel guilt for what I have done.

[beheads]

It's not the same.

[damadiferro]

You are correct. I am the guilty party as of now.

[beheads]

[There's another silence that stretches between them, he's still getting the hang of this sanity business again, but eventually he gathers himself enough to speak.]

You're a woman of God, pray for forgiveness and you will be absolved of guilt.

[damadiferro]

And you are a child of God as well. You can seek absolution for what you will do.

[beheads]

I'm a child of science.

[damadiferro]

Which was created by God's children.

[beheads]

I don't... want to discuss matters of theology, I'm sorry.

[Debate them with him again in a few days when he's got this facade perfected.]

I came to make peace with you, to ask you to tolerate my presence with civility for Abel's sake.

[damadiferro]

.... Shouldn't I be asking the same of you?

[beheads]

You already have more than my civility, you have my gratitude.