☩ Video, 004 ☩ Church sneak-peek, feel free to Action!

[unholydecree]

[It's a cold rainy Sunday afternoon and Cesare is not in the posh Edennel apartments he had called home but the aging building he has been working tirelessly at renovating into a proper sort of church. Currently he's standing in the cathedral itself, and his voice echoes in the distinct acoustical way churches have.]

Good afternoon. I would like to

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[Action]

[white_polaris]

[She enters the church, closing her umbrella although she looks completely unaffected by the rain or the cold. She smiles as she looks around. It has been a hard past few months, she fought with Small Lady, Mamoru left, and there was the standard school problems.

But she was glad to see the Church of the Holy Light, grand and yet calm. She gently rested her hand against the door and then took a few more steps inside.]

It's lovely, Cesare.

[unholydecree]

[As soon as he sees who it is he is walking quickly to meet his grand benefactor. He bows formally to her, takes her hand in his and smiles widely to her. She looks as lovely as the last time he saw her.]

I fear it pales to you, my Lady. I am glad you could come.

[white_polaris]

You are too kind, Cesare. [She gently grabs his hand, her skin soft and warm and yet cool to the touch.] I'm so glad you went with the name. May I have a tour?

[unholydecree]

Absolutely. Please. [Cesare turns to step beside her and offers his arm, slipping her delicate hand to rest on it so that he may lead her through the church. He leads her down the aisle, making small commentary on the designs for the architecture and style of fixtures, lighting and decor.]

I hope you will forgive all the crosses. It would not feel like a church to a Catholic without many crosses.

Video

[chose_death]

[It is the Chief Inspector's unflappable, solemn face that appears on the screen next. To those not intimate with the forbidding fellow (and that would be most people), he seemed perhaps slightly distracted that day, muttering to himself more than usual, his gaze often caught unfocused and staring in silence into the middle distance, a frown on his face. Sometimes this even occurred mid-conversation, with little warning, and he would abruptly beg his audience's pardon and march off to address some new investigative angle that has just occurred to him.

Something has had a turbulent effect on Javert, and his customary self-control has crackled in a way that he finds disgraceful and annoying. It is inexcusable for a man of his station.

It is in this mood that he responds to Cesare's call, all but disregarding the content of the young cardinal's announcement. Instead, he makes an abrupt request:]

Excuse me, Monsieur, but I must call on you at your Church today for an important matter. With your permission I will come in the after-noon.

[unholydecree]

[Both unexpected and much to his liking. Cesare carefully maintains a calm but concerned expression for Javert's benefit. This was precisely what he had wished to happen: people of importance in the city coming to him. But what could the Inspector possibly want? He was eager to find out.]

Afternoon would be just fine, Inspector. I will be here and at your service of course.

I pray everything is well with you?

[chose_death]

[Javert casts Cesare an uncharacteristically unfocused stare, his lower lip curling up to meet a cinched, crimped nose, not unlike the half-snarling under-bite of a guard dog.]

Don't pray for my wellness. [And he adds in a mutter, less to Cesare than to his lapel,] She would have had better use of those prayers.

[He raises his chin, the cloud in his eyes clearing.]

I will come at the first hour of the afternoon. Where in the Church shall I meet you?

[unholydecree]

[He furrows his brow a moment then gives a soft smile.]

I will be here, in the cathedral. There is a personal chamber upstairs we may use to speak privately if that's what you require for such business.

Or the confessional if that warrants it.

[Cesare bows his head]

I am at your service, Inspector. I will see you this afternoon.

[ a c t i o n ]

[sable_repose]

Ezio scaled the church's side. An excitement riled in his chest at the feel of the stones beneath his fingers, the smell of the brick in front of his face, and the familiar structure that felt so much like one of the churches in Italy. He spent a long while outside, testing the walls, peeking through the windows, and enjoying the light-footed sound of his boots on the roof's tile.

When he was finally satisfied well enough on the outside, he ventured to the ground and pushed his way through the doors to explore the inside of the building. Though modern, as most people - from the future - would say in contrast to his old Italia, Ezio could detect unmistakable similarities within the church.

A soft sigh and he brought his hands to his hips while his eyes lead his head up, looking up the walls to the ceiling, then down again, until he found Cesare. A small grin to his lips and he made his way toward the esteemed individual - man of God's robes. "Cesare," his head tilt and his hands fell from his hips, certain that the youth's feathers

[unholydecree]

When his name is called Cesare turns and his expression moves from a curious state at who has said his name so familiarly, to slight displeasure at who it is. Yes, he is still feeling touchy after their previous conversation. But this expression too melds into something else, a sort of intentionally false pleasantness.

"I did, Ezio. How kind of you to grace my humble church. May I be of service?"

[sable_repose]

By now they knew each other a little too well to discern between genuine and all around mockery. Ah, but it was a pleasant experience! He indeed found women to help him in his (what turned out to apparently be a "heart-touching" notion) buying his parents a anniversary gift basket -- naturally he had to come up with some sort of idea for explanation for being in a gift shop and no idea what he was doing. How eager those women turned out to be, availing him with awing comments to his generosity, and cooing to his shamefully playing the part of a sensitive son. Yes, he rather enjoyed his shopping experience that he walked out with not one but three expensive gift baskets. However, he would have most likely bought more, had he the money on him (and more excuses as to why he was buying so many.) Thus far, his parents, grandparents, and neighbors were supposedly very lucky to have one Ezio Auditore in their life

[unholydecree]

It had been Cesare's understanding he had asked Ezio for a woman servant to perform such tasks for him, and so when Ezio claimed he had gotten three Cesare was somewhat surprised to then be expecting three women waiting for him.

He blinked a few times at Ezio then and got an amused little smile. "I did not need more than one, but I thank you for your due diligence in the matter. What sort are they?"

They had better not be ugly maids. Cesare had plans for those three already were they serviceable enough.

[nie_unschuldig]

Confessions? Are you truly looking to help the pitiful of this place or like most men do you just look to further your own position?

[Sorry Cesare, but someone has had a better look into the minds of men and doesn't believe in the least bit that someone could actually have any pure intentions.]

[unholydecree]

[Cesare's intentions are not pure, not altogether. He truly does believe that a city run under his control would be better off for everyone but it is, and he has no delusions about it, mostly for personal gain and affluence. He wants to have power and control over the city whether it's ultimately good for everyone else or not.

But he has had a lifetime of learning how to act like a genuine priest and is unruffled by the (true) accusation.]

It is not pitiful to seek a place of study, sanctuary, self-reflection. It is not pitiful to want redemption and peace.

[nie_unschuldig]

[Not that Schuldig cares mind you, but it is a lot of fun calling others on the hypocritical bull they try and pass off. But to be honest, it never hurts to know like minded persons.]

I've never understood the idea; then again, I've never felt guilty over my actions, so redemption doesn't really hold any appeal.

[unholydecree]

Indeed if you do not care for the redemption of your soul guilt, contrition, penance, none of them would naturally matter much to you.

For others the state of their soul is important however, as is their peace of mind. For some the two go hand in hand. For these people, a church can be a place of seeking both.