< A Bonding Kind Of Thing | Logs | I Want To Be Yours >
Serpent pokes around the Cathedral of our Lady in Bloodshed, looking for an entrance that isn't...sticky.
Serpent "Biiishooooop! Can you let me in? I don't want to touch the doors!"
Bishop The vast double doors in the front, tall as mountains, open, the hinges emitting as a creak a proud battle-hymn. The sparkling white buttresses walls of the cathedral burn like the sun, bathing the Bishop's lean, steel-cased figure in pure white light.
Serpent "Err, hello."
Bishop "Yes?"
Serpent "I dunno. I was just passing by."
Bishop "Ah. Did Elora kick you out?"
Serpent "Want to get some origami buns? The shop just came up with an amazing cream-filled frog."
Serpent doodles on the floor with his foot, but doesn't admit to being...dismissed.
Bishop looks blankly at Serpent Ebb. "...very well."
Serpent leads the way. "So, uh, I'm supposed to tell you about the ...thing."
Serpent "Do you know of a sculptor Every Fifth Dove?"
Bishop "The name does not ring a bell. Bear in mind that I've been vacationing for the last century or so, though."
Serpent "Mhm. So, um, we have something that resembles a problem."
Serpent briefly summarizes the state of affairs as they go to the origami restaurant.
Serpent "So where have you been up to the last few days?"
Serpent knits his eyebrows a bit as he slides open the restaurant door.
Serpent "Pretend that was two questions that each made sense."
Bishop gestures dismissively with starmetal-plated left hand. "I was on suspension for an audit."
Serpent "Two at the bar, please."
pigeon The waiter god efficiently directs them, sliding a pair of intricately folded baguette cranes in front of them as they take their seats.
Bishop picks at some dried ambrosia caught between the lames of his gauntlet. "So, regarding that Lookshy issue."
Serpent examines the menu of the day. "Hm. The cow-issants are sort of nice."
Serpent "Yes, about that..."
Bishop "When shall we visit?"
Serpent "Um..." Serpent mentally checks his appointments. "I think my schedule is open except for one forest fire from now, when I have a concert to attend."
Bishop "Splendid. I believe that I shall create a diversion while you and the others investigate."
Serpent "So, the usual plan. Okay." When the waiter comes by, "Give us a basket of sticky ducks, one cream frog, and maybe some roses if they're crispy today."
Bishop "Why are you?"
Serpent gives Bishop a funny look. "What does a piglet?"
Bishop "Rather like the difference between a duck."
pigeon The waiter nods and takes off.
Bishop "I love confusing waiters."
Serpent "I'm still um confused about this Lookshy thing."
Serpent "What happened to that nice Delana girl?"
Bishop shrugs. "Not really any business of mine."
Bishop "I assume that she is dead."
Serpent "Mm."
Bishop "Why do you ask, anyway?"
Serpent "Uh, just, uh, you know."
Bishop "I do."
Bishop "Why did you dodge that question?"
Serpent nibbles on a baguette crane.
Bishop reaches out, snatches the baguette crane, and flings it into the nearby quicksilver channel.
Serpent "Is just one of those things where like I want to know what's up, you know, not really any specific reason. Since you asked."
Serpent "Also, she's fun to look at."
pigeon The basket of ducks arrives.
Serpent "Mm sticky ducks! Oh they have lotus nuts today!" Serpent crams like three of them into his mouth.
Bishop "Piggy, piggy."
Bishop "You are a peculiar animal. What are you doing in this Convention?"
Serpent "The usual."
Serpent "Listening to music, doing kung fu."
Bishop "Very nice. Why?"
Bishop begins to patiently unfold a sticky duck.
Serpent "I will show you."
Serpent "Do you know a sutra?"
Bishop "I was discovering one before you interrupted me."
Serpent "Oh yes?"
Serpent "Please proceed."
Bishop "I have plenty of time."
pigeon A cream frog turns up, along with three roses.
Bishop finishes unfolding the sticky duck, resulting in a sticky klein bottle, which he places on the table. It then collapses under its own impossibility.
Serpent taps a nearby god on the shoulder. "Excuse me, may I borrow an empowered prayer strip for just a moment?"
pigeon "I...uh..." The god blinks, a little confused.
Bishop "He asked you a question."
Serpent "Never mind."
Serpent uncoils a lesser sutra of opposition from his wrist and stands it on the table like a candle.
Serpent "As you're aware, sutras once activated are autonomous and uncontrolled."
Bishop "A conventional truth."
Serpent breathes purple light on the sutra and watches it become a luminous strip of liquid silver.
Serpent does something complex that looks briefly like he is trying to punch himself in the face, which he is in fact attempting to do, and flinging an interfering hand at the sutra, fingers extended. The light fades away and the sutra crumbles to dust.
Serpent "That is why I'm not working in a more comfortable job."
Bishop "Ah. It's all so clear now."
Bishop gathers up the collapsed, unfolded sticky duck, and begins to unfold it again. "What do you know about Elora?"
Serpent "She lives in an evil house."
Serpent "Swears poorly."
Serpent "Nice butt. Firm."
Bishop "I concur about the swearing. I had not noticed the butt, though. I shall be more attentive in the future."
Bishop continues folding the sticky duck into impossible shapes. Geometry is his bitch. "But you know that wasn't quite what I was asking you."
Serpent eats more pastry goodies.
Serpent "I suppose not."
Serpent "She's the boss. That's about all I know."
Bishop "Hmm."
Bishop molds the dough-sheet into a projective plane and stares at it. "I wonder why."
Bishop "Do you suppose that she is mad?"
Serpent "Most likely."
Bishop sets the pastry down, and it promptly bursts. "Do you suppose that you are mad?"
Serpent thinks for a moment. "Yes."
Bishop nods. "And Autumn? And myself?"
Serpent "quite assuredly."
Bishop "Hm. Your grasp on reality is very curious."
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