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bakerstreet2023-07-12 08:28 am
iamthesockpirelestat) wrote in bakerstreet2023-07-12 08:28 am
I had a crappy guidance counselor.
From the invisible to the glamorous, all work contributes to this nutty world we call our own. No profession's too big or too small to count! Know what that means? We do!
It's a multiversal job fair, and your character's here to recruit for (or warn against) their field.
HOW TO PLAY
- Instead of the traditional subject header, describe in brief what it is your character does. Or doesn't. Clear up misconceptions, offer the whole company line, etc.
- Interested parties inquire within.
- Did somebody bring the applications? I hope I at least get some company pens out of all this..
It's a multiversal job fair, and your character's here to recruit for (or warn against) their field.
HOW TO PLAY
- Instead of the traditional subject header, describe in brief what it is your character does. Or doesn't. Clear up misconceptions, offer the whole company line, etc.
- Interested parties inquire within.
- Did somebody bring the applications? I hope I at least get some company pens out of all this..
no subject
Sister once again frowned at her older self. Why was she stocking the mausoleum fridges with juice boxes for her only child...? Ah, well, if he looked like he was enjoying himself, she knew she couldn't say no. Maybe she'd get him chocolate milk instead next time for a change. ]
Why don't you tell me what you want and I'll have the staff stock up? Or we could go shopping after Career Day's over.
[ ...Saltarian? Jedi master? She didn't know who that was and was almost 10 years too early in the future to know about Star Wars, so she just looked at him as if he were speaking in tongues. Anyway - ]
How have you been, Copia? [ She took his gloved hand, giving it a fond squeeze. He was so precious, she couldn't take it. How did her future self stop herself from fussing over him constantly? ]
no subject
he bristled at first when she took his hand, unused to touch he didn't initiate, and even then, usually inferiors or servants to their church who were practically salivating for his unholy caress. a childlike vulnerability shone in his eyes and he flicked them downwards and then slowly raised them to match her intense gaze. the feeling from her was so alive with dark energy, and yet, so warm and sweet.
suddenly he felt very self conscious about his absolute lack of taking care of himself. he rubbed the back of his head with his free hand, hesitated, rotated the hand she had taken to grasp hers in return and placed the second hand lightly on top of hers. imperator had a peculiar way of empowering him while also making him feel safe. for all his reservation and social awkwardness, he had a quiet, unassuming sincerity about him lacking in his string of predecessors, and tried to reciprocate the energy brought forth by others. he tried to be fair, and respectful. it was a very different persona than secundo or terzo in particular.
sister had always been watching over him, in all his years and various positions in the clergy, and while grateful, he never understood why she felt he was so special when everyone else looked at him with contempt, or worse. bloodlines were imporant, but he was an absolute bastard that had all but appeared at their doorstep - or so he was told - and been raised within the clergy his entire life. but he was emeritus now, even if neither sister nor nihil would call him papa. ]
I've been better, Sister. It feels like so much goes on that nobody tells me about. I never really know who to trust, and mostly keep to myself. I feel like the more effort I put in and the more success our congregation has, the less others trust me. Sure, the ghouls obey, and other sisters throw themselves at me. There's even that pathetic priest... Groveling and obedience isn't much of a confidence boost, you know? Not that it isn't fun. I just don't see why I have to be a jerk like Secundo to get any respect around here.
How... How are you, Sister? Does anyone ever ask you that? Am I even allowed to? [ would he lose points for expressing compassion? for caring? for seeming even softer than he already did? could he repress this even if warned to do so? probably not. though he frequently felt that he had no idea who he really was, whatever he sensed was right in any situation, he had to follow. he could not act against his own instincts. in that sense, while unsure of himself in every existential and internal way, he also had a sort of resolution that the clergy also seemed suspicious of and were unsure what to do with, but to him, it felt like a strength. he hoped sister would see it that way and not chastise him. ]
no subject
She'd tell him, she decided. She'd tell him that she was pregnant after their Whisky a Go Go performance. Not now because he couldn't lose his focus. This gig was vital to their success.
And the fruit of her womb was standing before her now - fully grown, a Papa Emeritus unto himself - her beautiful Antichrist.
However, his rant confused her, and she knit her brows together in consternation. ]
Why would no one trust you? Surely the success is indication enough that you know what you're doing. [ Said with utmost pride. Of course her son would bring nothing but glory and accolades to the Ghost project. ] But of course, I understand your wariness - there are many people willing to play the part of Judas.
[ Ah, Secundo. Sister frowned at the mention of the name. She had yet to know the order of Nihil's offspring, but any who'd come before Copia were lesser in her eyes despite also being of the bloodline, simply because they were born out of Nihil's "infidelity." (But that was a topic for another time - her Unholy Matrimony to Papa Emeritus Zero was a whole novel on its own.)
His hesitations with regard to asking about her... Sister understood that too. Maybe she'd even passed it on to him, because she... was not accustomed to talking about how she felt. It was easier to just show it, and so she squeezed his hand again - hoping that in action, he could understand. ]
I'm perfect. How could I be anything but? [ And she pulled him in, extending her arms out so that she could give him the tightest of hugs. ]
i'm sorry i keep spewing so many words at you, but also, i probably wont stop
one day he was the cardinal no one seemed to take seriously and teased a bit too much, and the next he was supposed to meet with imperator and nihil and receive the unholy blessing to become the next papa. the fourth emeritus, though nihil's father's father's fathers etc, had used an assortment of names - all were papas. and all had been related "for millennium" as his elder would never shut up about. dark popes, hoping each to be the one lucky enough to see the ushering in of the anti-christ, or conceive the great one themselves.
admittedly, he wasn't interested in having his own children. the congregation and all who listened were his children. wasn't that enough? he could barely take care of himself and his rodents, how was he supposed to be a literal father? that sort of pressure he didn't want, but the honor of the clergy's papa, though he'd never considered himself for the role, he was beginning to feel possessive of. when would he feel the confidence of it though? the others never seemed to struggle with that.
he quirked his eyebrow at the invitation for a hug. was this really happening? why did he long for the embrace? how was he still this pitifully lonely and childish about this? did he really have both a father complex and mommy issues? how revolting. how embarrassing. ah well, he'd chastise himself later. emotional self-flagellation was becoming too frequent of a coping mechanism, probably.
he didn't have to lean far to reach imperator - he wasn't much taller than her, but at least he wasn't as short as terzo.
at first he let her hold him, as he closed his eyes and absorbed such a rare gift. he felt emboldened by this change in her, and became aware of some his own emotional and very repressed needs, and almost allowed himself to follow through and wrap his arms around her and hold her, as he'd used to imagine he might someday if he ever met his mother. but he had given up on that, and couldn't risk the rejection, and sudden return to the colder version of imperator he had sometimes - understandably - experienced.
copia pulled away, keeping his gloved hands lightly on her shoulders for as long as she might tolerate, but not wanting to fully relinquish the connection of touch. rather than look sheepish, he tried to look neutral, but someone who knew him well would notice the pain in his brow. maybe he should hide his features so everyone would assume he was very cool and tough all the time, like secundo. ] Sister...shouldn't we call you Mother Imperator? I mean, you're the head of the Sisters of Sin, aren't you? Wouldn't that make you 'Mother'? Eh...
[ Oh come on, don't completely ruin it. You can't just deflect like that. Give her something to work with.
...Fine. ] It's not unappreciated, or that you haven't always been generous to me, I just... Where is all this coming from, Sister? I should mean nothing to you, there were so many cardinals you could have taken under your wing. You've never treated me like the others, but you refuse to call me Papa. You've been caring but never exactly... physical, and now we are apparently on a hugging basis. What am I supposed to do with that? Nihil will assume I'm trying to steal you away and kill me.
[ a beat to slow his thoughts before he continues: ] It feels like you, well, it feels you care for me in a way I don't understand. I am really getting tired of not understanding things.
[ he gives a brief, weary sigh. ] And this is why you should not ask me how I feel. You can't possibly want to hear all of this.
I am here for all these words 👀
Today, she could be proud of him - though she couldn't imagine any other day when she wouldn't be.
In 1969, Sister Imperator was the Prime Mover but not yet the Mother Superior. There was still a Reverend Mother before her, and that suited her just fine - after all, she was young and still needed her own mother figure to guide her.
Then she thought of Papa Nihil calling her "Mother" and it made her cringe. ] I think that I'd prefer Sister, being as I'm married to Papa Nihil. Having your father call me "Mother" is not a kink I would like to explore with him, funnily enough.
[ However, the rest of her statement made her raise her brows. Why would she endorse other cardinals when her literal son was right there? Surely he didn't expect that she'd back Nihil's other heirs. She had a vicious temper and surely it was no secret that she was furious that he'd bedded other women. As for being stolen away - ]
Why would he be jealous of his own son being affectionate with his mother? That would be the pettiest thing I'd ever heard. [ And she'd be sure to rip him a new one if that ever happened. It didn't occur to her that there were circumstances in which Papa Nihil wouldn't know that they had a beautiful boy together. It never occurred to her that Nihil would hurt her so much that she'd lock all knowledge of Copia's heritage away so that he wouldn't have the joy of calling him his son. ]
You can't be asking why I wouldn't care for you or look after you. You're my baby C. [ She let out a small sigh. ] I see I still haven't - [ Haven't been good at communicating how I feel, even 50 years into the future. She supposed that that was one part of her she just couldn't escape. ] You can tell me how you feel anytime, Copia. You must know that.
no subject
He didn't actually care to know what kinks they wanted to explore together, repress the thought, but what? Was she serious? Ah, there was more. His wheels were clearly spinning while he stared at her, mouth slightly agape.
'Your baby C'? She'd called him her 'Little C' before but that wasn't as intimate and possessive, and was to be expected from anyone who watched him grow up and bothered to care. He was a cute kid. Wow, I truly am an idiot.
Oh no. There were far too many emotions, and none of them were ideal with other people around. Part of him wanted to cry. Another part of him was overjoyed. There was also anger. Mostly, he sounded shocked. ] You two are my parents?! Why was this a secret?
I am pulling all of this out of my ass, jsyk
As she had yet to know the events of the future - how Nihil would drive the final sword into her heart, and how she'd leave the Ministry for 40 years, up until Papa Emeritus I's debut - she assumed that there was only one reason that she wouldn't tell Copia.
It was to protect him. ]
Come with me, Copia. [ She took his hand, tugging him away to where they could speak without straining ears and prying eyes. She found a corridor outside Papa Emeritus Zero's office - a beautiful place, lined with vibrant stained glass. ]
If you didn't know, then I must have had a reason for not telling you. I can only think that perhaps your life was in danger if you knew - if people knew. There would be assassination attempts - jealous priests, bishops, archbishops, and cardinals... Not to mention the Catholic church... Surely you must know by now that your life is always teetering on the edge of death.
[ Don't you forget about your friend death. ]
And if there's anything I can do to prevent that - anything I must do to die on the cross for you - I'll do it.
[ Her eyes hardened with resolve, her mouth tightening into a firm line.
If his brothers had known that he was the rightful heir - the son of both Sister Imperator and Papa Nihil - would he not have been killed as a child? What would have stopped them from removing who had the anti-divine right to the Unholy See? ]
I will always protect you, Copia. Even if that means keeping you in the dark.
no subject
Copia also didn't know he was the Antichrist, but because of that, neither did the rest of the world yet. Whenever that was revealed, he would also be able to see the wisdom in waiting to tell him, to see if he was worthy, but also, to make him worthy. He saw how Nihil's other sons turned out. The clergy had seen fit to remove them because the church's message was getting lost in their ego. How inflated would his be if he'd been raised as a dark prince?
He followed Sister as she lead him to a quieter place, like a dutiful child in a grown man's body. Her dedication was moving. Someone should really give this woman a raise and not keep tasking her with mundane tasks below her like shopping and baby/ghost-sitting Nihil. Although she probably did them both willingly. Imperator was remarkable - no wonder she remained Prime Mover with no worthy rival in sight for all these years. Who else would truly dedicate their lives to Nihil, despite his indiscretions, and the son she couldn't even reveal their truth to? His heir. It felt weird to think.
A single tear slid down the corner of his left eye. ] I...I understand.
[ Copia squeezed her hand again, hesitated, and moved in to hug her as tightly as wouldn't seem painful and suffocating, if she would allow it. They were going to be incredibly late for career day, but somehow, marketing their church like a salesman in that way was not as appealing as this long overdue event that he very much needed.
If she allows the embrace, he will whisper - or maybe its more singing under his breath - lyrics softly in her ear, feeling them more personally than ever as they flooded into his mind. He was starting to think it was Satan himself that inspired some of his lyrics, with a Knowing far beyond his own. ]
Will you walk the line?
My path serpentine
Remember always
That love is all you need
no subject
Ah, never mind. That was neither here nor there. She had yet to know how Nihil's developing popularity and arrogance would drive a wedge between them, and right now, her spiritual knowing was focused on her son.
She wiped Copia's tear away with the pad of her thumb, smiling up at him. It was natural, then, that she would embrace him with just as much fervor and love as she could wring out of her body. Love... She couldn't admit that she loved Papa Nihil. Doing so meant admitting that he was hurting her, and that was something she couldn't do. Never let it be said that Sister Imperator was vulnerable in any way, shape, or form. But loving Copia came easily. There was nothing like a mother's love, for she was a maternal slave.
She listened to his song - realizing that it was a tune she began to hum under her breath sometimes, as she stroked the unborn Copia in her stomach. It all came full circle now, hearing him sing it to her and therefore to himself in her womb. ]
I'm with you. Always.
[ She took his hand, and pressed it against her abdomen, where his younger self stirred. ]
That's you.
brb drowning in feels
That's baby me? ] I'm in there? Right now?
[ He knew where babies came from and all, this was just all very unexpected and a lot at once. Not that he was complaining. Hopefully Agatha Antichristie and the other rats would forgive him for missing their scheduled training. He had expected to miss it, but he wondered if they were spying from some nook and cranny and glaring at him.
It is me. He hadn't realized he'd be offering those lyrics to his unborn self as well. Copia's eyes glistened and he lowered himself, kneeling to face the unborn, one hand still on Imperator's abdomen, the other on the side of her waist, mostly for support while he kneeled. ] Er, hello, baby C. It's me...big C. I uh. I've never talked to a baby still growing inside someone before but I, well. I thought you should know...
[ He clears his throat from the choke of emotion and continues in whispered song: ] You will never, ever walk alone... Little Sunshine.
drowns in my tears
The baby in her - still so small that one could barely see her growing belly - moved, as if in joy, echoing his older self. ]
That's beautiful... my little C. Your voice is that of a dark angel's.
[ Sister Imperator ran a hand gently through Copia's hair, already anticipating watching him grow up into the man that was kneeling before her now. She didn't know how much time she had with his older self - after all, the clock was still ticking, ticking - and eventually the twisted cogs would right themselves, the timeline would flow as it was meant to, and she would give birth to Lucifer's son. Was time such a fleeting thing, that already she saw the grey in Copia's hair, even before she had hers? It was selfish that she wanted to keep him with her when she already had her baby, still slumbering in wait, but...
Ah, it was that familiar possessiveness rearing its head - the same one that made her want to keep Papa Nihil all to herself. But surely - surely feeling this way couldn't be wrong. She loved fiercely, ferociously, wholeheartedly. She didn't want this moment to end, but...
The Ministry clock chimed. It was time for Career Day. ]
We have to go, Copia. We need to advertise Papa Emeritus Zero and the Whisky a Go Go gig. Hopefully we'll get some new followers, yes? All the better for you when you become the next Papa, my little C. You'll have such a large congregation...
no subject
Would his Imperator remember this meeting she had with him when she was pregnant? Would him confronting her about this give her a heart attack? Did these timey-wimey shenanigans even work like that? Regardless, it was his treasured memory now. Probably the future source of many sad songs that he would allow himself, not really having done anything slower like Terzo had done many times successfully. Of those, Copia was pretty sure he was the only person who liked I Believe, but Terzo was also the only one of them to win a Grammy, so, he earned the right to a few creative personal stylistic choices. Copia had two nomination but no wins, as Nihil loved to mention in earshot. But it was something, wasn't it? ] We...
[ Copia gave a sad, brief smile, trying to memorize the way she looked before him, now. To give the image Life Eternal in his soul. He felt small beneath the looming stained glass behind him, and reached out to clutch the palm of her hand again, almost childlike, for as long as he could. The dread of loss upon the toll of the Monstrous Clock slithered through him. ] I think we are going to different career days, ...Mother.
no subject
Sister gave his palm a squeeze and turned around to lead him back to the main hall, where guests and fans would soon come to pay adulation to Papa Emeritus Zero. She only barely heard his last words as his fingers slipped away, and she turned around to grasp his hand again -
And he was gone.
The stained glass sparkled in the light, revealing an empty corridor.
Sister Imperator stood there a moment then laid a hand on her growing abdomen, a small smile tugging at her lips. She couldn't wait to welcome him into her world. ]
he just needed a mother's touch ok? gosh @clergy
[ A coldness settled as whatever spell had briefly brought them together as she vanished before him, arm still outstretched. He let it fall, overwhelmed by far too many very intense feelings. But his head was, at least for now, quiet. Copia gazed through where Sister stood moments before at more stained glass before him, eyes wandering up to the Grucifix. He broke the silence, breathless. ] ...with me.
[ Slowly, purposefully, he crossed the distance and kneeled before the Unholy Trinity, lowered his head, and recited from Primo's lyrics as a softly chanted prayer. ]
We are one
Out of three
Trinity
Siamo con clavi
Siamo con dio
Siamo con il nostro dio scuro
[ Lifting his eyes back to the Grucifix, it occurred too him: I am worthy.
OOC: In which, apparently, he becomes Copia the Pious, which I am now conceptually obsessed with. ]