009 mar a bhí ar dtúis, mar atá fós

[shepherdsveritas]

[It may have taken longer on foot since being relieved at the Outpost but the MacManus brothers have finally made it back to City Royale. Connor gratefully sheds his bag and takes a look around the church before pulling his journal out and throwing up a couple of filters.]

[Saints filter]

Murph an' I're back from th'Dead Zone. Safe an'sound as we were when we left. [He chuckles]Any more news on th'murder? We've been followin' on th'journals but I haven't seen anythin' of anyone figurin' out who did it, yet.

[/Saints]

[Steve Rogers]

Still interested in makin' that chest? I'm back from th'Dead Zone an' could give you a hand if you'd like.

[/Steve]

[Some time after the filters, particularly after he doesn't hear a word from the Cardinal or Tres, Connor gives his brother a worried look, cursing before the pair rush out the door and up to the castle to take a look for themselves.

Gone. Both gone. Welcome fucking home. He sighs, resting his hand against the empty door that had formerly belonged to the Cardinal. Pulling his journal out of his pocket he softly dictates.]

Cardinal Caterina Sforza an' Father Tres Iqus have gone home. [He pauses before murmuring, partially to himself, partially to the journal and partially to Caterina and Tres wherever they are:] I'm sorry...

[Stuffing the journal back in his pocket he gives his brother a meaningful look. Silently, they head for the chapel. Their strongest allies are gone. Their generosity and faith remain as constant reminders but right now they need guidance and to pray for the souls of their friends and that they remain safe wherever they are.]

((OOC: Open over the journal or find the pair in person either in the hallway or the chapel.))

Comments

[spongetastic]

Damn. Not again.

[shepherdsveritas]

Again? [He sighs.] 'm sorry.

dictated;

[encryptedlock]

Aw, shit. They're gone again?

[York's going to miss them. Caterina actually gave half a crap about him, and Tres was a real bro.]

[spongetastic]

Yeah, it's the second time she left.

dictated

[shepherdsveritas]

Aye. We jus' checked their rooms...

Dictated forever

[onlyanapple]

They went together, that's something, at least.

[encryptedlock]

Dammit.

[He sighs. Two more allies down.]

Maybe they'll be back some time.

[abelard]

There was [another] a Cardinal here? A Cardinal named Caterina Sforza?

[spiritusaequitas]

Aye... [Murphy sighs] Be hard t' think've one without the other.

[spiritusaequitas]

Aye. She an' Father Tres ran th' chapel here in the castle. Dunno who's gonna now she's gone - prob'ly Sister Esther...

[shepherdsveritas]

[lays his hand on Murph's shoulder. Goes for more than one duo in this castle, aye?]

Not t'mention how Tres'd react if she left 'im here alone.

[abelard]

[Cesare pauses -- he doesn't want to assume Cardinal duties here unless forced. He has no interest, and he should ignore the subject entirely. But there's no way this makes sense.]

I wish the Sister my best. But are you sure that it was Caterina, and perhaps not Ascanio Sforza? Everyone knows that Caterina reigns in Forli, and her cousin Ascanio sits at the Holy Father's side in Rome.

[spiritusaequitas]

[Murphy kneels beside his brother, crossing himself before bowing his head in prayer ... though it takes him a moment to get his mind right for it. his first thoughts are disparaging ones - what will they do with the church, now, with their project only partly finished? who'll help stand with them once their work begins - especially now that it's so much nearer on the horizon? where will the residents go for guidance, now? his heart grieves for the loss of two dear friends - two great allies - two sources of strength, pillars to support their faith when they needed it. and now, in so many ways, the four of them who remain will need to stand on their own. it isn't that it seems impossible - they'd done it before, after all, back home, for years - but it just seems ... emptier. darker. sadder. he knows he'll always be aware of their absence, now, no matter how much time passes.

but then, those are selfish thoughts. those are not the thoughts of someone meant to walk the Lord's path and serve His will. he can almost hear Caterina's gentle but stern voice reminding him, guiding him back to the right course. his hand lifts to touch the rosary around his neck, and he sighs softly, the ghost of a smile coming to the corner of his mouth.

finally, he sets in to pray, silently: for the safety of their friends, their success in whatever works await them ... and above all, for their happiness.]

[spiritusaequitas]

I'll pass it along, next time I see her, then. ...

[and then he thinks] Sure enough t' swear on. T'be honest, I just figured she was a namesake of the Caterina Sforza from th' history books. Since there's no mention of Father Tres in 'em at all, and you never saw the one without the other.

[spiritusaequitas]

[he doesn't have to say how heavy that is on his mind, really, now does he? he gives a faint, grim chuckle at the thought, though]

Might not be any walls left t' live behind.

[abelard]

Has the Church changed so much, then, to allow a woman to bear Cardinal's robes?

[shepherdsveritas]

[He let's out a breath, shaking his head.] 's a fuckin' wonder how folk come an' go here innit? No warnin', no... nothin'. Jus' gone.

[spongetastic]

Yeah...

Will the church be okay? I don't mind stopping by now and then if you need an extra hand.

[spiritusaequitas]

Not where I'm from, no, but ... wherever she's from? Aye. Didn' make her any less of an Eminence, though, you can take my word.

[starhipped]

Are you ... are you sure?

[Esther .. doesn't sound like herself. Nothing remotely resembling herself.]

[abelard]

Yes, of course. Thank you for the information.

[spiritusaequitas]

Don't mention it. ... Name's Murphy, by the way. Murphy MacManus. My brother an' I, we take care've the church in town.

[abelard]

The undertaking of truly devoted souls, in this world.

[There's a beat, as though he's hesitant to give his own information. If this Murphy knows of a "historical" Caterina Sforza, then surely Cesare himself cannot have slipped through history unnoticed. But proprieties get the better of him.]

A pleasure, Ser MacManus. I am Cesare Borgia.

[shepherdsveritas]

[Connor's voice is soft as he replies. He hates.being the bearer of.bad news... Especially to someone like Sister Esther]

Aye, Sister. Murph an' I checked their rooms ourselves. [A pause] 'm sorry.

[shepherdsveritas]

Maybe. In th'mean time all we can do is keep doin' th'good work in their name.