XXX.

[hellshaped]

[Your Eminence]
[Hellboy pauses for a second after penning that, wondering if he should qualify it with "that one cardinal from before" or something, but he figures it's a safe enough bet that nobody else in Paradisa goes by a title like that.

And if they do, well, he can just tell them it was meant for someone else. Easy enough.

ADDITIONALLY let's pretend this is earlier in the day at a more reasonable hour, let's do that.

He is speaking into the pages.]

I wondered if I could ask you a favor.

Comments

[abelard]

[Cesare stares at this for a very long time. He regrets ever answering the call for a priest before.

When he finally speaks, his voice is perfectly pleasant and cordial, though it masks trepidation.]

And what would you ask?

[hellshaped]

[He could have just ignored it entirely, just sayin'. Hellboy has no idea who this even is, after all.]

A friend of mine is having vampire trouble. If it's not too much to ask, I was wondering if you could set up wards around her place.

[abelard]

[There's another long pause, although this time, it's from confusion.]

I don't know what you mean.

[hellshaped]

Well -- if you could bless her property to help keep the vampire out.

[abelard]

I can bless her property, if she would wish, but I have never heard of a vampire.

[hellshaped]

[Wh..... well, maybe he knows it by a different name? Hellboy has no idea where this cardinal is from, or even when for that matter. But he's pretty sure vampires are universal.]

Well, it's sort of like a ghoul. It feeds on blood.

[abelard]

I fear this is nothing I have ever heard of. Certainly I wouldn't know any blessings against it.

[hellshaped]

[Now it's Hellboy's turn to pause a bit. You mean not all priests know how to perform exorcisms and deal with this kind of stuff...]

Blessings against any sort of evil thing would probably work.

[abelard]

I could bless against Satan and his temptations?

[hellshaped]

[NO...........]

That's probably close enough.

[abelard]

Then I see no reason why not.

[hellshaped]

[He's actually doubting this will be 100% effective now, but it's better than nothing. Plus, how awkward would it be to just be like 'never mind.']

Okay. Thanks.

She has that bear reserve north of the castle. So it's sort of a big area ...

[abelard]

Would she wish to meet me there?

[hellshaped]

Not if you don't want to. [He gets the feeling this cardinal digs his privacy :T]

I told her I would ask you about it, so it's not like she'll come out shooting at you or anything.

[abelard]

She has cannon?

[hellshaped]

[what......]

I don't think so. Just guns.

[abelard]

Why would a woman have such a thing?

[hellshaped]

She's a special kind of woman.

[abelard]

What does that mean, exactly?

[hellshaped]

Meaning she's the kind that carries guns. There are a lot of people here like that. I wouldn't be too worried.

[abelard]

That seems exactly the sort of thing to worry about.

[hellshaped]

It's not like she's a gangster or anything, Your Eminence. She won't go shooting you for no reason.

[abelard]

And you can be entirely sure of this?

[hellshaped]

[PRETTY SURE...]

I could go with you if you want.

[abelard]

It would be most appreciated.

[hellshaped]

[There's a brief pause!]

Just remember what I told you before. I don't really look conventional.

[abelard]

Are you disfigured?

[hellshaped]

[WOW, BLUNT.]

Err, no. I'm not human.

[abelard]

Then what are you?

[hellshaped]

Human enough on the inside.

[He's always very, very reluctant to say the word 'demon', just because that's not what he sees himself as. That's not how he self-identifies. But he's even more reluctant to say it to a priest. Most of the priests he's met in his life have been pretty indifferent toward the whole thing, but then again Hellboy had always had the fortune of being relatively well-known. So you can never be sure.]

[abelard]

But on the outside?

[hellshaped]

[stop being so direct, jeez!! how can he be properly cagey about this...

a little dryly:] I have hooves and a tail. I'm just warning you so you aren't startled, that's all.

[abelard]

Are you a horse? I have been told that some of the horses here speak.

[hellshaped]

[CARDINAL PLS.]

No. I'm not a horse. I have hands.

[abelard]

Then what are you?

[hellshaped]

[Is it just not obvious he doesn't want to answer the question or something! Cesare ... take a hint ...]

It would probably just be easier for you to see me instead.

[abelard]

Of course.

[hellshaped]

Okay.

[......so...] Did you want me to escort you there? Or do you think you can find it?

[abelard]

I think I should have no trouble locating it.

[hellshaped]

That's fine.

I'll see you there.

[abelard]

Until then.

[hellshaped]

[And then they meet up at the bear reserve and it's awkward...]

[abelard]

[Yes it is.]

[hellshaped]

[At least he's not a talking horse, amirite]