??   welcome to the cathedral, are you...

??   ...huh?

Her pretty face turns pale.

??   oh. oh no. it's you!

CR   It's me!

You have to stop yourself from squealing too loudly. You're in a holy place, after all.

CR   You remember me! You remember me!! X)

She starts looking around. Luckily, all the other staff here seem to be busy in other parts of the cathedral. It's just you and her, and all the little fishies swimming around outside.

??   umm, i...

??   i should really get one of the elders.

??   they'd know what to do when someone -

CR   No way!

CR   I didn't come all this way to get stuck with some stuffy grandma XP

CR   I want to speak to you!

??   m... me?

CR   Obviously!

CR   I was barely able to see you before all the fuss happened

CR   And it was not a big deal, by the way

CR   People were really freaking out over nothing X/

CR   But it's okay, I know I'm a guest

CR   I can be respectful or whatever

You sit down on the fountain's ledge and pat the spot next to you.

CR   C'mon X)

??   ...

CR   XP

??   ...

She scampers to the other side of the fountain.

??   i'm really sorry, miss!

??   please, just go away!

CR   Aww. Why?

??   i-i don't want to risk anything!

CR   Huh? Risk what?

The only thing you can see behind the stone and rushing water is a stray pigtail.

CR   What's up?

CR   You're acting like I'm going to hurt you or something XD

??   d-don't play innocent!

??   why else are you here? why do you want to see me?

CR   Because! I've been looking for you!

CR   You know Amir, right?

??   ...

??   huh?

??   you mean, amir chakrabarti?

You look at the gardens, kicking your feet out from the ledge.

CR   Yeah! Dark eyes, dresses in dusty old browns

CR   Can't miss him XP

??   how do you know him?

CR   Know him? We're BFFs! XD

??   really?

CR   Yeah!

CR   How do you know him?

Slowly, more and more of her becomes visible. You can spot the patterns on her holy garments and the cute curls of her pigtails.

??   we... went to academy together

??   well, he didn't go to my school the whole time.

??   he had half the classes in some public school.

??   i've... always wanted to go to public school...

CR   Why would you want that? It sucks!

CR   Everything's dirty and cheap and old

??   really?

CR   Yeah! Plus, dealing with other people is a handful

CR   Everyone's always mad for some reason

CR   Mostly because everything's dirty and cheap and old

CR   But also because they're mean!

CR   Trust me. You had a way better time in fancy classes

Finally, she sits down, too. 90 degrees away on the ledge's circumference.

??   maybe.

??   it's true that the amenities were nice.

??   i miss the cafeteria, sometimes.

??   not that the cathedral food is bad!

??   you just crave familiar things sometimes.

??   especially when they make you think of being younger.

??   you know what i mean?

CR   No XD

CR   Our school's food was hot ass XD

??   w-well, regardless...

??   i'm sure the academy was better in some ways.

??   but you take a lot of things for granted.

??   people... will still end up mad and mean.

There's an awfully despondent expression on her face.

??   that's why a place like this is good for me.

??   it brings me peace.

She dips a finger into the fountain water and swirls it around. You do the same. Just to have something to do.

CR   I don't believe in this particular faith

CR   But I think it's cool, the ways we all find peace in life and death

CR   And maybe I could learn from here

CR   Especially since people seem to... like you

CR   How?

CR   How do you do it? What's your secret?

In your peripheral vision, you can see her looking at you.

??   are you... trying to join the congregation?

CR   Ohmigosh no!

CR   I just deal with a lot of serious stuff at work XD

CR   And people are always telling me that I could be better about this kind of thing

??   then, what do you do for work?

CR   I'm an assistant at a mortuary!

CR   Once I get my degree, I'll get to be professional

??   m... mortuary?

She's been creeping closer and closer, kind of like you're a feral animal. Kudos for a good survival instinct, at least.

??   i haven't heard of a place like that before.

CR   It's a fancy word for where bodies are kept XD

??   b-bodies?!

And there she goes, behind the fountain again.

??   i knew it!

??   when they said you were speaking with the devil's tongue...

CR   Woah! There's nothing inherently satanic about a mortuary!

CR   That is such an offensive stereotype

CR   There's no one who respects the dead more than us!

??   you're telling me you don't worship satan?

CR   Worship's a strong word X/

CR   He's not my idol of choice, but I can give him some credit

When she comes back out, she thrusts some kind of rosary at you.

??   speak no more about death and decay!

??   this is a holy place, of water and light!

??   i denounce you! begone!!!

Her knuckles are brushing against your chest. It's a little distracting.

CR   So... does this mean you don't want to talk?

CR   I thought you'd at least give me a chance X(

??   ...

Her arm lowers.

??   do you repent?

CR   Repent what?

??   for one, the way you disrespected the staff last time.

??   i didn't get to see all of it, but they were very upset!

CR   They were upset? I was the one kicked out so rudely! X/

CR   And all I did was ask questions. When did curiosity hurt anyone?

??   ...

CR   ...

CR   But, if it's really that bad...

CR   I'm sorry

CR   You can... forgive me, right?

She sighs.

??   only if you're really sorry!

??   then maybe i can give you a chance.

CR   That's great! Maybe you can tell me where Saint Angela's bones are XD

??   that's hardly an appropriate question!

CR   Aww, was it? Sorry

CR   More forgiveness please! XD

??   oough! you're hopeless!