sacredpath | pc: charlie

[a little after the locations are revealed, shadowheart can be found in the church. she's changed into a change of clothes, and she clearly thinks she's alone. she's got a glass with her that seems like it came from the bar, and she's standing on one of the pews, inspecting one of the axolotl windows up close carefully, running a finger along the glass.

and then she appears to be startled when someone comes in after her.]

Ah, hello! I was just looking for someplace to be alone with my thoughts for a moment.

[ fit check for charchar ]

[ charlie looks deeply uncomfortable to be here but smiles when she sees shadowheart ]

Oh! Hello! That's not a problem, I can leave.

[ imagine this pc is just two comments ]

Edited 2025-02-08 21:14 (UTC)

[cutie.]

Never fear. I found myself unable to meditate in here once I realized it was a church of salamanders. So I was going to get drunk on my own instead. No need to leave.

Well--- [ she'd actually prefer to leave ]

Would you like some company?

Certainly.

[she doesn't know charlie wants to leave so she'll just agree to be nice. waving the glass.]

Share some drink?

W-Well, I don't usually drink alcohol, but.... maybe a little....

Or you can have alcohol and I can have soda. Either way. Whatever you want.

[ so nice of you shadowheart ]

I won't force you to drink, if it isn't what you want.

[she studies her for a minute, frowning, and then laughs.]

You know I don't intend to bite your head off, right? You might relax a little and stop trying to please me, or I'll start to suspect ulterior motives.

I mean, I would love your company. If it's okay that I don't share alcohol?

Oh, no, no! I'm not afraid. If anything, I'm a little surprised you're not afraid of me?

[ assuming she's mortal... ] I just don't want to reject your ideas when you're going out of your way to be kind to me.

[ is this kind??? apparently ]

Should I be afraid of you?

[raising an eyebrow. she doesn't protest that it's kind because as far as things go with her, she's being pretty nice.]

No, no! Of course not.

It's just more what I'm used to, is all. Or people thinking I'm a joke.

I don't see why I would.

[she definitely doesn't look at charlie and see a devil, though.]

Fear you, I mean. The joke, I haven't decided yet. [kidding! or is she.]

[ wao even when she looks demonic af??? (not reflected in most of my icons, rip) ]

Ahaha... well! I'd take joke over fear, for sure.

[ but it would be nice to be taken seriously ]

So, how about that drink?

[tieflings exist... lots of besties have horns and tails and glowy eyes.]

Gladly, if you'd like.

[even though charlie literally said she doesn't drink. she needs to chill out a bit, so it's fine. handing her the cup. its mixed drink variety.]

[ i will assume they ended up at the bar for this ]

[ she will take a sippy sippy ]

Thank you so much.

Let's get to know each other while we drink.

[she had a drink with her in the church! but yes they can go to the bar.]

...Very well. Though I warn you, if you have questions for me, the answers will not be so interesting.

[ damn.... drinking in the church ]

[ they can go to the bar though yaey ]

Pshh. All your answers will be interesting to me.

Okay, first question.... What's your favorite animal?

[well. that's a sort of surprising question. it catches her by surprise enough that she's not sure what to answer.]

...I don't really like animals very much. Just extra hungry mouths to feed.

[but after a second.]

I don't mind so much alley cats and the like. They're little bother, keep the rats away, and are surprisingly clean. In comparison, dogs are much more noisy and troublesome, but a well-behaved and well trained dog can be a decent enough companion.

[ that's charlie, always catching people by surprise ]

Oh, cats are so cute! And they're so good at what they do. Whether it's best control, charming you, or cleaning themselves... they're really talented.

I really like cats, too. But I also like dogs.

[she suddenly grabs her hand and shudders, clutching it close to her chest, as though in terrible pain.]

I-- What's wrong? Are you okay? Shadowheart?

[ concerned hovering ]

[it passes after a second, and she catches her breath, shaking her head. a slight tremor of emotion in her voice. the hand she was holding is the one that is bandaged, also.]

More than alright. Lady Shar - I - I thought she'd given up on me. This is wonderful!

[ trying to take her hand to look at it.... ]

I--- Are you sure? You're not in pain anywhere? Oh, your hand is bandaged.

[her hand is bandaged, yeah. she pulls it back. but she's smiling.]

Pain is only an illusion. With time, and guidance, we become unburdened by it, when we embrace loss. There's no need to worry about me.

[ worried hovering will continue ]

Well.... I mean, pain still hurts, so if you need help, please ask. I'll always help you.

[ peering at her hand... ]

[she can peer at the bandages! they're bandages.]

Don't worry about it, alright? It doesn't bother me. I'm grateful for it, now more than ever.

[ i'll bandage YOU ]

Does it make you feel closer to, ah.... your God?

[ she thinks that's what's happening here ]

[oh...]

It does, but not in a, um, Loviatar's Love sort of way. [it's not kinky.] I felt my bond with lady Shar return. I had thought - [she trails off and then changes the subject.] It is painful, but only because I am still an acolyte. Shar's gifts are often difficult to endure until faith helps us accept them.

[ tenderly hcs you, siz ]

Oh, if that's the case, I'm happy for you. I wish it didn't cause you pain, but if it makes you happy....

[ she shouldn't judge but she doesn't think a religion that causes pain is great ]

It does. I made a mistake, recently. I thought I wouldn't be able to set it right, but there have been signs...

So you fixed your mistake?

[ that's good, right? ]

No. But I think I can, if I try. It isn't too late.

Oh! That's the spirit!

[ she thinks ???? because again, pain is bad ]

...Yes. I appreciate your helping me with this.

[pain is fine, probably.]

...I suppose I should ask you, as well. Your favorite animal, then.

I'm not sure I helped much, but... of course.

[ it's not fine ]

Oh, it's so hard to choose! But I think... maybe cats? They're very fluffy. Oh, or koalas... or puppies, or dolphins...

[ she will just keep going like this ]

I don't... think I know what a koala is.

[but fluffy is very nice. not that she likes animals or anything, because she doesn't.]

Hold on, hold on one second---

[ she literally draws her a koala to show her ]

Oh! What a stupid little face it has.

It's super cute, right? Just imagine how fluffy it is in real life!

[ stupid... cute... same thing ]

[she does mean it like that.]

It definitely looks fluffy. An excellent snack for predators.

[ or did she.... or is charlie pretending she did ]

I hear they're surprisingly good at defending themselves.

[ i, sipp, refuse to fact check this ]

Really? Do they have sharp teeth?

And claws!

[ biblically inaccurate pandas ]

[ approaching shadowheart somewhere, possibly not the church this time. hemming and hawing ]

They seem nice...

[ there's an unspoken "but" ]

But...?

[go on, girl.]

.... I don't know. This seems too good to be true.

[ hugs herself a little bit ]

[she doesn't reach out and hug her or anything, but sits, frowning.]

...I believe that the offer is genuine. [it doesn't cost so much, for a god to restore a mortal to life.] But I'm sure they're getting something out of it they haven't told us yet.

[ i can't imagine shadowheart hugging charlie ]

You think so?

[ charlie doesn't sound like she doubts her, she just sounds... uncertain about the whole affair ]

[maybe when she knows her better. maybe.]

They don't have to offer us anything, we're prisoners. What has you doubting?

[ i don't believe you ]

[ also she is... in her own head a bit so she does not answer right away ]

Do you think we really are prisoners? That this redemption they're offering is a trick?

[hmm, how to put this.]

I don't think we would have been gathered here and given this offer if there wasn't something they sought to gain from it. But it may be as simple as winning a disagreement, proving a point.

The question is not so much what do they hope to gain, but what do we stand to lose. Whatever their reasoning, I would not turn down another chance to return. So what I must understand is whether the price they are asking will be too dear, however simply they describe it now.

[ charlie listens to this quietly... it's a completely different way of thinking for her, but... it kind of sounds like something vaggie or angel or husker would say. there is a kind of logic to it, too, even if she doesn't want to consider that these people are taking advantage of wayward souls desperate to go back ]

I hope it's just them asking for you all to better yourselves, like they're saying. That price isn't too steep, in my mind. That's what I was trying to accomplish, back home, with my hotel.

[ redemption.... ]

But if they're taking advantage of you all.... [ her expression darkens, just a little bit. ] I won't stand for that.

[awww haha. she can't help but smile at that. very shadowheart approves energy.]

I didn't expect you to go all protective.

[you're not just a weenie!]

[ the fact that nothing has riled her up enough to be not nice is truly just a skill issue on the entire game's part ]

Well, I like being nice. But...

[ srs face. ]

Giving people false hope, tormenting souls, shitting on redemption-- that's not something I'll tolerate.

Edited 2025-02-10 23:48 (UTC)

[she just likes it when people are nice but not pushovers.]

And all of that is something you usually try to do, at your hotel?

Redeeming sinners, yes. What these people are claiming, except.... coming back to life isn't possible, as far as I've ever known.

In Hell, there's an overpopulation problem. [ folds her arms ] Heaven's answer to that is just to go and murder human souls --- it's entertainment for the exorcists.

I proposed an alternative. Redeeming sinners. Letting them work their way into Heaven.

You're from the hells, then?

Where I'm from, there's just one, but... yes. It's my home.

...I've met a few devils. One of them is a very good man who was manipulated into terrible circumstances. But the rest are all quite awful. You can't trust the things they offer.

Oh--- it's a relief that you met a good one. [ wah ] I mean... otherwise demons are.... well. I'm kind of unique.

[ aka she is basically the only nice one ]

He was a human who made a pact with a devil and lost his soul in the bargain.

[otherwise, they're all fucking bitches.]

...I can see that. You're trying to save people from hell?

I see.... selling one's soul has happened in my Hell, too, I'm afraid.

[ sadge ]

Not just Hell, but Heaven too. We have an overpopulation problem in Hell, and Heaven's answer... is to fly down and just kill everyone they see. It's.... entertainment for them. [ ... ]

My alternative was to rehabilitate sinners using my hotel. You know... redemption. And they earn their way into Heaven.

... Of course, my Heaven didn't listen.

So, truly, you are a devil trying to save souls from the hells. Very unusual.

What is it that makes you so determined to save others, do you suppose?

Well.... they're my people. Even if they're sinners, they don't deserve to suffer and die like this. I can't just turn my back on them.

[ .... ]

Do you have people do you want to protect, Shadowheart?

[ she must ]

[well...]

I have...traveling companions. I haven't known them long, but I've gotten used to them. And then there was the grove, and the inn...

But in the end, not really.

[ at first she's a bit surprised, but then charlie's expression goes a little soft... in the way that hearing this clearly reminds her of someone she's fond of ]

Okay, I really want to know more, but only if you want to tell me.

More about what. The travelling companions, who I barely like?

All of it!

[ wait until memeshare, god, charlie ]

If you like.

[charlie is being nosy, but it's fine. she'll talk about it. in vague terms.]

If you must know... all of us were abducted and taken aboard a mindflayer ship and had parasites put in our brains. Strange events and strange bedfellows.

That's horrible. I'm so sorry.

[ she has no idea what a mindflayer is but it sounds terrible. also parasite in brain?? bad ]

... I can see how... er. You would end up, ah, traveling together.

Yes, well. We have little choice. We're all quite dependent on each other. So even when our goals and values don't precisely align...

I wound up being talked into fighting an army of goblins to defend some refugees.

Circumstances forced you together... it's hard to build trust like that. Do you know why all of you were abducted?

[ for the plot, charlie, god ]

I'm sure they appreciated your help, even if... it was quite a big ask.

[she's exploring the lighthouse, catching herself at the top when she realizes that the door is locked. but at least she'll find a place to sit up there so she can watch the ocean. if someone comes by, she'll wave down.]

...It's locked up here, but the view is still nice.

Oh! Shadowheart, hello!

Do you mind if I join you?

[ gives you the option to say no again i'm tempting fate ]

[she waves casually.]

Please. Come on up, if you like.

[ she comes up!! ]

Anything on your mind, or just enjoying the view?

Enjoying the view. Still stewing on what's to come, I suppose.

Me too.

That trolley problem question caught me offguard. So did the other residents.

Did it?

[she laughs a bit.]

It seemed a bit heavy-handed if you ask me. I have my own views of morality, but I've never known someone I have any respect for who spends their time stewing over hypothetical moral quandries. To do right is to act.

Yes. [ agreed ]

I know what they were trying to do... The "answer" to the trolley problem is sacrifice. But as far as Chipper questions go? I think it would have been better to start with an icebreaker or a game. Then maybe the other residents could have introduced themselves and told us a little more about themselves and Heaven. And maybe their journeys of redemption.

I'm sure you'd be much better at it.

[a small smile, though. teasing a bit.]

Even so, I would not take it so hard. I don't think anyone took it seriously enough to be upset.

Oh, thank you, Shadowheart.

[ taking this as sincere ]

[ but she does laugh, lightly ]

That's true. I did like how creative some of your answers were, even if they were.... a little violent.

[ a little ]

The truth is, anyone would protect the person closest to them over a group of strangers. Anyone who claims otherwise is lying - either to us, or to themselves.

[ she nods ]

The only way I can see someone choosing the "one" answer is... if it's themselves they're sacrificing.

[ and she looks sad at that almost like there's juicy lore attached to this ]

... And I don't think choosing to sacrifice someone you love can be considered "moral" anyway.

I don't think choosing yourself necessarily is, either. I think protecting yourself is natural, and there's a reason for that.

[ she gets all sad (tm) for a moment..... ]

Yes--- you're right, of course.

Please don't sit there and think sad and mysterious thoughts to yourself so loudly, it's giving me a migraine. If you want to talk about it, talk.

Oh--- I'm sorry.

[ she was manpaining..... ]

It's just that someone very dear to me sacrificed himself for us. I was just... reminded it.

...I'm sorry. [sincere!] Not a fellow devil?

Thank you.

[ weh shadowheart ]

Well... he was a demon, but... a former human. So not hellborn like me. Just a sinner who was doing amazing at redeeming himself.

[ not that heaven would care ]

For him to care that much about you, you surely made an impression on him.

... I promised him redemption. And instead.... he died.

[ sorry she's manpaining again ]

You promised him redemption, but he chose to sacrifice himself. Maybe he should have chosen differently, but it's hardly your fault.

[ this week 0 manpain i'm sorry ]

... Thank you, Shadowheart.

[week 0 manpain :(

holds her hand (real)]

[ omg is it really real ]

[ charlie gives her hand a little gentle squeeze and gives her a big grateful smile ]

[it is really actually real. wow!]

[ g a y ]

[ they fully walked somewhere private while holding hands, charlie is not letting go of shadowheart anytime soon ]

Oh my goodness.... it felt awful not being able to check on you after what happened Thursday. Are you okay?

[awww. anyway she will give her a heal! hopefully get rid of the damage. it's just being washed over in some greenish blueish light. it's divine energy so it may feel kind of uncomfortable idk how you want to headcanon it. but anyway, healed.]

I feel worst for you, having to return on your own. At least I could check on the others.

[ honestly it probably does feel weird, but healing is healing!! all her teeth marks fade to scars. i don't even remember her injuries right now i have soup brain ]

It--- probably was for the best, that I wasn't with you all.

[ she went on a mini-rampage ]

But I did worry a lot about all of you. Especially you, I think you were the only one who wasn't possessed.

In a way, I think that was less hard on me. At the time it was awful, but with my memories back... I've always been aware that my friends could transform into monsters.

... Right, the parasite.

Still, having that happen before your eyes... it must have been painful.

[hmm. a little twinge of sadness at a memory of being a terrified, inexperienced girl facing all of that.]

It was. But I think what happened to you was more painful, probably? Or at least... [actually, she is aware Charlie doesn't know this.] On the first Thursday journey I went on, Anders and I both were... possessed, maybe, or just manipulated by this monstrous being. I wound up hurting a lot of people in that state.

[so she would have much rather that not have happened to her again.]

[ yeah, that was a lot. charlie feels a lot of guilt, shame, and regretti. there's also pain, because the demon took advantage of her relationship with her absentee mother to manipulate her ]

Oh, I... didn't know that. [ unsurprisingly ] Yeah, I..... that's. Um. Kind of what happened, even when I got back. Luckily, I wasn't in fighting shape after.... well. You know. But I still managed to hurt some people.

[have hug again.]

You would not have seen, but it was the same for Jiaoqiu and Kaworu. [for her, the people she killed weren't real, but the way she felt while doing it haunted her for a long time.] I don't know if I would have gotten through it if Anders hadn't also been there, and had gone through the same thing. [so it was much harder to specifically blame or hate herself for it when she couldn't hate him for it.]

[our beautiful beach is back, so she is sitting on the shore, looking out over the waves. the mood is wrung out, it was a long day with emotions running high and she's burnt out now.]

[ charlie comes and sits next to her. her emotions are very muted, but there is a lot of warmth when she sees shadowheart, of course ]

[she'll lean on her.]

How are you feeling, Charlie?

[ puts an arm around her ]

Tired. But... Relieved? I think this is the best thing for everyone.

But how are you?

Tired.

[wore herself out being angry and now she has the hiccups. no. but she's just wrung out.]

It is the best thing, I agree.

You've been through so much... I don't blame you.

[ its been a lot ]

Mmhmm. And a little birdie told me Anders is going home with you?

Which birdie is that? It is true.

Anders.

[ hehe ]

And I'm glad to hear it. I'll be able to rest much easier knowing you both have each other.

[yeah. a little bit of warmth mixed with sadness.]

I didn't expect that he would really come. So much of him is tied to his home. I really expected he'd just go back and let them execute him again to prove a point, or run off with Hawke because he feels he owes him his undying loyalty.

[stupid, stupid, stupid. instead he's telling her how much he's looking forward to being in a world where magic can just be used openly, and it's the nicest thing she can possibly imagine.]

pc: charlie

saturday 0

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preweekend zero, sunday

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week 0; monday

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