Reverend Conrad (crimsonhues) wrote in zionmystiqueic, @ 2019-11-12 20:29:00 |
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Entry tags: | !november, !thread, sean, will |
Who: Sean and Will
When: Saturday 11/9 After things close down
Where: Sean’s Wagon
It was a lovely Saturday night after all the townsfolk went away. Willis should probably be asleep, having to run services the next morning, but he was so much a night owl. He wandered up to the wagon and knocked. Wasn’t the first night he’d visited the medium, they’d had the occasional conversation. Boy was haunted and Willis has tried to help him from a spiritual sense in the past.
When the door opened he pushed one of the two beer bottles into Sean’s hands and invited himself into his wagon. As he passed the medium, it almost seemed that some of the shadow from outside followed him in- but was probably just a trick of the light. “Good night? Saw a few people in and out.” He commented, glancing around a bit before taking a seat. A hand smoothed out his black trousers as he looked over to the man. “Here’s to hoping those spirits left with the rubes.” He raised his bottle to Sean.
—
Saturdays always seemed to bring more spirits and heightened emotions of both the living and the spirit. Sean had a method to survive the Saturday madness most times. There was the occasional trying time. Thankfully tonight wasn’t one of them. He was at his wash basin when he heard the knock. The spirits had vacated the area and Sean had closed the ‘door’ to any intruding on his off time. Padding over to the door, he opened it and smiled softly at Willis.
Still dressed in trousers and a thin undershirt, he took the bottle of beer and stepped aside to allow the Reverend inside. Sean noticed the shadow, but blinked it away due to the darkness of the night and the candles in his wagon. “Yes, a good night. Not too busy.” Giving Willis a few moments, Sean sat down as well and opened his beer. “Indeed. Let those spirits grow quiet as the grounds.” He added and raised his bottle.
—-
“Hmm.” He pursed his lips, scratching at the dark facial hair on his chin as he took a pull from his bottle.
—
Lowering his beer, Sean raised an eyebrow at Willis’ pursed lips and humming. He had heard and seen that sort of response before. He sipped his beer and then spoke. “I see the gears turning.”
—
A smile spread on his lips. “Always.” Will chuckled. “I just can’t help but think you could be doing so much more.” He said with a shrug. “Making more, helping more people, and entertaining others.” He waved a hand dismissively. “But it’s your racket. You do what you do. Will I see you at mass tomorrow?” He asked, quickly diverting the topic.
—
A long pull from Sean’s beer was taken at Will’s words. “Oh? You think so?” His smile flattened a little at the thought of entertaining people. Maybe it was because he never thought of that aspect or perhaps he took what he was doing very seriously. Sean blinked at the diversion in topic. “You might. Spirit willing.”
—-
“Of course I think so.” His hand dropped on the table between them. “People like the unknown, they would pay for a spectacle. How many times does someone come up to talk to someone from their past and they,” he used air quotes. “‘Didn’t want to appear’. Don’t make a lot of money from them, do ya? And I bet it would be a lot nicer to be able to pick your targets instead of them having to come to you, Yea?”
Willis sat back in his chair and shrugged. “But you do what you do.” He commented. “Thinking about asking Louis to borrow an auto and head into town on Monday, pick up some stuff. I hear there’s a guy who makes a delicious cactus hooch. Gotta pick it up while we can.” He diverted the topic again, prohibition was just around the corner and he tried to get the unique drinks from where they traveled.
—
Sean nodded at the porton about a patron’s someone not appearing. The spirits didn’t know where the medium was at all times and from his experience they were as confined by distance as the living. “Perhaps. You do have a point, Willis,” he sighed and took another pull of his beer. Sean had a kind heart that had been harmed in the past for being such and he had hardened himself a bit. But he was always somewhat vulnerable.
There was a point about wanting to earn more money. But making a spectacle was perhaps a necessary evil. “Really. That does sound interesting.” Sean wasn’t one to stockpile alcohol, but he did like to partake now and again.
—-
“Of course I have a point.” He laughed, turning back to Sean. “Imagine it, people gathering in, hoping their family would show- or skeptical that you’re real. You can make what you make in a day in one show if you charge a nickel. Then, only have to talk to one or two spirits and people will pay to come back in hopes they get visited next time. It’s gold. And you have a chance of helping more people-“ he waved his hand a bit dismissively. “Or whatever is the reason you do what you do.” Will clasped his hands around his bottle, arms laying on the table as he leaned in. “And, I’ll make sure you have a Bally that will bring in the biggest crowd their is. You will knock the Professor out of the water.”
—
Sean had watched the Professor’s shows and some of the others. The crowds’ cheering and mere size was both daunting and delightful. He wrinkled his nose a he contemplated Willis’ words and looked past him to see the shadow once more. Leaning back in his chair, Sean sighed. He felt that Willis didn’t really appreciate what he did. Yet the medium respected Willis’ work as a religious man. “It sounds like a better arrangement. I could always have my one-on-one during other times if needed. I’ll speak to Mr. Verner.” Then he laughed lightly.
—-
In truth, he was a bit scared of what Sean could do- if it were true. The Reverend had always made it a point to be unknown and unseen to those whose deaths he may have triggered. Granted those he chose weren’t always ‘good’ people, there was a reason his whispers caused chaos, and sometimes destruction in their lives. He was doing god's work after all- at least that was who he believed pushed him in the ‘right’ directions.
“I don’t see why he would have an issue with it. It’s just the type of show that thrives among the people. You could get your banner on the front wall even.” The big draws got banners at the front, drawing people in. Every show had a banner outside their tents, replicated on fliers or pitch cards (for those who had them).
—
There were times in the past when Sean was scared of what he could do. There were times when those around him thought he was mad or simply evil and twisted for speaking of things he should not know or see and hear people others could not. For most, death was final - with resolution or unresolved things. Sean had the scars to show for the times he himself was pushed towards unhappiness.
“As long as he approves. I would not want to jeopardize things if there were to be dismay among the people.” Sean spoke and then took a long pull from his bottle. “A banner would be nice.” Flattery.
—-
“If Blackstone’s stuff doesn’t cause issues, I’m sure you’ll be fine. Besides, isn’t that why we’re here? Granted I can see him not approving for the Sunday School shows, but you can just do your one on ones during the day.” He shrugged slightly. Oh, Willis knew quite well that death wasn’t the end, beneath his arms were marks to remind him of a life he had no memory of.
Raising his bottle the Reverend toasted. “Here’s to bigger things, reaching more people, more money and… maybe a bit of stardom.”
—
“Indeed,” Sean nodded. He agreed on the not having Sunday School shows. Hearing from a departed loved one could be troubling.
Following Willis’ lead, he raised his bottle. “Here, here.” Sean smiled. “I appreciate your ideas.”
—-
The glass clinked and Will took a pull from his beer. “Well I appreciate you considering them.” He chuckled. “I just enjoy helping where I can.”
Of course Will wasn’t completely selfless. Assumed that after a show full of spirits, it may draw out secrets from people, bring them fresh onto the mind that he might be able to coax out. Who knew what revelations could come from a few carefully worded phrases to the right person. Maybe someone would realize that they were the reason they lost their loved one, that they should pay for their indiscretions.
Willis pushed up from his chair and gave Sean a nod. “Should talk to Jack about designing you a banner.” He smirked as he snagged up his bottle and moved to the door.
—
Sean took a pull from his as well. Manners and all. “Mmm, don’t we all.” He smiled.
He knew a bit from nearly every spirit he encountered. The readings ranged from very light to horribly sad or dark. Sean sometimes let a spirit puppet him for a moment when he tapped into the leyline. But it was brief and always had him either sleeping or resting and not using magic. But yes, the sadness and haunting could be passed onto the person who came to hear from the spirit of a loved one.
“I’m sure Jack would like that.” Sean grinned and stood up. Nodding, he sighed and finished off his beer.
—-
WIll opened the door with a smile. “Let me know what the boss says. I’ll start coming up with a Bally.” He said, as he moved out the door- adding just before the door closed. “I’ll see you at mass tomorrow.”
—-
Setting the bottle down on the table, Sean smiled back. “I will.” Shaking his head, Sean sighed. “Yes, you will.” He moved over to the door and latched it once it was closed.