Re: [log: antique store - daniel/claire/louis]
For Claire to deny when her life would end would be like Daniel denying that he needed blood to survive. Those were the constants that they lived by. No need to sugar coat any of their personal genetic issues here. Temperance's martyr complex was entirely genetic, and it took everything she had to keep from offering herself to free Louis from the wicked creature. No, there was no way she would ever say it was a 'god'. No matter how old it looked and sounded, it was not older than the Heavenly Father who created the universe and all the beings within. It did not need to realize how God brought it into existence, but God did. That was the way of the world and the solid foundation of her faith, which these speeches did not budge. It was sad how confused the creature seemed to be, and maybe if it wasn't requiring people to die, Temperance may have allowed more leniency to the whims of the being.
Her gaze turned to Daniel when he addressed her, and she nodded once with a grin in agreement. There was a small flash of disapproval at the drink, but it was neither the time nor place. "Oh, there are several somethings that will work," she reassured him, then proceeded to explain as if the being was not right there with them, "Its story doesn't make sense. It keeps dancing around that doing anything will only hurt Louis and set it free. If that were the case, why would it try to dissuade us? If it is indeed what it says it is, then getting rid of a shell it didn't ask for should be no problem. What is stopping it? Something is wrong. From that ritual. I know that. And it knows it." Which was something she expected the being would have some explanation for, that would be yet something else it spewed that Claire didn't believe.
So she turned her attention back to Louis on the couch, her voice firm with confidence but not quite yet an order, softened only by the love of humanity that she possessed. "You wish for me to stand aside as you desecrate houses of worship with your painted sigils and tainted blood? Who do you think I am? As long as we are making unreasonable demands, here's one for you. Find another solution. One where no living creature comes to harm. No free will is hindered. No property is desecrated. You said you may help us. Help if you're so interested in your freedom. Or leave. Just don't stick around and monologue to be an asshole." Yeah, Claire was done entertaining the creature's nonsense.
Think. She had to think. Carver was a healer for the Inquisition. Maybe he would know a way to keep Louis alive and unharmed if she banished this creature from its host. If this was how negotiations were going to proceed, Claire needed to weigh all of her other options. Involving Carver was the next logical step.