bishop-percival

[bishop-percival]

[text] Happy birthday Mike.

[text] I left a few packages on the top shelf in the far corner of the laundry room.

[text] Please hand your sister’s package directly to her without opening it.

[text] Have fun escaping your birthday party.

Mike responded a couple of hours later.

[text] Thank you, Teddy. I'm looking forward to piecing together this shattered vase.

[text] ^ Not being sarcastic.

Another hour passed.

[text] Mir refused to take her gift for whatever reason so I opened it in front of her. She ended up liking it.

[bishop-percival]

Hip-hip-oh no! It’s a special day today. The finest priests the Glornch has ever seen are begrudgingly celebrating their birthdays. Congratulations on surviving in this wretched world for so long, Reverend Eyelash and Reverend Two-eyes!

[bishop-percival]

Gimme a tarot reading pls

SHITS FUCKED !!!!!!!

SEVEN TOWER ATTACK ROCK YOUR WORLD FOREVER!!!!!!

[bishop-percival]

evil wizard voice: i too have a "doom scroll"

[bishop-percival]

@stuckinuniformdevelopment

(prev) Teddy’s anger quickly gave way to dread as he hung his head and sighed. [text] It’s not. He was reluctant about listening to Mike’s advice, given how he had heavily encouraged him to kill Wendell and Glendale for the sake of it. Yet he knew that there wasn’t a way for him to get an unbiased opinion. Not from him, not from Bert, and asking anyone else was out of the question. Perhaps… this truly was his only opinion. After a long pause Teddy texted Mike back. [text] I’ll think about it. Teddy carefully got up. He hadn’t seem the stool earlier. But once he did he became ashamed of how he treated Mike. As he typed he rested one hand on the desk to steady himself. [text] Sorry. Teddy nudged Mike’s chair with his foot and snuck a worried glance at him. Did roughly sitting down damage it? [text] I shouldn’t have treated you that way. After a moment he sent one last text before apologetically bowing his head to Mike and tucking his phone into his pocket. [text] Thank you. With that Teddy left for work while giving Mike a low energy wave on his way out.

Satisfied that Teddy said he’d at least think about it, Mike put his phone away and got up when Teddy started to stand too. He was stretching his arms when he felt his phone buzz again. 

Mike blinked at the texts. Sure he was irked and inconvenienced but he didn’t feel that egregiously mistreated. When he received the thank you, he snickered a little bit by the fact Teddy was still texting rather than just saying thank you out loud. 

“It’s…” He trailed off seeing Teddy on his way out. “...See you later.”

Literally. He’d try to pop in or at least walk by the laundry room if Mike found a spare moment. He… found that the concern he had for Teddy’s safety went beyond the preservation of an assassination co-conspirator. Perhaps it was that he was starting to see him more as a… friend? Eugh….

[bishop-percival]

@stuckinuniformdevelopment

(prev) Teddy glared at Mike before furiously texting back. [text] Killing Sam would put everyone on high alert. [text] I’d rather make sure Bishop Percival’s dead before going back for her [text] than miss the opportunity to kill him.

Texting while standing sucked so Mike sat down on a step stool used to reach upper shelving, still slightly disgruntled by his chair being taken. He idly tapped his foot as he read the messages and typed. 

[text] I wouldn’t be encouraging this if I felt it would disrupt our assassination plans.

[text] Keep in mind sometime after Percival gets back, I’m taking off for a few weeks on a mission. I’m sure Sam could find opportunity in that.

Mike was starting to get tired of arguing. He had work to do. Plus, Teddy was probably concussed so his headspace was probably fucked up or something.

[text] But ultimately, this is up to you. I’d help you but I’m not gonna force you.

He started to set his phone down, but lifted it back to type one more thing. 

[text] Is my contact name in your phone my actual name? Change it to something else if so, please.

[bishop-percival]

@stuckinuniformdevelopment

(prev) Teddy perked up when he noticed how worried Mike was. He forced himself to sit properly before nodding. Then he rubbed the good side of his head and said, with his voice heavily tinged by guilt, “Sorry I-” Mike started talking again. Surely he already knew why he apologized. Once Mike was done for real Teddy averted his eye while idly stroking his fingers. After a moment he pulled out his phone and periodically glanced up at Mike as he texted him. [text] Is it worth the risk? [text] What if I get caught? [text] What if others try to kill me once I put interglornch murder back on the table? [text] What if I get away with it, only for Amy to kill me anyways to vent her frustration?

Mike tilted his head and blankly stared at Teddy as he got out his phone. He was about to walk closer when his own buzzed with a text, and it clicked with him what Teddy was doing and why. Talking aloud about this stuff anywhere in the Glornch wasn't wise, after all.

Mike set the ritual robe on a nearby chest and paced away as he looked at his phone. He was typing a response when more texts started coming. He waited until it seemed like Teddy was done.

From across the small room, he audibly sighed.

[text] Killing Bishop Percival is all well and dandy but when it comes to killing a violent stalker intent on seeing your death you're shaking in your boots? 

[bishop-percival]

@stuckinuniformdevelopment

(prev) Teddy slowly nodded. “Only because I was working on his mitre. But I’m far from the only watchdog who can sew.” He let out another sigh and stared at the floor. “I’ve seen how excited he gets whenever he thinks he found my replacement…” Teddy started to fiddle with his bowtie. “One of these he will. Or Sam will realize that she could find one herself.” “Or, at the very least…” Teddy averted his eye. “…they’ll have an excuse to get rid of me prepared.” Then Teddy clenched his eye shut and trembled. “And they’re already stalking me…”

Mike intently listened as he continued his pace. He was nearby to catch Teddy quietly say how Sam was stalking him. 

Wide-eyed, he turned and said “She is?” He looked down at the robe in his hands with unease. “I see… He’s acting on his threat now that he wasn’t promoted.”

“Well,” he shrugged, “I can think of one way to end Sam’s campaign against you for good…”

[bishop-percival]

@stuckinuniformdevelopment

(prev) Teddy glanced at Mike out of the corner of his eye, then turned further away when he noticed that he was still inspecting his wounds. “It was nice of her to carve an anti-lock picking sigil,” he said with a nod. This incident only reinforced his opinion that Reverend Miriam was, ironically, one of the kinder Glornists. “Even if it was only for the sake of convenience.” As soon as those words left Teddy’s mouth he awkwardly shifted. No amount of wishful thinking could trick him into believing that he could rely on Reverend Miriam after he outlived his usefulness. Teddy’s head sunk when Mike asked about his plans. “If it was only a matter of overpowering her I’d jump them before they recover from their injuries but…” He rubbed his head, then flinched and plunged his hands into his pockets when he accidentally touched the bruise left from Sam’s attempt to crack his skull open. “Well..,” Teddy clenched his eye shut. “The only reason I wasn’t in Thomas’ place was…” It was hard to bring himself to say it. So he didn’t. Instead, he sighed while sinking down Mike’s chair in defeat.

Mike frowned as he thought about how he had to beg and do a million favors for Miriam before she carved the sigil on his door.

He tilted his head. “In Thomas’ place? As the sacrifice? Well, because you were working on Percival’s mitre, no?”

[bishop-percival]

@stuckinuniformdevelopment

(prev) Teddy wasn’t sure what to think of Mike’s concern. Was it was genuine? Or maybe it was akin to inspecting a damaged pawn. Either way… he could probably trust him well enough as long as their goals aligned. He looked back at him in mild confusion before turning his head and tilting it up so he could get a better view. Once he turned his head Mike could see a far darker bruise on the back. “I…” Well, whether anything he did helped or hurt his odds of survival depended entirely on when Sam had decided to kill him. After a moment Teddy shrugged before saying, “Your sister saved me.”

Mike inspected the darker bruise as well as he pieced together the actions of Sam’s assault. Yikes! From the bruise to Teddy’s wobbliness earlier, Mike presumed he had a concussion. 

He cracked a wry grin hearing about Miriam. “She did?”

The way it was presented made her sound so heroic. He was sure she had her selfish motives for doing so. She always does. Though a look of worry soon came back to him. He was also sure being nearly killed wasn’t a good look for Teddy. And Miriam often likes to let Bishop Percival know who she’s unimpressed with.

Mike started to idly and slowly pace. “So what’s next? Just gonna do Sam’s bidding without contest from now on, or?”

[bishop-percival]

@stuckinuniformdevelopment

(prev) Teddy went to sit down at Mike’s desk before he could knock any valuable artifacts over. He didn’t care if he pissed Mike off by stealing his seat. It couldn’t be worse than passively listening to another reverend telling him to grow a spine. “Fighting back made it worse. So I made the mistake of trying to endure it.” Then he removed his hood to reveal nasty bruises coupled with an almost equally nasty glare. “I learned not to do that again when they almost killed me.”

Mike followed Teddy over to his desk and had a slight look of disapproval on his face when his seat got stolen, but given the current circumstances he could forgive it. 

His disapproving look became one of concern as he examined the bruises. “Well yeah of course fighting back is gonna make it worse but-…” Mike shut up when he realized he was about to basically repeat what Teddy just said. He sighed as he straightened back up.

“What’d you do to get out of it alive?”

[bishop-percival]

@stuckinuniformdevelopment

(prev) Teddy froze when he noticed how Mike seemed unwilling to let him excuse himself. After a long pause he wilted and started nervously fiddling with his bowtie. “A few hours. Sam…” Teddy paused to let out a shaky sigh. “…made it clear that she expected a quick turnaround.”

Mike frowned as he pieced everything together from the mere mention of Sam. 

He lowered and tilted his head in an effort to better see Teddy’s face. “Hmph. They kicked your ass? How hard? Did you fight back?”

[bishop-percival]

@stuckinuniformdevelopment

(prev) “Oh, it’s nothing urgent.” Teddy shook his head. For he truly had no personal investment in when Cyrus and/or Lola got yelled at. All that mattered was that it’d all but certainly happen. “I’ll let Cyrus know that I realized I should hand it directly to you.” He continued to speak as he turned around and placed the neatly folded robe in Mike’s hands. All while keeping his eye downcast to avoid showing the strangulation marks under his chin. “In case you can’t.” Teddy had just let go when his head seemed to want to crash to the floor. He swayed before managing to brace himself by pressing his hands to his knees. After a moment he fixed his posture in an attempt to pass it off as a bow. Then he stepped past Mike while resting his hand on a sturdy shelf along the way. “I’ll return after I finish Sam’s robe.”

“I can certainly let Cyrus know.” And Mike would certainly give them a piece of his mind too.

He took a step back as Teddy stooped forward in an awkward bow. But it wasn’t fooling Mike. Everything about him seemed weird that morning and it became clear he was likely hiding something.

Mike followed alongside Teddy. “Yeah? How long will that be, about?”

[bishop-percival]

@stuckinuniformdevelopment

(prev) Teddy flinched when Mike indirectly remarked on his robe. He glanced back. For a bit he strongly considered shoving Cyrus’ robe into his hands and leaving before he could take a close look at him. After a moment he shook his head and stepped inside. Then he got out of the walkway and asked, without turning around, “Where should I put this?” He paused to scan the room for a clear surface. “Did you have a chance to read my invoice?”

Mike curiously side-eyed Teddy as he walked past him. Then once he was inside, Mike peeked out into the hallway to check if anyone else was nearby as well, though it was a force of habit more than anything. He stepped back in and closed the door behind him.

“I’ll get to it today,” he replied. Then he extended his hands out. “I can take that.”

[bishop-percival]

@stuckinuniformdevelopment

(prev) “Yes.” With that Teddy hung up. There was a soft knock a minute or so later. It was followed by another that was a bit louder than a typical knock. Teddy nervously waited on the other side while trying to keep his ears peeled and body still. The robe in question was tucked under his arm and his own robe’s hood was pulled up to cover his face.

Seated at his desk, Mike just barely heard the soft knock and glanced around the room, unsure if it was the door or if something fell off a shelf (a common occurrence.) But once the louder knock confirmed that it was probably Teddy, he got up to let him in. The short amount of time it took for him to arrive and the fact he was delivering the mended ritual robe suggested to Mike that he had been tailoring in the laundry room this entire time. Which was fine, but he usually did that in the evenings after work. 

Seeing a hooded figure at first glance made Mike hesitate. He wasn’t expecting Teddy to show up in his robe because he rarely wore it outside of Slornday mass. But his height quickly gave him away, and Mike stepped out of the doorway to allow him entrance.

“Hey. Is it extra chilly in here today or something?”

[bishop-percival]

@stuckinuniformdevelopment

(prev) “I work nine to five,” Theodore briskly said. Mike’s tone didn’t seem promising. Perhaps he should stick to his initial plan of rushing holing up in the science wing and making a beeline to the Glornch the instant his shift ended. Besides, he really shouldn’t operate machinery before his coordination improved. Teddy once again scanned the area while rubbing his head. “So I have a little time after I drop this off.”

Mike glanced at a nearby clock. “Yeah but…”

He then realized all of his questions would probably be answered if he just let Teddy meet with him.

“Drop what off, that one ritual robe? Alright. Just knock and I’ll let you in.”

[bishop-percival]

Reverend Mike had been a busy priest these last few days. Between Bishop Percival being gone for who-knows-how-long and Miriam taking a backseat to recover, there was a lot of work on his plate. 

After providing the rest of the clergy with directions for the day, Mike decided he’d focus his work in the crypt. Not only did he need to catch up on some cleaning and maintenance that he’d been putting off, but locking himself in the crypt provided a nice, quiet, motivating atmosphere to get other work done.  

Mike had just finished taking a quick inventory and was preparing to work on other projects when his phone rang. He was rather surprised to see it was Teddy. Teddy had been a huge help to Mike the past week, offering to take on tasks for him to lighten his workload. Mike wasn’t sure what to make of this sudden enthusiasm to help, but he didn’t question it much as he was more than happy to shove some responsibilities onto another person. But it felt a bit odd receiving a call from him this early in the morning.

“...Morning,” he replied a bit apprehensively. “The Glornch crypt, why? Aren’t you working?”

Teddy dreaded going back to the Glornch. Yet staying away wasn’t an option. He had to make up for the time he lost from his med bay stay last night.

After all, if that robe wasn’t repaired by the time Sam demanded it he may not escape with only a concussion. There was no choice but to call in sick, only to ignore the doctor’s orders to rest by dragging himself to his second job.

By eight Teddy had already finished reattaching the sleeve to Cyrus’ ritual robe while waiting for his reports on the demons he had met to send. These items gave him the perfect justification for seeking Mike out.

After awhile he realized that Mike was likely either out of the Glornch or in an area an acolyte didn’t have access to. He carefully checked to ensure that there were no Glornists nearby before calling him.

“Morning.” Teddy’s voice had a strained quality to it. “Where can I find you?”