The Abbey

[Outisakanobody]

"You'd need to go back to your home for more tattoos? Is it a hard to learn art?" Ignis asks with a tilted head.

[Kidney]

Tod perked up, not many people cared to listen to him about all this.

"Well, the tattoos have to be in a very specific order, on certain parts of the body and have to be specific phrases. Sadly it's a very strange process, far too complex in my opinion," Tod said with a sort of melancholy entering his voice. He wasn't too keen on returning home. 

"I hope to return home only if I lose more than four tattoos, they are my magic source, and I refuse to be left in a disadvantage in their absence," Tod shifted his hands, wiping his sweaty palms on his coat, "perhaps I will bring different tattoos back after my limited visit, a good idea, no?"

[Outisakanobody]

"...How would you lose tattoos? Are they not permanent?" Ignis asked, rather bewildered by the implication of that statement, enough that her curiosity eclipsed all other topics.

[Kidney]

Tod smiled, "Well, with magical exertion, I lose them. Light manipulation and all that."

He shrugged, "The entire process is scarily alien to me. It feels like a tattoo, and then I spend a certain amount of time enchanting the skin. But soon, that enchantment wears off. Y'know what I mean?"

[Outisakanobody]

"Magic...mmm. Could you show me any of this magic?" Ignis asked, polite but skeptical.

[Kidney]

Tod sighed, but smirked, still, beyond his extreme unconformability. But, he reached behind himself to yank the crucifix off the desk, before holding it towards Ignis. He raised a hand behind this crucifix, in the standard casting position. He peeked around this hand configuration with a bit of an inquisitive face, "Oh yeah, May I? Have to ask, the magic has to be consensual."

He took his eyes away, he almost didn't like the words that came out of his mouth. In the presence of a woman, his words felt nearly sour.

[Outisakanobody]

"What are you planning on doing exactly?" Ignis asked, leaning forward closer to Tod.

[Kidney]

He had already forgotten what he was doing. "Oh...yeah! Its a ward of a sort, it lingers as long as I can remember I have it on."

He waved a hand as she got closer as if greeting her another time, turning the cross down to 'boop' her on the nose, "So, are you alright with me going ahead?"

[Outisakanobody]

"I suppose." Ignis says,rubbing her beak after the boop.

[Kidney]

Tod nodded, eyes coming to an almost creepy squint before he began to speak. "Praesidium."

Tod opened his eyes again, the nagging of the slow energy leeching coming from the very being of Ignis, it hurt him. But, he straightened his back and brought his heartbeat to a manageable level. He smiled, "Now anybody who tries to hurt you will get quite the vengeful smack."

The feeling of the sanctuary came over Ignis, a feeling of quiet protection, strangely stemming from Tod's body, around his abdomen.

[Outisakanobody]

"Hmm. It would seem like there would only be one way to test if your magic is as powerful as you say." Ignis replies, tapping on her beak in thought.

[Kidney]

Tod smiled placing the crucifix down behind himself, "Well, it isn't immensely powerful!" he giggled, raising his hands up. He returned to form, "But yes, I imagine its a very specific test."

[Vanitypirate]

There was a man who was sat on a pew in the corner of the Abbey' s main hall, brow resting on a loosely-closed fist belonging to his lone arm.
It was Alphonse, and he was meaning to draw strength from his Faith as one would come up for air.
With his eyes closed, he sought out the Light for guidance; truthfully, he never felt so lost as he did now, knee-deep in evil he could scarcely defend himself against, let alone others.

That woman, Audrey-- it seemed so unfair that she should die in that Pit along with countless other anonymous lives unlisted by the Crier's notice. It chilled his blood to think on who else might have been spirited away without anyone's notice...

He had to put his trust in the Saints above, it seemed, that his efforts, while good-natured, where not entirely futile. They had rescued the Arbalest, and Celeste was safe, after all.
The fact did little to comfort Alphonse.

[Outisakanobody]

"Hmm. I'm afraid without proper proof I can't believe in your...magic." Ignis says, folding her arms over her chest and fixing Tod with her masked eyes and face.

//

Tazia had been wandering around, as she was want to do, and wound up in the Abbey. She still made quite the sight with her colorful and extravagant attire, but she tried to be quiet and respectful.

...until she saw someone other than a run-of-the-mill monk or nun sitting in a pew. Seeing a chance for entertainment, she sauntered over quietly, sneaking up behind Alphonse and whispering "What troubles you, my son?" In his ear.

[Vanitypirate]

Alphonse tensed and seemed like to jump out of his pew at the sound of the whispering voice behind him.
Instead, he caught sight of the masked woman and relaxed, partly, though a shred of concern still remained.

"Senorita," He began, bewildered, and ran a hand through his hair as he peered into the mask, "You... do not seem like a priest."