The journey back is thankfully ambush-free, giving Alfred zero opportunities to duck away from your stirring retelling of the night's assorted shenanigans. He accepts your version with surprisingly-little resistance, either accustomed to the unique brand of insanity that trails at your heels or too exhausted to protest.
Eileen's got a rather quick walk, unfortunately, so you've only reached the opening segment of the assault on Grand Cathedral by the time Oedon Chapel slides into view around a corner. You pause your incredibly accurate pantomime of the big fat flappy-necked bastard to pass Alfred a cross, which he takes without a word.
"Don't lose that before goin' inside or ye'll fry ta death," you inform him. He nods glumly.
The chapel's ground floor is quiet and sparsely-populated compared to the crowded mess you're accustomed to. Iosefka, flanked by her tiny nurses' assistants, has Djura hooked up to an IV in the corner. What Churchmen are about have given her a sizable radius with which to operate while they play cards or argue quietly with one another over where to put Rosemary, whom they have repurposed as a coat rack. Arianna occupies the opposite corner alongside Agatha, talking idly about the history of Yharnam, while the suspicious guy crouches in his little rubbish nest and munches carefully on an unidentifiable fruit.
"The rest are either on the roof or on one of the upper floors with their guns out the windows," Eileen whispers. "We were having a strategy meeting until Steffon dragged Djura down here and you decided to test Ebrietas' shot put."
"I was thinkin' more lawn darts, actually."
"I imagine she'd be disqualified no matter what sport it was."
"Racism is a wound that will not heal."
"Anyway," says Eileen, forcefully wrangling the conversation back onto the track, "we can resume whenever you're ready."
"Mind if I introduce Alfred ta Ebrietas first? I'll bring whoever's up there back after I'm done."
"Go ahead."
You motion for Alfred to follow you, which he does after a moment's delay, and the two of you soon reach the rooftop. Liam moves to meet you.
"She's been worrying about you since she heard you hit the ground. Go apologize."
You're not used to being talked down to, but Liam uses his freakish height amazingly well. He doesn't even have to raise the dreaded index finger to express his overpowering disappointment in you.
The gigantic cephalopod in question slithers over in a hurry and gives you a quick once-over. You lower your head and scratch the back of it, grinning weakly.
"Sorry 'bout that; was struck by inspiration and didn't think things through."
I'm just glad you're okay. Your regeneration is unbelievable, but do you have to take it for granted like that?
"As a wise man once said: 'when ye've got it, flaunt it.' But I'll be more careful from now on, alright."
Thank you. Where did your friend go?
You spin around to see that Alfred has, indeed, done a runner. You give Ebrietas the "just one moment" sign and hustle down the stairs, taking care not to make too much noise in case Iosefka's got something sharp in an important place on Djura's arm.
Thanks to an unfortunate stumble on the Executioner's part, you catch up with him not far outside the doorway and wrap up his arm. The man's nearly hyperventilating and his eyes are faintly bloodshot.
"Now that was just fuckin' rude," you admonish him.
"You," he manages to breathe, "are an utter madman. Your friends are madmen. I refuse to be a part of this. You are going to burn the world down and I have something I need to take care of before that happens. Let me go."
[] Let him go
[] Drag him back
[] Roundtable with Eileen
[] Head back into the Nightmare
[] Write in...