Marco's Heart

[peccatore]

You find yourself in a bright white, circular room. It's nearly empty; too bare, almost clinically so. But the bareness of it means that what is visible here stands out:

A podium in the center, where a familiar figure sits, head buried in his hands. Three paths running from the podium to three different spots near the edges of the room - not corners; circles don't have corners - where three doors leading seemingly nowhere stand with no regard for their complete lack of structural support.

It doesn't take you long to figure out where you are, does it? You only have to decide where to start.

Comments

[peccatore]

"You-- You've read that much? Already?"

Given that this IS the Bible as Marco remembers it, chances are it's pretty abridged.

[nevercaught]

"I am a fast reader," Jarlaxle says, "and admittedly, I may have skimmed the genealogical bits somewhat. But no, this book Genesis is very interesting and I find I have much sympathy to Isaac, as someone who was also meant to be sacrificed by a parent and then was not. Should I continue on with the second book, Exodus?"

[peccatore]

"I... You... S-Sure."

He hesitates.

"... For Christianity... Which Catholicism is derived from... The most relevant information is, in the New Testament. It, uh."

Marco's brow furrows. He's looking for a word, and it's not coming to him, and it's frankly frustrating.

"It... retcons... many parts of the Old Testament."

That's not the word he wants. This annoys him visibly.

[nevercaught]

"Retcon?" This is perhaps not a word that Jarlaxle is familiar with.

[peccatore]

"It, it means, er-- There are parts of the Old Testament that are no longer... applicable, to Catholic people. Because the New Testament stated different things."

[nevercaught]

"Oh, I see. Let me skip ahead to your New Testament, then. Which book should I start with?"

[peccatore]

"Uh."

He doesn't know.

"The... The first one."

[nevercaught]

Jarlaxle consults the table of contents.

"The book of Matthew, it says."

He opens to that section and begins to read again. "Ah!" he says, a few pages in. "Here is a devil. He is trying to get the demigod Jesus to do or say certain things and Jesus is refusing."

[peccatore]

"That would-- Yes. That would be the Devil."

[nevercaught]

"The devil?"

[peccatore]

"Y... Yes."

He doesn't appear to have it in him to elaborate.

[nevercaught]

"Huh." He reads another chapter. "Oh, I see, this is where the hells come in. Have you been calling people fools very often?"

[peccatore]

"I, I don't... I'm not... Maybe?"

[nevercaught]

"Ah, and now it wants you to mutilate yourself rather than sin—which seems to be connected to looking at women lustfully? Hm. I am glad I am not a Catholic, then."

[peccatore]

"It... It's not an ideology that most people here would align with. No."

[nevercaught]

"Have you ever thought of converting to another religion?" Jarlaxle asks, quite seriously. "One that does not consign people to the hells for minor infractions?"

[peccatore]

"M... Most people don't care about the minor infractions, I can assure you." He sighs.

[nevercaught]

"But you do seem quite sure you are going to the hells and you deserve it," Jarlaxle says seriously. "What did you do that you think is so very bad?"

[peccatore]

The confusion fades. The crushing guilt starts to set in again.

He hides his head fully behind his legs.

[nevercaught]

"Marco," Jarlaxle says, gently. "I want to help you. If you tell me what it is that you have done, perhaps we can find a solution together."

[peccatore]

"A solution...?" He scoffs. "It's too late for that."

[nevercaught]

"You're not fully dead yet," Jarlaxle points out.

[peccatore]

"This isn't about me. It's about... about the people I've hurt."

[nevercaught]

"Ah," Jarlaxle says. "That is what this is about? Then I suppose you ought to tell me about it. Or show me if that is easier."

[peccatore]

"That's... what this is about."

He's looking towards the doors now - especially the ones to the west and east.