BLAIR :

Blair smirked at the Cardinals flirty aura he was giving off. getting his change from the waitress, he moved onto the other section of the coffee shop, which was a metaphysical store, selling crystals, oils, teas, incense and more. blair was way too excited, fiddling with the stones as he planned which ones he wanted to buy 

“Cardinal! come check this out while they’re making our coffee!”

Blair was so happy that his hands were shaking, causing some crystals to accidentally fall from his fingers, immediately picking them up and putting them back afterward. eventually, he ended up with some Angelite, Tree Agate, Blue Goldstone, and of course, a piece of labradorite.

“if you would like to, you can pick out a stone and I can wire wrap it into jewelry for you if you would like.” he spoke to the cardinal as the higher-up looked over the specimens 

         It’s only when Blair insists on the Cardinal’s attention  does he realise that those “shiny rocks” weren’t a questionable choice in shop aesthetics but something to actually buy.       ❛ Huh.   Well,  I am curious to see what you could come up with. ❜        His spindly fingers pick out several stones at random and each go through a great deal of scrutiny and examination.    Too dark.    Too bright.    Too matte.     Too garish.     He finally decides on something that resembles a garnet in colour,  but he’s unsure of its terminology.     Whatever. 

         It’s deep red and that’s good enough for him.         ❛ How about it? ❜        Holding it close to his complexion,  idle hand presenting as if he were in one of those abysmally American infomercials.        ❛ Red is my colour wouldn’t you say. ❜

BLAIR :

“Cardi!” Blair shouted as he heard the honk, looking over. he rushed over and started to guide the man off the street. gazing at the sign, Blair nodded at the Cardinals statement.”yes, we are here” he chuckled. 

Blair let the higher up go through the alley first. the covered ally way dark but lead to a beautiful courtyard. ivy grew on the walls, vintage couches sat in a little alcove, and there were flowers galore. softly music played over a loudspeaker while wind chimes softly chimed. overall the aesthetic matched that of the 1920s or 30s with the old metal fire escape and the metal garden table sets to add to the look. 

Blair took the mans hand, their fingers interlacing. the leather on his hands was warm from being pressed against his skin. the young tailor was excited to experience something as gorgeous as this. he pulled Copia along, leading him through an open door. it was small, but it divided off into another section which Blair wanted to wait to should the cardinal. behind the counter on the wall was a large chalkboard with all of their drinks and foods. Blair had looked beforehand at the menu on their website, so he already knew what he wanted. 

“uh, ill have a large, whole milk lavender caramel latte and I want… a simple croissant.”

“You two together?” the woman questioned.

“yes, he still needs to look” Blair pulled out a 20 and placed it on the counter so he could easily pay once he said what he wanted

          When Blair takes him by the hand it catches him off guard,  but he’s not about to question it.    People aren’t usually so hands on with the Cardinal;  Ergo,  it was oddly nice to know SOMEBODY had a level of comfort around him,  as casual as the context was.   He blinked in befuddlement and left it at that.   His attention is quickly diverted to the serenity of their surroundings —— Realising with just once skim over as to why Blair had been quick to recommend the place.   Though he may not seem it to some,  Copia was a man of   ( occasionally )   SIMPLE-but-still-champagne taste.    To his surprise they are amongst the few that are seated —— Prices,  maybe?    Wonderful.    He’s a believer in you get what you pay for.    Copia sits in idle bedazzlement still taking in the ambience.   As Blair does the momentary talking for him,  he squints at the chalkboard,  spoiled for choice.      All that came out of his mouth was a monotonous        ❛ Uhhh, ❜      as the woman serving them turns her back with a coy smile,  prepping the coffee.

          A good thirty seconds passes until the familiar and all too enticing scent of millefeuille seduces him,  drawing his gaze to an array of cold pastries encased in glass and fluorescent light.      He turns to Blair,  a deadpan and awfully STERN look on his face.        ❛ .  .  . Is it weird to have dessert for lunch.   Cause those look really good.   You’re having a croissant,  right?   Okay so I’m not totally abhorrent. ❜      Not that being the black sheep ever dissuaded him from anything.        ❛ J'ai voudrais une fraise millefeuille,  avec .  .  . ❜       Ah yes.   His basic,  broken French is returning to him.        ❛ Café Americain,  si vous plais.   Oh,  et .  .  . Fuck it,  I’ll have a large Cabernet Sauvignon too,  'scuse my French. ❜      He finishes off his little joke with an overtly flirtatious glance,  half-bent over the countertop.   It got another smile from their waitress who probably thought he was a real shyster by this point.     

BLAIR :

“Lots of people underestimate the amount of hard work that goes into tailoring, so I really appreciate that you sympathize with my struggles” he chuckled.

As they made their way into town, blair could smell the change of air, going. From an earthy to a sweet smell. Pulling up to a stop, Blair looked over, wanting to ask Copia something. He was stopped by the on going stare battle between him and a child. Both had their middle fingers up and from the reflection, he could see that the cardinals tongue hung from his mouth.

He couldn’t help but smile and shake his head at the two. “Cardinal Copia, leader of the ghost project, and a man who sticks his tongue out at children”

After a few more twists and turns, blair parked his car on the side of the road, getting out to fill the meter. “Come on, Cardi!” blair spoke loudly so the man could hear him through the door. there was a small alley way on the other side of the street which said ‘resistance cafe’.

        ❛ Well hey he started it, ❜         Still feeling a touch of bitterness Copia slouched further into black leather but as habit dictates,  he sheds ire with dry and PASSIVE sardonics.        ❛ Also, ❜      He starts,  waving a disciplinary finger in Blair’s face,        ❛ You forgot Head of the Church,  KING of the New World —— ❜         He smiled wryly,  his usual demeanour set in place like a disjointed bone.   Must be the self-inflation of his ego.   He liked Blair —— Copia had come to the conclusion.   He had an easy-going propensity that could be best described as the polar OPPOSITE to those within the Clergy whose presence left Copia feeling utterly uptight and on edge,  names shall not be mentioned.    But thankfully their terse expressions VANISH from the Cardinal’s mind as the car slowed and his new companion announces their arrival.

         He opens the passenger side and hopped out,  spinning on his heel then slamming the door shut.   His CHARISMA shined no matter the occasion,  evidently.    But it’s not the charisma that has these people staring —— It’s .  .  . almost everything else about him.    Uncaring,  both women and men earn themselves a wink,  their horrified faces absconding the crowds.        ❛ Heh,  think they know who we are? ❜      That is in tongue and cheek,  of course.    Copia stepped out into the street before an oncoming car which slammed on the brakes,  emitting a terrible screech,  then proceeded to honk madly at the Cardinal who quite clearly cared as little as a nobleman did a pauper.        ❛ This way I presume. ❜      Pointing to the sign.        ❛ Ugh,  I’m starving. ❜

BLAIR :

“Hey, nice pick on music! I’ve been craving to listen to them” Blair tapped along to the beat of the song 

“French sounds great, I actually found out about this French courtyard cafe” Blair spoke happily. blair was in a good mood today, he didn’t know why, maybe it was because he got to leave the grounds for a little bit today, or maybe it was just a good day.

“the only time I can leave normally is to buy more fabric or visit Sister, but even then that is sparse because I’m so backed up with work.” he sighed “but today I decided to take a break and get out.” Blair had been longing for some fresh air for weeks. no offense to the ministry, but could they open a few windows, it’s always so musty. 

        ❛ Mm,   I commend you for your hard work —— I couldn’t keep up with a schedule that.   I’d fall asleep on the job. ❜      The very thought of it is mentally draining enough as it is.   Copia relaxed into the seat   ( his first time doing so since stepping foot into Blair’s car )   and watched the passing sights aimlessly.   The further they were from home,  the denser the population.       ❛ .  .  . Probably not want you want to be hearing from your Cardinal. ❜      He jests,  of course.   Copia is a scrupulous man in other ways.

          The buildings that pass them by are mostly shops,  restaurants and boutiques.    He spots a young boy staring at him through window glass as they come to a halt —— Its mother oblivious,  chatting away into the phone pressed to her ear.    Copia stared back as if taunting the kid for a reaction.    And he gets one in the form of a smile.    And middle finger.    The Cardinal glowered back at him,  returning the gesture and sticking his tongue out simultaneously.    As the car picked up speed again they leave the defeated child in their wake and a smirk on Copia’s face.

          ❛ I scarcely leave, ❜      his undersized opponent being a stark reminder as to why that is,      ❛ But I think I’m more equipped to coping with that better than most. ❜      His anemic-looking appearance was proof of such.       ❛ Though .  .  . It is good to not become too used to something.    Circumstance may call for vast knowledge of the unorthodox.    A shame that our dearly departed third Emeritus was example of being TOO comfortable with his own power;  I vowed to use his mistake as reason for me to strive harder. ❜      Copia makes an inverted cross and shook his head with feigned sympathy.    He could barely choke back a laugh.       ❛ Mm,  moving swiftly on,  we’re close are we not? ❜

BLAIR :      

“Oh, don’t thank me, Cardinal. it should be me thanking you! you are quite a busy man and you took time out of your day to meet with me” Blair said with a smile. his fingers tapped the steering wheel to the rhythm of the song. “…well, as I am your personal tailor, I was thinking this would be a nice chance to get to know each other more. this also is a nice change of scenery for once” he chuckled.

after the song had ended, Blair looked beside him at the center console. “if you would like, you can look through my cassettes and pick one out, I have quite a wide selection in there”  his head jutted, signaling to the console. not taking his eyes off the road, he popped out the Nine Inch Nails cassette, putting it back in the case, then opened the console and tossed it in. 

“So, Cardi, What kind of food were you looking forward to?”

         Might as well go along with the offer at hand.   The Cardinal meticulously thumbed through Blair’s cassettes,  recognising most titles.   He liked to take his time with things and make an executive decision regarding anything and everything no matter how mundane;  Because once he makes up his mind,  that’s it.   His precision is insight into the man at heart.   He settles on a plain black  &  purple distressed looking case that reads Electric Wizard.

❛ Cardi? ❜      He flashed Blair a sidelong smirk.   A peculiar moniker.   But he’s heard it before,  and it bothered him nought.      ❛ Ehh,  uhh,  hmm. ❜      Here he goes with the aforementioned decision-making.   Italian,  no.   He fancied something out of the ordinary.   Russian?   No,  too salty and even the damn vodka is pickled.       ❛ Does French sounds good to you?   Because that sounds good to me. ❜      Red wine .  .  . Bread .  .  . Yeah,  Copia,  so very different to Italian.   He’s not going to point out the irony to himself.

           ❛ And no,  no.   Please —— don’t thank me.   It’s an opportunity I don’t often have, ❜      he waves his hand to show diffidence.        ❛ I agree that it’s good to acquaint yourself with those that frequent your everyday environment. ❜       Who knows when you may need them to support your cause.       ❛ Do you get out much?   I imagine with your profession,  you’re quite busy yourself. ❜ 

BLAIR :

Closed starter for: @copiac

the wind blew through the car, letting in the cool autumn air as Blair Drove through the forest, heading to town. He had invited Cardinal Copia out to lunch to celebrate the Fall equinox a little late, thinking this would be a good way to get to know each other better. 

music played on the stereo as Blair sang along quietly. “It comes down to this. Your kiss. Your fist. And your strain, It gets under my skin. Within. Take in the extent of my sin…”

reaching over, he turned the volume down, he took quick glances at the cardinal as he spoke “are you excited for some time outside the ministry walls? I know I am” he chuckled “I missed how vibrant the leaves were” 

Copia looked odd in things other than his normal unholy vestments. today he dressed in a long sleeve black dress shirt, and a black vest, still adorned with an embroidered grucifix, his pants just as tight as the ones he wore on stage. his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showcasing a watch on his right arm. 

Blair was dressed in his normal Attire. white short sleeve dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, black suspenders and black pants. one of the only things new as of recently was his choice of wearing a hat, it seems he is never seen without it. other than that he sported new steel-toed combat boots which Sister Imperator had bought him before going into the hospital. 

        He’s transfixed with the visions outside.   Blackened trees amidst a sea of gold and amber leaves dancing in the breeze.   Like a hermit who’s never seen the outdoors,  the Cardinal took it all in,  mesmerised.    For a man who had a devil may care attitude towards the sanctity of life and a knife in the backs of those whom once placed their trust in him,  he could certainly appreciate the smaller pleasures and indulge earth’s sylvan beauty.   Or perhaps he was just under the spell of having gone stir-crazy.   

         He sat stiffly.    Shoulders tense,  and hands on his thighs,  fingers tap-tapping like spider legs wrapped in black leather.   Though he did not feel jittery he is rigid nonetheless.   Peculiar,   ever an enigma.    It’s as though he could not hear the music or Blair’s singing;  Copia is enveloped in his own world,   merely enjoying the change of scenery.   So much so that he came dangerously close to forgetting a response.

           ❛ Oh —— ❜        Blink.   Glance.   Blinks again.        ❛ Yes —— ❜          It’s not at all without reason that few suspect the Cardinal as being the lethal mastermind that he is.         ❛ Yes,  I must thank you for inviting me,  I can’t say I’ve had a surplus of offers. ❜         He dispelled any negative undertones with a laugh,  albeit a somewhat tepid laugh.        ❛ But that’s alright.    I’m aware it takes time to warm to new blood.    The leaves?    Mm,  they are stunning.    Which seems a strange thing to say. ❜        He busies his hands by picking at the hem of his gloves.      ❛ I must say I’m surprised a youngun like you wished to spend time with me.    Outside of business,   that is.    Kind of you,  Blair. ❜