Conversation · Plaisance

"It was the only way to get this investigation going."

"What are you talking about? It's just a door."

"Just a door?! This place is cursed, detective! They don't call it the Doomed Commercial Area for nothing -- just look at the sheer amount of companies that have failed in this house!"

"I hope you're happy now, happy that you've ruined everything... Now that you've broken the door the curse is coming to get me as well." She closes her eyes and starts mumbling something to her pendant.

"Host Almighty," she prays, "guard me and my honest business venture from the curse that lurks behind the door, blessed be your name..."

"Oh, sorry, I didn't know about the curse."

"Of course you didn't, you're nothing but a policeman." She shrugs, visibly dejected.

"Alright, you know what? I'm willing to let you investigate the Doomed Commercial Area. We are set on the path... there's little else to do."

Her façade has dropped. Now you see the curiosity behind the fear.

"But... before we go on, tell me... did you encounter the malignant Entity?" Her eyes narrow, as she whispers the name.

"Cursed? But curses aren't real, ma'am."

"Of course you would think that, you're nothing but a policeman." She shrugs, visibly dejected.

"Cursed? But I thought the curse wasn't real."

"Of course you did, you're nothing but a policeman." She shrugs, visibly dejected.

"Look, I've got this decomposing body I really need to put in a fridge down there."

"You fool! You've gone and unleashed unimaginable evil, all for the sake of a refrigerator!"

"Sometimes it's necessary to resort to extreme measures."

"You're alive and well! Don't keep me waiting now. What's in there?" She's looking for the right expression. "In that dark sarcophagus?"

"The dark sarcophagus..." (Pause dramatically.)

"Yes, yes? How was it?"

Tell her how ghasssstly it was! You know it's what she wantssss to hear...

"Honestly -- a dump. Nothing to see there, just heaps of garbage. Someone should let the sunshine in."

"But... what else did you find? Did anything survive? No. Of course not. Have you located the... Entity?"

You don't have anything of substance to tell her until you've found that Entity of hers.

"I am in no position to give out personal opinions."

"Please, do tell! Did anything survive? Have you located the... Entity?"

"It was a charnel house of failed business enterprises, leeching life energy from this bookstore."

"I knew it!" A tremor runs through her. "Oh, such horrors that have been thrust upon us..." She shakes her head.

"Hold on, I actually haven't done anything yet. I just wanted to ask a few questions."

"Oh." Her disappointment is obvious. "What about?"

"Welcome to Crime, Romance, and Biographies of Famous People. My name is Plaisance." The clerk extends a greeting.

"Be welcome -- and please take responsibility for the energy you bring into this space."

A golden pendant hangs around the woman's neck, in the shape of what looks like a tiny fish head trapped in amber.

Her face looks powdery and painted from all the make-up.

"No thanks." [Leave.]

"So, are you the owner of this store?"

"I am. The proudest owner of our little shop of culture." Her voice is high-pitched, as if to give it more penetration.

She has fine-tuned her voice to find the most welcoming approach for attracting new customers. It doesn't work.

"A curious pendant you're wearing." (Narrow your eyes mysteriously.)

"Oh yes, helps to have an anchor in these times." She clutches the pendant and narrows her eyes as well.

"Before we go on... you seem to be well off enough, can you give me some money? I feel there won't be an opportune moment to ask later."

"Sir! Don't be ridiculous. I certainly will not give you money." She gives you a disapproving look. "I would be doing you a grave psychic disfavour..."

"One has to earn one's success, even if one is a police officer. Handouts are nothing but manipulation, all they do is make you dependent."

Certainly there are good things to be said about dependence.

"It would forge ties between us working people -- good practice for fighting our common enemy."

"Now hey there." She raises her finger. "Sounds like someone isn't taking responsibility for the energy they bring into this space..."

"Fighting, enemy... my philosophy is everyone just getting along."

"Damn, you're right. What kind of a business relationship would that kick-start?"

"Exactly. In this kind of a business relationship I could come and critique your work any time. I could demand things from you, limiting your creative freedom."

"We wouldn't want that."

"Excuse me, I don't even know why I said that. A lapse of professionalism that does not represent my values."

"Oh my. Of course." She looks at you and adds, "What a man."

She's energetically impressed with you and your values. This is sincere. She's the kind of person who believes in telling a man that he's quite the man while he's being very manly.

"You misunderstand me. I'm a powerful feudal lord. I demand tribute. This is about traditions."

"Now hey there." She raises her finger. "Sounds like someone isn't taking responsibility for the energy they bring into this space..."

"Tribute, power... these are not the traditions we're used to in this part of the world."

What is this insolence? She misunderstood.

No, that's not me.

Of course. No one puts words in your mouth.

Son, you got destroyed there. What an idiot you are...