The Popestar

𝕻𝖆𝖗𝖙 𝕿𝖍𝖗𝖊𝖊- 𝕿𝖆𝖈𝖔 𝕿𝖆𝖑𝖐

Part Three- Taco Talk

Lucie woke up with panic as she realised she didn't know where she was. Startled, she quickly jumped up to see the man she met last night working on a desk in the middle of the room. "Oh dear, it's ok, it's only me." He says, putting his pen down to comfort her as she breathes heavily. He was wearing a red version of the Cassock this morning and had reading glasses on to help him through his paperwork. "You're more than welcome to have a bit longer asleep if you wish, I will be finished with my work in about half an hour. You can shower and change here, I will get a ghoul to fetch you your clothes."

"In your office?" Lucie groggily responds, confused.

"Ah, sister you see," he gets up and opens the door at the back of the room, "our bedrooms are attacked to our offices for efficiency, and privacy I suppose."

Lucie can barely keep her head up and she drifts back into a light sleep, making the Cardinal chuckle and shake his head. He'd placed her earrings and hair pins on the coffee table by the sofa as well as her shoes on the floor from the night before in attempt to make her comfier. Before he continued his work, he sent a ghoul to collect some of Lucie's clothes so she could change before having to run into anybody.

After about 15 minutes she sits up again, stretching and yawning, this time more conscious.

"Afternoon." Copia teases.

"How the fuck are you up so early? My head is pounding," Lucie says as she holds her head, reaching for the bottle of water the Cardinal had provided for her, also on the coffee table.

"Eh, I didn't drink much, I also did not cry waterfalls like you last night my dear."

"I'm beyond sorry, please send me the dry cleaning bill if I spilt tears on your clothes. God I'm so embarrassed."

"No! No! Please, relax, I was only joking my dear, I'm so glad you did," he continues looking down at his work, "The shower is ready for you next door and your clothes are out on the bed if you are ready."

"Cardinal, why are you being so kind?" She questions making him look up, pulling his glasses down.

"It's the least I can do my dear, get ready and we can go out and get food. Start fresh, really get to know one another, eh?"

Lucie agrees and proceeds to get ready to go to lunch with Copia.

***

Despite only having been there for nearly three days now, leaving the Ministry grounds was quite refreshing. Almost a relief. The two were driven into town in the same Victorian-looking car that Lucie was taken in from the airport. It was head turning, but recognisable to the locals. Copia had kept it causal but sophisticated out in the wild, sporting a button down black shirt paired with black trousers and his formal shoes. His eye makeup remained on.

"There's this wonderful Mexican down here that do delicious tacos you have to try!" Copia excitedly said. Lucinia followed his lead down the beautiful, vibrant and colorful streets of the small village. They were sitted quickly and made their orders as well as nachos to share between each other.

"So," Lucie began, "Tell me about yourself, who's the mysterious man who saved me from my worst nightmare last night?".

"It's always awkward to get going isn't it!" Copia laughed, "Well, I'm assuming you've already guessed that I'm a Cardinal at the Ministry, meaning I deal with a lot of the behind the scenes of services and rituals. I truly love my job. I actually do have the second most employee of the month awards, this is an achievement I hold close do my heart. There's not really much else to say about my job. Tell me sister, what brought you to the Ministry?"

"I'm assuming you've probably not already guessed my job, I'm not just a Sister of Sin, Sister Imperator has hired me as the Clergy dentist," Copia looked surprised, "Weird, I know, I know. It's always been something I was passionate about since I was small. I studied hard, knowing I had to get away from my parents and not suffer their fate in my life. I went to university, worked for a couple of years and found that the Ministry were looking, I applied and managed to get the job... and here I am!" Lucie says, munching on the taco that recently arrived, "These are really good by the way," she added.

"I told you! And Sister, wow! Nobody told me about this, that's truly great, although the dentist is not my favoured place to be, I think you will be amazing and do great things for us here! Did Sister tell you about what happened to the drummer ghoul last year? It was horrific, you'd have thought there was a murder! Poor little ghoul hit himself with his drums sticks and sent his front teeth flying into the air along with a shit ton of blood."

"Shit... well hopefully I will be of some use then!" Lucie laughs, "enough about me and work, tell me about you. What do you like to do outside of work?"

Copia blushes, "I'm a little embarrassed to admit this, but I am a keen father to a handful of rats. They keep me sane y'know? Something to care for and look after. I could show you one time. Don't worry if you're not interested...most people aren't."

"Of course I am! In fact I would like to meet all of your rats as soon as I possibly can!". Lucie and Copia chatted for over an hour before deciding it was a good idea to head back to the Ministry.

They pulled up to the large doors, knocking awaiting the ghoul to let them in. Copia have Lucie a hug after walking her back to her chamber and told her that his office is always open if she ever needed.

Lucie walked into her room for the first time in nearly a whole day. She never thought she'd meet anyone like Copia, and certainly not become so close so quickly. It was reassuring.