Alan Rickman Character Imagines

Obadiah Slope

You had grown up in a household where religion wasn't practiced much. You knew about God and you were pretty sure you believed in him but at the same time you had never believed in anything. Only a couple of months ago you had moved to a town called Barchester where you started attending a local church. The chaplain Obadiah Slope caught your eye immediately, he was so handsome. You had gone to church every Sunday since then to hear his teachings and watch him. He spoke with such passion it drew you in. You and Obadiah had spoken almost every Sunday after mass. He seemed like such a sweet man, what you didn't know was that you brought out a softness in him that the congregation hadn't seen before.

You came from a very difficult background. Your parents had both passed away only a few months ago which is why you moved to Barchester in the first place. You moved here so you could live with your uncle since you had no other family. But your uncle was a drunk. Oftentimes he would sit and drink bottles of wine at night until he couldn't stand or even speak properly. You never judged, afterall he had just lost his sister and perhaps this was his way of coping. Until he started to hit you. He was a very angry drunk, first it started with mean words but it quickly escalated to him getting physical with you. A lot of times you would have bruises the next day. Most of the time they were easy to hide but on days like today when the bruise was on your neck and collarbone it wasn't so easy.

You had decided to stay home from church today. You knew people would ask about the bruise and you weren't a good enough liar to be convincing. This will be the first Sunday church service you've missed since you first started attending. You had planned to just stay in the house for the next couple of days but your uncle insisted you go to the market and pick something up. You didn't dare refuse so you went. You were in the process of paying for your things and heading back when you heard a deep unmistakable voice.

"Fancy seeing you here, Miss Y/L/N. I didn't see you at mass today which was odd considering you've attended every Sunday since you first moved to our little town." Obadiah's deep voice rang out through the crowd.

"Bishop Slope, it's nice to see you. No, I was not in mass today, I wasn't feeling well this morning." You lied.

"Well, I hope you're feeling better now. Does it perhaps have something to do with the bruise you're trying to cover?" He asked, brushing a strand of hair away from your collarbone.

"Um...Yes?" You replied with more of a question than an answer. You weren't even sure what to say.

"Mhm, and how pray tell did you get this?"

"I uh fell." You lied. Obadiah raised his eyebrow, it was very clear you were lying.

"Miss, Y/L/N I know you haven't been attending church long but you are aware that lying is a sin aren't you?" You stood there in silence, you weren't sure what to do now. He was right lying was a sin, but what would your uncle do to you if he found out you told someone? Would he kick you out, and if he did then what? You had nowhere else you could go, he was the only family you had left.

"I..."

"Why don't we go somewhere more private and you can speak to me more freely?" He suggested and led you away from the square by the small of your back. Before you knew you were standing at the entrance to the church and he was leading you inside. He led you to his personal office where he had you take a seat across from him.

"This is nice." You said, more so to fill the silence even though it was true. His office was very nice and organized.

"Thank you. Now why don't you tell me what's really on your mind? I can tell by the way you're carrying yourself that something is bothering you. You can tell me, you don't have to hide." Obadiah leaned his elbows on his desk showing that he was giving you his full attention.