The Book of Lucia, Chapter XVI - Beware of False Prophets

[Liesmith]

As soon as she stepped into the minibus and every head aboard swiveled to stare at her (and her blonde companion), Tris wondered if she’d made a really bad decision here.

She was used to being the centre of attention, being blessed with the sort of looks that turned heads wherever she went. It wasn’t that. It reminded her of some pubs back home, the ones where every local turned to look and went quiet the second someone new set foot inside.

It was more than a touch creepy and she thought quite seriously about turning around there and then. Her dignity wasn’t worth being kidnapped by some crazy cult of nun-wannabees. But Sister Chastity’s fulsome frame blocked the exit, the tall blonde’s hand gently but insistently steering her to a seat.

And, however much Tris might want out, she didn’t want it badly enough to throw herself out of a moving vehicle.

So instead she sat back, let the oddly soothing chatter wash over her with the odd ‘mmm’ when it seemed required and stared out the window. At the least, she supposed, her day definitely wouldn’t be dull.

And she was getting to see a side of Japan she hadn’t seen before – Tris hadn’t so far got out of Tokyo, so this was proving some of an eye opener for her. Instead of the busy streets and the modern roads, they wound their way up a track that clearly hadn’t been maintained for years under the shadow of old, gnarled trees with skeletal fingers clawing at the skies. Tris couldn’t help but grin.

Just like home.

A murmur from the rest of Chastity’s cadre brought her eyes forward, just in time to get her first look at this ‘church’ they had all been talking about. Sure, she knew there were Christians in Japan, had been for years, but that didn’t mean she expected an actual church.

Pausing as she left the minibus, the redhead raked a glance over it, lips curling dismissively. It looked big enough, she supposed. She didn’t care for it, probably wouldn’t have done even before it had been left to rot and ruin.

But she was there now, so Tris followed Sister Chastity to the steps and up, making sure to watch where she put her feet. Wondering, as she did, whether they’d been left like this as some sort of stupid ‘trial for the faithful’.

It just seemed on brand.

“Got to say, Chaz,” she sniped, “This place isn’t impressing me much so far. Do you even have wi-fi?”

Actually, Tris was starting to doubt if they had running water…

[BlackAkuma]

Sister Chastity was about to let on as much, but she had kept a keen eye on the woman as they made their trip back home, taking in little details. She had found that, often in life, you could learn a good deal from a person when they weren’t talking, when they were trying to fill the void of silence and occupy themselves as best they could.

Something was there in Tris. Uncertain? Discomfort? Not fear, but concern. She sensed the woman’s mind was less at ease, which made it all the more important to divert her attention to something she would be more attracted to. Sister Chastity felt she knew exactly what that would be, too, but first she had to get the woman to it.

”I can’t shake the impression that you’re not a woman who impresses easily…Tris.” She tried the nickname on for size, decided she liked it, and moved on as they made their way up the steps. ”And yes, we do have Wi-Fi, though I can’t remember the password off the top of my head. I rarely use the internet. Such a wasteland.” One of the few things from her upbringing that she still adhered to, as it turned out. ”If you need the connection, we can find Ellie on our way. She tends to handle our ‘tech issues’.”

They made their way inside, and Sister Chastity's words about the renovations proved true, though she might’ve undersold just how unorthodox the decor was. Though she would never describe it as such herself, one of her compatriots proclaimed that their facility looked like a cross between an orthodox Christian church and a BDSM club. The pews were black with red padding and gothic curls along the fringes, giving them a twisted flair. The stained-glass windows depicted women in different poses and frames, all exploring the wonder of the female body. The floor they walked on was plush, soft, and red as spilled blood, while darkened chandeliers hung above them. Torches even adorned the walls, though none were lit.

The centerpiece of it all was their organ, a towering thing the back of the room, with silver pipes that stretched to the ceiling. It would make quite a lovely sound when they a) had it fixed and b) found someone who could actually play it and was willing to join them.

As they moved down the aisle, they passed by scattered groups of their sisters hanging around. A few of them were currently working on one of the windows, getting a new one installed, this one showing the vague shape of a woman wrapping her legs around the other from behind in a bodyscissor, as luck would have it. A group of them chatted off to the side, saying something to themselves and giggling when they caught sight of Tris and Sister Chastity, and a couple were off in a dark corner, embracing and occasionally sharing kisses.

Then there was the woman approaching them, having just emerged from a staircase leading up from the lower levels. Tall, towering, she marched over their way and towered over them both, staring Tris’ way through the tangled mess of hair lining her face.

”Huh, you’re back. Little late, Lucia decided to go to the arena without you.”

gave Tris a quick up and down, lingering on the down noticeably longer than the up. ”You found some fresh meat?”

”Something like that.” Sister Chastity gestured between them. ”Beatrice, Prudence. Prudence, Beatrice.”