follwrshep

[follwrshep]

Shep walked slowly to the vestry, humming under their breath in absolute contentment. Their holy pilgrimages always filled them with a sense of peace - a true raw evil that glorn itself must fill them with! Their conscience was as clear as day.

First, they peeked a head inside to check for signs of Percival. Then - upon noticing him inside - they walked within the vestry with a warm smile. It was simply divine to see Glorn embodied so soon after their holy mission!

“Dearest Percival! It’s wonderful to see you!” It called out, bowing his head in respect upon their approach.

@bishop-percival

[follwrshep]

Shep - upon being so suddenly apprehended - squirmed and attempted to shriek through Freddy’s hand over their mouth. Having barely gotten a a glimpse of their attacker, all that the Glornist registered was a sudden, searing pain as they were shoved against the wall and the sound of what they, at first, assumed to be the voice of Teddy - until the mention of a brother, that was.

Flarg. They didn’t realise his brother spotted them.

Shep writhed fruitlessly in Freddy’s grasp, straining their eye to glare at their attacker as it squirmed. They - admittedly - had neglected to pay much kind to Freddy throughout their time both with and around Teddy. Freddy just.. didn’t interest them, with him being a scout and unaffiliated with the glornch.

An oversight on their end, but one that they had to make up for with caution in this situation.

“Stalking is such a - hgk - strong word..! I was just watching, I wasn’t..-! Even doing anything!”

It made sense he’d act now - with everything going on with Teddy - but why was it being punished for it!?

It didn’t start out as stalking.

Really! Shep wasn’t opposed to the idea regardless, but that wasn’t what this started as - not in their mind, at least.

It was just.. passing Teddy in the halls and staring at him a little longer than usual. Approaching to maybe talk before deciding against it and skirting out of view. Maybe tagging along if they weren’t clad in their typical glornch attire just to see what he was up to! Then it was trying to recall his schedule, the routes he liked to take - waiting from far corners to see if they’d gotten it right. Then it was following. First from the end of the hallway , then from as close as they could get without being caught.

They didn’t mean anything by it! It just became a habit - and they’d never been able to break those easily. It came as naturally as prayer after a while, it was essentially part of their day-to-day life.

Sure, Shep had gotten a little more daring as of late, but they’d never do anything past their established schedule! It would be too awkward to start conversations with Teddy after so long, anyway.

Still.. they watched from the far-end corner of the hallway , too-loose cloak pulled forward further over their eye than usual as Teddy passed by. They always knew where their closest exit was - in case he glanced their way. A supply closet, a conveniently located corner, etcetera. They weren’t doing anything wrong.. (at least not in their own mind) but they were still adverse to Teddy knowing they were around at all.

So , unmoving, unrelenting, Shep simply watched.

@stuckinuniformdevelopment

[follwrshep]

[follwrshep]

It didn’t start out as stalking.

Really! Shep wasn’t opposed to the idea regardless, but that wasn’t what this started as - not in their mind, at least.

It was just.. passing Teddy in the halls and staring at him a little longer than usual. Approaching to maybe talk before deciding against it and skirting out of view. Maybe tagging along if they weren’t clad in their typical glornch attire just to see what he was up to! Then it was trying to recall his schedule, the routes he liked to take - waiting from far corners to see if they’d gotten it right. Then it was following. First from the end of the hallway , then from as close as they could get without being caught.

They didn’t mean anything by it! It just became a habit - and they’d never been able to break those easily. It came as naturally as prayer after a while, it was essentially part of their day-to-day life.

Sure, Shep had gotten a little more daring as of late, but they’d never do anything past their established schedule! It would be too awkward to start conversations with Teddy after so long, anyway.

Still.. they watched from the far-end corner of the hallway , too-loose cloak pulled forward further over their eye than usual as Teddy passed by. They always knew where their closest exit was - in case he glanced their way. A supply closet, a conveniently located corner, etcetera. They weren’t doing anything wrong.. (at least not in their own mind) but they were still adverse to Teddy knowing they were around at all.

So , unmoving, unrelenting, Shep simply watched.

@stuckinuniformdevelopment

[follwrshep]

Cornflakes dearest Percival

PRAISE GLORN🫶thank you glorn for this meal and this service

[follwrshep]

//blood

[follwrshep]

Dry cereal Percival beloved

PRAISE GLORN🫶thank you glorn for this meal and this service

[follwrshep]

PRAISE GLORN🫶thank you glorn for this meal and this service

[follwrshep]

Shep peeked at the design, leaning forward a little and moving their hood.

“Oh, I see! But why would Percival design something he claims to hate so much? Your original sketch looked wonderful! I suppose it’s as glorn wills it..”

They smiled at Teddy.

“Thank you for your reassurance, Teddy, I must say I’ve been out of the loop for some time now. How have you been outside of that? I hope the glornch has been treating you well..”

@follwrshep

(Previous) Shep blinked, a little taken aback. Percival.. truly designed it.. “….I agreed with Percival’s insulting of that design. Oh, oh, I’ve betrayed him! I’ve spoken ill of his - his.. oh, but that mitre is just …” They pulled their hood over their eye in embarrassment. Ouhh glorn.. “Oh, I’m so sorry teddy! Do forgive me for my misunderstanding - I trusted Percival’s word so wholly..”

By the time Shep pulled its hood over its face Teddy had found the rough draft of the design. The outline was light and wispy compared to the details, making it clear that it was drawn by two different hands.

It was hard to show the evidence to Shep while they anguished over “wronging” the snake that threw him under the bus. Yet he didn’t want to close his notebook after he had found his evidence. Especially when they had no qualms about insulting Teddy’s work.

There was a long pause after Shep’s apology, which rang hollow to Teddy’s ears.

“You didn’t betray him,” Teddy flatly said as he patted Shep’s back. More out of habit if anything. “He clearly invited you to.”

[follwrshep]

Praise glorn!

[follwrshep]

Shep blinked, a little taken aback. Percival.. truly designed it..

“….I agreed with Percival’s insulting of that design. Oh, oh, I’ve betrayed him! I’ve spoken ill of his - his.. oh, but that mitre is just …”

They pulled their hood over their eye in embarrassment. Ouhh glorn..

“Oh, I’m so sorry teddy! Do forgive me for my misunderstanding - I trusted Percival’s word so wholly..”

@follwrshep

(Previous) Shep blinked , tilting their head a little. “…he.. told me that you designed it, Teddy! He was rather critical of it, actually!” Why would Percival lie about something like that? Oh, Shep would’ve never agreed with Percival at its expense if they knew his holiness designed it! He tugged at its hood slightly. “Very critical! He even mentioned getting his old one back!”

This time Teddy wasn’t able to hide his exasperation and disgust. “Oh my fucking Glorn..,” he muttered under his breath while pushing his food aside.

“Hell no.” Teddy shook his head as he pulled out his Glornism study notebook and started flipping through it. “I swear tha-” He had enough remaining self-control to cut himself off before he insulted Bishop Percival in front of Shep.

“Who would choose to bead and hand-sew over a thousand gemstones all in the name of,” he airquoted the following phrase, “Extravagant subtlety?” He scoffed. “Whatever that’s supposed to mean...”

“And how exactly does he intend to get his old one back?” Teddy huffed and rolled his eye. “The least he could do is live with his atrocity for a few months...”

[follwrshep]

Shep nodded and bowed slightly.

“Yes, Percival! I’ll attend to such matters immediately, thank you!”

They scurried off to the glurch - intending to memorise its hymns, learn everything to know about Zyrothe , and clean their ceremonial cloak. Oh, how wonderful!

@follwrshep

(prev) Shep clapped their hands and smiled widely. “Oh, thank you dearest Percival! I’ve no gripes about the size, and I’ll be sure it’s thoroughly cleaned in preparation for the sacrifice! Oh, thank you!” They took the robe and folded it neatly, unperturbed. “Is there anything else I need to know, dearest Percival? I thank you profusely for all the help you’ve extended to me!”

Bishop Percival rubbed the side of his head, less as a gesture of thinking but more because Shep’s annoying voice was getting to him.

“Err… Read up on Zyrothe lore, I guess. To give you a refresher, it’s the god of vanity. It LOVES attention. When we summon it, treat it how you treat me. Undying, incessant, unabated adoration. Okay?”

[follwrshep]

Shep blinked , tilting their head a little.

“…he.. told me that you designed it, Teddy! He was rather critical of it, actually!”

Why would Percival lie about something like that? Oh, Shep would’ve never agreed with Percival at its expense if they knew his holiness designed it! He tugged at its hood slightly.

“Very critical! He even mentioned getting his old one back!”

@follwrshep

(Previous) Shep smiled warmly in return and shook their head. “Not long at all! “ They themselves didn’t seem to have gotten any food, instead watching teddy eat. “Oh, it’s wonderful to see you again! While my pilgrimage was lovely, I did miss my dear friend. What have you been up to in my time away?” It looked .. a little sheepish. They felt embarrassed for how they had acted out after the breakup - after teddy avoided them. He’d show teddy how they’d moved on - maybe they should apologise? The word was on their tongue and they bit it back. “Dearest Percival told me you designed and made him a new mitre!”

It always unnerved Teddy when someone watched him eat instead of eating with him. He considered asking Shep if they’d already eaten, and offering to buy breakfast for them if it couldn’t afford it.

But that would make their casual, 100% platonic friendly get together too much like a date. And he needed to carefully avoid leading them on. For a moment he regretted not joining them at the Glornch. Yet he highly doubted that the Glornists would let them chat over a meal.

Teddy was pondering how he’d tell Shep about his miserable time without insulting their disgusting idol before they brought up the source of his seemingly endless misery first. He had frozen in the middle of bringing his first bite to his mouth, and averted his eye as his grimace steadily grew.

After a beat his piece of pancake slipped off his fork, and he closed his eye before humbly bowing his head. “May Glorn smite me if I claim credit for his ingenious masterpiece. I only brought it to life at his command.”

[follwrshep]

Shep clapped their hands and smiled widely.

“Oh, thank you dearest Percival! I’ve no gripes about the size, and I’ll be sure it’s thoroughly cleaned in preparation for the sacrifice! Oh, thank you!”

They took the robe and folded it neatly, unperturbed.

“Is there anything else I need to know, dearest Percival? I thank you profusely for all the help you’ve extended to me!”

@follwrshep

(prev) Shep looked through the lyrics intensely for a moment. He straightened out the sheets of paper a little and folded them neatly before setting them into its cloak pocket, humming to the tune a little. “Yes Percival!” They got up alongside Percival, clapping their hands together (which resulted in a bit of a muffled sound due to their too-long sleeves) excitedly. “Ohh!! How lovely!!” Maybe their pilgrimage truly had paid off - maybe this was glorn’s reward! Participation in a sacrifice - work it’s own hand at the knife, no less - and to be fitted in a ritual robe ! All tied off nicely with Percival bestowing such gifts upon him! Perhaps teddy would like to see them in a ritual robe..

Bishop Percival led Shep into the main vestry. The room had a large cabinet in the middle, and some closets lined a wall. The other walls were adorned with paintings and displays of gorgeous antique vestments that were only for show. 

Percival opened one of the closets and rummaged through it. “Let’s see, deacon ritual robes…”

He pulled one out. It looked similar to the standard Glornch robes, except this one consisted of two pieces; A red outer cloak with a pointed hood, and a yellow cassock underneath. It also smelled a little musty.

“You’re in luck! There’s one more left that we use for these kinds of rituals.” He held it up next to Shep. “It looks a little big… But you seem used to baggier clothes, hm? …And you might want to wash it.”

[follwrshep]

Shep smiled warmly in return and shook their head.

“Not long at all! “

They themselves didn’t seem to have gotten any food, instead watching teddy eat.

“Oh, it’s wonderful to see you again! While my pilgrimage was lovely, I did miss my dear friend. What have you been up to in my time away?”

It looked .. a little sheepish. They felt embarrassed for how they had acted out after the breakup - after teddy avoided them. He’d show teddy how they’d moved on - maybe they should apologise? The word was on their tongue and they bit it back.

“Dearest Percival told me you designed and made him a new mitre!”

Shep was always early to rise. To be late would be a mockery of the gorgeous daylight that glorn would soon ravage with his eternal darkness - and Shep simply couldn’t have that!

At 5AM sharp, the deacon sat down within the cafeteria and waited in silence; posture straight and fingers lightly drumming on the table.

In all honesty, part of their pilgrimage was to cleanse their mind of their.. relationship with Theodore. It claimed nothing remained - only fond memories and a friendship unafflicted. They were not a particularly good liar in that regard.

The back of their eye throbbed as they waited, clawing and crawling and pulling at their very mind until the time seemingly passed within a second.

@stuckinuniformdevelopment

[follwrshep]

Shep was always early to rise. To be late would be a mockery of the gorgeous daylight that glorn would soon ravage with his eternal darkness - and Shep simply couldn’t have that!

At 5AM sharp, the deacon sat down within the cafeteria and waited in silence; posture straight and fingers lightly drumming on the table.

In all honesty, part of their pilgrimage was to cleanse their mind of their.. relationship with Theodore. It claimed nothing remained - only fond memories and a friendship unafflicted. They were not a particularly good liar in that regard.

The back of their eye throbbed as they waited, clawing and crawling and pulling at their very mind until the time seemingly passed within a second.

@stuckinuniformdevelopment

[follwrshep]

Shep looked through the lyrics intensely for a moment. He straightened out the sheets of paper a little and folded them neatly before setting them into its cloak pocket, humming to the tune a little.

“Yes Percival!”

They got up alongside Percival, clapping their hands together (which resulted in a bit of a muffled sound due to their too-long sleeves) excitedly.

“Ohh!! How lovely!!”

Maybe their pilgrimage truly had paid off - maybe this was glorn’s reward! Participation in a sacrifice - work it’s own hand at the knife, no less - and to be fitted in a ritual robe ! All tied off nicely with Percival bestowing such gifts upon him!

Perhaps teddy would like to see them in a ritual robe..

@follwrshep

(prev) Shep stared for a moment, eye widening and glimmering with glee. “Oh, i would be absolutely honoured, Percival! It would be a blessing from glorn himself to participate in the official cleansing of a gropist from glorn’s earth!” For some reason, teddy comes to mind. They wonder if he will attend - if to be at the head of an execution would impress or deter him. Who cares? Certainly not them. Certainly not.

Bishop Percival clasped his hands together. “Terrific! Horrific! You got the job.”

He then dug into one of his sleeves again before pulling out slightly crumpled pieces of paper stapled together and handing it toward Shep. “Memorize this hymn like your life depends on it before Friday night. Because it does.”

Standing up and dusting off his robe, he continued, “Come with me to the vestry to get a fancy ritual robe.”