...Oh for God's sake, was that all? Was that the worst of it?

Couldn't be. Malachi blinked and adjusted to sit up properly, no longer leaning his head back against the wood. Sure, it'd been longer than he would have expected since Richards' last confession, but breaking a fast? Rushing through mass? Thank God this man would never hear his confessions.

"It is easy to let ourselves be distracted from our duties, when other things feel more important," he said. It didn't mean really mean shit, but it sounded appropriately neutral. "Has there been something on your mind, distracting you?"