Francis tilted his head as Cheri agreed that was part of their job and frowned in thought to explain what he wanted to ask. He gestured getting money put into his hand and then gestured to Cheri and pretended to hand over the money and then tilted his head quizzically.

Francis grinned looking rather proud of himself. He mimicked yelling and then brushed off his shirt as if he brushed off the insults. That was clearly not true as Richards had annoyed him, but it wasn't enough to make him leave. He then gestured around to the buildings around them and shrugged. Where else would he go?

Francis wanted to know if Chéri was getting payed. Maybe how much. Chéri shrugged slowly, blinked a few times, making sure to emphasise how long their lashes were, put both their hands on the side of their face and blused a little while their eyes started to shine like stars. They considered that and answered. A second after, they melted into a loud, disorderly laugh, appropriate for a fisherman or a small time merchant, very far from the grace they had shown off so far.

Chéri laughed at the carelessness the other one was showing and puff, incredulous. They then gritted their teeth and looked aggressively toward Francis, then made a gesture that said “big”. It was difficult to obtain specific information.

Francis was very confused as Cheri said whatever they said, but they hadn't shaken their head and said no. They seemed pleased enough about their pay so that was good enough.

He looked more confused and stared at the other hard trying to figure it out. Finally, he seemed to get an idea. He touched his fingers and held them to his face to mimic glasses then dropped them to look scared. He was wondering if the other thought maybe he was or should have been scared of Father Brennan?

Chéri was sincerely happy to learn that Francis was not going to judge or inquire too much about exactly how they made their money. The Pony had been enough of an answer and that, Chéri found appropriate. They smiled lightly, appreciating Francis’ relaxed attitude surrounding the matter.


Chéri shook their head. The question had been different and it was not relevant to Malachi. Chéri touched his chin, wondering how they could possibly mimc Father Richards. They had met him only once and mostly he had looked fidgety and angry. Chéri did the glasses gesture and shook their head, then sank their head in their shoulders, waved a finger around with a preachy look and growled at Francis. Than it occurred to him. “Père Richards” growl again “Francis” drawing something big with their hand in the air. God, luckily they had almost reached Mrs Higgins kitchen.

Francis frowned sharply as he tried to figure out the charade. He looked forward to open the door and poke his head in to see if Mrs. Higgins was there. She wasn't , that meant the kitchen was theirs. He grinned huge as he opened the door more to let in his new friend. "Richards!" he said and then tilted his head as he was already looking around for food. "Hm, are you wondering what happened between us to make him hate me?" He asked but then gestured between them, pointing at Cheri and mimicking the angry Richards and then himself and gestured between the two and both frowning.

Mrs Higgings wasn’t there. Well, all the better, they could explore. It wasn’t stealing if Francis lived there, right? Chéri nodded. Richards indeed! Chéri wasn’t wondering that, but whatever it was it sounded connected to Richards anger story and some gossip was good for the soul. Chéri laughed and clapped their hands, like at the theatre, nodding. They were weren’t sure what it was about, but they definitely wanted to know.

Francis grinned as he had assumed he got it right. He saw they wanted to see a version of events. His smile faded a little as he was sure it wasn't that thrilling, but he would try to make it more amusing for his audience.

He pretended to act like Richards but acting happier and then closing a door, then he stepped on the other side and mimicked the motions of undressing. He then looked over in surprise and pretended to cover himself. Immediately he side stepped to act like Richards looking shocked while holding the door open. A step to the side again as himself and startled, he then grinned and stopped covering himself and wiggled his brow gesturing from the priest to his hips.

It wasn't the truth but close enough to give Cheri an idea of the events. He smiled and shrugged. "It wasn't all that exciting."

Chéri stayed completely stone faced as Francis explained and they expression didn’t change a bit until the story was well over and the final comment had been made.

Then they started laughing so hard, so openly, so crassly even it felt like the walls were shaking and they could be heard on the other side of Whitby.
He called some form of higher power and shook their head. “Encroyable” was all they could say, really. They scratched their head in debrief and then added “Brennan” and touched their ear. Had the other priest heard of that? Had he tried to mediate?

Francis was worried the other didn't like his tale told in gesture until he started laughing. He grinned huge, feeling delighted that the other liked it. He wasn't used to others finding him enjoyable and it made him like this other one more even if he didn't know them really at all. "Brennan?" He repeated then gestured to himself talking to the man in question.

"He knew, he.." He scratched his head a moment then gestured as Brennan shaking his head and then wagging a finger at himself basically telling him not to do it again.

Chéri had to hold themselves onto something to avoid tumbling to the ground. They kept laughing and could barely contain themselves. They probably would have had quite a few comments to add, had they been able to.

Francis explained Malachi’s reaction and Chéri nodded. That made sense. “And Francis?” they opened a hand, as per asking what he intended to do going forward.