Part 448: Gaius C

Hmm? What's this fancy little doll doing here?

Excuse me, sir. I believe that is mine. I must have dropped it earlier.

Righto, then. Here you go! So what is that little doodad, anyway? A graven image of one of your gods?

Oh, no. It's just a toy doll, really. The children at the orphanage have been asking me for toys. They wanted something they could hold at night--to help them sleep, you see.

You sewed a doll for a pack of whelps you barely know? I think there's a special place for you in heave, Padre!

Oh, it's not so bad. It only takes me a few hours to construct each one. And to be frank, such honest labor scarcely feels like work at all.

Some days, just getting out of bed is labor enough for me... Say, though. You ever considered giving the little moppets sweets as well?

Sweets?

You know, sugary stuff. Pastries and whatnot? kids love 'em.

Oh, I see. No, I had no such plans. The thought never occurred to me. But perhaps it is something to keep in mind for the next visit. Thank you, Gaius. I'm glad this chat wasn't a complete waste of time.

Er... Me, too? Although... Hmm...

Yes? Something on your mind?

Well, I'm just thinking... I mean, let's say you make enough sweets for an entire orphanage. That's going to be a LOT of sweets, right? Massive piles of 'em. So maybe you might put aside a couple for, say, the man who gave you the idea? I mean, it's only fair, right?

...You're asking me to steal sweets from orphans?