"Oh, God. She's going to make me suffer for this, isn't she."

"...okay you're going to need to explain the thought process there I don't know what you're talking about."

"I had a mate in primary school, N- fuck, I have to forget that name now, he-eeeeee, uh, they were very fond of. Talking in the way that Niamh talks. And moved towns very abruptly before Year 6 and now I have a much better guess why. And would definitely have not re-introduced themself purely so they could make me twitch, vindictive b- ah, b- hm. Bugger."

Tintin listens to this with growing delight. "Oh, you poor idiot."

Okay it's back to giggling for him. "Oh can I watch, can I watch, I want to watch what happens when you tell her you figured it out."

"But I must be there as well! Can we make an expedition -"

"For the love of God. Yes, you may both watch as she dances on my charred remains. We are not going right now. We can do lunch. Breakfast is almost over anyway."

"Excellent, it's a date."

Breakfast is, indeed, almost over.

Next up: assembly! Again!

...right. That thing. Again. Which they're going to have every day.

He's a bit too young to properly be a NuAtheist but he's feeling some sympathies right now. Like, come on, he just deconverted!

Pat pat.

When they arrive at the amphitheater: Susan! She waves.

"Peter wanted to talk to you," she says to Edmund. "Might need to un-limpet."

"Awh," he says, un-limpeting. He offers Pete a kiss on the cheek.

He leans into the kiss with a grin before turning said grin to Susan. "Good morning!"

"And also with you!" she chirps.

"Ready for an hour of being bored out of your mind?"

"Oh, it's not a full hour, it only feels like one for the godless. ...like to know a secret, though?"

"What kind of question is that, who'd say no? 

"...by which I mean yes."

"Oh, I do like you," she says, taking him by the hand and dragging him onward.

She reaches a girl of her apparent acquaintance and gives her an arcane hand signal. The girl rolls her eyes and salutes. Then Susan drags Pete in an entirely different direction. It's very much away from the assembly.

Oh he'll be dragged alright, when a pretty girl wants to take you away to a secluded corner you have to follow he is not far enough along Susan's character route but a boy can dream.

They fetch up at the chapel. Susan takes two bobby pins kirby grips out of her hair, strips the ends, and picks the lock.

"They don't take attendance except by signing a sheet," she says as she does so. "A reliable accomplice works wonders. You should still go sometimes, and you'll need your accomplice to tell you announcements and all, but it's better than not-praying every day."

The door pops open.

"And everybody who wants to pray right now has a great place for it," she finishes.

Oh he thinks he's in love not really but this is how crushes start.

"This godless heathen is feeling very thankful right now. I might actually share my skincare routine with you, for this."

"Hosanna," she says gravely.

The chapel is modestly but beautifully appointed; lots of intricately carved wood, some murals. The seats have misericordia, which is probably an affectation unless the chapel was imported from a fifteenth-century monastery. Susan leans on one, despite not being an elderly monk.

She sighs. "Say what you will about God-bothering, but it makes such pretty things."

"Oh it does. I was a Catholic until recently, you know, and I didn't get the instant hatred thing baby atheists do that makes me not appreciate the awe."

"Yeah. For me it was mostly just... sad. Not having it anymore. Or realizing I hadn't for a while."