From around the corner, there is a silence that one might guess contains Elaine making some kind of expression.

"If I must have a gun, I would like to have a different gun," she says, flatly. "Smaller, please, something more easily concealed. And something that's not as...."

"Ostentatious?" offers Dunn, blandly.

The two of them round the corner, and this time James can see Elaine's expression.

"Something not as compensating for something," she asserts.

James snickers. "It's the style of the age," he murmurs.

"Ah, James! Would you like to help get our newest employee acquainted with the premises, and equipped with a firearm and holster?" He has paperwork to fill out. In regards to the fast-lining of giving this woman a gun.

Dunn is really insistent about getting her armed, huh.

Elaine herself is still dubious about this prospect.

James is currently carrying a pile of paperwork of his own that he had been very slowly moving somewhere else before he slowed down to eavesdrop. "If I'm allowed to dump this paperwork on Kenley I would be delighted to show our new recruit around."

"Hmmmm, I'll allow it. His penmanship needs work."

"It sure does! Maybe he'll be excited, gate watching work is so boring even tedious paperwork beats it."

"Truly, your altruism touches the soul. ... Why is there a gate to watch? Do you have an eldritch gate in your," they are already underground, "sub-basement?"

"Yes and no," clarifies Dunn, amused. "We keep artefacts - like that book you ran afoul of - sealed within the Chanis Gate, where they can't do any harm. It's one of the responsibilities of the Nightwatch to keep it guarded, particularly at night."

"And who knows what they'll get up to while no one is watching."

"Does it need to be an Empyrean to watch it? All day and night?"

"Just nights, for Empyreans. During the day there are at least two archivists, and more staff besides from the church above."

"So I suppose I can start the tour with the Chanis Gate, and drop these on poor Kenley."

"Indeed. Have a nice tour. Be sure to introduce her to Neil, I plan to have her primarily working as his assistant." In the vain bid to try and get him back out into the field. It's unlikely to happen, but maybe between that and the bonus for those over the age of fifty....

Anyway. Paperwork! Whee.

The underground section of the Cathedral of Saint Selena is just as opulent and grandiose as the ground floor. More, actually, as it has more space to sprawl than a regular cathedral does, secret hallways of awe-inspiring gothic architecture connecting offices, labs, morgues, and of course the Chanis Gate: a massive iron gate adorned with and surrounded by imagery related to the Evernight Goddess, sealed firmly shut.

Across a hallway from the Gate, sitting at a desk, is

Sleepless Pathway, Sequence 9 Sleepless
Evernight Goddess's Nightwatch
Kenley White

a not very tall man of average build with thick brown hair and a shy smile. When he sees James and Elaine approach, he turns the smile to them. "Am I meeting the newest member of the Nightwatch?"

"Yes, you are. Kenley, this is Elaine Moretti, civilian staff. Elaine, this is Kenley White, Sequence 9 Empyrean of the Sleepless Pathway."

Elaine gives a little curtsy. "Hello! I had an evil book happen to me, and I'm mad about it and would like others to avoid suffering artefact related incidents. Pleasure to meet you."

He... laughs? That was a joke, yes? Of some sort. "Pleasure to meet you, too."

"I'm afraid I'm about to make it even more pleasant," says James, dropping the stack of paperwork onto the desk. "Dunn tasked me with showing Ms. Moretti around, which means that you get to do my paperwork. I really wanted to do this paperwork, but you know, can't refuse orders from the Captain."

He winces, but keeps the smile on his face. "Of course. All work for the Nightwatch is worthy work."

"Man, you're going to make me feel bad."

"Whatever for?" he wonders innocently.