Meatdiplotale

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THE VATICAN

2017-11-18 19:17



The soft tap of well-worn dress shoes against Italian marble came to a stop as the Camerlengo1 reached the open doorway. He said nothing, waiting for his presence to be felt in the undeniable way that these grand and opulent halls pointed a finger at the smallness of man. A dark figure leaned forward from a highback chair, the gentle glow of a dying fire provided just enough illumination to define the Bishop of Rome.

"Holy Father," the Camerlengo cleared his throat. "We are ready. It begins at your word."

A carefully tended silence fell back in between them as if it were the natural way of things.

The Pope's thin lips parted just enough to speak the word as he turned toward the fire. What meager flames were left now danced in the reflection of his bifocals. In his hand, he clutched a Rosary and slipped one of the black beads between his fingers, moving to the next beatitude. "Cominciare."2

The Camerlengo nodded and withdrew into the hallway. The operation was a go.



SITE-77

2017-11-20 08:36



"Arty. Arty Burrows!" A loud smack echoed off the stark concrete walls of the break room as the bear-like hand of some middle-aged researcher smiled big. "Hopefully you'll have those hammies stretched out before the big game on Thursday! Would hate for you to come up limping in the clutch again."

The man smiled big as his chums har-har'd along with him but Agent Burrows paid it little mind. The much younger man rolled his eyes, shook his head, and responded with a generally dismissive agitation. "Yeah, yeah, laugh while you can. You've never swept us in softball before and that's not going to change on my watch."

The laughter died down as the rival team from the Research Division ushered themselves down the hall and Arty Burrows was along once again in the breakroom. With everyone else gone and no witnesses save for the security camera in the corner, he massaged his shoulder where the slap had landed.

Grumbling under his breath, he clocked in.

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