Neither One Of Them Is Very Priestly

"...fine." He replied, crossing his arms. "Go, I'll stay here, I guess...just hurry up, I hate this guy."

He waved, jogging away. No one could blame Mars for thinking he was kind of gay.

-x-

((So, now we rp with Priestly and teh ladeh?))

[[If you want, to sure]]

Gloria was done with her teaching for the day, and so she sat alone in the classroom, going through the things the kids had written about their families. They were all such nice children, and she loved them. She loved them more than she could ever love herself.

A tall man in a dress shirt and a leather jacket knocked on the door, holding a modest bouquet of flowers.

"Excuse me, miss," he said, slicking back his hair, "But can I come in? I have something urgent to discuss with you."

"I'm married." She replied, without even looking up. She sighed. "Look, I know you're one of my husband's attempts to make me feel pretty, so just get out."

She stared intensely at her papers, trying to ignore the man at the door.

"You have a husband?" he said, sounding genuinely disappointed. "...Oh. Well, this is awkward." He set the flowers down on the desk and pulled up a tiny chair, sitting down.

"See, the thing is, I saw you in the window earlier and thought you were the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. o I bought you some flower, hoping to win you over like in the movies." He chuckled. "Sorry, it would've probably worked better back home."

"...You're stupid." She replied bluntly, barely glancing up at him. "You're also much too young for me, so please, leave. I'm busy."

"No," he said, beaming. "Besides, I'm twenty-two, as far as you know--that makes me an adult. And as an adult, I'd love to have an adult conversation with the beautiful lady I viewed in the window. You've captured my heart, ma'am, sincerely."

"No, if you're twenty-two, it still means that you're a child. I'm nearly thirty, and like I said, I'm happily married with kids." She finally looked up, staring quite sternly at him. "Besides, you've failed to even introduce yourself properly, you rude little brat."

She stood up, adjusting her glasses.

He beamed.

"I love a stern woman. The name's Priestly. And yours, beautiful...?"

She just stared at him.

"It's absolutely none of your business what my name is, especially considering the fact that you won't even give me your real name. Seriously, did you honestly think I would believe you?" She asked, crossing his arms. "Get out, before I call the police."

He laughed.

"A real name? Fine. It's Giles Priestly. But everyone calls me Priestly--I want you to, too."

"No." She said bluntly, grabbing her purse and heading for the door. "If you aren't gone once I've left the building, I am calling 911."

That said, she opened the door.

He followed her, frowning.

"Why won't you believe me, ma'am?"

"Because, this sort of thing happens often." She replied, walking down the hallway. "My husband gets his friends to try and convince me I'm pretty, when really, I know that they know I'm not. I never was. He denies it, but I know it was arranged marriage. I'd say it would be surprising that we have children, but they're both adopted."

She sighed heavily, slowing her walk.

"Are you satisfied now? Will you leave me alone?"

"My mother had an arranged marriage," he said, smiling. "Her husband thought she was the most beautiful thing in the world. Why can't the same be true for you and your husband?"

"Because he's gay, alright?!" She snapped, gritting her teeth. "He's a homosexual. He doesn't find women attractive, okay? I've always known this, he's always known this, that's all there is to it. He can't find me pretty, and moreover, I am not pretty. If he thinks I'm ugly, then why should anyone else think I'm pretty? They're not married to me, it doesn't matter."

Gloria felt tears well up in her eyes but she brushed them away.

"Now, please...leave me be."

Priestly gently placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling.

"Well, I'm not gay. And I think you're gorgeous. Tell me, do you love your husband?"

"Of course I love him. I just...I wish he would be more open with me." She replied, looking away. "...I get it, alright? I know I'm pretty, but...if I let him know that, then he would never even talk to me."

She sighed heavily.

"Well, perhaps I can help," he said, beaming. "That's my job, you know--I help people. So tell me about you and your husband. He doesn't speak with you often?"

"Only about the kids, or work, sometimes. He's usually out late and comes home late, too. I know he's seeing someone else, and I don't mind, but I wish he'd just tell me. If...if you could just ask him to talk to me more, that would be nice." She smiled at him, slightly. "I really must get home, though, I have to start dinner."

He grabbed her hand and kissed it.

"Promise me you'll remember how beautiful you are, and I'll talk to your husband. And keep the flowers, please. They're for you." He winked.

She pulled her hand back, frowning. What a strange, strange man.

"Fine, I'll keep the flowers. Goodbye, Mr...Priestly." She couldn't believe she was believing him about his last name. "Now please, go."

-x-

Priestly returned to the graveyard, smiling like he had just gotten laid.

"Mars!" he called, beaming when he saw him. "We're not at the bottom of this mystery yet, but we will be soon. How goes it, young lad?"

Mars jumped, quickly hiding something behind his back. Bo, who was still in the whole, scowled deeply.

"So, I guess this means I gotta leave now, huh?" He asked.