[ sister alice has been at vox's side for about a year, now. a gentle, caring, supportive woman of the cloth, assisting in tending to his flock as it grows and grows to numbers he can't maintain on his own.

it helps, of course, for the ladies of the congregation to have someone like them to speak to, and the sister is quite popular; she's humble and sweet and never, ever stops smiling. she always perks up like a flower leaning to the sun when vox pays her any special attention, and so innocent! every touch, every murmur, and she just smiles, the perfect ingenue.

and it's a known but unspoken secret that vox likes to spend time with the ladies of his flock. recently though, some believers have been walking. always young ladies, always ones vox had glanced at maybe a second or two too long. sometimes they're simply questioning their faith, and in those instances, alice holds fellowship with them, quiet and in solitude.

they leave, inevitably, but never on bad terms. they simply didn't have enough faith, she assures him, every time. look at the beautiful flock you still have left.

recently though, vox had confided in alice that he'd been considering courting one of the ladies, taking a wife. she'd seemed interested, and he thinks it a suitable move... what does she think? ]

I think, [ she starts, carefully even as she looks up from where she sits toward him, ] I think, Father, that it'd be best to reconsider, at least for now. Some of the ladies have felt quite... Delicate, as late. I'm not sure the issue, but perhaps you should let me take care of them first before making any such decisions. Susanna in particular has needed some extra guidance lately. Perhaps, if anyone, someone more... devout?

[ she gives him a meaningful look as though he's going to get it. ]