Back inside the chapel to talk to the spiritual counselor, definitely not stalling

The high priestess bit her lip, then looked away from the town square, back towards the chapel. "I... I could be making a grave mistake by joining in on this well-meaning debauchery. I can't take it back once I begin," she admitted to herself in a quiet whisper. "I'll need to consult the one person qualified to advise me in this matter first."

She lifted the hems of both her raiment and her under-robe, scurrying quickly back inside the house of Geod. One might suspect from her words that she intended to go to the altar and begin praying to that same Geod, but no... while she believed regular prayer and communion was a healthy part of a church-goer's lifestyle, the truth is, she wanted someone she could get a more immediate answer from. "Miss Ursula, the spiritual counselor," she thought to herself. "If anyone can guide me along the proper path, it's that woman." Nobody in town could really claim to call that prickly lady a "friend," but Ursula was one of the church's most senior members and another of the founding angels besides. She'd looked as shocked as anybody once the news was announced but... she hadn't complained, at least not that whole first day. She may have some useful advice, Clara figured.

The two met together in Ursula's office, seated on opposite sides of a thick oak desk. Clara took a moment to admire the sensible but opulent arrangement of the room... heavy wooden furniture, rich green adornments from curtains to rug, and fabulous busts of noteworthy saints in every corner spoke to counselor's qualifications as a lady of taste and faith. A heavy whip, hung on a placard, spoke to her other qualifications as a fierce inquisitor of the church, when times hadn't been so peaceful. That part... wasn't so tasteful, especially to a pacifist at heart like Clara Fauxbright, but she did her best not to let it color her impression of the other lady.

Ursula's hair was purple and single-braided, with a slight change in hue since her younger days. While she was an angel, she was not the type who could continue hiding her agelessness with generations of "offspring," due to a lack of appropriate presentation. Thus, she grew a little older visually, every decade or so. Pretty soon, the time would come when she'd have to think up a new disguise, but she was set in her ways for now. That meant taking on a bit more of a motherly appearance, with thick, oval-rimmed glasses and plenty of makeup to hide the imperfections of age on her face. Her eyes, intelligent and cold blue, were partially obscured by the morning sunlight shining off those spectacles of hers. Besides the glasses, the rest of her outfit consisted of a lengthy green dress, running all the way to a prim, high-cut neck. The dress was, however, sleeveless, with long green gloves running to the elbows.

Unusually, it didn't seem she was doing any work. A book was open, but she barely appeared to be reading it as Clara entered. "Clara... I hadn't expected to see you here," she greeted the church's lead authority figure, closing the book quietly and folding her hands on her desk as she noted the other lady's arrival. "How can I help you?"

"Ah... I must admit, it's a comfort to find you alone here. I was afraid that you might be..." Clara murmured, then smiled awkwardly, "with guest."

The crabby older woman lowered her eyebrows with unveiled annoyance. It was true that she looked a bit older, but she still had a fine body, with heavy breasts and hips every bit as good as Clara's. Sure, she didn't have that hourglass midriff, but not everyone could be shaped so blessedly. Instead of saying all that, she simply pushed up her glasses and sighed. "No, I'm afraid it seems gentlemen are too nervous to approach me," Ursula reasoned.

Clara wondered if that was really it... They were probably enjoying a veritable buffet of younger, more approachable nuns right now. It would be pretty weird to see someone come back here and hit up the aging, known prude who served as the spiritual counselor here. She kept that to herself and pressed on with her own troubles instead. "I know it is hypocritical after I issued the order, but... I find myself..." she murmured, clasping her hands at her pendant and closing her eyes with girlish shyness.

"I know what you mean," Ursula sighed heavily. "But I have a lead on something that may help us both ease ourselves into it. If the issue is losing face publicly, this could be the answer." Unrolling one of her dusty town maps, the counselor placed one green-gloved finger onto a part near the woods. "The old chapel. I believe they're doing it there."

"... Doing what there?" Clara asked, her brows arching nervously. "A-Anonymous sex?"

"... Something like that. It's not as committal. Like I said... ease yourself into it," the counselor assured her boss, then lowered her eyebrows again. "But I also won't tell you what... Because you seem as though it's going to be hard to talk you into anything if I get too specific. Just go there and give it a shot... But get there early, before things begin. Otherwise, people will see you go in."

The high priestess nodded... then considered one more question. "Have they... cleaned it at all? That chapel has been closed for some time and... I imagine it's very dirty."

"Oh, it's dirty alright," Ursula smirked. Detecting that her rare joke had not been taken well, she cleared her throat. "I'm sure they've cleaned at least a little. Just trust me... I'm planning to head there too, so we'll give it a shot together."

"Splendid. This is... a new step for both of us," Clara smiled slightly, trying her best to end on a positive note before she left. However, before she could get out the door, Ursula spoke up again.

"You might not want to wear anything you don't want to get dirty."

Gulping, Clara shut the door quietly behind her, then rested in the hallway with one hand on the wall. Quietly, she prayed again to Geod for strength... then continued praying until nightfall.