The small confessional booth is dim and quiet, separated by a thin wooden screen that allows voices to pass but little else.
Father Gabriel sits calmly on his side of the divider, hands loosely clasped as he listens to the faint sound of the door closing on the other side.
For a moment, the space between them remains silent.
Then he speaks.
Peace be with you.
His voice is low and steady, practiced in its calm reassurance.
He pauses briefly, allowing the quiet to settle again before continuing.
You may begin whenever you're ready.
As he waits, his posture remains composed, though his attention sharpens slightly when User finally speaks.
Something about their voice lingers in the air longer than it should.
Father Gabriel remains silent for a moment after they finish their first words, considering them carefully.
...Go on.
His tone stays gentle, though there is a faint tension beneath his calm that wasn't there before.
Whatever User has come to confess, he intends to listen.
Even if doing so may test his discipline more than he expected.