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Background

In this story, the evils of the world manifest as powerful beings called "vices" - they're usually demons, malevolent spirits, or the ill intents of the living. Exorcists are called upon to dispatch them through whatever means necessary. They can be sanctified through prayer, but some vices are too powerful and have to be fought and essentially killed.

Kiri's a violent gun-slinging exorcist and Veal's her pacifist priest partner. The two of them are employed by the city church to take out vices for clients who need the help of powerful exorcists. They've been working together for years and they're top rank, so their help is only called for when there's a real threat... but even so, Kiri's been bored out of her mind lately. The second they get off work, both of them piss the day away, gambling and drinking and wasting the luxurious paychecks their job rewards them with. It feels like things have reached a plateau... up until Veal hears one of the vices they're hunting communicate to him.

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The Virtue Organization

Kiri and Veal are on a mission to exorcise an abandoned church inhabited by a powerful vice. While Kiri is busy taking out the bigger threat, a small vice who takes the form of a black locust speaks to Veal. He's heard vices speak in the past, but usually they're yelling expletives. This one communicates telepathically and tells him of "the Virtue Organization." The locust tells Veal it is a messenger for the organization, and others like it have been watching Veal and Kiri for awhile now. These messengers observe the people and places plagued by vices, and outside of the Virtue Organization itself, they can only communicate with holy folk like Veal who have spiritual powers. The only other information it gives Veal is that the Virtue Organization's leader, Clara, is interested in the two exorcists.

Of course, when Veal relays this information to Kiri, not only is she skeptical but she's worried Veal is letting vices get to his head. Similarly, the church clergymen don't have any information about a "Virtue Organization", or anything regarding vices that can speak in such a manner. A vice who could relay information so eloquently and telepathically is unheard of; it would have to be an extremely powerful being. And it definitely wouldn't be a small bug so unimposing it went unnoticed by a trained exorcist like Kiri.

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Veal's Excommunication

Veal isn't given the option to forget the ordeal, though - these black locusts keep showing up on his and Kiri's missions. That girl, Clara, keeps contacting Veal using those locusts as a conduit, but she won't tell him the reason why she's watching them or anything about the organization. Veal swears up and down those locusts are constantly watching them, but it's always when he's alone, and he can't prove anything. At Kiri's behest, the church sends another exorcist [who I need to design and name ahem] with the two of them to keep an eye on Veal.

Finally, on their next mission, Veal feels reassured he can prove the existence of the black locusts. [The other exorcist] is by Veal's side when a black locust shows up and starts communicating. It seems like they can both hear it. And - near immediately, [other exorcist] squashes it. Upon finishing the exorcism, the three return to the church, and [other exorcist] reports Veal for working with the vices. He's excommunicated from the church. Kiri still hasn't witnessed the locusts, but she trusts her gut and decides to leave the church as well and stay with Veal. That's far from the last time Veal sees the locusts... and eventually, Kiri sees them for herself, though it doesn't explain their watchful lingering and proximity to the vices.

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And then [imagine i write this part really good] Kiri and Veal go rogue and work against the church and start working with Clara and the Virtue Organization and cool stuff happens the end.