September 14th, 1999, evening
After the Calabite's messy demise, Arashiel wants to see
what the Lilim thinks of all this commotion. Having ascended after the
battle, Arashiel returns through the Tether and finds both Giles and
Adrienne wide-eyed and waiting for news. Giles, however wide of eye, is perfectly calm, really he is, so Arashiel merely confirms everyone's well-being.
Then Rashi moves over to Adrienne. The following conversation ensues:
Arashiel: "There was a Triangle (GM comment: what my PCs now call Game Triads. I do not know why). One member, who didn't want to talk. Very volatile, but we're all fine. A Calabite . He'll not be hurting anyone *ever* again." Ok, she looks only a *little* smug.
"They will send more. They won't give up." Defeatist Lilim.
"They were after Bob. He has a history as well."
"Redeemed?"
"I believe so. So, they won't be leaving you alone. It is good to
have friends, then."
"I don't get it," she begins. Arashiel looks confused. "Why do you do it? Why do you care?"
"It is part of our being."
"But there's no gain. I mean, I can understand why Malakim do it
because they get to kick demon butt, but the rest of you."
"When you learn to care, caring is its own reward."
"It's not that we don't know how to care in hell, it's just limited.
Who wants to get disbanded?"
"There are angels that do not get along. I have had this discussion
with frightened children on several occasions."
"I'm not that young."
"No, but you are new to this feeling."
"Yes, that you would all risk yourselves for me."
"I am a Cherub of Creation. My resonance is for objects and people and
my purpose for being is to protect. I like doing this. Even those of
us that are not Cherubim still care and wish to protect. It is what I
live for most of all."
"I'm a demon."
"I understand. There is enough love in this universe for you as well,"
Arashiel assures her. "I want to bring the best in everyone's potential
out. You clearly have potential as well and that is worthy protecting."
She stares downward so Arashiel won't see her crying. Arashiel hugs
her, being a kind Cherub at heart, but Adrienne freaks and backs away violently. "You said you were a Cherub. You didn't do what Djinn do, did you?"
Noooo...Rashi only does *that* to unsuspecting Malakim. "I am a Cherub, but I won't attune to you unless you would be comfortable with it. And I don't think that is necessary right now, anyway. You are living in a Tether."
"Don't attune to me. I could get killed and that would suck for you."
Adrienne wanders away to sit and think, and Giles takes her departure as a cue to pump Rashi for more info. And yes, he was eavesdropping. He is
impressed with Arashiel's candor tells her so.
And Arashiel -- ever the tease, says, "So, Giles. . . do you want to know what happened?"
"That would be nice, yes." Poor Giles, ever playing the straight man, unless Rook is there.
"Well, it was a Calabite. I had hoped to speak with him."
Pensive frown. "With that much noise I can assure you Judgment will have heard you."
"Yes." This is not a Rashi concern. "Anyway, I had hoped to speak to him because I think that there is always hopes for some Redemption. . . always the change for employees to be unhappy in their job, but Rook engaged him to where he knew he was in combat and as I approached he attacked me."
"Well, you would not have brought Rook without knowing what would
happen."
"He started it and so I continued."
Giles makes them tea, glances sidelong at Rashi. "Are you getting along better? -- Talking now, rather than stalking through my Tether? Yes? Good. I am happy to hear that there will be no more sub-arctic temperatures passing through."
"No," Arashiel playa the innocent a bit. "I'm getting along
fine."
The flirting begins.
"Would you like to play chess, Arashiel? There are no blinking lights
or buzzing sounds."
"How about Go or Mahjongg? I like those better." The board is
produced and the tea and games proceed.
Giles pretends not to notice Rashi being a tease, and Rashi pretends she isn't being a tease, and they both had entirely too much fun with the whole business.
The evening ends with Arashiel only laying ground for the future
seduction of Giles, who is not opposed but will remain proper until the
end. Arashiel heads home.
September 15th, 1999 Wednesday
Arashiel finds Jael's note ("Staying with Rook at the Board. Shut up.") upon
return to the Painted Pot and, imp that she is, sets up the
dishes for breakfast and has everything ready so that when Jael walks
through the door she can make it look as if she has been patiently waiting a long time for her sister. She checks her resonance every few
minutes to see when Jael is on the way. In the meantime, she plays
video games.
Meanwhile, Rook and Jael are in bed (yes, bed), chatting and experimenting. Rook mentions that he still wants to have a planning session with the rest of the angels. He seems far more relaxed an amiable about the whole thing (gee...wonder why), so Jael agrees to call everyone while he goes to teach a class. She does not leave the warmth of the bed, however.
She calls Arashiel first. Ring, ring, ring...hmmm. Ping. Yes, Rashi is at home. Banking that she is going to be getting some Essence soon, Jael uses a Song.
*Pick up the phone!*
Arashiel picks up the phone, bummed that her joke won't be properly appreciated.
Rashi, smile quite evident in her voice: "I got your note."
Jael blushes from afar. "Good, shut up. Rook wants to have a meeting with all of us. . . to talk. It's a Rook thing, but he's asked us before he thought everything out for himself this time. We should encourage this. How about at one at the Painted Pot?"
"All right." Rashi is staying shut up, see? But you can still hear her smirking.
Jael, senses her sister's unspoken mirth and energy, says, "You should
really call Sean. It's been a few days and the poor guy is probably
crawling up the walls by now."
Rashi grins.
Around town, Arabis is looking for the car of the throwing-away-parking-ticket guy.
At the Tether, Matt asks Adrienne to go for espresso and a chat. Matt mentions he has taken up kung fu. There is some discussion about revolution and what Adrienne teaches, and Matt accepts her invitation to attend her class at two..
Arashiel, after cleaning up the dishes from her abortive joke, heads out to do some (wooden) sword practice in the park.
Jael, still in bed, next calls Arabis.
"Rook wants to talk to us. No, not *that* kind of talk. We get to
actually contribute this time." Jael 's mockery is good-natured. "Anyway, we can work on repairing your raven form when you are here, all right?" Arabis is her usual loquacious self, but agrees to be there.
Then, ring up Matt. Same message delivered.
Then Rook comes back upstairs, and the full on carnal initiation of Rook takes place. Showers are taken and Jael and Rook *barely* show up in time for the meeting.
In the kitchen of the Painted Pot, those drinking coffee who wish it,
the angels meet. Rashi only smiles at Jael, who only blushes a little. Rook starts things off, expressing worry about several things, especially the presence of Dinhabah and the other two thirds of the Game Triad. He encourages everyone to speak their minds and sits back to see how this works, not optimistic.
Ha! The discussion is calm and reserved and helpful. Among the items that are brought up: the Lilim is afraid of Heaven, apparently believing that Redemption will hurt, but no one knows any Brights to ask about it. Why is Dinhabah in Boulder? Will the Powers That Be expect the angels to work with him? Does Judgment feel it needs a presence in Boulder? (Arabis: "Judgment can kiss my ass." )
Arabis brings up Gabriel's, which sparks much discussion . 'Neutrality is persecuted; chaos is sought. Let not the Seller of Souls take the last of those who would not choose.' Is this associated with Adrienne? Who is the Seller of Souls? Humanity has souls and chooses what to do with them. Rook points out that the information must have something to do with Arabis and Boulder, since the prophecy was given to her and she was sent to Boulder, of all places. Somewhere in the midst of the discussion, Arabis finds out that Bob is a Redeemed and is surprised no one mentioned it to her. Is Bob wearing the same vessel? How else could the Game have found him? Is there a spy in Boulder? (GM remains impassive, and makes notes to herself vigorously)
They discuss the Tapestry too and think it might be important to find out what it *does*. Arabis, Arashiel, Jael and Rook head Upstairs while
Mad Matt (who may be smitten, but who can tell?) toddles off to Adrienne's class. On the way, Arabis asks if she can help Giles in the Tether to work off her dissonance. He is amenable. Rook and Jael head to the library to research and Arashiel pulls Arabis aside to speak privately about the prophecy.
Rashi thinks that Jael, being the last (?) ex-Servitor of Dragons, could be the last who would not choose. Rashi fears that Jael has been existing in a state of indecision, and working on instinct, and that she might be ready to Fall...or jump. Maybe Bob and Adrienne are feints. . . maybe the Game is after Jael. Is it possible that she has chosen not to Fall?
"Dragons work for Nightmares now," Arabis observes. "I'll have to think
on this one. We still don't know anything definitive."
"True. If you identify the object to which that target aspires then by
following that person you may get to see the cards on the table." Arashiel's reasoning, as always, is unique but somehow sensible.
"I do not think that she is close to Falling," Arabis says, "but she
may choose to jump."
Arashiel, seeing Arabis' point, agrees and continues. "I don't know
much about Jael's feelings for Irad but there's obviously something
strong that predates his fall, some emotional tie. I think Jael was
there when he fell, too. He told her that Heaven no longer had any use for him."
"What a horrible thing to say," Arabis says with some heat.
"We can keep an eye on her, but I felt we should share information on
this."
"It may not have been good to tell me," Arabis says, reverting to
recent form. "I tend to work on a need to know basis only."
"I understand. Let's start our research."
Once they reach the library they don't notice that Rook and Jael are
not there. After a brief but sincere attempt (No new books? Still can't get into the room? OK. Let's leave...) Rook suggests that they head to his tent in the Groves and try making love in the celestial plane. It works and they like it! Huzzah!
Since little has changed in the Library, Arashiel decides to follow a new
tack in her research on the Tapestry. She walks round the Bazaar, looking for mythical type angels such as herself. She sees many kinds of
animals, but nothing like herself or Jael. She decides to try out the
Halls of Creation. She goes to the older angels' floor, and runs into a female Malakite named Kedar. Rashi shows her the Tapestry and asks if she recognizes it. Kedar doesn't, but suggests Rashi try to unravel it. She also points out the griffin in the center knot and comments that Cariel was a griffin-Cherub. Arashiel finds this intriguing. Rashi mentions that
Michael said that this Tapestry could be used. Kedar gets An Expression,
says, "He's War. For him, everything can be used." Kedar then suggests that Arashiel ask Dreams and Arashiel leaves, a bit happier than when she started.
She researches names associated with the Tapestry and finds
many, including Irad, pre-fall. She recruits eager relievers (is there another kind?) and the Tapestry Dragon Hunt begins. Soon one of the relievers, all a-quiver with excitement, finds a beautiful sapphire and gold dragon.
Arashiel examines it closely but can determine nothing useful. He
thanks the two most helpful relievers, Jellico and Grumjug, and leaves. Arashiel also notices that the Tapestry changes sizes to match needs and spaces.
Down on earth, Matt and Adrienne, chatting amicably, return to the
Tether and see to installing themselves for the evening. They have
barely been able to get settled before Giles arrives and says that
Dinhabah is approaching the Tether. Matt hastily hides Adrienne and goes
out to intercept Dinhabah.
"Hello, Matt," Dinhabah begins, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. Ping! "Is
there something upstairs that I'm not supposed to see? Well, unless it
has to do with the phenomenal disturbance in the Symphony last night
then it is none of my business."
Matt babbles something senseless and resonates and finds
him aggravated but also worried for the group's health and angry that no
one will communicate with him. Matt asks Dinhabah why he is so worried
about what happened the night before.
If Dinhabah is aware that this information came from a resonance, he
hides it. "I worry because I do not know the health of your compatriots."
Matt channels Mad Matt the Frustrating, and it works. Hostilities are exchanged-- see the Elohim fight without fighting. See Dinhabah lose a smidgen of that Judgement control. ..."and the fact that you so enjoy tormenting me shows that you don't have your Word or your Choir in mind," he spits, and stalks off.
Later, Dinhabah gone, Rook comes to play chess with Giles. Jael
heads home for a while with the promise of Rook retrieving her from the Painted
Pot later.
Giles is careful to avoid any mention of his suspicions
concerning Rook's good mood -- but he notices that not only is Rook unusually relaxed, but even *almost* cracking jokes.
Matt, spreading joy as ever, informs Rook of Dinhabah's visit. Rook, understandably distracted by the day's events (and Judgement will *so* approve), calls Dinhabah and asks if he would be willing to come over for a
briefing. Dinhabah, cool but responsive, agrees.
Rook tries to very amicable toward the man to put him
at ease, even cracking the semblance of a joke (see the terribly amused Cherub of Destiny, being terribly reserved about how funny he finds this). Rook apologizes for not
having contacted Dinhabah immediately but says that they were off to
Heaven immediately (a lie) (GM grins). Dinhabah is suspicious of the timing of Game Triad, saying that they have probably been in Boulder for a
decade or more -- the Game is not impetuous. Why would they show themselves now? What a worrisome conundrum. restored to his usual Elohite calm, Dinhabah leaves, and no one is quite sure if he is any less angry or at all mollified.
At the Painted Pot, Arashiel and Jael finally get some alone time. Rather than discuss anything else, they look at the Tapestry. Is the central griffin
Cariel? Is it a signature or an actual representation of her?
Arashiel shows Jael the list of associated angel names and Jael finds Irad's immediately, noting it would *have* to be pre-fall.
Silence. Arashiel slumps into a chair and looks uncharacteristically woebegone. Jael comes over to comfort her.
Arashiel: "Too many difficult thoughts for one day."
Jael's eyebrows rise expectantly.
Arashiel, hesitant: "I'll tell you only if you will forgive
me my darkest fears. Ok?"
Jael: "Of course I will forgive you."
"Good. Your encounter with Irad has troubled me. I don't know his motives but I know you can guess what I fear they might be."
Intuition on Jael's part: "I have no interest in following him, Arashiel."
"Yes, but I am worried that he may be working toward that end, despite your
desire against it."
Hmm. Not a pleasant thought. "He could kill my attunements to push me into it...but I'll take Discord before I'll Fall."
"I was not worried that you were likely to Fall, but I was worried that
you might not have really resolved not to with all your heart." Rashi is looking at the floor.
Long moment of silence. Then: "I do miss him, Arashiel. That I cannot change. He's not the same, though. The person I miss isn't there anymore. Sometimes I feel I should go find out if he could be Redeemed but I'm afraid to."
They stare at each other for a few moments in silence, then turn
their attentions back to the Tapestry once more. Is Cariel the one that would not choose? Would she come out of hiding (no one believes she's *dead*) to protect the Tapestry? The inevitable Purity Crusades are mentioned, and Jael has the predictable response: she is bitter as Beleth's kiss about it, and thinks Heaven abandoned the creatures killed by Uriel.
Somewhere in here, Rashi is suddenly crying - much to Jael's shock. She takes her sister in her arms, and Rashi leans her head on Jael's shoulder.
"I am sorry for my fears." Hard to say if Rashi means -- sorry for being afraid in the first place, or sorry for bringing them up, or if she is in any way reassured now as to Jael's stability.
Jael clearly cannot tell. "It's ok to worry. I will tell you if I think I am going to go."
"Thanks." Sniff. "I will drag Irad's tattooed ass out of hell before I let that happen."