Thursday, September 16th, Boulder
Dinhabah still in a bit of shock from having his Archangel show up and officiate, informs the group that he expects Dominique to return
shortly to brief him on the recent events. Jael and Rook ascend, Rashi has other plans, and Matt, thinking Adrienne might be a little whigged out, heads upstairs.
He finds a very freaked out, wide-eyed Lilim there, packing to leave.
"What are you doing?"
"You think I am going to stay here and get killed by a your local
Malakite?"
"He's not going to ignore my presence, Adrienne."
Furious, she spits back, "You could have told me that he was a *Malakite*, Matt. Flower boy turns out to be knife boy. That was not very nice." Heavy sarcasm.
"I would have protected you."
"Against a Malakite whose purpose is to kill people like me?"
"Please stay. Rook is reasonable."
"No, he's a good actor."
"No, he's a fine angel and very reasonable. That took me a long time to be able to say but it's true." (GM falls over in shock)
"I sensed his Needs. Smiting demons was way up there."
"For all his needs, mostly he wants to do the right thing. He's not going
through me because I have put myself on the line for you. He would not go through that friendship. He is very honorable -- he would not risk a friend." Is she mollified? No? "Please forgive me for not telling you about Rook. I should have, but I was not sure how you would react."
Ping. Resonate. The Elohite very badly Needs the Lilim to stay. "Be careful what you wish for, Matt. I could hook you so easily I'd have you in geasa so thick you couldn't walk."
"I don't want any celestial jewelry, Adrienne. I want you to trust me
because I will protect you."
Sigh. "Matt, there are things out that infinitely more powerful than you and they would tear you apart to get to me . . . scatter your forces all over Boulder. Scatter your Malakite's forces . . . you can't fight them."
"Well, I would try. Besides, Boulder wouldn't be a bad place to have my forces scattered."
Adrienne, mystified by the Oddness of Angels, nevertheless leaves the Tether, Matt close behind. Giles murmurs, as Matt passes, "She has a Destiny. Be patient with her."
At her apartment, she informs Matt that while he was welcome to come in for a moment, he is *not* moving in.
Upstairs, Rook takes Jael to her Heart (well, rather the other way round) and encourages her to sit with it in commiseration for a while, remembering her statement concerning
"heart time". While they were sitting, Rook runs his ideas past her (it is noted that this inhibits 'heart time', at least in Jael's mind):
technology against the Nightmares tether and why the Soldier Hastings was in the shed. They conclude they will have to do more thinking.
Once she returns to the Painted Pot, Arashiel finds not one, but *two* messages from Sean waiting for her. He is obviously quite eager to come visit. Oh, the shock there. When Matt calls
to let Arashiel know that Adrienne had left the Tether, Arashiel encouraged Matt to speak clearly to Adrienne -- because, she notes, "While your intent and emotions are always apparent, your words are not always clearly delivered." Pots and kettles...
Outside, Arashiel checks the shed for Bad Things. She finds nothing of interest beyond the obvious mess. Clean-up time. She repairs the doors and walls (bullet holes) and scrubs up the Jael-trail of blood.
Once she calls Sean to arrange his visit that evening, she goes out to play with kids on the Pearl St. Mall, and quiets anyone crying. Essence. . . mmm.
Jael and Rook go to the Library to (try to) research a way out of his geas. Why no, there are no How To Remove A Geas books, so they go to the Halls of Progress and Rook asks for computer lessons -- the better to harass the Nightmare Tether, my dear.
Jael, who looks more and more unhappy by the millisecond, finally pulls Rook aside.
"I can't stand that we're doing this, Rook. I mean, she let us into the
Tether to rescue you."
"What do you mean? I know that she didn't want me there but -"
"She *let* us in to rescue you, Rook. She could hardly have *not* known that we were there. I mean, imagine someone sneaking through Giles' Tether and him not knowing. She *knew* we were there. Matt and Arashiel aren't *that* good at distracting people. She let us in and she let us use the link into Hell so that we could rescue you."
Rook looks rather torn at this. "She may not have wanted me there but she *did* put a geas on me."
"And if you do something like you're planning there will be consequences. Right now we *don't* have Nightmares breathing down our neck, but something like this could well get their attention. Does that geas really bother you that much? Maybe you could talk to Adrienne about getting it removed. She might know a way."
"I can't talk to her, Jael. I cannot traffic with the infernal. I can
not accept hell, not voluntarily. I know it's a small geas, I know that
there are millions of things more important. It does not hurt me or anyone to try and remove it. The more time between my abduction and the present the less intense my anger . . . maybe I can stop working on the internet thing. But I cannot stop until this thing has been removed from me. I can feel it . . . a mark of my shame and my failure. I will look for a Bright Lilim."
Sigh. The Cherub gets a *look* in her eye. "Fine, you do that. I will work on our Lilim problem." Exit, stage left, tail twitching.
Blink. Rook, bemused, continues his research.
In the mortal world, Sean arrives with prezzies and 'made' Arashiel open them: a book on the history of ballooning, one on hiking trails in
Colorado and finally a composite of the flower illustrations of James Audubon. He wants a Coke (clearly demonic, Arashiel thinks) but settles for juice and after dinner and video games, the Creationer Rite of Essence begins.
Matt, in Adrienne's hair on and off all day, returns to her home in the evening. He has been thinking (GM . o 0 uh-oh ) and goes right for the throat. "You know my Needs. What are yours?"
Adrienne considers. "Hindsight is 20/20. I wish foresight could be as well. I wish I could foresee the course of my actions." (We will note she has not answered the question) "I had no choice. I was created a Lilim. It's funny when you think about it. *We* have geasa, these delicate little dangly things, and Malakim have chains, gigantic, strong. Who is the more bound? Am I am partly human, because Lilith is? *I* think so... but in Rook's mind, I am pure demon."
"You could Redeem," Matt offers, almost a refrain by now.
"If I don't Redeem, Rook is going to kill me anyway, isn't he?" Matt
begins to protest but Adrienne cuts in. "Listen, you're a sweet guy. I don't want to see you killed."
"Yeah, I know. But I have ideals. I can be an idealist."
"I know . . . it's just that I'm going to feel so bad when you get your guts
ripped out." Change in thought direction. "If I Redeem, don't I have to
atone for all my past sins and stuff?"
"No, somebody's feeding you a line on that one. I don't know if it's
painful or not, really, but I can look into it for you. Here, I'll make us
some coffee." The chat begins, and lasts all night.
Meanwhile, Rook finds information on the rare Bright Lilim and their Superiors. Laurence, Judgment, Eli, Novalis, Gabriel . . . all had some. Laurence is no help --- three days for an audience. Novalis isn't either ---she is not around, though there are numerous invitations to a party. Hunting for Song help in the Bazaar is equally fruitless. Finally, Rook has some inspiration and decides to act upon it (Jael is rubbing off on him, clearly). He descends through a cafe Tether of Eli's in Paris, buys himself some paints, and sets himself before la Cathédrale de Notre Dame. Time to get creative! Hmm... Got paintbrush, got Essence, got a darned lucky die roll for Eli's availability...
"Not bad for a first time." The virgin painting passes approval.
"It *is* my first time."
"I know. So, what's up?"
"Although I know we have no historical connection, I am currently working with three of your number." Reconsider. "Two. Have you heard about Bob?"
"Yes . . . hey, let's relax a bit. Let's go get some noodles, ok?"
Soon, Rook and Eli the Archangel are relaxing over noodles (Rook actually *eats* for a change). Rook explains his geas and his thoughts on acquiring assistance from a Bright Lilim.
"So, you thought I could send one your way, hmmm?"
"Given the current working relationship I share with Jael I thought I
might hazard asking you."
"Sleeping with her? Well, good. She needs someone's attention these
days. I am worried about her."
"She has just lost an attunement, it's true. But surely this has
happened many times before." (GM sighs...)
"Yes, but Jael is the kind to take these things so seriously. She
doesn't just shrug them off . . . she feels them for a long time." Pause. "I will send a Bright Lilim to speak with you. How big is this geas, anyway? Just a little one? Man, you *must* be really bugged." A strangely distant look took his face then, soon replaced by sadness. Rook, unaware of the reasons, pushes on.
"I thank you for this aid, sir. Is there anything I can do to repay you?"
Patting Rook on the shoulder, rather fondly or sadly, Rook is not sure,
Eli tells Rook to simply 'be cool.' Rook turns to leave, thinking he should not ask anymore...but since he's already summoned a strange Archangel...
He rushes back and asks the other question on his mind. "The Tapestry. What would you do with it?"
"You mean what would I do if it were mine? What do you think, Rook?"
"I think that they should be released. Whether for protection or against their will, they are intelligent creatures. I would not want to be trapped."
"And would you protect them?"
"Yes, I would."
"But the forces that might come against you are much stronger, Rook."
"But I would try to protect them. Though I might be destroyed, I would try."
"That's good to know. Just be cool. The creatures in the Tapestry are
unique. So are those two Cherubim."
Rook returns to Boulder then, after thanking Eli again. Exercises
are undertaken to re-essence.
September 17th, 1999 . . . . Friday.
Arashiel and Sean, having spent the night in, erm, *entertainment*, awake to morning pursuits. Jael is actually home, doing some chores.
Matt, breezing in from all-night coffee, calls up the Flowers Tether in Denver to ask about the herbal pharmaceutical stuff Rook wants. It will be sent straight away, the Seneschal promises. Matt is pleased, and thinking to complicate his friend's already complex life, decides to have the items sent to Rook's business with the admonition, "do not touch!" Matt chuckles but dares not push the joke further. Rook is still a (somewhat serious) Malakite.
Friday is rather uneventful, else -- Rashi and Sean have another wonderful day and night, Matt stays with Adrienne, Arabis is Off Doing Other Things (see her journal for details), and Jael stays at home.
Matt is with Adrienne for the evening. They notice many sirens in the distance and wondered what might be going on... (GM whistles innocently)
Rook finishes his exercises and hangs his first painting in his bedroom. Then he calls Jael to tell her what he has done. Among other things -- "Eli said he is worried about you."
A rather annoyed Jael: "That list seems to be growing." Off the phone, then.
After midnight, Jael joins Rook and he shows off his new painting. Color this a shocked Cherub. Will he continue painting?
"There are two sides of the issue. Part of me was frustrated because the painting did not reflect what I saw. Why could I not translate my vision into the medium of the oil paints? But once I pushed that part aside - emotional control is the hallmark of a good Malakite - " - (this is a Rookism!) - "I was able to simply enjoy the messy creative aspect of it." Think think think. "What did you mean about the Lilim problem?"
"Don't ask me unless you really want to know." This is the Jael Warning Voice. As no one, ever, has paid any attention to the Jael warning voice, she is surprised when Rook drops the subject and goes back to rubbing her shoulders. Damn. Now, for honesty's sake... "Your
geas is gone."
Rook, astounded, goes celestial and sees that this is, indeed, so. Malakite eyes get very narrow. "Jael, would you go celestial as
well?"
Subtle, Rook. "If you are going to look to see if I have any jewelry, I can tell you that I do. She did it for me, dropped your geas and gave one to me."
Rook flies away for awhile to think. This is misinterpreted, and Jael leaves in the interim. He goes to the Painted Pot and finds her there,
working mechanically over her wheel.
Rook comes in and stands there, and a very guilty Jael starts talking again. Jael maybe should just stay quiet. "She can't make me do anything bad, Rook. And I have a very good chance of just being able to blow it off. It doesn't matter." (lies, all lies!)
"I see. This matters to me, however," Rook replies in a low tone.
Sidelong glance from pottery: "Is this a condition on our
continued relationship?" almost inaudibly. See the Cherub's heart stop...
"Of course not." See the Cherub's heart start again. Rook, fine actor that he is, tries to switch into all business mode. "So, we can speak with the Bright Lilim and conduct our research and have it removed from you, then."
Jael bloody well knows geasa don't just *come off*; when Rook discovers this fact, he may be unhappy. "This is my good deed for the week, Rook. I would like to live with it for a while."
Rook, trying to fight the slow rise of bile into his mouth, puts on a
happy face (and wins the In Nomine Oscar for the evening) and sits down to do pottery. And the Cherub actually believes his sincerity...
September 18, Saturday, early hours
The apparent calm of the scene is broken by Matt's phone call. A waitress from Jose Muldoon's (the same one where Bob had worked) has been found outside of town in many little pieces. This brings to mind Arnu's work.
No one has heard a peep in the Symphony. Saminga? Eeeew. The pottery continues, quietly. Finally, without a word, Rook leaves. Clearly, there is trouble in Paradise after all. Jael just keeps making her pot, and says not a word.
Matt is at Adrienne's house. She is *terrified* by the
newscast. "What did you angels do to piss *him* off? You can kiss your role good-bye, honey. If this is who I think it is, it's Word-bound. You can't fight that. Even in Hell we don't like Death."
Meanwhile Rook goes back to Laban-Lael and asks about Perry. No change there, so Rook flies across town to resonate him himself. Elizabeth: noble for embracing her role as a Soldier of God and ignoble in her continued problems with her mother. Perry: virtuous in his activity toward being good, sinful in his desire to cause trouble, damage left over from the Shedite. Rook unhappily absorbs this information and returns to Boulder.
The day passes in Boulder. Sean and Arashiel wander round town
until Sean has to leave. Arashiel, thinking on future plans, signs up for a
computer classes through Continuing Education.
Matt, amazingly away from Adrienne for more than three minutes, spots her and Dinhabah sitting on a bench talking. The horror! He watches, mystified, as the two of them chat in apparent amiability. They leave and separate, and he follows Adrienne home (sparking the comment "He would make a good Djinn!") and knocks.
As if she doesn't know who there...Adrienne opens the door wearily.
"I saw you talking to him," Matt begins playfully.
"He didn't threaten me, Matt."
"You can tell me more if you want." Oh, see how innocent the Elohite, not suspicious of Dinhabah, oh no...
"It's wonderful to see that there are factions in Heaven." Dryly amused Lilim goes off to make tea for the Elohite.
At the Painted Pot, Jael finally hunts up a now alone Arashiel. The siblings eye each other.
Jael, finally: "You haven't asked."
"As if I needed to. I could see that you two were different. Why so
surly?"
"Sometimes I wish I were an Elohite so I could tell what he was feeling.
I surmise he's pissed and I suspect you will be too. I acquired his geas for
him."
Shock...but not surprise. "You bitch!" Arashiel races upstairs, acquires her bokken, and runs back downstairs with Jael close behind. A systematic beating of a defenseless pole ensues. Jael understands stress relief when she sees it.
Between strikes: "He's furious, but it's not really a huge thing." Lies, all lies!
Thwack! "I *knew* you were going to do this! I should have known you would do it quickly."
"It's not going to kill me, Rashi. Come on! He was searching for Bright
Lilim! He was fretting. Come on, it's not going to kill me! You would have done it too."
Thwack! "Maybe." (Rashi's player confesses: would have, too)
"He summoned down *our Archangel*, for Heaven's sake. He fucking summoned him in PARIS! That's how serious he is!"
Thwack! "He's a weenie. What do you see in him?"
Eeep. Rashi does not approve of Rook? "He's a Malakite... Tell me you're not mad at me, and be honest. I know he *is* mad. Don't lie, now."
Thwack. "You know my fears, Jael."
"They can't make me Fall with just a little geas, Arashiel."
Thwack. "You need to open Rook up some more, Jael."
Easier to ask the sun to turn purple. "How?"
Bokken rests finally. "I don't know. If you could just talk about this."
"I *can't* talk to him about this kind of stuff. How could I tell him
about Irad? He calls *Bob* a 'redeemed Habbalite.' What am I supposed to tell him? You just mention the word 'Fall' and up goes that little Rook filter and everything is heard differently."
"You're perfectly resigned, then. You didn't need to tell him about the
geas, you know," Arashiel counters.
"He would have figured it out eventually. He would have been *really* mad then. I was honest. What do you expect?"
Rashi considers. "He did whine about it a lot."
Jael defends. "He's a *Malakite*. I don't think he's ever even had a
note of dissonance." Shift in thought. "When Rook was with him, Eli
mentioned me. He said he's worried about me."
Arashiel, thinking to avoid that subject for the moment, tries a different angle. "So I suppose Millicent still had the geas?"
"Yes. Maybe when she comes for mine I can blow it off. People blow them off all the time." Lies, lies!
"Perhaps, but the fulfilling of it could be deceivingly simple, Jael.
'Where is Arashiel today? Tell me and the geas is gone.' Or, 'What is so
and so doing today?' You must be careful when she comes. There are just too many coincidences, Jael. Irad letting you out of the tower, her letting you into the Tether. I don't like it. Anyway, are you two going to talk today? Maybe? Well, I have to go the Board anyway. I have a class and I want to work out beforehand."
Arashiel leaves and makes her way to the Board. Rook,
still in Colorado Springs at this time, arrives later. The conversation involves Rook teaching Rashi a Song -- and Rook agrees to do so. Then Rook cancels his appointment with Laurence and heads to the Painted Pot for a group meeting.
It's Tapestry Talk Time!
"We need to convince that roc to disappear. - Arashiel
"Jordi will protect it." - Jael
"Could we get it to go to the Marches?" - Arashiel
"I think that it enjoys its Corporeal existence." - Rook
"We are not going to unravel the Tapestry. Those creatures do not belong here and now." - Arashiel
"They are living creatures." - Rook
"They'll all be killed. They will not be reasonable." - Arashiel
"Could revive the pagan religions." - Jael
"With an inquisition to follow." - Arashiel.
"We'd get dragged up on charges for sure." - Jael
"Then I believe we are finished." - Rook (nice try, Rook)
"Eli said to protect it. I don't think that means unravel it. I don't
think they will be welcome." - Arashiel.
"Humans will deal. They might not be seen." - Jael
"Even in the past there were sightings and stories." - Arashiel.
"And they left great waves of creation after them." - Matt
"Don't cheat and use loaded words. Ethereals on Earth could make us
battle for human souls between three groups rather than two. I'm nervous the Seraphim Council will call us and demand the Tapestry." - Jael
"There must have been some other meaning in Michael's comment. Use. Protect. They don't go together. We should see if there is fallout from the release of the roc. If they demand the Tapestry, I will deal with them myself." - Arashiel
The meeting adjourns; Jael, Matt and Rook mix herbal poisons in the kitchen. Dart guns are added to the Angelic Shopping List. Then Rook takes Jael back to her room to get her Essence. (GM wonders if it's really that clinical...)
Jael is surprised. "I thought you were mad at me and not talking to me," Jael protests as they settle onto the bed.
Recall Rook's In Nomine Oscar: "I never said that..."
GM hides her head...