Radical Changes
Arashiel, Adriel, and Irad are in the Springs, in an IHOP, killing time and pancakes until they can wake Sean up. It's ridiculously early, but that does not matter to angels. There is much discussion, mostly bringing Adriel up to date on the Strassen affair, and some more discussion of Sean's dream and the coat.
Back in Boulder, Rook ascends to find Michael. And there Michael is... and annoyed. The First Born is not happy with Rook's new... attitudes. He had rather Rook recall that his word is War, and that one Hellsworn's soul is not worth the information she might have. Michael is also not happy with Rook's apparent unwillingness to work with other angels, and his hands off policy. In short, Rook gets put under Arashiel's ostensible command, to act as her sergeant -- to temper her rashness, and also to teach Rook the fine art of persuasion; he has permission (nay, encouragement) to argue with Rashi. Back earthside, Rook.
And, almost simultaneously, because Superiors are cool like that, Michael walks into the IHOP and repeats the procedure with Arashiel. Oh, yes, the Creationer is thrilled. Not.
Bemused Arashiel to breakfast companions: "I am in charge of Rook, now. Michael has given me command. I don't know what to do with him."
"I think a flambé would be lovely." (Irad, of course.)
Rashi requests Rook's presence at the War Tether, ASAP. See? Commands are not so hard. Then the unlikely trio goes off to talk to Sean, nevermind how early it is.
Arabis is looking to speak to Dinhabah in the Destiny Tether -- she corners him in the kitchen, with Giles running interference with Adrienne in the other room. Arabis, conversationalist that she is, just stares at Dinhabah.
Sigh. "What do you want?"
"It's a matter of getting things clear. I don't have time to indulge your mood, at the moment. I want to talk about what happened. I think it has something to do with what is going on."
Blink. Then, too calmly: "I can't trust my control. I am an Outcast. My heart cracked; I felt it crack. I am dissonant. . . and I don't walk to talk to my Superior about it." More pained: "I do not trust my Superior."
Raven faces are so impassive. "Would you be interested in working for another Superior?"
Bitterly: "Who would take me when I have betrayed Judgment?"
(. o O who wouldn't?) "I don't know, what did you do?"
"The Triad came for me. I did not respect or recognize their authority. I thought they were wrong; they wanted me to betray all of you, for this thing you have done. The Seraph would not say they were orders from my Superior, so I resisted. I was angry. I was to help them bring all of you in. I said it was Unjust. They said it was not, and it was an Order. I refused. Adrienne heard the noise of our combat, and she helped me escaped. I am not certain how she got me away."
Hmm. Arabis blinks so more, processing info in her own special way.
Dinhabah volunteers: "Adrienne is a problem. She is more of a problem than any of you know. There is an undercurrent of fear in everything she does. I *think* that she plays both sides. I *think* she is the Game, but have no proof. She has a geas on me, and I would rather be in limbo than serve her geas. I could not serve it there, even if it still existed." Subtext: kill me, Arabis.
Arabis pretends she does not understand the subtext. No sense in wasting a chatty Outcast, after all. "I will ask you some questions. If you choose not to answer, I will understand. Where is the Game's closest Tether?"
Sigh. "They have agents throughout Boulder, on the hunt for Renegades and Outcasts. Irad was an unexpected bonus."
"Do they know you killed a Demon of the Game?"
"No. They asked about all of you, and this Tapestry."
Some topic shift: "Do you know who the Lost One is?"
Blink. "No."
"Since you had firm reason to think this Triad was not acting on proper orders, your acting against them was justified. Need I remind you of that?" Arabis gets a Being Fair Point.
"The resistance may have been justified, but I should not have acted of emotion. If Judgment finds me now, they will destroy me. If the Game finds me, I will Fall. If Dominic comes down, he will find me. Though he cannot find me through my heart, he would come here first. I cannot stay here." Now there is fear...
"The only place I know of that is safe in Boulder is Rook's school. And there might be a place Up Top. I assume you think Adrienne will ultimately play out on their side. It did occur to me that her reason for bringing you back was not altruistic. I thought it might be because YOU were a plant, but not anymore." Of course, Arabis could reverse her thinking in a moment. "It wouldn't help to get you into deeper trouble. So what should we do with you? -- I just wish I could peck Adrienne's eyes out."
Ah, for the simple solutions... Dinhabah thinks it's a fine idea, actually.
Damn. Now Arabis has to be Good Angel. "We should find out what purpose she has, to us and this situation. Anyway, Giles might have an issue with that."
Coldly: "Wait till she leaves." Ah, now, is that Elohite ice, or Habbalite?
Time to consult Giles; a purposely vague conversation ensues, because Adrienne is listening, and so they call Rook. The upshot: Dinhabah can stay at the Board.
[GM shakes her head. Poor Malakite. First Renegades, then Outcasts.]
Once off the phone, Giles says that Matt went to talk to Rook. Arabis is pleased, and fluffs appropriately; she and Dinhabah walk toward Rook's place.
Matt is going to the Board to speak with Rook. Poor Rook. As if he has not had a rough enough day.
"Do you have your sword ready? No? What weapon do you use?"
"Myself."
"There is a Scourge in the Marches. Do you want to help?"
"You will have to ask Arashiel. She is in command of me."
Good Elohite: the mouth stays closed, the jaw does not hit the floor. "Oh. Well, how do I do ask Arashiel?"
"I am summoned to the War Tether soon. You can speak with her then."
"If I can get permission from Arashiel, you wouldn't be against going, would you?"
"No."
"Good, because I can't start the fight. I thought I would leave that to you." {GM scribbles 'borderline dissonance' in her notes, and starts picking out Matt's tattoos]
"We can go to the War Tether after Arabis arrives."
And Arabis does arrive, being Arabis, in short order, with poor vessel-damaged Dinhabah trailing gamely behind. He is not among the soft-hearted angels, no. Rook installs him in a guest room, gets another phone for Arabis, and everyone gets the Scourge Report from Matt. Then off to the Springs... only Matt, in a stunning display of Mattness, decides that lone Outcast in a non-Tether is unsafe, and unwise. He elects to lurk in the garden (OOC, Matt's player succumbed to The Nasty Flu Crud *right then* and the GM sent him home). Rook leaves Sangeeta a note about the new guest, and away to Colorado Springs...
Adriel, Arashiel and Irad are still on their way to Sean's house. Sean's house is still dark. A kitty is sleeping on Sean, clear proof that he is not dead. Adriel looks for a box in the room. Nope. Arashiel considers knocking on the window... because that's the subtle Arashiel way. So she does, after admonishing Irad to be nice, and for he and Adriel to watch from some concealed location. Off to the bushes for the Malakite; onto the roof for the Renegade.
Arashiel tries to convince Sean that Victoria is a Bad Person. This has the expected result: Sean does not believe her. She tries to prove her angelness with a Song; Sean thinks it's Sorcery. Fine.
Irad resonates Sean and inflicts upon him Doubt. Ahh. Now Arashiel can get somewhere. She asks about the jacket, and Sean lies -- how do we know? Adriel is clever, we knew that. He makes hand signals at Irad to that effect. Subtle, our trio. Irad tosses some Guilt onto Sean as the Doubt wears off. But no, little Sean will simply not believe evil of Victoria. Err.
Irad leaps from the roof, startling Sean, and snarling in helltongue -- which Sean recognizes as having come from Victoria's lovely lips before. Bring out the big guns: let's *show* him a demon. Irad obliges, modeling his tattoos and mutilations. Lovely Habbie. Sean has the appropriate response to seeing a demon -- he screams and runs. Smart boy. Too smart, because he wants to know why Arashiel, ostensible angel, has a demon with her.
Deadpan Irad: "She controls me."
See how subtle Adriel is, not to choke on his laughter. See how good Arashiel's acting skills are, that she does not crack a smile. Lucky there are not Seraphim around, eh?
Sean wants to go back to bed, and naturally Arashiel follows him into the bedroom. Then she reveals her own angelic form, and Sean is suitably impressed. Then poor Sean, overwhelmed, goes back to sleep. Arashiel phases out through the wall.
Irad: "I am an *angel*. "
*Now* Adriel laughs out loud.
Back to the War Tether, and Clever Adriel reports: "He was lying to you. He DID receive something from Victoria. So, the dream was post-cognition."
"It was his interpretation of the event, one would imagine," Adriel counters.
"Could she have endowed him with extra forces/ Introduced him to Daspit?"
"She may have introduced them to Superiors if she is recruiting."
"She has given him *something*," Adriel insists.
But what? The Unlikely Trio does not know.
Rook and Arabis descend into the War Tether.
Coincidentally, they arrive just as the Unlikely Trio does. Thenaire was, of course, expecting them, and thinks Irad has some nerve... but can come in if he does not try to dreamwalk. Really, he's an allied Renegade in a *War* Tether. He's burnt toast if he tries anything stupid.
Conference time, in a dull government-issue conference room.
Arashiel: "Victoria has been meddling with Sean. He is lying to cover for her."
"It is not surprising that he is covering for her," Adriel says. "He is loyal."
Rashi to Rook: "Your interception of Victoria may have saved him. He has received something from her. She has shown him some of her abilities, and made herself his friend. We are not sure why. Perhaps to get to me, or to any of us through me. I can not imagine that she would have chosen him for a connection through anyone else. No one was connected to Sean."
Irad, ever suspicious: "Perhaps to get the layout of Jael's pottery shop.".
"I do not know that the timing of those events were such that he would have been contacted by her, but we can ask Victoria."
"What if she doesn't want to answer? There is a moratorium against harming her." Sneering Habbalite.
Arashiel: "We might have to break that."
"We should use Songs," Irad says. "Let Adriel walk her dreams. He would not hurt her. He won't even scare her while he's at it. It's not in his job description." Please note this is the *Habbalite's* suggestion.
"I wish to go in and offer her the carrot once again. Does that seem inappropriate? I give her the opportunity to speak freely and give information. I am endeavoring to appeal to her sense of understanding of good vs. evil. It is possible that deep within her, she may yet hold on to some shred of belief that the angels may yet save her." Arashiel: Professional Optimist.
Irad, flatly: "She is Fate's." To a demon, that speaks volumes.
"Are we trying to get information or save her? If we are after information, then get it," Adriel says. In this, he and Irad agree.
Arashiel acquires a timer, and takes it and raven-Arabis into Victoria's room (is she trying to look Goth? The world may never know.) Arabis' resonance tells her that Victoria is cruel, cruel, cruel.
The Arashiel tries her hand at redemption:
"I see your accommodations have not improved much."
"You're back quickly. I have not repented yet."
"This is the window of opportunity you have, this timer. So, you were talking to Sean."
"Lot of potential in that kid."
"Unless, of course, you corrupt it."
"It's all free will. He might just possibly want to choose a different master."
"We do not need to debate good or evil. You have been seen to have potential for good. I do not know how the interrogation will proceed after I leave, but it will proceed."
"What about my promise of solitude? Been reneged? How angelic. I have been expecting this. So, I have 3 minutes and 23 seconds to do what? Would you walk away from Heaven?"
"You are mortal. You don't show the signs yet."
"I don't think much of Heaven's offer. To be a worm, crawling around and taking order from you? Or to have power. It's all about free will. What your side cannot handle is that most people want these things -- power, angel. It's about power."
"I understand more about free will than you imagine. You have a minute and a half. Why were you seeing Sean? I saw potential in him, to enjoy his creative endeavors. Ballooning, you know that."
"He would make a great sorcerer. He has all the right brains."
"You would have him step on people."
"It's free choice. He might have chosen this. He might not have chosen ballooning except for you. You are not even here, you are not human, you don't know anything about it. You don't even die."
"Time's up."
Arabis lands on the floor and begins the raven-song-preparation. This involves much hopping and singing in Arabic. Victoria does not laugh.
A small conference in the hall: Rook has no suggestions to Arashiel's 'what shall we do?' Adriel suggest good cop/bad cop. For some reason, this is not acceptable to Arashiel, and she goes back into the room. Meanwhile, Arabis has successfully sung Truth.
Arashiel's Interrogation, part 2:
"In what function do you serve Daspit?"
"I am his Soldier."
"What do you do for him?"
No response.
"Where would we find Daspit now?"
No response.
Arashiel, thoughtfully: "Perhaps her will needs softened."
"I can't. Not in a Tether," Irad quips mildly.
The Creationer returns to the door. "Her will needs softened, Rook."
"How do you want me to do that?"
"Physically."
And so Rook beats the tar out of Strassen. [The GM is mildly appalled.] And naturally, she is a little more willing to answer questions...
Arashiel (now playing the role of Bad Cop): "Where would we be likely to find Daspit?"
"Possibly the Tether."
"What do you do?"
"I do what he tells me to do. He demands my service, my obedience."
Then she stops helping, and Rook pounds on her some more. Irad murmurs that Arashiel should be doing this, not Rook, and looks distinctly unhappy.
Bad Cop: "Have you currently being assigned a task?"
Bloody and bruised, Victoria is incoherent. Hmm. Rashi leaves Rook inside and sends Adriel in to try being Good Cop.
Good Cop: "I didn't tell him to do that. Now, are you under orders to do something?"
"Corrupting Sean. Because I can. And to hurt you. What do I hide in my coat? What do you want to see?"
Neutral Raven: "For everyone?"
"So I am told."
Neutral Raven: "What other demons have you come into contact with? Have you met demons of the Game while in service to Daspit?"
"Yes. I don't know if they are working with Daspit."
"What is your interest in the Tapestry, his interest?"
"He wanted it for its power."
"Now that it no longer exists, what does he want?"
"I don't know."
Bad cop: "Does Daspit have any weaknesses?"
"Fuck you." Oooh, defiance.
Bad Cop slaps Defiant Prisoner.
"What is Daspit's Word?" A little resistance. Out comes the light saber. "Heart's desire." Away goes the light saber.
"What will he do to get you back?"
"He will do nothing."
"You were expecting to see Sean today. What were you to do today? What have you offered him? Is that what you show in the jacket?"
"I don't show anything. They see what they want to see."
"Do you know what it is that he saw?"
"No."
Arashiel leaves the room, leaves Arabis with Strassen. Irad is nowhere to be seen. Arashiel hunts up Thenaire, who confirms that Irad is on the Tether grounds someplace. Adriel goes off to sleep and check on Sean's dreams. Rook goes off to be alone.
And Arabis, left alone with Strassen, realizes that there is not sufficient punishment done to her yet. Still. Arabis changes vessels and begins to clean her up; the Mercurian of War who brings Arabis the necessary water and such looks horrified, but helps. She's probably a new Mercurian, anyway.
Arashiel goes looking for Irad, and finds him up against the fence, fingers laced in the chain link, tears on his face. As she approaches, she seens a woman suddenly appear and begin to walk towards him along the fence -- a dark-haired woman, very lovely. When she reaches Irad, she takes his face in her hands very gently, and stares into his eyes. They disappear together in a crash of Superior-sound. Arashiel draws close enough to see the woman's footprints burnt into the grass. Ah. Not Beleth, then. Back inside.
Adriel tries to dreamwalk, fails, and has to ascend and seartch the marches for that elusive dream bubble instead. Sean's having a replay of the backyard interview, complete with Irad Imagery. Drat. Adriel returns.
Arashiel returns, finds Rook sitting in the hallways, Arabis and the Mercurian tending Victoria. Strassen has that "I might manage to survive it with my dignity, if I am lucky" look.
There is much conferencing again: what's the box, what did Sean see in the jacket, where *is* the jacket? Arabis shares the Scourge Report. More conferencing: Adriel has heard of the Scourge, yes. Rumors and legends, mostly, from Sword-angels who walk the Borders. The Scourge they report is a burning white fire, and is Ethereal, and kills anything it finds in its path. Hmm. Could the Scourge be Purity's Dream? And who is it that must be informed? What's the Heavenly connection? There is suspicion that Purity's old servitors are acting on their own.
The only thing everyone can agree on is that the angels need to help the ethereals.
And Adriel is the only one to check on Rook's well-being with a simple 'are you OK?' Rook says he is, but Adriel does not believe him.
The angels begin to split tasks -- Arabis wants to get Daspit via Jael's killer; Arashiel wants to go save the Ethereals. Rook, it is revealed, would *prefer* to help ethereals, but will do what Arashiel commands. Adriel and Arabis discuss what to do with Strassen (now isn't *that* an unlikely pair to be concerned with her?).
And basically no one can decide what to do, which should surprise no one.
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