Wednesday, September 8th, 1999
Follow That Feather Duster
September 8th, 1999
Follow That Feather Duster
September 8th, 1999
Arabis gathers essence from the steam tower, then launches into her day -- it's time to investigate the Death Tether! First: to the Eason's She sees no one (Matt is there, but doing the I-am-One-with-the-Flowers thing. And so:
head to Susannah's. She sees blood on the street, police and a dead
dog. Hmm. And look -- the angel van. Must have been a demon. She perches on top of the van and waits impatiently. Hop, hop.
Arashiel and Jael finally emerge from the apartment and approach the van. OfanRaven is noticed. After a brief consultation on Bob's wherabouts, Arashiel elects to stay and mind her Attuneds, since she has two conveniently in one place, while Jael drives Arabis back to the hotel to see if Bob is there. Arabis flies up to peek in the window, but cannot see him, and reports back to Jael: No Bob. There is some consternation -- what with Beleth giving Rashi the Evil Eye and Factions ticked off and Bob's new-to-angelness, Jael and Arabis are concerned about a Bad Thing. So in Jael goes...to find Bob happily people-watching in the atrium. She re-emerges with Bob. Arabis is hopping claw-to-claw along the van's dash, a bundle of feathered impatience. Jael, who has not had a stunning morning so far, explains to Bob and Arabis about the whole Beleth-stared-at-my-attuned incident: "In all my thousands of years, I have never, ever felt anything like that. Like a nuclear bomb going off in my head." Bob, whose morning has been placid, wants to know what Arabis has done. OfanRaven: "Sat. Flew. Factions." Ah, brevity, the soul of...something.
Then Jael sends the happy duo off to school... Comments: "You
know, Rook's not thrilled with these little side trips, but then you are
an Ofanite, Arabis Šyou can't sit still. I'm a Cherub and good at
boring guard duty." Bob makes some derogatory comment
concerning Rook Œstuffing his shirt'. Jael, ever in the middle of party tensions, responds, "He makes you nervous, doesn't he?" No answer required.
After a drive where the silence is broken only by the radio, OfanRaven (now dubbed 'the feather duster' in the mind of the Elohite) changes to OfanHuman, and she and Bob arrive at Columbine. There is security at the door and police here and there. Bob begins randomly resonating people and getting nothing too exciting. Arabis, who knows nothing about the whole incident, asks for and receives the Brief History of Columbine. The pair wonder and wander around outside of the building -- no getting in without I.D. Bob thinks the Tether might be in the library -- now walled off from the rest of the school -- or the cafeteria, where most of the carnage occurred.
Arabis suddenly hears a Song. She places it as the Ethereal Song of Tongues...and of a sudden, her mind has company. Arnu, Fallen Elohite of War, now Habbalite of Death. She begins scanning around her frantically.
Arnu: Have you nothing to say to me? No, you're not going to see me, silly girl. Who's the charmer with you? A Malakite?
Arnu: I'll kill every one of them and put them in trauma for a lifetime.
Don't mess with me.
Arabis: I killed your soldier. Your pretty boy won't be joining you. I don't
care what you do with your Tether, what you do to usurp Saminga.
Arnu, losing patience: If you want a war, Arabis, you've got one. Gather your players in close.
Arabis, stalling now: How did you know it was me?
(Bob is hard at work in the meantime, resonating like a madman and trying to find a Habbalite. Bob senses rage from a man on his way into the parking lot suspects it might be the demon in question.)
Arnu: I tasted you. After all these years you are so familiar to me.
Bob decides to pursue the suspicious and rage-filled man. Arnu (for of course it is he) spots his pursuit and -- Habbalates. Poor Bob. He is terrified to approach the car, and cannot get close enough to read the plates. However, he was a Habbie himself not long ago...he knows what this is. He motions to Arabis that Arnu is the angry man and Arabis, ducking behind a car to transform, takes to the air to follow him. Meanwhile, Bob sits very still for a moment before realizing that he can at least follow the bird Šas long as he does not think about following the car.
Then, he's off.
Arabis tries to see the plates, using a Song of Ethereal Sight to
enhance her vision. It works and with this information safely stored,
she continues to follow and think about what to do. Ravens cannot dive-bomb SUVs, after all. She finally concludes that she will sing Entropy on a tire. Zap! She annihilates it and the tire explodes as Arnu enters an intersection. There is a traffic accident. When Arabis swoops down to the car to check on Arnu's
condition, she finds that he is not in the vehicle. She lets out a very annoyed
squawk and looks around for him, wondering how he got away. Bob, however, spotted Arnu walking calmly off down the street and calls Arabis' attention to it. Bob then resonates the demon. Arnu is marveling that Arabis has improved her pursuit-techniques over the years, and he is somewhat irritated about losing the car.
Were Bob to confront Arnu directly, he knows that Arnu will attempt to take him
apart in small pieces. Wise Bob stays back.
Arabis flies down close to memorize the vessel, which she does, and to resonate him as fleeing justice -- and of course he is. Arnu Habbalates Arabis, too, however, and she drops to the ground in a listless, soot-covered pile of feathers. Arnu walks by without a further glance and Bob is left to recover his ally. Arabis, not caring
about anything at all, allows herself to be picked up and taken back to
the van by Bob. He dusts the dashboard with her (one assumes this is Creationer Elohite humor) and they head back to the Springs.
Back at the Laurentian Tether, Rook is cleaning up some loose ends. He
verifies that Laurence will not be showing up until the night of the
wedding. He is also informed that the Tic-Toc car belongs to one
Victoria Strassen. Ah...must check address. But first: Perry. Rook confirms -- through clever and artful means -- where Perry works and that he is at work today. Now, off to the Strassen house. Oops. No house. The address simply does not exists. He tries calling the DMV for more info -- they are clueless. He calls the Tethers to Factions and Fate and tries more artful cleverness...but it fails. No luck (or, Mean GM). Rook decides to phone home and call the hotel. He finds the faithful Jael minding the phone and says that he would like to take her to lunch, since
she partakes in that earthly pastime, and let her know his thoughts.
Jael is amazed by this until Rook confirms that he himself will not be
eating. It is merely a convenient venue for them to talk. (Sigh, says Jael to herself. Can't call it a date!) He dutifully (see?) takes her to the restaurant near the hotel and explains to her his intuition concerning the Tic-Toc car and Perry. Jael listens, then reminds him that she is attuned to Perry, and has been since the dinner meeting. Rook, intrigued, thinks that they will look into Perry together later.
Although neither will be able to know for certain if he is infernal,
they might find something of relevance. Rook returns to the Laurentian
Tether and Jael resumes channel surfing.
Across town, Arashiel decides that things are calm enough at Susannah
Eason's residence, as there is no evidence of an immediate replacement for the Djinn, so she calls up her future balloon pilot friend, Sean. He gets his
brother to drive him over to retrieve her with alacrity and off they head for the
arcade (she's a Cherub in service to Lightning -- she loves video games. Arashiel's day is largely spent hanging out with Sean and then getting essence back in
Sean's bedroom. She is doing her Creationer duty. Some people get all the good jobs.
Bob returns to the hotel and deposits a listless Arabis upside down on the bed, wings extended, eyes focused on the
television. Stillness from the
normally supernaturally active one! Jael is understandably shocked. Bob explains what he knows. For the rest, they will have to await Arabis' recovery.
Rook manages one more call from the Tether to set up an audience with the Seneschal of the Michaelite Tether at Norad for the next day and finds himself
face to face with a newly-descended Triad: Caiphus, a statuesque Athena-like Seraph, Eph-Lahl, a hulking black Malakite, and Dinhabah, a pale, slender Elohite. They want to speak with Arabis and, when Rook sees them recognize the name of
Arnu, he can guess what it might be about. Uh-oh. Rook phones home yet again and warns Jael of their imminent visitors. He accompanies the Triad to the hotel, while Jael and Bob debate what to do. They ultimately decide to stay and see what happens. As soon as the Triad gets to the room, the resonances start bouncing. Note: the OfanRavne is just *lying there.* Explanations are required. Bob explains what he can. Rook, who does not like Triads, watches on somewhat protectively. Caiphus, the inquisitor of the group, begins talking to Arabis. When Arabis does not
respond immediately, Rook asks Caiphus if her group is also looking for
Arnu. Caiphus coolly responds that Rook will be informed as necessary.
Caiphus returns her attention to Arabis..."You are dissonant.
Why?" They know that Arabis is feeling guilty, although they don't know
why -- special Judgement hand signs are flashing.
Arabis: "I screwed up. You don't pick on everyone who screws up, do you?"
Caiphus, holding her head a little higher, replies, "We serve Judgment." (That would be...yes.)
Arabis, sighing:. "I allowed a demon to escape me and I have not caught it yet. I tripped, and don't take that the wrong way, like you people always tend to."
Caiphas: "Your heart is not broken, Arabis. Only dissonant. Tell us about the
soldier."
"He got what he deserved."
"Describe your encounter. How did you identify him? How did you
pursue?"
Arabis, by now quite pissed off, describes the method in which the man
came to her attention, how she pursued and ultimately brought him to the
Laurentian Tether.
Arabis: "I executed him."
"Did you enjoy it?" Caiphus counters.
Arabis, shouting: "Yes, I enjoyed it!" No guilt. The Elohite makes a note.
Rook interjects: "She is a Wheel of Fire. Naturally she would kill the hellsworn in a manner consistent with her nature."
Caiphus, shooting Rook a momentary look, changes her tactics. "Why are
you consorting with Arnu again?"
Angry OfanRaven. "I'm not consorting with him! I saw him."
Caiphas, archly: "You have a long history and you are not equipped to handle encounters with him."
Arabis loses it. "You lying little bitch!" She begins to hop about on the bed.
Rook begins to stroke her in an effort to calm her.
Malakite-brave, he distracts the Seraph. "It is an understandable obsession. Not
only is she an Ofanite, a choir given to that sort of single-mindedness,
but she has been chasing this particular demon for as long as I have
been in existence. That would engender some intent."
Bo, resonates the Seraph and is not surprised when he finds her
irritated, both by Rook's continued involvement and Arabis' insult
concerning her truthfulness. She is thinking: "I hate interviewing Servitors of War, Fire and Creation all together."
Rook, still running interference: "I am sure that Gabriel would say something with the way that Arabis is working. Who better to debate her conduct then her mistress?"
Caiphus responds coldly that Rook may be silent and if he can not be
silent then he can leave. Rook refuses and Caiphus tells the Malakite
to remove him and returns her attention to Arabis. Eph-Lal stops
when the interrogation continues...because Rook is not backing down -- cannot, even -- and it is unclear whether the Seraph really wants a full blown blackwing war in the hotel room. The tension in the room spikes.
Caiphas: "We wish to know why you pursued Arnu..."
Across town, walking hand in hand with her little human beau, Arashiel
feels a twinge of concern for her sister. She calls Jael and Jael,
wide-eyed and watchful, answers. They have a conversation in mostly
code words for what is going on, using words like Œhyenas,' and
ŒHeaven's Factions.' The Elohite hears, understands, and is amused. The
others ignore this extraneous conversation. Bob adds that it sounds
like Salem in the room. Jael tells Arashiel to stay where she is and
have fun.
Arabis, exhausted by her own anger, tries to be logical. "Let's say
that I were on the path to hell and yet you decided otherwise and let me
go. Shortly thereafter I Fall, after having caused many deaths and
Dominic tells you that you goofed. He will give you a second chance,
however. "You go get that Arabis," he says. Years go by. You are
always following, always watching Šalways a step behind or a moment too
late. You watch the destruction that I cause but are unable to stop
it. You can only watch. You are not succeeding. Dominic says nothing
for centuries. A millennia goes by without success. Then, after a long
absence, you see me again. You know that I am about to do something
horribly evil and all because so long ago, you messed up. What would
you do?"
Caiphas, smug like on who has never been dissonant: "I would follow orders.
"Gabriel never countermanded her orders to me," Arabis adds and Caiphus,
about to begin another tirade, is interrupted by the Elohite.
Dinhabah: "We are here because we saw dissonance and thought it might be from the
soldier's death. Arnu is bad for you. You are already dissonant. Your
emotional state is too. You are volatile. You should leave him alone."
"Too late!" Arabis cries. "He's going to kill everyone and it's all my
fault."
"It is not your fault," the Elohite counters and, turning his attention
on Bob, says, "You don't approve of us."
"I don't approve of your methods." This, mind, from a newly Redeemed.
Caiphus launches: "We don't approve of yours either" but is stopped before she can offend everyone's Superior.
The Elohite, correctly assessing that nothing more of use will come from
this conversation, says, "You do not need to worry about methods or one
of your members being taken. I am the senior of this Triad. We will be
going now."
"Yes, and in your reports in will look as if I am near joining Arnu or
Falling and some kind of psychotic human killer," Arabis argues.
The Elohite, unfazed, merely answers, "The reports will look like I want
them to." He nods to Rook. "Your loyalty is to be commended,
Malakite," and then they depart. (In the hall -- Dinhabah: That was inefficient... as they walk away).
Arabis, upset and somewhat unaware of her surroundings, begins to speak
aloud, though more to herself. "He knew I was coming. I've started
another war and he's not going to stop. He wants to hurt me. I thought
I was being so smart but he might have sent the soldier here to lure me
there!" Arabis looks around somewhat sadly. "Now he'll be coming after
all of you as well."
In a businesslike fashion, Rook states, "Then we should know all about
him that is possible."
Arabis thinks and then begins her tale. "He was my partner. We worked
together a long time. He served War and I Fire. We fought to punish
the cruel and bring all to justice. We spent a lot of time in Arabia,
Persia Šthat part of the world. We were against the Crusades, finding
Christians to be a horrible error. Finally, we stopped going for the
soldiers and went for the kings and religious leaders. We got inside
one organization, the Holy Orders of the Knights of the Templars. We
thought at first that they were the evil but we found that it was a
leader corrupting them from within. We were going to take him out but
we got caught. They tried to get me to join the forces of Hell. I
don't know what they said to Arnu but he did Fall. He tried to convince
me. I was so dissonant by that time I was nearly lost but a group of
Malakim burst into the chamber and saved me, pulling me to Heaven where
Gabriel could reconstruct me. Triad after Triad questioned me about my
role in Arnu's fall. It was a horrible time. And once I was released,
Arnu had to make his point against me. He did things that he knew would
hurt me. Many Malakim joined me and they always fell before him as we
tried to destroy my former comrade. I'm sorry, Rook, but I didn't
expect you to be around for very long either. So, I left the business
of punishing and justice and stayed in Heaven for a long time. And now
I am back, alone against an enemy that I have never been able to beat.
I'm supposed to redeem him if I can but after all these years, I just
want him destroyed."
Jael came forward and said, comfortingly, "You won't be alone, Arabis.
We won't let you do it alone." Pat pat. Attune, attune.
Rook, resorting to his usual matter-of-fact self (No, I would not have gotten into a fight for you, no, not me!) : "Once the wedding is over we can turn our attentions to Arnu. We will wait until then to determine who will be with you and who won't."
And what of Matt? Well, he has been sitting in the flowers at the Eason
residence all this time, awaiting the return of the Tic-Toc car.
Although nothing of interest has happened to him in this eventful day,
he does finally get a phone call. It is a female voice calling from
Boulder for Jael. Matt can hear Giles' voice in the background. Turns out Boulder has Free who a) has info she wants to trade and b) wants to admire Rook from afar -- really far. Hmm. Matt, possessed of this little gem of information, calls Jael and shares. Jael is not happy to hear that something Ugly is in
Boulder -- but they will have to leave it until after the
wedding. Matt elects to remain in the flowers for now.
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