Hitherby comes down from Heaven, and her first thought is, "You know, I could use some Essence." Followed by her second thought, "Jordi didn't say whether I needed to talk to the Soldier again." And her third thought, "Why does he want me to protect my friends? I thought the danger was over."
Demiurge takes no action on Hitherby's thoughts, she fears, save to note that it is now late morning. Time goes fast in the Blessed Savannah.
Hitherby, being a fundamentally simple creature at the heart, decides to prioritize these. First, prepare herself for trouble. This means gaining Essence, which means, in turn, that as soon as she has a host or two she grabs a bird and wings towards a local exterminator.
Demiurge nods to Hitherby. You wing towards _Exterminators Ltd_, the ones with the picture of a human hammering mice on their van.
Hitherby captures and splits off a bird host in midair that heads for Shannen's place, Shannen being the only PC not fixed earlier or later in time :)
Hitherby flutters down and lands on the van's top.
You say "You land, elegantly."
Hitherby walks over to the edge of the van's roof and peers in the window of the place to see what the activity level in there is today.
A man inside is busy taking a phone call, and making notes. "Okay, so we'll send the van round. Wow, that's a lot of roaches. No, don't worry, we can handle it. Gas them and deal with them. No problem. Yes, the usual rates."
Hitherby coos and bobs her head back and forth. Looks like it'll be a good day's work.
Hitherby waits for someone to come out to the van.
The man finishes taking the call, and heads out to the van.
Hitherby launches herself into the air and performs a great arc, circling out and around so she'll be looking at the guy when he pulls open the van's door.
He glances up at the flight of the bird, enjoying the poetry of its motion.
Hitherby has good peripheral vision, she thinks, so she just keeps circling until she hears that click and squeak.
Hitherby looks like a predatory pigeon circling its prey, but that's okay, because she is.
Hitherby leaps into him as soon as the door's open so that the bird can flutter into the van and hide where he won't see it while driving.
The man has just opened the door, and steps in.
<
<
You say "You're in."
Hitherby brings the bird in, hops and squirms in through the door, and wanders around behind the
driver's seat. Then she lets go of the man. This is an old pigeon ninja trick.
The man blinks for a moment, then shrugs, and settles in to drive.
Hitherby . o O ( Admittedly, pigeon ninja usually can't take over a man's mind, so they usually
baffle him with mirrors and shrill mind-numbing cooing. )
The man drives for fifteen minutes or so, till he arrives at a residential house.
You say "Hitherbird probably arrives at Shannen's by now."
Hitherby perches the Shannen's-place bird on the roof, since she will need 5 Forces to take over
the driver again.
Hitherby waits until the door opens, then, as the driver is visible between the seat and the outside,
she takes him over again.
The driver is visible, stepping out.
<
<
You say "Hm. You fail."
Hitherby scrambles desperately for the door.
You say "You manage to flutter out just in time, somewhat startling the man, who curses."
Hitherby struts on the ground innocently.
The man mutters, and eventually shrugs, heading for the door of the house. He rings the doorbell,
and it is eventually opened for him.
Hitherby flutters up and tries to see the guy *inside* the door. Or gal
Hitherby . o O ( If I have to take over a neighbor and kick the door down to stop this horror, I
will peer mightily at God. )
A middle-aged woman opens the door to him, twisting her apron between her hands. "It's a mercy
you've come, sir. What do you need?"
Hitherby leaps!
Hitherby (spiritually, that is.)
<
<
You say "You're in."
Hitherby looks at the guy, and then says, suddenly, "How are you usually compensated for your
services?"
He blinks. "Well, madam, we have our usual tariff, but you've already paid on your Access card,
so that's all settled."
Hitherby smiles. "I've been thinking it over, and I've decided to try the non-violent solution first."
Hitherby looks much less nervous than when "she" answered the door.
He says, "Ah, what do you mean, madam?"
Hitherby says, "You know! Negotiation. The art of peace and diplomacy."
He rubs his forehead. "How do you plan to negotiate with _roaches, madam?"
Hitherby says, "Surely you don't think it's just us, them, and a big exterminator gun."
<
He shrugs. "Well, usually, yeah. A real big gun."
<
Hitherby says "Tsk! Here, leave your poisons and such in the van, and I'll show you."
The man, with an air of absolute bemusement, shoves his hands in his pockets, and prepares to
follow.
Inside is a neatly-scrubbed apartment. As one enters, a roach can be seen scuttling across the floor
of the sitting-room to the right, and on closer inspection more are issuing from a hole in the wall.
Hitherby walks thoughtfully over to the hole.
The man follows.
Hitherby begins to talk to them, but it's not her voice that matters; it's the slight tapping of her
foot, because roaches understand ground vibrations best.
Hitherby says, "You roaches have been very very bad." (Subtitle: Listen. Danger soon, listen now
for your sake.)
The roaches shift in a subtle pattern, suggesting that they have merely been investigating this
pleasant source of warmth and food.
Hitherby says, "This is a human place." (Subtitle: Human place. Humans scared of roaches. When
scared, humans kill.) "Now, you're welcome to hang out in the walls and stuff, where I don't see
you, and if you stick to eating trash food and not good food." (Subtitle: food stored is human
food. Food dropped is roach food. Eat when no light, humans don't see.)
The roaches click their antennae in a pattern that conveys understanding, and scuttle back out of
sight.
Hitherby says, smugly, "There."
The exterminator man just looks totally nonplussed.
Hitherby smiles. "May I show you to the door?"
The man says, slowly, "Sure. You can have your money back, too, madam. This I haven't seen
before." He goes along, numbly.
Hitherbird, at Shannen's, begins trying to collect unusual bugs. She thinks she has time, so she'll
avoid flies and peasant bugs this time when swarm-building.
Hitherby smiles. "Don't worry about the money. You drove all the way over here, after all."
The man just shakes his head, waves, and climbs back into his van.
Demiurge gives Hitherby a point of Essence. :)
Hitherby shows him out, closes the door, walks back into the room where the hole was (now
miraculously roach-free) and leaves the woman.
Hitherby beams! Plus one for the morning makes *two!*
Hitherby's pigeon rises into the air and flies towards the Soldier's place.
Demiurge nods.
You say "Hitherby, you arrive at the Soldier's house. He's busy putting out more grain on the roof
for the birds."
Hitherby . o O ( Cool! )
Hitherby steals a bird on the roof for contact and wings out to look through windows for a human
she can use to talk to him with. (Unfortunately, bugs are hard to come by in this area, and he'll
need training to understand birds well.)
There are several students in the street below, chatting.
Hitherby ahs. She nabs one.
<
<
You say "You're in. Short brown-haired young man, denim shirt and jeans, books under one arm."
Hitherby smiles at the other students. Do any have bookbags?
You say "They do, indeed."
Hitherby looks at one of the females (hey, better to create relationship possibilities!) and says,
"I've got to run. I don't suppose you could drop these by my place?" He holds out the books, and
smiles as winningly as s/he can while in a male human form, two steps away from her usual.
The girl chuckles, and takes the books. "Sure, Mike. See you later?"
Hitherby smiles. "Yup!"
Hitherby then heads for the Soldier's house. Her bird on the roof croaks, "Angel coming." Very
carefully so he'll understand.
He looks at the bird, blinks, nods, and gives it some extra grain.
Hitherby munches happily.
Hitherby then, when it is appropriate, flutters up into the air and down onto the shoulder of the
student below.
You say "This is easily done."
Hitherby calls up, "It'd be easier to talk if you'd come down to the door. Until you've got practice
hearing birds."
The young man takes a deep breath, nods, and heads down inside the building, and opens the front
door.
Hitherby smiles at him. "I know I look different," he says, "but it's me."
Hitherbird bobs its head.
He nods vaguely. "Yeah, I kind of guessed nobody else would know about things." He holds the
door open so your host can enter. "Do you always look different?"
Hitherby says, "I spoke to my Archangel. He's -- very busy, and I wasn't certain whether I was
supposed to continue handling you." He walks inside. "Not always. But most of the time."
Hitherby says "I mean, I look different most of the time."
He nods. "Okay. Want to sit down, or don't angels have to do that?" He hesitates. "And should
I be saying Lord and Master or anything like that?"
Hitherby says, "No. Definitely not."
Hitherby says "And I'm okay with sitting. It's not necessary, but it's comfortable."
Hitherby looks about for an appropriate place, finds one, and sits.
He says, "I'm not used to angels. Okay." He finds a place to sit himself, cross-legged on the floor.
Hitherby says, "Lord is only appropriate when you wish to honor me greatly, greater than I
deserve, or when you are speaking to a much more important angel. Master is --" She frowns. "I
am nobody's master."
He nods. "Do you have a particular name or title, then?"
Hitherby smiles. "You can call me Hitherby. Or Oboth, but hardly anybody does."
Hitherby says "It's Hitherby because I like dragonflies. You know. Here-there-be dragons.
Hirtherby. Hitherby."
He winces. "Ah, do all angels make puns like that?"
Hitherby says, "Not all."
<
He looks relieved. "My name is William. William Sivers."
Hitherby says, "My Archangel does not like the trappings of human society." He considers. "So
when he makes an agent for the human world, he doesn't make ones who *like* it. Some feel
respectful for it, some understand it, some find it amusing."
Hitherby says "That's me."
Hitherby grins.
Hitherby says "And thank you for your name."
He chuckles, briefly. "It's fine. So, say. Are there a lot of angels?"
Hitherby considers. "Okay. You need to understand the basics. Just because it's not fair to you
otherwise."
William nods.
Hitherby says, "There are a lot of angels. There are a lot more demons. There are *tons* more
humans. It's because angels are made by Archangels, who care about quality; demons by Demon
Princes, who care about quantity, and humans by -- well, either other humans or by God. I'm not
sure which, but humans have numbers and God has power."
Hitherby says, "There are seven kinds of angels, and seven kinds of demons, plus assorted lesser
but still celestial or diabolical beings."
William nods, with an absorbed look on his face, very focused.
Hitherby says "Personally, I'm what they call a Kyriotate, or a Hive, or a Domination. We walk
through the world by using the bodies of others. I'm mentioning this first because it's probably the
scariest thing on our side."
William blinks. "But it's cool! I mean, that is _such_ a neat thing to be able to do."
Hitherby smiles. "It is and it isn't."
Hitherby says "It's good, because we use it in God's name. It's bad, because it
means that there's always a price for everything we do."
William nods, thoughtfully.
Hitherby smiles. "You can always tell a Kyriotate from a demon by two things: we can control
animals, and we can control a few bodies at once. Most Kyriotates can't handle two humans, but
we can all handle a human and a small animal or something."
William nods again. "Right. What do the other sorts of angels do?"
Hitherby says "Every other angel uses a Vessel -- sort of a fake body -- to get around on Earth."
William says, "Who makes the Vessels?"
Hitherby says "The other kinds are the noblest, the Seraphim, who know truth and cannot be
deceived; the Cherubim, called by the humans guardian angels --"
He nods again.
Hitherby says, "An Archangel makes the Vessels. Or, for a demon, a Demon Prince. The most
powerful beings there are, short of Lucifer and God himself."
William says, "Right. Sorry. Please go on."
Hitherby says "Ofanim, who are wheels of celestial fire in Heaven, who move like lightning;
Elohim, who can see how you feel but who are forbidden to act on their own feelings; Malakim,
Heaven's warriors; and Mercurians, the only kind of angel closer to being Earthly creatures than
we."
William nods again.
Hitherby says, "A question."
Hitherby says "Earlier today, did you feel yourself -- expanding, at all? Growing more powerful,
stronger, or more intelligent, or more spiritually centered?"
William frowns, then shrugs. "I'm sorry, no. Not really. It would have been cool. But no."
Hitherby mulls. "Okay. Maybe it wasn't necessary, or maybe it'll happen later." She smiles at
William.
William nods, and waves a hand. "Go on? Please?"
Hitherby says, gently, "Demons. The number one rule of demons is: if you meet a demon, leave.
Don't run. Just make a believable excuse and leave. Unless you take up swordplay or karate and
become *really* good, you are *not* expected to kill them."
William says, a touch uncertainly, "And then I report back to you or someone else, so you can
deal with them?"
Hitherby says, "That would be appropriate. You don't have to do even that if the information
could be traced back to you, though."
Hitherby says "See, you are more valuable than a demon is anti-valuable. The safety of your soul
is more important than the safety of an angel, and the safety of your body and mind are pretty darn
important."
Hitherby says "There are seven kinds of demons, plus the assorted minor demonlings."
William says, slowly, "But don't I have the right to say that you're more important to me than I
am? To act to preserve you, even at the cost to myself?"
William says, "Surely if I start believing that I'm more important than you, or other beings, then
that's just like being a demon anyhow?"
Hitherby frowns.
Hitherby says, "That's a knotty question. Give me a moment."
Hitherby says, "Every now and then, I go to a restaurant, because I have friends who work more
closely with the human world."
William listens.
Hitherby says "And there are people there who go around serving food to all the people who go
to the restaurant."
William says, "Mm hm."
Hitherby says "Angels are a little like that. Our role is to serve this world. The role of humans is
--" She considers. "The role of humans is to choose to serve God. If you have to sacrifice yourself
for an angel to seal that choice, then it's not just your right but your duty. But if you go out and
do good things with your *life*, not your death, you're like an angel and a human combined."
William says, slowly, "As long as I have the right to choose. I don't want to give up my right to
choose."
Hitherby says, "Only demons take away your choices. Heaven can be a bit pushy, but you keep
your choices, yes."
William nods.
William says, "Sorry to interrupt. Please go on."
Hitherby smiles faintly. The discussion looks to have made her a little uncomfortable. Then she
continues.
Hitherby says "There are Balseraphs, who tell lies. *Really* believable lies. If there was a
Balseraph here, he could convince you that every other human within miles was a Russian assassin
coming to kill you."
Hitherby says "It doesn't last long, but -- well. You can see why I suggest leaving as soon as you
can."
William nods. "Makes sense, I guess."
Hitherby says "There are Djinn, who are extremely good hunters. If they lock on to you, they can't
hurt you -- unless you ask for something that gives them the opportunity. They can lead other
demons to you, though."
William twitches. "Right."
Hitherby says "Surly people who act like they don't care about anything might be Djinn, although
many humans fit the bill -- are you all right?"
William shrugs. "I'm fine. I just hate the idea of, well, being tracked like that."
Hitherby says, thoughtfully, "Calabim are destroyers. They can pretty much reach out with their
mind and *wreck* anything. There was a Calabite about recently -- I don't believe he'll be back
for a while -- who sat watching the opera and ripping corners off the schedule paper thingie. They
leave trails of things like that."
Hitherby says "The original Calabim were Ofanim who Fell, and just like it's not good when an
Ofanite stops moving, a Calabite feels uncomfortable when it's not doing damage. They're really
some of the most innocuous demons, because all they can do is hurt you -- but they *can* hurt
you, so you want to avoid them too if you can help it."
William nods. "Right. So dodge and run away. Can do."
Hitherby says "Habbalah think that they're angels, with a special task of punishing people, who
got assigned to Hell. They're very weird, but they can figure out what emotion would hurt you
badly, and make you feel it -- in spades."
William says, thoughtfully, "Why do they think they're angels?"
Hitherby considers that. "I think it's so that they can feel strong and virtuous. They really hate
weakness, and evil is a kind of weakness."
Hitherby says "Angelic natures are very simple and uncluttered, and so when some angels Fell,
their nature twisted up but remained pretty simple. So you can make generalities, even though I
suppose there are probably a moderate number of exceptions."
William says, "Okay."
William says, thinking, "That's four."
Hitherby says "Lilim --" She considers. "I'm not really certain whether Lilim are demons. They're
made by Lilith, Adam's first wife, who isn't actually a demon. They grow up in Hell, though, and
few of them ever decide to try and Redeem and join the hosts of Heaven. They have the power
to look in your eyes, see what you need, and if they give it to you and you freely accept, they have
a kind of hold on your soul. They can force you to do things with it."
Hitherby says "Sunglasses help."
William nods soberly. "I'll buy some right away."
Hitherby says "There was a Lilim who helped us with the opera thing." She considers. "There
were a number of reasons, but the big one was that he fell in love with one of us and -- well. I
think he's going to Redeem as soon as he understands in his heart that he can."
William frowns. "Redeem? You mean, like, come over to your side?"
Hitherby nods. "Demons, if they can reach above their inherent selfishness, and aspire to
goodness, can go to an Archangel and ask to be made an angel. Only one in a hundred is good
enough to want that, and only one in a thousand is strong enough to *seek it out* -- but it can
happen. It's a lot more common for demons who spend a lot of time on Earth, where they are
exposed to goodness as well as evil."
William says, slowly, "I'm glad to hear that can happen."
Hitherby says "I think -- that for the ones who never get that chance, to know what good is, I
mean, there's still hope, but not in this lifetime. I'm not certain; God hasn't told us what happens
to angels and demons who really die, instead of just having their Vessel killed. Probably nothing,
until Judgement Day."
William says, thoughtfully, "But it's good to know that there is hope. Still. For everyone."
Hitherby says "Then, a snot-nosed frotling who never left Hell, and never understood anything
but selfishness, but who once or twice in its life reached above what it was and did something
*nice* -- well. It earned the ultimate Heaven, and I'm pretty sure it'll get it."
Hitherby says "According to Yves, who is -- sort of like an Archangel -- everything, *everything*
has a bright Destiny, a wonderful thing it can accomplish. Just as it has a dark Fate it can stumble
into."
William nods, accepting.
Hitherby watches William's face really carefully, through wide and tranquil eyes, as she says,
"Then there are Shedim. Loathsome abhorrent blasphemous monsters. They don't like them even
in Hell. Consider them dirty and sickening."
From afar, Hitherby just has this faint weird suspicion, based on that twitch on Djinn and danger
signs earlier :) Probably absolutely nothing. :)
William frowns. "What do they do in particular that's so bad?"
You paged Hitherby with 'No particular twitch, no.'.
Hitherby thinks. "They start much like the Kyriotates do, by possessing a person. But they don't
just possess the body; they possess the mind, too. The person inside is still *there* the whole time.
That's not the problem, though."
William tilts his head, listening.
Hitherby says "The problem is that they *exist* to corrupt their hosts. Each day, they push their
host into something a little bit darker, a little bit more evil. Start with slapping a girlfriend and end
up blowing up a building. Then they leave the host to face the consequences. Usually, the host
thinks he did everything himself, and more than that, ever afterwards they have this sort of feeling
inside that those things that they did are okay."
William's face darkens, and he nods.
William says, "Right. Slime. I'll be afraid of them."
Hitherby says, "The last are the Impudites. I really don't understand much about them, but they're
sort of like -- Jinxes. They make friends with you and then they drain away your --" She thinks.
William waits, listening.
Hitherby says "Souls collect energy, a little like luck or power or magic or grace. We call it
Essence. Have you ever done something that you didn't imagine you could do but really really
wanted to?"
William thinks, then nods.
William says "A few times, yes."
Hitherby says "That was when you spent your Essence. It's okay to spend it, by the way; that's
what it's for. You can only hold so much, and you get a bit more every -- um. Angels at sunrise,
demons get dark Essence at sunset, and humans at either sunrise or noon, I'm not sure."
Pat . o O ( The secret of 'Morning People' )
William's mouth opens, then he shuts it. "That is cool."
Hitherby nods. "Impudites steal it. Thonk. By touch, I think. They're not really all that bad as
demons go, except that they still have chosen to be demons and not angels -- so.
William nods. "Right."
Hitherby says, "Okay. I'm going to run over the Archangels and Demon Princes quickly. Quickly,
because they're *really* complicated and I don't know all that much. Demon Princes as a warning,
and Archangels in case you want to work for another one. -- than mine, I mean."
William says, "Sure. Right. Though I like yours already, just so you know."
Hitherby smiles. "He's very lovable. *Scary*, but lovable."
William snorts. "Well, do you get non-scary Archangels?"
Hitherby says "Andrealphus is the Demon Prince of Lust. Lust, that is, specifically *without* love.
Lust with love, or even affection, is okay."
William nods.
Hitherby smiles. "I ought to be scared by all of them, but some of them -- well. The ones you can
predict, the Archangels I mean -- Some of them, it's a lot easier to know you've been good
around."
William nods again.
William says "Yeah, I can guess that."
Hitherby says "Baal is the Demon Prince of the War. You know, with the angels. You probably
will never have to worry about him, but if you do, feel lucky -- you might die, but probably won't
get terribly corrupted or anything."
William says, dryly, "Great."
Hitherby says "Beleth is the Demon Princess of Nightmares. The opposite of dreams. She breeds
fear and holds people back from reaching their ambitions."
William says, "Sounds a bad lady."
Hitherby says "Belial is the Demon Prince of Fire and Destruction. Like Baal, except it'll hurt
more."
William nods, with a faint grin.
Hitherby says "Haagenti is the Prince of Gluttony. Um. I've never really dealt with him. I mean,
well. It's just never come up."
Hitherby says "Kobal is the Prince of Dark Humor. The local Lilim calls it Comedy. He's -- a
specialist in really psychotic, sick jokes. But he also goes in for actually amusing jokes. He can
be the best Prince, or the worst Prince, the most or the least evil, and it all depends on -- well, I
have no idea what it depends on."
William says, "I guess he wants people to be greedy and things?"
William pauses, and nods.
Hitherby nods. "There's another demon for Greed, but he --" She thinks. "isn't a major player.
Haagenti pretty much handles 'overdoing' anything. Overdose on drugs, overdose on food,
overdose on play, overdose on cleaning up ..."
Hitherby says "And sight gags."
William nods again. "Okay."
Hitherby says "Remember when I mentioned Fate before? The darkest possible road a person can
follow?"
Hitherby says "Kronos is the Prince of that."
Hitherby says "Malphas is the Prince of dividing people up, Nybbas is the Prince of Television.
He is --"
Hitherby says "He's one of the Princes that smile. That's bad."
William nods. "Nasty smile?"
Hitherby says "Happy smile. Because he knows quite well that he's doing his job."
William looks faintly sick. "Right. That's the good thing about animals. No factions."
Hitherby says "I don't, um, really understand what his job is, because, er, the only televisions I
watch are those possessed by my friend Sephar."
Hitherby says "Nybbas', I mean."
William says, "Oh, right."
William says, "Weird."
Hitherby says "Saminga is the Prince of Death." She frowns. "I don't, um. He makes mummies
and stuff." She frowns. "I guess he has to be the patron of deaths that shouldn't happen. Or really
unpleasant deaths. Or something."
Hitherby says "And Vapula is the Prince of Technology. Um --" She considers. "That doesn't
mean that Technology is bad, because there's an Archangel for it, too. But it means that
technology is -- a ravager, as well as a good thing. A destroyer."
William says, thoughtfully, "So it could go either way, and you want to make it go the right way?"
Hitherby says "Well, I *personally* just want to keep it from destroying all the hundreds of
thousands of millions of creatures on this planet who don't have any technology at all."
William nods. "Sounds fair to me."
Hitherby says "However, Heaven in general wants it to go the right way. Humans are important
too -- they're just not my normal job."
William nods again. "I see."
Hitherby laughs, a little. "Right *now*, my job is *angels*, which is the weirdest thing. Jordi
ordered me to protect my friends. That includes you, I suppose." His eyes are cheerful. "And, alas,
the Lilim. Until he does something demonic, if he ever does."
William thinks. "Well, when you come right down to it, isn't everyone animal at the bottom?"
Hitherby looks momentarily sad.
Hitherby says, "Very hard question to answer."
William hmms.
Hitherby says, "What you have to know is: animals have souls. That's enough to matter."
William nods.
William says "That's plenty."
Hitherby smiles, sadness dispelled. "Yes. It is."
William grins.
William says, "So who are the other Archangels? Besides your one?"
Hitherby says "Blandine is the Archangel of Dreams. All the human aspirations, all the ones that
aren't demon-spawned. The good thing to be said for humans is that her work *is* good."
William nods. "Right. And she fights the Beleth one a lot, I guess?"
Hitherby says "It's an indication that if it weren't for demons, things wouldn't have gone wrong
like this. -- yup. She --" Hitherby, thoughtfully, decides that the Blandine legend is none of her
business, or his. "-- and Beleth war across the place of dreams."
William blinks. "There's a place of dreams?"
Hitherby nods. "It's called the Marches. Human dreams are like little bubbles inside it, which we
can look at but can't enter -- unless we are in service to Blandine or are given the power by
someone else. It spans the distance between Heaven and Hell."
Hitherby says "I don't go there very often. Angels don't have their own dreams."
Hitherby says "Although we get to go to Heaven without dying, which sort of makes up for it."
Hitherby smiles.
William looks rueful. "Guess I have to wait."
Hitherby nods. "But humans who make it to Heaven are even closer to God than the angels. So
are the animals who make it to Heaven without Jordi's intervention. Which are an awful lot of
them."
William says, "Hmm, well."
Hitherby says "Seriously."
William spreads his hands. "Okay, okay, I believe you."
Hitherby laughs.
William looks thoughtful. "Is there some way I could actually learn how to talk to birds? You
know, for real?"
Hitherby considers that.
William adds hastily, "It's not _necessary_, you know. It's not a condition. I was just wondering."
Hitherby says, "I'm hesitant to talk about -- what Heaven will give you -- until I know what it is.
I don't want to raise false hopes, or -- make this business seem like some kind of trade --" She
frowns. "But, so far as I know, it is possible. The Great One can give his gifts just as easily to
humans as to angels, and that is one he has practice with."
Hitherby says "I'm happy to put in a good word for you on this the next time I speak with my
Archangel, if given the opportunity."
William shrugs. "Well, look, let's just leave it for now. It's just a thought."
William says, quickly, "Tell me about the other archangels, okay?"
Hitherby smiles quietly. "I respect your desire. It speaks well of you. And I will try. -- in any
case."
Hitherby says "David is the Archangel of Stone. He, um, is also the Archangel of Strength, and
pulling people together."
William colors, and nods. "Okay. Ah, right. Tough guy?"
Hitherby says "Yah. He likes to test people to their limits. -- so does God, but many Archangels
don't."
Hitherby says "You'll recognize him, if you ever see him, because not only is he very handsome,
but he doesn't like clothes."
Hitherby, reminded, begins to wiggle out of his shoes.
William nods. "Right. I guess I don't want to be tested that hard..." His eyes take on a thoughtful
look. "Does he ever pose for, like, sketches?"
<
<
Hitherby laughs. "I wish that any of them had enough time for such things. The best that can
probably be done is to have someone bring an image of him into your dreams."
William looks half embarassed. "Well, a human with wings... best of both worlds, you know. Sort
of."
Hitherby says "Dominic is the Archangel of Judgment. He, er. He was in the Opera House last
night, and didn't seem that bad. She. Er, they vary." He smiles. "He protects angels from stupid
ideas, mostly."
William sounds a touch dubious. "Hm."
Hitherby says, seriously, "His job is preventing another Rebellion in Heaven. I can honestly say
that there is no good reason for one. Earthside assignments can be a bit rough, but anyone who
can't take it can just go back to Heaven."
William nods.
William says, "Okay."
Hitherby says "Considering how much trouble the demons are, and how *sick* they are --"
William says, "Yeah. I guess so."
Hitherby says "The Fall took a bunch of unruly and idealistic angels who were on the wrong side,
and turned them into horrors -- because that's what happens to an angel who stops loving God.
They go insane, and so does their nature, their abilities, everything."
Hitherby says "So, anyway."
Hitherby says "Eli is the Archangel of Creation."
William nods again.
Hitherby says "He's, er, out there. Somewhere. Being human."
Hitherby says "He's a party angel."
Hitherby says "I've always thought I'd like him, but we've never met."
William blinks. "_Party_ angel? You have parties?"
Hitherby says "Oh, yes! Servitors of the Great One rarely have parties on Earth, but there are a
few *permanent* parties in Heaven. And some kinds of angels have them on Earth, too."
William shrugs. "I guess some people enjoy them."
Hitherby looks thoughtfully at William.
William shrugs, looking uncomfortable. "Look, I get drunk real easy, then I'm asleep all the rest
of it. I'm really not a party person."
Hitherby says, "Humans who throw parties are sometimes not as -- welcoming -- as they could
be, not as concerned with everyone's happiness. But --" He thinks. "Well." He smiles. "I'm not all
that into the party scene myself, so, moving on."
Hitherby says, "Gabriel is the Archangel of Fire. She brings inspiration and --" He hesitates a long
time.
Hitherby says, uncomfortably, "She punishes the cruel."
Hitherby says, "Janus is the Archangel of the Wind. And," he says proudly, "he used to be the
Roman spirit of the doorway. He embodies change."
William nods, again.
Hitherby says "Jean is the Archangel of Lightning. Yves gave him all the secrets of the universe,
so now he handles technology. He's trying to give it to humans in a way that keeps pace with
social change, but Vapula gives away icky stuff and, well, he refuses to suppress naturally
human-invented stuff on principle."
William blinks. "Sounds reasonable."
Hitherby nods. "The Great One doesn't like him much, but one of my best friends is a Kyriotate
who works for him."
Hitherby says, admiringly, "She can possess *things*."
William says, "Well, if you're the same kind of angel, I suppose it's easier for you to get along."
Hitherby smiles. "It's easier for us to understand eachother, yah."
Hitherby says "I've got friends who are a couple of other kinds of angel. Including a Cherub. How
weird is that?"
Hitherby grins.
William shrugs. "Don't you normally get on with Cherubs?"
<
Hitherby smiles. "Well," and he considers. "Cherubim are guardian angels. They are very
singleminded. I'm very, um, well, up to tertiasextaryminded, and that's if I'm not arguing with
myself."
William nods. "Right."
Hitherby says, "The Archangel Jordi is the Great One, who has been given command over
everything that runs, swims, or flies, except that humans get off on a technicality."
William nods again.
Hitherby says "Laurence is the Commander of the Armies of God. He's just about the noblest
warrior there is in all of creation, and he's --" He thinks. "He's just *bright*. He doesn't interact
with the Great One much, but Jordi likes him anyway."
Hitherby says "Marc is the Archangel of Trade. I don't know much about him, except that his star
is rising."
Hitherby says "Michael was the first angel created by God, and he is now the Archangel of War.
He doesn't run the armies of God, but they have his blessing, particularly the angels who fight
alone, in the night, against superior forces. And sometimes he will come, and they won't be alone,
and there will be light, and they won't really be outnumbered any more."
William nods, slowly.
William says, "You talk like a poet."
Hitherby smiles. "Really? Thanks." He considers. "Must be from hanging out with all those
dragonflies."
William says, "Are they poetic?"
Hitherby nods. "Dragonflies have a very very old culture, so they've had time to become very
deep."
Hitherby says "They're really into honor, and nobility, and such." He smiles. "Maybe that's why
I can get along with the Cherub."
William nods. "I guess that makes sense."
William says, "Are there many more Archangels?"
Hitherby says, "I once saw a young dragonfly skimming across the surface of a river, when a gust
thrust it downwards, and it touched against the water, and almost was swept away and killed. But
the breeze lifted it high again. And it hung in the air for a long moment, and then it murmured
something to a comrade a few yards away and dove into the water again. I asked the other what
it had said, and it was roughly, 'I will not cheat it of my life; if it can take me, then it is my time
to die.' It was completely stupid, of course, but then, it wound up in Heaven, so."
William nods.
Hitherby says "Bugs don't have much in the way of reasoning abilities, but they do have souls, and
with souls comes a kind of thought."
Hitherby thinks. "No, actually. Only one and a half."
William says, a touch confused, "A half?"
Hitherby says "Novalis, the Archangel of Flowers, also Heaven's advocate of peace. Very kind.
And --"
Hitherby smiles. "Yves isn't -- precisely an Archangel. He's something more like -- an angel's
angel, someone sent down from far far above to guide *us*."
Hitherby says "He also acts as the Archangel of Destiny, though. While wearing that hat, he pretty
much tries to help everyone achieve everything they can."
Hitherby says "Well, the best things, anyway."
William nods. "Sounds good."
Hitherby says "That's the main briefing. Heaven and Hell in a nutshell."
William eventually smiles. "I'm glad I signed on."
Hitherby beams. "So am I."
Hitherby grins. "And, incidentally, if you keep up the rooftop feedings into the winter, you'll be
doing a good start, I think. Although you may get some odd looks."
William shrugs. "Odd looks I can handle."
Hitherby says "I don't need the reinforcements in this particular block any more, but the winter
is a hungry time."
William nods. "I'll keep it up. I can even get some more grain, no problems."
Hitherby smiles. "That's good. I'll start poking around to see where you could be most helpful.
I can always use people in the city government, but I don't know if you'd want that, and I wouldn't
push. Possibly just temporary housing for a few animals who I come across that need help, until
I can get them to an appropriate angel or place, or even just things like the bird feeding and
random goodness." He smiles. "Whatever suits you."
Hitherby says "Presumably the Great One will let me know when something comes up that's
perfect."
William frowns. "I'm really not sure I'm the government type, but I'll be glad to put up any animals
you want here. No problem."
Hitherby smiles. "Well. I'll let you absorb all this, and I'll try to come by tomorrow or the next day
in case you've developed any questions?"
Hitherby says "And the loan of your roof was a lifesaver, by the way. Got a major artifact out of
demonic hands and kept another angel from walking into an ambush using it. Thought you should
know."
William nods. "That's very good. Thanks. I mean it."
Hitherby smiles, rises, and walks barefoot out to the street. "Be well!" he calls over his shoulder,
gets a ways away, and drops the host.
---