Liz dials Sistine's, talks to the Seneschal, and asks to speak to Azalea.
Azalea is eventually convinced to come to a phone, once Marath has reassured her enough times that the caller is, indeed, Liz.
Liz says "Azalea, this is Liz. Do you have time to talk for a few minutes?"
Azalea, obliquely, "Yes."
Liz says "Good. I have a warning, and a request, and a question. The warning is that at noon, a group of angels will be having a lunch at Sistine's. Some of them will be aware you may be in the building. They have other business that doesn't concern you, and they should not bother you, but you should be aware they'll be there. There may also be Demons present. You should stay out of sight, or be elsewhere. They should not come upstairs, and the Seneschal knows everyone is coming."
Liz says "The request is for a short meeting. I have detailed photographs of the Bellmans grounds. I realize you probably didn't spend much time there, but I'd like you to look them over, point out what you saw, and, if you're willing, give me a rundown on the people you met. Names, positions, that sort of thing."
Liz says "The question is for a friend of mine: what's status of your Heart?"
Azalea sighs over the phone. "I can do that, but I met almost no one. I was given my folder, and I left. But I do need to speak with you; there is the matter of breaking my Heart."
Liz says "Fine. Meet you in person in 20 minutes?"
Azalea says "Certainly."
Liz bids goodbye, hangs up, goes about her errands. In 20 minutes, she walks into Sistine's.
Liz talks to the Seneschal, and comes upstairs to see you.
Liz knocks on your door, then plays a little in-place hopscotch with herself until it opens.
Azalea opens the door, allowing Liz in.
Liz nods. "Hello. Night pass all right?"
Azalea says "Well enough."
Liz says "Good."
Azalea says "And yourself?"
Liz picks out a nice pacing line on the floor, sets her folder full of photos on the table.
Liz says "Busy, thank you."
Azalea says "I need some lies to tell about you. A way to make it look like I've been doing my job, to send them off the scent."
Liz nods. "Good idea."
Liz ponders. "They know, or at least suspect, I know about Bellmans."
Azalea says "Can you think of anything? Anything that would sound like the truth?"
Liz says "I spent most of the night doing mechanical work on my plane. I've taken at least one flight since you started following me. I also had one visitor this morning."
Liz gives a generic Pat-like description that could be most people.
Liz says "I'm very busy. I obviously suspect something is going on, but it's not clear what. When I answered the door this morning, I had a gun in my hand."
Liz says "Enough information for you?"
Liz says "This is also the truth, by the way. You were assigned to follow me. I assume others are following some of my friends. I met one of those friends. Your information will correlate if he was being followed."
Azalea looks at Liz with a kind of amazement. "You are very kind."
Liz says "Aron has vouched for your potential. I do not think you are a spy, or a plant. I do not believe that there is much in this information that can harm me, but if it will help you break your Heart, the risk is worth it."
Azalea says "I can't be sure that what I have planned - insofar as it is planned - will work."
Liz says "What is your plan?"
Azalea says "To report in, ask to go back to the Marches, and then steal the heart."
Azalea's mouth quirks. "It's not much of a plan."
Liz mms. "Your current assignment is to follow me. I doubt, unless I go to the Marches, that you'll be given leave. You also would likely die trying to retrieve your heart."
Azalea lifts a brow. "And you have a better idea?"
Liz says "I suggest you continue to follow me around. Take notes, consult with me before reporting in. Maintain your 'demon in good standing' reputation, but stay apart from the others."
Liz says "When the time comes for you to Redeem, you will not need to break your heart. It will shatter and a new one will form in Heaven."
Liz says "I've heard it's Renegades who need to steal their Hearts."
Liz says "Not the Redeemed. If they do not believe you're Renegade, then it's unlikely they'll find out until it's too late."
Azalea's expression darkens. "Surely it takes a long time to be redeemed?"
Liz says "I can, however, bring in beings more expert on this subject. When you undergo dissonance and discord, it will show in your Heart. Then, if it's noticed, you'll be in danger. You can, however, be protected during that time."
Liz says "I don't know, Azalea. It's different for everyone. Some Redeem almost instantly. Others take years, decades. As I said, I can ask."
Liz says "It is safer for you to not be thought a Renegade. It is not necessarily better."
Liz says "If you are intent on stealing your Heart, I have a better way for you to get to the Marches."
Liz says "I will arrange to go there myself. You can follow."
Azalea says "I think getting to the Marches is really the least of my worries; I have a spotless record, and my wishes are unlikely to be questioned."
Azalea says "But I would like to speak to your 'experts' about this."
Liz says "You should talk to Mazpatiel, Elohite of Judgement. His Judgement is, implicitly, better than mine."
Liz says "In the mean time, I will provide you with an essentially accurate record of my comings and goings. It should not endanger me or my friends, and it will allow you to keep your record clean until you choose to make it otherwise."
Azalea says "Thank you."
Liz says "There may be dropouts. I'll warn you what they are, so you can say you lost me."
Liz says "You're welcome, Azalea."
Liz says "Now, I have some questions for you."
Liz spreads out her photos. "This is Bellmans Studio."
Liz says "I'd like to know what parts you saw, whether and how they were guarded, and who you met, particularly anyone directing activities there. Names, in particular, would be good. Descriptions are also good."
Liz says "I'll arrange to have the data 'sanitized' before it goes much further, so that tracing it back to you will be as difficult as possible."
Azalea says "I arrived in a cellar, presumably the Tether endpoint, and met a man named Balmanoir; he was well dressed, attractive, and had a scar on his face. He was clearly in charge, at least of our mission. There was a blonde woman with him, unnamed, who handed out folders and assignments."
Azalea says "I went up a flight of stairs and down a corridor, to an office; the secretary there gave me a wallet and cellphone. She was afraid; she knew who and what we were."
Azalea says "Then went down another corridor and outside."
Azalea says "I didn't see much."
Liz points to the photos. "Which entrance?"
You paged Demiurge and Azalea with 'I just showed Azalea the aerial photos of Bellmans and asked her which entrance she came out of. If you would be so kind...'.
Demiurge pages to Liz and Azalea: A side entrance, not the main front one, but facing onto the main road. A non-obvious one.
Long distance to Demiurge and Azalea: Liz marks down which entrance, asks Azalea to trace back the corridors, seeing if they go into the 'underground' part of the map, as opposed to back under the building.
Demiurge pages to Liz and Azalea: You think that they do, Azalea, yes.
Liz makes notes, including the names, roughly where the passages go, etc.
Liz says "Good, this helps a lot."
Liz says "If you see any more of the place, I'd appreciate you telling me."
Azalea says "Of course."
Azalea smiles, faint.
Liz says "Stretches, does a half turn, turns back, almost as if she's relaxing."
Liz says "That's business done."
Azalea says "Very well. I should perhaps return to my hotel room and call in."
Liz looks at Azalea. "All right. But first, any other questions you want to ask? Any concerns? And, if you're willing to tell me, what are your reasons for wanting to switch sides. If I know them, I might be able to arrange for people who can better answer your questions than I can."
Azalea says "I've had a conversation, this morning, with Aron."
Liz nods.
Liz says "I doubt you want to repeat yourself, then."
Liz says "But if you do, I'll listen."
Liz says "If you'd rather go drive 150 on the beltway, I can do that too."
Azalea shakes her head, quickly. "It's best if I not be seen with you, in public."
Azalea says "But I can answer any specific questions you might have."
Liz says "Just the big one. Why?"
Liz says "I don't know you, Azalea. The only people like you I've ever met were trying to kill me at the time."
Liz says "I do want you to get the best chance possible at Redemption."
Liz says "And, honestly, I do not know your experiences, the horrors you've face, any of that. That means I'm more likely to mess up."
Liz says "I want you to know that, in advance. I don't expect us to be best friends. You don't even have to like me. You should tell me, or Aron, though, if you want to contact someone else."
Azalea says "I just - became very tired of what I did. It seemed - petty. Futile. Redundant."
Liz nods.
Azalea shrugs, uncomfortably. "The world provides its own nightmares. It doesn't need mine."
Liz says "I flew Relief supplies during World War II, Azalea. Different vessel of course. The others and I, we flew until our planes fell apart, or until we were shot out of the sky. If we survived either, we patched them up, and flew some more. I was exhausted. And no matter what we did, the dead piled up, and the hungry awaited us, and there was always more despair. I wondered how God could allow that kind of horror to exist."
Liz says "We could only do so little good, it seemed."
Azalea says "And I wondered how humanity could allow that horror to exist. If it sickens a demon..."
Liz nods, and sighs.
Liz says "I see your point."
Liz says "Still, there is hope."
Liz says "The War ended."
Liz says "Eventually the famine receeded, and more children were born."
Liz says "And humanity, despite having somehow developed the ability to obliterate itself in a day, seems to be turning away from that. It's slow, and it's painful."
Liz says "But there's hope."
Liz 's eyes are old for a very few seconds. Her true age, hundreds of years.
Azalea looks over Liz a moment, approvingly.
Liz says "So, I'll help you, and perhaps we can both find more Hope, for humanity, for ourselves. All right?"
Azalea says, blandly, "Maybe we can get to hope later."
Azalea says "You're very - sweet, Liz."
Azalea says "It's difficult for me."
Liz laughs.
Liz says "I've been spending too much time with a Cherub and, if you can believe it, a halfway-Redeemed Lilim."
Azalea says dryly, "So I've heard."
Azalea says "I'll make a copy of your file, and bring it to you."
Liz says "He's my..." she gives a delicate little shudder, "boyfriend, it would a appear. Life is stranger than you can believe.""
Liz says "Thanks, Azalea. You have a lot of courage. I appreciate that."
Azalea says "I've heard that. I rather wonder where I found it."
Liz just smiles.
Liz says "I'll see you later. Be careful around lunchtime."
Liz says "Call me if you need me, or if you need reinforcements."
Azalea says "I shan't be here around lunchtime; I'm off to submit my report."
Liz says "Good idea."
Liz says "Good luck, Azalea. Godspeed."
Azalea looks amused. "Goodbye." Her lips curve.
Liz shrugs. "Hey, it's traditional. You'll understand, later."
Liz collects her things, flashes one last smile, and bails at Ofanite speed.
---