Liz shall prowl around the Opera, looking for demons and people she knows, and keep an eye out for Tania and, if he's there, the violinist remnant.
Liz lurks until the opera ends.
Demiurge says "The opera finishes. Singers mull around backstage, removing makeup and costume and babbling at each other, and so on. Stagehands make many thumps as they sort out the scenery."
Liz waits a few moments, until Tania's finished removing her makeup and costume and has changed to street clothes, then steps up to her.
Liz says, "Hello, Tania. Do you have a moment to talk?"
Tania looks up in surprise, and blinks, recognising Liz. "Oh, hello. Yes, sure. What can I do for you?"
Liz smiles. "Well, I'd like to talk to you. My boyfriend, Daimon, told me about the music you've been learning, and there's something important you need to know."
Liz says "If you'll get your things, we can go down the street to Sistine's. I'll buy you a coffee while we talk. Or tea, if you prefer it."
Tania frowns. "Okay. Ah, can I just tell a couple of my friends where I'm going first?" Her lie is slightly transparent. "They're expecting me..."
You paged Liz with 'It's an "I want to make sure someone knows where I am before I go off with Strange Woman" sort of lie.'.
Liz smiles. "Of course."
Tania looks relieved. She wanders to one side to mutter to a couple of her friends, rapidly, then returns, swinging a coat over her shoulder.
Tania says, hopefully, "I don't suppose that Mr Lightner is involved?"
Liz says "Daimon's busy tonight, but with any luck you'll see him again another night."
Tania says, with all the hallmarks of young passion attempting to look Cool, "That'll be great. So, Sistine's? I've never actually been there."
Liz nods. 'It's a lovely restaurant. Excellent food, and the music's great.'
Tania says, "Neat. Let's do it."
Liz smiles, waits for Tania to grab her purse, and says, "Would you prefer to walk, or drive?"
Tania grabs her purse. "I don't mind. Is it far?"
Liz says "About ten minutes, if you walk reasonably quickly."
Tania says, "Oh, well, that's fine. No problems."
Liz smiles. "Let's go."
Tania follows Liz, at a reasonably fast pace. She's still hyped from the opera performance.
Liz escorts Tania out of the building, and starts walking towards Sistine's. While she walks, she chats, "Daimon told me about the...unusual nature of the music you've been learning. We did find your teacher, by the way. We're hoping to be able to help him. His music is excellent, but he has some...personal problems, you see. We'll make sure he gets proper care."
Liz says "In any case, there's your music. I cannot tell you to unlearn it, nor would I. But I'd like to introduce you to someone who might be able to give you more bearing on its true meaning."
Tania says, cautiously, "He told me that it was all right to talk with Mr Lightner, and with his friends, when I met him this morning."
Tania says, still cautiously, "Okay."
Tania says, "And this person's at Sistine's?"
Tania bounces along cheerfully at Liz's side.
Liz smiles. "The owner and head chef. She knows people who knows people, including some astonishing musicians. She would also be able to better explain the music you were learning than I. My day job's flying cargo, not teaching music."
Tania says, slightly dubiously, "Is she in the music business?"
Liz laughs. "She's in the restaurant business in Washington D.C., Tania. This means she knows people, and those people are in the music business like you wouldn't believe."
Tania blinks. "Oh. Excellent." She pauses. "Very, very excellent."
Tania approaches Sistine's, with Liz.
Liz walks Tania in the door, gets a table where they can chat with a bit of privacy, and sends her card back to Marath with a little note written on the back, 'Here with a visitor, a possibly very creative woman. Meet me in 10 min?'
The card is returned, with a scribble on the back saying, "Sure," and some fresh rolls, butter, and a jug of water, and the wine list and menu.
Liz smiles. She asks Tania if she'd care to share a bottle of wine with a light late dinner.
Tania says, nervously, "I shouldn't drink wine. I'll have fruit juice, though, if you don't mind?"
Liz nods. "Certainly." She orders a glass of chardonnay, and chooses a salad.
Tania also orders herself a salad, and a glass of apple juice.
Liz smiles. "All right, Tania, I'd like you to tell me something. Daimon talked a little about it, but I'd like to hear it in your own words. Tell me how you feel when you sing. Both the music of opera, and the music you were being taught."
Tania thinks. Eventually, she says, "Singing is what I feel I was born to do, sometimes. When I get it right, _exactly_ right, everything matches. It's perfect. It's as if the world makes sense, then."
Tania says, "The other sort of singing - that's different. It feels like being part of things, but in a different way. Like," she looks for words, "like if I could channel it."
Liz smiles. "Sounds like a religious experience."
Tania pauses. "Well, yeah, I guess that it could be like that. I don't know, I've never had a religious experience."
Liz says "No? Ah, well."
Liz just smiles a little bit. "If you've never had a religious experience, how will you know if you ever do have one?"
Liz sips her wine, giving Tania space to answer, if she likes, or to laugh, if she thinks it's a joke. Her boyfriend is, after all, a comedian.
Tania says, thoughtfully, "Um. I don't know. I suppose it's like love. You know when it happens."
Liz mmms. "Fair enough. By the way, I greatly enjoyed the opera. I hope it does well."
Liz says "Another question though. The music, the new music. You say it feels like you can... channel it?"
Tania frowns. Eventually, she says, "Yes. But Mr Julianson told me not to try anything like that, yesterday."
Liz says "He's right. You shouldn't. But you cannot unlearn it, and so you will need more training."
Tania says, "Um, okay."
The salads arrive, with the drinks, and with Marath herself.
Liz smiles, and stands in deference to Marath. "Thank you for coming. I'd like to introduce a young woman to you. This is Tania. She's a singer in the Opera, and, I believe, the understudy for the lead soprano."
Liz says "Tania, this is Marath, the head chef."
Tania rises, looking nervous. She nods politely. "Er, hello, ma'am. This lady said you had contacts in the music industry."
Marath says, cheerfully, "Sort of. Please do sit down, ladies. This talk may take a while. Unless you have to be on your way?" She glances to Liz.
Liz says "I'll come along, at least for a few minutes."
Marath nods, sitting down. Tania also takes a seat, and fiddles with her salad.
Liz says "Tania has been learning some unusual music. Songs."
Marath says, bluntly, "All right, Tania. This is the truth. There are supernatural beings at large. I'm one, and Liz here is another."
Liz attempts to not choke on her salad.
Tania just blinks.
Liz says "Well, that was... direct."
Liz says "Probably for the best, though."
Marath says, "It works best that way sometimes. Come on. From what I hear, Tania here has been learning how to manipulate the forces of creation. And she's a creative artist. She can handle it.
Tania just blinks again, but nods, with the expression of one who believes she can handle it.
Liz smiles. "You're the expert. Me, I do cargo."
Marath grins. "When we've finished dinner, I'll show Tania some of the weird stuff out back. And hey, I'm sure she's seen a few odd things at the opera lately."
Tania says, wistfully, "Having loads of supernatural beings around makes a lot more sense than me going crazy."
Liz says "Mmm. I hadn't realized you'd been feeling that way, Tania. No, you're not crazy, and yes, I am a supernatural being too, although I'm sure you'd like proof of that."
Tania says, "I'll believe it. I mean, you were there for the gun battle, for the talking birds, for the weirdness in the attic..." She looks suddenly despondent. "And you're Mr Lightner's girlfriend, aren't you?"
Liz nods. "I am, at the current time, although I doubt Daimon is one to confine himself to monogamy in the long term."
Liz says "Besides, the type of supernatural being I am... let's just say we're not noted for being into long term relationships, and leave it at that for the moment."
Tania does not look wholly comforted. She does try and look noble, as she says, "I wouldn't want to take him away from you."
Liz just smiles reassuringly.
Marath says, consolingly, "That's the right spirit. Anyhow. Salad." The salad arrives.
Liz nibbles her dinner.
Liz listens to Marah talk for a bit. (Feel free to gloss as need be.)
Marath gives Tania a brief idea of Angels, Demons, and the War. Tania listens, somewhat in shock.
Marath eventually falls silent. Tania sits there and blinks.
Liz lets a few moments go by, sips her drink, and says, "And, of course, there are the Soldiers of God."
Tania says, "The what?"
Liz says "The Soldiers of God. Humans who, for whatever reason, can hear and cope with the knowledge of what's really going on, and who choose to be on the side of the Angels."
Tania says, "Oh, cool. Can I join?"
Liz says "You said you could hear how your music might be shaped. Channeled. You probably have the ability."
Liz says "It's not that simple, Tania."
Tania says, with the cheerfulness of one who has No Clue, "Brilliant. I always wanted to do something important."
Liz says "Think about the last few days at the Opera. Think about the insanity, and the oddness. And think of the poor stage manager."
Tania pauses. "Um. Well, but it has to be done, doesn't it?"
Liz says "It's not all sweetness and light. There is an Enemy, and any Soldier of God may wind up facing the Enemy. There are casualties. People sometimes die. Angels are sometimes destroyed, or Fall. We will win in the end, but the road ahead is long."
Liz nods. "It has to be done. It will be done."
Liz says "For the benefit of all, even those we face."
Tania says, slowly, "But you wouldn't have told me this if you didn't think I could do it."
Marath says, "No, child. We wouldn't."
Liz smiles. "You've already started down the path, Tania. You have, if nothing else, a wonderful potential. It would not do for us to not give you a chance to rise to your greatest Destiny. If this is to be as a Soldier of God, then you should get that chance."
Liz says "And the reason you are here is that, all things considered, Marath is the best choice to find you another teacher and mentor."
Tania says, hesitantly, "I want to do this. I can do this."
Liz asks, "Marath?"
Marath nods, eyes solemn. "I'll take care of it. Thank you, Liz."
Liz smiles. "I seem to keep bringing you strays. I hope it's not too much of an imposition."
Marath says, "Pish tush. That's what this place is here for."
Liz smiles. "Oh, by the way, I dropped off Azalea at the place of dreams. She went inside with the caretaker. It should be decided by now, one way or the other. I pray for the best."
Marath pauses, then nods. "I will hope, for all our sakes."
Marath says, "Thank you for telling me."
Liz nods. "I need to be going, alas. I'll leave Tania here with you." She turns and smiles at Tania, "I'll talk to you later, make sure you're doing all right." She holds out her hand to shake.
Tania returns Liz's shake. "Best of luck, ma'am."
Liz doesn't even blink at being called 'ma'am'. She must be a celestial. "Godspeed, Tania."
Liz nods in respect to Marath, and smiles. "Truly wonderful salad. See you soon."
Marath grins. "It's a pleasure. Take care, and walk in beauty."
Liz grins. "Walk?" She winks, and zips out the door, walking back towards the Opera and her car, thence to the metro station.
Liz thinks we're done here, unless something happens on the way to the Metro.
Demiurge says "No, nothing happens."
---