Reviewing The Situation

Daimon reviews his phone messages at Sistine's.

Demiurge says "A large number of the messages are Terry, or other Lilims, trying to get hold of you. One of them you recognise as Lilith's voice, saying that she wants you Back Right Now."

Demiurge says "These are pre Terry and Lilith getting hold of you, naturally."

Daimon says "Yup."

Demiurge says "Also a number of calls from people trying to sell you insurance, double glazing, etc."

Demiurge says "Two calls about possible slots as a stand-up comic."

Daimon says "I live in an apartment! Ah well. Morons."

Daimon says "I don't want AT&T."

Demiurge says "Nothing, in the whole bundle, really significant."

Daimon says "Either of those DC slots?"

Demiurge says "No."

Demiurge says "One's LA, one's New York."

Sephar bird is at Sistine's, perched about in the rafters or whatnot.

Marath is bustling around the place, dealing with customers, though in the kitchen often enough to be snagged.

Daimon is on a phone somewhere downstairs, probably the kitchen, getting the last of his phone machine messages.

Sephar flutters down pecking on the odd crumb, hopping about tables as customers seem to want a bird about or not.

Eduardo is back from work, face set hard as he drinks coffee; the case he just viewed a particularly vicious mugging.

Daimon hangs up the phone, after getting the last of the messages, and wanders out into the main area to take up his stool again at the bar. Mmmm... mid morning munchies.

Sephar flutters down to the bar and hop-nips bits here and there.

Daimon says "Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey Sephar."

Sephar flutters over to Daimon and cheeps, "Hi."

Azalea is sitting at a table alone, writing down some notes.

Daimon says "How's it hangin, young Bird?"

Sepharbird cocks its head to one side then the other, "Cheeer-ily."

Sepharbird hops. "Fun time?"

Daimon says "Me?"

Eduardo looks up at Daimon's voice, hands still wrapped about his coffee.

Sepharbird bobs a nods.

Daimon says "Well, I had to run some errands, and now I'm cool again."

Daimon fingers the guitar Eli gave him.

Daimon says "I am not going to be smeared from one direction, at least."

Sephar says "Cool."

Eduardo pushes up, collecting his coffee and heading over towards the chatting couple.

Daimon says "Indeed. And I arranged to get some of my stuff. I'm afraid I'm going to be the Sisters' topic of gossip for the next three weeks, at least."

Daimon grins. "An entertainer to the very last."

Sepharbird bobs a nod.

Sepharbird cheerfully chirrrips a bird song of laughter.

Sepharbird bobs a nod to Eduardo as he approaches.

Daimon gestures toward the stage. "I'll eventually get back on it..."

The customers seem to be ignoring the presumably tame bird.

Daimon turns to peer at Eduardo.

Sepharbird has been tamely accepting crumbs from all the other tables... so this guy just happens to talk to the crumb-stealing bird.

<> Pat says "Daimon's Amazing Trick Pigeon!"

Eduardo drops onto a seat, placing his coffee before him precisely and gesturing vaguely for a warm-up. "Morning."

Daimon says "Um, hi."

Daimon looks a little disconcerted to have Eddie sit down next to him.

Sepharbird hop perches on Eduardo's shoulder and murmurs, "G'day?"

Eduardo doesn't smile, but does claim both his refilled coffee and the sugar shaker, pouring from the latter into the former until the cup looks like it is in danger of overflowing. Only then does he claim a teaspoon and stir, still watching Daimon. "You've help now."

Daimon says "Huh?"

Sephar hops back to the bar.

Eduardo glances up at Sephar, and shakes his head, then back down to Daimon. "I overheard." His tone is curt. "If they try for you. You've help."

Eduardo says "I won't run."

Aron walks slowly down the stairs, expression thoughtful.

Daimon looks utterly confused, and then grins a little bit. "Alrighty then. That's appreciated."

Eduardo nods once, then returns his attention to his coffee a moment. "Who will be after you?"

Daimon says "The Game, I suspect. Same people as yesterday, and the day before that, and really, the last eighty years. It's just, well, they don't like us to leave."

Daimon says "After that, well, Andre will be pissed off because he was making the recruiting motions. The Sisters are mostly just befuddled, and Lilith seems fairly reasonable."

Aron pauses, considering the crowd. After a few moments, he retreats upstairs. Some more moments later, he returns - a box held in hand and steps taking him toward Eduardo.

Daimon says "I honestly don't know, to tell you the truth."

Eduardo just nods. "Be easier if you did," he says, with a momentary smile. "Burn them all."

Azalea looks up from her notes for a moment to note the new presence. "Aron, I have a present for you."

Daimon says "There are, admittedly, some people who earn the right to be burned."

Daimon speaks very mildly about all this.

Sepharbird beams and hops and takes off to fluy about Azalea a few times.

Aron pauses, turns to Azalea and nods, nonplussed. He finishes closing the distance to Eduardo and clears his throat.

Eduardo's smile doesn/'t fade, but there is no humour in it. "There's a lot. In the city as well as ... elsewhere."

Daimon says "I really don't know anything about your people. I've always been running from the receiving end. You'll have to explain it to me."

Eduardo glances up as he finishes speaking, nodding; face settling back into it's customary imperturbability. "Aron." He glances at the box.

Daimon looks over his shoulder at Aron.

Aron offers up the box. "My thanks, brother."

Eduardo directs an aside to Daimon, still watching Aron. "Are you sure you want to know?" he says, and then reaches for the box. "It was useful?"

Daimon says "Yes, I really do want to know."

<> Pat says "Malakim, after playing with another Malakite's sword, are always very polite."

Daimon says to Aron, "Hi."

Aron evinces amusement without quite smiling. "Everything is."

<> Eduardo says "AND they still repect each other in the morning."

Daimon resonates on Aron.

<> Daimon rolls the d666 and gets 3 2 CHECK: 2.

<> Demiurge says "Level 2 Needs, Aron."

Eduardo nods once. "It's always been a preference of mine," tucking the box away. "A fondness from my Lady, I suspect."

Aron says "It suits you well."

Aron smiles, nods, and makes to move towards Azalea.

Sepharbird flies to land by Azalea.

Daimon blinks after Aron, and then goes back to leaning on the counter, looking vague and doing the munchie thing.

Azalea shows Sephar the notes she's working on, a list of everything the secretary at Bellman's told her.

Sepharbird blinks. "Oh."

Eduardo smiles again, then turns back to Daimon; voice quiet enough to not be overheard as he says "You'd know of the Malakim?"

Sepharbird hops onto the notes to read some of it.

Aron lays his hand on a chair at Azalea's table in silent question.

Daimon says "I know what you _do_. You resonate for honor and then, if someone isn't up to spec, you deal with them."

Azalea reaches deep into the pockets of her overalls, finding a watch and handing it to Aron.

Eduardo nods. "We do. My Lady also prosecutes the cruel."

<> Demiurge says "Prosecutes or persecutes?"

Sepharbird flies to perch on Aron's shoulder.

Sephar sings softly, "From Jean. for your help."

Daimon says "What is considered 'cruel'?"

<> Eduardo says "Prosecutes. Persecution is cruel in and of itself. :)"

<> Demiurge says "Heh."

Aron offers the bird a brief smile, then considers the watch. He puts it on and murmurs, "I did nothing to warrant this."

Sepharbird ruffles its feathers, then settles them, "You stood in death to save us."

Eduardo says "It would depend on circumstance. The mugger who left an old lady dead on the street. That is cruel," his voice heating up. "An abusive husband.The actions of a Djinn, though there come my Oaths.""

Azalea tells Aron, "I didn't either, really. This Jean is very generous."

Daimon says "But what about the fuzzy lines?"

Eduardo says "You judge."

Eduardo says "And trust to your Honour."

Daimon says "There is obvious cruelty, and there is not so obvious cruelty."

Eduardo nods.

Daimon mmmms. "But what about due process? What about the Law? What about punishments that fit the crime?"

Aron does his Malakite best to repress a shudder and achieves respectable success. That is, only Sephar might notice the tremble in his shoulders. "There is virtue in generosity. Thank him for me, Sephar."

<> Pat gives Daimon the handsigns for 'Madmen don't care about Law.'

<> Daimon is just confused. I mean, isn't this what the Game does?

Sepharbird chirp-chuckles, "I will thank him. But we all stopped a Plague of such proportions that he is thankful as well."

Sepharbird then hops back to Azalea's table.

Aron pauses, then asks, "What did we do, precisely?"

Sepharbird cocks its head, and half bird-sings in pidgin Celestial, "I'm not sure, but I think we stole a Plague of some sort from Vapula, so that he could not use it. there is some possibility that it was a plague that affects angelic Vessels."

Azalea adds, to Sephar's song, "In so many words."

Eduardo says "You would punish the mugger differently from someone less cruel. But whatever it is, it will be swift."

Daimon says "But you are judge, jury, and executioner."

Eduardo nods. "Yes."

Eduardo says "I am."

Eduardo says "We are."

Daimon says "Is that fair, though?"

Aron's eyes narrow and the brightness of the blue brings to mind his former master. "Are there others?"

Azalea says "We don't know."

Sepharbird shivers and bobs a nod.

Sepharbird bobs a nod at what Azalea says.

Aron says "And how does this tie to the Game and Nightmares?"

Eduardo says "Yes."

Eduardo says "It is."

Sepharbird chuckle chirps, "Don't know, either."

Sepharbird says, "Terethel was investigating there. I don't know how he ties into any of this, either."

Azalea says "Does it? I don't know. It seemed an effort of Vapula's, alone."

Sepharbird bobs a bit, thinking.

Aron says "I'm not sure I believe so strongly in hellish coincidence."

Aron shivers and, when a server approaches, requests coffee.

Daimon says "How is it fair? You only rely on your own resonance. You don't rely on the opinions of others, or precedence, or evidence. I guess I'm confused."

Sepharbird sings softly, "Weapon? In the chaos? Against the rebel demons?"

<> Pat gives Daimon a DomCookie.

<> Daimon munches a DomCookie.

<> Daimon has been brainwashed by Pat!

Eduardo shakes his head. "Not only," he says, certainty strong and bright in his voice. "Even we can be wrong. But to let cruelty loose? You would prefer that?"

Aron pauses. Suddenly, he reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out something wooden. He hands it to Azalea.

Daimon says "You do know what they say. You can always recapture and prosecute the evildoer. You cannot unpunish the innocent. Is it worth killing some innocents to ensure all the cruel are burned?"

<> Pat feeds Daimon a steady stream of DomCookies.

Eduardo says "I don't kill innocents."

Daimon says "How do you _know_? You don't prosecute them, you punished based on your own subjective feelings."

Eduardo says "I am a Virtue. I know."

Eduardo says "We live by honour."

Daimon says "Is your resonance always completely accurate, down to the last detail? I know mine is not."

Eduardo's voice drops a little, catching an edge; a smouldering fire visible in his dark eyes. "I said I don't operate by resonance alone. Would you question my honour in this matter?"

Daimon blinks. "Of course not."

Azalea takes the object from Aron, glancing over it curiously.

Daimon gets an 'oh shit' look on his face.

Daimon says "I'm simply trying to understand how you operate as opposed to, say, Pat."

Aron says "Congratulations."

Aron says "I shall wait some years before embracing you."

Eduardo laughs a moment. "My Lady and his Superior do not get along," he says. "So we operate very differently. There is no passion in an Elohite."

Daimon says "I disagree. I think there is plenty of passion in an Elohite. They are simply not allowed to act on it subjectively."

Sepharbird blinks up at Aron.

Azalea looks up at Aron, oddly.

Aron explains, "I am happy."

Aron pages: Where the last carving bore the celestial imprint for 'hope', this one has 'victory'

Eduardo says "You are entitled to your point of view. I see no passion in them."

Azalea looks not at all enlightened.

<> Pat says "Of course not. They take no pleasure in their work."

Daimon says "You need to see their Needs. They do not express it outwardly, so they seem passionless. But inside, they feel a stronger passion then many other beings. This is why the Habbalah are so dangerous, and so sad. They have lost control of their objectivity, and now they lash out with their emotions to Punish. I just fear that your punishing of cruelty is somewhat analogous to theirs."

<> Daimon is in an enlightened mood.

Eduardo's eyes slit. "It is not."

Eduardo says "I live in no delusion."

Aron turns to Sephar. "What plans now?"

Eduardo says "Rather, I serve the Bright Lady. My superior. Gabriel, Archangel of Fire."

Daimon says "My point is that they also punish based on their subjective opinion. I'm _not_ questioning your honor, I am trying to make a point, with the hopes it is proven wrong and I learn something new."

Sepharbird cocks its head and sings to Azalea, "Who was the woman escaping from Bellman's?"

Sepharbird then sings to Aron, "I think Daimon had a plan he wanted me for."

Aron raises an eyebrow.

Eduardo says "It would depend on who judges, no? If I judged wrong, I would be cruel. I would be subject to my own measures. And I would expect that."

Daimon blinks. "Oh. Very interesting. So what happens when you make an honest mistake?"

Eduardo gives his first, faint smile. "I try not to."

Daimon says "This is very different then the way that Pat pursues Justice."

Eduardo says "Yes."

Eduardo says "It is."

Eduardo says "Are you surprised?"

Daimon says "Very much so. Back home, we have our Princes, and we have the Game. And neither is, franky, very fair."

Azalea says "There was a woman escaping from Bellman's?"

Eduardo says "Pat operates in his own manner, and I in mine. We have an accommodation, over the years."

Sepharbird bobs a nod, "A drugged woman."

Sepharbird describes her.

Daimon says "Do you use your version of persuing cruelty on other angels?"

Sepharbird, "From behind the steel doors."

Azalea says, flatly, "You went to Bellman's before I'd had a chance to talk to my contact there."

<> Demiurge says "Short spiky hair, tshirt, overlarge jacket, jeans, medium height, thin, wide pupils."

Sepharbird blinks up at Azalea, "We were supposed to wait?"

Sepharbird bobs uncertainly, "Uhm... I wasn't told that. I'm sorry. Hitherby and I just went to look and see the layout and she wanted evidence."

Azalea says "It might have helped you."

Azalea shrugs.

Sephar says "Ah."

Azalea says "But you seem unharmed."

Aron holds up a hand. "Peace. Tell me about this girl."

Sephar bobs a nods. "Yes."

Sephar sings gently, "She don't know if she was human, as she had Songs, and from what Hitherby described, she Pranked the guards into hesitating in following her... and when she got out of the compound, sang herself far away with Motion."

Eduardo says "I have not yet. We have, in the past."

Sepharbird sighs quietly, "I just wondered who she was."

Daimon says "What about the role of Judgment in prosecution?"

Azalea says "I do not know her."

Sephar birds bobs uncertainly, "Prank... I wonder if Daimon knows..."

Eduardo says "They have their triads. They take their time."

Sepharbird takes off to fly over to Daimon, perching on his shoulder, and dances there quietly.

Daimon reaches up and gives Sephar a nice pet, acknowledging the Kyrio's presence.

Daimon says "So Fire is Swift Justice."

<> Pat says "We take our time to do it right, jerky. :)"

Sephar rubs its beak against Diamon's hand.

Aron looks disappointed. "I had hoped she was mortal." To Azalea, "You don't know if Bellman's had any mortal servants or targets, do you?"

Daimon gives Sephar a finger to hop on, to transport the Kyrio down to the counter in front of him.

Azalea says "Yes; I spoke to one yesterday, in dreams." She shows him the notes she'd been working on. "It's all here."

Aron takes the notes and flips quickly through them.

Sepharbird hops and then hops about on the counter and then sings up to Daimon, "Do you know a Celestial that has a Vessel like this?" and describes the woman.

You paged Daimon with 'There are a number of Kobalites who you know that could fit that description.'.

You paged Daimon with 'Not to mention plenty of other celestials.'.

Sepharbird whistles, "I think she Pranked, so might be one of Kobals?"

Hitherby has connected.

Sepharbird chuckles, "Malakim with boingy hammers."

Daimon says "There's a possibility. There are a number of Kobalites that fit that description."

Sephar bird bounces about thoughtfully.

Eduardo nods. "In a sense. We make no attempt to punish crime, however. But cruelty is different." With that he rounds on Daimon, swift as if he intended to strike. "No?

Daimon visibly flinches and almost falls off the stool when Eddie rounds on him like that.

Daimon says "Uh......"

Sepharbird hops.

Daimon says "I guess I don't understand. It's too alien for me."

Sepharbird flutters a bit in confusion at the conversation and then settles quietly to watch both of them.

Aron says "Did you tell Phaleris?"

Sepharbird sings uncertainly up at Daimon, "We gonna do email thing?"

Azalea tells Aron, "No."

Hitherby wanders in, a somewhat out-of-place young woman with unique plumage.

Daimon blinks, coming back to reality. "Are you done, Sephar?"

Hitherby stretches lots. "Hey, guys!" she calls, wandering over to the Heavenly Hosts.

Sepharbird bobs a nod, "Yes."

Hitherby slips off her shoes about five steps into the restaurant.

Aron nods. "Perhaps we should." He looks wry. ""I admit I am unsure what to do with this Tether, but he should know."

Daimon says "Oh, well, then let's get Sarah and wiggle onwards."

Hitherby picks them up and stuffs them in her carrying pack.

Daimon looks apologetic at Eddie. "Um, we'll pick this up later, okay?"

Sepharbird sings a hello note to Hitherby and then hop-flutters to perch on Daimon's shoulder.

Eduardo nods, returning his attenotion to his now cold coffee.

Daimon goes off to find Sarah, visibly relieved, since Sarah has CAR.

Azalea nods to Aron. "Very well. I'll give these notes to the others, here, and we can go to Phaleris."

Hitherby calls to Daimon, "You know, you *did* promise not to just wander off."

Daimon stops, and turns, and _looks_ at Hitherperson, not realizing it was Hitherperson.

Daimon says "Huh?"

Hitherby says, patiently, "In exchange for stories."

Aron skips topics suddenly. "Would you like to help me craft a dream?"

Daimon blinks. "Oh geez. Hitherby?"

Sepharbird sings, "No shoes. Must be Hitherby."

Hitherby attempts to bob, looks momentarily confused, and nods twice.

Sepharbird bobs back.

<> Sephar can just imagine running up to some barefoot person, "HItherby, I need help!"

Daimon says "Oh, well, I did wander off. I'm sorry."

Daimon says "I had to go and be alone. I just had to."

Hitherby considers this.

Daimon taps his head with his finger. "It's kind of a tangle up here."

Hitherby suggests, "A modification? When that happens, I'll stay somewhere nearby and you can give a time-until-panic?"

Daimon says "Certainly, although I was with Sarah."

Hitherby says "It wouldn't have mattered today, since I -- er. Would have left the swarm anyway. So no frets. But, you know. I worry about Sarah too."

Hitherby smiles brilliantly.

Daimon says "I just needed some time, that's all. I'm okay now."

Sepharbird settles quietly.

Daimon says "You can come if you'd like, Hitherby. We're going to be doing some hacking."

Hitherby fingers her hair, which is a distinctly-out-of-the-bottle red. "Right. I'll drop off a bug on you outside, unless you particularly want me to be vocal. In which case I'll send the swarm."

Daimon says "No, a bug is fine. I have faith in your Sturdy Mind."

Hitherby fumbles a bob again, and grins. "Good enough. Just point me at a library worker if you require my services."

Aron elucidates, "I want to inspire a particular story in one of my authors - and I need some good villain representations."

Azalea stands, looking around. "I have my notes on Bellman's here, if anyone wishes to peruse them; Aron and I have an errand to run."

Daimon says "Okay, sure. No problem. Thanks, Hitherby."

Daimon then attempts sort of a nervous grin at the world, and then goes off to find Sarah.

Hitherby glances to Azalea and Aron. "Actually, I had something I wanted to talk about -- it'll only take a moment, though. Unless you are in a hurry, Taroniel, Azalea?"

Hitherby clarifies, "With you two, I mean."

Azalea returns to her seat. "I don't think we are."

Hitherby walks over and leans against something near Aron and Azalea. Or just stands, back straight, hands knitted behind her back, thinking.

Aron nods to Hitherby. "Of course."

Aron says "We can wait; ask."

Hitherby says, "I had two quick questions." She makes a face. "They are partially dependent and partially independent." Having been around Daimon too much, she chews on her lip for a moment, and then says, "As Sephar probably told you, we examined Bellman's to determine what we could about layout and all the rest? And," a slightly puzzled look, "Azalea said she had notes on the place also? The first question is: how likely do you think it would be for your Bright Lady to act on this information, if asked? And the second is, do you intend to ask her? -- because it seems that talking to Jordi is inappropriate if Dreams will be addressing the situation, yet your judgment in the matter of Dreams exceeds my own."

Azalea looks to Aron. "My judgment in the matter of Dreams is - undeveloped, as yet."

Aron says "We are about to tell Phaleris - who is closer to the Lady's ear and mind than I."

Aron says "It is my hope that we act against the Tether. Its existence niggles at my heart."

Hitherby smiles. "Well enough. I am sorry to have kept you."

Aron chuckles. "You did not keep us long." He turns to Azalea. "Shall we go?"

Azalea nods to Aron, and stands again.

Aron pulls keys from his pockets. "I suppose you want to drive?"

Azalea smiles, wide.

Azalea holds out her hand. "Think you can take it?"

Aron simply raises an eyebrow, droll. He drops the keys into her hands.

Aron leads Azalea out to his Audi, parked out back.

Hitherby drops a bug off with Daimon. An adorable little ladybug.

Sepharbird grins at the ladybug, glad Hitherby picked a very nasty tasting species of bug so that it is not at all tempted.

Hitherby shows Sephar her black spots, fanning her wings out a little and then settling them.

---

Fiat Justitia