Hopes

<> Demiurge says "You've returned to Heaven. Hitherby has headed off to do her own stuff re Jordi."

Aron is heading towards the Ivory Tower, with Azalea.

Blandine's tower rises before you, high and pale, while Gabriel's volcano glows in the distance.

Aron stands besides Azalea, then, at the base of the tower.

Aron turns to Azalea. "Best to enter now, I think. There are things still left to be done."

Azalea says "Why are we here?"

Aron says "We have completed a quest."

Aron says "We should, I think, report."

Azalea says "Alright."

Aron leads, then, the way towards the doors of the tower.

The two Cherubim who guard the doors nod to the Ofanite and the Malakite, in solemn greeting.

Aron returns the nod and enters.

Azalea follows Aron.

Inside, the tower is as pale and luminescent as ever. Three Malakim listen to a Seraph giving them instructions, a group of souls work on what might be a piece of art, relievers tumble in a waterfall of colour as they work on a piece of staircase.

Aron's lips curl ever so slightly. He looks pleased. "Good to be home."

Azalea says "Are you going to tell her about the job offer?"

Aron looks momentarily taken aback. "I'm not entirely sure. If it comes up, I suppose."

Somewhere higher up the tower, somebody is singing, and flutelike tones echo like crystal.

Aron closes his eyes, content for a brief time. "Onwards and upwards."

Aron takes to the stairs.

The stairs wind upwards for an unspecified period of time, twining between rooms and translucent walls, though there is no sense of weariness associated with the climbing.

Eventually, they debouch onto the high balcony of the tower. Wind whips across the surfaces up here, as though some distant cataclysm had fanned the Marches into storms.

Blandine leans on the balcony of the tower, hair dark but rippled with silver, green gown hanging loosely on her slender frame. Her eyes are full of emptiness and wind.

Aron steps across the threshold and then to the side. He kneels.

Blandine turns to regard Aron and Azalea.

Azalea kneels beside Aron.

Blandine says, her voice like the wind beating across the Marches, "You have done well."

Aron bows his head. He waits.

Blandine says, eyes vague, "You have destroyed a nightmare, my children."

Blandine says, "How much do you know, and how much have you guessed?"

Azalea says "I know very little, and I'm trying not to guess."

Aron nods. "Too little," he agrees. "But this we know - servants of Hell were continuing to delude the would-be-redeemed amongst them that Heaven was a hard and unyielding place."

Blandine nods.

Aron says "Hitherby, our companion and a Dominion of Animals, noted that Media, Nightmare and Fate were all involved. And, perhaps, Dark Humor.'"

Blandine says, "If you had believed that was what Heaven was, then who would ever seek Redemption?"

Aron nods. "Just so, Lady."

Aron says "I believe it was, as the mortals say, a slander campaign."

Blandine turns aside to glance over the Marches again. "For a long time now such a place has been suspected, but not found."

Aron glances at Azalea, and then at Blandine. "We were blessed with fortune."

Blandine says, again, "You have done well. You opened the path so that it might be destroyed."

Aron nods. "Michael was ... resplendent. We had much aid."

Blandine says, "It was deserved." She turns to Azalea. "There is no shame in asking for aid when you have done all that you can, daughter, or in knowing when you are outmatched."

Azalea inclines her head, meekly.

Blandine tilts her head, and the wind plays with her hair.

Blandine says, "What troubles you, my children?"

Aron looks to Azalea and waits for her to begin.

Azalea says "I am not troubled. It will take some time for me to understand this way of thinking, but it does not trouble me."

Blandine nods. She turns to Aron.

Aron says "Two things occupy thoughts, one of them a concern and the other a hope."

Aron says "The hope is for the demons we rescued and that will be taken care of, I imagine. The concern is for my companions - those who are still held captive."

Blandine says, "Hopes, as they have been known to say, are my business, and concerns must be answered with hopes."

Blandine says, "Wait but a moment." Her eyes grow distant.

Blandine's eyes refocus, a little. "Those demons who were captive are sheltered by Novalis or by myself. Your friends I cannot perceive, but their Hearts would show them to you."

Blandine says, "Or ask of the Archangels that they serve, or their fellow servitors."

Aron nods. "Have I your leave to search them out, if I find them still captive, Lady?"

Blandine says, dryly, "Assuming that it does not mean suicide for you, my Virtue, yes."

Aron replies, wryly, "I shall try to distinguish suicide from necessity, Lady." He pauses. "Sometimes," he admits, "it is difficult."

Azalea says "And I?"

Blandine says, "Would I forbid you to aid your friends?"

Aron turns. "I did not wish to speak for you. But I would have you at my side if you will."

Blandine says, "If they are such to you."

Aron nods. "They are." He turns his attention back to Azalea.

<> Eduardo . o O (Well. They're friends. Raving bloody nutters. but friends.)

Azalea says "It matters, that they be friends?"

Blandine says, "No. But I wondered if they might be."

Blandine says, "If you seek any of Fire, then the Volcano is nearest to here."

Azalea says "Who do we seek, Aron?"

Aron says "Sephar sent me a message. Daimon, she and Sarah are captive."

Blandine says, "Creation, Lightning, and Destiny, then. Were any others with you who did not emerge safely?"

Aron says "Of those of us who went in, all returned. But some went to follow a Habbalite, and I do not know what became of them."

Aron frowns. "Somehow, only Azalea, Phineas, Hitherby and I managed to make our way back to Heaven."

Blandine says, "Judgement sent word that Zebina of Trade and Shannen of Flowers have been enquiring after Mazpatiel and Daimonique, so one would assume they came out safely."

Aron nods. "We shall join them, then, I think."

Blandine says, more distantly now, "Yes. You will."

Aron inclines his head. "Have we your blessing, then, Lady?"

Blandine says, "You do."

Blandine says, "Go, and keep to your hopes, wherever they may lead."

Aron smiles, and rises.

Aron pauses. "Lady," he says before he goes, "Usha acted particularly admirably in this."

Blandine nods.

Blandine says, "It will be remembered."

Aron bows from the neck and waits for Azalea.

Azalea stands.

Aron steps out, then, along with Azalea.

---

Fiat Justitia