Shock And Coffee

Sephar snuggles up against Daimon and Chephirah after finally calming down from crying hard...

Daimon cuddles and holds Sephar, and generally stares at his Heart.

Jordan hovers over the three, looking worried, wings spread protectively.

Daimon finally says, "Thanks for the Song of Tongues, Jordan."

Daimon looks back at his Heart (since he's still in vessel), and says, "Twice. We were in Hell twice."

Sephar shiversighs and then looks up at what Jordan says, blinking quietly at the data.

Daimon says "We're okay. We're not physically harmed in any way."

Sephar says "Maybe the shackles kept them from seeing us?"

Chephirah rubs her cheek against Daimon's arm, quiet.

Jordan quivers and coils a bit closer, wrapping his tail like a wall around the three and sheltering them with his wings.

Daimon says "How long have you been here, Jordan?"

Sephar shivers a bit and a hand strokes a bit of Jordan that is near.

Jordan murmurs, "Since Mazpatiel returned from Hell the first time."

Jordan says, "He made alliance with a Habbalite, and went with her down to search for you."

Daimon says "_First_ time."

Daimon says "Okay, why?"

Sephar sighs, "So Mazpatiel followed on my message? My."

Chephirah leans her head back against Jordan as well, for a moment.

Jordan says "Mazpatiel hoped he could do something. He called the Tether, asked for his Heart to be watched. Then he went with the Habbalite. He only returned when you passed into Hades."

Jordan is warm and reassuring and nicely celestially big. Comforting.

Daimon is a little resistant to being comforted at the moment. He's still dealing with staring at his Heart.

Jordan does not try to intrude. Just be there, walling away everything else but Heart and friends.

Daimon says "So he went down, came back, and went down _again_ after we had appeared down there, this time taking others?"

Daimon says "He's more stubborn then I ever gave him credit for. Remind me to give Pat his Due."

Jordan murmurs, "Yes." He pauses, then adds, "I have sent messages to Trade, Destiny and Lightning, that you are back now, and they need not mount rescue attempts of their own."

Jordan says, "After Mazpatiel returned, he and Maasiai set off through the Marches where you had been taken."

Daimon looks a little confused, and then says, "Jordan, can you give me the story from the beginning?"

Jordan takes a breath, ripple blinks, and relaxes. "From the beginning, as best I can..." He pauses. "Ah. And Mazpatiel, Maasiai and Eduardo have returned now, to Heaven."

Daimon says "Good."

Chephirah's wings flutter just the slightest: relief.

The Heart ripples with light, comforting, steady, secure.

Sephar sighs softly and leans against all three, listening.

Jordan shifts, feathers rustling softly. "From the beginning. Mazpatiel contacted the Supreme Court Tether, and arranged for his Heart to be watched. Then he went to Hell, via the Freedom Tether, with a Habbalite of Baal -- he said she went by Cecilia -- Caliah, Fallen from War. When you three and Oboth passed into Hades, Mazpatiel returned to his Heart."

Daimon nods, and narrows his eyes.

Sephar says "Have you heard from Oboth?"

Jordan nods. "Blandine's people report Oboth, Phineas, Aron and Azalea are all safely out. Shannen and Zebina also have been seen." He continues, "From there, where I was waiting, he went to the Library, to view Chephirah's Heart. I asked him some questions, then took the report to the Most Just, who summoned Mazpatiel shortly afterwards, and sent him and Maasiai out again."

Daimon holds up a hand.

Jordan stops.

Jordan ripple blinks at Daimon.

Daimon says "How the hell did Phineas, Aron, Azalea, Shannen and Zebina get caught up in this story?"

Daimon says "I mean, out of _where_?"

Jordan says "They returned with Oboth."

Daimon says "So Hitherby escaped from the Asylum and met them in the Marches?"

<> Jordan rolls the d666 and gets 3 2 CHECK: 6.

Jordan furrows all his eyebrows.

Jordan says "I was not entirely briefed -- only that they had all returned, and that Zebina and Shannen were seeking you at the Spires."

Daimon says "Oh, okay, just wondering. Go on with the story. So anyway, Pat was sent out with Maasiai into the Marches..."

Sephar oh's softly as it connects.

Sephar stays quiet though to hear the rest of what Jordan says.

Jordan says, "They made their way to the Far Marches, into a cave of sorts, and their Hearts misted over, no longer revealing them. They reappeared in the Archives of Hell, coming out of rubble."

Jordan adds, "Or so summarized the reports that I received."

Daimon says "And then they wandered around Hell, raised a stink, and then finally pulled out. Yes?"

Jordan nods. "I suspect that is the case. Some of the Archives are burning, thanks to the Malakite of Fire..."

Sephar shivers quietly at the realization that its heart might mist over, and not know where it is.

Chephirah lifts her head to Jordan, with a slight and faint smile. "Oh, my."

Jordan bows his head. "I was most concerned," he murmurs.

Daimon frowns deeply, and then relaxes, and grins a little at Jordan. "I know. Your message to me was what made sure we got out of there - so there was something to come home to."

Daimon says "Hell tends to eat people alive, you know."

Sephar shivers at that.

Jordan shivers. "I hope I never learn that personally."

Jordan pauses a moment, gazing at Daimon. "I wonder, if I had asked to go with Maasiai and Mazpatiel, if I could somehow have made a difference..."

Daimon says "Jordan, luckily, there are people here who love you enough, that it will never come to pass."

Chephirah rubs her cheek against Jordan's wing. "The Archives would have hurt you merely to be among them."

Daimon says "Jordan, we never saw them."

Jordan cups his wings a little closer. He whispers, "I wish I knew if I could have aided them..."

Sephar roils just a touch.

Daimon says "You aided us. And it was appreciated. More then you know."

<> Jordan rolls the d666 and gets 6 4 CHECK: 1.

Jordan closes all his eyes for a brief moment. "I am... glad, that I helped. It would have been injustice unto dissonance, to leave you in Hell's grasp."

Sephar says "Yes."

Daimon says "It's not someplace that Sephar and Sarah should ever have to see."

Sephar wiggles a little, thinking.

Jordan says, "It is not someplace that anyone should ever have to see."

Sephar says "It was... educational."

Jordan eyes Sephar.

Daimon says "It was a travesty. Sephar, you don't belong there."

<> Jordan rolls the d666 and gets 6 1 CHECK: 1.

Chephirah nods to Jordan. mutely.

Jordan asks, "Educational?"

Sephar blinks back at Daimon, "No, I do not belong."

Daimon says "It's not educational. It's embarrassing."

Sephar blinks back at Jordan, "Yes. Very. As to what exactly it is that I oppose, why we fight, what we have, and what can be lost."

Sephar says "So very lost."

Jordan nods to Sephar. "Yes. In that sense."

Sephar murmurs, "I was very lost."

Daimon says "It's the easy way out. It's an embarrassment to my people. It's an embarrassment to the universe in general. But it's also where I'm from."

Jordan shivers again, closing his upper four eyes. "I... I think I must ask your forgiveness, Daimonique, Sephar, Chephirah..."

Chephirah's wing folds more closely about Daimon for a moment. "Hardly, Jordan."

Jordan shakes his head. "I... should have asked Etecius to... have words, about Balseraph associates. This would not have happened, if I had done my job better."

Daimon says "Jordan, it was my fault and my responsibility."

<> Jordan rolls the d666 and gets 3 4 CHECK: 6.

<> Jordan seeks Truth in that!

<> Demiurge says "Yes and no."

<> Demiurge says "Yes, Daimon made a mistake, but *Terry* had free will in what he did."

Jordan pauses. "No... You made a mistake, but the Balseraph chose to abduct you and the others. And I also did not guide as I should have." He sighs. "I believe there is 'plenty of blame to go around,' as some say."

Daimon says "Maybe."

Chephirah says quietly, "And if we do not trust, we cannot save."

Jordan says, to Daimon, "Truth. I hear it."

Daimon says "He felt it was the best possible thing."

Jordan says, gently, "Balseraphs delude themselves before they delude any others."

Sephar sighs at that.

Daimon says "I can't say I agree with his assessment, but it was what he believed. Somewhere in his little brain he felt that he was actually fixing me and making me better. Again, it's another case of not allowing me to make my own choices, because whenever I do, I fuck myself up."

Jordan ripple blinks. "You chose not to abandon your companions. You freed them."

Sephar says "Or friends like that... uhm... fuck you up for you? I think your choices have been good..."

Daimon says "It was what Needed to be done. And besides, you don't really think I'd leave Sephar to them, do you?"

Sephar says "Never. As I'd never leave you to them."

Jordan says, "That choice was yours, made by you, and it was just."

Daimon says "I've made many choices in my life, and some had been good, and some had been spectacularly bad. Sometimes I get lucky and I do the morally right thing. Sometimes I don't, and I fuck up in a big way. But I wasn't ever going to leave Sarah and Sephar to the demons, since I know very well what they would do to them. That, I wouldn't allow."

Jordan's wings quiver, as if he would like to wrap them tightly around the angel-group. "That was a right thing, and just, and angelic. And luck had little to do with the choice."

Daimon says "I'm slowly getting to the point where I really don't care if my actions are angelic or demonic, just as they are morally correct in the eyes of my current peers and God. I can't even hope to justify every angelic act as good or every demonic act as evil."

Jordan sighs. "And sometimes even angels make mistakes...." He draws himself up just a little. "There is a saying, in the training books, that we go in triads because we are not perfect. If we were, we would all be Archangels wiser than Yves. We can only strive to do what we see is Just."

Daimon says "I can buy that - that we do what is Just, and hope for the best. I would say that we do what we do because either we love and care about one another or we don't, and it cuts both ways."

Sephar peers mildly at Daimon. "There's a way other than that?"

Jordan curls down again, his nose almost brushing Daimon's hair for a moment. "To love is angelic. To cease to care is demonic."

Daimon says "Or we do what we do because of honor, or duty, or orders, or other reasons. It's not always because of love."

Jordan says "As long as one still cares, he is not lost to Heaven."

Sephar thinks a bit about that.

Jordan shifts. "It is because of caring, that we do what we must."

Chephirah murmurs, "Which is at the heart of honor and duty and respect, as well as of love."

Daimon says "I do what I must, sometimes, because it is what Needs to be done."

Jordan murmurs, to Daimon, "Because you care, that it Needs to be done. Because you care too much to turn away."

Daimon says "Because I'm simply a very miswired Lilim. But I think we can get over that."

Daimon says "Anyway, I'm very happy everyone is safe and fine and no major harm is done."

Jordan snorts. "You are not miswired. You are redeemed.

Daimon doesn't answer that.

Sephar snugs Daimon at the last. "Well, there seems to have been major harm done to the.. uhm... Asylum, which seems to be good."

Jordan nods to Sephar. "Yes. From what little the Symphony tells me, harm to *that* place is *very* good and just."

Sephar says "I'm glad it won't be accepting any more patients."

Chephirah murmurs, "In the land of the blind, the sighted man is miswired, Daimon."

Daimon says "I'd like to know what happened. One minute, we're waiting to get beaten, and the next moment, I'm sleeping."

Sephar says "Green gas."

Daimon hugs Cherphirah.

Daimon says "Then I woke up, Sephar yanked the collar off of me, and we hit."

Daimon says "That's all I know."

Sephar says "Seeped in with an alarm and the *thump* of something like five Superiors of one kind or another."

Someone knocks outside the room.

Sephar says "And the entire --"

Chephirah lifts her head.

Sephar looks to the knock.

Jordan looks up. "Yes?" he asks, Seraphically.

Mazpatiel says "I wouldn't be intruding if I asked to come in, would I?"

Jordan looks to the others, especially Daimon.

Daimon says "No, of course not."

Sephar chuckles, "No."

<> Daimon says "Hey, it's just my Pad, ya know."

<> Daimon says "There's all sorts of strange things in here."

Mazpatiel says "Mm. Thank you."

<> Demiurge says "With the wooden flutes, and the lego, and the Spawn figurines, and the Tie Collection, and..."

Mazpatiel drifts on into the room.

Sephar sighs, thinks, remembers, "I'd managed to get a gap knocked out of the window, but everything outside the window disappered. Into nothingness that sucked the gas out..."

Chephirah still wears the amber scarf. "Hello, Mazpatiel."

<> Jordan rolls the d666 and gets 5 4 CHECK: 4.

Sephar says "... which I didn't think we wanted to get sucked into, so that's when I startd on the collars."

<> Jordan tries to tell Truth from Sephar's words.

<> Daimon says "And books and computer stuff and lava lamps and bead curtains...."

<> Jordan has not been looking at the STUFF in Dai's room.

<> Daimon is a packrat.

<> Demiurge says "Some sort of Archangelic or Princely intervention happened about then. But yes, there was gas in the room. And the whole place fell apart."

<> Sephar says "And now the pile of Chephirah sized bondage gear..."

<> Daimon packs that away with the REST of the bondage gear. :)

Jordan murmurs, "Intervention, from an Archangel or Prince. Gas in the room. All fell apart. I cannot tell more."

Daimon says "Anyway, we hit in Shal-Mari."

Sephar says "And Daimon saved us there. He knew where he was going and what to do."

Jordan nods. "That was nerve-wracking to watch," he murmurs quietly, almost to himself.

Daimon says "Well, I had to concoct a minor plan and do a whole bunch of story making."

Daimon says "The trick to Shal-Mari, I think, is to pretend you belong there. And then none one gives you a second glance."

Jordan shivers.

Chephirah murmurs to Jordan, "I'm glad you only had to watch."

Daimon notes that his rooms in the Halls of Creation are a heck of a lot better then what they were in the Dark Comedy district in Shal-Mari. AND rent-free.

Jordan says to Chephirah, "Would that I had been able to do more..."

Daimon says "I was in danger, I think, of losing my soul down there. But I had a purpose, and I could focus on it."

Chephirah chides Jordan, gently, "Enough is as good as a feast."

Jordan flinches at Dai's words, and his wings do fold around them for a moment.

Chephirah adds to Daimon - equally gently - "And you were in less danger than you believe, I think." Her wings flutter between Daimon and Sephar, and Jordan's wings.

Daimon says "Maybe. It's familiar. It still smacks of home. Or it did, until the very very end. And then it wasn't home anymore."

Daimon frowns. Let's not talk about that.

Sephar peers mildly at Daimon.

Jordan murmurs, "Home... I think home is where one is loved. Cared about."

Chephirah says softly, "Exactly."

Daimon says "Yeah, well, my body didn't realize that yet."

There is another knock on the door.

Jordan whispers, all eyes upon Dai, "Daimonique... You are loved in Heaven. You are cared for here."

Mazpatiel glances blandly at the door.

Daimon says "Come on in. It's apparently an impromptu party."

Chephirah murmurs, "Of course it is."

Sephar murmurs with some cheer, "Paaaarty."

The door opens, and the Mercurian who pokes his head round - one Melchior, from further down the corridor - says, "Yeah, well, I just wanted to ask if you lot want coffee or cake. Rith just did some. Rum and chocolate."

<> Jordan . o O (He needs more Heart quality time.)

Melchior says, "Heard you were in trouble, Daimonique. Glad to see you're back safe."

Sephar says "Yes, please."

Daimon says "Thanks." He flashes a grin. "I'm always in one sort of trouble or another."

Jordan uncurls a little, moving so he is less intimately wrapped.

Melchior says, "Sure." He vanishes out of the door again.

Chephirah nudges Daimon with her muzzle.

Mazpatiel notes to Jordan as a brief aside, "Maasiai and Edward are at the Spires, and likewise safe."

Jordan nods to Mazpatiel. "Good. And I am glad to see you are not harmed by your *second* visit..."

Sephar smiles at Mazpatiel's news to Jordan.

Jordan eyes Mazpatiel intently.

<> Jordan rolls the d666 and gets 6 1 CHECK: 6.

Melchior returns, a few minutes later, balancing a large plate with a number of slabs of rich dark cake and a jug of coffee, mugs dangling from his fingers.

Daimon just carries on, looking stoic.

Melchior comes across, hugs Daimon hard.

Mazpatiel says "That was hardly my decision, Jordan."

Jordan finally asks, bluntly, "What happened to you, Mazpatiel? Your Heart misted over, as you entered the cave."

Mazpatiel says "After the Tsayadim?"

Daimon caves into being hugged.

Daimon tells Melchior, "Stay. Help eat all this."

Chephirah purrs, warmly. At the hug and - admittedly - just a little at the cake.

Jordan nods to Mazpatiel. "Yes." He gets slightly distracted by Daimon being hugged, and watches that.

Melchior juggles the cake and coffee to the ground, nods, and keeps an arm tight round Daimon, snuggling into the general group.

Jordan uncurls a little, as the angel-group is getting too big to encircle.

Sephar giggles and uses several arms and hands to help Melchior with the cake and coffee...

Daimon gets hugged by another Creationer. It's... not a bad experience, actually. Pretty damn good.

Mazpatiel finds a bean bag to sit down on, tucking its legs up underneath it. "Maasiai and I found ourselves in an office, staffed by a demon masquerading as a Mercurian. We were...overtaken."

<> Jordan gets TRUTH on that from the resonance roll?

You paged Daimon with 'Melchior is into origami and crime fiction. He's a nice guy.'.

<> Demiurge says "Yes."

Sephar helps to hand out the cake plates and mugs.

Daimon pages: Keen. I'll sleep with him, sure. :)

You paged Daimon with 'You may already have done so, if you were interested. He certainly was. ;)'.

Jordan ripple-blinks both up and down, several times, at Mazpatiel. "Ah." (The "ah" is slightly strangled-sounding.)

Daimon pages: Maybe not yet, but if not yet, soon! SOON!

Long distance to Daimon: Demiurge figures all the other Creationers on the floor have already done their best to be friendly, if not actually jump your bones. ;)

Daimon pages: There WAS that move in party....

Mazpatiel says "Edward happened upon us. His Lady freed us. And then sent us in pursuit of these three."

Chephirah nuzzles a leg of Melchior's, and makes room by Daimon. Trying to arrange herself so she can, while still in snuggling distance of Daimon and Sephar, sprawl one wing out toward Mazpatiel's beanbag.

Jordan blinks all his eyes at once. "Ah." (This "ah" is not any less choked.)

Sephar listens to Mazpatiel and uses two hands and noses to inhale the fragrance of cake and coffee together, slow and deep, and then settles, still near Daimon and Chephirah to slowly sip and nibble the cake with a small sigh of pure appreciation.

Daimon looks at Mazpatiel. "So Gabriel showed up?"

Melchior pushes a cup of coffee into Daimon's hands, then nibbles cake himself, listening.

Jordan murmurs, "Eduardo called her."

Daimon, sets the coffee aside, gets a slice of cake for Sarah, puts it in Cherub Munching Range, and then picks the coffee back up. "Thanks."

Mazpatiel nods. "Gabriel arrived, yes. Edward quite nearly stood by her in an assault upon Kronos."

Chephirah says, "Thank you, Daimon," and likewise nibbles cake. Slowly and with as much etiquette as a lioness can manage, exerting self-control.

Sephar blinks many eyes at Mazpatiel. "Eduardo... wow. That's Eduardo."

Chephirah gives Mazpatiel a /blink/.

Daimon says "Well, that explains what happened to that place, and why Eddie went into Hell."

Sephar mmmhmms softly.

Jordan ripple blinks. "I... I do not hear the Truth of Gabriel's actions. But Eduardo went into Hell, after you, Daimonique."

Mazpatiel says "Massiai decided to accompany him."

Jordan tilts his head. "Maasiai offered first, I believe?"

Mazpatiel says "My recall of the events are not precisely clear."

Daimon drinks coffee and just absorbs information.

The cake is deep and rich chocolate and rum, with little flakes of fudge, and melts in the mouth. The coffee is very good java.

Jordan listens to the Symphony as Mazpatiel speaks, and gets Seraphically pedantic about it.

Melchior says, barely audible, "She was about to go down into Hell and attack *Kronos*?"

Mazpatiel says "No. Kronos was there."

Jordan says, "She sought Daimonique."

Daimon blinks.

Mazpatiel says "I have every reason to believe the area was under his control."

Daimon says "How many Superiors showed up to this party?"

Sephar finds another piece of the cake and slides it silently near Chephirah.

Mazpatiel says "Two, that I am aware of. Why?"

Daimon says "Just curious. I was sleeping through the festivities."

Melchior murmurs, "Daimonique, I know we're supposed to give the biggest parties in the world, but this might be overdoing it."

<> Jordan eyes Daimon. Full Truth or in English?

Daimon leans over and gives Melchior a smoochie on the forehead.

Melchior says, "I mean, one Archangel, sure, one Prince, perhaps..."

Chephirah nuzzles Sephar's hand, and slides the slice back, gently. Nibbles carefully and slowly at her first one.

Melchior grins, and hugs Daimon.

<> Daimon is speaking the angelic tongue.

Chephirah then leans over and licks Melchior's arm, amused.

<> Jordan goes whew.

Sephar scritches Chephirah and grins with several mouthes.

Melchior uses his free hand to tickle Chephirah under the chin.

Chephirah purrs, warmly.

Jordan is eating no decadent Creationer cake, nor drinking decadent Creationer java.

Mazpatiel is with Jordan in stoic Dominicanity.

Daimon says "So, Pat, lemme get this straight. You tracked us to the Asylum, got grabbed, dragged off.... how was Eddie there? I missed this bit."

Mazpatiel says "He went with Taroniel, yes?"

Daimon says "Okay, wait a second. How many angels showed up to this place?"

Mazpatiel shrugs.

Mazpatiel says "We were following you."

Daimon eats decadent Creationer cake and drinks decadent Creationer java.

Daimon says "Okay, so, how did Eddie get there?"

There is a knock on the door. A very faint one.

Mazpatiel shrugs.

Daimon says "Come on in."

Daimon says "Mysteries of the Universe."

The door eases open a crack, and a reliever flutters in, moth-wings flickering pale, body entwined with magnolia petals. It wings across to Daimon's shoulder.

The reliever sings, in a voice like crystal chimes, "I have a message for Daimonique."

Daimon says "You have found Daimonique."

The reliever sings, "My Lady told me to find Daimonique, because Karellin asked a message sent to her."

The reliever's wings flicker in and out. "Karellin wanted to say thank you, and to hope that you found your pants."

Mazpatiel /looks/ at Daimon.

Daimon blinks once, twice, three times. And then laughs. "Yes, I found my pants. Can you return a message?"

Jordan ripple-blinks at Daimon.

Sephar blinks mildly.

Chephirah blinks slightly.

The reliever bows its head. "I can!"

Sephar whispers, "Who is Karellin, again?"

Daimon says "Every once in a while, and not very often, I AM right. And when I'm right, I'm very right. She deserves a hug and a good waggling finger."

Daimon says "Karellin is a - now - Mercurian who was interred in the Asylum. We had a chat. Largely about my pants."

Sephar says "Oh! Cool."

The reliever giggles. "I will tell her."

Mazpatiel says "Ah."

Daimon says "I was having a pants identity crisis."

Sephar whirls a mild dance, "She Redeemed!!"

Chephirah murmurs, "Only you, Daimon. Only you."

Jordan ripple-blinks again. "Pants," he says, flat and uncomprehendingly.

The reliever takes off, fluttering towards the door again.

Daimon pats the reliever. "Who did she redeem to? For real? Do you know?"

Chephirah purrs, and calls toward the reliever, "Might I send her a message, as well?"

The reliever pauses, circles Daimon's head in a slow halo. "Novalis! My lady."

Mazpatiel glances at Jordan.

Sephar whirls again.

Jordan looks at Mazpatiel. "Pants?" he says, somewhat more plaintively.

Daimon explains, "The bastards took my pants. It was a pants crisis. It struck to the very core of my being." And then he looks at the reliever and beams. "I'm glad she finally redeemed to the real Novalis and not a Lilim in a jiggly vessel."

The reliever sings, towards Chephirah, "Surely, surely."

Mazpatiel nods. "Pants. We may want to get a list of names, at some point."

Sephar giggles and curls up to settle by its cake again.

Daimon says "Luckily, apparently, Gabriel showed up and explained to them the error of their pants stealing ways."

<> Demiurge says "Kobal sends Servitors to stick a sign on Daimon's back, saying, "Steal My Pants.""

Chephirah leans up, and times the reliever's circling so that she can manage the brush of a careful kiss. "That. And 'thank you'."

<> Chephirah giggles.

<> Daimon sends a postcard with some choice comments on it to the nearest working Kobalite tether.

The reliever dips, mid-flight. "I will! Are there any other messages?"

Jordan sighs and lays his chin down on the floor somewhat behind Daimon, his tawny wings furled awkwardly.

Daimon crawls over and gives Jordan a little smooch in a Seraph approved place.

Melchior leans back. He murmurs, to Jordan, very quietly, "Look, just admit you don't understand, and hug him."

Jordan blinks several times at Daimon, raising his head and looking at the Lilim with all six eyes wide.

You paged Daimon with 'Oh, yes, that's the other thing about Melchior. He loves matchmaking.'.

Daimon pages: Okay, I love him.

Daimon pages: I want more of him.

Daimon smooches poor Jordan again. "We all deal with things in our own way."

Jordan nods, looking uncertain. "True..."

The reliever flutters out of the door.

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 6 3 CHECK: 6.

Daimon says "And mine happens to be, well, mine."

Jordan manages a faint chuckle. "It could hardly be anyone else's..."

Daimon says "Sometimes, mundane, simple things are what we grip onto to hold onto our sanity."

Melchior leans back, props his coffee cup on his chest, and folds his hands behind his head.

Jordan nods slowly. "Yes."

Daimon says "I'm not ready to come to terms with what happened. And I'd prefer not to be surrounded when I do. But in that case, I knew I had to hold out as long as possible, and getting incensed about the fact that they had changed my clothes simply made sense. It was a very mundane object which I could grasp, and make the center of my universe."

Jordan nods again, more understandingly, and coils up into a "sitting" position. "I am glad that you were able to," he whispers.

Daimon says, considering, "Although, if I went insane, would anyone notice? That, I think, is the question."

Melchior says, comfortably, "Of course we would. You'd lose your incredible style in ties."

Sephar says "Uhm... if I were around you, I'd likely notice."

Jordan coils back on himself a bit, pondering something.

Melchior says, "There you go. Nobody can deceive the keen eyes of the Kyriotates of Lightning."

Sephar says "And your clothing seems a part of how you see yourself as you."

Daimon says "Those ties have all sorts of illicit uses."

Sephar blushes silver at Melchior.

Melchior glances across at the bondage gear.

Melchior says, "_Don't_ they just."

Chephirah explains to Melchior, "Don't ask."

Daimon says "I have normal stuff, but it's in the drawers."

Daimon leaves Jordan alone and crawls over to accost Melchior. "Besides, I couldn't deceive Sephar. Sephar is my Spirit Guide."

Melchior starts to laugh.

Jordan furls his wings around himself like a tawny cloak, his eyes half-lidded.

<> Zebina says "And on the left we have one exceedingly confused SoJ."

Daimon says "And that would be too weird to contemplate."

<> Daimon says "Poor Jordan."

Sephar blinks mildly.

Daimon flops over on his back. "I love Sephar. I'd be lost without a mouse in my pocket now."

Mazpatiel gestures for Jordan to slink on over to the Judgment corner.

Jordan opens his upper pair of eyes fully and does so, refurling his wings as he coils next to Mazpatiel.

Chephirah slinks over to the Judgment corner herself. She is devoted, not comprehending.

Melchior says, "The love in this room is so tangible. I mean, I could touch it."

Sephar curls up by Daimon.

<> Jordan . o O (Oh, great. Creationer Orgy.)

Melchior manages to drink some coffee without spilling it all over his neck.

Mazpatiel says "What did you observe, Jordan? I have very little of the picture."

Daimon says "Well, we've been through Hell together. It's a very bonding experience."

Jordan says, to Mazpatiel, "Daimonique's Heart cleared as he, Sephar and Chephirah emerged from rubble into what I presume was some establishment of Lust."

Mazpatiel says "Mm."

Jordan says, to Mazpatiel, "From there, Daimon managed to bluff them out, bought equipment to facilitate the removal of the relic collars from Sephar and Chephirah, and found a moderately private place to do this in."

Jordan says, to Mazpatiel, "This included tying up an Impudite."

Melchior says, "Mmm."

Sephar blinks?

Sephar says "Oh."

Mazpatiel says "Any particular Impudite?"

Chephirah leans her head down on her forepaws.

Jordan shrugs. "Daimonique seemed to know him, and he her."

Daimon says "Well, Jack."

Sepharcloud whispers in Daimon's ear, "You've got to teach me how to tie someone up better."

<> Chephirah . o O ( And a Cherub. )

Mazpatiel looks over at Daimon. "Keros?"

<> Chephirah . o O ( But let's not mention that. )

<> Jordan . o O (Yes, but that was different.)

Daimon blinks at SepharCloud, and giggles, and gives Sephar a little smooch. "We'll have education later when it's a little more private."

Daimon says "Yeah, it was Jack Keros. What he was doing _home_ is a mystery."

Sephar blushes with the smooch and then nods a bit of cloud at Daimon's words and curls up again.

Mazpatiel says "Hm. He deserved it, then."

Daimon says "We bound him in bondage gear, designed not to hurt him, and dropped him on the couch. Everything would have gone smoothly until.... until he panicked."

Daimon frowns.

Melchior murmurs, "I'm just imagining the whole of Hell tied up in bondage gear. Pause to enjoy the image. Mmmmm."

Chephirah asks, "Daimon, do you have any actual proof that whoever you talked to on the telephone was Jack Keros?"

Daimon says "No, except that I don't have any reason to believe it wasn't."

Chephirah says "Except that he was in Hell and didn't seem to comment on your visiting quite so soon."

Jordan looks resignedly confused. "When were you speaking with this Impudite, Daimonique?"

Chephirah flutters wingtips. "And quite neatly sent you off to a certain trap, if I recall. I'm sure the Media would have actors... Not that it particularly matters, admittedly."

There is a pitter-patter of a dozen soft knocks at various places on the door.

Daimon says "Night before this all happened.... come on in."

<> Zebina says "Uh oh. One (1) horde of redeemed coming up."

<> Demiurge giggles.

<> arcangel says "But only one of them met anyone there..."

Hitherby pushes open the door and peeks a bit of cloud with a particularly kawaii eye through the opening.

Sephar says "Hitherby!"

<> Zebina says "Ah yes, or one Hitherby, who qualifies as a Horde by her ownself."

Daimon says "Hitherby. Welcome to the party."

Sephar rushes to the door and opens it, "You're okay!"

Mazpatiel nods. "Oboth."

Chephirah purrs openly, warmly, and happily.

Hitherby says "Sephseph! *Daimon!* Sarah! JordanPatThisOtherGuy!"

Hitherby hugs Sephar happily on her way in.

Melchior sits up, grabs the coffee cup as it goes tumbling. "Mysterious and exotic Kyriotate!

<> Mazpatiel says "Kyrio hugs are weird. They just sort of glom together."

Jordan droops his head somewhat, then manifests his vessel, still encloaked in his six wings. He makes a small gesture in Mazpatiel's direction.

Melchior says, "We need more coffee and cake. And cigarettes, Daimon?"

Mazpatiel peers at Jordan.

>From afar, to Demiurge and Mazpatiel, Jordan signs, "Is my departure optimal, Power?"

Daimon says "This is Melchior, Hitherby. My neighbor."

Daimon says "Ah, smokes!"

Daimon perks up suddenly. Smokes!

Mazpatiel gestures to Jordan.

Hitherby gloms with Sephar, silver and gold, and then breaks apart to flitter over to Daimon and Sarah and hug them with opposite hand-pairs.

Sephar hugs Hitherby in a kyriotate hug, does the Kyriotate sign of "We Outnumber them now!" and then does a goldfish 'bloop' before curling up by Daimon again.

Hitherby says "Hi, Melchior!"

Mazpatiel pages to Demiurge and Jordan: Personal business from here.

Hitherby says "Michael found you!"

Melchior says, "Hi, Hitherby. Do you prefer chocolate cake or chocolate ants?"

Mazpatiel says "Michael?"

Sephar blinks many eyes, "Michael?"

Hitherby says "Cake. I'd feel weird eating ants."

Hitherby says "I mean, not like I *haven't*, but not in Heaven."

Hitherby says "Yes. Wasn't Michael looking for you?"

Jordan tilts his head, resuming full Seraphic form. "Michael. There was some contact with War... I was not informed exactly what."

Mazpatiel says "Hm."

Jordan half-closes all his eyes and bows his neck gracefully. "Things were a bit confused."

Mazpatiel says "Quite."

Daimon says "Michael?"

Hitherby says "Oh. He came in while we were fighting and cut Persona in half and stuff. He said you'd be found!"

Melchior rises, drifts towards the door.

Mazpatiel says "My."

Hitherby says "And you were."

Daimon says "Wait a second. Kronos, Gabriel, AND Michael showed up?"

Chephirah purrs somewhat at the "cut Persona in half".

Mazpatiel says "It would appear so."

Hitherby says "I think Phineas called him."

Daimon says "And who is Persona?"

Hitherby says "I was sort of occupied."

Hitherby says "Persona was the Bal running the place."

Daimon says "Wait, three Superiors showed up?"

Sephar blinks at the Persona cut in half.

Mazpatiel says "Ah. The servitor of Fate."

Hitherby says "Well, he had the strength of ten, but I think technically he was just one."

Sephar says "He was the one that put the collars on Chephirah and me."

Hitherby says "I suppose you could sort of average them and then half it and round it a bit and you'd get three."

Daimon says "_HOW_ many Superiors showed up?"

Hitherby says "Where *were* you, anyway?"

Sephar says "Tucked away in the hospital-like place."

Hitherby says "Oh."

Hitherby blushes faintly.

Hitherby says "Left, right. I always get them messed up."

Sephar says "Persona brought us to be with Daimon, which was a good thing."

Daimon says "No, wait. How many Superiors showed?"

<> Jordan rolls the d666 and gets 5 3 CHECK: 6.

Hitherby says "I thought that was probably it. You got gassed, then."

Mazpatiel says "Two, that I witnessed."

Hitherby blushes a bit deeper. "We should have had a better plan. I was *going* to break the windows from the outside, but, er, things got a bit out of control."

<> Jordan is trying to get Truth on the number of Superiors...

<> Zebina says "Is that wise?"

<> Jordan says "Probably not."

Jordan flinches and ducks his head under his wings. From beneath the feathers comes a pained, "Five."

Hitherby waves many hands around.

Hitherby blinks.

Mazpatiel says "Five?"

Hitherby says, "I don't get it."

Jordan says, still pained, "Five. That hurt to hear."

Daimon says "_FIVE_?"

Sephar says "Five?"

Mazpatiel says "Whom were the other two?"

Daimon says "_FIVE_?"

Jordan elaborates, "Five. Angelic, demonic, I know not. Please don't yell."

Hitherby furrows her brow. "If a Prince showed up before we called Michael, why were we allowed to call? If an Archangel, why did we need to? And why would either show up *afterwards?*"

Sephar contemplates, "I heard four *thumps* and if Kronos was already there..."

Daimon says "It's my room. I can yell."

Hitherby brightens. "Maybe the Great One came fo --"

Sephar says "That would make sense."

Sephar blinks at Hitherby.

Jordan covers his head more with his wings. "My head hurts."

Daimon sighs. "I'm sorry, Jordan."

>From beneath the tawny wings, Jordan says, "You did not know."

Hitherby wobbles.

Daimon says "I thought no one came."

Hitherby says "Well, all's well."

Hitherby says "Or something."

Daimon says "It was totally unnecessary, then, to expose Sephar and Sarah to Hell."

Jordan lifts his head a bit. "Mazpatiel and Maasiai came."

Hitherby blinks.

Hitherby says "You were in *Hell?*"

Daimon nods. "Yes. They came."

Hitherby says, "No one told me."

Hitherby frowns.

Daimon says "Yes Hitherby. We were in Hell. As a matter of fact, we almost... we almost... we were almost lost."

Hitherby shudders.

Melchior comes back in, and deposits more coffee and cake on the floor.

Mazpatiel says "You weren't riding herd on a Malakite, at least."

Hitherby says "I'm terribly sorry. If I had known, I ..." She thinks. "Well, I would have worried, I suppose."

Sephar says "Was it... Jack? Yeah. Jack nearly called someone onto us."

Hitherby says "I figured you were out in the Far Marches somewhere with a bunch of demons and Michael was going to look around with big eagle eyes and see you and walk over and cut them all in half and."

Hitherby says "Um."

Jordan squinches his eyes closed for a moment. "I *should* have asked to go with Mazpatiel and Maasiai. Perhaps I could have helped..."

Daimon says "Sephar..."

Daimon says "Sephar, Jack called his Boss."

<> Shannen says "Everyone is angsting out :)"

Sephar looks at Daimon, "Who is?"

Daimon says "Sephar, Jack and I, until two weeks ago, worked for the same person."

<> Demiurge says "Yeah."

Sephar says "Oh."

<> Demiurge says "Post-traumatic shock."

<> Jordan baps Shannen gently. He's been angsting up here, helpless, for some time now!

Hitherby precesses.

Sephar shivers, once, hard. "I... felt... as we were leaving..." and just shivers again.

Daimon grits his teeth. "THIS is what I don't want to talk about right now."

Chephirah nuzzles up between Daimon and Sephar, putting wings over them both.

Hitherby flutters over to Sephar and gloms.

Chephirah growls, "You're here, Daimonique." And cuddles the Attuned One.

Sephar gloms with Hitherby, pressing quietly close.

Jordan flutters his wings in distress, then reaches out tenatively to brush one against Daimon's shoulder.

Daimon says "I'm okay."

<> Jordan rolls the d666 and gets 3 5 CHECK: 5.

Hitherby says, without deglomming, "I got to bite Persona's tongue."

<> Jordan wanna know exactly how 'okay' Daimon is.

Sephar, in the midst of the glom, chuckles.

<> Daimon is not particularly okay, but he's sure gonna act like it.

Sephar says "Wow, definitely a mighty Hitherby. You got the nastiest part of him."

Hitherby says "It was sort of fun not having a host to worry about, although I, er, had other worries. But still."

Jordan winces just slightly at Daimon. "Your definition of 'okay' is disharmonious." Another wing comes up to brush the Lilim's back as well.

Mazpatiel looks at Daimon quietly.

<> Mazpatiel says "Resonate resonate resonate."

Daimon says, a little softer, "There's alot to deal with. And I want to do it in stages."

<> Mazpatiel rolls the d666 and gets 4 5 CHECK: 2.

<> Mazpatiel says "Clueless clueless clueless."

Jordan replies, quietly, "All right." He pauses. "Can... can I help?"

Daimon says "Probably. Right now, I'm simply thankful that everyone is alright, and that we're all in one piece, and there was no permanent damage done."

Mazpatiel says "Well, discounting the fire in the Archives."

Jordan nods, mutely, leaving his two wingtips where they are.

Hitherby says, "Sorry I didn't get you out." She frowns. "I was planning to do something tricky, not that I knew *what*, but then Phineas got all unsubtle.

Daimon says "Nothing wrong with setting fire to the Archives."

Hitherby closes and opens eyes in patterns, since she can't spin and precess while glommed.

Sephar snugs Hitherby close and and listens, fascinated, quietly.

Jordan tilts his head suddenly. "I... Would it help, if I had news of certain people and places, in the corporeal? A recently met Balseraph?"

Mazpatiel says "Focalor's out of his coma and confessing his crimes?"

Jordan shakes his head. "No. Alas."

Mazpatiel says "Ah."

Daimon says "Who?"

Jordan says, "It appears that a certain Terry Jackson currently has an APB out on him for possession of a number of drugs, with suspicion of intent to supply. And there was a police raid on the Old Post Office for suspicion of drug trading."

Daimon says "Oh."

Jordan droops slightly.

Hitherby says "I'm trying to envision a group of humans sitting around getting high on sleep gas and failing."

Daimon stares at his Heart, because he's starting to need it again.

Jordan refurls his wings, drooping greatly, and looks at Mazpatiel.

Sephar grins just a bit at Hitherby and watches Daimon quietly.

Hitherby says, "We got one wing of Redemption candidates out. And, as I see it, we have an exactly fifty percent chance that we got you out too. I mean, right or left, left or right ... even odds!"

Daimon says, softly, "It's okay, Hitherby."

Mazpatiel has fallen quiet, simply observing.

Hitherby says, "It's always okay. It's never okay. There's a Heaven and there's a Hell. If I shut up because everything had already been said, I'd never have anything to say at all. You know?"

Sephar chuckles softly.

Daimon says "I'm saying, it's okay that you left us. You don't need to justify it."

Sephar says softly, "I was hoping that you would leave and get help or at least get safe, Oboth, there would be one less to worry about, then.

Hitherby blinks multiply.

Hitherby says "You've *got* to be kidding, Sephardear."

Sephar says "Oh?"

Sephar sighs, "Or, at least if you were free, you'd be able to do more than we could caught."

Sephar says "And it seems you did, if you got Persona's jaw."

Hitherby grins. "*That* was also my reasoning."

Sephar grins back quietly.

Hitherby says "The whole thing was a tragicomedy or something. We had more strokes of good and bad luck ..."

Hitherby says "Well, I did."

Sephar nods mildly at that.

Sephar says "I'm glad that it ended well, though."

Hitherby says "I didn't leave you, Daimon. I would never have walked out if I hadn't thought Michael had everybody. I would never have reported to the Great One if Michael hadn't said you'd be found." She coughs. "He *is* a Seraph, you know."

Hitherby says "I mean, I would have reported to him eventually, just not *then*."

Hitherby waves her hands around on the non-glom side.

Daimon says, quietly, "It's okay."

Jordan turns and moves, slow as his cloaked Archangel, to dip his head next to Daimon. "I... I should go. I think I am no help here. But... I beg you, do not despair. Despair destroys those of Creation, and you are... are too wondrous to be lost."

Daimon says "I just need to work out some personal issues."

Hitherby says "The place was fun, in a way. I mean, adrenaline high, yah, but still. There's something existentially keen about disguising yourself as a Cherub so that demons will believe you're one of them."

Mazpatiel stands, unfolding its legs out as it does. "Find me in the Spires when you're ready, Daimonique."

Hitherby says "Much more pleasant than disguising yourself as a Djinn for the same reason."

Daimon nods. "I will."

Melchior moves to the door himself.

Jordan nods, holding himself carefully still for a moment, then makes his way to the door, wings furled around him like a tawny cloak.

Mazpatiel follows Jordan with no further comment.

Hitherby says "I now understand why nobody understands Djinn, though! Well, in a sort of method actor sort of way."

Hitherby glances at Mazpatiel and Jordan. "Go well."

Melchior pauses. Turns, walks back, and hugs Daimonique again.

Daimon grins a little. "I'll be more sociable in a little while."

Mazpatiel nods to Hitherby.

Jordan is lost in his own thoughts, and does not seem to hear Hitherby.

Hitherby says, thoughtfully, "I keep wondering what would have happened if Taroniel and the others hadn't shown up."

Hitherby says "It would have been very different."

Daimon looks very appreciative of the hug.

Hitherby says "Maybe the Library knows."

Melchior says, "People are down the corridor, if you want to talk."

Daimon nods. "Okay. I will very likely take you up on that offer in a little while."

Melchior turns to the Kyriotates and Sarah. "My advice as a Mercurian is that none of you are alone for at least a few hours. Possibly longer. Okay, guys?"

Melchior flips a wing at Daimon in the traditional Creationer share-my-rite-baby gesture.

Hitherby starts to whirl, then looks embarrassed and stops before either dragging or failing to drag Sephar very far.

Chephirah purrs something, and curls up against Daimon protectively.

Daimon nods, and givse Melchior a weak grin, and goes back to his Heart. You know, he doesn't NEED to be strong and stoic anymore.

Melchior leaves.

Hitherby says, thoughtfully, to Sephar, "I can make Vessels."

Chephirah rumbles a purr against Daimon's back, protective of him, strong for him now.

Daimon turns around to face Chephirah, then lays down against her flank, buries his face into her side, and starts to cry.

Chephirah curls around Daimon, wings shielding him from the world, and strokes him gently.

Daimon curls his fingers into Chephirah's mane, and cries for a good long time.

---

Fiat Justitia