Back On The Job Again

Phineas meaders back towards his tent, wondering what's up with Michael's headbusting in the dreamlands.

At Phineas' tent, there is indeed a message, with Michael's seal in the corner. As ever, it looks to have been written in haste, if also in elegance.

Phineas sits down, lights a lamp and reads the left note. He's dutiful if nothing else.

The message reads : "Investigate Plague situation below - use situation to also continue monitoring local angels, as reprisal expected. Also watch your own ass. Note - Fallen of War, Caliah, now Habbalite of the War, thought active, alias Cecilia."

Phineas folds up the note, and lights it on fire in the lamp. No evidence and all that. He then puts on his togs and prepares to descend back to Earth.

The locus for the DC Tether is comparatively close, in the great camp of Michaelite tents. It is manifest as a stone arch, guarded by a Cherub with a couple of relievers.

Phineas waves to the Cherub, "I gotta go back down. Boss's orders."

The Cherub nods, and growls, "Best of luck."

Phineas smiles a little, "Thanks, I'll need it." He then steps to the tether and does whatever it is that Angels do when they shoop from Celestial to Corporeal.

Phineas feels his corporeal body close around him as he descends, stepping onto the earth in the shadow of the Marine Corps Monument, his bright wings gone.

It is early afternoon, the sunlight bright on the glass windows of shops and passing cars.

Phineas takes a deep breath, good to be back. He looks around for Ardon.

Ardon is visible to one side, explaining to a mother with a wailing six-year-old that yes, being exposed to stories about the courage of those for whom this monument was built will do the child _wonders_.

Ardon extricates himself, heading Phineaswards.

Phineas grins at Ardon, and extends his hand to the man, "Good to see you again, my friend. How're things going down here?"

Ardon returns a firm manly handshake. "Quite peaceful, really. Well, for the most part. Monday night we had that explosion at John Hopkins Laboratory, and there was some sort of human sacrifice or murder at the Freer Gallery. Nothing really since."

Phineas frowns a little then shrugs, "I'm supposed to go down into the sewers and poke about. Also keep an eye out for a Fallen, and watch for reprisals against other Angels." He rubs his chin, "You know anyone that knows the Down Below well?"

Ardon looks thoughtful.

Ardon says, "When you say, The Down Below, you do mean the sewers here, right, and not Hell?"

Phineas nods, "Yeah."

<> arcangel says "A valid question, these days..."

Phineas says "I only just narrowly avoiding the other down below recently. Some friends of mine were captured. Almost had to go play hero .. really not my style."

Ardon says, "I'm not sure offhand, but let me check around and see what I can find..." He blinks. "By the name of War, you don't mess around, do you?"

Phineas shrugs, "I'd like to, but I haven't been given much choice." He grins, "By the way, you're supposed to ask me how things are going, so I can gloat."

Ardon chuckles, then smooths his face over. "How are things going, Phineas?"

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

Phineas looks more serious, clearly acting the part, "Well, not too shabby. After running into a faux-heaven in the dreamlands, and having to try to stop a horde of demons, I invoked Michael and he saved the day. He was so pleased with us, he gave the others tokens of his admiration, and promoted me. I'm a Vassal now."

Phineas finally breaks his serious look and grins like a child at christmas.

Ardon blinks. Three times.

Ardon steps forward, and clasps Phineas by the shoulders. "Well *done*, brother!"

Phineas grins, "Hey, I was just doing my job. You'd have done the same. I can't imagine having anyone else as a Superior, you know? He's so .. well .. I mean when he's pleased with you .. it is like God himself smiling at you. It makes me feel all warm and special inside."

Ardon smiles, his face unguarded and open. "I know. I remember his face, his smile, when he made me Seneschal here. It was ..." he considers. "It was an affirmation. It was light."

Phineas nods and sighs, a darkness coming over his face, "Makes me wonder how anyone could Fall. All I want to do is make him proud of me .. and when he is .. I know it was what I was created for. Makes me whole."

Ardon's face shadows, and he turns away to look out at the square.

Ardon says, voice harsh, "Doubt, perhaps. Or lies. A lack of certainty. A mistaken belief. Arrogance. Bitterness. A twisting of the soul." He pauses. "I do not _want_ to understand that."

Ardon says, "Did you say you were chasing a Fallen too?"

Phineas says as he too looks out at the square, "There's one out there, I'm sure she wants to get back at me. Caliah. If you can find anything out about her for me, I'd appreciate it. She and her goons shot at me once, when I appropriated that notebook from the movie studio."

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 5 4 CHECK: 3.

Ardon nods. "I'll check with friends, see if anybody knows anything about her. Who did she Fall to?"

Phineas says "The War. She was one of us."

Ardon sighs. His voice has the ring of a Seraph hearing Truth, as he murmurs, "She was lied to."

Phineas says simply, "How?"

Ardon says, "A Balseraph of the War. The Symphony tells me no more."

Phineas nods, "Perhaps I can confront her with it, if we meet. Give her a chance at redemption."

Ardon says, "Be careful, if you do. The Habbalah are always deluded."

Phineas nods, "I know." He shrugs, "Well, you know my number. Call me if you find anything out. I need to get back to my apartment and make sure my landlady didn't re-rent the place while I was gone. How long was I gone, anyway?"

Ardon says, "You went on Monday. It's Wednesday afternoon now. I doubt she's rented it out yet."

<> Demiurge says "What sort of area is Phineas' apartment in?"

<> Phineas says "Someplace nice. Georgetown, most likely."

Phineas nods, "True enough. I lose track of time when I'm in the dream lands."

<> Demiurge says "Georgetown is fine."

Ardon says, "I think we all do, except for the Servitors of Dream." He chuckles. "I suppose they need _some_ advantages."

Phineas smirks, "Aron has more than enough. I really don't like that place. Makes me feel like I was newly created."

Ardon nods. "I'll stick where my experience is." He touches the side of the Monument. "And my Word."

Phineas tilts his head, "You have a Word? Do tell."

Ardon strokes the side of the Monument again. "My Tether is my Word."

<> Demiurge says "It's fairly usual among Seneschals, Phineas, though not _always_ the case."

<> Phineas says "Okeedokee."

Phineas smiles and pats Ardon on the shoulder, "And it is a fine Monument." He checks his watch and looks towards the subway station, "I should get going. Remember, call if you find anything out. I'm going to head to the city planners office and see if I can't convince them into giving me a guide or a map."

Ardon nods. "I'll see what I can manage this end. Best of luck."

Phineas strides off towards the subway, hands in his trouser pockets, "Thanks. I'll need it."

Nobody ambushes Phineas on the way to the subway.

Phineas hops onto the subway, takes it back to his apartment. He checks on his car and his pad, making sure everything is still in order.

All is in order. His apartment is quiet and peaceful. The landlady has not tried to rent it out.

On the way between the subway and his apartment, there were the signs of some sort of accident. Broken glass in the road, a police car leaving, local children poking around among the small set of trees to one side that had clearly been run into.

Phineas hrms at the accident. He gets in his car and drives downtown, to the city planners office.

As he drives off, there is the sound of a shriek from behind him.

Phineas stops his car and looks in his rearview mirror.

One of the children is running out from between the trees, waving what looks like the arm of a shop window dummy. He's yelling at the other kid, "I'm a zommmmmbie! I'm gonna killlll you!"

Phineas takes a deep breath, steadying his heart. Just children playing games .. relax. He puts the car back into gear, looking into the mirror one last time.

The children are still running around, shrieking at each other. The arm bends convincingly at the elbow as one child wallops another with it.

<> Demiurge says "Phineas, try an Int roll."

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

<> Demiurge says "Well, it does strike you as a minor fact that shop window dummy arms don't usually bend at the elbow. Still. Probably absolutely unimportant."

<> Phineas says "hmm, it is odd, though, eh?"

<> Demiurge says "It's ... unusual."

Phineas stops the car, turning off the ignition. He gets out of the car and walks towards the children, preparing to scold them for playing so close to the street.

The children are playing tug-of-war with the arm, and don't notice Phineas till he is close to them. The one who is hanging onto the arm most strongly has a few minor cuts on his arms.

The children turn, nervously, at this Approaching Adult.

Phineas looks down at the arm for a moment before saying to the children, "You kids should be more careful. You're playing awfully close to the street."

The arm is pale. Bloodless. Looks as if it could be a shop dummy arm. Except it looks ... flexible ... at the elbow, wrist, and fingers. And there's some sort of discoloration or mark on the forearm. The shoulder is hidden by a child's grip.

The children shuffle their feet. One Asian boy says, "Sorry, mister."

Phineas kneels down, to get on the same level as the children, "Where'd you get that nifty arm, and can I see it a moment?" He smiles disarmingly. He likes children.

<> Demiurge says "Try an Emote roll."

<> Phineas rolls the d666 and gets 3 1 CHECK: 6.

<> Phineas says "BANG!"

<> Phineas says "mwaahahaha, they love me."

The children look at each other, then giggle shamefacedly. The two with the major grip on the arm offer it towards Phineas.

Phineas takes the arm and examines it. Especially the stump-end.

On closer examination, the arm has ... pores. And the shoulder looks like a neat amputation, possibly using a bone saw. The entire arm is mostly rigid, and still bone-cold, as though recently deep-frozen. The mark on the forearm is an octagon brand.

The children watch, nudging each other from time to time. One says, "It came from one of the vans that crashed."

Phineas frowns a little then reaches into his pocket, "Tell you what, kids. Why don't you tell me where you got this, and I'll buy you all ice-cream from the store on the corner."

<> Demiurge says "Hm. Phineas is clearly not up on Current What You Do If A Stranger Offers You An Icecream."

<> Phineas says "The last time I spent any time on Earth was in the 1960s :)"

<> Phineas is a lovable angel, though.

The children begin to look a bit more nervous. The Asian boy says, "There were these two vans that crashed, see, mister? There was a cop car there too. One of them went into the trees." He nods at the trees.

The boy says, "They had a broken window. They must have been carrying window dummies, because we found that there."

Phineas looks over at the area, "That would explain the damage and the glass." He says to the children, "Can I keep the arm? I'll trade ya for it."

The boy squints. "Is it valuable?"

Phineas shrugs, "I should give it back to the people who were in the van. It is the right thing to do."

Phineas says "It was theirs, after all."

<> Demiurge says "Phineas, the arm has pores, but is hairless, pale, and relatively slender. Examination suggests that it is a female arm, and one who depilated herself."

<> Demiurge says "The right arm."

<> Phineas says "Okeedokee."

The children shuffle their feet, but don't really have an answer to that.

<> Phineas says "I'll put out an ad in the newspaper: Right arm found. Will owner please contact Phineas at 555-5612 (JK)"

Phineas smiles, "It would be like stealing, if you kept it. And you're all good kids and wouldn't want to steal, would you?"

<> Demiurge laughs.

The children state, "Of course not!" in varying degrees of honesty.

Phineas says, "But, I'll tell you what. For being so honest, I'll give you a reward. How's a dollar each sound?"

There is a mutter of, "Meanie," from behind. The Asian boy says, "It costs one dollar fifty for icecreams."

Phineas grins, "Alright, two dollars then. You drive a hard bargain."

The boy grins. Clearly this is better than he had hoped for. There is a rush of children - six in all - proffering sweaty little hands for money.

Phineas reaches into his pocket and takes out his billfold, giving each child two dollars. "Remember this, kids. You only got this for being honest and not stealing." Once it is all divvied out, he shooes them off, "Now, go get some candy and enjoy it."

The children run off, giggling and shoving at each other.

Phineas goes to his car, but first marks down the address of the building that was nearest to the accident.

Nobody interferes.

Phineas gets in his car, and drives to the local police precinct. He stores the severed arm in the trunk, under the mat where the spare tire is kept.

The local police station is easily found. It is as busy as police stations normally are. It is now mid/late afternoon.

Phineas pulls up, and goes in, looking for the desk sgt. "I need to speak to someone about an accident that took place. The address is--" And he gives the address of the incident.

The desk sergeant checks some notes behind the desk. "Sure, sir. Can I ask what the problem is?"

Phineas says "I've been appointed the task of finding out who was involved in the accident so an insurance claim can be followed."

The desk sergeant nods. "Insurance, right. Can I see your card?"

Phineas shakes his head, "I'm not with the insurance company. I'm a private investigator, of a sort. See, the woman who lives there is a friend, and elderly. She's such a nice old lady, I'd hate to see her taken advantage of. So, I told her I'd take care of getting all the information so she can properly file a claim. If we don't get the names of the owners of those vans, they'll turn down her claim."

<> Phineas says "Emote?"

<> Phineas says "I'm sincere, really .. really really :)"

<> Demiurge says "Give it a roll."

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

<> Phineas :) I'm dead later, when the shite hits the rotary blades.

The desk sergeant clearly buys this line of BS entire. "Sure. Those insurance companies, they're right bastards, aren't they?" He leans beneath the desk to find some more files.

<> Demiurge says "Good thing you're not a Seraph. ;)"

Phineas nods, "Down to a man." He smiles, "I appreciate this, sgt. I'm sure she will too. She makes the best chocolate chip cookies." He waits while he fetches the files.

<> Phineas says "Yep :) Hard to negotiate when you can't lie :)"

The sergeant opens one brown-paper file, and runs a thick finger down the page. "All right. You want to be taking this down?"

Phineas takes out his notepad from his jacket and his pen. He prepares to write whatever the man says.

The sergeant pauses. "You'd better give me the lady's name, too, for the record."

Phineas nods, "Mabel Johnson. I think she's 76, but she could be older. I've never asked."

The sergeant nods. "Okay. The vans were Belle's Hairdressing, with a load of supplies, driver Duncan Jefferson, and Amirstan Restaurant, with supplies, driver Jane Doveson."

Phineas says "Any other info? License plates, insurance company?"

The sergeant rattles off insurance numbers and license plates for both vans.

Phineas smiles and looks at the sarge's badge, "I just want your name so Mabel knows who to send the cookies to." He winks at the sgt and closes his notepad, "Thanks a lot, sir. You've been very helpful."

The sergeant's name is Johann Peters. He nods, in a friendly way. "Thanks. Good to know there are some people out there still willing to lend a hand."

Phineas smiles, "More than you know of, sir." He nods his head and leaves, content at the information he got. He pulls out his cell phone and dials information, "Yes, can I get the number for Belle's Hairdressing?"

Information helpfully supplies the phone number.

Phineas dials the number and waits for the receptionist to pick up.

The receptionist picks up rapidly. "Good afternoon, Belle's Hairdressing here."

Phineas says into his phone as he slides into his car, "Yes, I'd like to make an appointment, where is your store located?"

The receptionist gives an address in Dupont Circle. "What sort of cut would you like, sir? And with which of our stylists?"

Phineas says "Well, I'll have to check my schedule. I'll call back in a few minutes, ok?" With that, he hangs up and calls information again, to get similar information from Amirstan Restaurant. Just a phone # and address.

The phone number can be obtained from Information, and the address is in Adams-Morgan, in northwest DC.

---

Fiat Justitia