Centre Of Research

<> Demiurge says "Okay. When last left, Sarah was descending with Daimon and Sephar."

<> Demiurge says "Daimon made some phone calls, vanished with an arrived Liz into a bedroom for sex, then occupied Marath's office and computer in a madly Creative way."

<> Sephar's pigeon might well have stayed with Sarah, then.

<> Sarah says "Well. A Daimon with a Liz is not a Daimon in Trouble."

Sarah looks about, and ponders where she needs to be.

Sarah is somewhat startled to realize that she doesn't.

Sarah thus develops a Plan. This involves going to the Library of Congress. Possibly, with a pigeon.

Sepharpigeon flutters down to Sarah's shoulder cheerfully enough.

Indeed, the Library of Congress will still be open - though it's early evening, there are Ways In for Servitors of Destiny.

Sarah asks the pigeon - presumably outside - "Are you Sephar or Hitherby?"

Sephar coos the notes of Sephar's name.

Sarah smiles at that, and warns, "This is likely to be dull for you, I'm afraid."

Sarah then proceeds to Library and Ways In.

Sepharpigeon clucks happily at that.

Sarah smiles.

Sarah says "We could use a little dullness, I suppose."

Sepharpigeon bobs a nod.

Sepharpigeon spreads wings to show 'This Much' would be nice. Yes.

Sepharpigeon then settles in grey rainbows on Sarah's shoulder, quietly.

Sarah does not laugh out loud, but toys a little extra with her glasses.

The drive across town is quiet. Peaceful. The side-door that Sarah has a key to opens easily. The corridors of the Library are familiar and quiet.

Sarah intends, for the most part, to lend a hand. Even libraries which are also Tethers are understaffed.

The soft steps of librarians can be heard here and there, and the creaking of laden trollies. The way to Izboniah's office is familiar to her.

Sepharpigeon watches quietly, not too much sudden neck craning, but a bit of head turning to get an eye to the right angle to look around.

Sarah walks that path, keeping an absent eye on the pigeon upon her shoulder. Any feathers that happen to be preened away are picked up.

A light shows from under Izboniah's door, with the nameplate _Jesse Banson_, and the door is slightly open.

Sarah knocks lightly at the door.

Izboniah's voice calls, "Come in!"

Sarah does that, nudging the door open. "Good evening, sir." A touch of a smile. "I believe you've met Sephar."

Izboniah looks up from his microfiche on his desk. "Indeed. Good evening, Chephirah, Sephar. I am glad to see you both well."

Izboniah nods to the chairs round the desk. "Would you care to sit down?"

Sepharpigeon bobs a nod of acknowledgement at its name, but simply stays quiet on Sarah's shoulder.

Sarah says, "Certainly. Thank you." She seats herself, settling into the chair while trying to disturb the pigeon as little as possible. "I'd wondered if there were any service I could offer the Tether this evening. I seem to find myself," a hint of a smile, "with a little free time."

Izboniah says, "That's very good of you. I believe we could use some help in filing on the Special Collections."

Izboniah says, "I believe that we also have some information for you."

Sarah says, "I'll speak to them in a little, then. The information -" She takes a deep breath. "The stele?"

Izboniah nods.

Izboniah says, gravely, "I am afraid that it could not be restored."

Sarah bows her head for a moment, eyes closing.

Sarah says, quietly, "That /is/ a shame."

Sepharpigeon bobs quietly at that.

Izboniah does not seem as downcast as one might expect. "However, we have been tracing the records, and there is another stele extant from the same set of funerary tablets."

Sarah straightens, quickly enough that it might disturb Sephar this time after all. "Really?"

Sepharpigeon blinks at that and coo's softly.

Izboniah says, "Indeed. A subsidiary nobleman of Shalmaneser's court, one Ashi-hadad. The two steles were originally part of a private French collection."

Izboniah gestures slightly. "One came here to the Freer Gallery, and the other ended up in the Louvre."

Sarah frowns a touch. "It's likely to be a target, then."

Izboniah says, "Indeed, though it may take a while for any other source to trace it back. I flatter myself that our records are among the best." He looks slightly smug.

Sarah touches fingertips to her lips, trying to hide a distinctly delighted smile. "Of course they are," she agrees - not indulging.

Izboniah nods in agreement. "It should be with other Babylonian and Assyrian material in the Louvre." He pauses. "There may be a couple of minor problems in the Louvre, but I am sure they are not beyond your capabilities."

Sepharpigeon listens head cocked just a bit, not making even a peep over the perfection of records.

Sarah asks, "Which particular minor problems were you considering?"

Izboniah says, "The Louvre happens to be the site of two Tethers - one to Theft, and one to Judgement."

Sarah winces mildly.

<> Pat blinks. Judgment? Cool!

Izboniah says, "The Judgement-Tether is located at the Code of Hammurabi, and the Seneschal is a Seraph Master of Law named Deuteronomy."

Izboniah frowns slightly. "We do not have the name of the Shedite who is Seneschal of the Theft-Tether, but that centres on the room containing the Mona Lisa."

Sarah shudders briefly. "A Shedite Seneschal. No wonder the Tether is still there in such close proximity."

Izboniah says, "Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that a top layer had already been broken off the stele, to expose the layer that was of interest?"

Sephar blinks mildly at all the data.

Sarah says, "I believe so, yes.

Sarah says "I recall it looking damaged before the..."

Sarah shudders.

Sepharpigeon rubs its head lightly against Sarah's cheek.

Izboniah points out, "You may need to physically affect the other stele, if it does carry any message."

Sarah winces briefly. "That's a possibility - and a shame, if so."

Izboniah says, mildly, "Indeed."

Sarah says, "Perhaps we might be able to discuss the matter with the Judgment Seneschal." She glances at the pigeon on her shoulder. "And perhaps we can still find some way around doing any real damage."

Sepharpigeon bobs a nod.

Sarah smiles a touch.

Sepharpigeon narrows its eyes a moment, "Ultrasound?"

Sephar says "Or was the cover the same material as the core?"

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

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

<> Demiurge says "Sephar, you can't be sure about the types of stone."

<> Demiurge says "Sarah, you recall that the Servitors of Stone have a particular attunement, Deep Gaze, which can see through rock."

<> Demiurge says "It might not work through layers of rock like this, but..."

Sarah considers. "That's a possibility. Or perhaps we should visit yet another Tether, and see if we can consult with Stone."

<> Pat says "Oh great. More Stone."

Sepharpigeon bobs at that.

<> Sephar grins at Pat.

<> Sarah beams at Pat. Sweetly.

<> arcangel chuckles at Pat.

<> Demiurge smiles.

<> Pat has a feeling he's going to be hating life as this goes on.

Izboniah considers. "That might be useful, yes."

Sarah says, "I doubt this will start getting less complicated for some time."

Izboniah says, "In the event you do go to Paris, we have a Tether there - the Bibliothecque Nationale. Unfortunately, they've just moved it halfway across Paris. It used to be five minutes from the Louvre."

Sarah touches a fingertip to her lips once more. "So," she says wryly, "I'll invest in a few maps, as well."

Izboniah asks, academically, "Can you speak French?"

Sepharpigeon blinks mildly, shakes its head at that.

Sarah winces mildly. "I haven't checked the changes over the last several hundred years, actually."

Izboniah frowns. "Oh, dear. Well, we can give you a phrasebook."

Sepharpigeon chuckles.

Sarah says, somewhat embarrassed, "That would be quite appreciated."

Izboniah says, "No problem at all. So that's a phrasebook, maps... I really wouldn't recommend you try coming down the Notre Dame Tether, by the way, given that gives onto the Seraphim Council."

<> Daimon says "You probably speak Frankish, Sarah. But like Elijah, this does you no good. :)"

Sarah blinks, ever so mildly. "I hadn't had any plans in that direction at all, to be honest."

Izboniah nods. "Just do bear in mind that you can run there for assistance if necessary."

Sarah smiles a touch. "I'll study the maps very closely, then."

Izboniah nods. "You can always ask Deuteronomy for help inside the Louvre, too. He has ... some sort of understanding with the Theft-Seneschal."

Sarah draws in a breath, and sighs it out. "A lesser of evils, I suppose - in a way."

Sepharpigeon sighs softly as well.

Izboniah says, "I suppose that given the proximity in which they are forced to live, it is ... understandable."

Sarah says "After a fashion, yes."

Sepharpigeon bobs a nod.

Izboniah says, "I regret that we couldn't get any further with the fragments you brought in."

Sarah says, "/I/ regret that I didn't have more of a chance to study the initial inscription." She sighs.

Izboniah blinks. "My dear Sarah, it's pure chance - or destiny - that you were there at all. Don't blame yourself."

Sepharpigeon bobs at waht Izboniah says.

Sarah smiles a touch. "I don't - and I did give you a copy of what I could remember. I simply wish I could have done more."

Izboniah says, gently, "We all wish that."

Sarah nods. "Of course. It's part of our nature."

Izboniah laughs softly.

Izboniah says, "To seek, to strive, to fight, and not to yield."

<> Sarah, if Elohited, would not be bleeding, no. :)

Sarah says, softer, "Precisely."

Sepharpigeon listens head cocked a bit.

Izboniah nods.

Izboniah says, "I do not think that *you* need any morale-boosting, my sister."

Sepharpigeon chuckle-coo's softly.

Sarah says "Not that I know of, certainly."

Izboniah says, "I would be interested in hearing about your recent activities, sometime. But that can wait."

Sarah says, "We are becoming a touch notorious, I suppose," with a hint of laughter in her eyes.

Sepharpigeon clucks very softly.

Izboniah extends a hand. "My dear Sarah - my dear Sephar - the word you want is famous, not notorious."

<> Daimon says "No, we're notorious."

<> Pat says "Infamous."

Sarah touches that hand. "The two aren't entirely exclusive, I'm afraid."

Izboniah raises the hand to his lips, and kisses the knuckles lightly. "Famous among angels, notorious to demons."

Sepharpigeon blinks mildly at that thought, surprised by it.

Sarah blushes noticeably, glancing down. "If you insist."

Izboniah politely releases Sarah's hand.

<> Pat arranges for a Triad to visit Izboniah.

<> arcangel blinks at Pat. "Jealous?"

<> Demiurge says "For kissing your girlfriend's hand? :)"

<> Hitherby | "Elohim do not get jealous. Tactile monogamy is simply optimal."

Sarah tucks it into her lap, still blushing. "I... thank you."

<> Pat says "It has nothing to do with jealousy. We just want to make sure that Izboniah is performing his duties properly."

Izboniah says, "I do apologise if I have embarassed you."

Sepharpigeon ruffles as it finally notices the emotions from the interaction but smooths feathers down quietly.

Sarah says, "It's perfectly all right, really."

Izboniah nods. "Ah, well. I will see to it that a phrasebook and maps are sorted out for you. Would you like to pick them up here, or would you rather have them sent to your home?"

Sarah says, "It might be best if I picked them up here. I don't know whether my address is being watched."

Izboniah nods. "Certainly. They should be ready by the time you've finished work."

Sarah smiles. "In that case, it's more convenient for everyone."

Sarah says "Special Collections, I believe?"

Izboniah nods. "We need someone with your touch to handle those manuscripts."

Sarah says "I'll see what I can do, then."

Izboniah smiles, rising. "Thank you very much. Can we offer you any hospitality while Sarah is busy here, Sephar?"

Sarah rises as well, though she waits politely for the bird on her shoulder to answer.

Sephar shakes its head mildly.

Sepharpigeon, "I'm curious to watch her work."

Izboniah chuckles. "By all means."

Sarah says, "I'll see if we can find somewhere with a good view for you to perch, then."

Sepharpigeon bobs happily at that.

Sarah says, "Thank you, sir," and starts for the door, cautiously.

Izboniah rises politely as she leaves.

<> Demiurge says "The work among the Special Collection is fairly standard. Handling and caring for antique books and documents."

Sepharpigeon spreads wings just a bit for better balance and stays pretty solidly on Sarah's shoulder.

<> Sarah blisses.

<> Sephar perches and watches and helps with any electronic record keeping that might be needed.

<> Demiurge says "It's mostly all paper and parchment. My, how ... old-fashioned. :)"

<> Sarah says "Sephar sees something very very unusual: a Cherub almost forgetting that its Attuned is there. *ALMOST*. ;)"

<> Sephar grins.

<> Sephar says "Safe."

---

Fiat Justitia