Meetings And Confirmations

<> Demiurge says "Are people turning up early?"

<> Daimon says "Yes."

<> Pat says "We're probably a few minutes early, yes."

The Capitol pool seems quiet. A tall, dark figure in a loose suit lounges at the far end, the light flashing on her mirrored glasses. It's Ashley, cornrowed hair stirring in the wind.

Pat slips his own sunglasses on, looking over at Daimon.

Daimon slips on his shades.

Pat nods, and heads in Ashley's direction.

Sarah avoids the Capitol pool proper, not so much as arriving near Pat or Daimon. She's just here to commune with the pigeons and feed them rye.

Daimon checks to make sure Hitherby is all there and suitably hidden, shoves his hands in his pockets, and follows Pat.

Hitherby hides in Daimon's hair.

Ashley watches as they approach, tilting her head birdlike.

Daimon lights a cigarette.

Ashley says, voice cool, "Your call, I think."

Pat echoes Daimon's gesture, stopping perhaps two yards from Ashley. "Yes."

Ashley says, "So, where do we start?"

Daimon says "Terethel."

Ashley says, "What about him?"

Pat says "You were repaying a favour by protecting him."

Ashley says, "You already know that."

Pat says "We do now, yes. We want to know what was done to put you in debt."

Ashley looks thoughtful. "That's interesting. There are a few things about current affairs I want to know myself, and I figure you might have a better than average chance of knowing.

Daimon says "Knowledge for Knowledge. No more, no less."

Pat says "Well. Then we may be able to come to an equitable exchange."

Ashley says, "How convenient. We even have two people here who could Bind themselves to truth - for an hour or so."

Daimon says "You first."

Ashley laughs.

Ashley says, "Nice to see that instincts don't suffer."

Daimon just drags on his cigarette.

Pat waits silently.

Ashley puts one hand on her heart, and her tone takes on a more serious note, though her eyes are still invisible. "For the next hour, in return for truth from my Sister, I bind myself to speak truth in return. Mother witness."

Daimon puts his hand over his heart. "For the next hour, in return for the truth from my Sister, I bind myself to speak the truth in return, God as my witness."

Ashley lowers her hand.

Ashley says, "Now I suppose we dicker for the questions."

Hitherby scritches Daimon's scalp.

Daimon drags on his cigarette.

Daimon says "Yes, we do."

Pat says "Ask whatever you'd like, Ashley. It'll help determine the level."

Ashley says, "Very well. First question. _Do_ you know anything other than the common rumour about the Kobal trial?"

Daimon says "What is the common rumor? Tell me that, and I'll tell you if I do or not."

Ashley says, "That the evidence was faked by some Ethereals using some people of Beleth's and Asmodeus'. Who, I might add, are in the shit."

Daimon says "Yes. I do know."

Pat says "Fate."

Ashley says, "Okay, we have something to bargain with, then."

Daimon drags. He blows smoke from his nostrils.

Ashley says, "So, what do you want to know about the Terethel business?"

Daimon says "Your involvement with Christopher. What he did for you, and when he did it."

Ashley says, "Okay." She rolls her shoulders.

Ashley says, "I met him about sixty years ago."

Ashley says, "I was on a job for Vapula, okay? Secretarial cover for a running lab he had going."

Pat nods, listening and smoking.

Ashley's eyes are invisible behind her mirrorshades. "Things went down, badly, and we had infighting. Some angels who were coming in to deal with us anyhow just wiped their feet on what was left."

Ashley says, "Christopher was one of them. I was still alive, trying to get my head together, just waiting for someone to put a bullet between my eyes. You know the drill." Her voice is flat.

<> Pat says "Demiurge, do I know when Christopher was Worded?"

<> Demiurge says "Several hundred years back."

<> Pat says "Eeeeeeeeeeeenteresting."

Pat says "What was the lab doing?"

Ashley shrugs. "It's hard to remember now. Electromagnetic theory, something to do with its influence on the brain."

Daimon says "And Christopher let you live."

Ashley says, tone slightly harsh, "He said his Word reached even to our Mother's children."

Daimon nods his head, slightly.

Daimon says "When Christopher called you, what was the exact nature of the Geas?"

Ashley says, "Look. He picked me up. He carted me out of there, put me on a couch, fixed my head. He said that they'd been watching a while, that as far as he could see I hadn't done worse than just working there. We talked. He let me go."

Ashley says, "The geas was to bodyguard Terethel. It'd have lasted for six months if necessary."

Pat says "But it didn't."

Daimon flicks a glance at Pat from behind his unactivated Unnoticable Man glasses.

Daimon says "He was already dead."

Ashley says, "Yeah." She sounds annoyed.

Daimon says "Which is why you could walk away scott free. What was the date and time of the Geas being invoked, and when did it end?"

Ashley quotes the date of Day 5, and a time that would be about 2am in the American morning. "I was in Africa at the time."

Pat nods. "When did you arrive in Washington?"

Ashley says, "About three quarters of an hour before you ran into me. I got a taxi from the airport."

Daimon says "And when did the Geas end?"

Ashley shrugs. "I can't find him. If I can't find him, I can't bodyguard him. Show him to me, I'll do it. But I can't do the impossible."

Daimon says "It was a six month geas, and that's bullshit. You would have found him."

Ashley says, "The one who held my Geas is dead." Her voice is flat and toneless.

Daimon says "When did the geas becoming inactive?"

Ashley says, "And you think I haven't been trying, hm?"

Daimon says "I don't know. I am merely attempting to ascertain the time that a geas, programmed to last for six months, ended rather abruptly."

Ashley says, "Look, I even figured out he was Stone. I'm not stupid."

Daimon says "When did it end, Ashley."

Ashley says, "I'd felt something happen while I was on the way here. I took the cut through Hell. I can't give you a time, except it was somewhere early American morning. It felt... loose. I don't know."

Ashley says, "Look, stop pushing. *Sister*. You don't have any damn right to push. You hear me?"

Ashley takes a half-step forward, something dangerous in the lines of her body.

Daimon faces her evenly, and drags deeply on his cigarette.

At your table, Arcangel says "So she doesn't offer, and nobody tells her she

needs to... Until they start seeing what's going on."

<> Sarah would like to know if she's noticing this. :)

<> Demiurge says "I think you notice, if you're watching, Sarah."

<> Daimon is absolutely willing to kill her and drink her blood. :)

<> Demiurge says "Yuck. How messy can you get."

<> Daimon says "Oh quite. I'd be happy to rip her apart with my bare hands. But I doubt she knows this. Besides, I'm such a peaceful guy. :)"

<> Sarah ew, ew, ew. :)

<> Pat does wish to resonate, yes.

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

<> Pat says "Eek."

<> Demiurge | You roll a 666. You perceive that Ashley is an incognito Vessel of Baal.

Pat holds up a hand. "Alright. I think you've earned a few answers before we continue."

<> Sarah giggles helplessly.

Ashley sighs, tension seeming to run out of her. "Okay. Talk."

Pat says "About?"

Ashley says, "The Kobal business. If there's more to it, what is it?"

Sarah's hand slips out of her purse again. With more bread, not a gun.

Pat says "The evidence of Redemption. To the best of our knowledge, it was not coordinated by Ethereals."

Ashley says, "Who, then?"

Pat says "Fate."

Ashley turns to Daimon. "Is that so?"

Daimon says "Fate. Game. Nightmares. Technology."

Ashley says, "Mm. Well, it fits their patterns."

Daimon says "As far as I can ascertain, he figured out their Game, and was preparing to play it to the best of his ability."

Ashley nods.

Ashley says, "Okay. Your turn."

Daimon says "Ask."

Ashley says, "This is reaching, but do you know anything about the buildings falling to hit Hell just yesterday?"

Daimon says "Yes."

Ashley looks as if she might blink behind her shades. "No shit. Okay, what do you want in answers in exchange for telling me about it?"

Pat says "When did the Geas end?"

Ashley says, "It felt like it broke somewhere in the morning of that day. I was in Hell at the time."

Ashley shrugs. "I can't give you a precise Earthtime correspondence. Sorry."

Daimon says "I have a question."

Ashley says, "I'm listening."

Daimon says "What did Kobal say to Hell when he was let free from the Game? I'm sure there was some sort of Media address."

Ashley tilts her head. "Oh, he got televised. Very, very, very televised. Big brotherhood of Princes and how they'd only faked having him in custody in order to root out the traitors. Let us go out from this day in peace and loving friendship."

Ashley says, "Oh, and a "Don't kill the Gamesters, boys, just tar and feather them," at the end."

Daimon tosses his butt, and lights a cigarette. "And that was all?"

Ashley says, "That was all I heard. I don't work for Dark Humour. Bits from all the Princes, actually, duty and loyalty to Hell, the usual."

Daimon says "Same old bullshit, same old lies. One day they'll think up something new."

Ashley shrugs. "Yeah."

Daimon says "Don't you ever get tired of the bullshit and the lies and the little games?"

<> Daimon says "We're under truth here. :)"

Ashley says, "Yeah, we all do, don't we? At least I can pick my employers."

Daimon says "Who are all slavers who trade in flesh for their daily bread."

Pat decides not to interject.

Ashley says, blandly, "Any more questions for me?"

Daimon says "Certainly. Can you tell us the general situation in Hell right now?"

Ashley considers. "Confused. First there were those falling buildings. That was bad enough. Now apparently there are big Godzilla-sized hunks of protoplasm stalking the streets and eating people. Not that I've seen any, but that's the story."

<> Sarah eyes Kobal. :)

<> Daimon cuddles Kobal's brain.

Pat says "The falling buildings..."

Daimon can only start to grin. "Godzilla-sized hunks of protoplasm, hmm? That's pretty Funny."

Pat says "They were the remnants of Fate's construction."

Daimon says "The buildings were not part of the machinations of Hell - or rather it was, but it wasn't exactly planned."

Ashley blinks. "They were? Shit. So how come they fell out of Heaven?"

Daimon says "They fell out of the Marches."

Daimon says "Ashley, Godzilla-sized hunks of protoplasm sounds like a Prank to me."

Ashley says, "You have a point. I mean, it's damn well not the Game."

Daimon says "Hey, if I had tons of essence and a huge chunk of someone's false Heaven just rained on my Principality, I would Prank too to capitalize on the chaos. But man, I can think up better things then Godzilla."

Pat says "It's the creativity."

Ashley says, "I don't know if they look like Godzilla. Just that they're, you know, Godzilla-size. Haven't seen them myself."

Daimon says "At least some alien abductions! A few ships beaming up.... anyway, that's not the topic."

Ashley says, jadedly, "Whee, anal probe time again."

Daimon says "I just find slime creatures Media-esque tacky. Funny, but tacky."

Ashley shrugs. "Not my field."

Daimon looks at Pat. Anything else?

Pat nods.

Pat says "What are certainty issues?"

Ashley goes abruptly still. Her voice is sharp. "You got a tape of his phone call to me."

Pat lies smoothly, "Yes."

Ashley makes a disgusted noise in her throat, then says, "Okay."

Ashley says, "I was working for Vapula, remember?"

Pat says "Sixty years ago, yes."

Daimon says "I remember."

<> Daimon is thinking about sending a postcard to a D. Humor tether saying, "A two year old with a box of crayons can do better then that."

Ashley says, "Okay. So I found that one of my immediate superiors was using me, and was going to hang me out to dry. And I didn't know who to talk to. I couldn't be sure how far it went, who else might be working with him."

<> Daimon blinks. A two year old with a box of crayons stalking the back alleys of Shal-Mari WOULD be doing better. :)

<> Demiurge says "| Take that, Asmodeus! Red wax crayon!"

<> Pat says "Burnt Umber!"

<> Daimon says "I have Turquoise!"

<> Daimon makes a note.

<> Hitherby says "Sienna rises above Shal-Mari, roaring."

Ashley says, "Christopher was..." She sighs. "Christopher said stuff about being an angel which I won't go into."

Pat lifts an eyebrow. "Please do."

Daimon says "I assure you, it was very likely all true."

Ashley shrugs again. "About trust. About that sort of thing not happening. And then he phones me and tells me that _he_ has certainty problems. Go figure."

Pat says "Ashley. There is one and only one reason not to trust an angel."

<> Shannen says "He's Judgement? :)"

Ashley says, "Yeah?"

Hitherby . o O ( You can tell a Judgment man a mile away. )

Pat says "If an angel is doing something wrong, there's no one in Heaven he can trust."

Pat says "Because we /will/ find out."

Ashley says, "Judgement. Yeah."

Ashley says, "I don't know you, Dominican. But I trusted Chris."

<> Pat says "Is it minutes or hours until I can resonate her again?"

<> Demiurge says "Minutes."

<> Pat says "Keen. I resonate again, then. :) It's been 5 minutes, I do believe."

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

<> Pat fails yet again. Sheesh.

<> Pat says "Ashley is inscrutable!"

Hitherby chrisks softly, "Christopher earned an important Word. Heaven found him worthy of trust. But there are always mistakes and ambiguities."

Pat says "Of course you did. And he knew he could trust you."

Ashley says, "So who didn't _he_ trust, then? Tell me that."

Pat says "David."

Ashley pauses.

Hitherby breaks silence reluctantly but with full cognizance of the potential error.

Daimon sighs, and looks at Ashley. "Everything you know about Redemption is a lie. All of it. Everything. Every single detail. If you want to know the truth... the truth for those who look. Anyway, indulge my curiosity. What are the rumors about me?"

Ashley says, flatly, "That you Redeemed. Malik said you sounded happy. Kanah didn't say much. I don't know. At least you sound sane and intelligent."

Daimon says "And it's true."

Hitherby keeps her wings shut and doesn't say anything about saneness.

Daimon says "And no one raped me, or hurt me, or filled my head full of horrors. No one auctioned me off. No one forced me to do anything for them. That only happens in Hell."

Ashley nods, slowly. "Okay."

Ashley says, "I hear you."

Daimon says "The reality is that Heaven is good and beautiful and right and it's worth dying for. The reality is that Hell is horrible and full of nightmares and is nothing more then a reason to leave. They tell you lies to keep you in chains. And it works well. Too well."

Ashley says, "If you're Judgement - I'd like to think that whoever killed Chris got a just repayment."

Daimon says "He will get a repaymet."

Ashley nods again, mouth thin.

Ashley says, "I hear what you say. I'll bear it in mind."

Ashley says, "You got any more questions?"

Daimon says "Listen to what they tell you, and think about it instead of accepting it."

Daimon says "No. I'm done."

Pat shakes his head. "That'll do. Thank you. And Ashley?"

Ashley says, "Yeah?"

Pat says "Stay out of trouble."

<> Sabriel gives Daimon the word of Proselytization.

<> Daimon says "Thank you."

<> Daimon wears it proudly.

Ashley chuckles at that. "You too." She turns, walking away.

Daimon reaches into his coat and touches his gun.

Pat shakes his head quietly.

Sarah watches Ashley as inobviously as she can, till she's out of sight.

Ashley turns a corner, and is out of sight.

Pat says "She doesn't deserve it."

Daimon puts his hand back in his pocket.

Sarah looks entirely relieved.

Daimon says "I wanted to."

Pat says "I know."

Daimon says "Not everyone in Hell is evil."

Pat says "Not everyone."

Daimon reaches up and pulls off his sunglasses. "That's the ultimate nature of its injustice. Not everyone in prison deserves to be so. And that is what makes it so sad."

Pat pockets his own sunglasses and lights a fresh cigarette.

Pat says "One day, Daimon, it'll all be set right again."

Hitherby crawls out of Daimon's hair and onto his shoulder.

Daimon lights another of his own cigarettes. This is the sixth? Seventh? He's had today.

Daimon looks at Pat, and then just sighs. "Now what, fearless leader?"

Pat sighs. "Now, we look over Terethel's mail."

Daimon says "This just keeps getting worse, doesn't it?"

Pat says "Yes."

Daimon peers at the grass. "As soon as we have enough information, we should probably put together a report. Just in case someone cacks us."

Pat says "Before we go out and /do/ anything, we'll make a full report to Etecius' people."

Daimon nods. "Do you think he Fell?"

Pat says "I think he might have."

Sarah feeds pigeons patiently, letting Pat and Partner chat.

Hitherby murmurs atonally, "The Geas became loose when Christopher died?"

Daimon says "Yes. So maybe he Fell, and they decided he was a loose cannon, so they killed him. Perfectly plausible motivation in Hell."

Pat says "Or perhaps he was killed before hand."

Hitherby says, "No."

Pat says "No?"

Daimon stops to listen to Hitherby.

Hitherby says "His body was found."

Pat stops. "Where? By whom? When?"

Hitherby chrisks, "Where? On the edge of the Far Marches and - I believe - Blandine's Marches. By whom? Unknown. When?" She thinks. "It's very difficult to establish these things precisely, now that days and days have passed, but I *think* it was the same day she spoke of."

Pat says "That was Christopher's body, Hitherby."

Daimon says "But I think the day is right."

Hitherby says "Yes. Didn't the Geas come loose when Christopher died? I thought that was the subject of our discussion."

Daimon says "No, when Terethel died."

Daimon says "The geas ends when it becomes impossible to fulfil. In this case, she could no longer be Terethel's bodyguard, because he was dead."

Hitherby says "Ah."

Daimon says "She could have fulfilled it if he was alive and Fallen."

Hitherby says, "Okay."

Hitherby says "But it seems that both of them died shortly after Christopher and Ashley spoke."

Hitherby says "Yes?"

Pat says "Yes."

<> Sarah . o O ( Unless it was phrased as "the angel Terethel" or the like. :) )

Daimon says "So Christopher was being pursued, he invoked the geas, and then he died."

<> arcangel grins at Sarah.

Daimon starts walking over toward Sarah, Hitherby still perched on his head.

Sarah glances over, tosses one more crust, and straightens up.

Pat says "And before she could get to him, Terethel was taken."

Daimon says "Terethel could have Fallen _before_ Christopher invoked the geas, as well, and it would still be valid while he Fell. It's a matter of being alive or being dead."

Hitherby chrisks, softly, "Then it seems most likely that Christopher or Terethel led the attackers to the other - not necessarily deliberately."

Daimon says "She got there after he was dead. Ergo, they didn't follow Ashley to Terethel."

Hitherby says "Possibly the meeting between C and T was observed?"

Sarah approaches Daimon as he comes closer. "If I remember," she says, "Ashley wasn't sure whether or not he was dead when she arrived. If I'm gathering whom you're speaking of correctly?"

Daimon says "Possibly the meeting between Ashley and Christopher was observed."

Pat says "I thought they didn't meet?"

Pat says "Just that phone call."

Daimon says "That's right."

Hitherby says "Then the phone call was observed?"

Hitherby says "Perhaps by Christopher's lieutenant at that other place?"

Daimon says "Impossible to know. They only one who would have seen Christopher call is... his lieutentant in Italy. She had the tape."

Pat says "And the person on Ashley's end who answered."

Daimon says "I'm going to assume, for the sake of argument, that the phone call was between Christopher and Ashley."

Hitherby says "Although I think Terethel talked to Christopher first."

Hitherby gives off a squeak of wings.

Hitherby says "Christopher was *replying* to *some* communication."

Hitherby says "That's what the note implies, no?"

Pat says "Which we are unfortunately not privy to."

Hitherby says "Why don't we have a tape for that?"

Daimon says "We need to go over there with a search warrant - does Judgment GET search warrants? - and turn his office upside down."

Pat says "To Christopher's office?"

Daimon says "It's entirely likely I have watched one too many episodes of Law and Order."

Daimon says "Yes, Christopher's office."

Pat says "In Italy."

Daimon says "Yes."

Sarah says, "I'd be curious to see Terethel's office, too. Which is not in Italy."

Daimon says "No, that is in DC. I don't think, if he was busy Falling, he would keep his records someplace that private. But it's worth a snoop."

Hitherby says, calmly, "I am still ambivalent about the 'wrongness' of any Stone Servitor's actions. However, if there is something going on - the lieutenant seems like a logical leak. Or anyone, if they have a machine person as good as Sephar."

Daimon says "It seems to me that the more we learn, the less we know."

Pat says "The more we learn, the more we see the edges of."

Sarah says "I'm fairly sure that there's something we haven't seen, or haven't caught, that would give us a better angle."

Pat says "So, I fully intend to focus on what we have been sent to do."

Daimon says "After Terethel's mail, what's the plan? Report?"

Pat says "That depends on the mail."

Hitherby says, quietly, "I have an ethical question."

Daimon says "Go ahead, Hitherby."

Hitherby says, "I am aware that I have no formal standing or position in this inquisition."

Hitherby says, "Some of the things we have learned concern me greatly, however."

Hitherby says "I wish to know what I am honor-bound not to reveal. Or which things I am not honor-bound to keep silent about, if that is a shorter list."

Hitherby says "Regarding my Bright Lord, of course, and not just random Servitors."

Pat purses his lips, shaking out a fresh cigarette. "That is a rather delicate question, and not one that comes up very often."

Daimon knows that he cannot answer this one at all, so he concentrates on smoking.

Pat says "As a general guideline, we would prefer none of the details be spread around until the matter is settled. Being as we are working primarily on speculation at the moment, rumour could be dangerous. As for Jordi, I can hardly direct you to keep silent if information is requested, but I would ask that you limit yourself to information directly relevant to the word of Animals."

Hitherby says, atonally, "I understand."

Pat nods. "Thank you."

<> Demiurge says "Eduardo has just Descended, presumably to the Holocaust Museum."

Eduardo returns from Heaven, back to the Holocaust Museum. He pauses a moment, then starts to look for the Seneschal.

Phanuel, the smooth-featured young woman who is the Elohite Seneschal of the Tether, is findable. She turns aside from two lost children to half-bow to Eduardo.

Eduardo bows back -- a motion oddly natural, if in no way submissive. "Phanuel."

Phanuel replies, "Edward. How burn your flames?"

Eduardo says "I could wish them to be better. I fear I have ill news."

Phanuel says, "Then speak, my brother, if you can."

Eduardo's eyes flare a moment, as he says "I would not have mentioned it if I could not." He pauses, considering; eyes calming once again as he does so. "You are aware of the issues at the hospital, and the box found in the sewers?"

Phanuel says, "I have been told that there were Vapulans at the hospital which was destroyed, my brother, and that there was a box in the sewers which was the work of Makatiel."

Eduardo nods. "And, it seems, there is another."

Eduardo pauses, though this time perhaps more from some latent sense of the dramatic. Then he continues. "Magog."

<> Pat says "Eduardo? Dramatic? You jest."

Phanuel's eyes widen. "Surely not!"

Eduardo looks momentarily satified, before his eyes harden. "I was visited by our Lady," he says. "She gave me a prophecy." This time the pause is almost awkward.

<> Eduardo says "Sarcasm doesn't become you, Pat."

<> Pat says "Sorry. I'll go back to understatement."

Phanuel's eyes are eager. "Tell me of it, my brother."

Eduardo folds his hands behind him, falling into a parade rest. "You will forgive me if I pass on the gist, as opposed to the words?"

Phanuel says, "Of course."

Eduardo nods. "The first part of it seemed to speak of Fate's false Heaven, that was destroyed by Michael. I believe that to be resolved."

Eduardo says "As to the rest, I am less clear. It speaks of a bright and culling light, and an old plague. The cull was proposed by Magog before his ... " and here he grimaces, eyes again bright and burning. " ... fall to Cruelty."

Eduardo says "Of a Stone that must not be crushed. That may be the Angel of Hardship, one Mordecai, who trod by steps before me. Or, perhaps, the Prison in which Stone has imprisoned cruelty."

Eduardo says "And of streets that sleep until disturbed."

Phanuel nods, quietly. "Then it is clear what we must do. We must follow her instructions."

<> Eduardo now gets to hope he didn't FUBAR the Prophecy. :)

<> Demiurge says "I think you got it pretty much right. :)"

Eduardo nods. "We must," the calmness returning again; a bushel placed over a flaming torch. "When I am certain what they are. I wished to let you know."

Eduardo waits another moment to see if the Seneschal has anything to add.

Eduardo says "I wished to let you know. In case any matter came to your attention."

Eduardo says "I will contact Judgement over Hardship."

Phanuel says, "I thank you, Edward. I will let you know if I discover anything of relevance. We cannot permit Cruelty to go free."

<> Pat says "Damn straight we can't."

<> Pat imagines a unified force of Dominicans and Gabrielites, joining in arms to smite the ever-lovin daylights out of Magog.

Eduardo nods. "We cannot." Flames again bank in his voice.

Phanuel nods briskly.

<> Eduardo says "There'd be a first. :)"

Eduardo says "You know of the Elohite whom I habve worked with. The Dominican. I will involve him."

Eduardo's words are statement, not question.

Phanuel says, "I do. He is intelligent."

<> Pat preens.

Eduardo nods.

Eduardo says "And he understands us. Unusual, for one of Judgement."

<> Pat is more objective than his fellows.

<> Daimon isn't objective at all. :)

Phanuel smiles slightly. "Perhaps he, also, is a detester of Cruelty, and has a sense of priorities. Go in fire, my brother."

<> Eduardo watches Pat's IC ears burn.

Eduardo says "Go in fire, sister,"

Near the Pool, Pat scratches at his earlobe.

Phanuel turns, to return to her duty.

Eduardo turns, and stalks out of the Museum, to his car; trusting to the fact that it is a police vehicle that it hasn't been towed.

The car is, indeed, still there.

<> Hitherby says "There must be some group of angelic NPCs somewhere who are constantly backstabbing and doing spiteful things to each other, just to balance us out. :)"

<> Sephar falls over laughing.

Eduardo starts up the engine and digs out the cell phone. He dials Pat's number almost smoothly.

By the Pool, Pat's phone rings. Ring. Ring.

Pat answers the phone. "Murphy."

Eduardo's voice is more serious than usual, tinged by a sullen anger. "It is Edward, Mazpatiel."

Pat says "Good afternoon, Edward."

Eduardo says "No."

Pat says "Then by all means, correct me."

Eduardo says "You are aware that my Lady delivered a prophecy."

Pat says "Yes."

Eduardo says "There is more to it. I am convinced it involves Magog."

Eduardo says "And I am convinced that there is an effort to free him."

Eduardo's voice is fkat as he delivers this, but it is perhaps fortunate that his eyes cannot be seen across the phone.

Pat says "Entirely possible."

Eduardo says "You do not sound surprised."

Pat says "I am not."

Eduardo says "May I hear your reasoning?"

Pat says "The stele shattered in the Freer Gallery was related to the imprisonment."

Eduardo frowns into the handset.

Eduardo says "A Stone will break. Prevent it."

Pat says, simply, "Oops."

Daimon looks at Pat and lifts an eyebrow as his partner talks on the phone.

Sepharmouse peers at Pat at the 'Oops.'

Pat says "There is another."

Eduardo's voice fairly flares out of the phone. "Did you break it?"

<> Demiurge says "I wonder if anyone else hears that. :)"

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 2 1 CHECK: 2.

<> Hitherby says "Oddly enough, yes :)"

<> Demiurge says "Per rolls for those overhearing. :)"

<> Eduardo would suspect that half a city block would have. :)

<> Sephar rolls the d666 and gets 2 6 CHECK: 4.

<> Sephar gets per.

<> Eduardo says "Just Hope Eddie doesn't set fire to the phone, car, DC..."

<> Demiurge says "Sephar and Hitherby hear."

Pat says "No. Your mysterious corpse did."

Sepharmouse blinks, "Eduardo? Hrm. Did he mean the second one, Pat?"

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

Hitherbird, elsewhere, asks Sepharbird, "Do you mind leaping into the phone and telling me what's up over here? I've been trying to be good, but I'm getting curious."

<> Demiurge says "Daimon is apparently deaf."

<> Daimon doesn't hear jack, tho. :)

Eduardo relaxes a little, voice returning to more ordinary levels. "There is another possibility."

Sepharbird hesitates, "I don't much like listening in on Pat's conversations unless he says it's okay."

Hiterbird bobs its head. "Okay."

Sepharbird bobs back, "Thanks."

Pat says "There is a second stele."

Eduardo says "Protect it."

Pat says "Noted."

Eduardo says "There is also the Angel of Hardship, who trod tracks I did in research, before me."

Pat frowns. "Stone."

Eduardo says "Stone."

Pat says "Name and Choir?"

Eduardo says "An Elohite. By the name of Mordecai."

Eduardo does not give Pat time to speak but continues. "I have a strong urge to demand of David where the Prison is, and if the stele are part of the key."

Pat says "I would ask you to hold on that, Edward. This touches heavily upon Judgment."

Eduardo frowns again, but does give a reluctant nod. "And Fire."

Pat says "The second stone will be watched. Also, we will be returning to the sewers eventually. I'd like your help."

Sepharmouse shivers at what Pat says, mildly.

Eduardo says "Of course."

Eduardo says "I presume you know who the symbol referred to."

Eduardo says "And that before his Fall, Magog proposed a cull to 'toughen' humanity?"

Eduardo says "The Old Plague, in fact."

Pat says "This was not entirely contrary to David's philosophy. Stone has no tolerance for weakness."

Eduardo frowns again. "He does not. However, my Lady mentioned both the culling light and the old plague returning."

Pat says "Well. This certainly sounds like it."

Eduardo says "It ties too neatly to be otherwise."

<> Pat | And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog.

<> Demiurge blinks. Wow. Where's that from?

<> Pat says "Ezekiel 39:11."

<> Daimon says "A wonderful source of IN background - the Bible."

<> Demiurge | And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the Lord.

<> Daimon knows, baby!

<> Eduardo is that Fire!

Pat says "I'm afraid so. This is...involved."

Daimon blinks at Pat, and lights another cigarette.

Eduardo says "It is."

Eduardo says "He will not come free."

Eduardo says "Where is the stele?"

Pat says "Paris."

Eduardo says "That covered a large area when I was last on Earth, Mazpatiel."

Pat says "Sarah has more details. She and her people have been researching."

Eduardo says "I will contact her."

Eduardo says "And step up efforts on your corpse, as well as the disappearance from the research lab."

Pat says "She's here now, Edward."

Eduardo says "Do you see a connection with Phineas's cannibalism?"

<> Demiurge just snickers. That _could_ be misinterpreted.

<> Hitherby grins.

Pat stops. Blinks. Twice. "I beg your pardon?"

<> Demiurge says "Phineas loves humans! Raw!"

<> Sepharmouse told Sarah, might not have told the others. Hrm.

Eduardo says "He believes he has found incidences of cannibalism, and of some gruesome slaugher. I cannot ignore that, though I would not wish to see Cruelty lose from a distraction."

Pat says "Interesting. Humans, I assume?"

Eduardo says "Correct."

Eduardo says "I do not currently see a link."

Pat says "Well then. I have every faith in Phineas' capabilities, until such time as a link becomes obvious."

Pat . o O ( Humans chewing on each other? Screw 'em. Talking monkeys... )

Eduardo laughs, a sudden harsh sound. "He, too, has asked for my aid."

Eduardo says "And I am not cold enough to ignore suffering. Anywhere."

Pat says "I understand that."

<> Demiurge says "Mmmmm. Fire."

<> Pat doesn't rub it in that he could watch Edward be dismembered by Calabim and not twitch.

<> Eduardo would not consider this a good trait. :)

<> Pat says "Exactly."

<> Daimon on the other hand.... "I'm Pat's emotions. That's my problem - I've got the emotions of two people!"

<> Eduardo suspects Eddie, if human, would burnout on jobs insanely fast. And that he's probably the overworking stresspuppy despair of his unit, who many people believe never sleeps. Probably because, like, he doesn't. :)

<> Demiurge laughs.

Eduardo says "If you will ask Sarah of this matter, and watch Mordecai, I will return to my job and try and track down the various threads."

Pat says "I intend to do both these things."

Eduardo nods, voice softening a fraction. "I had no doubts you would."

Eduardo says "Time is fleeting. I should continue."

Pat says "Please do."

Eduardo says "Godspeed, Mazpatiel."

Pat says "Good day."

Pat closes his phone.

Hitherby buzzes inquisitively.

Eduardo shuts down and pulls out, to head back to the station.

Traffic is normal for DC.

Sepharmouse peers at Pat, ears up.

Pat purses his lips. "We're following footprints. Mordecai."

Daimon says "Who?"

Pat says "The angel of Hardship. One of my siblings under David."

Daimon says "Can you give us a synopsis here?"

Hitherby hums, "I thought you were Jud- oh, wait, okay."

Pat says "Gabriel has announced that a culling light and the old plague are returning."

Pat thinks back. "A false reflection must be destroyed, a stone protected."

Daimon says "Okay, give me the phone, then start from the beginning and tell me what Eddie told you in the Cliff Notes edition."

Sepharmouse listens, ears up, quiet.

Pat says "The stele should not have been broken, Magog and Makatiel are entirely likely to be freed, Phineas is involved with cannibals, and the angel of Hardship is following the same line of investigation."

<> Eduardo says "That would be the Cliff Notes edition, indeed."

Daimon blinks. Blink blink. "Well, at least the rest of our week will be filled with fun and adventure."

Sepharmouse blinks eyes rapidly at this, then has its Lab Rat put it, verbatim, with credit to Mazpatiel in its report.

Sepharrat does put that the condensed information was from a many minute conversation with Eddie, yes.

Hitherby says, "Could you cross-reference that with what you said before?"

Hitherby says "Is the culling light the Angel of Hardship?"

Pat says "Magog."

<> Eduardo says "You know. Eddie has a special place in his heart for hating Magog and his very concept."

Hitherby says, "And the stone we must protect is the stele?"

<> arcangel says "As Eddie should!"

Daimon says "Let me get this right. There is an Elohite Angel of Stone named Mordecai, and he is following our same line of research here, and there is a pretty good possibility that not one, but two dead Demon Princes are going to be let free."

Pat says "Something along those lines, yes."

Daimon says "So much for my long term investments."

Daimon says "All kidding aside, it's pretty obvious who we need to talk to: this Mordecai guy. I was thinking, vaguely, in a round about way at taking a wack at getting into the computer system at the Hubble Telescope, but that can wait."

Pat says "I agree."

Daimon says "So where do we start, yaa? Sa'id?"

Sepharmouse squeaks, "Uhm... is Hitherby right? Do we need to get to the stele to protect it?"

<> Eduardo says "You know. That'd be a bitch. You'd have to penetrate NASA first. Probably physically, since I would never link a critical system to the net unless it needed it."

<> Daimon says "Yeah, it would be a real bitch."

<> Daimon says "That's what makes it fun!"

Sephar says "Soon?"

<> Daimon says "yaa? sa'id means "My lord" or "My master", btw."

Pat says "Saturday."

Sephar blinks mildly.

Daimon says "Back to the Stone tether?"

Pat considers this. "No."

Pat says "They're becoming too involved."

Daimon says "Heaven? Records?"

Hitherby hums, softly, "There's another possibility, going by the prophecy you told me."

<> Eduardo did tell Pat that that was where he had this info from.

<> Demiurge | Pat . o 0 ( I detest prophecy. )

<> Pat says "Espescially when they're relevant."

Pat says "Go on."

<> Eduardo says "Ed is little more fond of them, I can assure you."

<> Sephar thinks a bit and must secretely love prophecies and just never says it to the two other angels, knowing their proclivity.

<> Demiurge says "Can I, at this point, have an Int roll from everyone? It's going to be reduced."

<> Sephar rolls the d666 and gets 2 2 CHECK: 2.

Hitherby says, "I assume that Fire has a mixed view of Judgment." She reflects. "Therefore, it seems that possibly we are to protect a Stone Servitor from falling - or from, well, you."

<> Demiurge grins at Sephar. Prophecy - you just need to understand the prophetic language, and it'd be such a good data source.

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

<> Hitherby rolls the d666 and gets 5 1 CHECK: 4.

<> Sephar says "Exactly!"

Sepharmouse says thoughtfully, "No breaking."

Hitherby says "As opposed to the stele. Although I have no objection to, you know. Covering all angles."

<> Demiurge says "It may occur to Daimon and Sephar that they can't know who else knows about the stele in Paris, or how long it might take the presumed enemy to find out about it."

<> Eduardo says "Me as well, Demi?"

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 1 2 CHECK: 1.

<> Demiurge says "Sure, Eduardo."

Daimon repeats this, then. "We don't know who else knows about the stele. And we don't know how long it might take the unknown enemy to find out about it."

<> Demiurge says "This thought also comes to Pat."

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

<> Demiurge says "Though not Eduardo."

Hitherby chrisks thoughtfully.

Pat says "Hm. Much as I hate to get ahead of schedule..."

<> Eduardo <-- Thug Boy.

Sepharmouse brightens.

Hitherby says "Why was this scheduled for Saturday originally?"

Daimon says "Because I was going to London."

Hitherby says "And, er, which day is it today?"

Sephar says "Ah. Thursday."

Hitherby says "Ah."

Sepharmouse says softly, "I am worried about the stele."

Daimon says "I suggest strongly that we move our stele visit ahead of schedule."

Sepharmouse nods.

Hitherby says, "At the very least, we need someone there with Celestial Tongues."

Sepharmouse holds up a paw.

Daimon says "There is a Judgment tether there."

Sepharmouse blinks mildly, "At the stele?"

Pat says "Nearby."

Sepharmouse says, "Ah."

Pat says "Hm."

Daimon drags on his smoke. Draaaag. And then drops it and puts it out with the toe of his boot.

Pat says "I'm painfully aware that I don't speak a word of French."

Daimon says "I do."

Hitherby says, "Right now, I'm content as support services; schedule as you feel appropriate."

Daimon says "I can go, Pat."

Sepharmouse sighs mildly, "And... uhm... Jean gave me Corp Song of Tongues."

Sephar says "So I could help, perhaps."

Daimon says "I'll take Sephar with me."

Pat says "How thinly can you two spread yourselves, Hitherby and Sephar?"

Sephar says "I'm already very thinly spread."

Hitherby hums thoughtfully.

<> Daimon is Ze Linguist! "It's all Terry's fault, wanting to hang around Paris and drink Absinthe."

Hitherby says, "I can have a human host or a celestial form somewhere without skipping out on my obligations here."

Hitherby says "But definitely not both. I'm not sure I can even do that any more."

Pat says "I was referring more to a physical distance."

Hitherby says, "Oh."

Sepharmouse goes, "Oh. No, not a corporeal distance."

Daimon says "God help me, I have Disco Inferno going through my head."

Pat peers at Daimon.

Daimon says "Honest to god."

Hitherby says, "No limit. Except that if I get chased out of every me in Europe, I will have some trouble getting back quickly."

Hitherby says "Or vice versa."

Pat nods. "We'll have to take Tethers."

Sepharmouse says, "Yes, me too."

Hitherby says "Tethers do make it simpler, but -"

Hitherby says "Well, I guess we already know that there's a Tether near the stele."

Hitherby says "So it might not be that long, as long as I'm authorized to use Judgment Tethers for this purpose."

<> Demiurge says "Pat, you might remember there's something a bit weird about the Louvre Judgement-Tether."

<> Demiurge says "Namely, there's a Theft-Tether in the Louvre too."

<> arcangel says "They're relatively close together."

Daimon tries to hum something else. Disco Inferno is driving him nuts.

<> Demiurge says "The weirdness is the Theft-Tether in the same (large) building. Judgement-Tether centres on the Code of Hammurabi. Theft-Tether on the Mona Lisa room."

<> Pat says "Eeeenteresting. Any travel limitations?"

<> Daimon is hoping there are other available tethers in Paris.

<> Pat says "Notre Dame. But we don't want to use that."

<> Demiurge says "No, they don't interact per se, but the Theft-Tether is there. The two Seneschals have a sort of non-interference policy. Somewhat."

<> Demiurge says "There's Notre Dame. There's the Bibliotecque Nationale for Destiny."

<> Demiurge says "There's the location of the Bastille, for the Game."

<> Demiurge says "There are probably others which I can think up, given time."

Pat rolls his neck briefly. "This is bound to be interesting." He takes out his phone and dials Eduardo.

In the car, Eduardo's phone rings.

Daimon tries to switch tunes. "All that you touch, all that you see, all that you taste, all that you feel, all that you love, all that you hate, all you distrust...." He peers around at the buildings surrounding the Mall.

Eduardo slows; answers.

Pat says "Edward."

Eduardo says "Mazpatiel."

Pat says "Sarah, Daimon and I are going to Paris. We're taking part of the Dominations with us."

Eduardo says "The stele."

Pat says "Yes."

Eduardo says "Good."

Eduardo says "I will see what I can find on Mordecai."

Pat says "Alright. We'll be in touch."

Eduardo nods. That habit.

Pat closes his phone.

Daimon continues to sing tunelessly under his breath. "All that is now, all that is gone, all that's to come, and everything under the sun is in tune but the sun is eclipsed by the moon."

Pat takes off his hat and runs fingers through his hair. "Let's go. It's only a few blocks."

Hitherby flutters up into Daimon's hair and scritches his scalp.

Sepharmouse hops into Daimon's pocket.

Daimon says "Okay."

Daimon shoves his hands in his pockets, avoiding the pikachu, and follows Pat.

---

Fiat Justitia