Dreams And Lightning

Aron, from his office, calls down to Sistine's. (This would be after Tania but before dinner.)

Marath's voice answers the phone. "Good afternoon, Sistine's."

Sepharsong bird perches on a newspaper, reading, nibbling crumbs now and then, absentmindedly.

Aron says "Good afternoon, Marath. It's Aron. I was wondering if you knew how I might get a hold of Sephar."

Marath says, "Hm, just a moment." She waves across the kitchen to the perching songbird. "Sephar? Aron on the line for you."

Sepharbird bobs its thanks, flutters over to the phone and settles on it, gets the speaker to say, "Hello?" to Aron in a perfectly non-gendered sweetness.

Aron is momentarily discomfitted. "Sephar?"

Sepharphone says, "This is Sephar speaking."

Aron muses, "I think this might be the first time I've really heard you speak. At any rate, I had a talk with Tania."

Sepharbird merely looks like a bird perched on a cumfy spot, preening its wings, as the phone says, "Oh, good."

Marath chuckles, and goes back to the business of food.

<> Sephar says "Is this after Hitherby's and my scouting expedition, Demi?"

<> Demiurge says "Yes."

Aron considers. "Yes, good that we spoke. The news, however, is all bad."

Sepharphone says, "Is it? I would like to know. We found one of her friends from the Party at the bookstore mentioned... looking for odd tomes."

Aron says "The tomes are worse than odd. Can you come here?"

Aron says "I feel uncomfortable with these devices."

Sepharphone says sweetly, "If you have a host for me there, a mouse, a bird, anything will do."

Aron says "One moment. I'll open the window and lay out some saltines."

Aron then does just that.

It takes about thirty seconds for pigeons to start in on the saltines. If that.

Aron returns to the phone. "I believe you'll have quite a choice, yes."

Sepharphone says, "Thank you." and doesn't mention that a computer or sound system would likely be more comfortable for it, has worked with Eduardo too long.

Sepharphone murmurs, "While I still have a coherent voice, would one of the tomes that are worse be one Liber Domini Telluris?"

Aron looks surprised. "I did not see the title, but that seems reasonable. What Tania gave me speaks of the Lord of the World, yes."

Sepharphone hmms softly, "Sarah and I could not place it, quite."

Aron says "It is a bad thing, Sephar. It is Sorcery."

Sepharphone says, "Ah. That would explain why they ask for it from what seems a demon of Fate."

Aron is quiet for a few moments. "Indeed."

Aron says "Dr. Matthews."

Aron says "Isn't it?"

Sepharphone says, "Yes."

Aron says "He is feeding these children their doom."

Aron says "I find that ... upsetting."

Sepharphone says, "In technicolor."

Sepharphone's tone is near glass tones on the comment.

Aron's silence gains a hard, purposeful quality. "Who is here to deal with this? I tried Liz - she was away."

Sepharphone says mildly, "I am spreading nigh to too thin, Hitherby and I are at the bookshop, Pat, Sarah, Daimon and Hitherby and I are going to France to look to the other stele."

Aron says "France?"

Aron says "Stele?"

Sepharphone, "Liz is doing Role maintenance... ah... is there a Host there?"

Aron says "Yes, several."

Sephar phone transfers to Aron's phone and then finds itself a Host there. Doesn't want to talk of the stele's details on the air...

A pigeon eating saltines is easily possessed.

Sepharpigeon flutters over to Aron and bows and sings the notes of Sephar's name.

Sepharphone says softly, "I'm going to hang up, now. I think this one thing better discussed over no line."

Sepharsongbird on Marath's end wrestles the handset back into the cradle, as the pigeon watches Aron.

Aron looks at his phone, then the pigeon. He hangs up, carefully. "You are very confusing," he accuses kindly.

<> Aron says "There is a stereo in the room, btw."

<> Aron says "You're in Aron's office at the publishing firm."

Sepharpigeon bobs a bow, sings, "Yes. I apologize, somewhat."

Aron waves a hand. "No need, it was meant more as an expression of bemusement. Would you like coffee? Some saltines?"

<> Sephar grins and doesn't mind being courteous to some point, i.e. interacting with a living being rather than a machine, but cool to know.

Sepharpigeon pecks a saltine crumb, "This is good."

Aron nods. "Oyster," he says, a propos of nothing. "Now, about France and this Stele."

Sephar says "The stele appears to be a key to the prison of the Demon Prince of Cruelty."

Sephar says "Wheither is a key to opening the prison or a key to keeping the prison intact, no one knows, yet."

Aron's eyes do not precisely narrow, but something hardens in the blue of them. "I see."

Aron says "In what context are they being investigated?"

Sephar says "There is some suspicion that the Archangel of Stone has some... culpability? complacency? perhaps simply a blind eye... with the destruction of the first stele in a museum here in D.C.. Pat holds most of the suspicion. I am unsure of the evidence as yet, though the deaths of two Stone Servitors seems mixed in..."

Sephar says "Though more mixed in with the box of Disease you and Azalea and I brought out of the sewers."

Sephar says "And you think *I* am confusing..."

Sephar pigeon chuckles softly.

Sephar says "The linkage, in some part, comes through the geasing of a Lilim to protect a Servitor of Stone, who died. In another part, I think it comes from which other Archangel would most want to destroy/free/Redeem (it comes out as a chord) what was once his?"

Sephar says "In any part. Pat and Daimon and Sarah and a few others deem it necessary to protect the second stele."

Sephar pecks a few more cracker crumbs thoughtfully. "I think that is all there is to that, but you should know that it is happening, I think."

Aron nods. "The Stele should be protected, indeed. In the meantime, the book Belle got, and then gave to Tania, is a tome dealing with the summoning of Demons."

Sepharpigeon scratches at the desk at that and then shakes its head, "Bad that."

Sepharpigeon puzzles, "Why give it to Tania?"

<> Demiurge says "Why not just put it on the Internet? :)"

Aron says "Belle believes Tania has 'potential'."

Sepharpigeon gahs softly, "They talked, one of them... oh Lord."

Aron says "Belle is, apparently, putting this entire tome on her computer. This book - it is the real thing, Sephar."

Aron says "It mentions the Princes by name."

Sepharpigeon shivers, "Yes, that's what I'd overheard, that they were entering it into a computer..."

Sepharlabrat tells the Tether Seneschal that it might be a Book of Demon Summoning that some human idiot is putting *on* *her* *machine*...

Aron says "It makes some mistakes, of course. Uriel was never the Demon Prince of Purification. But it names Oblivion, and Makatiel's Plague."

At the Tether, Ithuriel just _stares_.

<> Aron says "Press F1 to summon Asmodeus"

<> Sephar dies laughing...

Aron says, dryly, "The book does warn against summoning angels."

Aron says "For fear of earning black-winged vengeance."

Sepharpigeon chuckles dryly.

Aron says "Tania believes Belle to be innocent of all but curiosity. This child considers things Ethereal and Celestial to be products of mortal imaginations and thus suitable for control."

<> Demiurge | Baal, you are a figment of my imagination!

Sepharpigeon shuffles its feet, "Well, the inaccuracies are something... " bobs a nod at the observation. "And that Ethereal Forces may just be used, that terrifies me."

<> Aron says "Baal says, "And you're a puddle" *squash*"

Aron nods. "Tania will work on Belle, and try to sway her. In the meantime, Dr. Matthews has earned my ire.'

Sepharlabrat looks up at Ithuriel, "Is that as bad as I think it could be?"

At the Tether, Ithuriel says, "Yes."

Sepharpigeon nods at Aron, "I will help as I may, though I am spread thin, I can help communicate and coordinate. I don't know who else is free, though."

Aron says "The others are busy with things of import."

Aron says "I will deal with this. I only wanted someone else to know, in case. Thank you, Sephar - you are, as ever, dependable."

Sepharlabrat looks crestfallen, "I was hoping otherwise, ah well. So I think it now a priority to find Belle's house and rescue that poor computer."

<> Demiurge laughs out loud. Forgive me.

Aron says, suddenly, "Did you know that Tania knows the Song of Thunder?"

Sepharbird blushes mildly. "It would help my cause if you had any information as to Belle's residence.. " It looks mildly startled at the sudden interjection, "Uhm... yes... no... uhm... A Remnant at the Opera tried to teach it to her, I hadn't known if she really had it or not."

Aron says "I believe she's learned it - rather astounding, really. Does she find herself most closely guarded by Sarah?"

Aron says "I do not know where she lives, but I can find out."

Sephar says "I think someone was going to take her under their wing as a Soldier of God, but I forgot who."

Sephar says "The Remnant went with Sarah."

Sephar says "I would appreciate the address, Aron, thank you."

Aron nods. "I'll get it from Tania."

Sepharbird bobs and hesitates. "From social patterns, it almost sounds as if you and I should soon be parting, but I've been trying to make sure no membergoes anywhere alone. Would you like my company?"

Aron says "I always enjoy your company, Sephar."

Aron says "I will leave it up to you. If you feel you need to be here, and you can afford the distraction, then I will be pleased to have you with me."

Sepharpigeon chuckles softly and bobs a nod. "Thank you, Aron. It seems quiet enough for now, crackers to eat, a bit of water to sip, and most of my other more active states are passive for the moment."

Sepharpigeon then flutes, amused, "And if you go after Dr. Matthews, I would like to see it."

Aron nods. "I have a dinner engagement this evening. In the time being, I have a manuscript to read. You are welcome to rest here, or read, if you desire."

Aron says "I do wish to get a hold of Eduardo some time in the near future."

Sepharpigeon coo's happily. "Reading would be marvelous." and bobs a nod at that, "He's good to have at hand in a conflict."

Aron says "And he is given to investigation."

Sepharpigeon chuckles. "You have his number?"

Aron says "And he is my brother and I do not speak with him enough. Actually, no."

Aron says "You see how clever it is that you are here."

Sepharpigeon gives Aron Eduardo's work number and chuckles, "I am glad to be of use."

Aron takes down the number and smiles his thanks. "I have manuscripts here that you may feel free to read. They are also in my computer, I am told. I prefer to infuriate my assistant by making her print them out for me."

Aron says "Paper is satisfying."

Sepharbird chuckles softly, "And electronics are so fast."

Sepharbird says it as if quoting someone.

Aron looks wry. "So, read at your convenience, rat of lightning. We will spend a quiet afternoon."

Sephar ruffles feathers, "If I might, I would love to settle in your computer. I imagine with the crackers there will be birds about..."

Aron nods. "Of course, it is why I mention it." He nods to the computer, which is dark, and occupies a little used section of the desk.

Aron pauses. "I suppose I'll have to turn it on?"

Sepharcoo's and chuckles and turns on the computer with its Remote Control, "Not particularly..."

Aron says "Well, I say. Bravo."

Sepharpigeon hops to the computer, possesses the clean circuits, and then flutters the pigeon to the window, by a few more crumbs and settles in, murmuring in its sweet voice from the speakers, "Simply my nature, Virtue, that is all."

Aron smiles and nods. "Of course, Domination." And with that, he leans back and opens up his manuscript.

<> Aron says "No, really, I'm not a Servitor of Destiny. Honest."

<> Sephar grins.

<> Aron says "Sephar finds lots of yet-to-be-published children's and young adult books and probably all those welcome messages that imply a computer that's never really been turned on."

<> Sephar probably sets Aron's machine up much more efficiently and more easily accessed by a novice who is visually oriented when he ever gets back on it, though anything he changed himself to get work done is left alone.

---

Fiat Justitia