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Reality Fault

Realms: NachtMusik Logs

"Black Sheep of the Family"

    After the meeting of the Stone Brethren, and as it is leaving Heaven, Shateishael has this tremendous urge to beam at everyone it passes... it lets a wing cover its lower face as it flies, slowly and decorously, as befits a responsible Seraph Vassal of Stone, back towards the Enchanted Rock tether. Once there, it gleefully falls down the Tether, only momentarily holding back a joyful, "Wheeeeeeeeeeee!" and dives to the Enchanted Rock in a glittering, jeweled rainbow of color.

    Shateishael: a palpitating, wingéd snake, bright and cirque-couchant. A gordian shape of dazzling hue: vermilion-spotted, golden, green, and blue. Eyed like a peacock and all crimson barr'd; full of silver moons that, as it breathes, dissolve or brighter shine, or interwreathe their lustres -- so rainbow-sided!

    David returns to his crystals, chuckling softly. The young.


Shateishael blasts exuberantly down the Enchanted Rock tether, and bursts out into the fissure. Its joyous rebel yell trails behind it like a banner, singing through the Symphony, as it sheds speed in several flashing revolutions of the inner fissure. It hopes Mitrah's listening -- it would very much like to thank her for her kindness to it!

Shateishael lands lightly on his booted feet, still in his motorcycle leathers (due to his rush to get to Heaven quickly), and takes a few steps to keep his balance. His wide grin flashes in the dimness of the inner cave as he brings his leather-gloved fists up, palms towards himself, and crosses them at the wrist in a sharp, crisp, rather martial salute towards the inner Rock, "Ma'am, I am in your debt for speaking so well of me to our Bright Lord -- thank you kindly!" He bows his head slightly as he salutes her, as he was taught many, many years ago, pausing momentarily to see if she has any response.

    Slate: male, looks about 20 to 25 years old. Bright blonde hair sometimes worn back in a ponytail, sometimes rather impatiently hacked off in front as bangs. Usually narrowed blue eyes and tanned skin. Broad shouldered, with a muscular torso, like a blacksmith. Slightly sardonic grin most of the time. Usually moves deliberately, tends to wear pragmatic, sturdy clothing: heavy leather boots, jeans, flannel shirts, stuff like that.

Mitrah, of course, is always listening. The Rock groans deeply: I TOLD HIM WHAT NEEDED TO BE KNOWN, NOTHING MORE.

Shateishael is still grinning broadly and exuberantly, "Was still kind of you..." He brings his hands down to a more normal position, adding, "-but I won't waste your time. May I have a push from you back to the city?" as he shifts back to celestial form. His Old Norse salute just feels more right to him in corporeal form.

STAND NEAR THE TREE.

Shateishael sings understanding and starts to lift up to go through the Rock -- then remembers it's rude to push through ladies. Instead it flashes swiftly out the fissure opening, dancing joyously up to swirl colorfully around the single weathered old lone oak growing sturdily on the Rock's surface. It only takes a moment, and the Seraph is pushed without ado through the Tether back to the star beneath the Capitol Dome, under the massive pink granite structure.

Shateishael ends up swirling exuberantly a few times around the Capital Dome as well, still singing its happiness... then it manages to calm down enough that it can find a discreet place to shift back to corporeal form, so it can take the motorcycle back home to the Ranch. It wants to catch Drew there if it can, to reassure the spooky little angel, and to share its wonderful news with Nick and all its companions.

Shateishael saunters out jauntily a moment later, still humming and beaming to himself as he heads for his sturdy old BMW. A moment later he's singing short snatches of a song he heard once -- good driving song, and the lyrics are amusing -- as he roars out towards the highway, "Like a bat outta hell I'll be gone when the morning comes! When the day is over like a bat outta hell I'll be gone, gone, gone...!" He absently notices traffic is starting to get heavy... he decides to take a detour through the West Side to avoid the festival on the Drag -- that'll be faster. He's in the mood for speed just now...

Unfortunately, we don't always get what we want, as yet another song goes. Passing into the outskirts of town, in the same spate of old warehouses that Vilson once occupied, Slate notices even over the din of his motorcycle the echoes of corporeal destruction in the Symphony. Doesn't sound like anyone's died... but someone sure is breaking a lot of stuff. Shateishael straightens slightly on the bike, stopping his singing and listening carefully. He slows down cautiously and tries to track the dissonant sounds... that can't be good.

The echoes seem to be coming from a derelict storage warehouse a few blocks to the west, more outlying than the others. The faded and chipped banner reads 'G.W. Cable and Sons.' While the echoes still ring, there's no sound of destruction or battle at the moment. Shateishael drives over, parks the bike, pulls off the helmet and pauses a moment to listen... then heads cautiously into the building.

The side entrance hangs open, and inside the warehouse is dusty and decrepit. Everything in here smells of grease, dust, and age. This appears to have been the employee entrance... there's a ruined worktable here, and off to the left a filthy abandoned washroom. Everything here is destroyed, as if there was some kind of struggle. The windows are all smashed as well, but whether that's a recent development isn't clear. Around the corner appears to be the entrance to the warehouse floor proper. Shateishael looks around and shakes his head slightly... hell of a battle a few seconds ago! He walks quietly over, careful not to pass under anything that might crash suddenly to the ground, to peer cautiously through the door.

There are muffled voices coming from beyond the entrance to the warehouse floor. The first voice is a low tenor. "...suffer traitors in our midst, Zephrex." The second voice, lower and slightly more muffled, is much more familiar to Slate. It belongs to Sax. "My name's not Zephrex, Zak."

Shateishael listens thoughtfully. Hmm, Zephrex... is that a diabolical name? -then raises his eyebrows -- well, now! He'd not realized Sax was a Redeemed too! He leans slightly, trying to see what he'll be moving in to. No need to throw the first blow, true... but also no need to walk in blind.

The first thing Slate notices, aside from the shattered boxes and broken glass littering the warehouse floor, is that there is blood everywhere. Sax is in the middle of a wide-open area of floor, next to the ramp leading up to the upper walkway, lying on his back. He's holding two very nice looking guns in either hand, pointing them up at Zak, who is standing over him with a large gun of his own. Zak's voice laughs quietly. Sax continues, "And I'm no traitor." Zak says, "No? You defied a direct order? What does that make you, then?"

Zak, whomever he might be, is a tall, slim man with fine features and long, straight, black hair. He's dressed impeccably in a black dress suit. Around his neck is knotted a bright red tie, and his eyes are hidden behind bulky black shades. Shateishael nods thoughtfully to himself, realizing that while Sax' pistols look like a very nice matched set that are resonating in a strange way in the Symphony... they don't resonate the same way this Zak person's gun does. That pistol is resonating Symphonically in a similar way to Rosie's little Holy Pistol... but this one is dark. And bigger.

Shateishael glances at the room quickly, checking where he'll throw himself and roll should Zak swing around to aim at him, then counts on the Michaelite to not waste a chance... and steps out to walk quietly towards the tense little tableau. He grins, raising his voice slightly, "It makes him a friend of mine."

Saxon and Zak look up at the very same moment, and Zak does swing his gun around but doesn't fire; Sax sits up at the movement but Zak is already on top of it -- he extends his other hand at Sax. There's a click. Something bright and sharp is concealed under his fingers... Saxon rolls his eyes in irritation and lies back, still keeping his eyes on Zak. Zak eyes the newcomer with some amusement. "It's not like you to require a second, Zephrex." Sax snorts. "Get over yourself, Zak. I don't need help to deal with you." He turns his head a little toward Slate and calls out, "Hey there, big man! Howdy! I'm glad to see you, but I gotta ask you to stay back, okay? This here's between me and the shithead."

Shateishael tenses slightly, then realizes it's pointless to leap. He looks curiously back and forth between the two, then nods once, rumbling, "You got it." He stops, folding his arms and looking around... he's puzzled. Zak is immaculate, there's blood everywhere, but Sax isn't all damaged looking... so who did all the bleeding?

Zak hmphs. "Is that any way to introduce an old war buddy?" Saxon just replies, "You aren't my buddy." At that moment he swings a leg up and kicks Zak, who stumbles back. Saxon is leaping backward, almost skipping on the concrete surface, toward the rear of the warehouse floor. As he's bringing up his guns, Zak does something quite unusual.

Shateishael tilts his head thoughtfully as another thought occurs to him while he watches. Sax could have just pulled the triggers when Zak looked away -- but he didn't. Is Sax remembering this is a Truce city? -or just not wanting to kill someone he used to work with?

Zak throws his gun -- straight up in the air. At the same time he turns, lashing out with his arm at the retreating Cherub. There's a ratcheting sound, and the bright sharp thing in his hand, a small dagger as it happens, zips after Saxon, trailing a fine silver chain from Zak's sleeve. Saxon grins, hopping again, this time off the wall and up, but before he can take any other action, the blade, which by this time hums darkly in the Symphony, arcs up to follow him. "Holy sh-" He doesn't say anything else. The blade catches just under his nose, and he falls, crumpling to the floor. The actual impact is thankfully obscured by the fact that he was looking down at the rising blade.

Shateishael winces -- that must have hurt. Zak smiles, "Gotcha!" then turns, extending his hand toward Slate. The gun falls right into his hand. "Care to try your luck?"

Shateishael smiles calmly, "Luck at what? This is a Truce city. All I want is Sax, now you're done." He pauses, casually adding, "Unless you want to rumble just for the fun of it?" He doesn't let his gaze leave the diabolical... even though behind it he can see Sax standing up very slowly... grinning, and with the knife caught in his teeth. Sax shoots Slate a wink, and Slate's grin broadens slightly at the diabolical.

Zak smiles broadly. "Always," he says. His smile fades when Saxon whistles, once, high and piercing; he turns, and looks... faintly horrified. Sax spits the knife to one side; the gun is raised already. "A for effort, Zak." Zak only has a half-second to look surprised. *Bang*.

Shateishael grins amusedly and shakes his head once at Sax, "Guns and diabolicals. Geez, Sax... slumming?" He unfolds his arms and moves forward. Best to get the weaponry off the diabolical, in case it's still able to wake up.

Sax lowers the gun and grins. "An' what's that supposed to mean?" He holsters both guns under his arms (so that's what the silly Hawaiian shirts are for), and walks back toward Slate and the fallen Diabolical. "Whoa there, big man... those are mine now. Trophies. For next time I see him."

Shateishael crouches next to the body cautiously, checking to see if it's truly dead or not, "What are? His weapons? S'cool."

Sax gathers up the peculiar little chain device. It's a clever mechanism, but obviously not to the Cherub's liking. He makes a face, "Hmph." Kneeling, he cuts off a lock of Zak's long black hair with the blade, and ties it in a knot. "There." He nudges Zak with his foot. "He's dead, don't worry. Well, he's not dead-dead... we ain't ever gone at it like that."

Shateishael snorts amusedly at the trophy-taking, then sits back on his heels to watch the Cherub a little worriedly, "Wanna tell me how this won't break the Truce, though?"

Saxon tucks the lock of hair in his pocket. "Who's gonna tell? Not me. And I think our respective bosses tend to validate this kinda behavior."

Shateishael regards Sax thoughtfully... then just smiles and shakes his head again, rising lithely to his feet, "'F you say so." He looks around again, indifferent to the pistol Sax wants, then adds a little uneasily, "Where'd all the blood come from, Sax?"

Sax pauses a moment and stands up on the balls of his feet. He grins, sucking in his breath with a hiss, "Hold that thought, big man..." He grunts softly, taking on Essence from his bloody Rite, then sighs after a moment. "Ah. Where was I? The blood? Oh, yeah, that... shithead here set me a little trap. It's dog blood. Sicc'ed a bunch of messed-up canines on me."

Shateishael ews disgustedly, "Guh. Gives mad-doggin' a whole new meaning." He looks around again, then amusedly realizes he's with Wrench on this one -- he wants things to calm down again, and the Truce to hold. To Sax he says, "So... now what? You hanging around in town with Michael still, or have he and his other-side counterpart taken off yet?"

Sax nods. "The Boss has moved on... but the remainder of the warband is still here keeping tabs just in case. The other side's left a Hellforce contingent here too, for the same reason. Provided things cool down here in a few weeks they'll probably roll out around the same time, and I'll be back testing gadgets for Dr. J again." He grins goofily, "Man, you should see the new particle beam weapon..."

Shateishael says, "A few weeks? Good lord, no wonder the Truce is shaky." He shakes his head again, then grins at Sax, "C'mon, axeman, let's see if we can get you at least temporarily somewhere a little calmer." He adds amusedly over his shoulder, as he heads for the door, "Maybe we could, like, talk... where nothing will blow up or shoot or stab at you. So what's this particle beam thingie like? Anything like Vilson's toy?"

Sax grins. "Hey, that's what I'm made for." He starts to follow. However, at that moment several of the remaining unbroken upper-level windows shatter, raining glass down on the two angels. Onto the upper walkway and then down onto the floor leap several of the 'dogs' Sax referred to... black monstrosities the size of a mastiff and with no discernible heads... only gruesome-looking gun appendages. "Uh... tell you in a minute, big man." He grins. "Still feel like helping out?"

Shateishael ducks reflexively at the sudden shattering, then looks around a little disgustedly, "Sure. Good thing Jordi's folks aren't anywhere around." He puts out a hand and says, calmly but without much hope, "Nice doggie?"

Sax chuckles, as the three creatures start to circle. "No, no... big man, you gotta speak a little more directly than that..." So saying, he takes a single step forward and, arms out, throws back his head and howls. There are no words, but everything that can hear the Michaelite's war cry knows that it is irrevocably on now. The dog-things visibly cringe and back away from the source of the sound. "...rrrrrreeeeeeeeeeYYYYYAAAHHHHH- BAD DOG!"

Shateishael grins, "Got that animal magnetism, I see..." He takes advantage of the momentary respite to sing out his version of numinous corpus, strong and solid as Stone, and laughs aloud as he feels the comfortable shift of his vessel to that selfsame Stone.

Saxon draws his guns. "You know it, big man." He moves like he's on rails, "Okay, bro, let's get it on!" Sax is like something out of a John Woo movie; as if to complete the image, as the first recovering hound opens fire, Sax's loose Hawaiian shirt flips up in the wake of the trailing bullets.

Shateishael's gravelly chuckle is slow and unworried. He moves far more slowly than the light-footed War angel, but just as purposefully. Tiny flakes of sharp-edged stone go flying as the bullets stitch across his rocky, impervious front, zinging and whining crazily on the ricochet, and he laughs echoingly again, reaching inexorably for the monstrous creature frantically emptying the magazine against him.

Sax circles behind some of the remaining unbroken crates, bullets sending concrete shards, wood, and metal splinters flying in their wake. Sax doesn't emerge from the other side after passing several crates in this way. The hound pauses, anticipating; a wastebasket goes flying from behind the crate on that side, and Saxon bursts from the other, unloading both pistols without pause.

Shateishael closes a fist on the throat of his monster, lifting its struggling body up high. The other stony fist flashes forward to smash the gun into shattered fragments of metal, and the beast goes limp, swinging slightly in his grip. He looks around deliberately for the remaining creatures.

The hound in Sax's sights rears up, lifted by the force of impact, and Sax continues walking forward, unloading round after round until it falls all the way back and topples over. "Hey, big man, let's clean this up and get this over with! Kick that last one over here!"

Shateishael nods to Sax, rumbling, "On it," and paces heavily for the last, still-shooting creature, the other monstrosity dragging forgotten in his clenched stone fist. The creature dodges away from the stone angel's grasp, inadvertently moving between the two angels.

Sax glances around, then grins. He whistles again, to get the creature's attention, then sprints toward it, dashing in a zigzag until he closes with the hound, hopping up and kicking off its head. He turns in the air and gives it a swift kick in the hindquarters for good measure, then hits the ground running, "Coming through!" He jumps up, kicking off Slate's knee and then his shoulder, passing directly over the statuesque angel as the hound comes right on his heels.

Shateishael chuckles rumblingly again as the War angel bounces lightly over him -- then grins widely, stone teeth bared, as the hell hound tries a little too late to screech to a halt. One stony hand shoots out to close on its neck. He concentrates a moment while bullets spray, firing ineffectively. The gun starts to slowly tilt up and back, clicking frantically and repeatedly now that it's out of bullets. Slate continues to twists his hand back -- and there's a sharp snapping noise as the neck breaks and the monster collapses like a puppet with its strings cut. Slate turns, one beast in each fist, and just grins at Sax.

Sax, for his part, hangs from a bit of overhanging electrical conduit, the other gun dangling from the fingers of his other hand. "Well, that was fun. Shall we go?"

Shateishael laughs again, the sound bouncing and echoing around the warehouse as he drops the monsters, "Sure... no one else to play with now." He starts walking towards the door, his heavy tread crushing glass and concrete shards into powder. The Stone form ripples off his body from head to booted feet like water rolling off him, and by the time he's passing through the door he's moving more normally, and back to his more usual black leathers. "So... I take it Zak's one of Baal's? And... want a lift somewhere?"

Sax drops down to the ground, landing cat-footed, and holsters his other gun. "The shithead? Yeah, that's Zakrael. Impudite I used to know."

Shateishael nods, murmuring, "Heavily armed little shithead..." as he pulls on his helmet and offers one to Sax.

Sax shakes his head, "Nah, I got one of my own, thanks. Where you headed? I'll follow you."

Shateishael says, "Back to the Ranch. Got some news I wanna share with folks, wanna try to catch Drew there, and..." he grins lazily at the Cherub, laying out his real bait to get him out of the Truce-shaken city, "-Rei said she'd be turning up there sometime soon."

Sax grins. "Yeah, I should go check in. I can hole up somewhere for the night; that's as good as any."

Shateishael chuckles, swinging a leg over the bike and flicking the engine into a low growl, "See you there then, dude."

Sax nods, "You got it." Sax isn't visible right away, but once clear onto the highway Slate can see him in the mirrors, a black motorcycle of familiar 'rice rocket' design.


Thessaloniki returns from his shopping trip, having picked up enough groceries to keep whoever might be stopping by for a while satisfied, and having picked up Rosenstern; not in that order. When he sees Rei's car he says, "Why, look, company already," and beams quite cheerfully. He leads Rosenstern in, all too happy to see guests, letting himself in -- it is, after all, his house. He looks around to see who's handy, calling, "Hi there, ho there."

Rosenstern blinks a bit at the car; considering he's never seen it before just now, he's amazed that it was lying all but abandoned in the Alamo's parking lot. Man, Nick is a virtuoso with cars! he thinks admiringly. He follows Nick in, wondering who the company is, though thinking it's probably Rei considering she had said she might be coming by.

Rei calls out from the living room, "Hey, Nick!" She comes out to meet him, and without being asked helpfully relieves him of a bag of groceries. "I was wondering where you'd been all this time." Taygeta follows Rei out, and in a rather unfeline fashion carefully stays out from under feet as the groceries are brought in.

Thessaloniki says, "Hi, Rei! Nice to see you again!" He explains, "I wondered if we wouldn't get a few folks coming out here while things are a little confusing in town, so I went ahead and stocked up on some things." He cheerfully begins putting things away, asking, "You finding everything you want here okay?"

Rei grins, "No problem. I fed the Kyriotate to make up for giving him a scare earlier... hope that's okay. I guess Tay's not really ready to be a full-on hacker yet." Taygeta meows and jumps up on the table, shaking his head. Rei smirks. "Told ya."

Rosenstern smiles warmly as he sees the Bright. "Hello again, Rei!" he says cheerfully, helping in a couple of bags himself. He blinks a little as he maneuvers to the kitchen and pantry. A scare...? He looks to Tay-tom. "Well, he seems in good spirits, at least, and none the worse for wear..."

Thessaloniki says, "Sure it's okay. Make yourself at home. Anything exciting going on, or just come out here to see Rosie and play with the cat?" Rosenstern is a bit glad that he's carrying the bags into the pantry; his blush isn't visible that way.

Rei smiles and takes the bags from Rose. "Hey, you," she grins, taking the bags from the Novalite (and surreptitiously giving him a little peck on the cheek), and takes them back to the kitchen. "Actually, Nick, I was hoping to get outta town for a little bit. I've been running for a week straight... and Austin's even weirder than usual lately." Rosenstern doesn't quite falter in his steps, but can't hide the blush this time, or the momentary dazed and inexplicably blissful look.

Thessaloniki says, "Well, you're welcome to linger here as long as you like. I expect I might even find a flat surface you could tinker on if it'd make your boss happier."

Rei smiles, "If you can find me a flat space to set my laptop on, Nick, that'll be just about everything I need."


It's wearing into late afternoon/early evening by the time the two angels arrive at the Ranch. There are lights on inside, and Rei's little resurrected car sits out front.

Shateishael glances at Rei's car as he pulls off his helmet and pushes his mane of hair back, then turns to grin at Sax as the War angel pulls up on his bike, "Hey! Guess she's here already!" He strides for the door, grinning exuberantly at his news.

Sax grins, leaving his helmet on his handlebars, gesturing at the newly arrived cars. "See, this is what I'm talking about. You go out, you kick the hell out of evil, you come home, you kick back with your friends. Why can't anyone else dig that?"

Shateishael laughs, deep and rumbling and very happy sounding, as he opens the door -- then yells, "Hey, the house! Hail the conquering heroes!" He grins down at Sax next to him, "Close enough, eh?"

Sax smirks. "It'll do for now."

Taygeta comes out to meow at the new arrivals and lead the way to the others. Shateishael strides on through towards the kitchen, where the wonderful smells are coming from, and casually scoops up the cat as he goes, "Heya, Tay-Tom! Brought Sax home for dinner and for Rei, and got some great news!"

Sax just grins and follows the bigger angel in. "Yo, cat."

Shateishael bursts into the kitchen exuberantly, cheerfully hugging the first person in his way, "Nick! Guess what David did?!"

Thessaloniki is hugged by a large, blonde, enthusiastic man carrying a cat. He says succinctly, "Oof," then grins at his older friend, "Well, must be quite something to have made you so happy. What did we miss?"

Rosenstern blinks, quizzically looking up from the pot of stew at the hail. Conquering heroes? Oh, Heavens, he and the Old Guy got into a smack-down with some Calabites, I bet... The thought is only joking, however, and he's honestly glad to see the Seraph. The enthusiastic greeting he gives Nick makes him intrigued. "Hello, Slate -- and hello, Sax, good to see you again! Why so exuberant?"

Taygeta scrambles out of the way of the hug, trying for Slate's shoulder... Shateishael's leathers creak as he laughs and puts Nick back down, still beaming, and the cat makes a successful leap for one broad shoulder, "Dude, you are looking at Stone's newest Vassal!"

It takes Nick half a moment to remember the rankings the other Superiors use, but when he does he grins and says, "Well, congratulations, Slate! I'm certain it's completely deserved," and beams at him.

Rei grins, "Aha, there he is!" She bounds enthusiastically into the Cherub's arms, and is embraces with equal vigor. "The conquering hero and stuff, yeah," he answers. Rei and Sax both smile and nod at the news. Sax grins, "Hey, that's a hell of a promotion. Good deal." He gives Slate a salute that's a lot sharper than his slacker demeanor would indicate... Rei for her part gives the big Seraph a congratulatory hug.

Shateishael beams at Nick, "Believe it or not, Mitrah spoke for me!" He blinks as he's hugged by the Bright -- then laughs and cheerfully lifts her off her feet in another exuberant hug! Rei eeps softly, but smiles. Taygeta purrs and rubs against Slate's cheek by way of congratulations.

Rosenstern blinks to Slate, then his expression becomes a wide smile. "Congratulations, Slate! Vassal of Stone... that's great news!"

Thessaloniki chuckles, "I believe it, Slate. You listened to her and cared, rather than just expecting her to be a stony bitch outside of town. Of course she noticed that. Not only that, you kicked butt."

Shateishael puts Rei down gently, then grins at Rosenstern, "Thanks, guys!" as he lightly scritches the cat's ears. He pauses a moment -- then remembers his cooking skills (or lack thereof) and settles down in a chair out of folks' way. He's still grinning exuberantly as he realizes he's also still in his leathers, and starts unzipping and unbuckling as he answers, "Well, interestingly enough, apparently the Seraph Council wants to see me tomorrow morning -- and I think you guys too? -- to hear what exactly happened, so they can make good policy for Austin." Taygeta jumps down to the table again as Slate starts getting rid of the leather, and blerts in inquiry.

Thessaloniki returns to poking at vegetables and says, "Well, if they call, I shall go."

Shateishael laughs boomingly at a sudden thought, then adds as he tosses the jacket and chaps on another chair, "Well, she technically is a stony bitch... she's just a lady too!"

Rei says, "Council meeting? Cool. You guys are getting all important and stuff." Sax hehs. "Regular movers and shakers."

Shateishael grins at Rei, "Nah, I think Dominic just wants folks that haven't been in Austin enough to have developed judgement-altering alliances. That... or they want to hear what happened in the catacombs." He looks around, adding, "Hey, Nick... did Drew turn up yet? He was gonna tell you I was off upstairs and wasn't sure when I would make it back...?"

Rosenstern grins. "Most Holy Shateishael, Seraph Vassal of Stone..." he muses, then trills the name and title softly, almost to himself, in Enochian, and nods. It has a very nice ring to it. The mention of the hearing catches his attention, and makes him blink sharply. "The... the Council of the Most Holy? Err..." He fidgets just a little, getting out of Nick's way. "Uhm... how do you mean 'good policy,' Slate? They wouldn't annul the Truce, I don't think."

Shateishael nods to Rosen, leaning back in the chair, "Toss me a beer, wouldja? Yeah, I hope they won't either... hey, did I tell you guys about my meeting Wrench? Was kinda interesting..." He relates the short meeting, then adds, "Drew's got problems right now too, I think."

Sax finds himself a place to sit and stretches out... at least until Rei employs him as a cushion. He says, "Wouldn't worry about it; the Council's pretty conservative usually. They wouldn't do anything that heavy-handed on the basis of one incident. Least, I doubt they would."

Rosenstern nods, opening and reaching into the fridge. He retrieves and... thinks twice before simply lobbing the bottle across the room, instead going over to the table and offering it to Slate, taking the moment to perfunctorily take the folded paper from his vest pocket. "Wrench must also be getting worried about the Truce. He's not the only one..." He looks relieved at Sax's opinion.

Thessaloniki says, "I haven't seen Drew." He asks the cat, "Have you noticed him around?"

Rosenstern frowns slightly. "Funny you mention Druiel..."

Shateishael grins amusedly at the careful Mercurian, accepting the bottle with a quiet rumble of, "Thanks," then pops the top and has a long draught. He sighs gustily, then nods to Sax, "Sure hope not."

Sax wraps his arms around Rei's waist; she grins and melts back into him. She nods. "They're cautious by nature... they'll debate for a while, argue for a while... then the Archangels will call for a vote and eventually something'll get done."

Shateishael grins at the cute couple, then gently nudges the apparently silent cat on his shoulder with a finger, "We need to work out a meow code for you or something. One for yes, two for no, or whatever."

Thessaloniki thinks about it, then says, "Maybe he called." He steps around the corner into the office. Everyone can hear him fooling with his slightly outdated answering machine; it clunks and beeps.

Drew did leave a message, as it happens; his voice is half-drowned out by the noise of a lot of people in the background. He must be at the Drag party. "Sorry I didn't come by myself, guys, Tomas intercepted me and I couldn't get away... but Slate wanted me to tell you guys that he got called up and wasn't sure when he'd be back. Um, he left by the Rock, I think, so, you know, if you're looking for him, he'll probably make it back around the park." One unintelligible voice rises above the others. There's a pause. Drew continues, "Well, I gotta get going. Take it easy out there."

Taygeta purrs... and meows once. Shateishael grins at Tay-Tom, then nods at the message, "Good, he did get through. Wonder what Tomas needed?" He thinks a moment, then grins again, muttering quietly, "Protection, maybe?"

Sax hehs. "He is kinda fragile."

Thessaloniki hmms, comes back into the kitchen, and says, "Yep, Drew did call." He relates the details of the message, then answers Slate, "Maybe nothing more than someone to come to the party. Maybe that. Maybe he's just trying to keep Drew out of trouble."

Shateishael nods quietly to Nick, "Yah... Drew's looking for whoever was pushing him with bad drugs. He wants to make 'em pay, Truce or no Truce. Dunno if that's such a good idea..."

Thessaloniki sighs and shakes his head, saying, "How could it possibly be a good idea? He's going to get himself in trouble good."

Shateishael nods again, "Well, he's one of the folks that's supposed to talk to the Council... so maybe Tomas can keep him out of trouble tonight, and we can try to do the same tomorrow?" Taygeta shakes his head. His vocalization sounds suspiciously like 'Now.' Shateishael glances curiously at Rosenstern, "So... why'd you mention Druiel?" Sax and Rei make themselves perfectly comfortable, listening quietly. Rei makes herself comfortable mostly at Sax's expense. Fortunately she doesn't weigh very much.

Rosenstern glances to Nick and nods. "Uhm. Probably." No, wait... He doesn't want to keep secrets from any other angels, but he also promised the McKays not to tell any others about them. He purses his lips at Slate's question. "I was on the Drag today, and went to one of the venues there -- hey, that reminds me, Nick, have you ever heard of a guy named Junior Brown? Uhm, but that's later. When I left there I found a note tucked into my pocket; said that someone was pushing bad X and it was probably Mackie. Isn't he the Seneschal of House of Pain?"

Shateishael nods to Rosie, "House That Pain Built, yup. That, I think, is who Drew's convinced is pushing him too... Drew initially accused Hugo of breaking his promise to Drew, but Hugo denied it vehemently."

Rosenstern nods to Slate quickly. "That's it, right. Uhm? What promise was that?"

Taygeta lifts his head up from his paws and listens more alertly. Thessaloniki says, "You don't think Druiel'd be stupid enough to do anything against Mackie, do you?"

Shateishael's voice shows his distaste, "To give Drew drugs to kill his victims painlessly. Apparently the heart of the last girl... exploded. I'm not sure, but I think Drew took some too." He glances gravely at the Ofanite, "Actually I do, Nicky." Taygeta nods, thinking to himself, Drew hasn't struck me as too tightly wrapped so far.

Rosenstern makes a face. "X doesn't usually do that, even bad X. Gah..." He looks really pained for a moment, then shakes his head; the questions that burst into his mind are ones that have been addressed -- and answered -- by Mercurians and Novalites for millennia.

Thessaloniki sighs, "We gonna try and keep him doing something stupid then? I'm getting tired of pulling this little punk's ass out of the fire."

Shateishael shrugs at Rosie, "Dunno what drug it was. He mentioned pink foam. He was... really upset..." His voice trails off... then he says slowly, "I... remember... Wrench must know either Hugo or Mackie were pushing Drew to snap..."

Rosenstern casually sets the note on the table near Slate. "I don't know, Nick. With the Truce, there's real limits to what the Host can do here to counter that sort of thing, I guess." He folds his arms, then frowns and looks to Slate. "You think one or the other are trying to make him... make him Fall?"

Shateishael sighs and nods to Nick, then glances at the note... then has another swig of beer. He looks up at Rosie, "Don't know. Gotta admit, if Wrench knows about it, why hasn't the big brick done something about it?"

Thessaloniki says, "Or to break the Truce, without being blamed for it, Rosie. And I think Drew's just the kind of hothead who'd do that, too." He looks at Slate and says, "If Wrench knows about this... yes, why not? It's in his best interest to prevent the Truce breaking up, too." Shateishael nods dryly to Nick, running a finger thoughtfully around the bottle lip as he thinks. Taygeta pads over to Rei's laptop and meows questioningly at her, pawing at it.

Rosenstern grimaces, shaking his head as he reaches down and tucks the note back into his pocket. "And with the Seraphim Council gathering tomorrow to talk about the Truce..." He shakes his head. If Drew took the stuff that he gave the girl... it almost sounds like he was trying to discorporate himself at the same time. Man, that Word must be eating him alive. He shouldn't have tried to look for one so young, it's blasted hard... "Would it be too untoward that... somehow, someone recommend that Druiel be... moved somewhere else? At the very least? Wait, no, that would do exactly zilch..." Thessaloniki mutters quietly at himself.

Rei's laptop remains impassive until the third or fourth paw, at which point the screen spells out in large red block letters, STOP POKING ME. Shateishael glances over at the cat incuriously -- then his eyes widen, and he burst out in a laugh! Rei sits up a little and looks at the cat. She frowns. "Taygeta, what do you want?" Rosenstern looks startled at Slate's sudden laugh, then looks over at where the Seraph is look, and can't repress a soft laugh himself.

Taygeta blerts at the screen message, then taps the keys. Just permission to use it, Rei. What's with the screensaver?

The screen's message changes. I SAID BACK OFF. Rei says, "It's not a screensaver, Taygeta, it doesn't work for anyone but me." She rises and moves toward the desk, shooing the cat away. "Go on, back off before you piss him off any more." She keys in her login and turns it toward the cat. "There. Ask first next time."

Taygeta meows at the computer, then nods to Rei. I was asking. Didn't know it would get mad at me. Shateishael watches the cat, idly curious as to what it wants.

Rei says, "Remember what I said; there's only one like it, and it's mine... my invocation's the only one that it will accept unless I set it up specifically to accept someone else." She settles back down in Sax's lap.

Taygeta settles down again, and thinks for a moment. He'd have forgotten what he was going to say if he didn't have a photographic memory... Drew has a very tough Word to deal with, and I suspect that dealing with it here in the Truce City is making it harder. A suggestion to move him to a secure location might allow him to do what he originally intended with it.

Shateishael says, "How's being here, where a demon and an angel have kind of adopted him, and where Mitrah's giving him a place to go, and where there aren't any demons after him usually... make it harder for him?" He has another sip of beer, then goes back to regarding the cat.

Taygeta continues typing. As it stands, he is very vulnerable to manipulation by the Other Side. The other problem is that he seems to keep getting involved in things that come perilously close to truce breaking. He needs time to recover, I think.

Thessaloniki asks what the cat typed, as he's busy with stew. Shateishael reads aloud for Nick... who considers, then says, "And it might also make it worse, because the diabolicals would be able to work more directly to make him Fall." He nods at Slate's earlier comment and says, "And that, Slate. It might remove what little support network he has." He mutters something about what Drew needs but it's not clearly audible, or polite. Slate just grins broadly at Nick's assessment of what the little Seraph needs.

Rosenstern says, "Maybe, Tay, but I have a feeling Laurence won't move him. It can't hurt asking... but you're right, Slate, I think. Both sides are limited in what can be done to the other side." He rubs his forehead, trying to remember if there was any angel he knew in his years who had come close to Falling but was pulled from the brink.

Shateishael says, "Personally I think he needs someone to help him figure out how to support his Word without killing folks. That'd do it, 'f'y'ask me."

Rosenstern murmurs to himself, "And it would make every Novalite most pleased indeed..."

Taygeta meows at Nick's comment. Yes, but besides that...

Thessaloniki says, a little irritatedly, "Besides that nothing! He needs to grow up and stop wallowing in his own angst, and decide how he's going to handle himself, before he gets himself into a place no one can get him out of, or he Falls. He was one of the many responsible for getting us into that first mess, and he seems bound and determined to continue to do foolish, thoughtless, dangerous things, despite anyone's best interest, including his own."

Shateishael nods to Nick calmly, "Ayup, that too. Think that's pandemic in Austin, though..." Rosenstern blinks, in abject surprise at the Ofanite's unexpected, emotional exclamation... and can only nod slowly in agreement. Thessaloniki mutters something else, but it's very quiet indeed. He concentrates on stew, which probably need attention at the moment anyway.

Taygeta jumps down to pad over to Nick and rub against his ankles, purring. Shateishael glances at Nick... then rises quietly and heads for the fridge. "Anyone want a beer?" He makes sure to put an opened bottle within easy reach for Nick too.

Thessaloniki says, "Gah," and doesn't trip on the cat. He sighs, and says, "Shoo, silly thing, before you get stepped on," but not angrily. He turns the stove down a great deal and picks up the beer, saying, "Thank you, Slate." He has a drink and goes over to one of the chairs, settling into it slowly and saying, "By all the gods, you'd think people'd learn after a hundred years or so; but they just keep doing the same shortsighted things." He sighs and tries to relax.

Sax gets up slowly, depositing Rei in the chair in his place. "Right, well, I'm gonna go take this iron off." He moves off into the back room he and Rei previously occupied.

Taygeta laps at his water dish for a moment before jumping back up to the computer. Iron? What were you two up to, Slate?

Shateishael settles back down in his chair after having gotten drinks for folks. He nods to Nick, then glances over at the cat's meow, "Uh... oh, right. Sax was arguing with a former, um... teammate? Picked up some unholy weaponry from him..." He relates the story, deliberately trying to keep the mood light.

Rei's computer scrolls a message across the bottom of the screen. Don't be getting water on me, fool. Taygeta ignores the computer with dignity. He wasn't dripping water on anything. Shateishael almost coughs out his beer when he notices the computer's reply. He grins and nudges Nick gently, nodding at the irritated machine. Thessaloniki looks up at the computer, then shakes his head, "You just can't win, can you, Tay?" He adds, "Leave the poor thing alone and bring 'round a crow, so you can talk to us." Taygeta thinks about that and then nods, heading for the window and looking out over the fields.

Rosenstern blinks, looking to Slate and frowning. "So this... Impudite set a trap for Sax, and Sax shot him. Self-defense, that is." He shakes his head quietly, sighing. "And Hellforce. Well, he started it." He's surprisingly untroubled by the Impudite's discorporation.

Shateishael nods, still grinning, then concludes his story, "So... tomorrow morning I have to go talk to the Council. Dunno if they'll ask y'all or no. After that... Sax says the warbands will probably be here a few weeks still." He gets a thoughtful look, then adds, "Y'know, now's probably the best time for whatever Drew wants to do. It could maybe get blamed on one of the warbands?"

Thessaloniki says, "Be cleaner if one of the diabolicals did it. It'd look like regular politics, triggered by the tension."

Shateishael nods thoughtfully, "Wonder if Wrench actually is planning something..."

One of the crows wheeling over the fields breaks off and lands outside the kitchen window, as the cat jumps down again and curls up by Rei. Rei shakes her head. "Mike or Baal's guys will probably take credit for any kills they make. And technically they're, um, 'peacekeeping'."

Shateishael says, "Hmm." He grins wryly at Rei, "Let me guess... taking down Seneschals isn't part of that peacekeeping?"

Thessaloniki comments, "Better yet. The locals won't have any excuse to hate each other for it." He sounds kind of tired of the whole convoluted politics of the city.

Rei snorts. "Not hardly."

Taygeta caws. "That Seneschal wasn't in Austin."

Thessaloniki says, "I think he meant Mackie."

Shateishael nods unsurprisedly at Rei... then looks at Nick a bit worriedly, "Hey... Nick. Be cool, guy, 'kay?" He pauses to nod to the crow, "Yah, Mackie," then adds to the Ofanite, "Want some help serving dinner?"

Taygeta ahs. "Oh, him. That would be a bit over the top, wouldn't it."

Sax wanders back out of the back room wearing just the Hawaiian shirt and nothing under it, muttering darkly. "...messed up my last clean undershirt, man."

Shateishael snorts amusedly at Sax. Thessaloniki says, "Laundry's easy, Sax, we can fix you right up," and smiles at the warrior.

Sax grins. "'preciate it. Anything we can do for you?"

Rosenstern does look discomfited by that thought, of the 'peacekeeping.' He looks over to Sax, tilting his head to the side a bit, but only grins quietly and looks to Nick. "I'll set the table..."

Taygeta nods. "Drew is doing his level best to prove that Darwinian processes can work on Celestials. Let's not get caught when he goes down." Rosenstern glances to Taygeta, and bites his lip, his expression closed as he sets the table for a stew dinner. But we can't knowingly let one of the Host Fall...

Shateishael glances at Tay, "Drew is not a fishing weight, dude."

Taygeta-crow shakes his head. "No, and I'm not saying we should abandon him. But he's dangerous to himself and others."

Thessaloniki stands and says, "On one hand, we get this stupidity from Drew, and on the other I can sit in coffee shops and banter with demons, and they don't even realize it." He chuckles more himself and adds, "That was fun."

Shateishael blinks at Nick, then grins, rumbling, "Okaaay... wanna share?"

Thessaloniki wanders back into the kitchen, flicks on a broiler, and begins to rummage for bread. He says, "Oh, yeah, that." He tells the story of his conversation with Marlena at the coffee shop, while it toasts.

Shateishael laughs aloud at parts of it, and looks fascinated by other parts. "Wonder who exactly she works for... and what exactly she's looking for? What she said? -or Frex' bomber?"

Thessaloniki shrugs, and says, "I dunno. I didn't give her much real information, just one tidbit and some logical conclusions. We'll see if she turns up again."

Shateishael nods to Nick, then rumbles, "Maybe I'll just keep quiet around her... sounds like she prefers the mind games anyway." He grins at Nick.

Thessaloniki chuckles and says, "Okay, I'll take care of that."

Rosenstern hmms quietly, folding napkins. "I wonder which 'voice from on high' sent her..."

Shateishael nods thoughtfully to Rosen's comment... and wonders about the note. Laboriously written with a felt-tip pen, all capital letters... he wishes he had more data.


About five AM, while Rosenstern is headed down the hallway for something, Rei walks out of the door from the room she's sharing with Sax, and bumps physically into the Mercurian. "Oh! Oh, sorry, Rosie." She's wearing her black tank top and a pair of similarly colored underwear. "You okay?"

Rosenstern can't for the moment imagine why Rei would be asking him what's wrong... he was just being a bit pensive and going out to take in the sunrise outside. Then he realizes that it's probably the fact that he's simultaneously trying hard not to stare, and trying to get his vocal chords back into gear. Once he gets himself back in order, he manages a sheepish smile. "Oh! Ah... I'm ... fine, Rei, just going out to see the sunrise, in the garden." He looks momentarily wry. "I, er, pulled a silly and, in the end, useless stunt the other night, and lost a lot of Essence in doing it." He nods to the window. "Just... recuperating, and spending some 'quality time,' kind of," he finishes with a grin.

Rei grins, "Yeah, that's cool, I understand. You want some company? Or you want to come watch with us?" She gestures back into the darkness.

Rosenstern blinks in surprise. "I'd never turn down any company to watch the sunrise, Rei. I didn't know you were watching the sunrise, though. I wouldn't want to intrude, and I know it's really early, too..."

Rei smiles and sighs, shaking her head. "It's no intrusion, Rosie. I'm gonna go get back in bed. Don't stay outside too long, okay? You'll catch cold."

Rosenstern blinks a little, then quickly shakes his head. "Ach... I'm sorry, Rei. This is what got me in trouble the other day. I've been speaking without thinking lately." He looks to her, smiling wanly. "Actually... I'd be honored, and glad, and happy to watch the sunrise with you both."

Rei pauses and smiles over her shoulder. "It's about time you answered a yes/no question with a yes or a no. C'mon in and sit down. The window's open." Rosenstern blinks a little and smiles, quietly nodding. Rei puts her feet in Rosen's lap and leans on Sax while the sun comes up, and Rosenstern discovers that Sax has quite a few tattoos on his torso. He remembers, appropriately enough as the sun comes up over the horizon, a little koan which ended, ...and the student was enlightened.

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