Rina-el "Hehe.. You've got that right, kid!" Well, anyway, the others should be arriving
soon, so we may as well be comfortable. And she repositions herself so that
she is leaning on his shins with her head against his knee. 
Rina-el So about 3 hours after Rina-el left
abruptly, Shenmachel reaches her house..
Rina-el It's a very tasteful and welcoming house, with lots of
windows and friendly decor. She leads you past the living room and through a
side door into the garden..
Rina-el "I hope you don't mind if we talk outside.."
Rina-el The garden is truly something to behold - which is just
fitting for a servant of Flowers..
Rina-el "Can I get you anything? Tea, cookies?"
Shenmachel No, I don't. The Seraph stands rigidly erect, although he seems to be a little impressed by the carefully arranged garden.
Rina-el She seems a little apprehensive to you - and you noticed
that she didn't even attempt to hug you when you came in..
Rina-el "Okay.."
Shenmachel Thank you, Intercessionist, I don't need any such thing right now. - Why did you call me to this...private meeting? He looks at her, questioningly.
Rina-el She motions towards any of the chairs, indicating
Shenmachel should make himself comfortable.. She takes a deep
breath, composing herself..
Rina-el "I need to tell you something that I did today that
will probably make you very angry. Please understand that from my point of
view, I couldn't do anything differently..
Shenmachel I'll stand, if you don't mind. The Seraph looks at her, stern and uncompromising. Go on...
Rina-el Then, she kneels before you, in a clearly vulnerable
position.. "I don't know enough about Swords to know what would be
appropriate for this, but I will accept any judgement you feel is warranted -
as long as it doesnt put anyone else at risk.."
Shenmachel What did you do, Intercessionist? The Seraph looks down at her, his face calm and inscrutable.
Rina-el "I called Ryuki as soon as the Corps left to let him
know they might show up, then came here and told him everything that went on at
the meeting."
Rina-el She kneels before you, completely stiff, as if waiting
for the sword to drop.
Shenmachel He waits to see if you add something more.
Rina-el After a short pause, she continues..
Shenmachel His look becomes clearly stricter, though.
Rina-el "The thing is, I know you don't trust him because of
his behavior towards us when we met him.. But
I've known *about* him for a pretty long time.. LA is an area where the
smallest misstep could mean your end, so of *course* he has to be triply
careful with how he acts and whom he trusts..
He's good friends with C, which should tell you something.. And he's *never*,
to my knowledge, done something that would endanger another's life or soul.
Rina-el She pauses, trying to compose herself again..
Shenmachel He's a sorcerer, Intercessionist. Somebody who puts his ego above anything else. I do not forget this as well. Somebody who'd sell Nain, you or me to the other side if this will get him closer to whatever esoteric goal he wants to reach. - Not that I think you'll mourn the loss of some "Swordie" like me much, but...
Rina-el She looks up at him, incredulous.. "Do you really
believe that there can't be sorcerers who are less than totally self-centered?
Shenmachel He looks at her, his gaze meeting hers. There's a hint of...sorrow(?) in his eyes. Well, Intercessionist, the perspective of one's self seems to be an important thing for sorcerers. So even the few who work for our side can't go unsupervised and are watched by angels of the Sword or Judgment - that is, as long as they are known to the Lord Commander.
Rina-el "You *idiot*!" She gets up, furious, then pauses and turns away, breathing hard.. After a moment, still with her back to you, she starts talking again, quietly..
Shenmachel "Idiot", Rina-el? Just because I don't fall for some pretty human's body and his charming attitude?
Rina-el "It doesn't matter, though, does it? None of this
matters, other than that I just threw a wrench into the Corps' plans.. Are you
going to judge me for that, Sword?"
Shenmachel No, Intercessionist. It's not me who judges. He seems to be willing to speak on, but breaks off and pauses, looking at her. When he continues, he's much more silent. I don't know if it even has to be me who...reports, Rina-el.
Rina-el "I don't understand.."
Shenmachel He takes a step behind her, though he doesn't do anything but standing near her very closely. I don't, either. Well, you warned him, Intercessionist. But will this really be something that could stop the Corps? I doubt this
Rina-el "I didn't expect to stop the Corps.. I just wanted
to let him know what to expect - and offer him my presence, if that would help
alleviate the danger he might be in.."
Shenmachel If they want to...talk...to him, they'll do it. I know that Ryuki is...protected by somebody above me in the chain of command, so I don't do anything.
And I hope you don't assume that an angel of Flowers speaking for a sorcerer will make things better if talking to angels of War and the Sword?
Rina-el "Is he now.." she mutters quietly, then laughs
to herself..
Shenmachel This is something you won't use as "currency" when brokering for information, Intercessionist.
Rina-el "Well, I had to do something! I can't afford to take
the risk that the Corps would just get rid of him without giving him a chance
to clear things up. She laughs - and
it's a dangerous laugh.. "Well, my friend, how do you propose to stop me
if I choose to do so?"
Shenmachel I won't
stop. You know how Warriors and Swordsmen think of servants of Flowers. That alone should be enough to stop you.
Rina-el "Yes, I know.. To my sorrow.."
Shenmachel He looks in her eyes, again seemingly wanting to say something but not doing.
Rina-el She sighs. Once
again, she turns away from him, this time curling up on the grass like a lost
kitten.. "You
don't know what it's like out here, Shenmachel.."
She speaks so quietly, it almost
seems as though she's talking to herself.. And you notice the
tears on her cheeks..
Shenmachel What do you mean, Rina-el?
Shenmachel For the first time in the one and a half week she knows him the Seraph sounds...softly when he asks her. Calm, but softly.
Rina-el "We don't call this a Demon town for naught.. They
outnumber us at least 4 to 1 and they are *very* quick to act when they think
we're involved in something.. I have
contacts, collaborators, even some friends amongst the people here, but they
are very few and every move puts them in danger.
Shenmachel He takes
a long look at her and, once again, hugs her gently.
Rina-el "But we all have to do what we can to help the
people here! I can't sit around and let them suffer.."
Shenmachel Why did you call me, Intercessionist. Why did you tell me this? He kneels down besides her.
Rina-el "Oh, there are bright moments.. Every time I walk
into my club and think what it was like before I came and what it is now, I
find joy.. Seeing Mitchem helping people every day in subtle but also dramatic
ways fills me with hope. And then there are people like Ryuki.. Yes, the
Sorcerer you are so quick to prejudice yourself to.."
Shenmachel He listens quietly to an aspect of the Symphony he hasn't heard before. - It also never occurred to him before that a Flowers-angel broke down before him and cried, curled up on some grass.
Shenmachel Am I, Intercessionist? Don't I just follow what God Himself says about sorcery?
Rina-el "Ryuki has managed to do what's best for the people
here, *bettering their lives and giving them hope* while still convincing the
*incredibly high number of Demons out here* that he's a typical selfish
Sorcerer out to get the next big thrill! At that, she just laughs, and for a
moment seems her usual self.. "You need to learn to read between the
lines, there, honey!" Then she hides her head in her knees again.. "Not
everything is black and white, Shen" she mumbles into her knee..
Shenmachel He sighs. Well, Intercessionist, my guidelines are strict. But the Commander of the Hosts of Heaven, appointed by God, approves of them. So who am I to doubt them? I believe in them, Rina-el. As firmly as you believe in Peace being a solution for the War and not something that is to be when it is over...
Rina-el She shrugs..
Shenmachel You're quite apt to able to accept different point of views in humans. Why don't you do so in angels? - I know that you see things different than me.
I don't believe you're right. But I accept it...although I must confess that it is hard, sometimes.
Rina-el "Let's deal with the specifics for now,
please.." She raises her head, looking directly at him for the first time
in this whole conversation.. "What I need to know at this point is this: "Do you trust
me to do my duties - especially after this incident?
Shenmachel I don't think that you will deliberately betray our cause to Hell, Intercessionist. He looks into her eyes. You'll do what you believe to be your Mistress' wishes. And I will do what I think will further the cause of Heaven. He still hasn't broken the link between their gazes.
Rina-el "And can you trust that? For the time that you are
in my city, for the time that our tasks coincide, do I have your trust that I
will do my share to the best of my abilities?
Shenmachel I expect that from every angel, Rina-el, as well as I expect it from myself. Doing anything else would be to fail our cause, in my eyes. And now I just want to know one thing of you: Why did you confess to me?
Rina-el The simple, unvarnished truth, Sword? Because I figured
you'd turn on me then and there for betraying the cause and I wanted you, I
*needed* you to understand why I did so. I still need you
to understand. Though I seem to be doing a pretty crappy job of explaining my
actions. Her frustration is very clear,
as is her fear..
Shenmachel Well, you tried to explain it to me. I don't like the reasoning, though. But it seems to coincide with...the orders I have concerning Ryuki. As long as it doesn't hamper the Corps, I won't feel the need to call in somebody to judge you. I will report it to my superior officer, though, so that there is knowledge about what happens here in our ranks. He seems to think for a moment, confused by her fear.
Rina-el "Shenmachel, there's one thing you're missing in all
of this..:
Shenmachel And this is...?
Rina-el "While I won't stand in the way of the Corps doing
their job, I won't let them simply run roughshod over the people I care about -
nor will I let them needless put said people in danger. I won't let them hurt Ryuki if I can stop it
- the same way I won't let them insult Nain without doing something to stop
it.. And
I'm afraid that the next time something like this happens, you will see it as
my betrayal of the cause..
Shenmachel I don't think they'll do something to the sorcerer you're so fond of. He doesn't seem to be the problem.
Rina-el "Well duh!" *rolling her eyes*
Shenmachel And they're professionals, not the fanatical team of Dominican and Laurencian sorcerer-burners you seem to see before your inner eye. It is clear that he thinks she really sees the Corps as something like this and it is also clear that he's...touched...somehow by this perceived perception of the Sword. And...if there should occur the possibility of something similar happening again, please think hard.
Rina-el "Shen, would you leave your shieldbrother on the
front lines when he's in danger?"
Shenmachel I wouldn't even let you get endangered, Rina-el. He doesn't say this in any way special, it's just a statement. But perhaps this is why it sounds so frighteningly true and...
Rina-el "That's how I feel when my friends and charges are
threatened. I *can't* stand aside. I can't "think hard about it" -
just as you wouldn't think about it in the situation I just gave you."
Shenmachel ...something that he'd "just do, of course", without even blinking.
Rina-el "The only difference is that you put your life on
the line and I put everything else I have on the line instead.. Equal risks,
different perspective.."
Shenmachel He shakes his head a little. This attitude would please Stone, War and the Sword, Intercessionist. So... I hope you do know now that I won't arrest you for just doing your job, Rina-el. I'll do so only if I think that you'll damage our cause.
Rina-el "And yet many of the us who follow Stone, War and
the Sword would see my acting against the best interests of the Corps as
damaging our cause.. It all depends what side of the coin you look at.."
Shenmachel (*tilts his head a little* Just fearing he'd turn on her...? I don't know if I should believe this to be the only cause...) Well, Intercessionist, I'd see it this way, too, if I hadn't been informed by somebody that Ryuki is protected higher up and your actions are...tolerable, given this knowledge.
Rina-el She sighs. "That's what I feared.."
Shenmachel I do so as well, Intercessionist. Because I can't count upon being given the right "background information" to see that your actions actually further higher plans His answer is earnest, but it seems to her that his feelings of sorrow about her perceiving it are sincere, too. You don't know how much I'd like to see a decisive strike being done here. Not just one done against the ideas of Nybass, the uncrowned ruler of this city.
Rina-el She just shakes her head at his audacity. "Theres a two part problem here.."
Shenmachel Not one Trade's, Destiny's and Dreams' angels have to do. But one done with a group of soldiers, carving up the very vessels of every demon around here. He looks at her.
Rina-el "Silly puppy" she mutters to herself, with the
tiniest of smiles..
Shenmachel But I do realize that something like this would terrify you. Even though they did exactly this to the Malakim of this city. I don't understand why you'd be terrified, but I assume you to be so, based on your behaviour.
Rina-el "If only there was even the tiniest chance of that
working, Blade, I'd be rooting you on.."
Shenmachel "Puppy", Intercessionist? Now you're underestimating me.
Rina-el "But what will happen, should any of your Superior's
friends be that stupid, is that once again, all the angels in this town would
be massacred, along with a good sized portion of the people living here - most
likely the ones that have so far been of greatest help to Heaven's cause!
Shenmachel He smiles a little, unhappy smile. That is why we can't do it and have to plan otherwise.
Rina-el "indeed.."
Shenmachel I don't mean to insult you, but...well,...this is why even an angel of Flowers could be useful.
Rina-el She just bursts out laughing from that! "Thank you,
my hero!" She says, when she's managed to calm down enough to speak,
giving him an ironic bow
Shenmachel He just looks at her; his remark wasn't meant ironically or jokingly. No "hero", please. I'm fulfilling my duty, here.
Rina-el "Nevermind, Shenmachel.. I apologize. Your duty is
actually something I wanted to talk to about.."
Rina-el "As I mentioned, we - you and I - have two
problems.."
Shenmachel Go on, Intercessionist. Only two? He smiles ironically.
Rina-el " Heh - only 2 that are affecting me at the moment.
The first is that your view of the Symphony and mine are on the opposite sides
of the spectrum.. There's nothing we can do about that except try to understand
the other's beliefs. The other problem is that we are on the opposite parts of
the ladder..."
Shenmachel He listens to her attentively.
Rina-el "You see the world in terms of Truth and Not Truth -
while I see the world in terms of relationships and reactions. When I work with
you, I trust implicitly that you are the person to turn to for all matters of
Truth and degrees of truth within a conversation. I would expect that when working with me, you
would trust my ability to judge a person's character, as that is my greatest
ability. This being the case, please do
not assume that I defend someone based on frivolous things such as good looks
or charming manners.."
Shenmachel He listens quietly...
Rina-el "I play the light-and-fluffy because it is the
easiest way to get through a persons's emotional defense system and see who
they really are. This I have learned from experience. She pauses there, seeming to remember
something.. Then she notices she's trailed off, gathers herself and continues..
"I
choose the manner in which I further the goals of Peace and Harmony.. One of
those ways, which might surprise you, is to always, *always* do everything I
can to protect the people that are worthy of protection. I won't pick up the
blade to protect them, but *I will take the blow meant for them* if it can buy
them time to get away.
Shenmachel Well, I do trust you concerning relationships.
Rina-el "All I ask from you is that you don't put me in a
position where the person I'm facing across the blade is you.. I don't think I
could bear that anymore. I would like to
ask you to follow my lead in these things, but even I'm not that
optimistic. Just, please, don't have me
taking your sword so someone else can survive." She looks at him earnestly, then, with that
last line, turns away..
Shenmachel He's silent, for a moment. Intercessionist, I don't think I'll have to kill you...
Rina-el Very quietly, "It's not me I'm worried about.."
She
seems very, very sad.. Also, resigned..
Shenmachel ...and... ...I hope I won't get order to kill the sorcerer.
Rina-el Very quetly, very sincerely, full of gratitude. "Thank
you."
Shenmachel I'm just being true to my duties.
Rina-el "As am I.. So I trust we're okay between
us?" There is hope in
her eyes, and the tiniest spark of mischievousness..
Shenmachel I think so.
We're on the same side. In
Rina-el "Hehe.. You've got that right, kid!" Well, anyway, the others should be arriving
soon, so we may as well be comfortable. And she repositions herself so that
she is leaning on his shins with her head against his knee.
Shenmachel He looks at her, questioningly. Then he shakes his head. Stand up, please. You're higher in your Mistress' order than I'm in my Lord Commander's... It'd look...strange.
Rina-el She laughs, seemingly back to her usual self. "Would you
like your tea now, dearie?" She asks, giving him a smile full of genuine
fondness..
Shenmachel He watches her behaviour carefully, looking for hints of her...true feelings. Thank you, Intercessionist, I don't like anything to drink now.
Rina-el "Then make yourself at home, young friend. *I* am
going to have some tea!" With that,
she walks back into the house..
Shenmachel He stands up, looks around and then...decides to follow her. Inside, he looks for her.
Rina-el She's in the kitchen, making tea..
Shenmachel I hope you don't mind me following you around, but I...wasn't sure if you wanted me to follow you inside.
Rina-el I have a cup here if you've changed your mind about the
tea. Shenmachel,
dear - Mi Casa es Su Casa. Really. You are welcome to do whatever makes you
most comfortable - as long as it doesn't include cutting up my roses!" She smiles at him,
warmly, with a twinkle in her eye..
Shenmachel I fear I wouldn't have any talent for a gardener, so I'll better leave that be. And I don't like tea at the moment, thank you. But I still wonder about you going to your knees in front of me... Was it just the sorrow of me turning against you?
Rina-el "Silly dear.." she says fondly, laughing. At this, she turns
to him soberly.. "I wanted you to understand how seriously I took - am
taking - this whole thing."
Shenmachel Okay, now I know. Thank you. I think I've made it clear already that I take everything here serious - as an angel should do.
Rina-el "Of everyone who is mixed up in LA's havoc with me
right now, you are the most rigid in your code and the least likely to
understand my actions. But you never knew how seriously *I* took things. It was a way of showing you that I try to see
your side of things, even when I'm doing something totally different.
Shenmachel Something that is a very fine thing...
Rina-el "Thank you.."
Shenmachel You're welcome. He looks at her, it seems as if he's lost what he wanted to say.
Rina-el She looks at him, once again unsure of herself.. "So
- do you think this warrants a hug?" For once, there is nothing there
except a genuine need to feel cared for..
Shenmachel Be honest: Could I prevent you from doing so, barring the use of force? He smiles friendly.
Rina-el She laughs, but stays where she is..
Shenmachel He seems to think for a moment, to hesitate. But whatever the cause, suddenly he steps forward and gently closes his arms around her.
Rina-el She buries her face into his chest for a moment, savoring
the moment.. "Thank you.."
Shenmachel He closes his arms gently a little tighter around her and then opens them again and steps backwards and looks at her. It warranted, indeed.
Rina-el There's a bond
there between them.. She knows that, opposites they may be, but now.. Now
they're also friends. *Now*, she can tease him without worrying that he'll take
it the wrong way!
Rina-el "Look at that! He has facial expressions!" She
laughs, fondly. "Honestly, I'm glad
we've gotten through that, Shen.
Shenmachel Be the other Mercurians of Flowers what they may be, this one fought for Heaven's side on her own way as hard as anyone else. This was something Shenmachel liked about her very much - although her behaviour...
Shenmachel But we'll have to talk a little about proper behaviour, Intercessionist. He looks at her calmly.
Rina-el "we will?" All mock innocence..
Shenmachel Oh, I think so.
Rina-el "I'm listening.." She finishes
preparing her tea and sits down..
Shenmachel I don't know if it should be in the middle of a crisis. But I'll notice it for later.
Rina-el *blink blink* "Wow, it
appears I'm not listening very well today.. What was that, dear?"
Shenmachel It's more something of "general behaviour of angels"...
Rina-el "we have a general behaviour?"