‹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 doesn’t 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.."


03:50:40 ‹Shenmachel› But I strongly advise you to let the Corps do its work. Especially you wouldn't like to have a squad of Malakim of War or even the Sword investigating the matter.   Instead of them...


03:50:57 ‹Rina-el› "Well, I can only hope that this situation does not repeat itself.."  She looks at him in shock..  "Please tell me you didn't just suggest bringing a Malakite to LA!"


‹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.  "There’s 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 L.A., that's more important than in many other places.


‹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?"