"Sinking," Part Two
Aug. 12th, 2004 12:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jeriendhalJust an R-rating this time for language.
Michael fought the urge to start tapping his foot on the floor of the Seraphim Council chamber as Laurence slowly made his way to the front of the room. The Commander of the Host was trying to contain his righteous anger, and he wasn't doing a very good job of it. No big surprise, considering that for the second time in less than a century one of their own decided to take a walk and not tell anybody. Fucking stupid kid, he thought irritably, at least Eli put his house in order before he left.
It was a full house in the chambers, for the first time in at least a couple of decades. Nothing like a crisis we can't do anything about to bring everybody together.
The Archangel of the Sword waited a moment for the room to settle down, then began to speak.
"These are the facts that are known to me," he said, eyes hard. "Christopher is missing. Has been missing for at least a fortnight, possibly longer. He has not appeared in the Council Chambers, in his own Cathedral, nor at any of Children's Tethers. Worse still, he has not answered the invocations of his Servitors, even when desperately needed on at least two occasions. Unfortunately this situation, in my opinion, is consistent with the pattern of behavior he has been exhibiting since Druiel, Seraph Angel of Teenage Death, Fell into the service of Saminga. We must now determine if there is any indication whether Christopher has Fallen himself, or perhaps become voluntarily Outcast, as Eli has done. And if that is so, we must determine how to bring him back to Heaven to be properly chastised."
The Council chamber rumbled as the Archangels digested that statement. No mercy, Michael realized. After losing Eli, Laurence and Dominic aren't going to hesitate to bring Christopher to heel, if they can find him. And they probably wouldn't take the risk of ending up with another basket case like Gabriel, who from the looks of her had reached the same conclusion as the Archangel of War had. The Wheel of Fire was spinning agitatedly above her seat, trying to deny the obvious. If they catch Chris, the best the kid can hope for is to be stripped of his Archangel status. At worst… Michael heard himself sigh, and stroked the handle of his axe. I took on the Lightbringer himself. And you don't use a sword for an execution.
Dominic twisted himself out of his seat, his six red eyes blinking. "I would remind those here," Judgement said, "that however much Christopher has made himself disliked in the previous few months, that does not make a proper investigation unnecessary. We must discover the reasons behind his disappearance, and if it was done out of disrespect for Council's, Heaven's, or God's strictures, and then he must be brought to bear for his crimes. If there are extenuating circumstances, however, those also must be judged, and Right Mercy applied if called for."
Hellfire, the Cloak is getting mellow in his old age. Michael glanced around to try and get the measure of the other Council members. Novalis and Zadkiel, Chris' fellow Cherubs and most consistent defenders, were nodding in agreement, glad that no one was rushing to Judgement. Janus was grinning, but then Janus was always grinning, especially when the Council got a hair up its collective ass. Jean and Khalid looked sanguine, content that Judgement wasn't acting precipitously. David, along with Laurence, was looking vastly unhappy. No surprise there, given the he and Christopher weren't exactly on speaking terms anymore. And Yves looked like… well, Yves, sitting quietly in his seat, a lit cigarette in his hand, brushing the occasional ash droppings off his sweater. Speak up, you old man, Michael thought in frustration, Christopher might be David's offspring, but he was Destiny's child. Don't you care what's happening?
And that left Marc, who hadn't said a single word to anyone since entering the Council chamber, but who gained everyone's rapt attention when he stood up, stretched his wings, and cleared his throat.
"Lord Commander," the Archangel of Trade began, looking unhappy. "I believe I can answer your concerns about Christopher's current… status."
"By all means, give whatever information you can to the Council's attention," Laurence replied, ceding the floor to him.
"Thank you, Lord Commander." Marc said, still frowning. "You will understand why I do not wish to reveal the exact nature of some of my sources, given the precariousness of their current positions, and the terrible consequences if their treachery is revealed."
"That is understood," Laurence replied. "We will rest assured that your sources have your trust."
"Yes," Marc agreed. "That said, an agent of Trade, who has been lately following the Ang— the Demon of Teenage Death, revealed that he was given leave from Saminga's service temporarily, and placed in the service of Fleurity, Demon Prince of Drugs, apparently at Drugs' behest. In turn, Fluerity and Druiel were observed entering Andrealphus' Brothel and remaining there for some time. They emerged only after a minor Habbalite in the service of Drugs was sent to Earth, to leave a message for Christopher's personal attention at one of Children's Tethers."
Oh, no. Stupid, fucking stupid kid…
"Christopher was observed arriving at the Tether, and reading the message. He then left the Tether's locus, at approximately the same time that Andre, Fluerity, and Druiel also arrived on Earth. The Seneschal of the Tether, as we already know, was the last angel to see Christopher in the past fortnight."
"He would have fought," Zadkiel interrupted, "he would have caused Disturbance in the struggle. Christopher would not have gone willingly with any Demon Prince, least of all Lust and Drugs."
"One would assume," Marc agreed, "But all I can tell you is that when Andre and Fluerity returned to the Brothel they had a hooded and shackled prisoner with them, which they immediately took inside and into the lowest vaults of that place."
Rumble, rumble…
Laurence rapped sharply on his gavel and the noise in the room subsided. "Thank you, Lord Marc," the Angel of the Sword said gravely. "The news you have brought to us is valuable, but I fear it is incomplete. We request that you investigate further, and attempt to confirm whether Children truly is being held in the clutches of Lust. Then we will be in a position to discuss what should be done next."
Fuck, he is not going to do this. Michael stood up and rapped the Council table with the butt of his axe. "With respect, Lord Commander, one of our own may be in hands of two demon princes. Whatever Christopher's faults, and believe me I've got my beefs with the little idiot too, waiting for confirmation of Marc's information might be the difference between rescuing him and sweeping up whatever Forces Andre and Fluerity forgot to pick up off the floor."
"Yes, yes, yes!" Gabriel burst out, ”Smite the Whore and the Clouder of Minds. Smite them down for their crimes!"
Laurence rapped on his gavel again. "What do you suggest, Lord Michael? Do you care to venture what forces Andre and Fluerity might have arrayed to keep an Archangel under control? No, we must find out more. I will not risk a direct assault upon a demon prince's Cathedral without the information we need to make it work. That is my decision and it will stand until I receive what information I need to revise it. In the meantime, I nominate Zadkiel, Archangel of Protection, to act as Seneschal for the Servitors of Children, until such time as Christopher can be returned to us." He paused. "If it is possible for him to return."
"Seconded," Yves said softly, much to Michael's surpise. With Yves behind it, the motion passed unanimously, with only Michael and Zadkiel herself abstaining.
FUCK.
Michael fought the urge to start tapping his foot on the floor of the Seraphim Council chamber as Laurence slowly made his way to the front of the room. The Commander of the Host was trying to contain his righteous anger, and he wasn't doing a very good job of it. No big surprise, considering that for the second time in less than a century one of their own decided to take a walk and not tell anybody. Fucking stupid kid, he thought irritably, at least Eli put his house in order before he left.
It was a full house in the chambers, for the first time in at least a couple of decades. Nothing like a crisis we can't do anything about to bring everybody together.
The Archangel of the Sword waited a moment for the room to settle down, then began to speak.
"These are the facts that are known to me," he said, eyes hard. "Christopher is missing. Has been missing for at least a fortnight, possibly longer. He has not appeared in the Council Chambers, in his own Cathedral, nor at any of Children's Tethers. Worse still, he has not answered the invocations of his Servitors, even when desperately needed on at least two occasions. Unfortunately this situation, in my opinion, is consistent with the pattern of behavior he has been exhibiting since Druiel, Seraph Angel of Teenage Death, Fell into the service of Saminga. We must now determine if there is any indication whether Christopher has Fallen himself, or perhaps become voluntarily Outcast, as Eli has done. And if that is so, we must determine how to bring him back to Heaven to be properly chastised."
The Council chamber rumbled as the Archangels digested that statement. No mercy, Michael realized. After losing Eli, Laurence and Dominic aren't going to hesitate to bring Christopher to heel, if they can find him. And they probably wouldn't take the risk of ending up with another basket case like Gabriel, who from the looks of her had reached the same conclusion as the Archangel of War had. The Wheel of Fire was spinning agitatedly above her seat, trying to deny the obvious. If they catch Chris, the best the kid can hope for is to be stripped of his Archangel status. At worst… Michael heard himself sigh, and stroked the handle of his axe. I took on the Lightbringer himself. And you don't use a sword for an execution.
Dominic twisted himself out of his seat, his six red eyes blinking. "I would remind those here," Judgement said, "that however much Christopher has made himself disliked in the previous few months, that does not make a proper investigation unnecessary. We must discover the reasons behind his disappearance, and if it was done out of disrespect for Council's, Heaven's, or God's strictures, and then he must be brought to bear for his crimes. If there are extenuating circumstances, however, those also must be judged, and Right Mercy applied if called for."
Hellfire, the Cloak is getting mellow in his old age. Michael glanced around to try and get the measure of the other Council members. Novalis and Zadkiel, Chris' fellow Cherubs and most consistent defenders, were nodding in agreement, glad that no one was rushing to Judgement. Janus was grinning, but then Janus was always grinning, especially when the Council got a hair up its collective ass. Jean and Khalid looked sanguine, content that Judgement wasn't acting precipitously. David, along with Laurence, was looking vastly unhappy. No surprise there, given the he and Christopher weren't exactly on speaking terms anymore. And Yves looked like… well, Yves, sitting quietly in his seat, a lit cigarette in his hand, brushing the occasional ash droppings off his sweater. Speak up, you old man, Michael thought in frustration, Christopher might be David's offspring, but he was Destiny's child. Don't you care what's happening?
And that left Marc, who hadn't said a single word to anyone since entering the Council chamber, but who gained everyone's rapt attention when he stood up, stretched his wings, and cleared his throat.
"Lord Commander," the Archangel of Trade began, looking unhappy. "I believe I can answer your concerns about Christopher's current… status."
"By all means, give whatever information you can to the Council's attention," Laurence replied, ceding the floor to him.
"Thank you, Lord Commander." Marc said, still frowning. "You will understand why I do not wish to reveal the exact nature of some of my sources, given the precariousness of their current positions, and the terrible consequences if their treachery is revealed."
"That is understood," Laurence replied. "We will rest assured that your sources have your trust."
"Yes," Marc agreed. "That said, an agent of Trade, who has been lately following the Ang— the Demon of Teenage Death, revealed that he was given leave from Saminga's service temporarily, and placed in the service of Fleurity, Demon Prince of Drugs, apparently at Drugs' behest. In turn, Fluerity and Druiel were observed entering Andrealphus' Brothel and remaining there for some time. They emerged only after a minor Habbalite in the service of Drugs was sent to Earth, to leave a message for Christopher's personal attention at one of Children's Tethers."
Oh, no. Stupid, fucking stupid kid…
"Christopher was observed arriving at the Tether, and reading the message. He then left the Tether's locus, at approximately the same time that Andre, Fluerity, and Druiel also arrived on Earth. The Seneschal of the Tether, as we already know, was the last angel to see Christopher in the past fortnight."
"He would have fought," Zadkiel interrupted, "he would have caused Disturbance in the struggle. Christopher would not have gone willingly with any Demon Prince, least of all Lust and Drugs."
"One would assume," Marc agreed, "But all I can tell you is that when Andre and Fluerity returned to the Brothel they had a hooded and shackled prisoner with them, which they immediately took inside and into the lowest vaults of that place."
Rumble, rumble…
Laurence rapped sharply on his gavel and the noise in the room subsided. "Thank you, Lord Marc," the Angel of the Sword said gravely. "The news you have brought to us is valuable, but I fear it is incomplete. We request that you investigate further, and attempt to confirm whether Children truly is being held in the clutches of Lust. Then we will be in a position to discuss what should be done next."
Fuck, he is not going to do this. Michael stood up and rapped the Council table with the butt of his axe. "With respect, Lord Commander, one of our own may be in hands of two demon princes. Whatever Christopher's faults, and believe me I've got my beefs with the little idiot too, waiting for confirmation of Marc's information might be the difference between rescuing him and sweeping up whatever Forces Andre and Fluerity forgot to pick up off the floor."
"Yes, yes, yes!" Gabriel burst out, ”Smite the Whore and the Clouder of Minds. Smite them down for their crimes!"
Laurence rapped on his gavel again. "What do you suggest, Lord Michael? Do you care to venture what forces Andre and Fluerity might have arrayed to keep an Archangel under control? No, we must find out more. I will not risk a direct assault upon a demon prince's Cathedral without the information we need to make it work. That is my decision and it will stand until I receive what information I need to revise it. In the meantime, I nominate Zadkiel, Archangel of Protection, to act as Seneschal for the Servitors of Children, until such time as Christopher can be returned to us." He paused. "If it is possible for him to return."
"Seconded," Yves said softly, much to Michael's surpise. With Yves behind it, the motion passed unanimously, with only Michael and Zadkiel herself abstaining.
FUCK.
