Logfile from Brass&Steel. MeiQin knocks! On the door! Zach waltzes over and opens! He looks both relieved and concerned when he sees who it is. "MeiQin! Come on in. How are you?" MeiQin walks in and carefully sets down her tote bag full of grading. She says calmly, "I am still alive and in good health, and no less sane than when you last saw me." Zach gestures to the couch. "Take a seat, please. Can I get you some tea? Anything to eat?" MeiQin shrugs. "Tea, cookies, whatever. I don't much care. By the way, is acid rain a net benefit, loss, or break-even proposition for Heaven?" Zach starts to go about tea-making, but then pauses and blinks. "Acid rain? As in pollusion, or...?" MeiQin nods. "Precisely that. I know that human value-judgments aren't always accurate, so I thought I'd check it with you. I mean, I don't see how it would harm most of the Words I know of." Zach quirks a wry smile. "As a Creationer, I am not in favour of pollution that kills off rivers and lakes, and make buildings and works of art wither at a much quicker rate than what's normal." MeiQin sighs. "Drat. All right, scratch that. I'll have to come up with a different medium-term plan. How about space travel? Is that good or bad for Heaven?" She pulls a book out of her bag and starts leafing through it, as if looking something up. Zach goes about the tea-thing. "Hrm, I'd think it'd be a good thing in it's own sweet time. How come?" MeiQin smiles cheerfully. "I'm plotting my revenge, but I don't want to do anything actually bad, so that limits my options." Zach tries not to wince. "Have you spoken with Cosmo and Jarod, yet? I still haven't heard from Bazil..." MeiQin grimaces. "Still no sign of Jarod. I've told Cosmo the basics of what happened, after making him promise to not go off getting in people's faces until we had a coherent plan. So space travel's all good? How about space colonization being focused on free orbiting habitats and bubble cities floating on the mad winds of gas giant atmospheres? Is that still good?" Brynn pages: It kept telling me I had to be 13, even though I ticked the box. I didn't accept it until I removed it! And my username is taken! And I can't use an actual word as my password! Zach leans on the counter, while waiting for the water to boil. "I can't see why or how that should be bad. I know Janus would be tickled by moving cities like that... Had Cosmo heard anything from Upstairs?" MeiQin grins slowly. It isn't a very nice grin, either. She shakes her head. "Nothing yet," she admits. "Zach? Would it be a terribly bad idea for me to write a letter asking what on earth is going on, and to ask you to get it to someone like the Commander? I'm feeling rather hurt and confused here, annd whatever /is/ happening, it's incredibly inefficient. I can think of a half-dozen better ways to have handled it, off the top of my head." Zach licks his lips, and then nods. "You can compose a letter, and I will take the message to the officer in charge of Soldier, at the Sword's Cathedral. the Commander himself is extremely busy, and I'll take me days or even weeks to get an audience. /If/ he'll agree to see me at all. I can't take the letter itself up, becuase I don't have any relic paper. But I will carry your message." MeiQin considers for a moment. "But would it be a good idea? I'm afraid that I don't know the ettiquette here." She seems to have found whatever passage she was looking for in the book, because she stops leafing and skims a page or two. Zach sighs. "Neither do I, really. I've never heard of something like this happening before. You would be safe. The Sword aren't into wasting lives and resources. But us angelic types will probably get yelled at." MeiQin frowns and bites her lip. "I don't want to get you yelled at, though, and as near as I can tell you're quite possibly the only angelic type I consider a friend who's sufficiently uninvolved that you stand a chance of making it through this mess without getting into trouble." Zach smiles softly. "I can take getting yelled at. I've probably deserved it anyway, for not paying more attention to you. As far as I know, I'm the only angel around here who can do the Awakening ritual. That does carry a responsibility with it." You say, "Besides, if you need to get your message heard, I would be honoured to carry it for you. Regardless." MeiQin sighs. "I know you would be. That's because you're a nice guy -- and I don't want to take advantage of that. Besides, I don't know exactly what I would want to say, anyway. Would it be a good idea to include suggestions on better ways of dealing with the problem that I present, or would that be seen as presumptuous?" Zach thinks about that one, and reaches out to lift the kettle off the oven. "If you present these suggestions in a respectful manner, I should think they'd appreciate it." He thinks to himself that they had better. "And a statement about this being based on the facts currently available to you." MeiQin nods slowly, but does not pull out a notepad to take notes -- some things are best left unwritten. "I'd like to run my ideas past you first, as a sanity check, if you don't mind. First and most obvious, I'd /like/ to work with my friends. This is evidently unacceptable to the Archangels for some reason, and I would like to know why. Would that be impolitic to include?" You say, "No, it's a valid question. Especially since they seem to want to work with you too." You say, "And have done all the recruitment work." MeiQin exhales, and puts her book away for the moment. "Second option: if the problem is with the boys, and not with Trade in general, relocate me. I want to be close to my boys, and I honestly believe that I'd be a lot closer to them doing the same work a continent away than I would be here in town but working at cross-purposes." Zach nods firmly, and makes the tea ready. Lovely green tea. "Valid point. I know the Sword has concerns about the conflict between the Words. They told me as much." MeiQin says quietly, "Third option: If my personal feelings and location are disregarded, it becomes obvious that I am best suited to Lightning, from what Cosmo has said about it. So the optimal use of me as a resource is to relocate me and send me to Lightning." Zach nods. "It would seem that way. If you give me a list of your skills, it'll be even better. Mind you, all the Words can put tech-savy people tp good use. Even Animals, on a good day." He doesn't look entirely sure about that last one, though. Tea is brought before MeiQin. MeiQin picks up her tea and sips at it. "My best skills are with math, electronics, and computers. I've a degree in Math from UIUC, and I took a lot of CS electives. I also have Missouri teacher certification for high school math, and could extend it to other fields or grade levels fairly easily. Fourth option: If they want to keep me in Kaycee and Trade is not an option, give me to Pan. Even if her Word doesn't make my heart sing, it is closely enough associated with my line of work to be an effective match, if not a joyous one. And I've gotten along well enough with her, the few times we've met, so there won't be any personal animosity problems there." Zach nods. "I'll tell them. Will it be an issue for you that Children and Stone are very close? The Archangel of Children is a former servitor of Stone, and they are on friendly terms still." MeiQin sighs. "I don't know how much of an issue it would be; I don't know how closely Pan works with them right here. At the Archangelic level, that might actually make the politics go down more smoothly." You say, "Possibly, possibly. And Children isn't all about teaching and looking after kids directly. I would think they'd be happy to have someone working for them, who is adept with computers and the internet. To promote kid-safe websites both for learning and fun, or to battle all this child pronography and nastiness that runs rampant out there." Zach <-- Reads papers, knows not so much about the actual internet, what with being a bit wary around these computer thingies. MeiQin eyes Zach dubiously. "Er, right. I'd rather be doing educational websites, if it comes to that. It's hardly what I'd choose for my life's work, but at least it's palatable. Fifth... fifth? Yes, I think we were up to five. Fifth option: assign me to you. It's not a good match in terms of spheres of interest, but at least we get along. And hey, you seemed to think the floating bubble cities idea was cool. Zach chuckles in spite of himself. "That one's not going to happen, never fear. They don't assign Soldiers to us weirdo Creationers and Windies. But, I'll let them hear it anyways." His voice is warm and affectionate. MeiQin says calmly, "Sixth option: kill me, thus solving the security problem. I'll help out with whatever suicide notes and the like are necessary, if need be. And yes, I consider this to be mildly preferable to the current plan, both subjectively and objectively." Zach winces and closes his eyes tightly for a short moment. "In short: You would rather die, than be forced to work with Stone?" MeiQin winces. "Well... I have a mild preference that way, yes. But I won't act upon it, because I promised Cosmo to fight for my life, and that extends to fighting against despair. But it really is objectively preferable for Heaven as a whole as well. Once I'm dead, I won't be able to actively damage Stone, which I gurdgingly acknowledge must have /some/ worth to Heaven if it rates an Archangel. Thus far, I've restricted my plans for vengeance to things which are balanced out by equal or greater gains to other Words. But if I end up working for them on a continuing basis, sooner or later my resolve will break and I'll do something very bad. If you press me, I can tell you some of the ideas I've suppressed, but you might prefer to not know." Zach opens his mouth to answer, then closes it again and thinks. Clever angel. "I will not ask you at this point." MeiQin half-smiles. "I didn't think you would," she says quietly. "So, those are the half-dozen preferable options that I can think of off the top of my head. There are probably quite a few others, like the generic 'get me out of this city and to some other uninvolved Word', which I left off because it's... well, generic." Zach nods. "It is indeed. Now, I want to ask you a very personal question. May I?" MeiQin nods. "You may." Zach takes a sip of his own cup of tea, and looks at her with serious eyes. "How do you feel about Cosmo?" MeiQin blinks. "Well, that wasn't the question I was anticipating," she temporizes. "Er... to a first-order approximation, I love him. But that's hideously un-nuanced." Zach nods and tilts his head a bit. "Can you elaborate, or would you rather not?" he asks with a slight smile. A fond smile. MeiQin's brow furrows and she says, "Well, there are three factors that cloud the issue. One is the imprecision of the English language. The second is my own level of bias in evaluating my own feelings. The third is the complexity of those feelings themselves." Zach's smile widen a bit. "So far, I'm liking what I'm hearing," he tells her, with a twinkle in his eyes. "Many find poetry to be a much better way of describing emotions..." MeiQin looks at Zach suspiciously. "What are you getting at, Zach. Isn't poetry one of those Creationer things?" You say, "Yes. What I'm hinting at is, that if you've trouble finding words, and you still want to tell -- try poetry. If you're into that kind of thing, that is." MeiQin blinks rapidly. "But I'm not a poet. I was actually planning on going into a structured analysis and noting areas of uncertainty. First of all, 'love' is one of the most poorly-defined terms in the English language. I am very fond of Cosmo, and concerned for his well-being. I enjoy spending time with him, and I derive pleasure from seeing him happy. I find his character to be a delight to unfold, a comfort to lean on, and admirable in many ways. I also find him attractive as a romantic interest. I want him to succeed in all his endeavors, and I trust him actually a bit too much for my own good, but we're working on that. All of these things are true, but even taken together they only hint at how I feel." Zach listens carefully, and slowly nods his head. "How much of your current distress, hurt and anger would you say stems from being ripped away from him, denied to be with him and the possibility of having to work against him?" MeiQin considers that carefully. "A fair chunk of that, yes," she says slowly. "I am also distressed at having been betrayed by someone I trusted, and at being kidnapped and terrorized. But... I am angry at being 'encouraged' to avoid him. I am disappointed at the prospect of not being able to work with him in direct collaboration. I am despondent at the prospect of not being able to work towards his goals at all. And there is no possibility of my having to work against him; he's a Malakite." Zach drains the rest of his tea. "Aye, that's true enough." He decides to not push that one any further for now. "I'll be adding some of this to my report, just so you're aware of this," he tells her. "But, I'll be omitting things carefully. I don't know if Cosmo's told you, but there are some really sad predjudices against angel-human relationships among the more conservative angels. Especially those of our Choir. The Swordies thoroughly disapprove of it, seeing is as 'indulging in the Corporeal' and all that nonsense. The Inquisition is just as bad, if not worse. Your feelings for Cosmo, might make them want to separate you form each other, and I'd hate for that to happen." MeiQin sighs. "Look, it's not like we're having sex or anything, so what's the problem?" MeiQin says, "Aww, not pushing that one any farther? Not pushing to get the 'not even death threats can get me to work against Cosmo' response?" "That you might do so in the future. Or that...I don't know. I can't for the life of me understand why they're so uptight about it. Love is a good thing, and should be encouraged; not seen as something dirty and corrupting. Erm, but now I'm sidetracking and petting my peeves. Sorry." Zach flicks a wry smile at MeiQin, and puts his cup on the table. MeiQin eyes Zach askance. "Ooookay, so they disapprove of not just nookie but potential future nookie. Right. Anyhow. Did I ever get around to telling you my grand plan for avoiding working against Cosmo and Jarod? Or would you rather not know?" she asks. Zach scratches his head and thinks. "Erm...hm. No, you didn't tell me and I'm pretty sure that if you tell me, I'm going to have to tell them, and then there'll be Steps Taken if the plan is disruptive and la-dee-dah." MeiQin raises her eyebrows. "Well, I hardly know what the powers that be will think of as disruptive. I prefer to think of it as more 'precautionary'. After all, surely it's frowned upon for one Word to actively oppose another, right? So how can they object to steps taken to make it more difficult?" Zach chews his lip. "It could tip either way, I think. If it's true that the Inquisition and the Sword have 'given' you to Stone, then threatening sabotage isn't going to sit well with them. On the other hand, yes, they aren't happy about the conflicts, so... I'm not wanting to make a bet either way." MeiQin nods. "I'll be holding off on it, anyway. I should be able to implement it at any point in the future, should it seem necessary." She sighs. "What exactly does Stone stand for, anyway? Aside from ripping people away from their friends and trying to discourage them from maintaining said friendships, of course." Zach shifts to sit more sideways, towards MeiQin. "Stone is one of the most ancient Words and Archangels around. David was one of the first seven angels created, along with Michael, Eli and Lucifer among others. Stone is at its core a rather alien Word to humans, since it's elemental. But David has expanded it from rock, minerals and earth to span the more metaphorical foundations and buildings. So, after humans came along, is spans also endurance, persistence, community, fellowship, strength... They concern themselves with supporting and strengthening mankind against the hardships to come, and against demonic influence. And many of them have a purgatorical way of doing this." MeiQin says dryly, "My, what unique methods of encouraging community and fellowship they have." She takes another sip of her now-tepid tea. Zach sighs and has the good grace to look embarrased on behalf of the Stonies, and Heaven in general. "Yeah, I don't get it. At all. I'm so sorry you have to go through this." MeiQin shakes her head. "It's hardly your fault," she says quietly. She sighs heavily. "So. Is there anything else you want to ask me about for your report? Seeing as we've already covered my lack of a sex life and my death wish, I doubt it's possible that anything else could be considered offensively personal, so ask away." You say, "Have the Traders given you any news or information about your progress as a recruit? Before now, I mean." MeiQin spreads her hands helplessly. "The last I had heard was that Cosmo had submitted a report requesting permission to recruit me for real and mentioning his concerns about my mental health." You say, "When was this?" MeiQin says, "It was on the night of that fight with Jack, the one in my dreamscape? After I woke up, the two of us talked for a while and he said he was going to submit that soon. So, sometime after Monday the... 27th, I think?" Zach nods. "Right, and what were his reservations? They wouldn't have anything to do with what you did in the dream, would it?" MeiQin grimaces and looks down at her hands. "Er, yes. I got quite a stern talking to about the importance of defending myself even from people who look like friends, and that was when he told me to fight for my life anyway. 'Rage, rage against the dying of the light' -- that's the only poetry he's ever quoted at me, you know? He thinks poetry is for Creationers." Zach snorts and chuckles. "I need to see him more often. He's starting to shake off my bad influence, I can tell." MeiQin eyes the chuckling Zach and asks, "How does quoting poetry at me constitute 'shaking off your bad influence'? Does he generally quote even more, or extemporize his own?" Zach smiles. "Nah, he's mostly prim and proper. But he tends to losen up around me, and if not exactly shake his tailfeathers, he does get less formal." MeiQin protests, "But Zach, what's wrong with formality? There's a comforting serenity in formality, and it's appropriate for all occasions. Loathe someone? Hit 'im with cold formality to maintain distance without being crass. Love someone? Then a bit of formality is a charming and delightful show of respect and affection. It's versatile, if you know how to use it." Zach smiles crookedly. "There is merit in that, I guess. Me, I prefer a more laid-back approach. Though...coldly formal can be quite sexy, I suppose..." He trails off. MeiQin stares at Zach and raises her eyebrows. "Since when are we talking about sexiness? I thought we were discussing your bad influ... oh." Zach blinks mildly. MeiQin smirks at Zach. "Yes, dear. You are absolutely innocent. Why, I'm sure that you have nothing whatsoever to do with sexiness." "Precicely," Zach assures MeiQin, with a grin. "Tell me, did Cosmo give you a sholuder-rub, or will I have to come to the rescue?" His tone is clearly teasing, but fondly so. MeiQin chuckles. "Does it matter? I want a shoulder-rub anyway. I'm greedy that way." She smiles. Zach smiles back at her, and slides over to take care of her shoulders. Shoulder-rubs ought to be listed as a Human Right. "Hey, that's a kind of greed that I can actually approve of. Very sensible, you know." Firmly, but gently, he starts kneading her muscles. MeiQin murmurs, "How did I ever guess that you would approve?" She rolls her neck carefully -- not too far back -- and exhales contentedly. "Tell me something happy?" Zach works to warm up the area first, before setting to work on knots and such. "I don't know if this is what you'd call happy, but Harriet had found a way to make me wear a tux..." MeiQin oohs, be it at the massage or at the thought of Zach in a tux. "How on earth did she do that? And can I see? I have to admit, formalwear looks damn sexy on men." She pauses, and then adds thoughtfully, "And women too. Although it works best if you do it a little differently. I remeber there was this girl in a comic book who wore a top hat, tails, and fishnets as her costume. Sexy." Zach massage massage. "She wanted to go on a date thing, big classical music concert. And that's pretty formal, so... I whined, but there's just no way I can not go with her there. So, I'm gonna have to get a tux. I hate the things, I haven't worn that kind of wear for ages. But if it makes Harriet smile and be happy, then I'm all over it." MeiQin purrs happily. "Well... I hate to suggest it, tuxes being so sexy and all, but... any chance you happen to be Scottish? Insofar as an angel can have ethnicity, at least. Because a proper kilt is technically proper formalwear." Zach chuckles. "Sadly no. Zach Ellis is a born and bred mid-westerner, from South Dakota. I've had a Scottich role once, but that was over a hundred years ago." MeiQin chuckles. "Could you regale Harriet with tales of your Scottish role until she starts drooling at the thought of you in a kilt?" Zach laughs while his thumbs get up close and personal with a stubborn muscle-knot. "You know, I probably could. Heck, I should get me a sarong or two. I like not wearing trousers from time to time, without being totally nekkid. Kilts are a pain, though. Too much fiddly stuff to remember. All costumes are like that." He pauses and then admits, "I really shouldn't complain too much though, because the costumes back in the 1800s were a lot worse than today's tuxes. Mainly it's the ties and bowties I object to." MeiQin wrinkles her nose. "A sarong? Er... I don't think that would really work for a classical music concert. Although you could always host a toga party for your housewarming, when you guys get the warehouse. See how many of your friends you can convince to dress appropriately, and have a camera ready." Zach chuckles. "I wasn't planning on wearing it for the concert, no. Harriet wants formal and groomed, so that's what she's getting. I'll have to talk to Cosmo about some advice, since I'm totally out of the loop on formalwear." MeiQin smiles slowly. "I don't know... Cosmo does suits, but he just found one that he likes and got himself a dozen identical copies. When we went shopping for a coat for me, he kept guiding me towards the leather. I'm not convinced that leather is what you're looking for in a tuxedo, though." Zach hmms at that. "No, I guess you're right. I've got leathers enough though, so I'll be okay." He smiles. "I'm looking forward to it, actually. Even if there's me in a tux." His voice has softened. MeiQin smiles. "You like classical music, Harriet likes classical music, you like Harriet, so it's a win all around?" Zach nods, and stretchpulls on a stubborn bit of muscle. "Yeah, and even if I didn't like classical music, I'd still lookg forward to it. Simply because it makes her happy." Also sprach the totally besotted Malakite. MeiQin groans. "Mmn, thanks. Yeah, I know. It's a good feeling to watch someone you love being happy. Except that the things that make Harriet happy tend to be rather peaceful." You say, "I don't mind that at all. I prefer peaceful myself, as well. With the occasional bang." MeiQin hmmns? "'The occasional bang'? Are we talking violence, fireworks, or just really good sex?" she asks with a chuckle. Zach smiles really wide, and helpfully answers, "Yes." MeiQin says, "I should have guessed." Zach rub rub massage rub. "Hey, I'm easy to please, and I make a point of enjoying myself. Just like Eli told me to." Cosmo says, "*knock*" MeiQin sighs happily. Ooh, massage. "Eli told you to? You guys get the strangest orders." She blinks at the knock and twists her neck to look back over her shoulder at Zach. "You expecting somebody?". "Not that I know, but it could be someone baring messages or something," Zach says hopefully. He gives MeiQin's shoulders a final rub, plants a goodnatured, friendly smooch in the back of her neck, and gets up to check the door. Quickly, to avoid being swatted. "Oh! Hey Cosmo, c'mon in, man." And then the Cosmo gets a hug. Cosmo hugs Zach in return, quite firmly. He even thumps him on the back. "Ahh, I thought I might find you here." He says when he spots Mei. His smile grows a bit, happy to see her. "Taking good care of her, I hope?" He inquires. MeiQin bounces up and hugs Cosmo tightly, grinning. "Hey, Cosmo. How goes it?" Zach closes the door behind Cosmo, and stands there watching MeiQin and Cos. He is smiling at them, not /quite/ smugly, but close. "Of course I'm taking good care of her. I've administered shoulder-rubs." Cosmo hugs Mei in return, squeezing her in his arms before letting go. He kisses her forehead and only then straigthens his suitcoat. "It is going." He says, then glances over at Zach. "Good man. I'm sure Mei enjoyed that." MeiQin grins cheerfully. "Why yes, I most certainly did." She sits back down on the bed, right in the middle, cat-like. "So, are you here for socializing or problem-solving or just to drag me off back home?" Zach goes to the kitchenette. "Coffee, tea, beer, soda, lemonade or squash, Cosmo?" Zach <-- has a Fridge of DOOM! "Beer." Cosmo confirms stolidly. He smiles at Meiqin. "Mostly social. I'm still gathering data on how to respond to the events." He looks old. For probably the first time, he actually looks the age of his vessel. MeiQin pats the bed next to her. "Come sit down, then. You look like you could use a snuggle." She takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. "Zach is thinking of going and talking to someone about... the events." Zach hauls a bottle of beer from the fridge, and uncorks it before he brings it to Cosmo. "When in doubt, talk to the Officer In Charge Of Soldiers. Anything drinkable for you, MeiQin?" Taking a seat, Cosmo puts a hand on Mei's knee. He loosens his tie. "No. Not yet. We haven't enough data to act. Regardless, there is no ... "He clamps down on his thoughts. He takes the bottle and drinks from it slowly. Methodically. "Not yet." MeiQin cocks her head to one side at Zach's question, considering, and answers, "Just water for me, thanks. I'm not in a flavoring mood at the moment, it seems." She snuggles up to Cosmo and says, "All right, but isn't talking to someone in charge a good way to find out what's going on? And this is Zach -- he's not technically an interested party, exactly." Zach gets water for the lady, and some home made lemonade for himself. "I've done so before, when trying to get a load of the situation with Roger. That was a mess too, and a result of communication breakdowns somewhere along the lines." Cosmo puts an arm around Mei as she cuddles against him. His hand rests on her hip and he drinks more beer. His adam's apple bobbing up and down. "No. Not yet. I should hear from Marc very soon. If I don't, then we'll go to the Commander." MeiQin accepts her water and murmurs a quiet "Thanks." She takes a sip and says, "All right. It's entirely possible that more information may render my list of suggestions moot." Zach nods to Cosmo. "Okay, I'll wait. I was going to carry a message to them from MeiQin, but if Marc's on the ball, I'll hold. Mind you, I won't adhere to any of the involved Archangels in this, if it keeps hurting her. I'll go Upstairs, and talk to that nice angel again." Cosmo takes another drink. He keeps his arm around Mei, leaning her against him. "I'm willing to hear your suggestions, Mei. And as I said last night, I won't react rashly, but Stone has some explaining to do, and I aim to have answers. This is unacceptable." He looks up to Zach and smiles, nodding his head once. Long distance to Bazil: Zach is ready as an egg! And the message was something along the lines of 'Need to talk to you ASAP, about MeiQin and shit. Please call me as soon as you can. Zach.' Bazil pages: Ring, ring... Zach blinks as his cell phone starts emitting horrible noises. He hurries over the the table and picks it up. "Yah, this is Zach!" he tells it. Long distance to Bazil: Zach answers the phone after two rings. "Yah, this is Zach!" MeiQin shakes her head as she replies to Cosmo. Oh, they aren't suggestions for you, Cosmo. They're suggestions for different things to do with me, all of which which I believe to be preferable to the current plan both subjectively and objectively, with the reason for each, with the subjective reasons well-labeled as such. The top of the list, of course, being working with you." From afar, Bazil 's voice sounds utterly exhausted, but half-relieved. "Zach? It's Bazil." Cosmo knits his brow at Zach answering the phone. "That is the outcome I desire as well. I just wish Marc would answer me. It's uncharacteristic of him to not reply to an inquiry. Especially one that is this important." Zach steps into the kitchenette, and says in a relieved but grave voice, "Ah thank God, you got back to me. I was beginning to seriously worry. This are a mess, like you no doubt know. I wanna hear your version, please." MeiQin leans contentedly against Cosmo's chest. "Perhaps there's something even more important going on elsewhere? I don't know what the problem was with that plan, so I had even more suggestions. If it's just something about you guys, I could be relocated to another city but stay with the Word. Or if it's a problem with me and Trade being a bad match, there's always Lightning." She chuckles. "From what you've said, that's probably the objectively best option. But I have strong subjective feelings about preferring to stay close to you, ideologically as well as geographically." Bazil pages: Yes, I know. *sighs* Apparently, we're talking a fuck-up of cosmic proportions in the communications with upstairs. I got the explanations that night, and went to rectify what I could with my Master immediately. I have only just returned from seeing him." He sounds a bit... pained. Zach tells the phone, "Can you please tell me what the hell happened? She came to me and Harriet in -such- a state, and I damn well nearly fell on my ass when I heard that your guy did to her. What gives?" From afar, Bazil sighs quietly. "I don't think this is a good idea to discuss over the phone. The short version is- apparently Heaven only had a single, none-too-well-shaded report from Kosimeos and a complaint to the Inquisition. So... they thought they had a real problem case..." Cosmo frowns as he hears who Zach is on the phone with. He adjusts his tie, straigthening it back into place. He takes a long, slow breath. Trying to fight the urge to go out and get himself some nice new cherub-liners for his gloves. And perhaps a human head to post on the front of the Jaguar as a warning. He hugs Meiqin to him. "I think it is a bit early to begin discussing such things. But we'll find out what works best for you and try to arrange that outcome. We may need to make some concessions, but nothing onerous." Zach groans. "Oh Christ... So you're telling me that this is a case of Should Never Have Happened?" Bazil pages: Yes, and from what I saw Dexter doing, I'm afraid the damage is somewhat permanent. I'll try to handle things from Stone's end- and there's a freeze on this for the moment, at least. Her case has reached the Seraphim Council directly. The quote from my Master - "No action is to be taken until that debate is done." MeiQin hugs back, and lowers her voice as Cosmo listens to Zach's end of the conversation. "Not to early to discuss. Perhaps too early to air the discussions in public, though," she admits softly. "But if I can come up with a half dozen different options off the top of my head, all of which are objectively superior, then what on earth were they thinking? Someone was operating on bad data, somewhere along the line. Or else Archangels are actively malicious, enough so to take strategically poor actions solely for the purpose of enjoying my pain. And I don't believe that." Zach sighs and runs a hand through his hair. "Gotcha. Now I'm going to relay to Cosmo, who's here. And later on, people will meet and talk. With oaths of nonviolence etc." Cosmo says softly, "God damn right it should never have happened." He runs his fingers through her hair. "I am left to wonder. If it wasn't malice, then it must have been either negligence or ignorance. Regardless, you are owed an apology." He glances over at Zach again. His brow rising. From afar, Bazil nods. "I take it that's MeiQin's voice in the background? My advice- I know I have no right to give it, but if you'll take it, here it is- develop a complete 'before' and 'after' dossier on MeiQin, her personality, her actions, her goals, her honor, her psyche, and so on and so forth. Absolutely anything the three of you can think of- try and get Jarod or any other Elohim you can find (I don't think Delia would be a good idea) to do some empathy resonance as well. Get an overload of data, then organize it into a comprehensive report, and file with the Sword's Soldier office, Trade, and Stone. If we can get the Truth into place, we may be able to fix things- or at least prevent further breakage." Bazil pages: I have to go. I need the harmony of my Tether. You say, "Gotcha. Go with God." Bazil pages: And thee, Zach. *click* MeiQin muses quietly, with a hint of a smile, "Actually, Dexter didn't say anything about not attacking him or any other Stone people. Just not to set foot in the Bluebird or in Divine Comedy. So I think I'm technically free to shoot him, except that he's probably good enough to see me coming and shoot first." Zach puts down the phone, as the conversation ends, and stands for a moment staring at it and the kitchen counter. "Fuck. Fuck fuck fuckity FUCK." "No, if anyone attacks Dexter, it will be me. But we won't be doing that. He's stone. It is their responsibility to see that he is helt accountable for his actions." Cosmo blinks at Zach's outburst of profanity. "Care to discuss it?" MeiQin looks over at Zach too. "Yes, please do expand on that," she asks politely. Zach doesn't answer right away, and takes the time to let his head meet the counter. Hard. Three times. THEN he grabs a bottle of Scotch and three glasses from a cupboard, and joins MeiQin and Cosmo. He pours himself a large helping of medicine, and downs it. "Clusterfuck. That was, as you probably figgered out, Bazil. He's just returned from a meeting with Archangel David, and he had news." Cosmo drains his beer. He sets the empty bottle aside. His hand still resting on Meiqin, he watches his choir-brother closely. "I had surmised as much, yes. And what did the Bright Lord have to say for himself?" MeiQin just leans into Cosmo and listens silently, drinking her water. Zach pauses to collet his thoughts, and lay it on them. "Heaven only had a single, none-too-well-shaded report from Cosmo, and a complaint from the Inquisition. So... they thought they had a real problem case. That MeiQin was a difficult case. Now the case is under total lockdown, and is being handeled by the Seraphim Council directly. Noone is to do anything, until they've gone over it in full detail." Cosmo tigthens his jaw, then his eyes widen. He blinks, looking as if he's been sucker punched. "It was a brief report along with a request to speak with Marc about it directly...why didn't he..." He just shakes his head, shaken, trying to follow it all. MeiQin blinks. "Was that the first report he had ever seen about me? I would have thought that you and Jarod would both have been sending in reports since... well, since the day I had that talk with Jarod. After, er... prying information out of Henry." She does at least have the grace to blush about that one. "He probably never had the time, because from what I understand from MeiQin, you handed that report in -after- the Inquisition jumped all over me, and had me do that first report," Zach says softly to Cosmo. "By the time he got yours, things were already happening and... It's a mess, and the big brooms are now in the game." Cosmo stands up. His hand leaving from around MeiQin. "Horse shit." he says harshly. "He had more then ample time to contact me. I have my phone at all times. I sent that report over a week ago. He could have contacted me immediately. I begged him to advise me on how to proceed. He said nothing for a week and the next thing we know she's being kidnapped." He's struggling to control his voice as he points back to Mei. Furious at Stone, but at his own Superior as well. "This is the sort of bureaucratic nonsense one expects from The Game. Not from Trade." MeiQin watches Cosmo, and her brows draw together. "There's an Archangel of The Game, too?" she asks. Zach nods and makes himself another large drink. "Yeah, it's to utterly fucked up. And the damage has been done, so now we're left to damage control. Bazil is broken up about this too, and he's trying to sort things out over Stone way. But, we need to work fast over here way now. We need to get as complete information about MeiQin as possible to Upstairs. Judgement, the Sword, Trade and Stone. They need to get the full and whole story on everyhing, and we have to shove it to them yesterday." You say, "There's no Archangel of the Game. He's a demon prince." Cosmo reaches into his jacket pocket. He pulls out a note, to read it. "Delia wants to meet with Mei for an 'interview'." He hands it to her, watching her. His jaw still tense with anger. "It is your decision whether you wish to speak with her. This is utterly ridiculous, we had a chance to deal the Infernals a crushing blow, and this sort of heavy-handed, rules-mongering is jeopardizing not just Mei, but this entire city." MeiQin sighs and shakes her head at the sheer amount of miscomunication going on. Wait, scratch that. The sheer /lack/ of communication going on. "Delia is Judgment, right? Assuming she's competent and unbiased, I don't see why not. The more information the better, right? Actually, would it help if /I/ wrote up a report? Of course, I have no one to send it to, but still." MeiQin says, "Can I have the note verbatim, or was it just that?" Cosmo says, "Here it is in its entirety. Sorry for spam. Delia would contact you, asking you to set up a meeting for her with MeiQin on behalf of Judgement." Zach looks from Cosmo to MeiQin. "Speaking as one who has been in some majorly serious trouble with the Inquisition at one time, I recommend working -with- them. Delia is an Elohite, and a competent psychologist. Curiously, Bazil wouldn't recommend her, and I don't understand why. I've not found her to be other than efficient and damn professional. Now, yes - the situation is ridiculous, but we're looking at something that has reached the Big League. It is being discussed in the Seraphim Council -right now-. We can fume later, now's the time to gather what we have, arrange it in those lovely, neat dossiers that the pokerspines like, and ship it Upstairs." Cosmo is quiet for a moment. The he nods agreement with Zach. "Very well. I have my laptop in the car, I'll write up a full report of everything I know about Mei and send it on to Marc. I'll have to go by the apartment or the office to print it out." He kisses Mei on the cheek, squeezes her hand and heads to his car. MeiQin is kissed and squeezed, and watches Cosmo go out the door. She looks back to Zach and asks, "Er... was that yes directed at me? About the idea that I could write a report, I mean. I don't have the data to know if it would be helpful, or just seem presumptuous." "I think it will be a good thing to add. It shows that you're ready to fight, and more than willing and capable of grabbing onto a situation and sorting it out. We need Jarod to do an analyzis of you as well. How about.." Zach waits for Cosmo to return, before continuing, "How about we do this: You write your own detailed account. A short personal history, like a CV thing. Then go into detail when you describe the happenings that you've been caught up in this fall. Up to this very moment. Cosmo and I will work out a similar report, on all we know about you, how you've reacted to things, changes, your personality as we see it, honour, goals, the works. Before Dex took you, and also how you've dealt until now. Other ideas? Cosmo has his laptop bag. He gets that out and puts it on a table. Temporarily putting his anger aside. "That sounds like a workable plan." He has the computer running shortly, and begins to type. He smiles over at Mei. MeiQin nods. "All right. Is paper or electronic format preferred? And you might want to suggest that Harriet do the same, as she was my primary contact for much of this, since I was living with her." Zach nods. "I'll grab Harriet for this as well. Paper or electronic... I dunno. Whatever, I guess. A file would be easier to duplicate and share around?" Zach says, "Zach will insist on this: Copy of each report to all. Then make these into a tidy and nice presentation to send to Trade, Stone and the Sword at the very least. Probably Judgment too." MeiQin nods. How are we doing this OOCly? @mail to you and you forward them cleverly? Zach says, "I'll write up mine when I wake up, and go through the logs. I'll put it online and @mail the URL to you guys? Then one of us cooks up the Final Report, and we dump it on Fid?" Cosmo says, "Sounds good." Cosmo can work on his as well. put it online too.