|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 12:23 pm
Appleton was, for the most part, like most other cities. Public transpiration was decent, population was strong, crime was typical, districts clashed yet oddly enough the crime was lower than most. It did however leave him a bit out of water in that he didn't know the layout, and he often found himself stopping to refer to a PDF map on his phone and searching city streets. It also left him searching for decent places to enjoy a quiet meal as he was not a customer to fast food operations who prided themselves on quick, lackluster service. Just touching it gave him the shivers.
Finding a mom and pop's place, he had a small meal and left to walk down a dilapidated area rumored for other-worldly activities, and sipped on a coffee that, due to the elderly's couple hatred for new technology, had taken some time to receive. It was bitter, but it FELT right.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 12:41 pm
Mrost hated Earth, well, not quite hate, he wasn't allowed to hate anything technically, being an angel, but he disliked it. Humans were so far gone on the scale of good and evil, every single day immersing themself in the despicable messes they'd made. They had been given free will and had used it to do nothing but generate enormous amounts of SIN for Hell to further their cause. LIFE still appeared, borne from the small acts of gentle kindness which people did in their daily lives. Overall however, it felt like they were slowly losing, and if there was something Mrost hated, it was losing a battle. If he had his way, they'd have no free will, they'd be good or they'd be fed into heaven's spiritual energy reserves.
He wanted to talk to Melvin, so when the other man started sipping his drink he was there, sat in a chair at the same table, as if he'd always been there. He was tall and imposing in his human form, dressed in a snappy suit that he wore with all the pride of a suit of armour, his vivid blue eyes positively sparkling with interest. Most people in heaven knew the leader of the army, even in his human form and those who didn't could all but taste the electric power in the air around him.
"Hello Melvin." he crooned, sweeping a shock of his silver peppered black hair out of his face. "Still as native as ever I see."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 12:48 pm
The coffee was warm through the mug, and he savored the feeling of it than the actual taste, tapping his fingertips against the porcelain as he looked at his phone and decided what he could do in the twilight hours before actual offices opened up in the morning. This was usually the time to schedule emails, check where places were located, and write up letters.
Humming to the tune of the radio that was perched on the distant diner counter, he glanced up from writing "..at your earliest convenience" and pushing send when he felt something just hit itself all around him.
Startled, he looked up just in time to see and hear Mrost, and jerked, causing the coffee to tip over and spill all across the table and over the barely touched pancakes he had ordered. Gritting his teeth, he could do nothing as unbecoming of an angel to swear, but he did make a long whine noise at his burned hand and quickly moved to grab a wad of napkins from the metal dispenser and start mopping up the coffee.
"S-Sir. What - What are you doing here? So Suddenly." Without using a door. The cuffs to his own dress shirt were now becoming stained with coffee as he wiped at the table and grabbed some more napkins.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 12:58 pm
Mrost was not one to do anything in sensible or light measures and with a wave of his hand, the cup and the coffee were once again all gathered up in one neat place, reassembled on the table, removing the stains from the other angel's attire. One of the elderly owner's gasped and he nodded at them, leaving them with a slightly glazed expression before they went off to busy themselves elsewhere as if they hadn't just seen the world twisted around a cup of coffee.
He left Melvin's burned hand as a lesson in gluttony, after all, he didn't need that coffee in the first place did he?
"All better." he said. "And I am here because I want to talk to you Melvin, not for the good of my health certainly, the smog of SIN down here is frankly impossible to tolerate for extended periods." He leaned his hand on the table.
"I heard through the grapevine that our favourite little pencil pusher sent you here to watch someone. Since we are such good friends." he smiled. "I thought you should know well, the whole story about what you are running around after. Having a nice time here? I know you like Earth. It's a little more good here than elsewhere. Can you feel it?"
But not good enough, never good enough so long as they were free.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 1:13 pm
Just as he reached for more napkins, the entire mess was removed. The cut was placed back on the saucer, the pancakes were restored, and his hands and hem of his sleeves were devoid of coffee as if nothing had happened. This left his dazed a moment, having gone prolonged periods of time without having angels just hand-wave their problems away so easily and being in the department to NOT do such a thing, but remembered who was here. Mrost was powerful enough to do whatever he wanted, and had the influence to back this all up - and he wasn't talking about how he could turn a human to forget what they just saw.
There was a slight, held in groan of disapproval at seeing the elderly woman flash from confused concern to ignoring them all completely.
Rubbing his one hand, he leaned back into the booth seat as Mrost leaned in. It was concerning to have Mrost hear about why he was here, but most of all even be here to address it, and it all felt like something was very wrong for it to have his attention to even see him. He didn't shake or nod at the mention of good friends as he rubbed his hand before he glanced around.
As per Tracey's instructions, he did not confirm or deny why he was here, though he didn't feel there was any difference what he said.
"It....does show reports of being a city with a low crime rate in comparison to overall size. I had been wondering if this was a factor for Appleton to be targeted." He wondered to the other, not sure if this would be dismissed or confirmed. As a higher authority figure, it seemed Mrost was leading to something.
He glanced at his coffee and back to the woman. "If you would be so kind as to not do those things so openly. Video surveillance is possibly by any passing pedestrian."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 1:58 pm
Mrost smiled politely at the request. "I got the surveillance, and I am aware of the pedestrians. I can feel this whole city right now Melvin, as simply as I can feel this table. " And he patted it idly.
"There's a hole in this city. A hole that you can't see properly from above but which lingers, what goes in doesn't come back out in the right quantity, that sort of thing." he shrugged, finding it difficult to translate astral plane sensations and concepts via a language designed for telling other apes where the really good fruit was. "But the owners will be fine. For now."
He leaned back in his chair casually. "The demon you are running after was known in hell primarily as Evidia and he is the former - possibly current - Duke of Envy. Tracey has you running around after someone who notoriously turns people inside out. Killed, and I do mean killed on a permanent level rather than just a material one, one of my best soldiers. Poor guy apparently had a lot of wrath in his heart, it was very messy. He is practically a mirror, this guy, and I think he's sent you because there is less of you to reflect. But he didn't tell you that did he? Just sent you out like a sacrifice and hoped it would all go well."
He shook his head. "I'm sorry it happened, I'm sorry that you weren't told, and if you decide not to stay here I'll defend you against anyone who complains. It's just, this whole thing is so dangerous and I thought it was important to know that if you enrage this thing, you might find your every vice turned against you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 2:15 pm
His hand stilled from rubbing the other, the pain not feeling as important in light of recent news. "The...Duke..." He repeated to cement that very idea in his head. It was dangerous enough to consider he was following a notorious and guarded tormentor, but someone of such a standing felt far beyond his small scope of expertise and whatever range of trust Tracey placed in him to do his job correctly. While he was about to question this very point, Mrost, who probably could read him better than the menu to his right, pointed out that his very small scope was just the reason. You didn't notice a fly and feel a fly could do as much damage as if you sent a tiger, and flies tended to make less of a mess after.
"I was already made aware that any information withheld from me was for my benefit, as knowing too much in a situation where a creature known for taking it would not be in the best interest for my survival ....h-however small that chance is. I'm, as always, not in a place to question the decisions and motivations of those who entrust me with a job they feel I might be to some degree able to accomplish, though I suppose it's not for the purpose and end result that I had originally though." He felt more like a canary now, sent in to get what it could find out and die in order to let others reap the information and be better armed.
Oh dear. That caffeine wasn't helping him now.
"But I'm here, and if it's not me, then it will be someone else." In the end, someone had to do the job, and he had not turned his back on a task yet. Saying he shouldn't do the job placed him in a spot that said he was worthy of greater jobs, but what job was greater than this current disaster he was faced with? If anything, any day successfully living was an accomplishment. Sometimes, maybe even canaries could make it out if you could make the mine safe again.
"I thank you for this insight. I'll be more on my guard, though it does spell even worse news for this city and what someone like a Duke would be doing in this place."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 2:50 pm
Mrost seemed to like this answer and beamed at Melvin. "Seems like you've got the heart of a warrior hiding underneath all that frumpy bureaucracy and janitorial work! That's the spirit though, do the job that's in front of you or die trying. Shame it has to be for one of the help's jobs though, no glory to be found in this." He had almost been hoping he could ruin Tracey's plans and still on some level felt like perhaps warning Melvin would do so, making him treat the demon with fear or caution which would end up in him being driven off. It was petty but these days, undermining Tracey and seeking out ways to overtake him was something that took up much of his time.
"Well either way its good to know you are happy to face real danger head on, whatever may come and I'm glad I was at least able to forewarn you a bit. I'd capture the scoundrel myself you know, but my hands are tied, any action I take is an action of Heaven's military."
He didn't add that he also did not really want to have to stare down his own Vices, deeply aware that he was bitterly flawed and not the individual to face down Envy. If such an individual existed they would need to be equal parts humble and harmless and even then how would they succeed? Envy was a sin which built a maze around itself, scaled up to the age and strength of the attacker, trying to pin him had always been like trying to capture one's reflection, and now he had the sheer gall to be here on Earth, taunting them.
"Though if you do find out why he's here, I'd really appreciate an update, no one tells me anything up there, when you would think that it was rather important that I knew what was going on."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 3:09 pm
Janitorial work made him flat out frown, not liking the very work he did be simplified as something as basic as what a sanitary technician would be capable of, not that they weren't admirable workers in their own right.
"Uh....right......happy." Not exactly, though he wasn't one to turn his back on the current task. If there was a reason he was called to do this job, though it did make him wonder how strong his friendship with Tracey actually was, then there was enough reason for him to continue doing the job. At least, he hoped so and that he wasn't just the first name on the top of a list of those with equal qualifications.
"I'll update with whatever I find that might be of interest in return for what you have shared with me. Thank you." Considering that Mrost couldn't act on information he gave him anyways, he didn't feel too concerned. Then again, if there was information that Mrost felt like acting upon, then it had to be information that might be a sign of Hell starting a war upon them. Either way, he should return the favor.
Since he was here, he did have questions. "Sir, if I may be so bold to ask. Do you have any advice in handling such a nefarious demon? I don't particularly have experience with Envy demons outside of what they leave behind in their wake, and not someone of this level of power. My interactions are......a bit limited." He rarely met with demons and only worked with a few angels more than a few times for them to be familiar to him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 1:05 pm
"Good." Mrost said, looking pleased. "Very good, you are an honest sort I'm sure." And in the praise was what seemed like a very subtle thread about what might happen to non-honest sorts and rightly so. "We'll always get there before Hell do."
At the question about the demon he was dealing with Mrost nodded. "Well, as far as handling, I would say the main thing is not to be a sinful person. This particular demon was one of Heaven's inquisitors, formerly an accomplished medic who turned what he had learned to purging the sinful. It was admirable, I was rather fond of him before he fell, from afar."
He shrugged. "Anyway, from that it seems that the bulk of his abilities center around reflection. Mirrors. Turning things upon their owners, that sort of thing. I think the best way to handle him is to not engage him in a fight in the first place, though if no one does then we will never know if the theory he's suppressed his power is correct or not." He smirked. "'course if he hasn't and someone fights him, he might turn everyone in the whole city's sin on their head and that would be messy."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 8:13 pm
"I suppose only approach if it's necessary and hope to dissuade him from creating such a terrible scenario. A small mess is......much more manageable than a city-wide tragedy." He thought out loud, thinking of what kind of bloodstain he would create if things went well.
He reached out for the coffee mug again to hold it, seeking it's now cold comfort, feeling only the faintest lingering feelings of the effort placed into making it. Maybe it wasn't too late to order another cup or would that be too greedy?
"I can only hope that whatever reason Evidia is here will be found out soon before he expresses the desire the use his powers. I can't imagine they would place such a high class demon here on Earth just for show unless they wish for someone to attack him." He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, not liking any scenario as too many involved a city-wide panic.
His influences were practiced in making people ignore the bigger picture, but often times he went for using whatever resources a human had in making things look official while still using the traits of a angel to make them digest the lies more readily or not even ask the questions to start with. He doubted those abilities would work on a demon of this caliber.
Then he remembered Tracey's advice.
"I heard from a friend that Envy demons like compliments."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 11:51 am
"Approach if you want, just don't engage." he said flippantly. "Though given your social skills you might want to avoid it for the most part." He laughed.
"Good to see you are the same as always at least, so safety conscious. But yes, I don't think it is for show. He was an asset. An asset which will no doubt have left a considerable power struggle in his wake."
Walking his fingers across the table, he eyed Melvin. "Oh yes, they do. They want. They want everything other people have, compliments are the grease in their cogs in some cases. Much like lust demons.."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 12:10 pm
"A temporary struggle I hope. One that will be filled again on his return. I'd hate to think of this is a permanent or long term visit. A special if not from occassion." He said as he rubbed the back his neck and looked around the diner, reminding himself what was at stake if things did get messy and he didn't prevent or help where he was needed. Doing a poor job was not an option, not that it hadn't even been considered before.
"I can't imagine a demon so long in Hell would be updated on social ettiwute or current human lifestyles." He said in his defense but realized he was trying to boast his limited social abilities instead of admitting to his faults. "...but yes. Best not engage if I can avoid it."
The last part had him giving a short, unexpected laugh. "It is at least a silver lining in that I'm not messing with that kind of demon. I'd certainly them question why I'd be assigned the job." And he'd be unable to provide that kind of grease.
"Maybe the less grease he gets would make it less appealing for him to be here.... Or more appealing to destroy it." He said with a somber sigh, quickly blowing out that slight laugh he had before.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 4:16 am
"The people in charge in Hell lately are a bunch of laid back wusses." he said with a smile that was a little unsettling. "I almost hope Envy gets a warlike leader, someone who'd throw a few stones and give us a reason to go down there and rip that whole place up at the roots. But maybe he'll go back. Maybe. Or maybe we can stop him from ever being a problem ever again."
He did laugh though. "And no, I wouldn't expect him to know that normal humans don't just murder one another, that tearing someone's fingernails off and waterboarding them isn't a greeting. He's a torturer at heart, he's done nothing but learn ways to harm creatures living and astral, it won't be too long before he messes up."
He laid a hand on Melvin's shoulder and patted it. "That's the spirit though, grease him up. The reason you are here and not someone else is because someone thinks you are a good guy. I've heard that around a truly good person, he'd be utterly and totally helpless."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 9:06 am
He looked at his shoulder and back at the general. It was possibly a vote of confidence they had made an appropriate choice in picking him, and for that r held to the hope of his own capabilities to preform the job to some degree in order to return that faith placed in him. It would be a shame otherwise if he couldn't meet expectations
"I suppose that will be tested either way. I can only hope that he will be the helpless one than te other way around. I will certainly try my best, and if that should go wrong, I will continue to try to minimize as much damage to everyone else." He'd at least be a quiet canary as to not alert the native fauna.
"If i find something, how will I contact you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
