9781/Path of Glory: You Will Answer

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Path of Glory: You Will Answer
Date of Scene: 19 January 2022
Location: Grand Central Station
Synopsis: The Archangel Raphael visits Cael Becker and gives her an offer to help with her with facing the threat of the angelic armies.
Cast of Characters: Cael Becker, Michael Demiurgos
Tinyplot: Path of Glory


Cael Becker has posed:
    "I'm not- We're not family, Sims!" Cael sputters after Jon as the man strides away. She rolls her eyes, but a smile ghosts across her features as she crouches down to rub at Bear's fur. "Fancy a bit of a vaction with Lady Grey, Bear?" she murmurs. After giving the dog another scratch, she straights and begins to slowly walk on the platform, a frown pulling at her features.
    Pray for an angel to appear? Right. //That// seems like a great idea, these days. And what would she even //say// to Raphael? After a heavy sigh she asks, "What would you say to him, Bear?"

Michael Demiurgos has posed:
    There is a strange breeze in the room and the sudden smell of flowers. "I think he would ask why humans think that all dogs can speak when it is physically impossible for them to do so... despite what Huskies may say to the contrary." The voice is from behind Cael and calm.

    Raphael is there dressed in a simple golden tunic. He still carries the same staff he was using in the fight against Asariel but it looked more the walking staff than an instrument of war."Besides, Bear needs not pray to our kind. His needs are often met by the one he loves... namely you. So angelic prayer holds very little meaning for him." He quickly adds, "Hello, Cael it has been some time hasn't it?"

Cael Becker has posed:
    The voice from behind freezes Cael in place, a shiver running down her back. Bear turns towards Raphael, the good-natured dog happily wagging his tail greeting, while his owner feels a far more complicated mix of emotions that somehow mixes dread, relief, and anger into one baffling sensation. "Bit over a month, isn't it?" she answers without looking. "Though I saw the video of your arrival. Of the fight near the fountain." Her voice is heavy with accusation and hurt, even though she knows the reaction isn't entirely reasonable.
    Raphael had told her what side he'd have to fight on - but it doesn't mean it wasn't painful to see.

Michael Demiurgos has posed:
    Raphel sighs at Cael's response. "I will not apologize for what you had been given advance notice of, Cael. I am what I am and thus I must abide by certain rules. When a General calls I obey. If Chief Carter told you to do something that was within your purpose as an agent, you would do it, would you not?" he asks.

    His expression is open and serene. He even turns to regard the dog and bows his head in greeting. "Yes. You are a very good companion and you do you job with astounding efficiency. Were it possible I would be envious." Apparently, he speaks dog, because of course he would.

Cael Becker has posed:
    "Not if it went against my beliefs. I'd tell Carter to shove it and hand in my badge if I had to. Thankfully, though - I don't she'd ever ask me to do something against my morals," Cael answers in a cool tone. She takes a deep breath in, and lets it out slowly before she adds, "What I saw... felt wrong. As so much of this does. What was done to me, what //will// be done to Jon, the destruction of this city, the loss of life... It's all wrong, and none of it's necessary. None of it."
    She turns to face Raphael finally, leaving the distance open between them as she regards the being, folding her arms over her chest, and flicking her gaze down to Bear as the pup responses to Raphael's words with a full-body wiggle as he wags his tail excitedly and lets out a bark in response.
    "...and I hide behind safe lines, unable to protect anyone, while incalcuable forces try to end all of reality. It's wrong. But I don't know how to tell if I'm... ready. If I can help, or if I'm a liability."

Michael Demiurgos has posed:
    "Free Will is such a powerful ability..." Raphael says with a sigh. "And so dangerous for us..." He regards Cael for a moment. "I am here to help with that... in a way." He pauses and adds softly. "That is... if you will still accept the help from one who has... hurt you in such a way. Even if inadvertently."

    It's clear that Cael had been hurt by his actions. He wants to apologize, but he is as incapable of apologizing for the act as he was unable to disobey the orders given by his general. It's a pain that even Cael can see though there are no visible wounds on him, the angel might as well be bleeding.

Cael Becker has posed:
    "...can I trust your help?" Cael asks bluntly. She sees no reason to mince her words - she rarely does.
    "Can you tell if I would be able to stand up in battle? Or if facing Michael again would break me? I can't afford to freeze. I can't afford to put my friends in the position where they have to choose between risking themselves to protect me - or leaving me to my fate. I need to be //certain// that I'm well enough."
    She presses her lips together before she adds, "Everyone keeps telling me how strong I've been, how brave... But that's not how it feels."

Michael Demiurgos has posed:
    Raphael considers his words carefully before speaking. "I cannot give you courage. I cannot instill bravery. I cannot lead you to such attributes. I can give you strength to understand why you fear. Why you hurt. I can take pain away completely, even though doing so is painful to me."

    He regards her sympathetically and shakes his head. But none of those things will truly help you now. What I can do for you is this." He offers his free hand to her. "Take my hand and I will show you what I propose. I will show you something which may help you understand why others see such traits in you."

Cael Becker has posed:
    "It's never a simple yes or no, is it?" Cael asks with frustration turning her words bitter. "Can you really not see if the wounds have healed enough? I wasn't asking for you to //change// anything," she says in frustration. She just wants to know.
    Her gaze flicks to the offered hand, uncertainty clear on her features, as if she still expects some sort of trick. //Could// Michael use Raphael to get to Jon through her? ...did he have any need to?
    She moves forward slowly, her gaze locked on to Raphael's face, watching him for any sign of deception - of half-spoken truths - before she finally takes his hand.

Michael Demiurgos has posed:
    A pink glow surrounds them both. "I can tell you that you are strong enough, but you already doubt the words even as I say them," the Archangel of healing replies. He waves a hand and a flutter of rose petals obscures the subway platform they are on completely.

    When the petals have cleared they appear to be in another place. "Do not be alarmed. We have not truly left the platform, at least not in any capacity that leaves your companion alone. He is safe."

    The location they view is a cave or some sort. It looks old and all but forgotten. Water drips from someplace. Stairs lead up to a sort of dais in the middle of the cave on which is floats an amulet of some sort, the center stone of it is polished silver blue. There is power there, even Cael can feel the strength in it.

    "If you agree to my proposal I can take you to find this. And once you have it, perhaps you will understand your own strength." Raphael says calmly. "It will not activate for one who does not have the courage to use it. But in the hands of one who is truly brave it is a powerful and universally invaluable tool."

Cael Becker has posed:
    "Yeah, well, if anything happened to Bear I'd knock your teeth out," Cael says simply.
    Sure, probably not how most people would talk to an Archangel - but it doesn't seem to phase Cael in the least. Her gaze goes towards the dais and she spends a moment studying the floating amulet, before she turns her head to study the rest of the space, her jaw gritting together for a moment. "I'm really starting to grow tired of caves, you know," she remarks.
    "...so. What is this proposal?" she asks with continuing bluntness. "I don't agree to things before I know the terms. That never leads to good things."

Michael Demiurgos has posed:
    Raphael smiles. "That is a fair rote to live by and one I repsect" he replies before moving closer. "This one is quite simple. The terms are that you use this to fight against us, Michael and all of my kind in this contest." He adds with a nod. "And yes that may even include me."

    He pauses and looks at the amulet. "Then, once the contest is over, you can decide to keep or return the amulet. The choice on that is yours. I will say that with the amulet comes a burden or sorts. Not using it tends to put its user in a sort of crisis that can lead to... dangerous acts." He pauses. "I will explain more if you agree to the terms."

Cael Becker has posed:
    Cael responds with a snort, pulling her hand back so she can cross her arms over her chest. "Well of course I'd use it to fight the angels," she remarks in a dry tone. "That's what I intend to do - I need to fight, and defend my friends, and my world," she says fiercely.
    "But I'm not promising to accept anything without knowing more about the //burden// it poses," she asserts with unwavering firmness. "That's part of the terms, and I don't think I was unclear on my policy to that regard."

Michael Demiurgos has posed:
    "Ever defiant... but... that is part of why I respect you, I suppose" Raphael replies. "Very well. If you take it up you will -have- to seek out conflict. The amulet thrives off the power inherent in such things. It is fueled by struggles, contests, battles, challenges..." He pauses and regards the woman for a while before nodding.

    "If you do not seek out such things at least once a month the amulet will turn on you and will do one of two things. One, it will extract its conflict from you: you will be compelled to fight a worthy opponent." He pauses "Or two, it will leave you. It will actively seek to flee from your possession. You will turn your head after taking off and when you look back, it will be gone. Or you will stumble and the clasp will break and it will end up down a sewer drain; even bouncing inexplicably to find such an escape."

Cael Becker has posed:
    Cael gives a nod in response, her expression thoughtful as she Raphael. "And angels can't lie..." Jon has said that, yes? "That's the only cost - that it requires conflict, and the only promise I must back is that I use it to defend my world from Michael's angelic invasion of reality." She studies Raphael as she speaks, before finally offering a nod.
    "I can agree to those terms... especially if it helps me return to the field sooner."

Michael Demiurgos has posed:
    Raphael nods and smiles. "I must advise caution... it's power can be something addictive. The last person to have it put it here because its power was so addictive and even at the end of their life they craved the struggle, the fight, the victory."

    He watches her reaction and says, "But I would not offer it to you if I did not think you wise enough to use it properly and realize when it should be cast away for another."

    "Do you still want it?" he asks directly.

Cael Becker has posed:
    "If it can help me save the world?" Cael asks. "Then yes," she says simply. "That's worth any cost - isn't it? And I can always return it after the final battle is won." Even if Jon insists that battle is really not the //point// of the 'game' the Gods are playing.
    "And besides. My friends wouldn't allow me to lose myself," she points out simply.

Michael Demiurgos has posed:
    Raphael nods and the cave falls away. They are back in Grand Central Station on the platform. Bear is still there sitting next to her resting his large body against her leg. Once sure she has her footing under her Raphael releases her hand and the glow fades from her.

    "Then in five days time I will come to you. You and one other being can come." He holds up a hand, quickly adding, "It is a choice you must make. I cannot make it for you. But you have options. We will go and you will undertake the trial to be seen worthy to take up the power within that amulet."

Cael Becker has posed:
    "...I see," Cael answers quietly. She glances down at the pup besider her, then looks back up towards Raphael again. "Alright, five day's time," she agrees. Her lips quirk into a smirk as she adds, "And you're not going to give me a simple, straightforward answer as to whether or not you think I could face Michael without freezing up completely in the middle of a battle... are you?" She can be stubborn - but that was the one thing she wanted answered more than anything else right now.

Michael Demiurgos has posed:
    Raphael considers her question for a long moment and then replies, "It is not that I am not... it is that I am incapable of knowing that. I have seen mortals with less courage than you stand up against impossible foes. But at the same time I have seen those with as much strength as you posses freeze and panic in the face of foes that they could defeat."

    He sighs. "My assessment is that you could face him now and push through your fear and trauma. But that is made in a vaccuum. There are a number of variables that go into such conflicts that I cannot make a fair guess as to what you can and cannot handle." He looks pained that he cannot give her an accurate answer but the resignation in his voice says that he is being honest at least with her.

Cael Becker has posed:
    "I see," Cael answers. "No easy answers, huh?"
    She directs her attention down to Bear as she asks, "What do you think, Bear? Could I take him?" she asks. The pup, in respose, wags his tail vigorously, befoe letting out a single bark.
    "Yeah, well - you're biased," she responds - as if that were an actual answer to her question. Still, she reaches down to rub the top of the dog's head, before turning her attention back to Raphael.
    "...thank you for coming," she says a bit grudgingly. "Even if prayer isn't my thing."

Michael Demiurgos has posed:
    "Prayer isn't a great many people's -thing-, Cael" Raphael replies with a sad smile. "But you did it right. You thought of me and simply spoke. Even if you choice of words was rather crude. I still heard it. Often, you will find with my people intent is more important than any ceremony."

    He gives the dog a smile. "Keep this one safe, great companion. She is more than worth your help, but you know that already." He returns his gaze to Cael. "Consider your choice... I will see you in five days." There is a flurry of flowery petals and a scent of roses and the Archangel Raphael is gone.

Cael Becker has posed:
    "Fuckin' angels, man," Cael mutters to herself as Raphael departs, crouching down to scratch at the dog, and give him a hug. "You're going to be full of yourself all week now - aren't you?" she adds in a dry tone.
    "How long you think we should just hide down here before we let Jon know what happened? Hrm?" she asks. "Not as much fun, though, when he doesn't know he should be stewing. I could send him a cryptic text?" she suggests, mischief pulling at her lips as Bear continues wagging his tail cheerfully. It's not a real answer, but it makes her smile in response.
    "You're a good boy," she murmurs.