flameandpassion | 77 [Voice]

How much do you trust the people you're working with?

You're talking about Jean Louis.

[It's not really a question.]

No.

[Jean Louis isn't a threat to her. She could overpower him if absolutely necessary, he was only a politician without any additional powers save for a quick wit and a smart mouth.

She pauses for a moment.]

-- the Archangel Raphael.

[WELLP.]

Oh.

[He nods quietly, because he totally expected that, really.]

What about her?

[ -- a soft snort.]

She's taken an interest in obtaining a position in this police force. Jean Louis likes her well enough.

[Rei pauses again.]

-- in her world, she sanctioned torture for dissent. Jean Louis won't care. He might mean well enough, but he's power-hungry, and Raphael can give him that power. But allowing her the opportunity to rule even a tiny part of the city might explode in all of your faces.

[One more pause.]

You seemed serious about wanting to help this city change for the better. If you want to help, you can't allow the two of them to work together more than they are already. They'll take this project and turn it into a monster to use against the people they dislike. Raphael, especially.

Mm.

[He thinks about that for a long moment, eyes focusing off of the camera. As much as he acts otherwise, Nathaniel is only seventeen- negotiating relations between an archangel and a dictator, setting up a structured force like this instead of simply working for one... it was strenuous, even at the best of times.

But he nods in the end, looking down toward his desk and jotting down a few quick notes- nothing immediately readable, at least, not in English.]

I understand. And I linger on the network enough to have known that Raphael is not simply a kind Samaritan. There are several things that must be taken into consideration before any action can be taken.

[Rubbing a little at his temples.]

Firstly, and least importantly, Raphael is, as you say, very powerful. If any one person attempts to block her from what she wants, I'm not entirely sure the outcome would be to the best of anyone's interest.

[He shakes his head.]

But that's of little importance. We signed over our personal safety when we started this force, and if that was my only concern, I'd move in to stop her right now. The main reason I'm hesitant- and I apologize in advance, but... [Glancing back down at his notes.] ...we need strong people so we can protect the citizens against other strong people who would seek to do them harm. People like Lucifer, people like Sephiroth. While I don't believe that her strength should allow her to do whatever she wants, I cannot deny that her power makes her a valuable asset to us at this time.

Now. [Taking a deep breath.] I'm not saying that this should prevent any action from being taken. I recognize that it is a problem and I want to fix it. I'm saying that it means we should tread carefully. As much as I endorse the idea of a community helping one another out, I believe her reasons for doing so are skewed. However, at the moment, I'm not in a position to stop either of them- physically or politically. But- [looking directly at the camera now-] I can promise you that I will do my absolute best to maneuver between the two of them as much as possible. And if anything like what you're fearing does arise, I will intervene to the utmost of my abilities, no matter the cost.

[There's a long silence, at that. It's a politician's answer, but a genuine one, Rei thinks. And she won't get a better one, because there really isn't any other solution that comes to mind. Keep an eye on her, prevent her from taking too much control -- that's all they can do unless she does something incredibly stupid.

But there is something else, and Rei hesitates, for a moment, before she lets out a breath.]

I --

[Oh, Castiel is going to kill her, and so is Hitsugaya, and probably a couple other people too.]

-- I have the power to trap the angels in place and diminish their powers.

I'll use it if it's necessary.

[Because Rei will not allow Raphael to hurt anyone else in this city more than she already has.]

[That's new information. And useful as well- the way she spoke it made it seem like it was at least somewhat secretive. Nathaniel considers her proposal for a moment, looking down toward his notes again, making another shorthand mark, and, finally, he nods.]

Miss Rei. [A pause.] I'm going to ask that you don't tell people about your working relationship with me. If we must communicate about the project, please let it be in private. I would like you to help out in the policing units themselves, but I want to appear to overlook you for now.

[His mind is already racing on what he can say, how he can act. Rei has just handed him a very effective trump card. By keeping it secret, he can not only move freely between Raphael and Jean Louis without any giveaway of his mistrust, but he can also have a steady backup plan, should his own attempts fall through- a backup plan that, while it remained secret, would protect not only him, but her as well.]

Do you understand?

[Another pause- he takes a deep breath.]

I would also like to ask who else knows you can do this. Feel free to keep that information confidental, but it may be a deciding factor in how I can act in this situation.

[ -- that's unexpected. And Rei purses her lips suddenly, with a quick nod, before continuing to speak.]

The angels know, because --

[Tch. This is humiliating, and Rei carries more than enough guilt for what happened, but she rolls her eyes to the ceiling for a moment, to collect her words, before settling to look at Nathaniel again.]

I trapped Lucifer in holy fire.

[To disastrous consequences and aftermath, but Rei stood up to him and survived. She refuses to apologize for that.]

-- what the angels don't know is that I've been working on making it stronger and applying it to everything else that I can do.

[She presses her fingers together, for a few seconds.]

I've been trying to create an arrow made of holy fire to kill them directly. If it's possible -- I haven't asked the angels that I trust about it. I don't want them to know I've been trying. Not yet. And none of them are going to find out.

[Somewhat pointedly. Do not tell anyone, Nathaniel, or Rei will punch your face.]

It will remain secret.

[He promises her this.]

While I do not wish to fight murder with murder, it may be the only option when dealing with beings as powerful as them. I appreciate your trust in me, and I want you to know that such trust will not be taken lightly.

[Nathaniel pauses after a moment to consider her carefully, before taking a deep breath.]

...there are many people here who are drawn to the idea of power- this project attracts them like moths to flame. I am not immune to that lure, I will admit to that. But I do know that we cannot have a functioning society if those with the power to help and the selflessness to not seek compensation keep quiet. It's a dangerous road that we walk on, creating this force. One misstep, one ill alliance, and it can all be brought down like a deck of cards, or worse- manipulated to create a tyranny. There are few people I trust, and fewer still that I believe.

[Sort of exactly like his home government. Except, oh yeah, everyone he decided to trust turned out to be a massive douchebag. There is that.]

You are one of those people, miss Rei. Please do not give me reason to doubt that trust.

I don't care how powerful she is.

[It's quiet.]

She murdered one of my closest friends in this city. And she ruined his home world and destroyed any chance of life he could have had. She can have all of the power she wants, but I won't let her do it again, and she won't take advantage of the same things she did in her own world.

[She pauses, though, at his last comment, almost surprised -- before Rei nods.]

A soldier doesn't have anything without loyalty or trust. I won't break it.

[He nods slowly, glancing down toward his hands.]

I appreciate it. Without further studies, and more demons summoned, I cannot particularly be of much use, but... if you do require anything from me, please ask. Any information you see fit to pass on, anything like what you have just told me- I'll try my best to always have an open ear.

The Temple of Heaven is warded against angels and demons. And pretty much everything in between. If you ever need a place to hide to be safe, you can stay there.

[Pause.]

Cas has a lot of hoarded books, too, if you need more information to summon more things.

[Even if demons are super gross and Rei is kind of built to destroy them. 8|]

[Pinged instantly by the promise of more books.]

...I've managed to accumulate a fair amount, but- that would be extremely useful, and could expedite my work. May I-

[Afjdklsa how to phrase this question, how to ask anything from anyone ever.]

If it's alright with him, I'd like to- perhaps take a look at his library. [Strained, back to the socially awkwardturtle that is Nathaniel when he's not discussing politics.]

[Rei deals with so many socially awkward boys in her life that she doesn't even notice.]

He's home now. You can come over whenever you want. I'm on the grounds right now, so I could show you around.

[Besides, Cas took the books from God knows where, they technically aren't even his. brb offering up a library that's not hers.]

In that case... alright.

[A little nod.]

I'd- like to meet you in person anyway. Where is this- Temple of Heaven?

[x,y]

It's one of the largest buildings in Adstringendum. You can't miss it.

[Rei pauses.]

-- Castiel hasn't been in a great mood, so if he's rude to you, don't take it personally. That's just how he is. He doesn't mean [most of] it.

It's alright. I'm quite used to it.

[That came out a little worse than he intended it to be. But Nat doesn't seem to notice, and nods, standing up, tucking his notes away in his jacket.]

I'll be over after I finish a few things. Ah, and... [A pause.] -Faisal isn't a demon, technically. He's simply a spirit who is capable of offensive and defensive magic. I'd like to bring him with me- he can conceal his form so you won't even notice that he's there.

[Rei long since lost the ability to sense spirits, something that causes her to purse her lips slightly -- but she ignores the pang.]

It won't matter if he shows himself or not. I'm used to spirits.

[Pause.]

... I'm a priestess at a Shinto shrine. It's part of my job.

You'll have to explain that to me sometime.

But, thank you. I'll be on my way.

[The feed is cut.]

[Rei will be sitting on the steps of the Temple, chin in her hands boredly, waiting for Nathaniel to show up. There's a basket of apples at her side, of all different colors, along with two crates full of apples at the bottom of the stairs. She hasn't quite worked up the energy to haul them all the way to the top -- it's a lot of stairs. And she can make Yuuichirou and Castiel do it later.]

[Nathaniel shows up after a long wait- he did have to walk the whole way- a bag strapped over his shoulder. He still looked far too proper to be really roughing it here- his clothing was formal, clean pressed, his hair was still mostly kempt, his shoes were clean. But even so, there was a trace of weariness that hung in the air about him, something that seemed almost like defeat, curled with exhaustion. Sleep is for people who don't have work to do, after all. Sleep is for people who don't care about nightmares.

Still. He seemed pleased enough to see her, and offered Rei a curt smile, extending his hand to shake her own.]

It's good to finally meet you in person.

[Her brow furrows slightly, at his appearance -- because Rei recognizes the way he carries himself. She shows it, on certain days, how difficult life is here -- and the people she loves the most in this place show it even more. Hitsugaya, on certain days -- Castiel, on others -- but to see it on someone as young as she is somehow makes her even more tired.

She smiles, though, and gets up to extend her own hand. She, in contrast, is dressed rather practically. A sweater, against the chill, and jeans -- sneakers. A relatively normal girl.

With special powers and an excellent ability to read people, anyway. And as Rei tilts her head slightly, to look at Nathaniel, she relaxes almost instantly. Her sense of intuition tells her that he isn't someone to fear -- at least, not yet. And she drops his hand after the handshake to slide her hands into her pockets.]

It's nice to meet you, too.

[And Rei tilts her head back towards the Temple, turning on her heel to continue up the stairs.]

Come on in. He's somewhere on the fourth floor, I think. Did you walk far?

Not terribly.

[Nathaniel follows her up the stairs to the temple, glancing about the place. Faisal was nothing but a little insect tucked inside one of the pockets of his bag- quiet, unassuming, and simply along for the ride, as long as Nathaniel didn't require anything of him.]

It was a ways, but I rather enjoyed it. It's difficult to remember that I need some fresh air too, sometimes. [He laughs softly at the joke of sorts, removing his gloves and tucking them in his coat pocket.]

Getting colder, though. Are many places around here insulated?

It depends on where you look. The Temple --

[And Rei pushes open the doors. It takes some effort, but a lot less than you would expect out of a short sixteen year old girl, and it reveals the cavernous insides of the building.]

-- is huge, so it's hard to keep warm. But I have a few tricks to make sure we don't freeze to death -- and one of my best friends is a portable snow plow.

[Hitsugaya would kill her if he ever heard her say so.]

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