Picture the scene. Blandine and Laurence, all radiant
and happy, standing at the altar. True, Yves for
some reason declined to conduct the service, so they
got Israfel instead. Khalid's best man, Novalis is
matron of honor, all of the big shots of the Host are
there. Lots and lots of Malakim. Heck, even the
Tsadayim might have popped in. Needless to say, this
shindig's at the Halls of Worship: Catholic ceremony,
naturally, so everybody wearing a sword has got theirs
unbuckled and on the seat next to them*.
Beleth shows up, of course, at the most inopportune
time. Possibly after the "if any one here" bit, but
before the vows (although inserting her after
Laurence's, but before Blandine's, would make MUCHO
hassles latter. Dramatic silhouette, screaming of
"BLANDINE!!!", diving through the stained glass window
(without breaking it), the whole nine yards.
Of course, every Malakim reaches for his or her sword,
curses, paws through the stuff in the pews, grabs any
sword handy and flies on an intercept course. With
all of Larry's swordies right behind them. The AA's
are all jockeying for position, trying to line up a
shot that won't incinerate a blackwing in the process,
but the furball is already too intense.
There's a problem, though. A Malakim of Trade screams
and winds up for a suicide stroke, but halfway through
his face blanches and he drives his sword into the
floor. That Seraph of the Sword over there grunts as
if she had been punched in the stomach and then
deliberately barrels into the two Cherubim of Fire
lining up some cleansing flame. Every single
Dominican capable of Heavenly Judgement is looking
shocked and drained.
There's quite a scrum going on the sidelines, as
Malakite and Mercurian resonance pings are followed by
their pingers' inexplicable attempts to restrain their
fellows. Even the AA's are starting to mill about, as
their most favored Malakite Servitors frantically rush
to them to whisper urgent words.
Beleth pushes through the mob of putative attackers as
if they were made of mist. She collapses at
Blandine's feet, weeping. Michael has already started
running to the altar, with Dominic right behind them.
Both look pale.
Now, Laurence is naturally incandescent with rage, but
on the other hand, he's actually never gotten to slay
a Demon Princess before. Going into a killing stance
as his sword begins to smoke with all of the
Word-attention put into it, his blade comes down...
... and, in the back of his mind, the resonance light
comes on.
::: Scan complete. :::
::: Most honorable act committed during last week: :::
::: Redeeming.** :::
The sword stops a half inch from Beleth's exposed
neck. Laurence is frozen with pure temptation, but he
happens to be a practicing Roman Catholic, and the
Church happens to have definite _issues_ about killing
your fiancee's incovenient former lovers. Besides, as
Michael (about the only one of the big brass who
suspected that this might happen) will undoubtedly
tell him, just as soon as he finishes running over
there, there's now political considerations at work
here. Laurence actually _throws_ _away_ the sword***
and says a nasty word. Needless to say, it echoes
through the silent Halls like a gunshot.
Meanwhile, Blandine's sitting on the floor and
crooning meaningless sounds as she strokes Beleth's
hair. However, in about thirty seconds, Blandine's
going to remember where she is, what she had planned
for her day today, and that she isn't exactly able to
turn off what she feels for the angel standing above
her. At that point, she'll look up, and lock gazes
with Laurence.
Close curtain.
:)
Morgan (FAW)
Kyriotate of Destiny
Petitioner for the Word of See, I TOLD You That Soap
Operas Could Be A Significant Word
*Us Catholics stand up and sit down a lot during
services. I can tell you (from attending Mass at the
Pennsic War in full medieval garb) that wearing a
sword at such a time can be awkward.
Yes, I have actually realtity tested IN, in a sense.
:)
**Or maybe a specific something else, but it all
depends on whether this vignette is a standalone or
part of a shared world. :)
***Which is now a killer (pardon the pun) artifact,
but I digress.
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EDG <edg@sjgames.com>
In Nomine Collection Curator