Maria: d10: nightmares: 5,5,2,2,1,

Maria: ((wow..... heh. Shit))

Laurel Hensley: ((Dayum.))

Maria: ~She comes out of her room, more pale than normal, eyes sunken from a very rough night apparently. She's in some pajama pants and a matching tank top, some cute thing Bridgette bought for them. Hair a toussled, tangled mass on her head and rubbing at her eyes with a scowl. Shuffling into the lounge, eyes puffy and red~

Maria: ((yeah..... ~L~ suckage.))

Maria: ~But a passed out Laurel shifts her attention. She moves quietly, letting the blanket around her shoulders slip off, and very carefully lays it over the woman, then moves behind the bar, looking around for a moment, before fixing herself a glass of water~

Laurel Hensley: She shifts a little bit, murmuring in her sleep. "Mmm, love..." She smiles a little, before realization and consciousness comes. Her eyes flutter open and she looks up, sitting up suddenly in a manner that's perhaps self-conscious. She's dressed as she was last night. "Maria," she says with a weak smile, nodding to her.

Laurel Hensley: d10: Translate: 7,10,4,9,6,

Maria: ~She jumps a little at the sudden movement, nearly spilling the water, but catching herself. She bites on her lip, eyes going to Laurel~ *sp* I'm sorry.... I didn't.... I mean.... I only thought to cover you up incase you got cold....

Laurel Hensley: "No...thank you." She nods a little bit, pulling the blanket around herself. "It was...very kind of you." She raises a hand to rub at her eyes, and looks around. "What time is it?"

Maria: Late..... very late. Or early.... I'm not exactly sure. ~She takes a drink of the water, holding the cup with two slightly shaking hands~ It's still dark.

Maria: ((~Sticks a "*sp*" into the front of that post~))

Laurel Hensley: She nods a little bit and looks up to Maria, eyes taking a concerned look. "More nightmares?"

Maria: ~She nods, looking down for a moment, then back to Laurel~

Laurel Hensley: She nods a little bit and reaches slowly out to take the girl's hand. If Maria looks skittish about it, she backs off. "You're okay, Maria. No one is going to hurt you here, I promise."

Maria: ~She doesn't shy from the hand, having gotten more comfortable with Laurel than others, even Jay. She gives the woman a shy smile though, and a nod~ *sp* I'm really sorry about freaking out like I did.....

Laurel Hensley: She takes the hand and places her other one on the other side, cupping Maria's hand between hers. "It's all right, Maria. How's Beth?"

Maria: *sp* She's doing better..... Still scared, but she'll be ok I think. She was talking about seeing if we could move in with Phillip, but.... I don't know. He's been really nice, but I don't want to burden anyone more than we already have.

Laurel Hensley: She nods a little bit. "Well, you'll always have a home here, Maria. For as long as you want." She smiles. "Would you like to sit down?"

Maria: ~She smiles, moving over towards a seat~ *sp* Thank you. How can I repay the kindness you have shown to us? I just.... Well I have alot of questions, and I'm still scared.... but.... So many of you have been so good to us and I want to repay that.

Laurel Hensley: She shakes her head. "Don't worry about that now, Maria. For now, what's important is that you be safe, and get better. I'll help with that however I can."

Maria: ~She settles down into a chair, bringing her legs up to her chest and perching her toes on the edge of the seat. She sips at the water, then smiles, nodding a bit~ *sp* I'm...... I'm working on that. It's just really hard sometimes, with being so scared all the time and not knowing what's going on. ~She looks down a bit at her knees, letting the rest of her thoughts stay quiet before she lets out a torrent of questions and the woman winds up thinking her crazy~

Laurel Hensley: "I know." She nods a little bit. "Maria...what do you think of the people around here? All of them...honestly."

Brigitte Clara Deleon: The glittermuse makes a light pad up the stairs and into the lounge. Dressed in her favorite white sundress. She has a loopy smile about her, pupils dialated to hell and back. She offers a delicate wave to the two before slipping behind the bar to mix herself a drink.

Maria: ~She tilts her head, looking to Laurel again~ *sp* Most of you have been really nice, even the ones that I don't understand, and the ones that don't understand me. But..... ~She looks down and away, shrugging a little bit~ I think there's more than what we see. I don't know what, but sometimes..... I get strange feelings. Like something is happening that I don't know about.

Laurel Hensley: She nods a little bit, smiling. "You're a perceptive girl, Maria. There is indeed." She looks up to Brigette, lips pursing at her condition before she smiles to the other woman. "Hey, love."

Maria: ~She bites her lip, eyes going to Brigitte, anything else the girl might be about to say dying on her lips. She doesn't want anyone else to think she's going mad... not yet~

Brigitte Clara Deleon: Brigitte gives a soft giggle, listening to the spanish. Wildly amused it seems and high as a kite. She slowly starts shaking herself a martini. When she's spoken to she blinks slowly up to Laurel. "Hey, you. You were asleep last time I was here."

Maria: ~Her eyes shift back to Laurel, her head tilting~ Like.... last night? When Beth ran out?

Maria: ((~Tucks the "*sp*" in there again~))

Brigitte Clara Deleon: After she pours the liquid into the martini glass, she gives a loopy smile to Maria. "Drink, love?"

Maria: ~She blinks, turning her eyes to Brigitte, head tilting as the words left completely unregistered to the girl~

Brigitte Clara Deleon: She quirks a brow at Maria, wildly amused it would seem. She steps from behind the bar and makes her way over. Pointing to the martini, then to Maria. Then back and again. Making her point that she means to give the girl a drink.

Laurel Hensley: She nods a little to Brigette. "Yeah. One of those nights." She looks back to Maria and nods. "Like last night. It was just an attempt to protect Beth...things are dangerous outsaide. We're worried about her...and you. You've both been through a lot, and..." She shrugs a little. "Nothing bad."

Laurel Hensley: "She wants to know if you'd like a drink."

Maria: ~She holds up her glass of water, half drank, giving her a shy smile and shaking her head no~ *sp* Thank you.... but I have one.

Brigitte Clara Deleon: Brigitte disregards the water, holding the drink in her hand toward the girl. Sounding out the word as though Maria were mentally challenged. "Maaaaaaarrrrrrrrrtini. Martini. Yum yum, drink it up."

Maria: ~She looks back to Laurel, nodding a bit~ *sp* We appreciate everything you've done for us. Beth is just..... well you scared her, with whatever it was you said. And she doesn't like that you come in and watch us sleeping. But I told her it was because of my nightmares, and that you're just watching over us like Jay does. I'm fine with you being in there.... it's more comforting than the nightlight. And Beth sleeps right through my dreams.

Maria: ~She slowly looks back to Brigitte, blinking again, then shakes her head no, drawing the water closer to her, a look over to Laurel~ *sp* I don't remember her being this strange.....

Laurel Hensley: She looks at Brigette and shakes her head. "She says she's fine, love. But says thank you."

Brigitte Clara Deleon: Brigitte gives a subtle shrug, sipping the martini with a delicate hand. Another loopy grin. "I guess there's no accounting for taste. Hmph."

Laurel Hensley: Eyes pass back to Maria, and she nods a little bit, smile apologetic. "I'm sorry I make Beth uncomfortable...it's not my intent. I just worry about you when you sleep, is all. A bit overprotective on my part. But if I make you more comfortable, I'm glad I can be there for you."

Laurel Hensley: She watches Brigette, chuckling a bit, then nods to Maria. "She's just tired. Don't worry about it."

Maria: ~She nods to Brigitte, giving her a shy, but polite smile, then looks to Laurel and nods again~ *sp* And I thank you for it. Very much so. You.... You aren't going to get into trouble with the police or anything for letting us stay, are you? I know there are laws.... and the bar downstairs....

Brigitte Clara Deleon: Brigitte strolls around to stand behind Laurel. She places a dainty hand on the woman's shoulder, absently giving it a massage. Smiling sweetly to Maria, as though she were fascinated by the girl.

Maria: ~She actually giggles a little bit, looking to Brigitte, then back to Laurel~ *sp* She should take a nap if she's tired..... She's being really silly.

Laurel Hensley: She shakes her head with a smile. "Don't worry about the police. They weren't there to help when those monsters had you...and we can handle them with ease. We've got some connections." Brigette's hand on her shoulder draws a small, happy smile to her face, and she looks up to the woman.

Brigitte Clara Deleon: Brigitte leans down to kiss the top of Laurel's head. "I'm not tired, silly. I've neeeeeeeeeever felt better."

Laurel Hensley -> Brigitte Clara Deleon: Brigette's likely to find a good deal of tension in Laurel's shoulders, of course. Many, many stress spots in her upper shoulders and neck...just an indication of her state.

Brigitte Clara Deleon: She gives a flighty laugh. "The police? Are you fucking kidding me?" She sets her martini down and starts rubbing Laurel's shoulders with both hands. "Love.. you're so tense.."

Maria: ~She nods to Laurel, then falls quiet for a moment, just watching the two with a soft smile, and a sip of her water~

Laurel Hensley: She half-shuts her eyes, giving a sigh and leaning into those hands. "Like I said, love...one of those nights last night. Hell, one of those weeks...months...shall I go on?"

Brigitte Clara Deleon: She gives another girlish giggle, smiling lazily down to Maria when she works over Laurel's shoulders. Watching the girl with an admiring gaze. "I understand, love.. it's been ~hell~ here lately.." She gives another giggle.

Maria: ~She tilts her head and lays her cheek on her knees, just watching the two with that blank, not understanding a word they're saying look, but plenty content to let them talk with Laurel being relaxed and all that~

Laurel Hensley: She sighs once more, a touch heavier, and nods to Brigette, before she looks to Maria. "So what exactly all have you felt, Maria? And have you always been able to?"

Brigitte Clara Deleon: (assuming that laurel has translate up, Maria can understand everything she says for the duration of the scene, regardless of whether or not she's speaking to her, unless laurel breaks the evocation)

Laurel Hensley: ((*Nods* And Laurel does.))

Maria: ~She blinks, her head lifting with that deer in the headlights look flashing briefly before it's gone. She glances to Brigitte, then back to Laurel, shrugging a tiny bit and looking away with a nod~ *sp* I..... I don't know how to explain it. I just.... feel things sometimes. It's like a chill almost, that runs up my spine. I get all tingly.... like last night. I felt it, and then when I ran outside after Beth, there was a big down pour of rain.... but when we were out earlier with Phillip there wasn't any clouds or anything.

Laurel Hensley: ((Have Translate up, I mean.))

Maria: ((ah. ok, thought it was just when she spoke to Maria. heh.))

Brigitte Clara Deleon: Brigitte drapes her arms over Laurel, leaning down to absently kiss the woman's neck. A coy smile still pointed to Maria.

Maria: ~Maria's cheeks start to redden at the looks from Brigitte, her eyes going down to her knees~

Laurel Hensley: She smiles a little at the kiss, and then nods to Maria. "What happened was, like I said, our desire to protect you and Beth. You were worried and scared, and so was she...not the best way to run out into the night." She tilts her head, watching Maria. "Many of us here, Maria, are more then your average people. That doesn't make us wrong...it makes us empowered to help people like you. Everyone who needs to be helped."

Maria: ~She tilts her head a little bit, eyes going to Laurel~ *sp* Like.... guardian angels? Sent from God?

Brigitte Clara Deleon: From her position near Laurel's neck, she narrows her eyes at Maria. A VERY displeased look. "Watch your tongue, girlie.."

Lurk: ((Open to those with access to the back room?))

Laurel Hensley: "Brigette." She looks over her shoulder to the other, reaching up to run her hand along Brigette's jaw softly. "Give her time, love. She doesn't know yet."

Laurel Hensley: ((Open as far as I'm concerned.))

Brigitte Clara Deleon: She untenses a bit at Laurel's touch, her eyes calming but still locked on Maria. "She'll learn really damn fast if she calls me a fucking angel one more time.."

Brigitte Clara Deleon: (yesh, open.)

Laurel Hensley: "She asked. She didn't label. I'm on it, okay?"

Maria: ((Sorry guys, gimme just a minute, have a boy who needs me))

Brigitte Clara Deleon: Brigitte slowly reaches down to grab her martini, rising up to her full height. She downs the drink and huffs off toward the bar. "Where'd I lay my fucking pills.." She mumbles lazily.

Keiko Moroboshi: *Keiko heads through the club and stops at the bar in the front for just long enough to get herself a drink before continuing in to the back...oh, and she makes damn sure that any of her...technological means of being contacted are turned off for the moment*

Laurel Hensley: ((No problem, China)) "How many have you taken already," she asks calmly, watching Brigette with a worried frown.

Brigitte Clara Deleon: She bends over the bar, fumbling around in her purse for her pill bottle. Mumbling something under her breath akin to, I dunno.

Maria: ((oi...... ok back. Sorry guys))

Keiko Moroboshi: *And...drink in hand, Keiko enters the back room* "Hello." *and then she looks around* ((China, for when you return...if you need Keiko's DD, just ping me))

Maria: ~Her eyes flicker back and forth between the two women, blinking a few times, eyes going to Laurel~ *sp* Did I upset her?

Laurel Hensley: She frowns, sighing a little to Brigette, and looks at Maria. "We...the term angel isn't one that we'd use to describe ourselves. Maybe we were, once, long ago...but long ago, we abandoned that name. Because we cared too much about you and the rest of Humanity to stand by and watch. We wanted to help." She looks over at Keiko and smiles to her. "Hey."

Brigitte Clara Deleon: Brigitte pats out two pills and swallows them, stuffing the bottle back in her purse. She casts a loopy smile to Keiko. "Hey.. it's you. Hi, you."

Maria: ~She frowns, not quite grasping the full meaning of what Laurel's saying to her~ *sp* Then..... if you aren't angels, how is it some of you can do strange things? God loves us all, we were his chosen, so if you're looking out for us then how is it you aren't angels? Are you saints?

Keiko Moroboshi: *she looks at Maria, and doesn't understand a word she has said* "What is she speaking? She doesn't know English?"

Brigitte Clara Deleon: Brigitte points an amused finger at Marie, smiling to Keiko. "She only speaks spanish. Aaaaaaaaand.. she called us angels. Aaaaaaaaaaaand.. she refused my martini."

Keiko Moroboshi: d10: Man+Emp(Translate): 10,6,10,3,

Laurel Hensley: She looks back to Keiko. "She doesn't, no." A glance back to Maria, and she shrugs a little. "There's a lot of truth in what you know, Maria. And there's a lot that isn't so. It's...difficult to accept for some. You're obviously a woman of great Faith. Faith is a good thing to have. But so is the truth...don't you agree?"

Brigitte Clara Deleon: d10: per+aware: 1,6,7,2,

Keiko Moroboshi: *Keiko doesn't seem nearly as annoyed as Brigitte at the term Angel*

Laurel Hensley: d10: Per+Aware: 3,2,7,9,10,

Maria: d10: tingles -: 9,10,2,

Keiko Moroboshi: *Keiko takes a sip of her drink, and looks around quietly, hoping to catch some of the conversation*

Maria: ~Her eyes go big for a moment, darting towards Keiko, then back to Laurel, nodding at her words~ *sp* I have faith..... But I also know that sometimes God is busy, and can't answer all the prayers.

Brigitte Clara Deleon: Being in the drug induced state that she's in, Brigitte giggles and starts dancing. Singing in a silly tone. "There's somethin happenin here.. what it is.. ain't exactly cleeeeeear.."

Laurel Hensley: Brigette's behavior brings a line to Laurel's brown of concern. She gives her a worried look, and then smiles back to Maria. "God is everything, right, Maria? He's the creator of all...he's all-powerful, all-knowing. So why can't he answer everyone's prayers?"

Brigitte Clara Deleon: Brigitte jumps up and down, raising her hand. "Oo! Oo! I know! Because he doesn't give a ~fuck~!!"

Keiko Moroboshi: *she ignores Brigitte's drunken declaration that she did something...but she is silent, and listens before attempting to join the conversation*

Keiko Moroboshi: *she CAN'T resist that though* "That's not entirely true, Brigitte. God doesn't just not give a fuck, God is opposed to Man."

Maria: *sp* Sometimes God's greatest gift is unanswered prayers. Some prayers, shouldn't be answered. ~Her eyes dart to Brigitte, then to Keiko again. She chews on her lip and leans close to Laurel, her voice dropping to a whisper~ I felt it again.....

Brigitte Clara Deleon: She waves a flakey hand in Keiko's direction, slinking over toward the bed in a clumsy stance. "Ohhhh.. details details.. Goddamn I'm tired.."

Maria: ~That gets her jumping, eyes darting back to Keiko, instantly defensive~ *sp* That isn't true.

Brigitte Clara Deleon: Brigitte giggles, half paying attention. "They're so adorable.. I'm SO glad we kept them.. They're like little people puppies." She crawls up into bed and curls around a pillow.

Keiko Moroboshi: *Keiko glances to Laurel as though for permission to continue...after all, this is Laurel's turf...and Keiko is the sort that prefers to have a leader handy, and hers is currently unavailable*

Laurel Hensley: She scowls at the other two Fallen, and looks back to Maria. She's going to make no progress with these two offering opinions different to the one she's presenting. "Maybe we can talk about this elsewhere."

Brigitte Clara Deleon: (and i'm off to bed. you can safely assume that brigitte mumbles a bit, maybe laughs here or there, then falls asleep within the next hour. thanks guys.)

Keiko Moroboshi: ((g'night Scar *waves*))

Laurel Hensley: ((It's okay, Laurel's taking Maria away from Brigette as it is. *S*))

Laurel Hensley: ((Night!))

Maria: ((~snugs on a flower and shoos her silly butt off to bed~))

Maria: ~Her eyes flitter back to Laurel, clearly unhappy at Keiko's statement, nodding a bit and rising from the chair~

Keiko Moroboshi: *Keiko is silent, taking Laurel's scowl as a "shut the hell up" and she sits down, followed by another sip of her drink*

Laurel Hensley: She looks to Keiko and sighs. "Come on...we can talk in one of the other rooms, if you want to come. But let me do this, please."

Keiko Moroboshi: *she nods, and remains silent, and stands up once more*

Maria: ~She looks between the two women, chewing on her lip some~

Laurel Hensley: She looks to Maria and smiles. "It's okay. We all just...we went through a lot. Not all of us agree on everything. The facts, though, remain the same. Come on, honey."

Maria: ~She moves over next to Laurel, slipping her hand into the woman's quietly~

Laurel Hensley: She smiles and takes Maria's hand, moving off into one of the other rooms. Let Brigette have her stoned dementia. They need to get some work done. Once inside the room, she leads Maria to take a seat on the bed with her.

Keiko Moroboshi: *she nods quietly and follows, still not certain of what can and cannot be said to speak, though she does look over to Brigitte with concern*

Maria: ~She lowers down on the bed, picking up the pillow and putting it in her lap, then wrapping her arms around it~

Laurel Hensley: "To answer you, Maria...yes, you felt it again. Keiko is also one of us. Someone who gave up their position as an angel because, like myself, like Brigette, and like so many others, she loved Humanity, and wanted to see it reach the heights they could."

Keiko Moroboshi: *suddenly, Keiko seems very aware of her manners, which she neglected when she showed up. As she's standing from the walking, she holds her drink carefully and bows in Maria's direction* "I apologize for not introducing myself. I am Keiko Moroboshi."

Maria: ~She blinks, slowly, looking between Keiko and Laurel, then towards the door to the other room, then back to Laurel~ *sp* Soooooo........ ~She frowns, tilting her head~ If God loves us all, then why would you have to give up being an angel for it? That doesn't make any sense.

Maria: ~She tilts her head at Keiko again, and nods her head politely~ *sp* Pleased to meet you Miss Moro.... Moro...boshi. I am Maria.

Laurel Hensley: She shrugs a little. "We...even when we were angels, Maria, God remained distant to us. He gave us His decree...that His creation, mankind, would never know us." She shrugs a little...telling this story always hurts some. "We helped make you...we helped create the world, and everything. We looked upon you as our children. And to be told by our Father...our everything...that we could only watch as mankind struggled to reach the heights we knew you could reach was sheer torture. It seemed as if you were lost...we wanted to help, but God said no. And he wouldn't tell us why. If He had...maybe things wouldn't have gone the way they did."

Keiko Moroboshi: *she rights herself* "The pleasure is mine...and if you prefer, you may call me Keiko." *she then sits down on the floor, legs beneath her*

Maria: ~She frowns again, confusion writing itself across her face~ *sp* But stories.... miracles.... All tell of angels coming down and being with us, guiding us, sharing Gods words with us. I've never heard of Him forbidding such things. God sends angels to help us. They are our guardians.

Maria: ~She nods to Keiko again, acknowledging the words~

Laurel Hensley: She smiles a little bit. "History is written by the winners of a struggle, Maria. This is why you've never heard of all of this. And how do you know that it's God who sends the guardians to help you?"

Keiko Moroboshi: *Keiko is quiet as Laurel explains, but she smiles a bit at that question...almost as though remembering specific events*

Maria: *sp* He created us. He loves us. Why would He turn His back on us? ~She shakes her head, arms tightening around the pillow~ No.... He wouldn't do something so terrible.

Laurel Hensley: "I don't know, Maria." She shrugs a little bit. "I wish He had told us His reasons. Maybe...it's hard for us to accept this after all this time, but I can't completely discount the possibility that His reasons were good-intentioned. All we were ever allowed to know is what He commanded of us."

Maria: ~She frowns some, and seems to tense a little bit~ *sp* So..... then..... if you are no longer angels... that makes you fallen angels, right? Fallen angels are demons...... and work for the devil.....

Keiko Moroboshi: *oh, Keiko's now quite amused, and glances to Laurel...she's remaining silent though, until Laurel gives her a go-ahead to join in*

Laurel Hensley: "Fallen angels is what some call us, yes." She nods a little. "Some even call us Demons. But let me ask you this. Who is it that has told you this? Was it God Himself who told you this? Or was it men, speaking what they claimed to be the word of God? The same men who led the Crusades, killing thousands in what they called a retaking of their lands...the same men who molest children. The same men who killed hundreds of thousands of women as witches, because they didn't like them? They invented the Iron Maiden, the Rack, and other torture devices. Is this the work of God?"

Maria: *sp* It was God working through men, to purify the taints of corruption brought about by the Devil and his minions. "Thou Shall Put No Other God Before Me", it is written as His commandment. ~Her eyes dart around a little bit, the frown deeping as her nervousness grows some~

Laurel Hensley: "How do you know they were even non-Christians, Maria? Because they had confessions coerced through attempted drownings?" She reaches up to brush her hand over the girls hair. "I'm not trying to scare you, or make you nervous. All I'm saying is that there's two sides to every story."

Maria: *sp* Why would they confess to crimes against God that they did not commit just to be put to death for those crimes? If there's two sides to the story, then why aren't they heard? ~She shakes her head, frowning more, and putting her chin on the pillow~ I..... I just don't understand...... God wouldn't put us on this earth if He didn't want us to protect what is good and right, isn't that true? If the evils of these people that were put to death because of their crimes against God, then it must have been rightly done. No true hearted Christian would take a life willingly & without just cause, that alone is against the word of God. It IS scary. Very scary..... you're sitting there telling me that everything I've been taught by the Nuns and the Priests is a lie.

Laurel Hensley: "Not a lie, Maria. Just not the whole truth. The truth has been obscured for so long, they don't know the facts anymore. It doesn't mean we love them any less." She tilts her head to watch her...a quick glance to Keiko, then back. "Let me explain. You're Hispanic." She says it without any negative connotation...the girl's race matters not to her. "There are those in this country who hate you for what you are. They spread word of your people's sneaking across the border, living on our welfare system, and being a drain upon our economy. Is it true that some Hispanics do this? Yes. But not all of them. They push it further and say you're inferior, just because of your race. Absolutely false. It's much the same with us."

Keiko Moroboshi: *Keiko has been silent, listening...almost as if taking notes on the conversation, though she frowns quite strongly at the discussion of race, and as it continues into the mention of racism this frown turns into a bit of a scowl*

Maria: ~She looks down, nodding at that some~ But many of the ones that they accuse of those things do.... no, not all of us do. Some have no choice. I have seen it.

Maria: ((Guys, I'm sorry, but I need to go.... son is having hella time with nightmares tonight))

Laurel Hensley: ((No problem. Pause until later?))

Maria: ((~Loves all around~ Really sorry...... should be on tomorrow))

Maria: ((Yeah, that works ~Loves on and scoots~))

Maria: ((~Sploosh~))

Keiko Moroboshi: ((Here *waves*))

Maria: ((I do believe das Jer is on his way. ~noddles~))

Laurel Hensley: Laurel tilts her head to the side, then nods. "And I'm not saying that everyone who chose to leave the title of angel behind are still angels, Maria. Far from it. But they malign the rest of us, you know?"

Maria: ~She gives a thoughtful, nodding frown at that~ *sp* I see now.... ~Her head tilting to Laurel~ Some of them are demons, and some of them are angels then?

Laurel Hensley: She looks to Keiko, and then back. "We...don't call ourselves angels anymore, Maria. We have fallen from that, that is true. But just because you leave your calling, the reason you were made, doesn't mean you don't still do that duty. You know?"

Maria: ~The frown deepens, but she nods a bit~

Keiko Moroboshi: *Keiko nods her agreement with Laurel and finishes her drink, setting the empty glass down beside her*

Laurel Hensley: She smiles warmly, watching the girl for a moment. "Would you like to see, Maria? What I really look like, I mean?"

Maria: ~Her eyes go great big, darting over to Keiko, then back to Laurel~ *sp* So..... you're being completely honest with me. Not just humoring me because I'm a kid?

Keiko Moroboshi: *Keiko is silent, trying quite hard to keep her face steady, not indicating either approval or disapproval or anything of the sort*

Laurel Hensley: "Of course not." SHe shakes her head. "This is the truth. There's more detail to it...we're talking thousands of years, after all. But I'm being completely honest with you."

Maria: ~The brows knit together once more, not really sure what to make of it all. Slowly, and hesitantly though, she nods, then shakes her head no~ *sp* If you show me this...... then what? What will happen?

Laurel Hensley: "Then you'll see who I am." She shrugs a little. "Our true forms are...impressive by human standards, to be sure, though it is faded compared to what we used to me. Seeing it won't damn you or anything, for sure, and it won't force you into anything."

Maria: ~Another glance over at Keiko, then back to Laurel. And finally, a slow nod~ *sp* Alright.....

Keiko Moroboshi: *she breaks her silence* "Do you have a question for me?"

Maria: ~She quickly looks back to Keiko, shaking her head no~

Laurel Hensley: "Keiko is also one of those who still cares," she says, smiling over to Keiko. "She's a good person, and I trust her judgment very much."

Maria: ~A soft smile, and a nod, her eyes coming back to Laurel~ *sp* Alright.... If you are willing to show me this.... I would like to see.

Laurel Hensley: She nods and looks to Keiko, then back, taking a deep breath. "My other form is...quite different then this. So don't be too surprised." She closes her eyes and focuses her will and faith, to shed her mortal form.

Maria: ~She leans over and sets her water down, bringing the arm back around the pillow, watching Laurel intently now~

Laurel Hensley: d10: Faith: 1,6,6,

Keiko Moroboshi: *Keiko watches...she hasn't seen Melioth since Jarod died, after all*

Laurel Hensley: The form of Laurel shimmers away, replaced by Melioth. His true form is that of an incredibly beautiful being, more so then anything that's probably ever graced this world. His hair, golden-blonde, goes in waves down to his shoulders, his facial features perfectly formed, as if it was a mold upon which man was idealized. His eyes are the greenish-blue of the sea, with fathomless depths to them. ((And it's Revelation time. WP vs. 3))

Maria: d10: ooOOOOoooo: 10,7,6,7,2,

Maria: ((holy SHITE! ~L~))

Keiko Moroboshi: ((KEIKO'S more in awe...))

Laurel Hensley: The form is still impressive...still inspiring. Still awesome. Maria ia still fully within her faculties, though, and will have full memory of this after the fact.

Keiko Moroboshi: *Keiko smiles slightly* "It is good to see you as you are once again."

Maria: ~The mouth opens, slowly, as the jaw drops, eyes growing huge in the face of the change of form, topped off with just seeing the true form of this being. Yes, she is very much enthralled by it. Her arms loosening around the pillow. She tries to speak, but any words that might have come to mind slip away, and simply coming out as a sigh~

Melioth: He looks over to Keiko and offers her a warm smile. "Thank you." He looks back to Maria and reaches out to her, smoothing over her hair. "Are you okay, Maria?" His voice has a very subtle lyrical quality...something like all the tones in music melded seamlessly together into a single, harmonizing note underneath his tenor.

Maria: ~She blinks, nodding slowly~ *sp* Yes.. I.... I just..... whoah.....

Melioth: He smiles and nods. "I know. It's okay."

Keiko Moroboshi: "You are dealing with this significantly better than most do." *she says it with a complimentary tone*

Maria: ~She blinks a few times, shaking her head a bit to gather herself, chewing on her lip and averting her eyes, the color rising in her cheeks~ *sp* I'm sorry.... I didn't mean to stare....

Melioth: "It's all right," he says with a slight grin. "I'm used to it." A bit of humor there. "This is what I once was...what I still am, underneath Laurel."

Maria: ~She tilts her eyes a little bit to look at him again, a shy smile forming on her lips, but keeping her head tilted down, not really sure what to say~

Melioth: "Do you have anything you'd like to ask? Anything I can answer for you?"

Maria: ~The rest of her head tilts up a little bit with her gaze, and she chews on her lip for a moment, before the torrent of questions starts to flow~ *sp* Do you have wings? Can you fly? Or did you lose that when you fell? How do you turn into a woman? Do you have angelic powers? Like in the scriptures? Were you there for the birth of Jesus? Can I stay here? Please don't send me back the home now..... I want to stay and be with those that truly know God......

Keiko Moroboshi: *Keiko stands* "I should be going..." *to Maria* "If you need a doctor, you can come to my practice. I can...make recovery go more quickly and smoothly than other doctors can, should you ever need it."

Keiko Moroboshi: ((DLP))

Keiko Moroboshi: *Keiko makes as though she is about to stand, perhaps to leave, but then Maria starts asking questions, and Keiko wants to see Melioth's answers*

Melioth: He grins a little bit. "I don't have wings, no. I never did...not all of us do. We come in many forms, each suited to our purpose. I can come close to flying, though. Laurel is my host. Yes, I have...things I can do. Powers, I guess you could say. We all do. When Jesus was born, I was...unavailable. And yes, you can definitely stay here. As long as you want."

Maria: ~One hand comes away from the pillow, ever so slowly reaching out and giving a feathery light poke to him, then quickly withdrawing, still with that wide-eyed gaze~

Keiko Moroboshi: *wistful, almost sadly* "Wings are...not very beneficial these days. They are a reminder that we can no longer take to the skies and enjoy our existence as we were once meant to."

Melioth: He grins a little bit. "It's okay, Maria. I won't hurt you."

Maria: ~Her eyes dart up to his face, then over to Keiko, still quite unravelled by the whole thing, but not in a bad way. She looks back to Melioth, still at a loss for words~

Melioth: ((Fuck...um. Shit. I used the wrong DD for Melioth, people.))

Melioth: ((His true form is that of an incredibly beautiful being, more so then anything that's probably ever graced this world...darkly so. A little bit...hinting on sinister, even, perhaps. His hair, golden-blonde, goes in waves down to his shoulders, his facial features perfectly formed, as if it was a mold upon which man was idealized. They're sharp, though...like an edge just hides just below the surface. His eyes are the greenish-blue of the sea, with shadows around the edges, like something hides beneath them and fathomless depths inside them.))

Keiko Moroboshi: ((it's ok *pat pat*)) *Keiko is silent, having said her piece about wings, that being the only thing she really had a different perspective on here than Melioth*

Maria: ((Well damn...... ~L~ That'll change her reaction a bit))

ScarletIris: (being the first time Maria's EVER seen anything like this, I'm calling a cut and rewind to when apoc form was blown so she can have an appropriate reaction.)

Maria: ((Do you want me to reroll the WP?))

ScarletIris: (hate to slow things down, but it's somewhat important to the early development of the character)

ScarletIris: (if you want to. *G*)

Maria: ((Pshaw..... do I -want- to? ~Rolls laughing~ Riiiiiiiight. She had a GOOD reaction there with that first roll. I know the roller will take a ball bat to me if I reroll it. It hates me.))

ScarletIris: (you rolled the right pool the first time, so it can stand if you like. You're up. *presses play*)

Maria: ((you smell like poo. ~Snickers~ Demmit. Now I have to rethink it))

Maria: ~Her eyes go huge at the sight of Melioth, actually scooting back on the bed a little bit, arms tightening around the pillow. The big saucers of a gaze taking in the form infront of her~

Melioth: He sighs a little at her reaction, nodding. "We didn't escape unscathed. He was a vengeful God once, if you'll remember the Old Testament."

Keiko Moroboshi: *she is silent for some time, before saying* "It is good to see your true form, once again."

Maria: ~There isn't terror in the girl's eyes. Some fear, yes, most definitely, but not quite a horror stricken reaction, and quite a bit of awe there. She chews on her lip, and quickly looks down, her hand coming up to genuflect as she tears her eyes down to the bed infront of her~

Melioth: "Maria...it's okay." His voice wafts into her ears, slipping in to resonate into the girls eardrums. "I'm not going to hurt you...I promise." He looks over to Keiko and nods a little bit. "It's good to see you too."

Maria: ~She looks up again, slowly, still with those wide eyes~ *sp* It's... ~She takes a deep breath, blinking a time or three, then shudders, trying to shake off the shock factor of it all with little success~ It's just so..... I..... I'm sorry. I don't know what to say.

Melioth: "Say what comes to mind, Maria."

Maria: *sp* Do.... do all of you look so... ~She struggles to find the right words for it, without insulting him, but frown, nothing quite coming to mind~ so dark and... pained?

Melioth: "No...not all of us." He shakes his head. "Just those of us who have suffered more."

Keiko Moroboshi: *Keiko is silent for now, watching and listening*

Maria: ~She nods, chewing on her lip again, slowly looking up more to him, looking him over, her head tilting~ How... how is it you are a man now, instead of a woman?

Maria: ((~tucks the "*sp*" in there~))

Melioth: "Laurel is my host. This is my true form...she is my body" She tilts her head, watching Maria. "She was a woman whose life was over, destroyed by the evils of the world."

Maria: *sp* So..... You saved her then? ~Her head tilting curiously, lower lip sucking in to be chewed on, arms tightening around the pillow a little bit, then relaxing again~

Melioth: "She was beyond that," he says with a sad smile. "Already gone. I wish I could have, but...I keep part of her inside of me. I treasure it...make it loved."

Keiko Moroboshi: *Keiko nods her agreement and stands up* "I must be going..." *she turns to Maria* "If you need anything, Laurel can tell you how to contact me. Especially for medical care, I...can make things better faster and with fewer complications than other doctors can." ((And sorry to leave, but I've been keeping myself conscious by pure force of will since before the replay, and I'm now quite literally about to collapse))

Maria: ~She scoots forward a little bit, glancing over at Keiko, then back to Melioth~ *sp* And.... you.... are one of these good ones? Not a bad one?

Maria: ((~Snugs on a Jano~ Ok sweetie. Go get some sleep. Sweet dreams))

Maria: ~She looks quickly to Keiko, nodding a bit~ *sp* Th... thank you......

Melioth: She nods to Keiko and smiles. "Good night, Keiko. Sleep well." Her attention looks back to Maria. "I am. I've merely...suffered some for my choice."

Maria: *sp* Why? What have you been made to suffer for wanting to help His chosen? I still don't understand that.

Keiko Moroboshi: *Keiko nods once more to each of them and then heads off*

Melioth: "We never got an answer." He shrugs, sighing a little. "Only that we were not supposed to."

Maria: ~She bites on her lip, then slowly reaches out with a shaky hand, uncurling her fingers palm up towards him~

Melioth: He remains calm, watching her as she reaches out for her. After a moment, he reaches out himself and takes her hand. "It was all for you, Maria. Everything we did...our sacrifice."

Maria: ~Her fingers close around the hand slowly, a soft nod~ *sp* I..... Thank you. ~She gives a shy smile up to him, then looks down again~ I can't speak for all of us, but I can speak for me. I am grateful for it.

Melioth: He smiles and nods, his other hand coming to rest on top of hers. "Thank you. I...appreciate hearing that. Not many seem to, these days."

Maria: Are all of you that know eachother here like this?

Melioth: "Almost all of us who come up here are." He nods. "With a couple exceptions. William, the big man who watches the door downstairs. He knows about us, but isn't one of us. He's Brigette's...bodyguard."

Maria: ~Her head tilts at that, nodding a bit~ I will keep your secret safe.

Melioth: "Thank you." He smiles gratefully to her, but it fades quickly. "Maria...there's something you need to keep in mind. Urian and his people...particularly Leon. They're like us, but remember...not all of us came through unscathed. I'm still okay. But some of us...didn't come through entirely right. Like any traumatic situation."

Maria: ~She nods, her eyes darkening at the mention of Leon, her voice dropping to a whisper~ *sp* He's scary..... I don't like him. But that Urian man.... he has been good to us, letting us stay here.

Melioth: "Urian is a wolf in sheep's clothing." He shakes his head. "Sanctuary isn't his. He doesn't make that call, if he's claiming to have allowed it."

Maria: I...... ~She shakes her head~ I don't know if he said it directly or not. I know Jay and Phillip were talking about him, I heard that name used between them. So I sort of got the impression that this is his place.

Melioth: "No, it's not. This is a safe haven for our kind in the city. Where we can meet and gather. Brigette and I own and operate it. No harm shall be done to anyone up here. If they do, it will not go well for them."

Maria: ~She nods softly once more, then smiles a bit, giving the hand another squeeze~ *sp* If..... If there's anything I can do.... to help here, I will. I would like to earn my stay, not just sit around all the time.

Melioth: He smiles a little bit and nods. "Thank you, Maria. I appreciate that...we'll see what we can do." He leans forward to kiss her forehead.

Maria: ~She tenses a little bit, but nowhere near the initial reaction, her eyes looking down~ *sp* May I go back to bed now? I don't want Beth to wake up and freak out if I'm not there.

Laurel Hensley: When she pulls back, she's the woman again, pushing her glasses up her noce. "Of course." She smiles a bit and nods. "Do you want me to watch over you still?"