(no subject)

[jarodrussel.livejournal.com]

Time: 10 May, early evening
Place: On the road outside the manor
Status: Public
Summary: Another new guest


For the past few days, Jarod had been drifting. He had completed his self-imposed mission on this island and gone looking for something else to strike his fancy. For a hint of another place where injustice had been done and needed someone to right it.. However, nothing had caught his attention just yet, and so he had aimlessly wandered. taking whatever train looked promising, letting himself be taken along in a car or truck for a few hours, then walking a bit.

Soon he came to realise that no matter how randomly he tried to pick his direction, he always ended up moving towards the same area.

It was almost as if some invisible force was calling out to him. He had never quite experienced anything like it.

Well, that was as good a thing to investigate as any.

He was in no particular hurry, though, and so it took him another two days to finally arrive at the place that seemed to exude that pull.

The small town was named Lower Tadfield. On the way, he had seen that there also was an Upper Tadfield, and he had passed an airbase. He smiled in fond memory of flying one of those jets, followed by the not so fond memory of crashing a plane on an island with a blizzard coming up. That he had survived that hat been sheer dumb luck, nothing else. Someone had claimed god had watched over him. He laughed at that.

Now that he was here, he had to decide what to do. He was quite aware that he wasn't looking all that respectable right now. He was wearing leather pants of the kind motorcycle riders often used, knee-high boots and a scuffed leather jacket over a bleached-out t-shirt that had at some point been blue. He carried smarter clothes in the bag over his shoulder, but before he put on a suit he really should take a shower. And shave. And wash his hair.

Not too long back he had come across a man whose motorcycle had broken down. He had helped him fix the thing and in exchange been taken along the last forty miles, almost all the way to Lower Tadfield. But now he had motor oil onhis jacket, on his t-shirt and in his hair. He had not crossed a mirror since then, but he had an idea that there might be some on his face, too.

So, what he needed was a place to get clean and change into proper clothes. A cheap hotel might have done the trick, but it appeared that Lower Tadfield had no such thing.

Comments

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

Raphael was soaring above the skies, stretching his firey wings out as best as he could. The feathers were finally starting to grow back and he could move them without excrutiating pain slicing through his shoulder and chest muscles.

Carefully, he allowed himself to drop to the soft earth, folding his wings against his back. It was then that he became aware of a... something against his weak presence. He couldn't identify it, but it was at least human and nothing infernal. It was coming from a scruffy man not far from the Manor and while the once powerful Archangel was a bit wary of strangers at the moment he still wanted to make sure the stranger was alright.

The closer he came, however, the more powerful it pressed against his presence in a way that only one other Being had ever been able to do.

His voice was low and cautious. "...Lord...?"

[jarodrussel.livejournal.com]

Jarod looked up, and for a second his facial expression escaped his control. The man walking up to him had wings glued to his back.

At the address, he looked down on himself, then grinned and shook his nead. "Nope," he said. "Just another ordinary guy travelling through. But say..." he indicated the wings. "Are you having a costume party or anything?"

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

Raphael almost almost pouted. His Lord didn't know who he was? Had he been cut off that much from the Presence?

Well, he certainly wasn't going to fuss over it. Later he would fuss it out in his Journal when he was alone and not standing before the Son of his Creator. The man still needed to get cleaned up it looked like and maybe something to eat. Compassion swelled in his chest and he offered what he hoped was a non-threatening smile. "I have a shower in my room if you would like to get cleaned up. I can order take-out if you like as well." Or whatever he wished to come into existence. Angels were flexible.

[jarodrussel.livejournal.com]

Oh my. What kind of place had he gotten into here?

Wwell, actually he had something of an idea. How many places were there where costumed men would invite a total stranger to their room?

Basically there were two options.

A.) He was trying to lure him inside to jump him, rob him or whatever. He was sure he didn't look like he had more than a few pounds on his person at best, so unless the other was incredibly stupid he thought he could rule that out.

B.) There was some event going on here that included masqueraded men doing things Jarod had no intention of trying out without some previous study. Of course it might have been just a regular costume party, but then why offer him to shower in his room specifically?

"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm not here for that."

Well, hopefully that was vague enough - just in case.

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

He stared, dull green eyes blinking stupidly in confusion. Finally his brain reconnected with his mouth and he spoke. "I didn't... I wasn't..." His cheeks were burning and his wings ruffled nervously. That's all he needed, was to get in trouble for hitting on the Son of God.

"I can find you your own room then," he finally said. On second thought... 

Raphael was the Prince of Air. Even in his weakened state, as long as he was was in his element he could bend it to his will. However, it was extremely rare and not something he preferred doing. But in this case...

Stretching his hands above him, he moved them across the air, causing a strong wind to blow dark, rolling clouds in. In the next few moments a torrent of rain came down on them in sheets.

"Uhm..." Raphael's cheeks would have burned if he wasn't so horrified. "Perhaps I did not think this through..."

Well, the man was getting a shower at least.

[jarodrussel.livejournal.com]

Jarod shook his head, sending water droplets flying. Great! Now he was getting drenched, too.

What a coincidence that the rain broke loose the moment the man had moved his hands.

"Very well done," he remarked sarcastically. "Now make it stop again, why don't you?"

There was one advantage to being dripping wet. It would be hard to tell for anyone how dirty and sweaty he was underneath.

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

"Yes Lord."

Raphael stretched his arms out again. It took a bit more effort (clouds were heavier than most people would think) but eventually he moved in a stronger wind to blow the clouds someplace else. Letting his hands drop to his sides and trying to control his now-exhausted breathing, he brushed some wet hair from his face and shook off his wings. The feathers instantly Poof!, looking like two feather dusters sticking comically from his shoulders. He chuckled slightly as his mind flashed with Gabriel's amised grin when he had seen that happen only a few days before.

Gabriel...

"Why didn't Gabriel announce your coming?" he finally asked, his mind trying to latch onto something that didn't cause added confusion. 

[jarodrussel.livejournal.com]

Gabriel would probably be either the person running the event or the person running that place.

"I didn't call ahead," Jarod said. "Really, I didn't know I was coming here myself until this morning. Also, I'm not her for any kind of event. I wouldn't even have a costume."

He also had never heard about anyone being able to control the weather, but two coincidences like that were hardly any easier to believe in.

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

If there was one thing that Raphael was slightly vain in, and it was extremely mild at worse, it was his wings. "Lord, my wings are real. I would never be that deceptive..." He gave his head a shake. He must still have a head injury or something. Human corporations can sure be trouble. "It's not a costume, I like wearing robes and..." His blood suddenly chilled to ice as a horrified thought struck him. "You... you wouldn't take my wings away, would you...?" 

He let his beautiful wings stretch out to their full length, the gold edges glistening in the light.

He didn't think anything of Jarod's comment on "not calling ahead". After all, Baby Jesus hadn't either... It was His Prophets that spoke of His coming back then. But Father would have at least informed the Archangel of Birth and Mercy to herald the Messiah's return to Earth. What was going on with this guy...?

[jarodrussel.livejournal.com]

The man seemed somewhat confused. Maybe he had inadvertently ended up in a place forthe insane? But why they would permit a patient to wear wings like that was beyond him.

"Look," Jarod said, "My name is Jarod. Okay? I'm no lord. I don't think real lords appreciate it if someone else is addressed by their title."

He glanced at the building without fully losing sight of the man, just in case. "Say, do you live there?"

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

"Yes," he replied, trying to hide his hurt that he was no longer permitted to call the Son of his Creator Lord. But he supposed it was part of being punished. "I do. And so do many others. Gabriel and Michael are here, and so is Aziraphale. Many other beings have found refuge here." He ruffled his wings again, straightening and trying to appear as an Archangel should when being addressed by the Son.

[cattygabriel]

Gabriel should probably have been resting at the time, but he could not let himself lie idle. Thus, he was shelving books in the library.

The pain from his wings had ebbed by now, but they still looked pathetic; the feathers were growing back, but slowly - not surprising, considering that he had ripped them out whole. And the wings as a whole were still a sickly beige colour, rather than the soft blue-white he was used to. Or the cold blue gleam of steel... He shook his head, looking at the spine of the book he was holding -

- and nearly dropped it as he sensed a familiar-but-not-quite Presence nearby.

Leaving the books on his desk, he ran out of the library, down the stairs and through the lobby, skidding to a stop on the gravel walkway. It cut his bare feet slightly, but he didn't notice as he bowed deeply before the grimy young man standing with Raphael.

"Lord!"

The Presence within the Son of God was warm and soothing, and Gabriel breathed in deeply.

[jarodrussel.livejournal.com]

Oh, not another one! This one was apparently also in the process of dressing up for the same cosume party. Maybe they had some angel theme for it. Where the red-haired fellow's wings were okay-ish looking, though, the lighter wings of the newcomer were still lacking quite some feathers. Had he forgotten to glue them on? Or maybe they had come off and he hadn't realised.

Jarod pointed and tried to be funny. "Erm.. I think you're molting," he said. "And I'm just a weary traveller, not a lord. I certainly have no invitiation to any kind of party. I was merely looking for a quiet hotel to spend the night."

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

Raphael bit back a gasp. The Son did not follow angels, angels followed the Son. He threw his gaze over to Gabriel to see what the Messenger would do.

[cattygabriel]

Gabriel's eyes widened. How could he presume to go before the Son?

"No, Lord. After You." He bowed his head slightly.

[angelofawesome.livejournal.com]

He was going to get in trouble and he knew it - he was under strict orders to not leave bed until Raphael and Gabriel felt comfortable letting him walk around - but the fact of the matter was that he was bored, he felt fine*, and there was a tugging on his aura that told him he'd finally found the Christ.

Curious to see if he was right, Michael left bed, not bothering to switch out of the pyjamas he'd been placed in, walked down the flights of stairs, and walked to the main entrance. There Gabriel, Raphael and this kid were standing there awkwardly.

Yeah, that was Him. Felt kinda weird though, off a bit?

"Didn't expect to see You for awhile yet," he said with a grin. "What brings You here?"


---
* Ish.

[jarodrussel.livejournal.com]

Oh great. Another one!

Jarod looked this new man up and down. He did not think that repeating they had the wrong guy would do much good right then and there.

"Who're you?" he asked instead. And, because it seemed like a good idea at that moment, added: "You got a pair of wings hidden away, too?"

He winked at the man, just in case, and gestured for Gabriel and Raphael to enter the building. If he had been apprehensive about having them at his back, he was certainly not going to be caught between what was possibly three of them!

[angelofawesome.livejournal.com]

Michael cocked his head to the side. Who am I? Only the other hand of Our Father, only the...

"You're not the Christ, are you?" he murmured, looking at the boy more critically. "You... feel like Him, but at the same time, something's wrong. Huh. Maybe you're faulty?"

He looked to Gabriel and Raphael. "Do you think we can return him?"

[jarodrussel.livejournal.com]

"No," Jarod assured him, fighting hard to supress a grin, "I'm not faulty."

Then he realised what else the man hat muttered. He spluttered: "And no, I'm not the Christ. Christ, how did you get that idea? I'm not even Christian!"

That was, in retrospect, possibly not the wisest thing to do. Unsure of how they would react, he kept the building at his back and tensed his body. Three against one would be a hard situation to get out of. He was sure he had gotten himself out of tighter spots before, but he couldn't exactly remember when.

[cattygabriel]

Gabriel folded his arms and fixed Michael with a Look. "What do you think you're doing out of bed? Get back in there."

He turned back to the Christ. "If anyone would know who You are, it would be the three of us, since Uriel isn't here."

At least Jesus had been aware of who He was. Is this why You wanted us here, Father? To guide Your Son?

[angelofawesome.livejournal.com]

"But I was booooooored," Michael whined, and he finally let his wings unfurl to ease the pain of keeping them hidden. "And now I want to know what's wrong with him. He's wrong. Maybe he ate the real one and that's why we can sense Him?"

[cattygabriel]

"I'll... read to you later or something. Or bring Earl Grey by." Gabriel smacked Michael - very lightly - on the arm. "He is the Christ. I'm sure of it."

[halosphere.livejournal.com]

Raphael watched everything with sheer amusement. This was the Son! He may be mostly cut off from the Presence but he knew the Son of his Creator when he felt him. He could also sense the discomfort and nerves in the boy. Finally, deciding Michael and Gabriel had it handled, he decided it would be best to leave before he caused any more trouble that would ripple into further incidents. It would not be good if the Savior of the world complained to His Father about him.

With a humble bow to the Son and a nod to his brothers (actually Michael got a "you're supposed to be in bed" glare) he moved quietly back into the manor.

[jarodrussel.livejournal.com]

Well... The one with the almost bare wings - Gabriel - seemed to be the leader of this lot, as well as the one who understood most of what was going on. The redhead apparently was willing to follow the other's lead - or possibly anyone's who gave him one. Both apparently were slightly confused, but if they were indeed part of some experiment, that was only understandable.

The blonde guy... and he really wanted to know where he'd hidden those wings before... Seemed slow and maybe a bit child-like in his whining. Possibly mentally retarded. That he couldn't read when at least one of the others apparently could might point to that, too. As did the fact that he had apparently intended to go outside in only his pajamas in the middle of the day.

Jarod remembered how it had been at the Center. He had been kept away from normal society and culture in order to not be influenced by it, but of course they had very much exposed him to the "Centre culture" that was all around him there. If these people here were kept similarly - although with the open park and the friendly look of the manor that was difficult to imagine - maybe they had actually seen a picture of him and associated that with whatever character they had been taught to consider their saviour. It wasn't like he hadn't been in newspapers or on TV often enough for someone to get and print his picture.

A muscle in his jaw twitched as he imagined the life these men were possibly leading her. He absolutely had to investigate now.

"I'm not in the habit of eating people," he assured the blonde man. "That would be very wrong, now, wouldn't it? You can't jsut go around harming and eating people."

He gave a sharp twitch of his head in the direction of the door, hoping it would send Gabriel inside. He still didn't want to be caught between two possibly dangerous persons. He had no way of really knowing anything about them, after all.

[cattygabriel]

Gabriel insulted Michael on a regular basis, but he was rarely too pleased about others - besides those close to them - insulting him, so it was probably a good thing Jarod hadn't said anything. Even if He was the Son.

He gestured to the door. "Do come inside, Lord. You can clean up and have something to eat." Frowning slightly at his expression, Gabriel added, "Are You alright?"