Verse 4: Leaving St. Mary's with the Reids (Lilly and Marduk)

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Jezreel, still emotionally overwhelmed from her best friend almost being killed and then a completely undesired discussion about sex with multi-millennia-old Malakim in the room, loses it again. The young angel breaks into another fit of giggling.

Willow just stares.

Moonstone pats her daughter on the shoulder. “Jezreel’s just a little punchy right now, sweetie,” she whispers to her daughter.

[Tay-Dor]

{Lilly}

Lilly puts her cheek in her hand, and rolls her eyes. "Do you have more questions for Willow? Are there other avenues of investigation you want to pursue?"

[Marduk]

"No. Yes." Marduk replies simply.

[archolewa]

{Lilly}

Lilly's eyes flick from the giggling Jezreel to the newly literal-minded Malakim. Her lips quirk as she fights her own laughter. "I appear to have broken both of them. And I kept the whole thing PG-13 and everything. Hey Willow, you're like big on math right? And math is big on precise language, and saying precisely and unambiguously what you mean right? Can you phrase 'What do you want to do next?' in such a way that Johnson provides a helpful answer?"

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

“Ma’am?” Willow asks. She stares, blinking several times before she answers. “Yes, ma’am. That’s what math is for, mostly. Answering the question, ‘What is life, the Universe, and Everything?’ But, when you get the answer, ‘42,’ you have to be sure you really understand the question.” Her lips twitch upwards a moment before she says more seriously, “I think your problem, ma’am, was asking a yes/no question when you wanted an open-ended answer.”

Somewhere in the middle of Willow's answer, the Revelationist blurts out, "That's an allusion..." before losing herself in giggling again.

“Maybe you could try asking him, ‘What exact next steps would you like to take, specifically, what should Jezreel and I do?” Willow continues.

Jezreel gasps for air as she struggles to get her giggling under control.

[archolewa]

{Lilly}

Lilly sighs and gives Willow a playfully dirty look. "Oh I see. The Creator talks about her Rites and everyone starts making fun of her. I'll bet nobody makes fun of Cherubs of War when they get passionate about how spending three hours at a shooting range makes the world a better place."

She turns her attention to Marduk. "What exact next steps in the completion of your Assignment would you like to take, and what, if anything would you like Jezreel and I to do?"

[Charybdis Richelle]

{Lilly}

Lilly sighs and gives Willow a playfully dirty look. "Oh I see. The Creator talks about her Rites and everyone starts making fun of her. I'll bet nobody makes fun of Cherubs of War when they get passionate about how spending three hours at a shooting range makes the world a better place."

{GM}

Willow frowns. “Do you really want an answer to that, ma’am?” she asks, “Or is that a rhetorical question?”

{Lilly}

She turns her attention to Marduk. "What exact next steps in the completion of your Assignment would you like to take, and what, if anything would you like Jezreel and I to do?"

{GM}

Finally getting her second bout of giggling under control, Jezreel gasps for air, trying to steady her ragged breathing. But she manages to get out, “Yes, sir. What do you want me to do?”

[archolewa]

Willow frowns. “Do you really want an answer to that, ma’am?” she asks, “Or is that a rhetorical question?”

"No, I already know the answer," says Lilly, a bit of frustrated bitterness creeping into her voice. "But that doesn't matter right now. I've sidetracked us. Again. Let's try to get back to what's important here."

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Willow frowns. “I’m sorry, ma’am,” the teen says, tugging at her lower lip with her upper teeth.

Moonstone sighs. “Why don’t I make us a light lunch? It’s a little late for lunch, and I don’t want to ruin anyone’s dinner, but I haven’t eaten yet today, and I know Moonstone hasn’t either. Maybe some simple sandwiches and a light salad?”

“Tuna salad sandwiches?” Willow asks hopefully.

“I can do that,” Moonstone says with a light smile.

“Let me know if you need any help in the kitchen,” Jezreel offers.

Moonstone shakes her head. “I appreciate the offer, Jezreel,” she says. “But today, I’d really just like you to stay with Willow, if you’re willing.”

Jezreel smiles. “Of course.” She squeezes Willow’s hand. "If you're serving tuna, is there any chance you have mango?"

Moonstone nods. “I’ll slice some up for garnish.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Jezreel says.

[archolewa]

{Lilly}

{GM}

Willow frowns. “I’m sorry, ma’am,” the teen says, tugging at her lower lip with her upper teeth.

Lilly winces. "I'm sorry Willow. I didn't mean to get grumpy with you, you haven't done anything wrong. Nobody here really has. It's a me problem, and a silly one at that."

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Jezreel turns to look at Lilly, holding her fellow Creationist’s eyes until she is certain that she has Lilly’s full attention. Slipping into Celestial so there can be no question of the absolute Truth and sincerity of her words, the young angel is all Seraph. “I’m sorry, Lilly. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I didn’t belittle you or your preferred rites. I am still ignorant of much of the world. Your sensitivity is not silly. Not to me. Because it is important to you. Your experiences are valid. Your feelings are valid. Your chosen work is important. Eli is proud of you. I don’t understand a lot of human behavior, especially adult behavior. My world-view is very limited. My mother is a Mercurian, but she Serves Children. She sees things in a very specific way, and she has passed a lot of that view to me. I should not, even unconsciously, be so judgmental. I will try to do better. I will probably fail… or at least stumble… a lot. But I will try. Please accept my sincere apology.”

[archolewa]

{Lilly}

Lilly blinks a few times to keep back sudden tears, and her lips turn up in a dazzling smile. She responds in Celestial. "That feels good to hear Jezreel. Very good. And don't worry about it. We're stumbling along together, and that's all I need. Well, and, I'd like a hug. I know you're not a big hugger, but I wouldn't mind a small one."

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Jezreel returns Lilly’s smile. She nods and comes closer to Lilly. “My mother’s a hugger, too,” she says, not quite rolling her eyes. “I’m used to it.” She leans in and gives Lilly a decent hug.

Then Moonstone suggests lunch.

[archolewa]

{Lilly}

Lilly squeezes Jezreel back, grinning, and says playfully, "Poor Jezreel. Surrounded on all sides by huggers. But I appreciate the sacrifice."

As Moonstone heads into the kitchen to start cooking, Lilly's grin widens. "Hmm. I certainly hope your lunch is as delicious as your cookies! Om nom nom."

Lilly stands and skips to the counter to watch Moonstone make lunch (and sneak a few cookies).

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

Moonstone smiles. “Well, I have never claimed to be as good a cook as I am a baker,” she says. “But it’s hard to go wrong with a simple tuna salad sandwich.”

Jezreel moves back to sit by Willow, so she won’t be alone. The young angel takes her friend’s hand but turns her eyes back to Marduk, waiting to hear if they will be doing anything other than sitting with the Reid’s the rest of the day.

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

About 15 minutes later, Moonstone announces that the food is ready. Willow and Jezreel surge toward the kitchen and playfully shove each other out of the way as they wash their hands at the kitchen sink. Willow grabs plates and sets them out. Jezreel sets out napkins. Moonstone places a huge platter of sandwiches in the center of the table. She also puts down a bowl of sliced mangoes and a bowl of tortilla chips.

“Come join us, Lilly, Special Agent Johnson,” Moonstone says. “Even if you don’t want to eat, I’d feel weird having guests just sitting in another room alone.” As an afterthought, she adds, “Should we call that young fellow who was with you? Special Agent Greer?”

[archolewa]

{Lilly}

Lilly watches with an amused smile as the girls playfully fight over washing their hands. "Oh I'll be right there Ms. Reid, don't you worry. Just waiting for my chance at the sink. I mean, I guess I could hipcheck the girls out of the way, but you know. Other Cherubs tend to frown on that sort of thing."

Once she has her chance, she washes her hands. She eyes the sandwiches longingly. "Normally I'm a firm believer in 'the more the merrier.' But the fewer people eating, the more for me. Though, I suppose it would be selfish not to invite Agent Greer. Alas. It's tough being an Angel, let me tell you."

Once her hands are finally clean, Lilly sits down, hands folded in front of her, thumbs tapping, and leg bouncing as she eyes the delicious looking food.

[Charybdis Richelle]

{Lilly}

Lilly watches with an amused smile as the girls playfully fight over washing their hands. "Oh I'll be right there Ms. Reid, don't you worry. Just waiting for my chance at the sink. I mean, I guess I could hipcheck the girls out of the way, but you know. Other Cherubs tend to frown on that sort of thing."

{GM}

Jezreel chuckles at that.

{Lilly}
Once she has her chance, she washes her hands. She eyes the sandwiches longingly. "Normally I'm a firm believer in 'the more the merrier.' But the fewer people eating, the more for me. Though, I suppose it would be selfish not to invite Agent Greer. Alas. It's tough being an Angel, let me tell you."

{GM}

Moonstone smiles. “Let’s call him. No one goes hungry in this house. I can always make more, or we can go downstairs and raid the café if I’m too tired to cook.”

{Lilly}
Once her hands are finally clean, Lilly sits down, hands folded in front of her, thumbs tapping, and leg bouncing as she eyes the delicious looking food.

{GM}

Moonstone looks over at Marduk. “Would you call Special Agent Greer to join us please, Special Agent Johnson? Or just give me his contact information, so I can call him?”

[Tay-Dor]

[Marduk]

"I'll call him." Marduk replies to Moonstone.

He pulls out his infernal smartphone and dials Agent Greer.

[Charybdis Richelle]

{GM}

“Thank you, Special Agent Johnson,” Moonstone says, heading into the kitchen. “Does anyone need a refill or want something different to drink with lunch?”

“No, thank you, ma’am,” Jezreel says. “The tea’s great.”

Willow nods. “I’m good, Mom. Thanks.”

Marduk dials. Galgaliel answers on the first ring. “Special Agent Greer,” the Reliever says in a very professional tone.

[archolewa]

{Lilly}

"I could use more tea. I could use all the tea. In fact, forget the cup. Just hand over the pot." Lilly grins and playfully holds her hand out.