Elfen High 2: Gotterdammerung

[Agritum]

Hilde giggled. Grimly. "Ah, silly! It's not Nazi...see, it's just...militaristic! It represents strength! Also, it isn't sexualized and different from male types of the same uniform. Don't you find it nice, William? It's quite feminist. I love human feminism." she replied, while setting aside the uniform and going to check the part of the shop which housed headwear.

Said section housed an assortment of baseball caps with the logos of several heinous organizations emblazoned on them: Some carried the infamous double sieg runes used by the SS, others instead bore the logos of the British National Party and the Scottish Defence League, while another row of them proudly bore the seal of Glasgow Rangers FC.

Next to the baseball caps was a row of military-style commissar caps. Hilde promptly took two of them in her hands, both made of a quite pitch black texture. "What do you think? Do you prefer the one with the golden eagle on the front, or the one with the silver skull with crossbones?" she asked to William.

While William wasn't much of a history buff, he had certainly watched enough WWII films to know that the SS were quite certainly Nazis. As Hilde began looking at the various hats for sale the knight considered walking out of the shop and going for some ice cream instead. After all, he didn't have a divorce or vengeful mother-in-law to worry about yet (though a mother-in-law would be something William mercifully wouldn't have to deal with if he got more serious with Hilde), but he worried about what Hilde might do if she got upset and was unchecked by anyone.

"Well...I suppose the one with the eagle on it is less morbid than a silver skull and crossbones like you're Hitler playing dress-up as Blackbeard," William remarked, not wanting to have to watch reports of an angry German slaughtering demon orphans who were volunteering at the local human society doing things like grooming the rabbits or playing fetch with the puppies on the news when he was sitting down for tea. "Though does everything have to be black? I'm sure you'd look nice in a brighter colour like blue or green," he added, hoping this might get them out of the lair of the skinhead.

Hilde smiled. "Zut, William! This is just my preferred style of clothing. Do you really think that I am a Nazi? I am not...I think that racism between humans is an horrible and irrational thing." she added, while simultaneously throwing away William's advice regarding caps and putting on the skull and crossbones one.

"And regarding the colours of the uniform, well..."

Hilde stepped in the shop's changing room, emerging moments later with her new uniform.

"...black is always fashionable, you know. Anyways, you pay for it?"

[Constaniana]

Hilde smiled. "Zut, William! This is just my preferred style of clothing. Do you really think that I am a Nazi? I am not...I think that racism between humans is an horrible and irrational thing." she added, while simultaneously throwing away William's advice regarding caps and putting on the skull and crossbones one.

"And regarding the colours of the uniform, well..."

Hilde stepped in the shop's changing room, emerging moments later with her new uniform.

"...black is always fashionable, you know. Anyways, you pay for it?"

William sighed in resignation. Hilde ignoring his suggestion and wanting him to pay for her clothes wasn't too big of a shock. Besides, he was used to defeat and anguish. After all, he had been waiting for England to win the World Cup his whole life.

"Fine, whatever. Let's just get this over with; I want some CURRY!" the knight said, wanting to troll the shopkeeper.

[The Inritus Extraho]

"Oh. I didn't get a place in the history books?" Jade said, frowning. "I died fighting - and murdering - one of the greater Demons - the name escapes me - in the Hell War." She shrugged. "I came back from death under the hands of ISSR Scientists, only a couple months ago." She smiled back at Lana. "Honestly, death wasn't bad. It was just... peaceful."

In Lana's very few days at Elfen high, she had come to realize a few things. You will never know everyone, you will never get anywhere on time, and you will never understand what's going to happen next. Why yes, for the first few weeks it was almost fun, how random life became. But now it was almost old. And never, in the entirety of her stay in Elfen High, had she encountered something like this. Maybe it was wrong to even question it, and if she just kinda sat there like a vegetable the school would take her back. However, Lana was one to hate vegetables.

"I understand that nothing is, in its entirety, impossible. But revival from death?" She raised an eyebrow.

Jade turned around in her seat to face the student, and shrugged. "Don't ask me, I don't know." Well, I can speculate. Not that I will, but still. "I'm not one of those crazy-ass bugfuck-insane ISSR scientists, and I never intend to be. One short trip down there was enough for me, and I don't plan on asking for more from them."

[Vesperis]

In Lana's very few days at Elfen high, she had come to realize a few things. You will never know everyone, you will never get anywhere on time, and you will never understand what's going to happen next. Why yes, for the first few weeks it was almost fun, how random life became. But now it was almost old. And never, in the entirety of her stay in Elfen High, had she encountered something like this. Maybe it was wrong to even question it, and if she just kinda sat there like a vegetable the school would take her back. However, Lana was one to hate vegetables.

"I understand that nothing is, in its entirety, impossible. But revival from death?" She raised an eyebrow.

Jade turned around in her seat to face the student, and shrugged. "Don't ask me, I don't know." Well, I can speculate. Not that I will, but still. "I'm not one of those crazy-ass bugfuck-insane ISSR scientists, and I never intend to be. One short trip down there was enough for me, and I don't plan on asking for more from them."

Lana nodded, as if she understood. She didn't of course, but it made her feel better to at least pretend. She clapped her hands together. "Wonderful then." A stupid grin came over her face and she looked around at the others. "I may regret this, but maybe I'll attempt to enjoy this little..." She looked at Jade and smiled a bit. "Field trip.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Jade turned around in her seat to face the student, and shrugged. "Don't ask me, I don't know." Well, I can speculate. Not that I will, but still. "I'm not one of those crazy-ass bugfuck-insane ISSR scientists, and I never intend to be. One short trip down there was enough for me, and I don't plan on asking for more from them."

Lana nodded, as if she understood. She didn't of course, but it made her feel better to at least pretend. She clapped her hands together. "Wonderful then." A stupid grin came over her face and she looked around at the others. "I may regret this, but maybe I'll attempt to enjoy this little..." She looked at Jade and smiled a bit. "Field trip.

Scotty drove into the large city. There, a bunch of Indians took on the hobby of jumping from car to car in the traffic. It was something that was in their blood. Scotty blinked as one landed on the front of his car and then leaped off, leaving a turd behind.

As far as karma went, Scotty thought, he felt he didn't actually deserve this. At least, not in this particular life.

They paused their car outside a pub/petrol station. Scotty got out. "Fill her up." he told the gasman. Petrol had gotten much cheaper after Hell had been colonised with all its rich resources.

Inside the pub, Richard paused. "I don't think this is such a good idea..." he told his friend, Dravidan.

"Nah, it's a brilliant idea." Dravidan happily said. "Get drunk, meet some girls, or guys if you want that, and then enjoy yourself, you know. Haven't you ever done that?"

"No, not exactly-" Richard began, before glancing at the pub entrance and seeing Jade, Scotty and Lana. But what most worried the fifteen year old was seeing a name tag on Jane proclaiming her to be from Elfen High.

"Oh merde." Richard muttered quietly, then proceeded to pull an Indian, grabbed a glass of beer, jumped over the table and started to run the fuck away.

[Individuality-ness]

"Vanilla," she replied in kind. Latin made her more comfortable, more angelic in a way. "Always vanilla, no one ever asks for anything else."

Henry bought it for her from the cashier, who was unfazed by the polite demon. "So, Divia, other than Latin, Hebrew and English, do you know any other languages? Arabic? Russian? Demonic?" He inquired politely.

"We mostly speak Latin and Hebrew," she stated. "Father has stated that I would have no need to learn Demonic, so I don't speak it." That and normal people don't speak Demonic, and the less she knew of that language, the better, right?

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Henry bought it for her from the cashier, who was unfazed by the polite demon. "So, Divia, other than Latin, Hebrew and English, do you know any other languages? Arabic? Russian? Demonic?" He inquired politely.

"We mostly speak Latin and Hebrew," she stated. "Father has stated that I would have no need to learn Demonic, so I don't speak it." That and normal people don't speak Demonic, and the less she knew of that language, the better, right?

Henry looked almost annoyed. "Demonic has a rich history to it! Why, there was the tale of Senst, the demon who once carried a boulder across a desert of dragons in order to save his love. Then there is the plays of Trengan, the writer who would write stories of freedom and was a Luciferian evangelist who fought against Azazel's regime. Then his protégé, Nenata, would write the biography of her mentor and lover's life after Trengan was found by Azazel's forces and forced to choke on his own genitals. Nenata is still alive, of course. I had the honour of meeting her a few years ago in Auragard. Nowadays, of course, a lot of English and Latin words find themselves in Demonic plays and poems, but there's a culture there that's still evolving. Why, there are sitcoms entirely in the Demonic language now!"

[The Inritus Extraho]

Jade saw the man turn, noted Scotty's glance at him, and realized it was the target. Then, years of training took over, straight out of the Demon Wars - no decade of incompetence-inducing rest for her - and she threw up a wall of force in front of him. Then around him. Then over, and finally under him. Then she started laughing, quietly and mostly to herself. After all, what's the point of being able to create invisible walls if you don't imagine the people behind them in mime outfits?

[Individuality-ness]

"We mostly speak Latin and Hebrew," she stated. "Father has stated that I would have no need to learn Demonic, so I don't speak it." That and normal people don't speak Demonic, and the less she knew of that language, the better, right?

Henry looked almost annoyed. "Demonic has a rich history to it! Why, there was the tale of Senst, the demon who once carried a boulder across a desert of dragons in order to save his love. Then there is the plays of Trengan, the writer who would write stories of freedom and was a Luciferian evangelist who fought against Azazel's regime. Then his protégé, Nenata, would write the biography of her mentor and lover's life after Trengan was found by Azazel's forces and forced to choke on his own genitals. Nenata is still alive, of course. I had the honour of meeting her a few years ago in Auragard. Nowadays, of course, a lot of English and Latin words find themselves in Demonic plays and poems, but there's a culture there that's still evolving. Why, there are sitcoms entirely in the Demonic language now!"

"I have no doubts that this is probably true. However, most people in Heavensgate do not speak Demonic, and as such, Father did not see it fit to teach me Demonic." Of course, Divia didn't mention that she would have been mortified nevertheless, because knowing Demonic is just yet another thing that would cause her to stand out amongst the angels who she saw as her brethren.

"Father was insistent that I learn Latin and Hebrew, and had me study English and Hindi, on request of Mother. I know better English than Hindi," she admitted. "I have not taken a look at Hindi in years."

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Alison would then drunkenly charm her way abroad a plane to San Francisco, along with a mentally linked and protesting Corvallis, whereupon they'd reassemble an Anvari drug empire.

But that's a story for another time.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Jade saw the man turn, noted Scotty's glance at him, and realized it was the target. Then, years of training took over, straight out of the Demon Wars - no decade of incompetence-inducing rest for her - and she threw up a wall of force in front of him. Then around him. Then over, and finally under him. Then she started laughing, quietly and mostly to herself. After all, what's the point of being able to create invisible walls if you don't imagine the people behind them in mime outfits?

Richard slammed into said walls. "God help me." he muttered. "OK." he took a breath. "OK. Oh God. Oh God. I'm back to Elfen High, aren't I? Oh Lord, help..." he muttered silently. "So why do you need me?"

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Henry looked almost annoyed. "Demonic has a rich history to it! Why, there was the tale of Senst, the demon who once carried a boulder across a desert of dragons in order to save his love. Then there is the plays of Trengan, the writer who would write stories of freedom and was a Luciferian evangelist who fought against Azazel's regime. Then his protégé, Nenata, would write the biography of her mentor and lover's life after Trengan was found by Azazel's forces and forced to choke on his own genitals. Nenata is still alive, of course. I had the honour of meeting her a few years ago in Auragard. Nowadays, of course, a lot of English and Latin words find themselves in Demonic plays and poems, but there's a culture there that's still evolving. Why, there are sitcoms entirely in the Demonic language now!"

"I have no doubts that this is probably true. However, most people in Heavensgate do not speak Demonic, and as such, Father did not see it fit to teach me Demonic." Of course, Divia didn't mention that she would have been mortified nevertheless, because knowing Demonic is just yet another thing that would cause her to stand out amongst the angels who she saw as her brethren.

"Father was insistent that I learn Latin and Hebrew, and had me study English and Hindi, on request of Mother. I know better English than Hindi," she admitted. "I have not taken a look at Hindi in years."

"Don't really speak a word of it myself. I know Latin, Demonic, Nazzagan, Gregi, Unizak..." Henry rattled off a few more Demon languages, then concluded "Old Greek, Aramaic and English. Been brushing up again on my Aramaic though - it was a substantial language used by some human rebels in Hell against Azazel. Native human rebels, you see, people born and raised in Hell. It was a bit of a lingua franca among them before the Earth ones came along." Henry explained. "It's been...interesting, having you humans in Hell. Well, I suppose you aren't human, precisely. Just a mixed breed hoping to be an angel."

[Individuality-ness]

"I have no doubts that this is probably true. However, most people in Heavensgate do not speak Demonic, and as such, Father did not see it fit to teach me Demonic." Of course, Divia didn't mention that she would have been mortified nevertheless, because knowing Demonic is just yet another thing that would cause her to stand out amongst the angels who she saw as her brethren.

"Father was insistent that I learn Latin and Hebrew, and had me study English and Hindi, on request of Mother. I know better English than Hindi," she admitted. "I have not taken a look at Hindi in years."

"Don't really speak a word of it myself. I know Latin, Demonic, Nazzagan, Gregi, Unizak..." Henry rattled off a few more Demon languages, then concluded "Old Greek, Aramaic and English. Been brushing up again on my Aramaic though - it was a substantial language used by some human rebels in Hell against Azazel. Native human rebels, you see, people born and raised in Hell. It was a bit of a lingua franca among them before the Earth ones came along." Henry explained. "It's been...interesting, having you humans in Hell. Well, I suppose you aren't human, precisely. Just a mixed breed hoping to be an angel."

Divia stayed silent. To judge others is a sin, according to the Bible, and she was certain that she had sinned, just by existing. She was also quite certain that she was already damned, no matter what she did, because she was inherently evil and unclean.

Without thinking, she pulled out her lint roller and rolled it all over her clothes. Cleanliness is godliness, cleanliness is godliness.

"How so?" she asked, running the roller on her arms. She had neatly devoured her ice cream earlier, and she wanted to be as clean as possible. Perhaps if she was clean now, it would purify her self and make her clean and pure.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

"Don't really speak a word of it myself. I know Latin, Demonic, Nazzagan, Gregi, Unizak..." Henry rattled off a few more Demon languages, then concluded "Old Greek, Aramaic and English. Been brushing up again on my Aramaic though - it was a substantial language used by some human rebels in Hell against Azazel. Native human rebels, you see, people born and raised in Hell. It was a bit of a lingua franca among them before the Earth ones came along." Henry explained. "It's been...interesting, having you humans in Hell. Well, I suppose you aren't human, precisely. Just a mixed breed hoping to be an angel."

Divia stayed silent. To judge others is a sin, according to the Bible, and she was certain that she had sinned, just by existing. She was also quite certain that she was already damned, no matter what she did, because she was inherently evil and unclean.

Without thinking, she pulled out her lint roller and rolled it all over her clothes. Cleanliness is godliness, cleanliness is godliness.

"How so?" she asked, running the roller on her arms. She had neatly devoured her ice cream earlier, and she wanted to be as clean as possible. Perhaps if she was clean now, it would purify her self and make her clean and pure.

Henry rolled his eyes. "Well, let's see here. You're rolling that lint roller over your clothes and you probably barely know you're doing it. You obviously have issues with your parents just because of their ancestry- your ancestry. You fear rejection, you fear not assimilating and fitting in. You're trying to act like a very caricature of what you feel an ideal angel is. But it isn't true. And it's only a caricature. Obviously, because of where you grew up, you'll adopt angelic characteristics. But there's no need to try and be something you are not. It's like...well, it's like this. Your mother still speaks Hindi and wanted you to learn it though you're born and raised in Heavensgate. She held onto that part of her culture. Why don't you?"

Henry bought another two ice creams, one for each. "And look, it isn't like humans trying to be demons or vice versa. Angels...are different. They were based off humans, but they very much are not. They're extremely alien- they were not born, per se, they did not evolve, they were designed. You can't be like them."

[Individuality-ness]

Divia stayed silent. To judge others is a sin, according to the Bible, and she was certain that she had sinned, just by existing. She was also quite certain that she was already damned, no matter what she did, because she was inherently evil and unclean.

Without thinking, she pulled out her lint roller and rolled it all over her clothes. Cleanliness is godliness, cleanliness is godliness.

"How so?" she asked, running the roller on her arms. She had neatly devoured her ice cream earlier, and she wanted to be as clean as possible. Perhaps if she was clean now, it would purify her self and make her clean and pure.

Henry rolled his eyes. "Well, let's see here. You're rolling that lint roller over your clothes and you probably barely know you're doing it. You obviously have issues with your parents just because of their ancestry- your ancestry. You fear rejection, you fear not assimilating and fitting in. You're trying to act like a very caricature of what you feel an ideal angel is. But it isn't true. And it's only a caricature. Obviously, because of where you grew up, you'll adopt angelic characteristics. But there's no need to try and be something you are not. It's like...well, it's like this. Your mother still speaks Hindi and wanted you to learn it though you're born and raised in Heavensgate. She held onto that part of her culture. Why don't you?"

Henry bought another two ice creams, one for each. "And look, it isn't like humans trying to be demons or vice versa. Angels...are different. They were based off humans, but they very much are not. They're extremely alien- they were not born, per se, they did not evolve, they were designed. You can't be like them."

"There is no other way to be," Divia insisted. "It's impossible. Either you're a Servant of the Lord or you're not. And if you're not, you're destined to go to Hell, to be eternally damned and burned while everyone else gets to hang out in Heaven. Whether you're a Gentile or a Jew, it matters not, according to His Faithful Servant Paul, so long as you believed."

She hoped that it was true. How terrible it would be if everything was for naught!

[Swith Witherward]

Jerking back her hand as spikes dug into her skin, Emi gazed at her bleeding hands with mild awe. Her heart was racing from the sudden turn of events and apparently Fen's was as well, pumping all that delicious blood through her veins at a rapid pace, thumping rapidly like a set of mesmerizing drums.

"Oh, don't worry, dear. It'll take more than that to hurt my feelings" She replied, holding out her hand as blood slowly seeped out of the small wounds, gathering in her palm and aggregating to form the solid shape of a rose flower, brittle as glass. With not the faintest amount of hesitation she approached Fen and presented it to her. By now, the wounds in her hands had already stopped bleeding.

The rose was exquisite. Fen wasn’t unsettled by what it was comprised of; the offering of life substance made it more breathtaking. She stretched out trembling hands and accepted the gift. No one had ever given her something before. No one.

Her uncertainties began to dwindle again. It would take a long while for her to put aside her fear of being touched but Emi’s thoughtful action had stomped out her fear of repercussion. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Emi’s cheek.

“Thank you. Will it break if I put it in my pocket?” She’d stepped away again and quietly marveled at the delicate petals.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Henry rolled his eyes. "Well, let's see here. You're rolling that lint roller over your clothes and you probably barely know you're doing it. You obviously have issues with your parents just because of their ancestry- your ancestry. You fear rejection, you fear not assimilating and fitting in. You're trying to act like a very caricature of what you feel an ideal angel is. But it isn't true. And it's only a caricature. Obviously, because of where you grew up, you'll adopt angelic characteristics. But there's no need to try and be something you are not. It's like...well, it's like this. Your mother still speaks Hindi and wanted you to learn it though you're born and raised in Heavensgate. She held onto that part of her culture. Why don't you?"

Henry bought another two ice creams, one for each. "And look, it isn't like humans trying to be demons or vice versa. Angels...are different. They were based off humans, but they very much are not. They're extremely alien- they were not born, per se, they did not evolve, they were designed. You can't be like them."

"There is no other way to be," Divia insisted. "It's impossible. Either you're a Servant of the Lord or you're not. And if you're not, you're destined to go to Hell, to be eternally damned and burned while everyone else gets to hang out in Heaven. Whether you're a Gentile or a Jew, it matters not, according to His Faithful Servant Paul, so long as you believed."

She hoped that it was true. How terrible it would be if everything was for naught!

So this doesn't sound like Divia's a delusional moron, I'll state that the angels believe in a higher Heaven and a higher Hell, ones that are different than the physical and true ones.

Henry shrugged. "Alright. You like your way of life. But you know no other way to live. Even on Earth you are not comfortable. What you need is exposure to different lives. A tour in Nazareth, or even a tour of Hell later on. You need to learn about your heritage."

[Individuality-ness]

"There is no other way to be," Divia insisted. "It's impossible. Either you're a Servant of the Lord or you're not. And if you're not, you're destined to go to Hell, to be eternally damned and burned while everyone else gets to hang out in Heaven. Whether you're a Gentile or a Jew, it matters not, according to His Faithful Servant Paul, so long as you believed."

She hoped that it was true. How terrible it would be if everything was for naught!

So this doesn't sound like Divia's a delusional moron, I'll state that the angels believe in a higher Heaven and a higher Hell, ones that are different than the physical and true ones.

Henry shrugged. "Alright. You like your way of life. But you know no other way to live. Even on Earth you are not comfortable. What you need is exposure to different lives. A tour in Nazareth, or even a tour of Hell later on. You need to learn about your heritage."

Heritage.

It sounds like a nice goal. Learn more about yourself, about your history, about who you are. Accept how you were born. Open up.

But how could this goal be compatible with the necessity of living a goodly life to please the Lord?

They said that sacrifice was one of the greatest virtues, and that to give up yourself in the service of the Lord is the best kind of sacrifice one could make. But in order to do so, one must abstain from everything superfluous.

Learning about one's past and accepting that didn't seem to be part of that goal, not when the entire religion was about atoning for a mistake made way back in the beginning by Adam and Eve. One cannot attempt to accept that and state that that's all that needed to be done. One needs to atone for that mistake, one needs to make amends in such a way that you surpass your inherent uncleanliness and sin and become one of them high above. Is this not the highest and most desirable state?

Divia looked away, Henry's look was too piercing and too direct for her to handle. She needed to believe, to have faith. Do not be tempted by the demon offering to show her the easy path. Do not allow yourself to relax, lest he do something that would definitely mark you for (higher) Hell forever. Believe, and everything will be over with and she would pass the Lord's test, and become even godlier with it.

"What have we come here to do?" she asked. "Do we not need to talk to the Headmaster?"

The more you don't think, the better you are. Focus on the Lord and you will find happiness beyond wonder.

[Esternial]

Jerking back her hand as spikes dug into her skin, Emi gazed at her bleeding hands with mild awe. Her heart was racing from the sudden turn of events and apparently Fen's was as well, pumping all that delicious blood through her veins at a rapid pace, thumping rapidly like a set of mesmerizing drums.

"Oh, don't worry, dear. It'll take more than that to hurt my feelings" She replied, holding out her hand as blood slowly seeped out of the small wounds, gathering in her palm and aggregating to form the solid shape of a rose flower, brittle as glass. With not the faintest amount of hesitation she approached Fen and presented it to her. By now, the wounds in her hands had already stopped bleeding.

The rose was exquisite. Fen wasn’t unsettled by what it was comprised of; the offering of life substance made it more breathtaking. She stretched out trembling hands and accepted the gift. No one had ever given her something before. No one.

Her uncertainties began to dwindle again. It would take a long while for her to put aside her fear of being touched but Emi’s thoughtful action had stomped out her fear of repercussion. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Emi’s cheek.

“Thank you. Will it break if I put it in my pocket?” She’d stepped away again and quietly marveled at the delicate petals.

"It won't, but try not to drop it" Emi replied with a soft smile, a little taken aback by Fen's sudden gesture. An odd character. Emi had no idea what made Fen like this, and she wasn't really keen on finding out.

And suddenly, Emi's heart grew ten times bigger, figuratively. In her eyes, Fen now became a protégé. It would become her goal to gradually expose her to everything life has to offer. Social interaction, making friends, getting wasted and having epic orgies. Perhaps she'd leave out the last two from the curriculum.

Perhaps.

Then she awoke from her trance and shook her head. "Umm...we should catch up with the others"

[Norvenia]

Raphael nodded. Though he wouldn't admit it out loud, he was glad Daniel spoke up. Why, it had felt like they'd been sitting there for twenty whole days...Raphael gave Daniel a firm nod. "Absolutely. And I will get you that information as soon as I possibly can. I have some spies left in Heaven whom I can still contact, though it would put them at risk. I'll have to be extremely careful about how I go about my business, of course. I have to see what traps Uriel may have laid out, what guards surround that library, what is left in it. I am beginning to use email and text messaging and I am encouraging my angels to use it as well. I will message you, Crowley and 'Zoryana' " - again with the verbal quotation marks. There was an art to this - "about all the information I receive when I receive it."

"But I can tell you about the inside of Heaven. It's a very urban city, a city where the sun always shines, there are many green plants and the air is so sweet it tastes like wine. There are churches everywhere. It's quiet, peaceful. And all a lie. The sun shines a deadly light that will scorch the skin off any non-angel that isn't given a special protection spell. The plants can release poisonous spores on demand. The air can become toxic to non-angels if breathed in too long. The churches are all built as tough fortresses. We are a race of warriors, Mr. Andreas. Our home is not a paradise - it merely has the illusion of one. There are soldiers everywhere - I have not been there in some time. I am concerned and unsure of what my brother may have created now. Before, we had angel soldiers, highly trained, wandering the streets and protecting or oppressing all. But time has passed..." muttered a worried Raphael.

There was a pause as Raphael looked at him expectantly. "Do you have any more questions, Mr. Andreas? I am genuinely interested in answering them if you do - better preparation will help us all."

Daniel bowed his head and smiled bitterly at Raphael’s description of Heaven. Somehow, that seems perfectly appropriate. A radioactive sun, beautiful plants that kill, air so sweet that it tastes like wine and burns the lungs. The perfect trap – you realize that you’ve been caught only when it’s already too late. Death walks with a smile so beautiful that you kiss him without a moment’s hesitation. Daniel grunted softly as a thought occurred to him. And maybe it helps salve Uriel’s conscience, or whatever is left of it. If we mortals can’t survive his paradise, then what possible good could we be? If beauty is deadly to us, then we must be ugliness incarnate. Again, the priest thought of de Sade. A man with no moral compass can see beauty even in the absence of compassion, and can so easily substitute aesthetic for ethic.

When Raphael finished speaking, Daniel slowly shook his head. "No," he said, "no, I think that I've heard all that I need to. Let me know when your agents have an insertion point for us, and any information about the library's defenses or contents. And if you have any advice about how to kill angels quickly and quietly, then send that along too." The priest smiled wryly. "Though I can certainly understand if you have qualms about bandying about that kind of information, all things considered.”

Daniel thought a moment longer. “You seem remarkably calm about this plan,” the priest observed finally. His blue eyes rested on Raphael’s face, crystalline and measuring. “Zoryana thought it was suicide. I’m inclined to agree, though I don’t see much of any other option – circumstances being what they are. And your agents will be exposed whether we succeed or fail – it will be obvious that we had inside help from the start.” Daniel shrugged. “Yet there you sit, cool as a – what is the word? A castravete – a cucumber.” The ghost of a smile flickered across the priest’s face. “Tell me, Raphael: do you really think that we have a chance at succeeding?” Daniel waved a hand. “Not that it matters – we have to try regardless, given that this is our only chance. But I’d like to know your opinion.”

[Nightkill the Emperor]

So this doesn't sound like Divia's a delusional moron, I'll state that the angels believe in a higher Heaven and a higher Hell, ones that are different than the physical and true ones.

Henry shrugged. "Alright. You like your way of life. But you know no other way to live. Even on Earth you are not comfortable. What you need is exposure to different lives. A tour in Nazareth, or even a tour of Hell later on. You need to learn about your heritage."

Heritage.

It sounds like a nice goal. Learn more about yourself, about your history, about who you are. Accept how you were born. Open up.

But how could this goal be compatible with the necessity of living a goodly life to please the Lord?

They said that sacrifice was one of the greatest virtues, and that to give up yourself in the service of the Lord is the best kind of sacrifice one could make. But in order to do so, one must abstain from everything superfluous.

Learning about one's past and accepting that didn't seem to be part of that goal, not when the entire religion was about atoning for a mistake made way back in the beginning by Adam and Eve. One cannot attempt to accept that and state that that's all that needed to be done. One needs to atone for that mistake, one needs to make amends in such a way that you surpass your inherent uncleanliness and sin and become one of them high above. Is this not the highest and most desirable state?

Divia looked away, Henry's look was too piercing and too direct for her to handle. She needed to believe, to have faith. Do not be tempted by the demon offering to show her the easy path. Do not allow yourself to relax, lest he do something that would definitely mark you for (higher) Hell forever. Believe, and everything will be over with and she would pass the Lord's test, and become even godlier with it.

"What have we come here to do?" she asked. "Do we not need to talk to the Headmaster?"

The more you don't think, the better you are. Focus on the Lord and you will find happiness beyond wonder.

"Absolutely. But he texted me saying he's busy. As a result, I'll wait on him for some time, or until his next text. He's told me to wait two hours, which is doable." Henry explained. "In the meanwhile, do you have any questions for me about demons?"

[Nationstatelandsville]

Megan kicked the Cybusmen head at an angry Slitheen ranting about how Season 47 (as it was properly called) of Doctor Who was a total failure, had killed the show, ruined the Autons forever, shot his grandmother, and reincarnated Hitler in a two-minute scene wherein the Doctor mentioned having fathered a daughter, and not an elephantine energy being as the Slitheen had assumed. The Slitheen then demanded the reinstatement of showrunner Russell T. Davies and the return of David Tennant as the Doctor, until the costume's head bounced off his own and gave him a concussion. Said Slitheen toppled over, unconscious.

His friend the Raston Warrior Robot pissed himself in a very non-robotic way as Megan stomped up to him, frowning.

"You, you sad piece-of-shit," Megan huffed, "Seen a kid about this tall? Blond? Likely holding something big, metal, blinking, and explosive?"

The Raston Warrior Robot shook his head furiously.

"Well, thanks," Megan sighed, turning to walk away.

Crash!

A window across the street exploded as a rather irate Scottish Whisperman was chucked out of it. He whimpered pathetically, his assailant dumping a pint of beer on his head while laughing drunkenly.

"That's what ye' get for stealin' my..." shouted Lewis F. Jameson, before trailing off, "...well, I don't remember. But fuck ye' anyways!"

He grimaced.

"And now I'm out of beer!" he spat, "Jack-ass."

Lewis retreated back into the bar, as Megan stared on in awed silence.

After a moment, she dashed inside.

The Slitheen's hand appeared from under the table, fumbling uncertainly for the edge before pulling himself back up.

"Is-is she gone?" he blubbered.

The Raston Warrior Robot nodded.

"Good," the Slitheen sighed, "Like I was saying - Rose is the only good companion!"

[Individuality-ness]

Heritage.

It sounds like a nice goal. Learn more about yourself, about your history, about who you are. Accept how you were born. Open up.

But how could this goal be compatible with the necessity of living a goodly life to please the Lord?

They said that sacrifice was one of the greatest virtues, and that to give up yourself in the service of the Lord is the best kind of sacrifice one could make. But in order to do so, one must abstain from everything superfluous.

Learning about one's past and accepting that didn't seem to be part of that goal, not when the entire religion was about atoning for a mistake made way back in the beginning by Adam and Eve. One cannot attempt to accept that and state that that's all that needed to be done. One needs to atone for that mistake, one needs to make amends in such a way that you surpass your inherent uncleanliness and sin and become one of them high above. Is this not the highest and most desirable state?

Divia looked away, Henry's look was too piercing and too direct for her to handle. She needed to believe, to have faith. Do not be tempted by the demon offering to show her the easy path. Do not allow yourself to relax, lest he do something that would definitely mark you for (higher) Hell forever. Believe, and everything will be over with and she would pass the Lord's test, and become even godlier with it.

"What have we come here to do?" she asked. "Do we not need to talk to the Headmaster?"

The more you don't think, the better you are. Focus on the Lord and you will find happiness beyond wonder.

"Absolutely. But he texted me saying he's busy. As a result, I'll wait on him for some time, or until his next text. He's told me to wait two hours, which is doable." Henry explained. "In the meanwhile, do you have any questions for me about demons?"

"How do you live?"

The question poured out of her mouth before she could stop herself.

Oh no. What if the Lord took it as a judgement? What if he punishes her by damning her? What if she had committed the final sin that would make her impossible to redeem?

[The Inritus Extraho]

Jade saw the man turn, noted Scotty's glance at him, and realized it was the target. Then, years of training took over, straight out of the Demon Wars - no decade of incompetence-inducing rest for her - and she threw up a wall of force in front of him. Then around him. Then over, and finally under him. Then she started laughing, quietly and mostly to herself. After all, what's the point of being able to create invisible walls if you don't imagine the people behind them in mime outfits?

Richard slammed into said walls. "God help me." he muttered. "OK." he took a breath. "OK. Oh God. Oh God. I'm back to Elfen High, aren't I? Oh Lord, help..." he muttered silently. "So why do you need me?"

Jade laughed quietly, and shrugged. "Honestly, I'm not sure; I'm just the messenger. Courier. Retriever?" She frowned, and nodded out towards the car, lowering one of the walls slowly. "But yes. Basically, Crowley wants you - for some reason, he didn't tell me."

[Swith Witherward]

"It won't, but try not to drop it" Emi replied with a soft smile, a little taken aback by Fen's sudden gesture. An odd character. Emi had no idea what made Fen like this, and she wasn't really keen on finding out.

And suddenly, Emi's heart grew ten times bigger, figuratively. In her eyes, Fen now became a protégé. It would become her goal to gradually expose her to everything life has to offer. Social interaction, making friends, getting wasted and having epic orgies. Perhaps she'd leave out the last two from the curriculum.

Perhaps.

Then she awoke from her trance and shook her head. "Umm...we should catch up with the others"

“Oh, right!” Fen gently slipped the rose into her pocket and returned Emi's smile. Although it wasn’t exactly eye contact, her glance seemed to focus a bit closer to Emi’s chin rather than beyond her shoulder. She fell in step beside her and scanned the area for the others.

“I can make clumsy things with ice but nothing as intricate as that." Brown hands fanned out the damp hair on her shoulders to allow it to dry. Her head tilted inquisitively. "How’d you do it, if it’s not rude to ask?”