We Care for Your Safety

[applesaucemod]

Protecting the city from the rifties -- and the rifties from the city -- is a full time job. That's never been more true than it is today, when there are metaphorical (and sometimes physical) fires to put out all over Manhattan. It's been a rough time at ROMAC in general; most of the organization's people are unfamiliar with the specifics of the recent animal attack, but even those who don't know that a number of prisoners guests of ROMAC have gone missing in the last few days (or that the computer system is still compromised) know that something has thrown the organization into disarray.

Unfortunately for ROMAC and fortunately for certain other people, ROMAC's resources are spread thin by whatever's put the Rift in a tizzy. As large as the organization is, though, there's surely nothing to worry about from the handful of malcontents at large in the city.

Surely.


[OOC: And here's the thread for taking down ROMAC! There will be a couple of player characters on ROMAC's side (check to see whether their threads are open to all before tagging in, as they may have limited availability due to prior plans), and anyone in need of 'enemies' to tag against can request an NPC from the mods. Have at!]

Comments

[bibliophale]

"Wh-" He sputters for a few solid moments before drawing closer. "But why? Didn't they understand what you-" He waves a hand to make up for his difficulty articulating, and it's as though he can hear Crowley huffing in exasperation, probably with a roll of his eyes behind those shades.

Of course they understood. Gabriel frightened them, and they took action. He's never been cautious about who knew what he was, but now he sees firsthand the true danger he could have been putting himself in, the darker edge of human fear and curiosity. That they could contain one so great as Gabriel-

It's horrifying to imagine.

He sets his jaw a little firmer. "How can I help?"

[has_a_horn]

"Go help people out. I can finish down-" At that moment, an enormous thump shakes the building, followed by a tremendous roar. Gabriel looks up, as if he's worried that the concrete above them might crumble. When it doesn't, he looks back to Aziraphale. "Same plan. I emptied cells a floor up, but I bet people are going to need more help to get out. I'll go find out what that was."

[bibliophale]

Aziraphale looks up when Gabriel does, equally startled. He's a little nervous to leave Gabriel at the mercy of whatever that was, but, well, he can take care of himself after all. And helping people is rather more his speed.

"Don't hesitate to call if you need me for anything," he says, and whisks himself up to where the liberated prisoners are.

[omnomnom_feels]

He must feed. Though he did not suffer much direct damage, Rashad's scuffle with the tiger-bird-dinosaur drained a good deal of his energy. After sealing the door to the basement level on which he left her, noting the regrettable thumping and tearing he can still hear on the other side, he finally lets his fires die out and considers his next move. The panic he can distantly sense in the building above him is not ideal, as he would prefer to remain combat-effective, but in the absence of other options it will have to do. If he is very fortunate, perhaps he will find anger he can take instead when he gets there.

Even as he turns from the door, however, he senses something else closer by that commands his attention. Rashad hesitates, head cocked as he listens/feels/tastes for something beyond human senses.

"Who is there?" he calls.

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel turns the corner to find what he might ambiguously call a man, but feels considerably different. He stands braced for an attack if it should come, because even if this man is a rifty there's no knowing for sure whose side he's on.

"What are you doing here?"

[omnomnom_feels]

What turns the corner is certainly not human, though it wears a human body. The incongruity of something celestial taking a host rather than manifesting itself directly confuses Rashad's senses momentarily; he would expect this behavior of a devil, but this does not feel like a devil.

"...You are an angel," observes Rashad, his flat tone devoid of the surprise that should come with the statement. "Why are you in that man?"

[has_a_horn]

"We were very close," Gabriel answers deadpan. He's not really in the mood to be playing twenty questions with some strange celestial force, and he really doesn't like how his own question was ignored.

This whole place makes him feel edgy and on-guard. Tearing it down feels amazing, but it doesn't negate the fear and anger that he associates with this place. If this thing is here to do anything but help people, he needs him out of the building. He tries again. "What are you doing here?"

[omnomnom_feels]

It is not an answer, but even Rashad is able to understand the hint that there are more important matters to be addressed. He does not know who this angel is, what kind of pantheon he is actually from or what his intentions are, but he sees no reason to be dishonest. It may even transpire that this angel is an authority figure to whom he can give his services, though it is by no means safe to assume this is so in a city where certain other angels keep company with demons.

"I am defending this place," he replies. "There is little enough order in this city. Assist me."