Araniel nodded, and said "Yes.  All men and women are the children of God.  Some of you are descended from the Nephilim, like May, my daughter.  Yes, I'm technically Nephilim myself, but I can confirm some things.  Although I'm not here with official sanction.  It's not time, yet, for armageddon."

Jared quirked an eyebrow.  "Well, there's a sobering thought."

Then he shrugged again.  "Again, above my pay grade.  So, what's next?"

  Araniel said "Well, now that we've cleaned this place out, we can go shoot the breeze somewhere, or we can go hang out where you were staying, or you can come up with something to do.  I believe I'll come along with you, this is apparently a toen that's a hotbed of dangers."

Jared thought for a moment, and then said, "This mission is complete, let's head back, regroup, and see what's shaking.  As for coming with me, you are welcome so long as you down get all backlit and do that Roma Downey Jr thing.  Which will make no sense to you if you haven't seen "Touched By An Angel."  Awful show.  Except for John Dye, who was good as the Angel of Death."

  He laughed, and said "Can't say I watch much television, so I'll take your word for it.  However, if you feel like stopping off for a couple hot coffees or hot chocolates on the way, you have my vote.  Chocolate is wonderful stuff."

Jared laughed.  "Knows GOD's plan?  Check.  Works to combat evil and drive back the forces of darkness?  Check.  What he wants more than anything else?  Hot cocoa."

Then he laughed again.  "Cocoa with an angel; how could I refuse?  Let's go."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:03, Sat 30 Nov 2013.

  Araniel laughed, and said "I have a true fondness for hot cocoa, it's wonderful, wonderful stuff.  I can't describe how good it is to taste chocolate after not being physical for ages and ages, and it is . . . really indescribable."  He indicated Jared should lead the way, his wings folded neatly behind him as he sheathed his sword on his back, between them, and grinned.

Jared just chuckled, the juxtaposition of an Angel of GOD sipping cocoa continued to amuse.

They walked (or cabbed) over to the local coffee shop, and Jared ordered, completely against any previously established history, a peppermint cocoa with whipped cream.

Once Araniel had his, he said, "I assume they can't see your wings?  Or sword?"

  Araniel nodded, and said "Correct.  I can choose whom I wish to perceive what I truly am, and those who just see another guy hanging out drinking something.  I am glad my daughter has fallen in with such a good group of people."

Jared sipped his ridiculously fru-fru drink, and said, "I just arrived today; don't know her.  Who is she?  Your daughter, I mean?"

Then he said, "Everything I know about Angels I learned from 'The Prophecy', but the second one concerned the Nephilim.  I'm guessing that having a child was a pretty meaningful decision, more than most?"

  Araniel nodded, and said "Yes.  It is the choice that actually makes one a Nephilim, to lie with the daughters or sons of Adam and Eve.  May is the one running around with wings like mine, but no sword."  He sipped his peppermint hot cocoa, and his expression was positively blissful.

Jared paused.  "Obviously GOD is ok with the, um, 'intermingling.'  I imagine May is extremely powerful, probably more than she knows.  Is she a warrior?"

  Araniel said "Actually, she's a healer.  That's not surprising, since I am a warrior-angel.  I was a Guardian Angel, but I couldn't take seeing so much evil and NOT doing something about it anymore, so I chose to 'fall'.  To become a Nephilim."

Jared asked, "The rules are different for nephilim and angels?"

  Araniel said "Rather different, yes.  Angels who have not fallen and become Nephilim do NOT visible intervene.  Nephilim can, and frequently DO.  We have also chosen to lay with the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve.  Which, since I have a daughter, I've obviously chosen to do that, which is why I am Nephilim."

Jared shrugged.  "I'm torn between 'total fan boi, pestering you with questions' mode and leaving all of it alone as way above my pay grade.  The way I look at it, if GOD had meant us to know all the answers HE would show up and give an interview."

Then He chuckled, and said, "If HE, for whatever reason, wants to give an interview, I call "DIBS!""

  Araniel chuckled, and said "He's a rather quiet one, but he knows everything.  So he plans for things none of the rest of us even dream of, like the Morningstar rebelling."

Jared looked puzzled, and said, "You all were surprised by that?  Seriously?"

Then he shook his head, and said, "Every system, especially one that puts the idea of "choice" at the center, must have an alternative.  Meaning, if you are choosing between two sides, both sides must be able to make a compelling case, or it isn't a real choice.  Or, to put it another way, if I say, "You can have a cup of cocoa, or I'll plunge a red hot poker into your eye," there's technically a choice but in reality, not so much.  So GOD, in order to make the system work, needed someone to represent the "other side" of the equation.  Which means, of course, that since GOD created angels, he created Lucifer, and because he has perfect knowledge of his creation, he knew Lucifer was going to fall, which means, of course, that that his plan all along."

He shrugged, "GOD purposefully created Satan and empowered him to do exactly what he is doing because it was the only way for the entire system to work.  Choice."

  Araniel said "It wasn't that someone fell, it was WHO fell.  We did not expect one of the most beautiful among us to fall."

Jared shrugged.  "Funny.  Makes perfect sense to me.  Who would follow a third string angel anywhere?  The Adversary would have to have the stones to hold his own.  Remember - real choice."

 Araniel smiled, and said "Well, in all truth, we half expected Uriel to rebel, since he's an Archangel, and he's rather antisocial to the rest of us, but Lucifer kept it completely under the table until the day he declared Rebellion."

Jared almost snarfed his cocoa, and he said, highly amused, "Wait, wait, don't tell me... you were all cheesed off because you had "Uriel" in the "Who's going to fall?" pool and he didn't come through for you?  That must have been awkward around the water-cooler afterwards, eh?"

  Araniel said "Not exactly.  We were more thinking along the lines of Uruiel starting the open rebellion, and here Lucifer, who had given no signs of it, came out and was roaring rebellion to the world."

Jared just shrugged.  "I suspect GOD kept suspicion from your mind and the evidence from your eyes.  I suspect GOD realized that if you alll found out prematurely that you could have prevented the fall, or at least minimized the damage.  If my theory about GOD engineering the whole thing is true, he would have had to create the possibility of Lucifer operating in secrecy.  Which would have meant folling or misdirecting all of you.  Odds are, Uriel was in on it.  Orders."

Then he set his cup down, and said, "You realize, I assume, that I have no idea what I'm talking about, right?  We're just two guys enjoying coffee."

  Araniel chuckled, and said "Of course.  And we both work to help protect the majority of humanity from evil.  Especially the kinds they can't fight themselves."