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[angelfire]

[ Are you all Craned out? After last night, dealing with the man himself, have you had quite enough of him thank you very much? Are you so psychologically drained, now, that you're more than capable of making questionable life choices? Well then, this wake up call is for you! ]

Good Morning, Vietnam!

[ The camera is way too close, handheld for once, meaning that there's no film crew in sight. Instead, as the camera is drawn away, there is the radiant vision of a ruffled looking Lucifer, his eyes bright, clad not in the silk trappings of his work clothes but a black T-shirt that says 'God's Bitch'. The T is a pitchfork, obviously, and the H has a tail. In any case, God's Bitch is sitting on a chunk of beachfront, pawing at the sand with his free hand while he considers his audience. ]

I mean--aren't you all such a lively bunch over this manhunt of yours. And with effectively no evidence either. That's what I love about you. There's always something. Someone has to go under the wheels of the machine to assert your need for revenge. So that you can come out on top. That's good, really. I mean, it's a party! I'll put out nibbles! Want to get even the most sinless of you blaspheming against God? Well that's easy: give you a righteous cause to fight for.

You know, Matthew was high on his own farts by Matthew 5, but you have to admit he had something with his bit about turning the other cheek. Personally I'll take all the bloodshed and petty infighting you have going, but you see, that's me, and I do enjoy it when you rip each other's throats out over less.

Now then, before you all accuse me of wasting your time with my fatuous oration, or whatever you kids say when you have to read or listen to more than a hundred and forty-four characters of text--

[ Suddenly the camera glitches horribly. There's electric fuzz all over the screen for a fraction of a second, and - without Lucifer seeming to move - the entire backdrop changes, presenting the inside of his church, lit magnificently by the morning light. The entire Atlantic ocean seems to be reflecting the rising sun in through its wall of white glass windows. Lucifer guides the camera around to show Jonathan Crane himself, sitting in the transept--or rather, they show a man who could be Crane sitting with his back to the camera, his cheek propped against his fist as he reads a book laid open in his lap. ]

The man of the hour himself. Now you see him--

[ Lucifer turns the camera back. ]

And now you don't. Here's the thing: the Church of the Morningstar, such as it is, is a Sanctuary. A sanctuary from persecution and false accusation, a sanctuary from the law. For as long as Doctor Crane - or anyone else similarly accused - chooses to remain here, he will be under the full power of my protection. Under this protection he cannot wield a weapon, nor can he break any further law under my roof, so in effect you're as safe from him as he is from you.

Come, if you wish, but know that any harm you attempt to do unto him will be returned unto you--which brings us back to our theme. "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot." Won't we all look foolish hopping around the place with one hand, one eye and no teeth? You have been warned. You can pay the accused a visit, but invade his sanctuary, and there will be Hell to pay. [ The 'Literally' goes unspoken. ]

[ Once more the camera spins around to Crane, at which point Lucifer instructs him to: ]

Give the nice people a wave, Jonathan.

Comments

[restingstitchface]

[The figure doesn't move. It shows nothing of it's face and speaks no words. Some minutes later, the following reply arrives.]

The waves broke and spread their waters swiftly over the shore. One after another they massed themselves and fell; the spray tossed itself back with the energy of their fall.

[He's pedantic enough to text though he's right there. Isn't he a poetic soul?]

[angelfire]

[ This is one house guest he's going to get tired of very quickly, he can tell. When he waves at least wave back! Azazel. He misses corrupt demon scum like Azazel, real doers, verses the kind who play with phials and beakers. But you can't pick and choose.

For company at dinner, though? Lively conversation all the way. And a floor show. And Crane did put on quite the floor show... ]

I'm glad you have the time to catch up on your reading.

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[textualhealing]

Seriously?

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[angelfire]

And you expected what, exactly?

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[angelfire]

Wait, you're talking about my shirt, aren't you?

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[debauchewy]

You certainly love to hear yourself talk. Are you the type to practice in a mirror often? [A light laugh, his video is one but all it's showing is ceiling.]

But a lot of talk can really insight some exciting responses, I suppose I can't blame you.

What I can blame you for is housing a coward. [A small breath, slightly unamused by all this.] I'm not sure which of you I should pity more.

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[angelfire]

I don't need to practice to be this good, no.

[ Absolutely dry and sardonic, that's what he returns for that very rude view of the ceiling. ]

My alternative is to say the absolute least possible and repeat myself a dozen times for no reason whatsoever. It's a waste of my time.

As for your blame, well-- [ He bats at mid air with flappy hands. ] Who cares?

[inmyothertights]

Oh my god-

Sanctuary isn't a thing in churches anymore. It hasn't been a thing since like, 1500. The law doesn't care.

[3/10 for bad villainy]

[angelfire]

Who do you suppose is going to test whether it's a thing or not? I'd love to see the Miami Police Department come in here and tell me what is and isn't a rule in the House of God.

private to her bro billy

[rathercommon]

[ Ferociously: ]

It's not just the law that doesn't care. Bet I can get by whatever nonsense spell he's set up.

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[wayhot]

[That sure was a long-winded speech, but Flame Princess only has one thing to say in response to all of this.] You won't be able to protect him forever.

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[angelfire]

Oh, I don't know. I'll protect him if he needs protecting, whether within these walls or not.

[ He'll protect his investment. ]

[darwinatrix]

And does your 'protection' extend beyond the borders of this church?

[angelfire]

If it's asked for.

[ If it's part of the deal. ]

[shuckit]

your church got an address?

[ absolutely planning on going by regardless of how screwed he might be with what's-his-ass here playing intimidation making big brother.

the rest of that means jackshit to him, given he barely even remembers enough about christianity to know what 'lucifer' is supposed to mean, and who the hell is matthew and why do we care? ]

[angelfire]

It's on the Miami beachfront; it's difficult to miss.

Now be serious--do you really have any idea what you're getting into? You people all think that your powers, such as they are, make you magically invulnerable, so what do you have, hmm, that makes you think you can take on an archangel?

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[hostage]

Don't.

text, private, there's no such thing as late right

[rathercommon]

I'm taking care of it, Thomas. Don't worry.

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[orions_shadow]

What'll happen if someone were to air strike your church or something equivalent?

And also, why are you associated with the morning star? It's venus, and that's kinda always been associated with the female.

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[angelfire]

The question would have to be asked why someone would attack a church full of people to get to one man. The equivalent harm that would be done to innocent people would surely negate any good made by his destruction.

And the word "always" in your sentence is erroneous.

not here

[aviate]

[This would have been a really good time to still be God's Vengeance, but whatever he's still going to fight the Devil.]

not here either

[angelfire]

[ Bring it on green genie. This probably needs an intervention log come to think of it... ]

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[assays]

Is he your prisoner then or your guest?

[Because Crane looks comfortable as far as Peggy can tell.]

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[crapbearer]

[ Church of the Morningstar, huh? The relevance of that title isn't lost on Max. ]

Man, with redirection skills like that, you'd be a natural at selling used cars.

But seriously, I just got here. I barely know anyone, and all I know about this Crane guy is what I'm hearing on the network, so I'm trying to come into this with an open mind.

What's your stake in all this, if you don't mind me asking? Not that offering sanctuary is a bad thing, but with the mud being slung around lately it seems like you're putting your own rep on the line, too.

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[angelfire]

I'd be wasted on selling used cars, besides the fact that I've never actually been in one. I haven't an unmuddy reputation, either, and those falsely accused should stand together, I think. That's the nature of survival in a place like this.

If no one takes risks for others, if we all live purely selfish lives, then this wouldn't be the limit of the bloodshed. We're all civilized, aren't we? Then the least I can ensure is that some people act like it.