Behind The Veil

[Rick Jones]

It all started when he decided to sell his house. Well house wasn't really the right word for the spacious abode, mansion was more fitting, Hollywood mansion was even more apt. It was when Rick decided to sell his Hollywood mansion that he first met her. Supposedly the real estate company had sent her over, but the authoritarian Latina was much more then a mere realtor. She was the Lady of Angels, come to call on him at last.

He'd heard of her manifestations before, so recognizing his future boss was an easy task. Made all the easier by the spirit's decision to manifest in his kitchen. Complete with a cup of his expensive coffee which she wasn't drinking, but had no the less poured as an offering to herself.

“Richard.” she said using a self serving tone his parents had perfected years ago. “I would like you to do some things for me. In exchange I could see my way to allowing you to become one of my angels, with all the privileges my patronage entails. Before you ask, I have no intention of telling you what I want in advance. Think of the blind choice as a trust exercise. Now do you agree to do a few poorly defined things for me?” she said with just a touch of humor.

The whole deal had been designed to peek his curiosity. He really didn't know the extend of the Lady's power, nor what her plans were for him. The risk of it all was intoxicating. He answered the only way he could. “Oui!”

“Good.” she said pulling out a small list of addresses. “The first task is to sell this monstrosity and buy a few of these more pleasing properties. You'll see me again once the sales go through.” and just like that she was gone. Immediately he called Ashley and got to work processing the Lady's request.

[Rick Jones]

True to her word he didn't see her again until a week later when all the paper work was being processed. He took the alacrity of the transactions for a sign of the Lady's favor. A sign confirmed when he saw the spirit entering a Starbucks near City Hall.

He followed her, but inside was a shop full of human customers, no spirit in sight. He was almost convinced he was hallucinating when he heard the assistant.

“No no my boss has been sick for a week, but don't worry Miss Brant, I have full signing authority.” everything about the statement made the executive in Rick cringe. The man's tone reeked of eagerness to use power that wasn't his.

A quick glance revealed two more problems. First the Assistant's bag held the logo of an LA city employee. Second the woman he was dealing with was Tawny Brant. Tawny was known to him through her attempts to scam one of his businesses earlier that year. At the time she'd been trying to sell the service of a maintenance company who's profits were powered by illegal immigrant labor. If the Assistant signed then his boss was in for a world of political hurt.

Thinking quick, he ordered the darkest coffee he could buy, and activated Persuasion. As he walked past Tawny's table he faked a trip, managing to spill the black liquid all over the potential contract.

“I'm so sorry about that! Well I bet your boss won't want you signing that contract!” he said much to the ill-humor of everyone else involved. He didn't care if they hated him for he was out the door a moment later. No, what mattered was that the bureaucrat hear his order no to sign the contract. LA wasn't getting scammed today!

[Rick Jones]

His name was Jesus, Rick couldn't believe it at first, surely she couldn't want him to make Jesus famous. Then he saw what the Latino artist painted and he realized his alien patron was deadly serious. Her ego was at stake. 

He did portraits of Her. Some were realistic to the point of obsessive, too much blow. Others he'd clearly done a hallucinogen, the flexible coloring he'd used reminded him of Her seen from the spirit world. No famous part of her was portrayed. Instead he kept to the forgotten places, made beautiful for perhaps the last time. 

Her succor towards the sychophant touched his self-important heart. He knew the drive to never be forgotten. Thankfully, coincidence or more likely spiritual subversion  had resulted in him acquiring tickets to just the right gallery opening. He could get used to such sacred subterfuge. 

The first challenge was that he'd already promised the ticket to Justin. The kinfolk's smile still held custody over his loins and he was reluctant to break a date with him. Worse still he'd probably need the put together kinsman's help to pull this off. Balling up his courage he made the dreaded call. For love of Job Advancement!

That was easy! Another date was all Justin wanted, far less then Rick was willing to provide. Drunk on the aphrodisiac of Savings, he'd privately vowed more sexual favors. Better still Justin seemed to relish the opportunity to spend time with him serving Gaia. It was as though he felt Rick's time was it's own reward. What an expected and welcome bonus. 

Together the three men spent the day in riotous mockery of Pretty Woman. Jesus used his new camera to take pictures of everything. Once he was properly dressed he took the artist anywhere he wanted to go. Glasswalker efficiency and the Lady's Navigational Blessings combined to cram a lot of culture into a day. The grooming of two gays revealed a masterpiece underneath. Jesus smelled fresh, looked expensive, his astounded smile was a bonus. 

Justin had done amazingly well with Jesus. He could have been jealous but he'd been generous and Gaia had gained. He gave the kinsman's hand a meaningful squeeze before they left for the evening. "Je t'aime."

That evening, at the Lady's behest, he'd persuaded three people to purchase Jesus' work. A fourth did so without his prompting. 

The first was a European Footballer, come over to see what all the fuss was about. Why the Lady wanted an Eye in Luxembourg of all places, he'd never know. The second, a minor business acquaintance who already trusted Rick. Curiouser and curiouser, why do you want an Eye in his office my Lady? The third, a skytrain operator from Boise, Idaho. Well there was just no accounting for the tastes of spirits. The fourth a city councilman and likely a dual sign of patronage. 

[Rick Jones]

He next saw Her in an deep in alley up north. She had a gift for him, but like everything it had a price. Her private joke seemed momentarily funnier then he was interesting. She chuckled to herself for a good minute before deigning to talk to him. 

"Are you finally tired of looking like that? The joke must have run it's course by now. It's had all the laughs it's due. Are you ready to tell a new one?" she asked dripping with the warm spice of her charm. 

"I'm always interested in a new way to laugh." he agreed too eagerly. The rational part of him didn't believe that the Lady could change him, but it didn't answer until later. "How will this be done exactly?"

"With plastic surgery of course!" she beamed a too perfect bleached white smile. She was pointing at a suddenly apparent door dimly lite by fluttering florescence. "Right this way. The Doctor will see you now!"

He boldly stepped through the door instantly losing control of his sight and a portion of his mind which was responsible for medical hallucinations. There was terrible pain as his body and soul were restructured by beings of alien power. He felt this like anesthetic free surgery. He screamed when able. 

Eventually it was over. He cursed fluidly until the pain subsided to sleep. He awoke changed. The Lady had made three alterations to him. 

The first he discovered when he shapeshifted, but he notice the second first. The second was that he no longer changed into a mangy mutt. Apparently she couldn't make him into a real wolf so she'd settled on Lassie. His form now mimicked the beloved rough collie who held an iconic place in the American psyche. People trusted Lassie so they let Rick pass. Never had he so easily moved through the town!

When he arrived home, exhausted from his explorations, he shifted to homid and finally notice the first alteration. The first was that he'd finally gained the Joy of Shapeshifting promised by his bloodline. Where once he'd changed in agony now he felt like mercury pooling into something new. Amazing. 

The third alteration was revealed when he obeyed her chuckled instructions to drive her Avatar out of the City. He pulled over as soon as he could after her disappearance. The pain had started the moment he left her, could have found her miles away. Standing there waiting, arm out stretching, awaiting his return. Walking to her revealed that her border, his home, was growing. So this is what Furies feel when they worship the Wyld?

Finally the packlinks solidified on the ride back. He drove his new Mother through his new Home. Tears started about halfway through his travels, he let them fall. He marveled at the joy of being an Archangel