Los Angeles - Zauriel's Aerie

Built by the most skilled engineers in Heaven, the Aerie serve as The
Winged Wonder's base of operations here on Earth. Hovering over the city
of Los Angeles, The Aerie is a massive sphere, that is capable of housing
thousands if needed, being the size of an average professional sports
arena. While it is intangible to the outside world, once inside it is very
real, having a warm metallic feel to the touch, while vibrating very
fairly with a soothing harmony. Everywhere is a soft white, the walls and
floors and ceilings all comprised of the reflective white, trimmed with
frames of woven gold at all the edges.

Possessing various tiers or levels that run the height of the structure,
the Aerie possesses many areas or sections adidst the various maze of
rooms. At the core is a massicely elaborate garden that is home to most
any kind of plant life to ever exist. There is also an altar nea the top
of the Aerie, a richly decorated santuary for prayer. Zauriel's private
quaters (complete with Collection Rooms, where he stores all of his stuff
he's gathered) are on the lower levels, where there are plenty of empty
rooms for many, many other people if the need be.

However, most the most important feature of The Aerie is the 'monitor
womb' like structure, located near the top of the construct beneath the
altar, where monitors watch over events all over the earth, to watch for
any situation that may require Zauriel's aid. The room is alive with
monitors that blanket all the domed surface, and are constantly changing,
always searching, and only stop when a subject or situation is found that
is dire enough to merit the angel's involvement. Faces and lives move by
on all sides, looking back at the faces that glimpse in on them, not aware
that you have this gained insight over them.

Not needing rest like the two of you likely required it, Zauriel has
slipped off to run some of his 'errands'... watching over people, doing
good deeds... you know, angelic wholesome good stuff. But now he has
returned from his patrols, and the first thing he does? Well, it's to
check on his guests. Zauriel made sure to get you both up here and then to
provide you witht he nourishment he promised. Thankfully he was able to
get some 'donations' froma blood bank for you. But now, checking on where
he had left you, you're not there. But not that Zauriel is worried, as
there's no harm you can cause, really. And if you did, he'd forgive you
anyway. But then the search is on, to see if he can locate you...

Since he's arrived in the Aerie, Alex has been in a state of pseudo-awe
the entire time. After all, how many times does a person get to be inside
of something as heavenly as the Aerie? Not many times, at least according
to Alex's thinking. He's taken your brief absence as a wonderful
opportunity to run around and generally explore the Aerie, with his
attention generally being focused on the garden. Ignoring the altar for
the most part, Alex has taken to just lying down amongst the multitude of
plants and enjoying the moment.

"It's nothing like Eden was. Most people think it is... or well, I assume
they would, if there had ben people here to see it. You're the first
actually... and now that I'm thinking about it, how ironic is that?" The
voice should be familiar by now, as it is rather distinguishable. Unless
you've spent time around other angels, to hear their speaking? Zauriel
doubts it. But upon finding you he doesn't mean to disturb, so it stands
just a short distance off, looking up. Thanks tot he design of the dome
overhead, over this room, light fromt he outside is refracted and bounced
in, thus meaning the light here is all natural. But he's betting you're in
the shade? "Sorry about slipping off before you were up, but... things. I
suppose. How... how are you doing? You know... ah..." He just pats his own
'belly'.

Alex Elder turns his head towards the direction of the sound, still lying
on the grass (in the shade, because he isn't the type to /want/ to bake).
"The first to see this? Strange...places like this should be everywhere. I
mean, I don't think there isn't a person in the world that /wouldn't/ want
to see this...this amazing place." He pauses, considering what you mean by
saying 'how ironic is that?'. He sighs, since he can't really figure out
what you find ironic. He's been told by Ekimus that he's the Chosen
One...but he doesn't know what the means. He hasn't gotten a 10% discount
at any stores yet, so being the Chosen One must not be worth much, at
least according to his thoughts. Finally, "Where do you see the irony
here...am I missing something?"

"What you are, who you are. I think you know. You in the two senses."
Zauriel holds up both hands now, looking to his left (naturally, for the
imagry he's about to attach to it) first. "You are a vampire, a creature
of the darkness. Normally such are forbidden to be near such a place as
this. But on the other hand," he looks to his right, natch, "You are what
you have been called. Perhaps it is more your right to see this place than
it is my own." And his hands lower here and he smiles once more. "Irony is
a good thing. It allows us to find ways to appreciate thigns we normally
would not, wouldn't you agree?" He takes a step or two forward, before he
turns to face you side-long, so that he can sit now, mindful of the wings,
his arms out to either side. "Really, you think here is amazing? There are
so many amazing places everywhere. You just have to stop and look...
people rarely seem to want to do that. I suppose here it is just more
obvious." He shrugs his shoulders a little, before looking over to you.
"How do you find it here? Being here?" He is curious. You fascinate him.
How can you not?

Alex Elder considers things a few, quiet moments before speaking. Speaking
softly, almost muttering under his breath, "I'd rather not
be...well...whatever I am." He sighs again, sitting up from his former
position. "I guess irony is good...sometimes it's cruel though. Things
sometimes should be simpler, happier...like things are here." Pause. "I
don't consider much of Earth amazing anymore. Too many things I can't see,
especially things most people just don't think about. Take the
sunrise...cliched, but it's still something I wish I woulda seen once
before I became what I am..." He exhales slowly, "It's good to be here.
It's simple, happy, which as I said, are a couple things the world needs
more of." Another pause, "Do you ever wish you would have done or seen
something, and now you can't? I mean, were you ever a human with a family
that you can't see now?"

"I'm sorry, Alex, that you cannot see the world around you any longer.
There was beauty in it before for you, wasn't there? When you were
young... you saw things that pleased you, yes? Perhaps it is not the world
that has changed so much as you?" And Zauriel means that comment a litle
more than he meant to let slip. You aren't happy with yourself, it seems
to him, evidently clear actually, and perhaps this is why you cannot see
wonderment in other things. You can't find it in yourself. "That's a shame
as there is much in the world to cherish. Things that people miss
everyday. Even yourself. What you are, what you have been chosen to be...
there is ar eason for it. I can assure you of it. I can't tell you what
that reaosn is, mind you, as I honestly don't know. Likely that doesn't
help any but... perhaps this will. Here, all of this," he looks around, to
the garden, "Is just a place. What makes this place wonderful isn't that
it is wonderful, it's that you see it that way. So in essence, this place
is within you, goes with you. As long as you hold onto that you'll never
lose it." He know she's rambling and likely not making much sense, but
there's so much he wants to say, but he's not sure how to say it to you.

Looking away now, off tot he distance, Zauriel frowns, and you can like
make this out in his profile that faces you. "Family for me if a bit
different... but, yes, there was a time when... well, whne things were
more simple. When there was acceptance, among us all. Yet... things
changed and there is no way to go back to things they way there were."
There is a deep sorrow in Zauriel's voic in this. he has no regret, pity
or forgiveness for those angels that Fell, epecially the most beautiful of
all angels. But he does wish for the chance to experience that
completeness once again. "I have lived a long, long time Alex. There isn't
much I haven't seen in all of my days but... yes, there is one thing I
would wish to see, but I cannot." it is something personal. Rather
personal. "I understand, Alex. I know how difficult it is. It isn't easy,
to be selected, singled out. But then anything that is not easy tends to
be more rewarding once you have... well, done what it is you have to do."

Talk about wonder -- where Alex feels he no longer has any, Bart Allen has
practically nothing but. He enters the garden silently, from one of the
rooms off to the upper right somewhere, eyes wide like saucers; the way
he's moving, slowly and carefully, you'd think he was afraid of breaking
something. "Aaaaaaaalex, have you -seen- this place? Zauriel, this whole
thing is your -house-??"

Alex Elder looks away from Zauriel and towards the nice, green grassy
ground. "Hmmm...I guess you're right about a lot of it." He laughs, the
first time in this conversation, "As you said, you've lived a long, long
time, and my 16-some-odd-years are no match for your long-long-ness." He
grabs a clump of grass from the ground, and tosses it into the air. "What
is it you wish to-..." He stops mid-sentence as Bart calls for him. "Yeah
Bart...I've kinda wandered around all day. Got lost at one point even..."

"My house? Well.. I suppose it is, in a sense. A shame I have t all to
myself, I know. it gets... well... lonely, I suppose. I'm used to being
surrounded, by those I help or those helping me... but," the angel shrugs
as he moves to stand now, looking to the approaching youth. "It's where
I'm allowed to be, or... something like that. They made all of this for me
to use. So I suppose it is. But I don't own a deed or anything... I guess
I'm renting. For a good price." He winks to Bart. "Sleep well? I wasn't
aware anyone could pack away so much substance in one sitting... do you
need more? Oh! And I haven't checked or anything, but, well, how do you
feel? While int he Aerie your aging thing shouldn't affect you, I'm
hoping... but, well, is it?" Like he knows how to check. he hopes you know
how. But then looking over to Alex, Zauriel just shakes his head. "age
doesn't matter. I'm not even a day old yet technically, in my time. Nor a
minue or a second, actually. So, you're older and wiser than I am." And
there, Alex gets a wink too.

Grinning toothily, Bart shakes his head. "No...I'm good for now! That was,
um, a *lot* of food...and...I dunno, I'm not hungry," he grins again.
Making it over there, he pokes at Alex with his foot. "Throwing grass
/bad/. How'd you get lost? I mean...you live in New York. Sheesh." He
glances up at Zauriel again. "Well...I donno. Do I look any older?
Yesterday I looked as old as him," he points at Alex, "so if I look older
than he does we're in trouble."

Still full of that wonderful, Summers-esque angst, Alex looks from the
ground to Bart, and then back to Ye Olde Soil again. "Well...it's big and
somewhat sunny almost everywhere, I had a hard time navigating in here
because I wasn't /exactly/ in the mood to be roasted, toasted, and burnt
to a crisp." He looks to Zauriel now. "Speaking of Ice Cream...how exactly
did you get the blood? I can't picture you resorting to /my/ methods..."

"You'd be surprized," Zauriel comments as he shakes his wings, ruffling
his feathers, as he prepares to take flight, "At how bloody an angel can
get. He can be vengeful afterall, and don't forget righteous." Not a
warning, but just... no pedastils for him. Not where he's meant to be, in
any shape or form. "Actually, I just asked for it. The people at the Red
Cross, after you get them to stop gaping and talk to you, are so friendly
and understanding." And this makes him smile again, as after this bloodied
angel comment, well, that got him to thinking of some stuff he'd rather
forget. But cannot. "Actually, fortunately, no... you don't look any older
Impulse. So perhaps this as worked. Good! Now, I can show you both to the
Womb, where we can begin the search for Flash..."

Taken somewhat by suprise at the bloody and vengefull comment, Alex
restrains himself from laughing. He doesn't like to think of the entire
vengefull/righteous thing...it reminds him too much of how he /should/ be
killing people. He's a predator, and fresh blood is supposedly so tastey.
Anyway, he takes a few moments to 'ignore' Zauriel's first remark before
he actually starts to laugh. "You just /asked/ them for blood." Lying back
down on the grass, chuckling now instead of laughing, "You walked up to
one of them, and said 'Hi there, I'd like a half-dozen baggies of blood
for a 'lil vampire...'?"

"Actually, I gave them my name... said hello first though, waved and then
my name. Then I mentioned I needed it. I think someone started crying. But
then I explained, they just kind of nodded and handed it over. I said
thank you and left it at that, really. Though I went back today t talk tot
he director lady. She was hysterical for about twenty minutes or so, but
then when I got her calmed she listened and well... she said if she could
help in the future, to let her know. I kinda' told her about the whole
vampire thing and well,t o spare people from getting hurt, she can help.
If you need it, when you go back home?" He sn't sure you'll want to do
that, as you are a creature of pride, in more ways than one. But then...
he knows there is a goodness in you. But it is your decision to make.
"People truly are aazing. Normally when you just explain yourself, they're
so... understanding. it's rather remarkable."

*blink*blink* Becoming somewhat upset all-of-the-sudden, Alex stands up
and stretches. "You...actually said something about the vampire thing?
Couldn't you just have said it's for some other reason? I mean, there are
countless reasons that a person would need blood, right?" He pauses,
trying not to get /too/ upset. "Well...great...the blood is good, but now
the entire city of LA probably knows there is a vampire on the loose who
gets donations from blood banks...this can lead to all sorts of trouble."
He's rambling, more to himself than to Zauriel or Bart. Once he's finally
done babbling, he turns his back to Zauriel and just looks around, trying
to get his attention off of the 'vampire situation'.

"I'm sorry Alex, but I have no choice. It's not like I can lie. Someone
asks and... well, I have to tell the truth. It's a part of the whole
thing." Witht hat he brings his wings up, in a showy arch behind him, to
help make his point. "And this was in New York, actually... btu they also
know of far worse things than vampires. You know, the average person fears
a mutant more than a vampire. How wacked is that?" Yeah, he's getting some
of the lingo down, now that he's here. "But I told her you were a good
vampire. And she believe me, you know. S he really did. because I was
telling the Truth. She respected that. You really do have to stop worrying
so much." With that he folds his wings back once more. "Don't worry, your
secret is safe. It will be kept there, and certainly by me. I kinda' have
practice doing that."

Alex Elder gets a certain dejected look on his face. "In New York? You
didn't say my name did you?" He takes his eyes off the ground and looks
straight in Zauriel's eyes. "Mutants don't kill people to drink their
blood..." He furrows his brow, "Why /do/ people hate mutants so much? I
used to kinda dislike 'em, but I was more afraid of /becoming/ one than
being attacked by one. Now...well, being a mutant is definately out of the
question since I am what I am." He sits back down on the ground, his knees
pulled towards his head with his hands resting on them.

"People hate all kinds of things for various reasons. Each person is
different, but it's unfortunate that a lot of them share a similiar fear.
You yourself have fears, mainly for yourself now... but Alex, mutants
cannot help being who and what theya re any more than you can. Than I can.
Than Bart can. Perhaps because of your experience you can see this in a
more unique way than most. There are reasons for everything, but that
doesn't mean you stop looking for the reasoning in those events." Sighing,
heavily, Zauriel shrugs his shoulders. "No, I didn't give a name. She
didn't ask for one. I don't think she needed one, merely, she knew you
were someone that needed help. it's *okay* to need help. Heck, *I* need
help. A lot of it. An awful lot."

Alex Elder raises an eyebrow, "How do you need help? You're an
angel...with the wings and the Flaming Sword of Super Divine Retribution
or something.../and/ you have a pad that's bigger than some city-blocks. I
don't think you need much help." He looks to Bart and then to the ground.
"He needs help for sure, and well...I could use help, but...it doesn't
seem likely that you need help."

"I need a world of help. Literally." He sighs again, and while he doens't
need air to breathe, it doesn't mean he can't mimic the action and sound
to produce the desired effect. "I'm not of this world, I wasn't designed
for it... I don't have a clue as to what I'm doing. I don't *know* what
I'm supposed to do. And for someone who is used to countless moments of
getting directions in all manners of things.. well..." He just shrugs his
shoulders and wings again. "So, ah, yeah."

Impulse has been utterly involved in this, you know, caterpillar making
its way across a particularly long blade of grass. It's a green
caterpillar. Green and fuzzy. And it moves...so...slowly -- infinitely
slowly to Bart. He's nose to nose with it...and then he looks up at Alex
and Z. "Hey, I just need help finding Flash, and then I'll be all good.
That's all, really! I mean...once I find him, I'll know what I have to do
and stuff...and maybe he can get Stryfe off my back, i donno."

Alex Elder hmmmms at Zauriel...not exactly understanding all that he
states, but atleast getting the gist of it. He looks towards Bart, eyes
somehwat narrowing, "Who's this Stryfe...you mentioned him once or twice
to me. He doesn't sound like a friendly guy...I mean, /c'mon/, his name is
Stryfe. If his name was FuzzBunny, I might think he was a nice guy, but
Stryfe...that's just kinda dastardly..."

"Whoever he is, he cannot get you here. At least I don't think he can. I
doubt it. Lots." Smiling to be reassuring on that one, as this is his own
'hose' and he's not even all that sure, Zauriel decides that now is liekly
the best time to get into motion. Lifting himself up into the air, the
Winged Wonder moves to fly out of the room. "Let's start to look for
Flash! This way, and I'll take you to the Womb."

"He's this guy with a really cool suit of armor and a really /stupid/
helmet," explains Impulse, getting to his feet and dusting himself off. He
looks down at Alex and Z both - they're both sitting on the grass, right?
and raises his eyebrows. "He's really mean and talks about chaos a lot,
and killing people and pain and stuff. But he has a neat robot. But I
think I made him mad, because he blew a lot of stuff up, then stuck me to
the wall and put a needle in my arm. He wouldn't tell me what I did wrong,
though, and he talked into my head." A beat. "What womb? The twophy womb?"

Ooooh...the sense of anger emanating from Alex towards Stryfe is almost
palpable. Since Bart is one of the few (okay...one of two, maybe) people
that Alex considers a friend, and since Stryfe has obviously put Bart
through somesort of nastiness, Alex is considerably angry at Stryfe. He
hops up from the grass, and after hearing Bart's 'Fudd-ism', Alex can't
remain very angry. He starts to laugh, and looks around for this 'Womb'.

Zauriel shall lead the way, as he is off and flying, heading out of the
gardens and then up among the levels, going upwards in the Aerie. There
there is a large room, a half sphere, under the 'roof' of this building,
beneath the altar which is at the top. It's light in here, just as it is
light everywhere else in the Aerie. Yet there is movement, screens of it,
as row upon scattered row of 'monitors' of all shapes and sizes fill the
air, each showing a differnt section of the world, focusing in on a
separate person. Landing, Zauriel looks back to wait for the both of you.
"This Stryfe... I have not really heard of him but... well, hrm." He turns
to look at the viewscreens, if you can call them that. They can be seen
though and have no depth, but the image in there is plain, when you
concentrate on it. "Now, unless The Flash is in trouble this won't find
him, unless he zips around int he background of people. But this is the
best way I can think of to look everywhere at once."

Impulse just -stares- at the banks of monitors. "I've never seen anything
like it! This shows -everyone- that's in any kinda trouble? Shows you who
you need to help out? Did we show up on it, or did you just guess? Or did
you hear me yelling? Do you get cable up here? Or can you play videogames?
Do they run on electricity? Or...hey, wow, are they just kinda floawting
up there? What are they made of? Are they antigrav, or virtual? Can you
make them flash in patterns?"

Alex Elder glances around at the monitors, his gaze flitting from one
monitor to the other. Its somewhat overwhelming (as many things have been
in recent memory) to him that all these monitors can do what they do.
Deciding on a single monitor to watch, Alex hmmms a second before he
starts to chuckle and talk at the same time. "You got VCR's hooked up to
all these puppies?" He grins, searching around for something even remotely
similiar to a VCR.

"Not everyone, no, but the ones that want help, yes for the most part, I
think. In a way, yes, and normally hints at what's wrong... I wasn't told
about it but I'm guessing this is like the 'rumor mill' from Upstairs,
what others are looking in on and what they want to point out to me. You
didn't, as I happened to be going by. Yes, I heard you screaming, as that
was kind of hard to miss. No, no cable as actually, there's no television
up here, just this. I've never played a video game before... but I'd like
to try! I don't know if they're made of anything, really, but... they have
to be made of something, so I'm guessing substance, substance shaped to be
a window. Ah, I think antigrav is closer, but that's not really it... more
like afixing it at that place and time in space. No, but I can move them
around, like this..." Zauriel reaches out to the monitor closest to him,
just touching the edge witha finger and then... he drags it throught the
air and when he releases it, it stays. "Point and clink," he winks. "And
no, no WCR. I'm afraid that these don't download or whatever... if I'm not
here to see it, I miss it. So, I see what I'm supposed to see... and not
see what I shouldn't see, I suppose." The angel glances about here or
there, frowning up to the left at something he sees there. But he paces
towards the throne-chair that rests in the middle. "Have a seat if you
want." It is large enough to seat the two of you, and in the back are two
'slots' for his wings, but will likely be of no use to either of you. "It
moves by though, so if you want to turn left, it does, how much you want.
I guess it's the ultimate La-ZBoy." He smirks a little, but looks up tot
he left againa nd chews on his bottom lip.

Immediately taking Zauriel up on his offer, Bart climbs into the chair,
then grins and lookks up over the back at Alex. "Hey! Come up here! This
is comfy!" He looks at the monitors for a little bit, then turns around
again and looks to Zauriel. "So you don't mind if I...I mean, I can watch
these until I spot a Flash? Do they tell you where the people are at, or
can you pretty much tell from the background? Or do you have to guess? Hey
Alex, is there anyone you're looking for, too? Maybe we'll see them! Can
you tell what people say on the monitors, Zauriel? Or do you have to read
lips? Or does it matter?" He's like a walking question, he is.

Not exactly having a good day, especially now that he has that
oh-so-tempting offer to spy upon his former friends and family. That'd
be...too painful though. Forcing himself to smile, "Nah...I'll be fine
Bart. I'm thinkin' about exploring some of other parts of this place
though now that it's all nice and nightimey." He grins, his gaze still
occasionally moving from one monitor to another.

"No, please, go right ahead! And well, normally I suppose I just know what
the person needs... experience, maybe/ But if you focus on one, you should
get 'sound' as well." Zauriel smiles, but doesn't look aside as he's
focusing on one screen, and he's hearing what's going on there pretty
clearly. He's needed. "Feel free to make yorselves at home. I'll... be
back later." Witht hat he turns and waves, taking off in, well, quite a
bit of a hurry.