* It is Wednesday, the fifth of May, in the year eighteen eighty-six.  Warm noon
sunlight is burning away the last of the fog around the Avignon manor as a
panicked young man in a police officer's uniform pounds on the heavy oaken front
door with a fist.  "Captain Avignon!" he shouts.  "Captain Avignon!  You must
come quickly!"
* Omar opens the door as the officer's knocking. "What's the matter, officer?"
He steps aside smoothly to allow the older man entrance.
* Gabriel looks at the officer, walking closer at a relaxed pace.
* The lieutenant does not enter.  Instead he gestures toward the north side of
the river, behind the manor house.  "Some heathen is attacking people near the
Notre Dame!  You must tell the Captain to send the help he promised us!"
* Omar nods. "I shall tell him at once. Is there anything else?"
* The officer shakes his head quickly and backs away from the door.  "I must
get... back there right away."  He turns and races down the path to the street.
* Omar is dressed in fine purple and white garb, with his short black hair
combed neatly, today. He snaps his fingers as he nods. "Understood, sir. He'll
be along shortly."
* The officer runs up the street in the direction of the nearest bridge.
* Gabriel looks at Omar, dressed in mostly grays, although still apparently well
off. "I couldn't help but overhear of the trouble. Do you require any help?"
<Omar> Um... probably not. The Captain should be along short--never mind, he's
indisposed. Can I help you, Monsieur...?
<Omar> I'm Omar, by the way. What shall I call you? *extends his hand*
<Gabriel> Gabriel Mehler.
* Gabriel takes the hand and shakes it firmly.
* Omar returns the handshake, not quite as firmly. "A pleasure, Monsieur
Mehler."
* Omar regards Gabriel through narrowed eyes. "You were coming to meet the
Captain? May I ask what it was in regards to...?"
* Gabriel glances at the retreating officer. "I believe it has to do with the
same reason that man came here."
<Omar> Very good. Perhaps you'd like to come with me to help out, then? *a
mischievous smile crosses his face, as he turns and sets out at a very fast
walk*
<Gabriel> If you would be so kind.
* Gabriel smiles slightly and takes a reasonable pace behind Omar.
* Omar heads for the Notre Dame, making as good of time as his legs allow.
[Meanwhile...]
* The cathedral of Notre Dame is widely agreed to be one of the most beautiful
structures in all of Paris.  According to some, this is especially true in the
winter; little piles of snow like sweepings of diamond dust gathered in nooks
and crannies among the architecture, and icicles gleam on gargoyles.
* However, the cathedral is widely believed to be much less beautiful when clad
in such winter clothing near the beginning of May, and when a grotesque Nativity
of terrified pedestrians encased in ice decorates the steps of the holy place.
* Beautiful or not, this is exactly what appears to be happening when a group of
police officers arrive, having come in response to calls of emergency and
terror.
* Angelique roofhops to a good vantage point.
* Six people stand in a loose group on the steps of the cathedral, completely
untouched by the frost.  Five men and a woman dressed in winter clothing stroll
lazily among their ice garden.  The men are armed with meter-long steel bars,
while the woman carries no apparent weapon.
* Alain narrows his eyes as he comes on the scene.  "Men, spread out and try to
catch them from different angles.  Be careful."
* Alain is lean but well-built enough for just a little muscle to show. 
* Alain's nearly-black eyes match his close-cropped hair and skin, and he seems
tense, wearing the uniform of a lieutenant in the police force.
* The thee policemen with Alain spread out as instructed.  Each is carrying an
American revolver, though the way they're staring at the icy scene suggests that
they might not be certain that they want to use those weapons on anyone or
anything.
* Angelique stares in horror... .oO(Mon cher Dieu, what monstrosity has taken
place here?)
* Alain shakes his head at his men, but sneaks into the shadows, drawing a knife
and a pistol.
* The woman among the group smiles brightly when she sees the police arrive. 
Even from this distance she appears to be quite a beautiful woman.  She is
possessed of fair skin, full lips, and long black hair that appears to have been
brushed until it shines.  She wears loose winter clothing that all but
completely obscures her figure; he coat is strangely cut and does not resemble
any popular fashion in Paris or anywhere else in France.
* "Ah," she calls.  "The police have come.  Excellent!  Please," she says as she
fixes one of the cautiously creeping policemen with a dark-eyed stare.  "Please
run along to your superiors and tell them that we demand a hundred bars of gold
from the official treasuries or else we will shatter every person here today,
and more."
* Angelique snarls internally. .oO(All these people, all these lives... Merely
for your filthy greed?) and nocks an arrow.
* Alain doesn't reply to the woman's baiting, making his way towards the group
in what shadow he can find.
* A few of the men with her shift their positions to put ice statues between
them and whichever policeman is nearest to them.  Others raise their makeshift
weapons threateningly over frozen hostages.
* "I wouldn't recommend playing hero," the woman warns, her eyes on the rookie
policemen.  She offers Alain only the briefest glance.
* Angelique pauses. .oO(..I can hit one of them, maybe two, before they can
react... but no more.)
* Alain flicks the knife close to his sleeve and up, aiming at the closest
target.
* Omar skids to a stop when he sees the scene, and notes the thugs threatening
the statues. The woman he looks at appraisingly, then shakes his head. Holding
his hand out to stop Gabriel... "We'd better think this through..."
<Omar> I think it best if we don't let the lady or her thugs see us, Monsieur
Mehler.
* Gabriel stops, skidding a short while and stopped by Omar's arm.
<Gabriel> I would agree, but how do you suppose we should stop her?
* Angelique sees the man in the shadows move. .oO( My God, grant me speed.)
<Omar> First, we need to protect the hostages...either disarm the thugs or get
their icy prisons stronger... *seems to be talking almost to himself*
* Angelique sights a cold eye along the path of her arrow, focusing on the neck
of one of the scum about to do murder on the helpless and innocent, and lets fly
at the same time she notices the dagger fly from the corner of her eyes.
<Gabriel> I can protect the hostages, but I have no way of disarming them short
of incapacitating them.
* Alain's knife and Angelique's arrow find their targets at the same moment. 
The knife buries itself in the leg of one of the men moments after a whistling
arrow brings another man down at the feet of his would-be victim.
* Angelique is already turning to aim at her second target, another one of the
thugs wielding the metal bars.
* The woman spins around, he eyes quickly focusing on Angelique--or at least the
area from which the arrow came.  "Crush the hostages," she commands in a loud
but emotionless voice.
* Alain looks up in the direction of the arrow, then back to the woman as she
makes her threat.
* Angelique meets the eyes of her next target as he turns his head to face her.
.oO(Feel God's Wrath, murderer. I send you to Him.) And she lets fly.
* The winged woman's target sees his own death at the end of an arrow; that
death is realized a heartbeat later, and the man collapses in a spray of bright
blood.
* Gabriel jumps forward, his form sprouting angelic wings and a suit of
transparent armor coming into being around him, obscuring his face. The light
around him darkens as he flies forward, a light mote appearing and flying around
him as he tries to cover the distance between his former position and the
enemies as fast as possible. His hands are raised as a transparent scythe
appears there as well.
* Angelique STARES at the vision appearing before her.
* Alain stashes his pistol and throws another knife.  That way if he messes up
at least he doesn't smash the hostages.
* Another knife blossoms in the thug's right shoulder.  He grunts and staggers
away from his statue for a moment.
* The woman scowls and whirls about.  She flings her arm out in front of her,
pointing directly at Angelique's hiding spot.  A bar of pale energy streaks
toward the winged woman, but Angelique is able to twist just out of the bar's
path without allowing herself to be touched.  The bar impacts with a chimney
behind her, and said chimney groans as its bricks and mortar are suddenly
encased in a layer of ice.
* Omar mutters something in Arabic under his breath, and crosses his arms,
snapping with both hands. "Let's see how you like being frozen, madame," he
whispers.
* The woman turns her head toward Omar and throws herself to one side in a
somewhat staggering sort of spin.  The air shimmers for a moment where she stood
just moments before, but otherwise nothing else happens.
* Omar exhales sharply, as if he'd been holding his breath. "Curses!"
* Two of the thugs bring their clubs down on the ice statues nearest them, which
the third weeps as he tries to gingerly remove the knives from his shoulder and
thigh.  One of the statues loses its arm with a dull splintering sound, and
another one is cracked from shoulder to groin, but it does not shatter.
* Alain winces, biting down a curse.
* Angelique feels a shiver go through her heart as two innocents are murdered,
then turns her gaze - and aim - towards the architect of this atrocity.
* Angelique meets the woman's eyes with a glare even chiller than the ice she
threw at her, and lets fly another arrow.
* Gabriel frowns and attempts to intercept any attack made at the innocents now
that he is close enough to do so. He keeps a defensive stance.
* The woman does not even flinch, and at first glance arrow appears to have
missed its target completely, clattering across the stone steps as it goes. 
Then she staggers with a muttered curse and presses a hand to the now bloodied
clothing on her thigh.
* Alain spares the winged angel a glance, notices that he seems to be taking
care of the hostages well enough, and pounces on the woman from behind, a dagger
to her throat.
* Alain growls into the woman's ear.  "Consider yourself under arrest, Madame."
* The woman looks from the archer's shrouded spot to the disturbing winged angel
nearby, from the little Arab boy to the arm of the man holding a knife to her
throat.  Her decision does not appear to be a hard one.  "Very well."  She
raises her voice.  "Drop your weapons, comrades!  Fortune frowned upon us this
day."
* Alain glares out at what men of his are remaining.  "You two, come here and
arrest these others, and maybe that will make up for your incompetence in
responding."
* The men do as they are ordered.  Steel clatters noisily on the steps, and
continues to clang and rattle all the way down to the street level.  The two
policemen do as they're told.
* Alain looks down at the woman again.  "Well, madame, it seems we shall have to
find some special sort of cell for you now, hmm?"
* Omar walks up to the cracked-but-not-shattered statue, and examines it. "This
does not look good...but..."
* Angelique keeps an arrow nocked an eye on the woman (and the other on the
thugs) just in case she plots more treachery
* Gabriel sets down, his wings vanishing but the armor staying where it is. "I
was too slow..."
* For their part, the men submit to the police with no struggle and very little
bravado.
* Omar runs a hand gingerly over the crack, then snaps his fingers in thought.
* The crack seals.  Whether or not the wound beneath will do the same when the
ice thaws remains to be seen.
* The woman remains cool and silent, despite Alain's remark.
* Alain does his own sweep of the assorted others.  "You all...the gendarmerie
of the city of Paris thanks you for your help."
<Omar> Okay... *speaking up* Gentlemen? Someone may wish to bind the wound left
by that broken arm. *points to the statue with it's arm off* Then, if the
Mademoiselle can be persuaded to unfreeze her victims...?
<Alain> We would also appreciate it if you could come in for testimony against
these criminals.
* Omar bows in acknowledgement to Alain. "Perhaps after the victims are seen
to?"
<Alain> Naturally.
* Omar pulls out a long silken sash and begins trying his best to wrap it as a
tourniquet or bandage around the arm-stump.
* Omar has a bit of difficulty, due to being half a foot shorter than said
statue, though.
<Gabriel> Speaking of which, I believe there is someone I wish to see.  Did you
notice who was firing those arrows?
* Angelique hears that and flinches back into the shadows of the rooftops.
<Omar> ...She's shy.
<Alain> It would seem so.
* Angelique mentally catalogues escape routes. .oO(but if he's....)
* Alain takes out a pair of handcuffs with his one free hand and uses it to bind
the woman's shootin' arm behind her back to her other arm, so if she tries
anything in future, she'll just get herself. 
* Omar whispers, "Mademoiselle, I apologize for scaring you last time we met. If
you would come to Captain Avignon's manor at your earliest convenience, I would
like to apologize in person. You needn't come when now. But he would like to
meet you."
* Gabriel smiles. "Maybe, but I would want to at least send her my thanks face
to face."
* Angelique flinches and blinks at the whispers.
* Omar gives directions, too. As seen from the air, no less.
* Gabriel nods and brings his wings out, flying up to meet her.
* The icy woman and her prisoners submit to their capture, though the former
offers a bit of cold consolation.  "The hostages will thaw over the course of a
few minutes.  I can't guarantee their safety even then, however.  Some might
find the ice's kiss too harsh."
* Angelique sees him come, flinches, but does not move away, staring like a deer
caught in headlights...
* Alain glares at the woman.  "Those that do not survive...their souls will add
to your punishment's weight."
* Gabriel lands with a 'tap' landing. His helmet vanishes, leaving his face
exposed, as do his wings. "Hello, I'd like to say thank you for your heroic
effort to save the victims in this circumstance." He bows.
* Angelique trembles a bit, wide-eyed, but manages to return the bow. "I.. I did
what I could, monsieur. I wish it could have been enough..."
<Gabriel> We all did, we all did.  She will be judged and punished for her
crimes, however.  By the way, my name is Gabriel Mehler.  What may yours be
young lady?
<Angelique> "A-Angelique. Angelique Dieuaimee.."
<Gabriel> That's a lovely name, if I may say so.  Reminds me of someone else... 
But, that's not important now.  Is something troubling you?
* Angelique's cheeks flush slightly. "N.. no. I am sorry, I am not at my best
when talking to others..."
* Angelique takes a few breaths, obviously gathering courage. "I-if I may ask...
How did you... *waves a hand to indicate the wings*"
* Gabriel nods. "I understand. Um... Oh, those." He smiles briefly. "Nobody's
sure what it is. I was just born with them, I suppose."
<Angelique> "I see..."
* Angelique, without saying a word, moves one trembling hand to unclasp her
cloak and pulls it backward, spreading her own wings in the night air.
* Gabriel looks on, somewhat fazed by the wings. "Well I'll be. That's quite an
amazing gift you have there."
<Angelique> I do not know how or why. I had them when was found as an infant on
the doorsteps of a monastery...
* Gabriel looks at her with a bit more consideration in his gray eyes. "Is that
why you are so shy?"
* Omar sits down on the steps, snapping his fingers on both hands once more, and
exhaling tiredly.
* Angelique shrugs. "I grew up happy and well, until I had to leave. It is just
that I am not used to this city and its crush of people..."
* Gabriel nods understandingly. "Privacy is something we all crave. It's
something I take for granted, as well."
* Angelique nods.
<Gabriel> But you can't let that keep you up here all the time.  Have you ever
had the desire to speak to other people?  Or to share your thoughts and feelings
with them?
* The ice that encases each of the former hostages has slowly melted to a paper
thin layer.  Now the last bits of frost flake and fall and trickle away from
their bodies to leave them slumping and shivering on the steps of the Notre
Dame.  The woman with the broken arm moans and sobs but curiously does not
bleed.  The man who had been briefly fractured presses the heel of his hand
against his chest and breathes slowly, but he still lives.
* Angelique looks at Gabriel with eyes that echo a chasm of loneliness from deep
within her soul. "... Yes, but..."
<Omar> Um, Monsieur Gendarme, you wouldn't happen to have blankets for these
people, would you?
* Gabriel nods.
* Angelique trembles more heavily.
* A rattling of artillery carriage wheels and a blast of whistles announces the
belated arrival of reinforcements.  Judging by the sounds they're making, said
reinforcements are about two city blocks distant, and closing fast.
* Alain shakes his head at the young man.  "I am afraid those shall have to wait
until we take them to the station."
* Alain looks up at the sounds and shakes his head.  "...and a dollar short
again."
* Gabriel puts his hand on Angelique's shoulder. "Don't worry. There's few that
can hear us up here... Or we can go higher up, if it would be more comfortable.
It looks like you need to let this out..."
* Angelique shakes her head and sinks to her haunches, burying her head in her
hands, shaking with silent sobs...
<Omar> Then you should get them there. I believe their statements alone will be
more than enough against this woman.
<Alain> My thoughts exactly.
* Gabriel blinks, then lets his armor vanish, as well as the light mote. He sits
down next to her.
* Alain holds out his hand to Omar.  "It seems our other aides have gone
elsewhere...in any event, I am Lieutenant Alain Dantes of the Paris gendarmerie. 
And you are...?
* Omar smiles, and takes his hand, shaking it once. "Omar. Pleased to meet you.
If you care to, I extend an open invitation to you to come visit Captain
Avignon's manor this evening. He will be pleased to meet a noble officer such as
yourself."
* Alain raises an eyebrow.  "Captain Avignon?  I have heard the name."
<Alain> I may be working--this affair brings paperwork with it, as do all of
them--but I shall certainly drop by if I have the time.
* A tall man wearing the uniform of a French military officer rounds the corner
on horseback, the sights of his rifle sweeping the street in front of the
cathedral while guided by steady hands.  When he sees that the reported danger
has apparently passed, he lowers the rifle and raises his hand.  A uniformed
soldier runs into view, and listens as the officer leans down from his horse to
whisper a few commands.
<Alain> Thank you, Omar.
* Alain turns to face the backup, raising a hand in salute/greeting. 
* The sounds of rattling artillery carriages fade once again, and the officer
returns Alain's salute as he dismounts in a smooth and nimble motion.  "Well,
well, well," he says with a bitter smile as he approaches Alain and Omar.  "I
must say I'm not surprised to see either of you here."
<Alain> In my case, I don't see why you should be.  This is, after all, my duty.
* Alain says that in a polite way, though, and with a smile.
* Several soldiers swarm onto the street some distance behind the man and spread
out to assist the former hostages and collect the prisoners.  "Don't be so
humble, Lieutenant Dantes.  I only wish I'd heard of your aptitude sooner.  I
would have tried to recruit you myself."
* The man continues with a nod to Omar.  "And I recognized you immediately. 
You're Captain Avignon's... boy, are you not?"
* Angelique eventually gets more of a hold of herself and calms down again...
* Omar nods. "I am, Monsieur."
* The military officer is just under six feet in height, with broad shoulders
and a clean uniform.  His rifle appears to be very expensive, perhaps custom
made.  He is a handsome man with an amicable smile and a thick, well-groomed
moustache.
* Angelique lifts her face from her hands and regards Gabriel. "I am sorry.. I
let my fears rule me for too long."
* Omar holds up his dark hands. "I guess I do kind of stand out, don't I." He
smiles a bit self-deprecatingly.
* Gabriel waits for Angel to stop crying. "In case you need to talk to someone
else again, I will always be around to listen..."
* The man grins and nods his agreement with Omar's statement.  "I hope it's not
imposing, Lieutenant," he says as he turns back to Alain, "but I have orders to
take these criminals back to a military prison.  My superiors will certainly
hear of your exemplary actions in defense of our city."  The man's hazel eyes
flit from Alain to Omar and back, but his smile remains.
* Alain raises an eyebrow.  "You realize I must, under protocol, submit a
protest to my superior.  This is, after all, our jurisdiction."
<Angelique> "Thank you... But did you not accompany that young man, Omar? Can
you tell me about this 'steward' of his, who so wishes to meet me?"
* Gabriel nods. "Captain Avignon. I was planning on meeting him myself to help
defend this city from, what appears to be, a wave of atrocities and crimes."
* Angelique nods. "Until recently, this neighborhood faced only minor criminals.
purse-snatching, the occasional attempted mugging, but nothing major. Certainly
not a heinous act of murder such as what occurred today..."
* The officer salutes once more.  "I shall look forward to catching hell from my
superiors later, then.  Lieutenant."  He nods to Omar as well.  "Monsieur." 
With that, he turns away from the two of them and returns to his horse.  The
prisoners and survivors have been efficiently moved onto the street in an
amazingly short span of time.
<Angelique> "... I should meet this captain. Would you accompany me?"
<Gabriel> If you wish.
* Angelique stands. "Thank you."
* Alain salutes back, shaking his head afterwards.
* Gabriel stands along with you. He looks into the sky. (About what time is it?)
* Angelique restores her cloak and walks with Gabriel to the edge of the roof.
<Omar> Well, Monsieur Dantes. With the prisoners taken off of your hands, shall
we get these good people to warmer climates?
* Gabriel hmmms... "I saw him today, but he had to rush off to some business."
<Alain> It seems the military has that well in hand.
* Angelique hops off the edge and alights on the ground with the same amount of
visible effort as a normal human might hop one or two stairsteps.
<Omar> Then, would you like to put off that nasty paperwork for a few hours? The
Captain would be most pleased to hear about this.
* Alain regretfully shakes his head at Omar.  "I must get that protest filed, or
it shall do no good.  And at any rate, one should never neglect a duty simply
because it is onerous."
* Angelique walks toward Omar and the man she recognizes as the dagger-thrower.
* Alain nods at Omar.  "Good even to you, then, and I shall make your
acquaintance again some other time."
<Omar> Of course. The invitation stands. *bows slightly, and adjusts his tunic,
which had gotten rumpled during the excitement*
* Alain turns, takes a few steps, and stops as he sees the lady with the bow.
* Gabriel sprouts his wings and flies down, the wings vanishing as he touches
ground. He walks along with Angelique and smiles. It's always good to help the
younger generation.
<Angelique> .o(Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
shall not fear... My Lord, give me strength...)
* Alain bows to the lady, nodding to Gabriel on the way up.  "My thanks, and
those of Paris, again."
* Alain holds out his hand.  "Lieutenant Alain Dantes, Paris gendarmerie."
* Angelique takes it with only a slight tremble. "I am glad to have been of
service. My regrets that I could not do more. Angelique Dieuaimee."
<Omar> Hey! No long faces. Everyone's okay, Mademoiselle. You saved lives today.
^_^
* Alain gives Angelique's hand a polite kiss and lets go.  "A pleasure, Mlle
Dieuaimee."
<Angelique> "I am glad to hear it."
* Angelique blinks at the kiss, a slight flush coloring her cheeks, then turns
to Omar. "I was wondering... Does your captain's invitation still stand?"
<Omar> Oh, yes. Any time. *visibly restrains his enthusiasm, so as not to spook
the lady*
* Alain turns to Gabriel, hand still out, eyes questioning.
<Angelique> "Then would it be permissible for me to accompany the two of you?"
* Gabriel nods.
<Omar> My pleasure! ^_^ *turns and leads the way* I hope to see you this evening
as well, my good genderame.
* Gabriel shakes Alain's hand. "Hmm? Oh, sorry. Name is Gabriel Mehler, and a
pleasure to meet you."
* Alain nods.  "Likewise."
* Alain steps back and salutes the group of them.  "Our thanks again.  For now,
however, I must be off."
* Angelique nods. "Godspeed, Monsieur Lieutenant."
* Omar heads on home, leading two of his new friends. ^_^
* Angelique then turns to follow Omar and Gabriel.
* Alain turns and heads back to the station.
* Gabriel bids farewell to Alain. "Let's be off now, shall we?"