|Hide.and.Seek| {Open to Any}

[MICHAEL]

"I think you have me confused with somebody else. My name is Riley, and it's always been Riley since the day I was born."

Crap. She had amnesia. That explained a lot. Well, not really- there was still the question of how that had come about. Even in the case of extreme head trauma, her memory should have remained. Angels weren't as frail as their human counterparts.

Michael could tell Riley was scared, and he sensed that he wasn't comforting her any more than the other man. It was time for some drastic measures. He only hoped what he was going to do didn't make things worse.

"She will be safe with her own kind, stranger," Michael snapped. "I do not know who or what you are and you have not given me a reason to trust you." Turning back to the nurse, he calmed himself. "Riley, then. Watch me carefully and please don't panic."

Closing his eyes, he let the transformation take over. A white light surrounded him, and his clothes morphed from casual street wear to the shining armor of the Lord's champion. He kept his large brown wings as closely folded as possible and was careful not to let them manifest fully. As Riley was just now demonstrating, an angel's large wing span made maneuvering in close quarters quite difficult and was likely to result in quite a few accidents.

He opened his eyes, which briefly glowed with blue light. It was time to make an impression.

"Riley, you are like me. I am Michael, God's champion. I am the angel of justice and patron of soldiers. Be not afraid. Something has happened to your memory. Come with me and I will protect you and help you regain what you have lost." He said the message in English, but it repeated itself simultaneously in every spoken language that had ever been spoken. That was the power of the gift of tongues.

[CELESTIA]

Riley set her teeth at vortex man's words. It had not slipped past her that he had failed to try and name himself or give any information what-so-ever to try and get her to trust him. But he was correct, the spectacle had to end, and soon. Could you imagine the front page of the paper? Bird Woman! Is she an Alien? Or is our government performing human testing? There came a point when things really couldn't get weirder and they were at that point now. This is why Riley was unsurprised when Michael flourished from hard line cop into a glistening armor covered celestial being. He certainly had wings like her and a kind of aura about him. Powerful, calming, intimidating. Did he just call himself an angel? Even the words he spoke, though thunderous and awe inspiring, were not what finally convinced her that this was fact. It was the way they rang into her mind in all of the languages she had ever know. She believed him, and that comforting draw she had felt before only strengthened once he had changed.

So did the angel champion just tell her she was an angel too? It would explain the wings... But shouldn't she have... you know gone to heaven? Talked to god about this? Met other angels? What was she supposed to be an angel of anyway? And why hadn't she gotten armor or a sword. She was still wearing scrubs. Was Riley the patron angel of.... nurses?

Rubbing a hand over her eyes she exhaled slowly trying to take as much of it in at once as she could. I couldn't stop it if I tried, I can't even figure out how to tuck these in! Shooting a look at vortex man through parted fingers. And I trust you bout as much as bear wants to be a vegetarian. I don't know if I even want to know who you are. And now she addressed Mr. Champion. Her tone was matter -of-fact. No frills and no beating around the bush. Riley didn't cow tow to anyone because of their position. No man.... or angel, got different treatment from her because they were 'special'. And just what exactly do you mean by amnesia? Because I remember my life perfectly well, everything since I was a little girl.

[CONQUEST]

Damn meddling Michael! Tyr was growing agitated, taking a deep breath. He wasn't even trying to do anything horrific--this time, and that damn BOY had the gall to interfere. No. No, this isn't the time to get upset. "Very well. My name is Tyr, and if you do not trust me, let me ask you something. I am the one who gave the girl the gift of hearing, something she has never had the privilege of experiencing. Would something evil dare meddle in the work of miracles? It makes no sense."

When the girl--Celestia, was it? When Celestia spoke once more, he nodded. While his form was less awe-inspiring--and he didn't have any wings, he could impress her with knowledge, to say the least. "You are well-aware of the Day of Eden, I trust? When the Day of Eden came, you, Celestia--were lying dormant in a mortal shell, the one you call Riley. At the Day of Eden, men, angels, and demons were awakened. Lucifer, Gabriel, Michael...all names you know, right? They walk New York, in the flesh. And before the knightly Champion would have you press-gagged into fighting--as that is what he knows BEST, you are not bound to go wage war against every being who has a bit of infernal blood in them. Hell, technically, you don't even have to fight." A small break to collect his thoughts, hand wandering idly through his hair. "Listen, angel--and before you start, the wings on your back should speak volumes as to your lineage--your gifts..are probably well-used off the frontlines. It seems as though you would be subconsciously drawn to where your expertise is of the most use, even in your mortal form."

His back turned on the two, and a white glow overtook his body, shimmering over him. "Is there anything else you would like to know, or should I take my leave, since you find reason to distrust me when I have done nothing wrong?"

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[MICHAEL]

Michael could tell Riley was unaffected by his efforts at grandstanding. Perhaps even more frightened. Oh, for the days when my very presence was an excuse to start wars, large-scale genocide, and eternal blood feuds, he thought wryly.

"Let her be, Tyr," Michael said softly. The name meant nothing to him. Perhaps he should ask Raziel? The stranger had said his name as if it should mean something.

"What we are has always frightened them." That statement would be more accurate if he could say with certainty what Tyr was. He was thinking demon, but he didn't have a presence like any demon Michael had ever known, and Michael was sure he would know any demon who was this powerful. He certainly wasn't among the original fallen angels.

"Let us leave- together- and allow her to think on this," Michael continued. He glanced at Riley. "When you decide you will seek answers, we will meet again." His gaze returned to Tyr, and a hand fell to his longsword, anticipating trouble. "I am moving toward the door, Tyr. Will you join me, or must we settle this with violence?" He took a step toward the door, suiting words with action.

[CELESTIA]

She was hesitant at Tyr's words. It's true, he had given the woman a gift. Why would he if he was evil? Wasn't that a kind thing to do? Riley tried to think back on what she had learned all those years ago from her father. He had taught her as a christian when she was younger, and she still believed in god, she had just let her worship slip away in the years since; spending the time she would be in church working with local charities. False prophets, it was the only things she could come up with to explain an evil being performing miracles. Wouldn't a false prophet look a little more... wow? And whats more, what of this battle? This war between angels and the devil? It was happening on earth amongst humans? Tyr, I have always trusted my instincts and always will. And my instincts tell me you are something to fear. Resigning herself to the fact that she was not going to get to the bottom of what Tyr was or what was happening anytime soon, the young nurse decided to let the lord's champion take care of it.

They were leaving... And Riley couldn't figure out if she was immensely relieved or horrified by the idea. With them gone she could take a second to think, to try and wrap her head around what she had learned. But with them went any sort of knowledge about herself. Michael had said they would meet again when she was ready. He was an angel surely he could find her. I won't be swearing any loyalties or making any oaths now or any time soon. Leaving is a sound plan. But before both of you go, I need to get rid of these wings and the glow. Overwhelmed to be sure. Her defiance waned slightly and a look of pleading crept into her features. She didn't know how to fix this, for once she was the one that needed help.

[CONQUEST]

"Fair enough, Michael. Though, I find it funny to point out I still haven't raised a hand against you, yet you anticipate I would make the first move. I've said my piece, and seen something very interesting here today. So, I'm content to leave. " He took a step toward the door, the vortex behind him having long dissipated since, thinking to himself about how they both seemed to be on edge around him. To reveal himself, or to let himself lay low...Well, he already knew Michael well--well enough, really. He took the challenge as a jest. Michael was a fierce fighter, but if he could never reach him, his sword would amount to nothing more than futile attempts. Maybe just a hint.

"Well... I can't say my own alter-ego has wings. I'm more a skilled rider than a graceful flier. The principle would be to just will them away. Just concentrate in your mind. And know that if your emotional state gets out of hand from now on, until you learn to control it, there's a good chance this will happen again. Good day, Riley." He flashed a small smile, then stepped past Michael, wondering if he would be engaged at the outside of the hospital. What an interesting night...

[MICHAEL]

Michael smirked at Tyr's wounded words. "I have found it is better to be safe than sorry." He sincerely doubt his actions had hurt this being. Likely, he was just acting for Riley's benefit, trying to make Michael seem like the bad guy.

A skilled rider. Interesting. It seemed like he had been provided with a hint of Tyr's true identity. He would file that piece of information away for later. He reverted to his mortal form in a second. He wasn't content to leave but it seemed like the best course of action available.

Michael walked with Tyr out of the patient room, trying to analyze where he had gone wrong in his attempt to reunite with Celestia. Surely he had done something wrong. Perhaps he had revealed his true self too soon? Riley's world must have been crumbling around her. Perhaps revealing his true identity had been the straw that broke the camel's back, causing Riley to spurn both his and Tyr's help.

He and Tyr parted ways, heading off in separate directions. As they did, though, Michael stopped, an idea coming to him. A young man in scrubs yelled for him to get out of the way, and he hastily stepped aside as a gurney was pushed through the space he had just occupied.

Tyr had said he was a skilled rider and that his true form didn't have wings. He was also extremely powerful and didn't carry the presence of an angel or the clear taint of a demon.

Good God. Could Tyr be one of the horsemen of the apocalypse?