"You know, that has 'viral YouTube video' written all over it..." - giggled Lucas after watching what transpired in Mike's camera - "This guy is through."
"No kidding. I'm curious, though. I thought angels couldn't lie?" - said Jay.
"More or less." - Said Lucas - "I got lucky in that I didn't get this kind of limitation, but still I didn't say one lie to the good pastor. He assumed he'd debate Robert. I'm not obligated to clarify anything. Not to mention, even if I were, the way he phrased it was 'I will debate the demoness'. The demoness there could be the opponent... or the subject. I'm a translator, Jay. I work with language for a living. Once one speaks, they are in my turf."
"Point taken." - Said Jay. - "Tell me, though, do all Brazilians speak like you of their own... skills?"
"Oh, no, the whole arrogance thing is all me. We are a bit less self-effacing than Americans are, but I'm also arrogant by Brazilian standards, yes." - Said Lucas.
"That may help matters a bit less than you think, child..." - Said Father Maxwell - "His flock is still there. Even assuming they will not still respect him, they still have those beliefs."
Lucas sighed heavily.
"Okay. Enough. I know what I have to do. Dammit. Before anyone asks, no, I will not cut them up. But it doesn't mean I'll like it one bit. Jay, I want you to do something. Keep my interview on hold. I may need you to nix it."
"Child, what will you do?" - Said Maxwell.
"I'll insult, demean and humiliate myself quite a bit, Father, for a good cause. Please, don't call that 'serving' anyone..." - Lucas said, sighing. With that, she flew away towards the demonstrators, her sword changing forms once again.
"The demons tried to cheat and humiliate me!" - Said Edward to his flock. - "They want to provoke us into violence, but they will not be victorious!"
"Do you wish to hear what God has to say about this?" - Said a voice from behind him. Half of his flock kneeled once again.
Edward turned around and saw Lucas, carrying what looked like a metal-cast book.
"YOU! You are the one who tricked me to help that demoness! You were corrupted!" - Yelled Edward. Lucas twitched lightly, but held back her anger. That she would have to cater to those idiots was bad enough without this moron yelling inanities at her.
"I am here in the name of the Lord, who you insult whenever you speak with such hatred, mortal." - Said Lucas, evenly. - "For God is love, tolerance and mercy. At what time in this little charade have you shown any of those three?"
"God is also fair and just, and punishes the wicked." - The pastor went for his backup against any softies who spoke of love and tolerance. It usually worked.
"You claim your connection with the Lord is stronger than mine? You claim God's justice is being done by you? Do you wish to take over the throne of the Lord?" - Said Lucas. - "An angel once tried and failed. Are you like him?"
Being compared to Lucifer in front of his flock by the angel who had just tricked him into public humiliation, the pastor had enough. He yelled out in sheer rage tried to tackle Lucas.
Lucas flew upwards, just out of the pastor's reach. She wanted to laugh inwardly, but kept going and shot Edward a 'disappointed' glance.
"Please." - Lucas flared up her halo a bit and turned to the flock who, by now, was looking at her a bit more favorably. - "I speak of the love of God. Listen to me. God sent these changes as a test. He wished to see how you would react should your fellow human beings take on forms unpleasant to the eyes, yet acted normally. Do not be swayed by hatred and fear, for that is not the way of the Lord. Accept them. Love them. For they are creatures of the Lord just like you are. The demons here are people. As are most angels here. But me, I was sent by the Lord to help and to guide them and you. Love thy neighbor. Stop the hate in God's name, for nothing saddens Him more. Show your love, for God is love... Will you listen to His voice through me?"
The crowd by now had gone wild. It was bad enough for Edward that he had lost it and attacked the angel, and the angel seemed to work with the crowd's expectation very well.
And all I had to do - thought Lucas, a bit bitterly - was call myself a servant of their god.
"Listen to me, then. Love thy neighbor. Stop the hate. Seek out churches that will talk of God's love, for that is the truth. Help other churches. God loves everyone, and will save those that are good people, regardless of religion or lack thereof. So be good. An ancient bell was damaged by the hate that was spewed in the name of God. Try and help restore it. Donate to the poor and needy, for God is charity. Enjoy yourselves, for God is happiness. This event is open to all who would wish to enjoy themselves. Who knows? Maybe you could get to talk to more angels of the Lord as I am. Above all, treat all the changed, including the demon-changed, with love and dignity. For they are human beings just like you, and the Lord has a plan for each and every last one of them. Now please. If you wish for religious counseling right now, the priestess your false prophet so callously called a demoness is a good source, as is Father Maxwell, who you will be able to find in the grove. Talk to them. Learn with them and with other pastors about God's love. I will still be here, but the Lord only wishes me to act in cases of extreme urgency. A community tearing itself with hate in His name would qualify as such. Now go. Talk to the demon-changed, talk to the priests of this church - and to others who talk about God's love. For God is love, and you must love your neighbors as well."
The crowd seemed to believe it enough. They began talking amongst themselves, praying and tearing apart the signs they carried.. Soon afterwards, most of them entered the church grounds - both going towards the barbecue area and towards the grove. Edward was left virtually alone there, as he yelled, screamed and cursed at his former flock.
As Edward yelled and screamed, humiliated and with his little church ruined, Lucas sighed to herself. She hated to pose as a servant like this, but it was necessary. It didn't mean she couldn't have some fun, however...
"Ladies, will you please, SHUT IT?" - Lucas landed near Edward, whose anger abated only a bit at the confusion in being called "Ladies".
"Listen to me." - Said Lucas, holding Edward still by his shoulders, without any fighting moves. - "Yes, I lied to you." - Edward figured Lucas was talking about the debate with the demoness, until Lucas went on. - "No, I don't love you. Of course it makes you look fat. I've never been to Brussels. It is pronounced 'egregious'. By the way, no, I've never met Pizzaro but I love his pies. And all of this pales to utter insignificance in light of the fact that my ship is, once again, gone. Savvy?"
Edward was seeing red by the time Lucas finished her little tirade, and was about to throw a punch when Lucas smiled.
"Do not. I'm a nutcase of an angel of vengeance that quoted Jack Sparrow at you because she thought it would be funny. You are an angry little pastor who lacks a flock and will lack said flock forevermore. You don't need to heed my advice and I am not threatening any action unless you actually attack me or anyone here, and still said action would be quite reasonable, but you should sleep off that anger of yours. At home, preferably, lest the sun changes you into something you might not wish to be. Leave before you do something you'll regret."
Edward stared daggers at Lucas, got a hold of himself and walked towards his car under Lucas's gaze. Only after Edward left did Lucas have the time to sigh.
"Merda. Eu, me chamar de servo do deus deles..."(1)
Lucas's skin took an outlined, anime-ish quality shortly before Lucas felt a hand on her shoulder. Cassandra spoke up.
"That took guts. You know you'll need to deal with a bunch of fundies calling you their personal liaison with God now, right?" - Lucas sighed and nodded. Cass smiled - "You still need to work security, but, when this party's over, I'm taking you to my place. And yes. Full-on hentai mode."
Lucas blushed a deep crimson, but smiled. It was worth it after all.
It proved more worth it when Cass kissed Lucas deeply, for a long while.
Robert was confused and elated beyond belief. Why were all those people who hated her not ten minutes ago shaking her hand, asking for advice and even asking about fixing the bell? She couldn't believe it. Maxwell, between talking to all the people that came to the grove, looked to Robert, smirking slightly.
"Remember, Sister Robert. Don't call her a servant of God. No matter how many people now will."
Robert chuckled lightly, for what seemed like the first time in a very long while. "Not even once?" - she joked - again, for the first time in quite a while.
"She still has to learn that whoever does good serves the Lord. But right now, let's give her time..." - Said Maxwell.
Jay and Mike left the grove after watching all the people go into it to talk to the priests and even beg for their forgiveness. Mike smiled slightly.
"I think we can't use that interview of the angel, then."
"At this point, I don't care." - Said Jay, smiling - "We did good enough and helped matters quite a bit. Now, let's get something to eat. I kinda made a promise to Lisa involving me buying her dinner..."
The party went on, as more unchanged people came in, now mingling with angels, demons, and other changed. There were movies being shown, and someone had actually set up a karaoke, at that point occupied by one anime girl and one anime angel singing - poorly. Some of the police that had come to prevent trouble at the festival had even took the time to enjoy it and have a late dinner, the ursine sargeant racking up quite a bill as he enjoyed the meat...
(1) "Shit. I, calling myself a servant of their god..."
