Maya and Raven in Daevinity
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"– How old are you, can I ask?"

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"I am approximately four hundred years old. Angels - and, presumably, other daeva - spring into existence fully grown, but knowing no languages. I did so, as near as I can determine, sometime in the year 1605." 

Raziel is working from a spot at which she can see the front and one side of the shed; she moves to look at the other side. "I am far from the oldest daeva in existence; nor am I among the youngest. New daeva seem to appear at rates proportional to the human population, and for all I know there may be one born today."

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"… How many daeva are there, then, if there's only a chance of them being born today?"

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"I apologise, I spoke imprecisely." Raziel frowns. "My best estimate is that between one hundred and one thousand angels are born every day, and I would assume similar numbers for the other two daeva types."

The shed is taking shape. Most of the remaining work is fine detail, which appears to go slower but is taking equal amounts of concentration. 

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Maya is watching intently. "… I just want to take a moment to say how cool it is that all of this exists."

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"This world is certainly a more interesting place than one without magic," Raziel agrees, "and immortality has its benefits. I cannot imagine what I would do if I did not have forever to find out everything I wish to know."

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"That puts a little bit of a damper on it all, yes."

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"Oh, I suppose you wouldn't know - humans get an afterlife," Raziel says. "It is known as Limbo."

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Maya raises an eyebrow.

"That was not in the info packet."

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Raziel raises one right back. 

"Was it not? That is surprising. Although I suppose the author might not have known either."

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"It was very much really not in the info packet."

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"Well, now you know. Inconveniently, I cannot trivially prove my assertion," she admits, "but you may do so at your leisure by, for example, summoning a demon and requesting the complete posthumous works of Shakespeare." 

Raziel grins. "If you do, please consider summoning me back. I am very fond of Shakespeare, and by all accounts his later work is the best."

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"… I could probably get quite a lot out of a demon." Pause. "Do I need to dismiss you before doing so?"

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"That is not required," Raziel says carefully. "However, there has historically been considerable animosity between our two kinds. While I do not have any personal objection to demons, any you summon may not be kindly inclined towards me."

The shed seems to be finished now; she steps back and gestures for Maya to inspect it. 

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Maya looks at it briefly, seems like she might be satisfied, but then makes her way over to it to poke at it a little and see if it's obviously structurally wrong (or if any of the wood feels obviously not like wood, or… well, anything out of place).

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It is a very good shed! The wood definitely feels like wood, Raziel worked hard on that. As requested, it's basically like the old shed, but repaired and made like new. In fact, it seems to be better constructed than it's ever been. 

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"Thank you kindly," she says. "And now –"

Pause. "Uh. Summarisation of the past fifty years of tech development."

She pauses a bit longer and then gets out her phone.

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And Raziel is treated to a heavily condensed overview of fifty years of technological progress, with the aid of Wikipedia. She listens intently, intricate patterns appearing on her arms and clothing since she doesn't have anything else available on which to take notes. 

"Thank you," she says. "That was most enlightening, and I consider myself more than adequately repaid. Please think of me if you are ever in need of an angel, or if you take my advice regarding Shakespeare's posthumous works."

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"… I sort of apologise for how condensed that was but – I mean, the past fifty years had way more happen than I originally thought of." She shrugs. "I'll look into things – I'm not sure how stuff's gonna shake out, from this."

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"The world has certainly changed since yesterday," Raziel agrees. "That was a perfectly adequate summary; my aim was not to catch up completely, but to learn what it is I do not know."

She folds her wings neatly behind her and bows. "Now that our deal is concluded, you may send me home simply by concentrating on that outcome for a full minute. It was a pleasure doing business with you, Alice, and I hope we may do so again in the future."

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"I hope so too!"

Shortly thereafter, 'Alice' successfully dismisses her.

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And Raziel goes back to Heaven. 

It's much easier to catch random summons now, even after the initial rush dies down. She adds to her collection of languages, acquires a Blackberry even though it won't work in Heaven so she can take it apart. She studies microwaves and pacemakers and remote controls and the internet and smoke detectors and MRI scanners. She persuades one summoner to have a demon make her a computer in return for a particularly delicate medical operation. 

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