|
Post by cyansky on Nov 13, 2009 20:38:37 GMT -5
Asri sniffed the soup and turned off the heat.
"The soup is ready," he said smiling. He left it on the stove to cool, as he returning to her. "We'll just let it cool down now."
He sighed at her as he sat down in front of her, as the smell of the hot soup flooded the kitchen and dinning room.
"So let me guess, you reaped souls that you shouldn't have and earned the resentment of the Angel of Death? Azrael takes great care in its work. You must have really went overboard to have angered it like this, but it can't be helped. Where there's a will, there's a way. I'll help you out of this. Perhaps I might be able to strike a compromise with Az, but it won't be easy..."
|
|
|
Post by Selice on Nov 13, 2009 20:51:05 GMT -5
Selice sat down at the small table that sat in the kitchen. She placed her elbow's on the table top and rested her head in her hands, her hair hiding her features, and her tears from Asri. "Maybe, I don't know. I didn't know there were certain souls were off limits. I'm second in command over the reapers, I didn't know I had limits. If I did, why has Azrael never told me before?" she asked. "hell, why hasn't the almighty told me?" she added.
She was in a state of dispare at this point. Why would Azrael ever do this to her? Was he that concerned about his place in heaven?
|
|
|
Post by cyansky on Nov 13, 2009 21:48:00 GMT -5
Asri sniffed the soup one last time before turning off the heat. It was ready; he knew it, and besides, it had been a good fifteen minutes already. He cleaned the counter with a paper towel, dumped it and then took out a couple of bowls. The pot wasn't that big, so Asri managed to get most of the soup neatly poured in equal amounts in the two bowls. He took one of the bowls and set it in front of Selice, smiling, before taking his own and setting it on the table next to her, taking a seat beside her.
"So let me guess, you've reaped souls you shouldn't have and which you might not have had the authorization to reap, which angered Azrael," said Asri, "classic. Upsetting a superior angel. In any case, your intentions were good, so I can work with that, but I'll need more than that if we hope to clear your name or lighten your punishment. I might be able to work out a deal with Azrael, but it won't be easy..."
Memories then came back to him, of the ones called the Destroyer and the Collector, the Destroyer being the one well-known for ripping off angels' wings or unmaking them, the Collecter being the one known for finding wayward angels and bringing them back to their Lord. As Asri was in the business of saving fallen angels... well... how could he not have crossed paths with them? Perhaps... now that he was really beginning to remember... that... he might figure out a way to convince them to let Selice sign a contract with him...
|
|
|
Post by Selice on Nov 13, 2009 21:58:28 GMT -5
Selice raised her head from her hands to offer Asri a weak smile and a silent thank you for the soup. She picked up the spoon and poked the soup for a moment before finally eating a spoonful. It was amazing, probably one of the best things she had eaten while she was on earth. "delicious" she said softly, offering Asri another weak smile.
"yeah..... that sounds about right. Asri, tell me truthfully. How much of a chance do you think I have?" she asked softly, eating another spoonful of soup.
|
|
|
Post by cyansky on Nov 13, 2009 23:26:11 GMT -5
Asri took a spoon on the on the dinner table and began to taste the soup. It was good; he did a good job on it; he liked it. After a few spoonfuls, Asri turned to Selice, looking at her straight in the eye, gently putting a hand on her shoulder.
"How much of a chance do you have?" repeated Asri, "that's a complicated questoin, and it depends on variables that I can't totally predict. Azrael, the Collector, the Destroyer, the Heavenly Court... I have no control over the outcome of their decisions. I can make a difference in determining the severeity of your puinishment, but what I can do is limited. Do you have a chance?"
He chuckled, leaning slightly closer.
"Well, if we can work together in this, and if you try your best to compensate for whatever you did, we will have a chance. You can count on that. Have faith in yourself, will you? You may as well be underestimating your own capabilities... I've seen it happen, and faced with adversity, people will stand up, and they will face. Just ready youself to what may come, don't lose hope, and just remember..."
Asri drew away and dipped his spoon back into his soup, still smiling.
"You're not alone, Selice."
|
|
|
Post by Selice on Nov 13, 2009 23:38:26 GMT -5
Selice blushed lightly as Asri leaned in and placed his hand on her shoulder. She offered him a weak smile. "You're right. I....I just need to stay positive" she said softly.
Not alone....
For the first time in her entire existence, she actually believed that. Yes she was in heaven, surrounded by thousands upon thousands of angels, but no matter what she always felt alone....till now.
|
|
|
Post by cyansky on Nov 13, 2009 23:52:46 GMT -5
Asri affectionately patted her on the back in a fashion similar to Kiel, smiling. He genuinely wanted to cheer her up... especially since she was among the nicest fallen that he had ever met.
"I have faith in you, my Lady," said Asri, "just as I have faith in my family and the Lady of Light. If you have something that you want to live for, then live for it! Enjoy what life you have. No person is an island; that's why loneliness makes people unhappy."
That was why Asri's loyalty to his family was absolute. They bickered from time to time, but he would never betray them. He was bound too tightly to Syl and Kiel to be able to break away easily, and even so, he didn't intend to. He had fallen for both of them and he would follow them to the ends of the Earth if need be. Selice... he was becoming rather fond of her, and he enjoyed being with her. This was a case he couldn't possibly turn down.
|
|
|
Post by Selice on Nov 13, 2009 23:59:39 GMT -5
"Asri, you don't need to call me 'my lady'. Selice is fine you know" she said with a faint smile. His touch comforted her, to a point where her situation didn't seem so bleak. No, she needed to stop. She couldn't develop a crush on Asri....it would only end in heartbreak she kept telling herself.
But really it was too late. She had fallen head over heels for him, she simply had to keep it under wraps.
"thank you, Asri" she said softly. "I mean it, thank you so much".
|
|
|
Post by cyansky on Nov 14, 2009 0:15:05 GMT -5
"Don't worry Selice," said Asri, blushing a bit when she tahnked him, "I'm happy that this means so much to you. It makes me feel like I'm really appreciated, like I'm really doing something good for the world rather than the purpose that was forced on me."
Asri chuckled and returned to his soup, savouring each spoonful, burt mindful that it only had a limited amount of time before it got too cold to eat. And while Asri loved soup, he disliked it when it was cold.
"Better eat your soup before it gets cold, and if you're hungry, I have more. Please, help yourself. I did this meal for us both, so you should help me finish it off."
|
|
|
Post by Selice on Nov 14, 2009 0:30:50 GMT -5
Selice smiled. She returned to her soup, which was started to get a little coldish, but was still delicious all the same. "this is fantastic, Asri. Thank you for making dinner. I shall have to repay the favor eventually. In my travel I picked up a few different recipes, so I shall have to make you dinner at some point" she said with a warm smile "though I don't think anything I can make would be as good" she added.
When selice finished her soup she stood, taking her bowl over to the kitchen sink, and began to wash her dishes. A yawn escaped her lips as she stood at the sink. "what a day" she said softly, tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear. "thank you again for dinner, Asri" she said with a smile.
|
|
|
Post by cyansky on Nov 14, 2009 1:19:26 GMT -5
"Of course," replied Asri. "I'd love to try out your cooking. Don't lower your self-confidence by saying that; with practive, your cooking will get better, and you may even surpass me."
He approached her once again, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Indeed, what a day it has been," said Asri, "I think it's time for us to go to bed soon; I'm feeling a bit tired myself, and I need rest, even while it only brings me nightmares. I appreciate your gratefulness, and I am glad to have met you, Selice."
|
|
|
Post by Selice on Nov 14, 2009 10:10:42 GMT -5
"sleep sounds wonderful" she said softly. She just wanted to escape the reality of this day for a little while and a good nights rest just might do the trick. Selice finished with her dishes and set them aside to dry, turning to face Asri. She offered him a warm smile.
"A nightmare is only as powerful as you allow it to be. You control your subconscious, therefore you control your dreams and nightmares" she said softly. "Thats what Michael told me once...." she added. "I used to suffer from nightmares as well. They were....well yeah....But Michael gave me that advice and I followed it. Soon I no longer had to worry about my nightmares" she said with fairly cheerful smile. She hid her shiver from Asri as she spoke about her nightmares. They had been terrible, images that no person should ever have to see. Of course she had lived out her nightmares as well....the whole captivity thing. No, she mustn't dwell on the negative or her nightmares would return. She pushed her negative thoughts from her mind and concentrated on Asri and his kindness.
"I am glad to have met you as well, Asri" she said with a warm smile. "well I do believe I should be going" she added, a slight under note of sadness playing in her voice. "Good night my friend" she said softly, placing her gloved hand on his shoulder. She leaned in ever so slightly and hugged him. "I pray you sleep well, and that your nightmares may permit you with one night without them".
With that Selice offered Asri one last smile, then turned and made her way to the exit. Once she was outside she spread her wings and took off towards her new home.
Once Selice was home, she climbed the stairs up to one of the bedrooms. It was a decent sized room, all the furniture still layered with white sheets. She carefully pulled off the cover from the bed and lay down on top of the comforter, curling up into a ball and drifting off to sleep, silent tears running down her cheeks.
|
|
|
Post by cyansky on Nov 14, 2009 12:44:47 GMT -5
Asri chuckled and waved her off, before heading off to the hospital. He had made his home on the fourth floor, because it was more accessible that way. All he had to do was land on the roof find the right door and step in. Simple.
"My curse is more than it seems, my lady," whispered Asri, as he landed on the roof, "you don't have demon inside you, trying to eat your soul from the inside out. You don't have the experience in Hell that I do. I've worked both as an angel and as a demon, you know... It's a cruel place indeed, and I pray that you'll ever see me or my business there."
Asri stepped down into the depths of the hospital, retracting his wings and pulling out one of his glowing feathers to light the way. Hell was a harsh place, but once you see up a good business in its name, it became easy to profit from the sins of others. There was a lot about him that neither Selice or Heaven didn't, and that he didn't want her to find out about.
Exhausted, Asri collapsed on his bed, looking out of the window at the night sky. He couldn't sleep, not after the last nightmare... Not without someone to hold him and reassure him when he woke up sobbing. Smiling, Asri swtiched on the light on his bed's nigthstand, took the Book of Ilsvari from his bag, opened it to chapter 17, and began reading. If Syl Kiel were unable to make it in time before he got too tired... well... perhaps his faith would be good enough company... perhaps.
|
|