Sitting on the steps which lead up to his shop, he rested his head against the cool brick wall. A little nightcap before he called it an evening. More than half of the amber liquid had disappeared down his throat, now making a warm home in his belly. “Call me selfish, but I ain’t sharin’,” a comment directed to the fellow hovering near the doorway. (@hellfirebound)
“Have you ever been known to share?” he asked, not even bothering to hide the annoyance on his features or even in his tone. “Selfish is one thing, but you?“ He shook his head for a few moments. “Could be worse, but no. I don’t need a drink.” A pause. “At least not now.”
“With a single thought, I can alert Heaven to your exact location,” Zaphkiel’s eyes were not on the demon, but rather the book in his hands. Clearly, he was more concerned with the safety of the book than the security of Heaven. Everything that happens outside the gates of the archives was someone else’s problem. This area was his jurisdiction, “I suggest you return that book to me immediately.” (@hellfirebound)
“It will be returned,” he said, taking a slight step back. “ However, not until the moment is right.” If he was honest, all he needed was a glance over of the contents, but Ky’lar always had to be stubborn. He always had to push the limits of what he was capable of and then exceed them (if possible). “Now, you’ll either let me finish what i’m doing or…I could just burn it.”
To Leliel, almost everyone was above him in the underworld. And he did well to recognize their authority. Sure, he put on a front to lower-ranked demons, but Ky was not among those. He was keen to bow to Ky’s authority, “Your secret’s safe with me. I swear. You can always count on me for discretion.”
A show of… strength ( be it threats or otherwise ) always managed to keep everyone in line. Sometimes, he had to go the extra mile by issuing threats, but all the same, he knew that he’d get their attention. Sure, he wasn’t the most liked, but he wasn’t the most hated either. So, that was a plus on both ends. “I’ll be sure to put that to the test. We both know how fast… things spread on earth and down below.”
“It can’t be easy,” Here they were. Supposed mortal enemies. Demon and angel. A simple conversation involving the unfairness of the wicked cycle called life. “Shouldn’t you be able to think for yourself?” A rogue thought which broke through the feeble defenses of his lips. A thought that could result in a reprimand from Heaven for simply harboring such thoughts. And yet, he felt comfortable with conveying such things with his present company. He very much doubted the other would tattletale on him.
“I’m still learning.” It was the most honest thing he’d said in years and it was to the fact that he too doubted that they’d actually say anything about this little conversation. One, that was turning out to be more truthful than Ky originally intended. “I did, what I thought would have gotten me accepted. I thought,” he said, taking in a deep breath, and letting it out slowly, “that if I willingly accepted who I was. If I decided to make my choice… I would be more than just a simple mistake.”
“You can see how that turned out.” Ky knew now that it wasn’t the right choice; he should have just stayed ignorant to the large scheme of things if he was being honest with himself. Still, there was no going back now – not even if he wanted to. “If I bow my head, try to fake some sort of respect, and lay low… I don’t get a target on my back.” Though, that hadn’t gone over so well – not since he’d been attempting it. Respect was something that was earned – not given freely. Not even to his own family. A reason to why he had the scars to prove why he’d give anything to get out… he just couldn’t do it. He couldn’t willingly give up the only family he had.
“I nearly gave in,” Abel confessed. He could have been in this man’s shoes, if he hadn’t been saved from such a fate. If it wasn’t for his brother, Abel would have been a demon, not an angel. And that wasn’t something Abel took for granted. “I know how hard it is to play a role like that. And I’m sorry.”
“you’re stronger than me.” a slight amount of truth from the lies he’d forced himself to say and ultimately believe for as long as he could remember. “i had a choice,” many choices actually, “once to leave this all behind, but I did what was expected of me.” or what he thought was expected at least. “always trying to get some sort of appreciation for my work,” even a ‘great job’ or ‘good work’ would have sufficed, “but…even that has gained me nothing.” a pause. “just more… criticism.” and no validation.
Abel could understand the other’s circumstances. They were not so different from his own. There were punishments for angels who didn’t strictly adhere to Heaven’s authority. Some were light, some hard, but all were unpleasant. He let out a soft sigh, “Perhaps one day situations may change and things will be different. Until then, there is nothing more to do than maintain the status quo.”
“doubtful,” he said, arms crossing over his chest. “free will – if you could even call it that – is a joke. we all have responsibilities. we all have our duty – i chose the easier path.” or was it the harder one? he didn’t really seem to care at the time the decision was made. “i chose to give in instead of resisting – i traded humanity… for something far worse.”
“To be frank, I don’t think I have any more information than you do,” He was always the last to know things, but for some reason, people always approached him expecting him to have all the answers. He definitely did not, “But if I hear anything, you will be the absolute first person I tell.” { @hellfirebound }
“i’ll also be the last,” he said bluntly. more importantly, ky didn’t care about what they knew – only that they gave the information directly to himself. that way, he wouldn’t be caught blindsided like he was at time. “‘cause, if you tell anyone else about this? i’ll be sure to rip you apart… piece by piece.” it wasn’t a threat, but rather a promise of sorts. one, that he intended to keep…if things got that far.
He tilted his head in observance of the other. Did he truly believe his words? Or was it easier to just give into that belief system? “I can understand your point of view. But I politely disagree,” And that was true, his goal was not to offend the man, “Why remain bogged down in a stagnant, repetitive lifestyle? Why not try something different? Challenge yourself, perhaps.”
“challenging one’s self is good an’ all, but not my cup of tea.” every time he did, he found himself in a version of being grounded. suffice to say, he wasn’t going to put his freedom on the line. not again and not anytime soon if he had a say in it. “when i attempt anything other than the usual there are consequences. one’s that i’m not willing to face.” not again. not if he had a say in it.
Abel asked himself his own question daily. He wanted to be someone he could stand himself. It drove the choices he made. The day he stopped asking himself that, he knew he’d be in trouble of losing himself. “I tend to believe it does.”
“no one is gifted with the ability to do exactly what they want. habits form, they get comfortable, and changing them becomes unnecessary.” a short two second pause as he took a step closer. “so, in truth, it doesn’t matter – i can’t change who – or what i am. so why try?”
“All the things you’ve said, and the things you’ve done; Can you carry it with no regrets? Can you stand the person you’ve become?”
it should have been a simple answer, but ky knew nothing was simple these days. he didn’t like who he was becoming. nor did he think there was anything that could change that simple fact – not now and most certainly not anytime soon. “does it matter?” a question with a question. it might not have been the best response, but for the time being… it would suffice.
Hellfirebound 