Adapt to Live [Part 7]
Nov. 7th, 2015 11:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
esp_dragonFandom: Noblesse
Summary: It's been a long time since Tao had seen an angel, not since ze left Heaven and turned into a demon. Ze hadn't thought it was possible to pass through the barrier between Heaven and the physical realm without changing. M-21's task in the physical realm is to kill as many demons as they can. Except the pieces aren't fitting together.
Notes: Thanks to Myriade for her help with the theology explanation. :3
Rating: PG
Genre: General
Word count: 2,067
Total word count: 16,125
Status: Work in progress
Oh.
"But you should be recognised for your work!" M-21 said. "You're protecting others."
Seira and Regis shared a look. "Angel," Seira said, standing up after pulling a shirt on again. "There aren't that many humans that can see angels and demons, remember? To them, all they would see are dead bodies."
They wouldn't believe that demons had been possessing those bodies.
To the majority of humans here, angels and demons are only things that don't exist.
Oh. That. oh Of course that made sense. No-one could see them, and that had been the point. So of course if other humans tried to understand what had happened, they wouldn't, because they didn't know that angels and demons existed.
"And angel," Regis said, shaking his head, "we're not doing this to be recognised."
That...was the opposite of what M-21 was doing. They were trying to complete their mission specifically to be recognised by their Lord, so that they could have a name. Yet these humans were selfless, not wanting to be recognised for their work, even though they could die doing it. No-one would know what they had done, aside from a few number of people.
"We'll need to stay low for a while," Seira said, sipping her drink after turning the TV off. "The police will be on higher alert, so that means we won't be able to fight demons for the next little while."
M-21 nodded. "I understand." After what had happened, they'd spent enough time fighting demons. They could do more later.
There had been a few questions that M-21 had couldn't be answered, but there was one Seira and Regis could. "Who's Frankenstein Lee?" The way Seira and Regis had reacted, the demon had seemed important.
Regis frowned, though it was broken by a yawn. "Lee is a professor of theology. Someone who studies God as a concept and the nature of religious ideas. As someone who's the top of the field, him being a demon is...suspect."
Ah, huh.
"We have books here," Regis said, yawning again. "Do you think you would be able to read them?"
M-21 nodded. Angels had knowledge of all languages, so that part wouldn't be difficult. As for turning their pages, it would take a bit of concentration, but a page was lighter than a mug, so they should be fine.
Regis smiled. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Night."
* * *
Tao set the bowl of soup down in front of Boss. "Simple dinner, since you insisted," ze said, sticking hir tongue out at them.
Ze didn't duck out the way as Boss reached over and ruffled hir hair, their hand right between hir horns. Ze hummed at the feeling, smiling.
Tao settled into hir own chair. "So what do you think of the angel's mission?" There was no reason for the angel to think that, unless they thought they were protecting humans from demons? Which could make some sense.
"Heaven has no idea what's going on over here," Boss said, frowning. "Though it's still concerning how different Heaven seems to be from what we know so far."
Which was a common thought Tao kept having. Maybe they should go back and start asking questions, but if things had changed too much, who knew if they would be able to leave again. And they'd promised that they wouldn't return until they'd found Boss' Lord.
"It seems like it." Tao tipped hir chair back so it was only on two legs. "Angel's almost like a newborn." Heaven wouldn't make a newborn do any tasks. They were supposed to just fly about in the clouds and have fun.
"Keep doing that and I'll tip you over completely," Boss said, not looking up from their soup.
Tao gasped, making hir eyes go wide. "While I'm injured! How could you say such a thing!" Ze was proud hir voice hadn't wavered while ze said it, though laughter was bubbling up hir throat.
"It's because you're injured I gave you a warning first." Boss gave hir a pointed look and Tao snickered, keeping the position for a second and then set the legs down again.
* * *
Tao was still waking up when Boss came into hir room the next morning, breakfast laid out onto a tray.
"Boss," Tao said, sitting up, "you didn't actually have to make me breakfast in bed." Ze were better than they had been the day before.
"I would prefer you-"
Boss' phone rang, and they paused, their eyebrows drawn in.
"Huh." That was weird. No-one called Boss at early in the morning unless it was important. Most people e-mailed Boss since there was usually some time difference between them so it was just more likely Boss would be awake or they wouldn't be in the middle of a lecture at the time.
Boss answered it as Tao started eating. Ze almost purred, the warmth hitting them. Boss' cooking was good as it always was.
"Professor Lee speaking."
Tao was close enough to hear the voice on the other side.
"Hello, Professor Lee." Boss' brows shot up, and their wings flexed. Huh. Who was it?
"Ah, Miss Loyard, I hadn't expected to hear from you so soon."
Tao's eyebrows shot up as well. No kidding.
"Our friend would like to talk with you."
…Hah. It really was troublesome not having a physical body, if the angel had to get Loyard to phone for them.
"Our friend wants to learn more information."
Boss nodded slowly. "I understand. However," they said, frowning, "I have more lectures today, and won't be free until later-"
Tao waved hir arm in the air, grinning. Ze was fine to take this! Healed up enough that ze was okay to waving hir hand in the air, so that was proof of how they were feeling.
"-but if your friend would prefer to talk our mutual acquaintance, then that could be arranged."
"Hold on."
Boss raised their eyebrows at hir and Tao nodded. Ze was sure they would fine. The previous meeting hadn't been a trap and Boss hadn't been hurt, so Tao felt okay meeting up with the angel. They knew to be careful at all times anyway.
"We will similarly be working, but Regis will accompany our friend until they meet up."
Tao snickered, continuing to eat breakfast. Trying to not say what they were meaning was making them sound more suspicious.
"Try to not get into another fight," Boss said after they ended the call.
Tao huffed, one side of hir mouth quirking up. "I'll try my best."
* * *
M-21 hovered around the park, watching the rain fall from the tips of leaves, turning the snow under it into slush as Regis grumbled under his umbrella at the weather. They'd gone to a quieter part of the park so Regis could have some more freedom talking with them.
"Why don't you want me to meet them?" M-21 asked, keeping a look out for the demon. Regis had been arguing against it since M-21 had asked to get in contact with the demons.
"You can't trust demons, angel," Regis said, crossing his arms. "They lie and lay traps."
"These ones didn't." If they had, M-21 would have already died.
"You should still be careful. They could be doing this to gain your trust and then kill you that way."
The demons could have killed them any time they wanted. Why would they waste time doing it this way where they gained M-21's trust, unless. Unless they were bored? But it didn't seem like it in all that had happened so far. The black-haired demon seemed genuinely worried about them.
Waiting wasn't so bad, now that they knew what to expect, and they...trusted the other demon now. They should, after everything the demon had done for them already, and M-21 still didn't know why. They were a demon; they shouldn't have helped them. Was it only those two demons that - no, it wasn't.
And that was all the thoughts M-21 had had as the night gave way to the night, their thoughts tumbling against each other. They'd needed to know what was going on, had needed more information that was in the books. They were interesting to read, but it wasn't what M-21 had needed, talking about different topics.
Some humans still walked around, a number with dogs, their collars turned up against the rain and none spared M-21 a glance.
M-21 had gotten used to being acknowledged by Seira and Regis, and they missed Heaven and everyone greeting each other as they passed and being seen.
But...was Heaven really what they thought it was?
M-21 just needed to talk with someone who had been where they had, who shared their experiences, knew what they knew and more.
The demon walked up to them, hood up against the rain and a thermos and a plastic bag in one hand. Regis stiffened at the sight of the demon.
The demon seemed to be moving fine, but M-21 still studied their movements. It was unhurried and smooth, like nothing had happened only a day ago.
Still.
"Hey," the demon said to Regis, tilting their head at M-21. "I'm finally here, so you don't need to chaperone them anymore."
Regis snorted, glowering at the demon. "Do not harm them." His aura flickered for a second, and the demon backed up a step, waving a hand in the air, an eyebrow up.
"No hurting, yeah, got it. Why would you even do this if you didn't trust me?"
"Because they do." Regis was frowning viciously, still glowering.
"Huh." The demon glanced at them. "Then trust their judgement, you know."
"Tch." Regis gave the demon one last glare, and then nodded at M-21. "I'll be going now."
The demon whistled as they rocked back and forth on their heels, watching Regis leave. "That was fun."
"Ah," M-21 said, "sorry."
The demon shook their head. "It's fine. They're a demon hunter; them hating my guts is pretty expected. Not attacking me on sight is actually pretty courteous."
It was unwarranted. And yet they'd done the same thing as Regis, hating all demons before they'd met them.
Tao wandered over to a bench and after scraping some of the slush away, sat down with a sigh.
"I'm sorry," M-21 said, hovering closer. "About attacking you." Frankenstein had said they would tell them, but M-21 still wanted to say it to their face.
The demon shook their head. "It's fine. Just, don't do that again," the demon said, their breath expelling from their mouth. "I'd rather not go through that again."
M-21 nodded, watching as the demon unscrewed the top of the thermos. It had to be a hot drink, steam rising from its insides.
"I won't." They'd learned their lesson now.
The demon dug into their bag, pulling out a small box. When the demon took off the lid, there were sandwiches inside. "I'd offer you some, but since you can't eat…" The demon took a bite of the sandwich, humming.
With enough concentration, they would be able to pick up the sandwich, but eating it? No, they wouldn't be able to.
"What is it like?" M-21 asked, perching on the bench arm.
"Mm?" The demon looked up at them, stretching their legs out in front of them. "Eating?"
M-21 nodded.
The demon grinned. "Pretty awesome!" They look another bite. "It's an experience, but I don't know if I'd be able to explain it if I tried. But…" They trailed off, swinging a leg. "It can make you really happy, eating can warm you up and there's taste. Just the smell of food can make you want it." The demon shook their head, smiling.
Smell? Though, M-21 had noticed Seira and Regis sniffing something, turning their heads towards something at the same time, alerted by something M-21 couldn't sense.
"And you wouldn't know what that is either, huh?"
"No." M-21 shook their head. The only senses they seemed to share with Seira and Regis was sight, hearing and sensing auras.
"…Was it worth it?" M-21 asked, watching the demon eat.
The demon swallowed. "What was?"
"Turning your back on Heaven."
The demon's eyebrows bunched together as they frowned. "Well, yeah."
They could say it that easily? Was being changed into a demon and having a physical body really worth going against everything they had been created for?
Summary: It's been a long time since Tao had seen an angel, not since ze left Heaven and turned into a demon. Ze hadn't thought it was possible to pass through the barrier between Heaven and the physical realm without changing. M-21's task in the physical realm is to kill as many demons as they can. Except the pieces aren't fitting together.
Notes: Thanks to Myriade for her help with the theology explanation. :3
Rating: PG
Genre: General
Word count: 2,067
Total word count: 16,125
Status: Work in progress
Oh.
"But you should be recognised for your work!" M-21 said. "You're protecting others."
Seira and Regis shared a look. "Angel," Seira said, standing up after pulling a shirt on again. "There aren't that many humans that can see angels and demons, remember? To them, all they would see are dead bodies."
They wouldn't believe that demons had been possessing those bodies.
To the majority of humans here, angels and demons are only things that don't exist.
Oh. That. oh Of course that made sense. No-one could see them, and that had been the point. So of course if other humans tried to understand what had happened, they wouldn't, because they didn't know that angels and demons existed.
"And angel," Regis said, shaking his head, "we're not doing this to be recognised."
That...was the opposite of what M-21 was doing. They were trying to complete their mission specifically to be recognised by their Lord, so that they could have a name. Yet these humans were selfless, not wanting to be recognised for their work, even though they could die doing it. No-one would know what they had done, aside from a few number of people.
"We'll need to stay low for a while," Seira said, sipping her drink after turning the TV off. "The police will be on higher alert, so that means we won't be able to fight demons for the next little while."
M-21 nodded. "I understand." After what had happened, they'd spent enough time fighting demons. They could do more later.
There had been a few questions that M-21 had couldn't be answered, but there was one Seira and Regis could. "Who's Frankenstein Lee?" The way Seira and Regis had reacted, the demon had seemed important.
Regis frowned, though it was broken by a yawn. "Lee is a professor of theology. Someone who studies God as a concept and the nature of religious ideas. As someone who's the top of the field, him being a demon is...suspect."
Ah, huh.
"We have books here," Regis said, yawning again. "Do you think you would be able to read them?"
M-21 nodded. Angels had knowledge of all languages, so that part wouldn't be difficult. As for turning their pages, it would take a bit of concentration, but a page was lighter than a mug, so they should be fine.
Regis smiled. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Night."
Tao set the bowl of soup down in front of Boss. "Simple dinner, since you insisted," ze said, sticking hir tongue out at them.
Ze didn't duck out the way as Boss reached over and ruffled hir hair, their hand right between hir horns. Ze hummed at the feeling, smiling.
Tao settled into hir own chair. "So what do you think of the angel's mission?" There was no reason for the angel to think that, unless they thought they were protecting humans from demons? Which could make some sense.
"Heaven has no idea what's going on over here," Boss said, frowning. "Though it's still concerning how different Heaven seems to be from what we know so far."
Which was a common thought Tao kept having. Maybe they should go back and start asking questions, but if things had changed too much, who knew if they would be able to leave again. And they'd promised that they wouldn't return until they'd found Boss' Lord.
"It seems like it." Tao tipped hir chair back so it was only on two legs. "Angel's almost like a newborn." Heaven wouldn't make a newborn do any tasks. They were supposed to just fly about in the clouds and have fun.
"Keep doing that and I'll tip you over completely," Boss said, not looking up from their soup.
Tao gasped, making hir eyes go wide. "While I'm injured! How could you say such a thing!" Ze was proud hir voice hadn't wavered while ze said it, though laughter was bubbling up hir throat.
"It's because you're injured I gave you a warning first." Boss gave hir a pointed look and Tao snickered, keeping the position for a second and then set the legs down again.
Tao was still waking up when Boss came into hir room the next morning, breakfast laid out onto a tray.
"Boss," Tao said, sitting up, "you didn't actually have to make me breakfast in bed." Ze were better than they had been the day before.
"I would prefer you-"
Boss' phone rang, and they paused, their eyebrows drawn in.
"Huh." That was weird. No-one called Boss at early in the morning unless it was important. Most people e-mailed Boss since there was usually some time difference between them so it was just more likely Boss would be awake or they wouldn't be in the middle of a lecture at the time.
Boss answered it as Tao started eating. Ze almost purred, the warmth hitting them. Boss' cooking was good as it always was.
"Professor Lee speaking."
Tao was close enough to hear the voice on the other side.
"Hello, Professor Lee." Boss' brows shot up, and their wings flexed. Huh. Who was it?
"Ah, Miss Loyard, I hadn't expected to hear from you so soon."
Tao's eyebrows shot up as well. No kidding.
"Our friend would like to talk with you."
…Hah. It really was troublesome not having a physical body, if the angel had to get Loyard to phone for them.
"Our friend wants to learn more information."
Boss nodded slowly. "I understand. However," they said, frowning, "I have more lectures today, and won't be free until later-"
Tao waved hir arm in the air, grinning. Ze was fine to take this! Healed up enough that ze was okay to waving hir hand in the air, so that was proof of how they were feeling.
"-but if your friend would prefer to talk our mutual acquaintance, then that could be arranged."
"Hold on."
Boss raised their eyebrows at hir and Tao nodded. Ze was sure they would fine. The previous meeting hadn't been a trap and Boss hadn't been hurt, so Tao felt okay meeting up with the angel. They knew to be careful at all times anyway.
"We will similarly be working, but Regis will accompany our friend until they meet up."
Tao snickered, continuing to eat breakfast. Trying to not say what they were meaning was making them sound more suspicious.
"Try to not get into another fight," Boss said after they ended the call.
Tao huffed, one side of hir mouth quirking up. "I'll try my best."
M-21 hovered around the park, watching the rain fall from the tips of leaves, turning the snow under it into slush as Regis grumbled under his umbrella at the weather. They'd gone to a quieter part of the park so Regis could have some more freedom talking with them.
"Why don't you want me to meet them?" M-21 asked, keeping a look out for the demon. Regis had been arguing against it since M-21 had asked to get in contact with the demons.
"You can't trust demons, angel," Regis said, crossing his arms. "They lie and lay traps."
"These ones didn't." If they had, M-21 would have already died.
"You should still be careful. They could be doing this to gain your trust and then kill you that way."
The demons could have killed them any time they wanted. Why would they waste time doing it this way where they gained M-21's trust, unless. Unless they were bored? But it didn't seem like it in all that had happened so far. The black-haired demon seemed genuinely worried about them.
Waiting wasn't so bad, now that they knew what to expect, and they...trusted the other demon now. They should, after everything the demon had done for them already, and M-21 still didn't know why. They were a demon; they shouldn't have helped them. Was it only those two demons that - no, it wasn't.
And that was all the thoughts M-21 had had as the night gave way to the night, their thoughts tumbling against each other. They'd needed to know what was going on, had needed more information that was in the books. They were interesting to read, but it wasn't what M-21 had needed, talking about different topics.
Some humans still walked around, a number with dogs, their collars turned up against the rain and none spared M-21 a glance.
M-21 had gotten used to being acknowledged by Seira and Regis, and they missed Heaven and everyone greeting each other as they passed and being seen.
But...was Heaven really what they thought it was?
M-21 just needed to talk with someone who had been where they had, who shared their experiences, knew what they knew and more.
The demon walked up to them, hood up against the rain and a thermos and a plastic bag in one hand. Regis stiffened at the sight of the demon.
The demon seemed to be moving fine, but M-21 still studied their movements. It was unhurried and smooth, like nothing had happened only a day ago.
Still.
"Hey," the demon said to Regis, tilting their head at M-21. "I'm finally here, so you don't need to chaperone them anymore."
Regis snorted, glowering at the demon. "Do not harm them." His aura flickered for a second, and the demon backed up a step, waving a hand in the air, an eyebrow up.
"No hurting, yeah, got it. Why would you even do this if you didn't trust me?"
"Because they do." Regis was frowning viciously, still glowering.
"Huh." The demon glanced at them. "Then trust their judgement, you know."
"Tch." Regis gave the demon one last glare, and then nodded at M-21. "I'll be going now."
The demon whistled as they rocked back and forth on their heels, watching Regis leave. "That was fun."
"Ah," M-21 said, "sorry."
The demon shook their head. "It's fine. They're a demon hunter; them hating my guts is pretty expected. Not attacking me on sight is actually pretty courteous."
It was unwarranted. And yet they'd done the same thing as Regis, hating all demons before they'd met them.
Tao wandered over to a bench and after scraping some of the slush away, sat down with a sigh.
"I'm sorry," M-21 said, hovering closer. "About attacking you." Frankenstein had said they would tell them, but M-21 still wanted to say it to their face.
The demon shook their head. "It's fine. Just, don't do that again," the demon said, their breath expelling from their mouth. "I'd rather not go through that again."
M-21 nodded, watching as the demon unscrewed the top of the thermos. It had to be a hot drink, steam rising from its insides.
"I won't." They'd learned their lesson now.
The demon dug into their bag, pulling out a small box. When the demon took off the lid, there were sandwiches inside. "I'd offer you some, but since you can't eat…" The demon took a bite of the sandwich, humming.
With enough concentration, they would be able to pick up the sandwich, but eating it? No, they wouldn't be able to.
"What is it like?" M-21 asked, perching on the bench arm.
"Mm?" The demon looked up at them, stretching their legs out in front of them. "Eating?"
M-21 nodded.
The demon grinned. "Pretty awesome!" They look another bite. "It's an experience, but I don't know if I'd be able to explain it if I tried. But…" They trailed off, swinging a leg. "It can make you really happy, eating can warm you up and there's taste. Just the smell of food can make you want it." The demon shook their head, smiling.
Smell? Though, M-21 had noticed Seira and Regis sniffing something, turning their heads towards something at the same time, alerted by something M-21 couldn't sense.
"And you wouldn't know what that is either, huh?"
"No." M-21 shook their head. The only senses they seemed to share with Seira and Regis was sight, hearing and sensing auras.
"…Was it worth it?" M-21 asked, watching the demon eat.
The demon swallowed. "What was?"
"Turning your back on Heaven."
The demon's eyebrows bunched together as they frowned. "Well, yeah."
They could say it that easily? Was being changed into a demon and having a physical body really worth going against everything they had been created for?