text; un: adversary

[wingstosee]

Oh. Hey there.

[ the voice that drifts through the communicators defies description. it is venus's voice, and it is not; like a young tenor, barrel-aged since the beginning of time and only just coming into its own. it sounds like fresh hookah and tastes like music. it's like static and honey, gently sifting out of electronic speakers. ]

This place... [ a sigh. ] It's beautiful, isn't it? A thousand thousands, living their own truths. It's flawed, and uncut, and cracked down the edges. It's the most beautiful, wonderful gem I've seen.

[ for a few seconds, the recording stays silent. all that remains is the background noise of lunatia: voices trickling up from the streets. the whirr of machinery and the hum of crystals. ]

There are hundreds of you, and I know so few. [ there's something ancient in her words. deep, old, sad. ] So while there's still time... Tell me. Remind me of your name. Let me see your face so I never forget it again.

[ an exhale, long and smooth. ]

And if you're hurting, or lonely, or you've forgotten too... Find me. I'm waiting. I'll always wait for you.

[ there's a soft laugh, barely audible - a fond exhalation more than anything voiced. ]

Until then, my darling.

[ the recording clicks off. ]

Comments

video; un: adversary

[wingstosee]

[ his voice... whoever this young man is, he is guarded, tense. and yet he is not one of god's chosen - not with those fearsome markings.

whoever he might be, she isn't rude - if he is willing to show himself, she will return the courtesy. the video feed flicks on to reveal someone otherworldly - so white she is glowing, luminescent from every inch of exposed skin. six wings extend from her back, one wrapping around to cover her nude form, and from within the feathers hundreds of eyes watch the feed curiously. ]

I have had many names. [ it might have come across evasive, from another voice. as is, it's a statement of fact - nothing more. ] Once, in this place, people called me Venus. Long before that, Satan. And yet before that, Nachash. Call me whatever you'd like.

[demifin]

[Most people would be impressed and suitably so. Truth be told, Naoki is as well - it's not quite what he expected, and despite being more female(like?) it does remind him of the boy and old man. Purposefully, he somehow expects. He tilts his head to see if the eyes follow him. He's seen a few demons with many eyes but never this much.

Satan, for him, was a Magatama and this Venus (?) looked a lot prettier. He has to think about what she offers before speaking;]

What's your favorite name?

[wingstosee]

A favorite?

[ the question takes her aback. she understands others picking a name and using it for her. for herself...? she hasn't honestly considered the question. not that it takes too much thought. ]

...Venus. A name from simpler times. [ there is a hint of fondness, there. ] Some said she was a goddess of love. And some still call her the morning star.

[ she is aware of the coincidence, there. ]

[demifin]

Okay, Venus.

[He is still a little on the edge, although the fact she mentioned the morning star - like Naoki could be dense sometimes, but even he had understood that the young and old master were Lucifer. Maybe in another universe that stopped existing? It's possible.]

You're not going to try and harm humans, right?

[He's just gonna. Get right to the point.]

[wingstosee]

Even if I wanted to, how could I? [ she reaches out, tracing her finger in a lazy circle over the communicator's screen. ] The devil is weak. A shadow, cast by God's light. And in a place like this, where reality bears down upon us...

What could I do?

[demifin]

I guess maybe that's true in your universe. The devil in my world turned me into this and attempted to get me to join the side of demons and end humanity. I couldn't leave my heart behind.

[The fact she can't do anything is kinda...sad in a strange way. He's not sure why he feels empathy when he turned his back against his version but...]

You seem much nicer.

[They told him so many times in the Vortex World now naive and easily led he could be. Maybe it's true now too but he'll be okay with his decision.]

just lmk if this backtag is ok <3

[wingstosee]

You were changed and then asked?

[ there's a note of... something in her voice. disbelief, perhaps. even anger at the idea. still, she says nothing for a few seconds, and when she speaks again her voice is hushed, understanding: ]

"Demi." Oh, darling. It hurts, so much, to hear that. [ the motion of her finger against the screen continues. it is, in some small way, the most connection she has had in a very, very long time. ] Would you become whole again, if the world allowed you? Devil or not.