prismatica | text; un: adversary

Entry tags:

text; un: adversary

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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He's surprised but also strangely happy, that she's another person who finds comfort in how easily moved he is, rather than teasing him for it or finding him strange.

Still embracing her, Akira watches another stray feather drift down, and he wonders if he should be concerne. But she speaks up without acknowledging it, so his gaze moves back up to her.]

Sure. What is it?

Will you stay with me?

[ the wings at her shoulders reach forward, gentle and curious. they hover, as if they intend to hug akira closer - but they don't quite close the distance. she needs permission, to reach out and touch. of course she does. why else would the devil always resort to temptation in tales? ]

It's been so long since I have held another. So, so long since I've been gathered someone into my arms. And I have such little time left here. [ the devil is lonely. humans kicked out the devil, and she misses them. she keeps begging to be let back, to see their faces again. and now, here is someone to listen. ] Will you hold me, just for a little while longer?

[Akira nods, giving his permission, and holding her a little tighter. Even as he does so he can feel his eyes welling up once again. How lonely must she have been, to be so desperate for affection from a stranger?

He swallows, trying not to cry this time as he asks:]

Why are you running out of time? Are you going somewhere?

Darling... Thank you. Thank you for everything.

[ the wings finally close in around akira - the top pair first, then the bottom following suit. they're warm. they're soft. they're a hug from something beyond existence. the eyes beneath the feathers squint and shut as they get close to akira, careful to avoid any potential harm. beneath the shield of the devil's wings, one hand reaches up, gently stroking akira's hair. ]

Time means so little in this world. More than ever, now. You've seen it, haven't you? Some lose years, and others find them, but eventually all return to the way they were. As they must. As they should.

[ her voice is a whisper. this close, what was almost static begins to take form. there is a song there, beneath her words, older and more beautiful than anything she could give words to. and yet each word takes another feather from her, a fee plucked from the songbird's wings. ]

I am no different. Soon, I will be gone, and who I was will be all that remains.

[ the hand at his hair doesn't hesitate or pause, though. she seems... at peace with the idea, almost. ]

[The wings enclosing him, the hand stroking his hair, it's all so soothing that he wishes he could stay like this. But the feathers falling around them like petals, her own words, it all suggests that it's an impossibility.

He reaches up to touch her cheek.]

It's okay. Even if you're a little different, you'll still be you. No matter what.

[ he really is extraordinary. she smiles, fond and loving, and presses her cheek into his outstretched hand. ]

And you will, too.

[ the song beneath her words is growing louder - a symphony straining to be heard above each breath, above the background radiation of life on lunatia. encased in wings and eyes as he is, maybe akira will even hear it in the silence. who knows?

she stays there, perfectly content to let time pass once more. the feathers keep molting, falling by the fistful, and the light of her skin grows more and more intense. like she could burn out at any moment. like the last breaths of a dying star. ]

[Akira closes his eyes, listening. He's curious about the song, but asking about it would be the same as interrupting it. So he stays like this, a Devilman and a devil who appears as an angel holding one another, almost as though in a lover's embrace.

He simply wants to tell her: Whoever you are, you're fine as you are. I accept you.]

[ the words may not be spoken, but they reach her nonetheless.

when it comes, mere minutes later, there is no grand cataclysm to mark her passing. one moment, she is beside him, her wings holding him close as she memorizes every angle of the kind devilman; the next, the pressure eases up, and she is gone. the light that was once so bright fades, dimmer and dimmer until her glow is only faintly visible above the daylight outside. a thousand feathers fall at once, tumbling to the ground in messy piles. and just like that, all that's left is a nude, sleeping teenager with two wings and a hundred closed eyes, an awkward hatchling where something grand once stood.

her legs buckle. she sways, unsteady in her balance. it's only instinct that keeps her upright: the two wings, still reaching out to akira, hold onto his shoulders and prop her up by some miracle. ]

[Akira wishes he could beg her not to leave, but she's already accepted that this is something that cannot be changed. He supposes he must accept it, too. The thick, choked feeling in his throat and the tears threaten anew, yet soon give way to surprise when he sees someone close to his own age, a teenager, taking her place.

Asleep.

He keeps his grip on her so that she doesn't fall, and scoops up under her legs to carry her in his arms. Which is also when he realises he simply showed up at a stranger's apartment, unannounced. He moves through the rooms to find her bedroom, and lays her down to rest there, pulling the sheets over her to keep her warm.]

[ she makes no sound or protest as he tucks her in. her wings hold onto his shoulders for a moment longer once he's set her down, but only a moment; soon enough she curls into herself, wings wrapping around her like a feathery cocoon. her breathing is steady; her lips drift apart as she sinks into the mattress.

time passes. more than she knows; less than it might have been. and nearly three hours after everything, when dusk has finally hit the city, she finally wakes up.

it starts with one eye, on the back of a wing - cracking open, squinting, unfocused. then another. then a third, one facing directly towards akira, and suddenly the whole wing seems awake - dozens of tired eyes, swiveling in feathered sockets to look at the newcomer sitting by her bed. slowly, venus pushes herself upright, her hair falling over one eye and the sheets falling to her waist. she doesn't seem particularly concerned about the lack of clothes. ]

...mmh. Hey. [ her voice is still gentle - but so much younger, so much less steady and certain. she doesn't sound like someone who's watched millennia pass anymore, just a college kid with a hangover and a knack for apologizing too often. ] Sorry, I don't- really remember much of last night? But, I mean. You don't... have to sleep on a chair. Unless you really want to, I guess.

[ she doesn't really remember much of anything, honestly. for all she knows, it's been a week since anything's happened around here. but she can't shake the vague familiarity she feels when she looks at him, or the small smile that comes to her face when she tries to remember why. ]

[Akira's own wings have long since vanished from his back having served their purpose, and he curled up in a chair, intending to watch over her until she came to. The last thing he remembers is watching the beginnings of the sunset from the window, and he was beginning to doze off when he hears a voice from the bed.

He blinks, startled back awake, and looks over.]

Huh? There wasn't... I'm not... [Oh. He realises how this must look, and a faint tinge creeps into his cheeks.] Nothing happened last night. Uh-- how are you feeling?

Oh.

[ "nothing happened." that's... not the usual explanation for this kind of thing. she just sort of stares for a moment at akira, not quite comprehending what he's getting at, until- ]

Oh! [ she doesn't panic, exactly. but she does flush bright pink as she desperately grabs for the fallen sheet, one wing swooping down to give her some semblance of decency until she's got the cloth ready. ] Oh, jeez. Sorry, I- wow, okay. Um. Great! I'm doing great!

[ she looks like she's about to die of embarrassment. then again, that might just be normal for her. ]

[Akira just gives a sheepish but fond smile, rubbing the back of his neck and looking pointedly away while she regains her modesty. The older version of herself is certainly different from her now in many ways, it seems.]

Sorry for intruding. I guess you don't remember, but I came over because you were in trouble... I stayed to make sure you were okay.

[And since she seems fine, he gets to his feet as if to leave. He doesn't want to freak her out any more than he already has.]

[ it's less about modesty and more about first impressions. she doesn't have much shame left to her, but she does have enough sense to know that akira probably thinks she's a skank, insane, or both. ]

In trouble...? I. Guess I don't really remember. Um. Sorry.

[ the eyes on her face don't quite meet his, but there's plenty of other ones to keep him company - eyes gazing directly into his, eyes sweeping away, some eyes even squeezing shut in a mixture of embarrassment and exhaustion. still, when he stands up, all of their gazes snap to him at once. ]

Akira, wait-

[ one hand reaches out, as if to stop him, or to just grab hold of his shirt. but it stops after only a moment, falling back to her side. she tries to smile, and even if it's still awkward and faltering it's definitely a real smile. ]

Uh. I know this is probably really awkward? And, I mean. If you want to leave I definitely understand. [ a small, nervous laugh as she scratches the back of her head.. it's the kind of laugh you get when you've been bullied all your life and need to tell the teacher everything's fine. ] But- you seem really nice? And, I mean, I sort of owe you. So, I mean, I thought we could just... get to know each other, maybe?

[ her own use of his name completely flies over her head. she's not self-aware enough to catch that sort of thing. ]

Probably. After I put some clothes on.

[ also she's sort of got other pressing matters on her mind right now. ]

[Surprise registers briefly on his face as she still seems to remember his name, despite being so different. He blinks at her slowly, and then nods.]

Sure, I can stay. I'll, uh, wait in the next room...

[He doesn't know his way around her apartment at all, and it feels a little intrusive, but he'll make for the door regardless. She surely won't want an audience while she gets dressed.]

[ getting dressed takes... a little longer than might be expected, honestly. maybe it's because she's actually wearing some semblance of an outfit rather than just shorts and a tank top. or maybe it's because she's taken the time to put on some degree of gloss and eyeshadow. still, it's not more than a few minutes until the door creaks open and a fully clothed devil makes her way out. ]

Okay. Uh, let's just... start this over, I guess? [ she looks... flustered. nervous, even. she crosses her arms, and she bites her bottom lip, and she keeps shifting her weight from left to right as she tries to figure out how to handle the situation. ] Right. So... Hi, my name's Venus?? And I don't... really know who you are. I think. Uh.

[ for a moment, her right hand twitches - raising like it's going for a handshake. but it drops back down quickly enough, and instead she blindly forges on: ]

It's nice to meet you?? Again???

Akira Fudo.

[He bows politely as a substitute for the handshake, since she seems to think twice about that option. And while she seemed to remember his name before, he'll reiterate it again, since her memories don't seem to be clear at all.]

Nice to meet you, Venus. Are you feeling okay?

[She looks anxious, though that might just be because he's a stranger more than because there's anything physically wrong.]

Am I- oh! Yeah, no, I'm absolutely fine. One hundred percent. Um. [ she mirrors his bow without really thinking, straightening back up as he does. and when that doesn't give her anywhere near enough time to actually think her words through, she just keeps talking instead. ] It's just, uh. This is sort of a new situation for me? Like, waking up with- well, not waking up with someone, but also not remembering them, and also it's not what it actually looks like?

[ okay. okay, venus, time to calm down. her wings stretch just a tiny bit, reaching forward and grabbing her shoulders in a tiny hug-cloak. ]

Honestly, it's just like... [ words are hard. she pushes a hand into her hair, taking a deep breath and focusing on the sensation for a moment. one second passes - then another, and then she speaks. ] I don't know what we're supposed to be. And I feel like I've been acting... inappropriately? Because of it, I guess. Does that make sense?

Okay, okay, slow down for a second.

[He holds up his palms in a placating gesture. He can understand why she'd be anxious, but she's getting herself way too worked up before he's even had a chance to explain himself properly. Which he should probably go ahead and attempt:]

What you're saying makes sense, and I'm sorry for confusing you. Nothing happened between us last night or today. Or ever. [Unless she wanted it to... She is pretty cute... BUT WAIT he's getting distracted.] You posted a message on the network and I came to check up on you, and we talked for a little bit.

I guess I'm just... a concerned stranger? It's not that complicated.

Right. Slow down. Just gonna... slow down.

[ akira takes the lead in the conversation, and that's the break she finally needs. slowly, bit by bit, her muscles untense; her wings relax to their resting positions. her eyes, so twitchy and quick, begin to slow in their feathered sockets, until finally she's looking around the room the way she would any other day. ]

Okay. Honestly, that makes sense? I mean, I don't... really remember any of it. Even the post? But it's definitely not the worst thing I've done without knowing. Probably. [ she's still got a bit of that nervous, quick-tongued cadence, but it's starting to feel more like that's just her rather than a breakdown in progress. she makes her way to the kitchen, opening the fridge and rummaging through things. ] I should probably drink some water. I mean, I don't really get hangovers? Because of the whole. You know. Devil thing. But it's still probably for the best.

[ she grabs two glasses, and halfway through filling both remembers to ask: ]

Um. Do you want a glass?

[Akira nods, if only because giving her something to do might help.]

Please.

[He moves to take a seat while he pours them both a glass.] So you're a devil? Not an angel?

[He'd already figured as much, but even so, that other version of her he'd seen was so... beautiful. Definitely not something he'd associate with being a devil at all.]

Mm. Got it.

[ she's in the process of pouring the glasses - the devil uses a filtering pitcher, evidently - when akira's second question clicks. she makes a noise halfway between a laugh and a snort, shaking her head as she finishes up. ]

Yeah. I mean, hope that's not an issue? [ she sounds more confident now, at least. this is something she has practice with. ] But yeah. I'm the devil. Like, "hail Satan" devil.

[ she sets his glass down with an audible clink before taking the seat next to him. she pauses, taking a good long sip before continuing. ]

I get that a lot, though. I always figured it'd... you know, be obvious? With the eyes and all. [ a beat. ] Also the part where I thought we'd... I mean, you get it. That's not very angelic.

Nah, it's not an issue. We're not so different, I think.

[...Well, maybe not the 'hail Satan' part. He's from a good Christian family, even if he's not a believer himself. He picks up the glass, taking a drink of his own.]

Does this mean I'm your type? [He grins.]

[ she was from a good christian family, once. or at least what passes for good where she's from. you'd be surprised how quickly things can change! or maybe he wouldn't be surprised in the slightest.

and speaking of change... it's been nearly two years since venus became the devil. two years in strange new worlds, with moonlacing and quotas and utterly alien concepts of decency and personal boundaries. so she doesn't even think before answering: ]

I mean, yeah? You remind me of some of the guys I hooked up with back in Duplicity. [ the eyes spotted across her wings make no effort to hide their curious gaze; they look him up and down, craning to try and see as much as they can. but the eyes on her face shift away, staring out the apartment window for a moment before darting back to his face. ] Sorry. Is that weird to say? You definitely seem nicer than most of them so far, so...

[Akira is a mixture of offput and fascinated by so many eyes staring at him at once. He leans this way and that to see if the eyes follow him, although he blinks and snaps back to her face when he realises she's asking him a question.]

Oh-- uh, I don't think it's weird. [He rubs the back of his neck. If she's a devil, it only makes sense she'd be casual about this sort of thing.] If you're ever short on chroma and need someone, I don't mind helping out.

text; un: adversary

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

makes my way down the tag wall...

ganbatte!!

i told you i'd get back to this and by god i've finally done it

you're powerful...!

flexes mightily

so swole

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)