( video, un: koriel )

[passio]

[ it’s this guy again. although he seems considerably less sad than he did the last time he appeared on the network to talk about accidental sympathy with the oracles of the sinless, that may not be the best thing in the world once he begins speaking. he's also wearing small angel wings, visible in the view of the camera—they're definitely fake accessories, however, rather than being a moonblessing or even a more permanent effect of the bracelet. ]

…hello.

[ he's nervous? he's nervous, and his shoulders fidget slightly. he can't look at the camera. ]

There’s been a lot of people asking about churches. [ ah. ] …I am a member of one that recently opened. It is… a re-establishment of the Order I used to belong to in my world before.

[ it isn't a ringing endorsement, but it is the truth. ]

We don’t worship any god. It is an order that focuses on the internal self and what people are capable of. A man named the Archangel is our leader. If you’ve met him… um, anyway, please come by.

[ and included, information about the Order of Malkuth, located in a primo spot on level one. go ahead, join the cult. ]

Comments

[impiety]

Don't think so low of yourself.

[ Only keep thinking of yourself as beneath me -- only it sadly isn't the way that Archangel would enjoy. ]

You are, after all, part of the Order and leading with me.

[passio]

I’m trying. I want to take responsibility for my role in this.

[ maybe that’s what this is about. accountability. if he travels down the wrong path, he won’t be able to blame the archangel. ]

[impiety]

And that is very admirable of you.

[ He puts into his words "and that is why I love you", but doesn't say it, since that isn't the reason why he loves Dextera. Still, he can imply it without implying it.

He's the coolest person ever (not even a little is he that). ]

[passio]

[ dextera hears it anyway, and maybe it’s because he’s fighting with himself so hard, but the promise of even a twisted love waiting for him on the other side of this makes him feel… more relieved than he wishes he were. ]

Thank you. [ polite. ] But it seems like I was right… people are skeptical.

[impiety]

So it would seem.

But I am not too troubled by it. We are offering something that has not yet been offered... a place to better oneself.

[ He smiles. ]

But it is fine... those willing to be healed will come and the rest will eventually see we mean no harm.

[passio]

[ dextera doubts it, truthfully. maybe it’s because he’s already gotten backlash—people are worried about him, and in turn, they doubt his lucidity to make choices like this. that’s probably his fault. ]

But… [ the archangel does mean harm. dextera can’t say that. ] …you’re right.

[ dodging it, he reasons, is wiser, even if he glances down as he does it. ]

[impiety]

[ He frowns a little at the 'but'.

However, the frown fades slightly when he hears Dextera tell him that he's right. ]

... our cause is just... that is the only thing that matters, Dextera.

[passio]

[ “our” cause. the koriel would disagree, and dextera is obligated to do so on their behalf. he does not. ]

—I want to see you.

[impiety]

[ His eyes widen a little. ]

Do you?

[ It's less of a question and he can't completely remove the longing out of his voice. ]

Well, then... I'll come to you, then, since I've always made you come to me.

( network → action )

[passio]

…thank you.

[ what a horrible idea dextera is having, here. but he’s overwhelmed, and he’s happy the archangel is coming to him instead of making dextera leave. the only pressure is now that he must straighten up his apartment, but in a way, if the archangel scolds him, that won’t be so bad either.

he cleans up enough that it looks like he isn’t living in a complete hovel. then, he waits. ]

(action!)

[impiety]

[ he considers it only slightly pathetic that he jumps at the chance to see dextera. no matter the time or hour, he would go to him if asked. archangel tells himself it is because of his ultimate goal of changing his present and dextera's future. but in truth, there is a loneliness (and hunger) inside of him that only the koriel can ease.

it bothers him a little, but he decides not not wear his wings when he goes to visit dextera. to show that he's meeting him as himself. a real show of vulnerability or calculated move? little bit of both. ]

Hello. [ archangel barely resists saying: "You wanted to see me?" ] How are you?

[passio]

[ dextera is genuinely thrown by seeing the archangel without wings. it’s a sight he’s never seen before—ever since they were children, the archangel has donned his beautiful white wings, only growing with every passing year, every passing rank.

he’s completely taken by the ruse, or whatever it is. ]

I…

[ he touches his own wings, and gently removes them even as he stares directly at the archangel. ]

I’m okay. I’m fine.

[impiety]

[ Really, he somehow he did not expect to see Dextera wearing wings when he came to visit him. His eyes fix on them, even watching how the Koriel touches those wings before he takes them off.

He feels his breath catch in his throat as he does so, and it takes some effort to offer a slight smile in response to what is said. ]

I'm happy to hear it. I would... I felt like this has been difficult for you, and am grateful for all that you're doing. [ "For me." ]

[passio]

[ dextera doesn’t know why he’s trying so hard. there is no benefit to him, to helping the archangel. he doesn’t even think he’s very good at it, if the responses to this post are anything to go by—for every person he convinces, there’s another who thinks he needs help.

but at the end of the day, the archangel is the one who dictates his actions, even if dextera is capable of controlling his feelings. ]

It must be harder on you. To set all this up.

[ he closes the door behind the archangel, letting himself have a moment of looking at the archangel’s back. it feels nude, even if it isn’t. ]

[impiety]

Even so, I won't give up.

[ At least until he is returned to his world. He can only hope that his future will be changed when he goes back to being impaled on that false Consciousness Orb.

Until then, it will be good to attempt to make peace in other worlds. And when he returns, he has already gifted the Order to Sinistra ... so that the volatile Koriel will use whatever forces he has gathered to destroy as much as he can.

I can't think of a more fitting end to everything. And no, of course, he doesn't recognize how distorted his thoughts became at the end. ]

I want to save as many lives as I can. [ He frowns slightly. ] But I'm sorry that you must suffer the people's ire for what I have decided. That is not what I want for you.

[ Hesitantly, he says: ] I... I want you to always be at my side... in the light with me.

[passio]

[ dextera knows he should be terrified. the archangel doesn’t say anything he doesn’t believe somewhere in his heart, but that doesn’t mean his words can’t be used to manipulative ends. it’s worse, dextera thinks, if he truly believes it. ]

Is that where you think I belong?

[ there’s a little something in his voice more like the koriel of yore. the one who saw the archangel’s hatred for god long before anyone else. ]

…in the light?

[impiety]

[ Some slight hesitation worms its way into his heart. His eyebrows furrow at the tone, at the words chosen, but it only lasts for a few short seconds.

He smiles warmly at Dextera. ]

Yes, it is.

[ He pauses. ]

Is there any reason why you shouldn't be? [ ... ] Is there any reason why you think that I wouldn't want you in the light?

[passio]

[ dextera truly feels he has all the reason in the world to think that the archangel wants him dead and buried. that is, he felt that way, until the archangel showed up here without his wings. he would be just a man, if dextera saw him on the street.

the archangel’s power comes from a place dextera will never be able to tap into, but he’s always trying to understand it. ]

No.

[ he sounds honest enough, at least. dextera steps back, leading the archangel further into his home. ]

You’ve been kind to me. Things are different here… without the weight of my sin.

[impiety]

[ He steps in after, pausing to look around the room. It's more interest in how everything has been decorated, and if it is different than how the rooms originally were given to them. Honestly, it bothers him to leave Dextera "free" and outside of his control. The idea that the Koriel could make choices that weren't Archangel's first.

He frowns a little before smiling. It will be fine. ]

That's right. There's no reason to bring up your sins here. The world will be saved by your hands as soon as we return. [ This lie he keeps telling himself. It will be fine. It will work out that way. It will. ]

But that's not the reason that you invited me over, right?

[passio]

[ truthfully, dextera’s apartment is a mess. the decorations are slim and sterile, and while he’s at least learned to keep the kitchen clean of any organic trash, he hasn’t quite learned how to keep his clothes and other assorted items off the floor. it is, quite frankly, like the neuro tower at its worst. ]

…

[ he looks down at a coat he purchased some time ago, without facing the archangel. ]

No… it isn’t. I really wanted to speak with you.

[impiety]

[ Well, it isn't quite what he expected, but somehow he feels a sense of relief. Perhaps, it is because he feels this means that Dextera would be better off in his care than outside it? ]

Speak with me? [ He walks further into the room, attempting to find a place where he could sit. ] About what?

[passio]

…

[ dextera will not, can’t reveal the entire truth as he knows it, but when he’s working for the cult like this, he has to know why dextera’s attentions and loyalties might seem so divided. it’s evidence that the archangel has already managed to worm himself into a position of power in dextera’s mind, casting a shadow on all his fond memories.

he brushes off his couch, so the archangel can sit. ]

In all the time that’s passed since I last saw you… I told you, things had changed.

[impiety]

[ Archangel takes his seat on the couch where it is cleared off, crossing his legs in a lazy fashion. Of course, his peace and sense of control starts to waver as soon as Dextera speaks. ]

Things have changed?

[ A moment of fear touches his insides, but he reassures himself that it should be fine. Dextera has no memories of what really transpired. It'll be fine.

He takes in a shaky breath, as he attempts to ease his own shaking feelings. ]

What has changed?

[passio]

[ it’s so strange, how the archangel’s panic seems obvious to him. he understands the cause and how to set the archangel at ease before it gets out of hand, but he also knows that he doesn’t have to. ]

…

[ it would be cruel, though. he doesn’t want to be a cruel god. instead, dextera sits at the archangel’s feet—he doesn’t think of it as humiliating. he doesn’t think of it as anything at all. ]

I had planned to run away from… the world. I didn’t want to go back to something that hurt so much, and there was a man who said he would do everything he could to make sure I didn’t have to.

[ he places his hand on the archangel’s leg, like he needs to steady himself even on the ground. ]

[impiety]

You planned to leave?

[ His hand clenches into a fist as he isn't even certain what would happen if that would occur. ]

You would abandon all of us?

[ You would abandon me? His eyes widen as he recalls being abandoned, being left alone. Don't. Don't leave me. He does feel reassured in part with Dextera sitting in front of him, with the Koriel's hand on his leg.

But he still feels the distinct urge to drop down to his level, to wrap his arms around him and pull him back -- figuratively and literally. Don't go. There is an urge he has to reach out to strangle him -- to see if his revived self would contain any memories or not!

Somehow, he resists all of these things... ]

Is that... is that what changed? You're telling me that you're leaving?