After The End

Shouldn't have expected the good times to last forever, I guess.

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

Bargaining Chips

[fallenhealerraphael]

"We have won, certainly… but… what happens now? Energy is now a limited source… demonic actions are not balanced out anymore… everything is chaos and violence and insanity… except here, of course, but well…" - he tilted his head.

"… words can still hurt me… you are a better fighter than I am… and I appreciate your wit and personality… so… you have chances.. you simply have to use them”

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

"I'm a better fighter, but simply being here hurts enough to give you a chance, and energy won't be nonexistent for a long time. You've won, Raphael," Gabriel said. "Don't you get that?..."

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

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[fallenhealerraphael]

"It’s for you to decide, Gabriel… you can decide what you want to do. If you want to gain a position, if you want to fight, if you want things to change... if you want to play along with me… or oppose me… cooperate… or just sit there and let things happen to you… it’s all up to you” - he tilted his head to look at her.

"… and I could not care less if anyone here hears… I am their lord. For a reason. If they wish to contest my position, they can always do that… it’s a right I gave them…"

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

"How would I fight?" Gabriel asked, eyes downcast. "What chance in Hell do I have of even lasting ten minutes? You've won already, this is just icing on the cake."

Sighing tiredly, Gabriel's wings drooped slightly. "Never mind. Forget I said anything."

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

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[fallenhealerraphael]

He sighed: “That’s not exactly what I meant, but… alright… alright…” - he scratched the back of his head and made a heel face turn back to his palace.

"… you know, you’ve got to settle for something you want to do with your existence now, you know?” - he raised a brow and looked at the curled-in-on-herself-archangel.

"… this is one of the more pleasant parts of hell… and there are things to discuss, but like this… I guess that doesn’t work, mh?”

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

"What can I do with the situation like this, then?" Gabriel asked, looking at him with an incredulous look. "This is Hell. I'm not even a prisoner here. What can I decide to do with my existence, save for try to keep it?"

Shaking her head, she said, "You're right. Not a conversation we should be having where people can hear..."

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

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[fallenhealerraphael]

Oh, there were some people, but most were inside.

But none of them was human, that much was for sure.

"I assure you… this in itself is nothing unholy… this… is a simple street. Nothing wrong with it. What would you have me do, dear?”

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

"Leave, preferably." Nothing about this made her want to stay, least of all with this demon. Gabriel held her wings tightly around herself, despite the temperature being pleasant.

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

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[fallenhealerraphael]

She smiled, again, he did that a lot, lately: “This, my dear, is the hell of Envy. And what you currently see is what the souls down here envy the most: normalcy. Their old life. An ordered, clean, perfect little place full of pleasantries. Really, for us… it’s exactly that… a street of restaurants and gift-shops. To be used at our leisure” - he smelled the air. Mmh… it did carry a delicious aroma.

"… it does not hurt anyone… but does remind the souls that others have what they want. So desperately. But they can never have it again… and that… is my hell. Creating an ever-growing gap between the souls and us…” - he huffed - “… humans really have the best ideas…”

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

"...I see..." That certainly explained why there didn't seem to be anyone around, despite the attractiveness of the storefronts and the scent of delicious food in the air. Rather made the street look eerie...

Gabriel shivered slightly, hugging herself.

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

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[fallenhealerraphael]

He chuckled: “You know… spreading a healthy wing full of demonic energy might just confuse some of the people around here”

The current situation was still one of chaos and absurdity. They might just assume some wrong things… which might work out entirely in her favour.

"Oh, come on, Gabriel… it’s not that bad…. you get to walk for a while, has been some time…" - she also had some strength back to even do that again.

He held the door open for her and led the way to the outside world, the hell of envy… to a world that looked… rather a lot like a normal street. Like a particularly clean street, to be exact. With nice restaurants, open and with wonderful aromas beckoning anyone who walked past. It wasn’t a particularly busy street, just a lazy evening, it seemed.

Could be anywhere in a small town somewhere in England…

"… just a little walk, tell me if you want to go anywhere…"

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

The normalness of the streetside view worked rather against it. Gabriel eyed the storefronts with a mixture of apprehension and fear, hovering about two metres from Raphael. She still didn't trust him any further than she could throw him, but sticking close to him was probably a good idea, all things considered.

"What is this?" she asked, keeping her voice hushed.

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

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[fallenhealerraphael]

"Oh, you have the choice between coming with me and seeing the premises, which might be interesting for any flight-plans you have, or so you simply know how your surroundings look, to going back to your lodgings, which or course includes being in closer contact with Theliel, making sure she is in good hands, but I assure you she is perfectly fine, if not a little tired… or you make another suggestion. These are your choices. Take them or leave them…” - he chuckled. So rebellious…

"Oh, and I will not put a collar around your neck, it will be a simple walk, that is all" - if (for some reason) she had thought that.

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

"I don't need to be chained for them to know what's up, you know..." Gabriel muttered. Alright, so either play along, presumably be forced into something sexual with Theliel again, or suggest something else...

...she really just wanted to sleep some more, honestly. Sighing, the angel said, "Fine. Show me whatever it is, then."

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

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[fallenhealerraphael]

Sometimes, he loved his new occupation.

"Oh, you know… the usual… showing you the place, a bit of a walk in the garden… just showing you around…?" - he smiled.

Maybe showing you a few things that make you less unreasonable and more cooperative? Yeah, maybe… or maybe not. It would be pleasing anyway, since Gabriel was delicious when angry.

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

"Do I have a choice or is this a 'heads I win, tails you lose' situation?" Gabriel asked suspiciously. "What would there be for me out there save for demons laughing behind my back at seeing an Archangel dragged around like a pet?"

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

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[fallenhealerraphael]

He grinned: “Yes”

The good thing about being himself was, that this could be an answer and he was allowed not to give a damn.

"Would you like to take a detour before you return to your lodgings?"

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

Narrowing her eyes, Gabriel decided that this was a discussion for another day. He obviously had no moral qualms about it, did not intend to listen, and was, right now, perfectly capable of overpowering her with no more than a gentle push after her illness.

Drawing the fabric tighter around her, she asked, "Where are you planning on taking me?"

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

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[fallenhealerraphael]

"Aw… aren’t we thankful today” - he pressed another kiss on top of her head.

"… if they weren’t burned, certainly. You are aware it would be counterproductive to clean something the demon way? The fabric is only teleported, but really? Cleaning? Nooo, Gabe, I want to keep you some longer time…"

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

"...you..." Hadn't they ever heard of a washing machine? Or doing their laundry by hand?!

Holding up part of her sari, Gabriel said, "So miracling up new clothes is fine but fixing ones I made myself is somehow off-limits?"

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

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[fallenhealerraphael]

"Mmmmmh… if you are okay with miracles…" - he got up and placed a towel around his own self as well, walking towards Gabriel, stopping in front of her… and making a weird dressing-motion around her, which ended with her being… wrapped.

"… then this should not be that bad?" - he smiled at her, lopsidedly.

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

Starting at the sudden feeling of fabric on her, Gabriel looked down at herself, then giving him a glare. "A little warning next time?" she snapped. "This will be fine, but only until I get my clothes back."

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

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[fallenhealerraphael]

"They needed to be washed, a you can imagine… even if burning might be a better option…" - he raised a brow at her. And definitely wanted to pull her into the pool with him again. Sans towel.

"… what would you think we do about that?"

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

"I would have thought that you'd miracle it clean, not spirit it away somewhere," Gabriel snapped. "When do I get it back?" It had better be soon, too. She did not want to spend any more time only covered by a strategically-held towel.

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

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[fallenhealerraphael]

He wanted to follow and keep her.

But that might be just a bit too much. Keep your priorities set, Raphael. Your desires first, then hell's rules - sometimes dabbling with your own, then the ones of the people you are fond of.

You just got your own. And Hell got their due. Now Gabriel has the right to her own wiles. Definitely did.

Mmmmh… he would not bother her right away. Give her her privacy for a bit. That her clothing had been carried away by one of Raphael’s servants was clear, of course…

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

When she got a hold of herself, Gabriel emerged from the water, grabbing a washcloth and cleaning herself off before getting out of the water. Towelling down and wrapping it around her, Gabriel stepped back to where she'd left her clothes, stopping in confusion and then mortification.

"Where did you have them put my clothes?" she demanded, turning to Raphael. It was difficult to look threatening, holding a towel up around you and being a powerelss angel stuck in hell, but she made an effort to, at least.

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

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[fallenhealerraphael]

The first instinct was to grab and hold her close, which was quite clearly shown when his arms twitched closer around her. But… he did let go. Almost all parts of him did. The slim tail decided to stay wrapped around her leg.

Otherwise… well… he let her go, but still pressed a last kiss to her forehead. His. All his.

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

Prying the tail off of her as well, Gabriel got up, stepping out of the pool. Making her way over to one of the lowest ones, Gabriel tested its temperature with a toe before slipping in, the cold water lapping eagerly at her feet.

Letting it envelop her, Gabriel sat down cross-legged at the bottom of the pool, the water reaching above her head. Strange how some things still stayed the same, like technically not needing to breathe, yet others had been warped almost beyond recognition...

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

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[fallenhealerraphael]

He nuzzled into her neck and placed more kisses just below her ear: “Mmmmh… did wonders for your health… my mood… your own well-being… my pride… really, perfect…” - he certainly did not at all want to leave her yet.

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

True, Raphael's energy no longer seemed to hurt her, at least for the moment. But that didn't mean it had been a good idea. She should remember he didn't seem to have any qualms about ignoring her bodily autonomy when it suited him.

"Let me go?" she asked, pushing gently at his shoulders. She should clean that off, really...

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

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[fallenhealerraphael]

His name made him grin. It was delightful to hear, truly. And so much spurring him on. Goosebumps raised despite the hot water around them when the former Raphael came with her, back scratched open and enveloped in an Archangel, kissing their neck and making sure the scratches she had gotten from the wall behind her would not be a bother, would heal. And would not harm her, despite healing.

His own deep moan had resounded through the halls and now he did nothing but kiss and spread slow, lazy kisses on her neck.  “Mmnnnnh…”

No comments this time around.

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

Slowly coming down from her high, Gabriel pet along Raphael's back to ground herself, her breath slowly evening out. Reality came knocking at the same time, causing her to shut her eyes and lean into his shoulder.

"...shouldn't have done that," she muttered. "Stupid..." What had she even been thinking? Ugh...

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

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[fallenhealerraphael]

"With pleasure!" - he growled in her ear, more than pleased that she remembered his earlobe. And shuddered.

She wouldn’t have needed to ask. His hips moved almost automatically. And he decided to muffle his own full-blown moans with her mouth, kissing and sucking on her lips. So, so good, it won’t take long, won’t take long at all. They still fit so perfectly, only that he now… definitely… wanted her for himself and himself alone.

[curtainsfellforgabriel]

Dragging her nails down Raphael's back, leaving raised lines behind, Gabriel scrambled to pull him closer somehow, arching into his movements, muttering breathless encouragements against his lips.

"Fuck, Raph," she breathed, using her legs to pull him in deeper, only vaguely aware she was even speaking. "Yes, oh, yes, come on... Ah!"

That last delighted gasp was followed by a loud cry of pleasure, even deeper scratches along Raphael's back as Gabriel's every muscle tensed at once.