Been watching a lot of cdramas lately, and I have an idea for guitarhero. I'd like to say it's a bit of a romcom, but the more I write the draft, the more I'm realising it might not be that funny 😐. Anyway, I just need to get myself to actually write and finish it for valentines ughhh.
“I’m Azrael, delighted to make your acquaintance.”
The creature in front of Adam held its open hand towards him, a soft smile plastered on its ashen face as if he were a welcomed guest and the night creature in front of him his benevolent host. However, despite his current pitiful circumstance, Adam would not let his pride stammer for even a moment and refused to acknowledge the hand offered to him. His life could end at any moment but he refused to play along with the creature’s games. Creatures of the night, no matter the form they took, always led to trouble or worse.
A few silent moments passed between the two, a cornered mouse with reopened wounds and a cat who sat in calm silence across from it. A final standoff, a horribly one-sided one but a standoff nonetheless. At least that was how Adam read the situation, with the stillness of the air as the dust finally settled onto the wood after their short clash, the coldness of early fall that steadily crept into his bones just like the night before when everything had gone downhill for him. Then suddenly there was a shift, a soft rustling of fabric. Every inch of his muscle cried out in pain as Adam tensed up, terribly injured but unwilling to simply die without a fight.
“That’s alright,” the creature pulled his hand away from Adam and placed it onto his knee as he got to standing up. “You don’t have to tell me your name if you don’t wish to.”
The creature kept its little smile on its face, though this time replaced with something that looked a little softer, sadder like a poor puppy that was denied care. Adam could only snort loudly at the pathetic mimicry shown to him. He wasn’t an idiot.
Adam crossed his arms in front of his chest, back straightened up as he tried to keep his face looking somewhat menacing and ignore the increasingly painful sting he felt in his ribs even as it had already made its way back to the small kitchen on the other side of the room, tending to the remaining pot on the stove. And just like that, the suffocating air moments ago swiftly dissipated into nothing as the comforting sounds of a kitchen filled the tiny room once more. Although such familiar sounds that initially brought him comfort and warmth now only fueled the simmering anger in his stomach. And as the ashen creature lifted the pot’s lid and stirred the contents inside, looking pathetically pleased with whatever concoction it had made, the anger he felt inside only rose to a bubbling point. The very display in front of him only acted like dry logs to a stove. It was a mockery, there was no other point for it to do such a pointless thing.
He kept his eyes trained like a hawk on the snowy haired figure in front of him even as it proceeded to head towards a small closet, rummaging through old dusty boxes and papers, and paid Adam no mind despite the dangers the human stared into its back. Meanwhile, Adam had carefully placed himself to lean against the wall behind him, a little slouched as he gave into the pain that had been torturing him since he tried to kill off the creature but upright enough to not look completely helpless.
Adam felt himself stiffen a little as it made its way towards him, stopping only a short distance from the left side of his futon before it sat in seiza once more – all formal and regal with its unnatural complexion, stark white hair and striking red eyes underneath long lashes, like a some sort of demonic lord with a hauntingly beautiful mask.
In front of Adam, the creature laid out a small cloth bundle that looked contrastingly intact and new unlike the rest of the house. It looked modern, like something that came from bustling towns and cities.
“So what’s your angle here?” Adam narrowed his eyes at the suspicious bundle placed in front of him.
“Hm?”
The way it tilted its head, hands paused at the bundle’s strings, the way its crimson eyes glowed not with malice but with seemingly sincere confusion – all these pretences, one after another since he woke up this morning, did nothing to alleviate the growing tension in his head. Everything was simply draining all of his energy in the last 24 hours, from the mess that was last night to the severe injuries he sustained and reopened, and now he had to put up with the creature’s obvious moral guise. The patience he never had was beginning to simmer off into hot steam. He was never an academic, but that didn’t mean he would stand being treated like a complete idiot.
“I am aware of what kind of creature you are,” he hissed, feeling as if steam was leaving his lips as he tried to reign in the flames within himself.
Large eyes slowly blinked at him, like a child taking a moment or two to process concepts that were difficult to grasp.
“Yes, well, I thought I was quite transparent with you earlier,” it finally answered before moving its gaze back down towards the cloth bundle it had laid between itself and Adam. With a swift pull of a string and gentle guidance, the bundle slowly unrolled itself revealing vials and creams of all types, and various small metallic tools.
“We need to check on your injuries. You’ve undone some of the healing your body worked on these past few days.”
“Days?”
“Just a little over two days.” Red eyes flicked up to meet Adam’s own amber ones for a brief moment before swiftly returning its gaze back to the unfurled bundle. Willowy hands picked out a vial with a clear liquid inside, a small jade container and some select dried herbs, setting them aside onto an empty part of the bundle. “You were in quite a terrible condition.”
Those same red eyes, somehow both bright and hollow, met Adam’s own once again, its intent indiscernible behind the subtle glint in them as it leaned a little closer towards Adam. Under the dim of flickering flames, those reds were both warm and piercing, comforting and terrifying, life and death.
And despite his priding himself for his courage and boldness, Adam couldn’t bear to look further into those red abyss and directed his gaze to part away with the creature’s. With clenched hands and a new sting in his chest, Adam remained steadfast in his stance. He might have lost the silent battle, but that didn’t mean he was going to give in and play along with the creature.
Then there was a small gasp followed by a hastily mumbled apology before the figure in front of him leaned back, further than it was when it had initially laid the bundle out. It still sat as neatly as it always had, though there was some subtle loss of poise. There was a quiet clearing of a throat, though Adam refused to provide it the attention it was seeking from him.
“They’re clean and new, I ensured to maintain the contents properly,” it explained as it picked up a vial, waving the clear within lightly before Adam. “It’s not much, but I do have some experience using these.”
Adam shifted his gaze towards the bundle’s contents; sharp needles, straight and curved ones, from small to big, as well as other sharp tools, shiny in under the flickering flames, lined the bundle. A sneer left him before he could even thoroughly think through his actions, though he honestly didn’t care at this point. He couldn’t be more fucked than he already was anyway.
“Oh, I’m sure you do.”
No satisfaction came from his words, though he secretly hoped for its possibility. Creatures of the night, especially something like the one before him, were simply difficult to crack, nigh impossible to determine their temperaments. Some were direct and straight-forwards, some were sly and conniving, and others were abnormal and eerie – just like the pale freak before him. Adam simply couldn’t understand what it was trying to do as it sat quietly in front of him, its head slightly tilted to the side, thin lips slightly curved downward as its brows scrunched above its eyes looking awkward and lost. Like an idiot puppy lost in the woods.
Adam tutted, “Give me that.” He reached out to swiftly snatch the entire bundle closer towards him, though his hand halted midway to quickly return to his side as he began to curl in on himself, whilst simultaneously stubbornly trying to contain the trembling that took over his body.
From the corner of his blurred vision, a pale figure sat up higher, long hand raised to reach out to him. The movements were slow, careful, as it approached Adam’s hunched figure.
“Stay away from me,” Adam warned with haggard breaths as he held out a feeble hand between him and the creature. “I’ll do it myself.”
And in between managing the pain that coursed throughout his entire body and stabilising his breathing, there was that infuriating confusion nagging in the back of his head again. And while he was somewhat grateful that it had chosen to listen to Adam’s demand and backed away when asked, it still vexed him how bizarre this entire situation was.
“...if you’re sure…”
“Never been more sure,” Adam insisted through gritted teeth. “Leave me alone.”
It was embarrassing for him to accept its ‘help’ but his reckless stubbornness had led him to this exact scenario and had done nothing to alleviate his current predicament. If he refused to accept the offered materials, he would certainly die, and if such offered materials were secretly laced with some sort of poison, then he would also die. Either way, there was no escape for him. But on the off chance that the items would help him, then that meant he could get better and hopefully get back in shape. And once he got in shape, then he’d somehow figure out how to deal with the creature.
His priority as of now was to heal up, and as his hand grabbed a small jade container, a clear vial was instead offered to him.
“That’s the miso paste,” it said, this time red eyes purposely not connecting against Adam’s as it carefully slid a clear vial towards him before promptly backing away. “I suggest using the shōchū first to clean up a little.”
“I knew that!” said Adam as he snatched the vial, ignoring the momentary sting on his abdomen.
It was unnerving, the way it sat deathly still across Adam like some sort of cursed doll, the way its strange appearance contrasted strikingly against the almost cosy appearance of the house they were in. A being that could never truly be part of something human, something alive.
In one moment it was still, almost death-like in its silence, and then in another it had gotten up, footsteps inaudible even against the creaky floorboards as it went back to the small kitchen. The familiar clutter of a homely kitchen bounced once more against the old walls of the house.
As Adam was busy ensuring that all the items in the bundle were indeed safe for him to use, a steaming bowl was placed in front of him. And for a moment Adam felt his heart stuck in his throat. “How the fuck does it move so quietly?!”
And whether the way he tried to play off the way he flinched as a result of his injuries managed to cover up his small slip up, the creature gave no indication. No matter, Adam decided it was better not to be brought up at all, and instead finally turned his attention to the bowl that startled him in the first place. It was a small wooden bowl, plain and unassuming just like the rest of the house, and inside it was rice congee with a wooden spoon sticking out of it. Or that was what Adam thought it was supposed to be. He wasn’t the best cook, and despite his wife’s best efforts he was mediocre at best, but he was pretty sure that rice congee was not supposed to be as dry nor as clumpy as whatever it was in the bowl. And as he stirred the contents of the bowl, brown and blackened bits of rice surfaced every now and then.
“It might be a little too hot, so please be careful.”
Adam lifted his eyes towards the creature as it resumed its seat from across him, an awkward smile back on its face, before setting them back down towards his ‘food’. He scoffed, mentally this time, as he set aside the bowl of congee.
“I’ll be careful alright,” he replied.
An uncomfortable silence fell between the two, though it seemed that Adam was the only one who felt it as he struggled to patch himself up due to the pain he felt throughout his body, but mostly due having to restrict his own movements so as not to expose himself. Meanwhile, it remained seated across him, its crow from earlier, ‘Adzuki’, perched back on its shoulder as it petted the bird.
“About what happened that night…” it started, and handed Adzuki another treat before it turned its attention back to Adam.
Adam briefly looked up from his work before quickly returning to the bloodied bandages he had loosened and untied, his brows furrowed deeply though this time no words left his mouth.
“I sincerely apologise on my friend’s behalf.” It placed both of its hands on the floor, its long white hair pooled around it like a mountain’s snowy peak as its head touched the floorboards. “There was a horrible misunderstanding. If there’s–”
“I dunno man,” Adam scoffed, the tension in his head coming back. “I think your ‘friend’ was pretty fucking clear with its intentions.”
The creature looked up from its position, eyes blank and wide still seemingly unsure of what the human had meant.
“What with the corpses piled around him and all,” Adam continued with a certain roughness to his voice.
“I–” It sat up from where it had bowed, the hands on its lap clenched at its hakama, its fanged teeth trying not its own lips as its red eyes were casted down onto old floorboards. “I don’t mean to excuse him, but he had his reasons.”
“Yeah, food,” Adam retorted, his tone both steely and burning, as he finally looked up to give the creature a bitter glare.
“That’s–”
“Look,” sighed Adam, deeply, loudly, purposely accompanied by a pronounced eyeroll. “I’m trying to patch myself here, can you stop bothering me?”
Fortunately for Adam, despite having let his anger and attitude direct the conversation, the creature seemed to have neither been provoked nor angered, and instead was preparing to leave as it brushed the non-existent dust off its hakama and proceeded to stand up.
“Well, I suppose you’d like some privacy,” it said, though it paused for a moment. And as Adam followed where its gaze had landed, his hand reacted before he could even form a thought and pulled his still bloodied axe to himself, causing some of the medical items on his lap to carelessly slip off his lap.
The creature’s hand hung midair as Adam shot another glare at it. A silent dare.
“You can keep your axe if it brings you comfort.” It wasn’t going to take the dare. There was simply no point. There was no need to aggravate the human any further. So instead, it retracted its hand away before giving Adam a slight bow.
The old door creaked open and caused the autumn moonlight to spill into the genkan where the creature was putting on its setta sandals. Its long white hair shone like the first snow of the cold months under the cold light of the moon. It was almost ethereal, like something divine. Until it turned back towards Adam, eyes like blood on snow looking towards him, like a peacefully lonely death.
“You may ask Adzuki to call upon me if you require anything. Please treat each other nicely.”
At the mention of her name, the crow landed onto a small table at the corner of the room, hopping lightly as it made clicking noises.
“Then, I’ll be off.” It gave both Adam and Adzuki a final bow before disappearing into the darkness of the night with the door swiftly shutting close behind.
What songs do you think matches each of Adam's relationships with the archangels? Or songs that just have the same vibe 😋
Very veeery late answer to this ask, but well, better late than never? I'm sorry 🙇♀️.
The type of songs I listen to aren't particularly diverse, but I think here are some songs I could think of that I think aptly describes Adam's relationships with each archangel. I based them mostly on the little stories I already have in my head.
Michael/Adam: 'Takes Me Back Home' by Wasia Project - this song I mainly chose for the Time Travel AU. The lyrics are pretty self explanatory and I see the song from Adam's perspective in that story. Finding comfort and safety within someone and that someone feeling like home to them, I think it ties quite neatly with Adam's desperate want to find and secure a permanent home in that story. 'j's lullaby' by Delaney Bailey is another song I think that suits guitarhero though this one from Michael's perspective instead. I think it suits the personality I've made for him; the devotion and love in the song's lyrics and song's tender melody (like a lullaby). Certain part's of the song also describe Adam/Michael quite aptly as well, like: "'Cause, baby, when your arms are around me. I'd swear that I'm holding the sun" <- Adam definitely brings the warmth that Michael unconsciously seeks in his life. I could go on about the lyrics, but I'm a little too lazy to expand on it.
Gabriel/Adam: I'd use 'Unknown/Nth' by Hozier for a specific scenario. The song's generally about heartbreak and betrayal, and the scenario I have for this one is about unrequited love from Adam's side and 'betrayal' from Gabriel from when Adam does become a sinner (I wrote a tiny scenario about it here) Though I guess this song would be generally about how Adam eventually finds out how Gabe doesn't truly have some sort of loyalty/devotion for him, the betrayal of being so easily discarded, and how it might've been better for Adam to have never truly known who Gabe was. On a more positive side! 'Fallin' With Me' by The Struts I think suits their more day to day relationship - from the upbeat and rock vibe, a spontaneous and thrilling 'romance'. It has a fun and chaotic party feel to it, but doesn't seem to be anything too deep. So yeah, kinda like how both like to drag the other into whatever shenanigan they've gotten into.
Azrael/Adam - 'ur so pretty' by Wasia Project - this song I mainly chose for this fic (maybe it's a little spoilery?). But I think it also suits the general relationship I have in mind for them, like there was and there still is genuine love between them but it feels like it's slipping away and both do realise that and it's just so scary because it seems inevitable due to circumstances between them. Such loss is even made scarier because of how genuine it is, and if such a thing could ever happen again to either of them once it's lost. The song's sweet and sad, and I think it suits the atmosphere I generally have for Azrael/Adam.
Camael/Adam - I don't really have a solid story for them, just some little scenarios here and there, but I think 'Halley's Comet' by Billie Eilish would suit them, though for me I see it more from Camael's perspective. The song starts with not wanting to fall in love nor wanting to admit such a feeling but it's pretty obvious afterwards in the lyrics how the narrator feels such deep love and care to someone. I haven't talked much about Camael, so I'll describe him briefly: he's such an introvert and he doesn't like people getting close to him in any way (physically and emotionally). But when he starts to care (even when he never intended to), he cares deeply and sincerely because it's rare for him to find someone to cherish like that. Alternatively, I could also see the song from Adam's perspective who's heart has already been broken multiple times and doesn't want to sincerely love anyone anymore, and yet his constant pranking and annoying of Camael backfired to him and he ended up falling for the guy. Really the song's a sweet little love song about finding the rare person to fall for.
It’s been ages since I actually posted about the lore I had of them in Eden. It’s honestly all over the place but small lore snippet
Adam and Michael’s first meeting happens after Michael rushes to Eden to find Lucifer. Michael hadn’t known that Lucifer had been sneaking off into the garden for a while. He caught Lucifer sneaking away after a particularly bad meeting. He saw as Lucifer exited one of heavens gated portals and rushed after him. Before he could catch up, Lucifer had disappeared. Michael kinda just runs and looks around looking for him till he hears rustling. He finds a large man staring right at him. Hes met with pretty yellows, not quite gold, but more.. earthy. He doesn’t have a name yet but it’s pretty. The stunned silence is broken by Adam poking and prodding at Michael. Adam’s very enthusiastic about meeting someone new. (Hes very lonely and you can prob guess why) He’s not sure what Michael is until he actually notices Michael’s wings. They formally introduce themselves and Michael states why he’s there. Michael’s very skittish. He knows he really not supposed to be there directly talking to a human but he needs to find his brother. Adam volunteers to help, which Michael initially declines but Adam’s so persistent he kinda just folds. Adam knows Eden better so Michael lets him tag along so long alight with boundaries (which doesn’t stick) The search ends up melting into a hangout. Adam is a very friendly person and Michael doesn’t know what to do with that, but he doesn’t hate it. It’s takes all day but they haven’t found Lucifer so Michael just hopes Lucifer went back home at some point. Mike knows that it’s cuz he got distracted but Adam is a very talkative but engaging person. And well, humans are just as they had said- very pretty. Michael has to go but Adam really wants him to stay longer. Michael’s walking and Adam’s trailing behind him like a kicked puppy. Before Michael leaves Adam asks if Michael will ever come back. Michael was gonna say no, but finds that he can’t. He settles on a maybe and Adam gave him a hopeful smile. It’s gonna linger that man’s coming back lol
Haven’t been in the mood to write for a while now, but look what I made instead!!
Douma inspired nails!! I had to learn a skill completely new to me, and I was absolutely terrible at the very start, but I think it was worth it!! ☺️ Now that I’m a little more confident at this, I think I’ll try my hand at making a Michael inspired one next!
Another set I made for my sis cuz I’m bored. I don’t even wear fake nails but I guess I’ll have to start since I find making them quite enjoyable 😅. (I want to make an akaza/hakuji and shinobu inspired nails too!)
I keep trying to find more excuses to make more by offering to make some for my friends, but I don’t think they’re too interested 🥲.
(A little practice writing. Just some short random lore between Camael and Gabriel that I thought was fun to write out.)
The fresh fires of damnation licked at the darkened edges of the still open crater that had formed in the garden that was once paradise. At the edge of the red abyss, a pale figure stood soundless – six coppery wings hung loose at his sides, soft waves of earthy reds flowed along with the smoky wind that emanated from the mouth of abyss that Lucifer had recklessly opened in search of 'freedom'. His flowing robe remained a pristine white despite the abyss' desperate attempts to spread its darkened claws up the slowly mending earth as if his gaze alone was enough to smother its dark ambitions to nothingness.
A single apple – one foolish mistake gave birth to a whole new dimension. One that was eternally dark despite the punishing flames that burned all flesh. A large empty abyss for two people who desired more freedom. Empty – for now.
The gentle waves on the pale angel's head fluttered once more, this time in a different direction following the flow of wind that quietly flew from behind and up towards a large, wilting tree.
"It's okay to cry, you know," said the red-headed angel perched upon a charred branch. "He's your brother after all."
The pale angel looked up at the red-headed angel, the greens of his eyes was devoid of the usual vibrance and cheer that the angel perched on the tree was used to. Instead, a steely gaze met his own cool, silvery ones.
A moment of stillness.
Paradise was dead and the abyss choked on its own flames. Without a word between the two, a conversation had already concluded.
The pale angel turned his eyes back down towards the mistake that cost humanity paradise. The look in his eyes turned even harder – steady and impassive. There was no sadness or shock or grief, not even a hint of anger. In those green eyes, there was only apathy never love. "I don't have such a brother."
Then, without another word, the pale angel turned and walked away from the first stain on Earth, leaving the red-headed angel with his words.
----
"Camael."
Azrael waved a hand in front of Camael's face, leaning back into his seat once he got his friend's attention back. "Are you still listening?"
Camael blinked once, then twice, before he finally moved his cheek away from his hand and turned to look at his friend in front of him.
"No," he answered – short and succinct like he always did, though he quickly followed it up with a quick 'sorry' once he noticed the slight downturn of Azrael's lips and the tired sigh that escaped the angel of death.
"Well, I was just asking," Azrael continued, red eyes glued onto his friend to make sure that his words were being considered this time. "Why do you seem to dislike Gabriel so much?"
He leaned back, relaxing against the softness of the banquette. "Look, you don't have to like him, but you do have to sometimes work together. So you can't just keep ignoring and avoiding him," explained Azrael, though a familiar headache was beginning to form once he noticed Camael leaning back onto his hand with a disinterested look on his face.
"Plus, you're only adding more stress to Michael," Azrael quickly added before Camael could add a word in, not that the red-headed angel showed any signs of engaging in the conversation to begin with.
"Let's try not to do that, hm?" smiled Azrael like a parent trying to gently sway their child's stubborn opinion. "I know Gabriel can be a bit much sometimes, but he's a nice guy."
Camael leaned further onto his hand as he slowly shifted his gaze away from Azrael and onto a small black spot on the otherwise pristine wall. That dark spot had been there since he was first dragged into the restaurant by Adam all those years ago. How come no one had cleaned it up yet? Didn't anyone else notice it? Was everyone simply blind?
Then he turned back to Azrael, believing that he at least owed the angel of death some courtesy for the trouble he was causing him. And though his voice remained as impassive as it always had been, the silvers of his eyes shone with the slightest hint of revulsion only perceptible to the most keen of eyes.
