GUIDING LIGHT

ZACHARIEL || ARCHANGEL

[tumultuouslyxnaomi]

A tag-team couple, how romantic. That is me, the second-born, the second in command of the next heir in line. Did you make him suffer?

[protector-zachariel]

I would like to think it's very romantic– I love doing anything with my wife, even if it means sullying my shoes with the blood of a rat. That you are, Naomi– you will fulfill that role quite well, and your family will finally be what it's supposed to be. After my wife cut out his tongue, we tore him apart so that his innards decorated the ground like confetti– then his head was ceremoniously removed and tossed to the side like trash. I believe we made him suffer quite a bit.

[marinaxhartley]

Cronus and his brother have older siblings? Seriously, why is everyone just related to each other? That Cronus is especially stuffy. Lowkey think I was a Muse in another life, dude, anything music was always my rooted passion. You'll learn until the student becomes the master. Some people were born in an era where technology changed so quickly, that they became nostalgic for their childhood. Deep stuff.

[protector-zachariel]

It's a whole hierarchy, but technically we are all related, yet not at the same time, as our Father created us. Ugh, tell me about it– I haven't seen him in millennia, and I feel as though he's only gotten worse with time. The irony is not lost on me. You could still be a Muse– it is a state of mind rather than genetics– anytime anyone influences another on any subject matter, they are a Muse. Childhood tends to be simpler than adulthood, and missing things or people who remind you of better times is always there. Very deep indeed.

[robinxellis]

No, your brothers who choose waiting with thumbs up the ass. Well, Death's observer role I understand. And the fact my father was the true psycho probably helped that-...did you say son? Azriel, grumpy Azriel who responds in grunts and sarcasm, is your son?

[protector-zachariel]

Trust me, they're getting an earful. That he is. Azriel may have been born to another mother and raised by another family, but his genetics are mine and my wife's. He's an archangel through and through, and he's quite possibly the light of my life. Outside of my wife, that is.

[kaixfoxwood]

What I was able to see while a little preoccupied with unfucking my brother's head, you're about to have a line of people showing their gratitude. You would not believe the amount of music knowledge the kid has stuffed inside her brain, but just pretend to show your interest and you won't hurt her feelings. Why are you thanking me? You and your wife did most of the work. You killed Henrik, you killed Bellora, you fixed Azriel. My family and I barely held him off.

[protector-zachariel]

Gratitude that would be slightly unwarranted since my wife and I came down to the mortal realm due to a... somewhat selfish reason. If it were up to us, we would have left Henrik and Bellora to my siblings to clean up since it was their mess, but we had to get rid of the other version of Azriel because he's our son. Mine and Cyriel's, and I'm thanking you for being the family he needed while we couldn't be.

[charismaticallyxalastor]

You really put my father in a tizzy and I thought I was the only person allowed to do that. Not that it isn't nice seeing you again, Uncle Zach, but you aren't here for a social call.

[protector-zachariel]

'Allowed' isn't in my vocabulary when it comes to your father, especially when Cronus has been misbehaving. No, not social, but it doesn't mean I can't enjoy the small things. I'm here to ensure things move smoothly from here on out.

[timely-cronus]

"Then he should have passed it onto you, handed over the responsibility to the son he trusted more than he will ever trust me with the loom again. Do you realize how offended Death would be that you reduced him to my mere babysitter when I don't need one?" Cronus hissed through his teeth, growing agitated by the appearance of his siblings. The war is over, the danger passed, and yet he didn't feel relieved. "I was blindsided, distracted, however you and our sister wish spinning the story, I lost track of my purpose when Jadis Hawke entered the timeline." And that was the truth. Erasing and rewriting Jade's destiny placed stress on the loom, a god shouldn't play personal favorites. Cronus knew about the Chosen aspect, but who it was remained oblivious to his knowledge. Zach's reveal changed...everything. "Azriel is the Chosen one?" Not who he would have picked, but he also wasn't the Almighty Father. "Your son...you see how well he turned out without knowing his true parentage." The male shook his head, swallowing down what he wanted to say. "Heaven's Chosen serves a purpose of eradicating the Anti-Christ, brother. Are you telling me he has been conceived? Is the mother here now carrying him?"

[protector-zachariel]

"It doesn't work like that, little brother. You will continue to be the God of Time until he removes you– but he will not make it easy for you. Father's retribution is something you will feel for a long time, and it wouldn't be me reducing Death's role. It's you." Zach waved off his brother's ill mood with a dismissive hand. His brother had forgotten that he wasn't the top of the food chain since the separation of the heavens from the mortal realm. "A blindsided and distracted fool who didn't once stop to think that maybe your constant meddling in her timelines has caused a ripple effect through all the other ones. In trying to keep her alive, you doomed her. We expected more from you. Better." The moment that Cronus dropped the small comment about his son, Zachariel's face twitched into a stone-cold facade. "Watch what you say when you speak of my son, Cronus. I will not say it again. He may not know I am his father, but I have been with him every step of the way, from the very moment he came into existence." The archangel took a breath, pushing his anger that was quick to rise to the side, before nodding at his brother's inquiry. "The Anti-Christ has been conceived by way of Henrik and Violet. That is the true vision that Nikolai saw."

[marinaxhartley]

Wow, you're like god-level old and I have been around a fuck ton of gods to last me a lifetime. Music's my love language I take any opportunity spreading around, but if you should know...we had these devices called Ipods. They held more music than any record or cd, but then those became obsolete when you could have your music on your phone. Phones are little boxes us young folks use to communicate in conversation. They were bulky, then they were small, and now they're bigger again.

[protector-zachariel]

My wife and I are far older than they are, technically our Father's first children, but I wouldn't blame you of being sick of being surrounded by the gods– they're all so stuffy. You're like a little tiny Muse, Marina, and I will so very much enjoy learning all about music from you. So, your technology has come in full circle– I am not surprised. Humanity and time are cyclical.

[robinxellis]

You did a whole speed run taking them all out. Listen, I don't care how quick it was, you saved the man I love and killed my father when no one else did.

[protector-zachariel]

It is what my brothers should have done, but they sometimes act like such petulant teenagers. It was that fact, Robin, that made us decide to take your father out first– we weren't going to let friends of our son die.

[angelicxcyriel]

Well, darling, you know there is no need waiting for a battle to come our way so you can witness my magnificence and sequester me when you can do that with a hint of begging. We could concoct a bet so I'll enjoy watching my dear husband drop to his knees, but you do that anyway for me. Remove it, or I will remove it for you and leave it in shreds.

[protector-zachariel]

"It does make me wonder whether our father decided to send us down not just because of Azriel, but because he needed a break from us." He hummed in agreement with his wife's words, "you are by far my favorite being to worship, so I couldn't guarantee that I wouldn't throw the bet just to be able to be on my knees at your feet." His fingers trailed the hem of his shirt, slowly enough that he could make her think that he would disobey just to see her rip the fragile fabric– but they both knew that he would do anything she asked. He pulled the shirt up and over his head, then threw it aside. "No shirts need to be harmed on the quest of our mutual satisfaction, my love."

[timely-cronus]

I have said it countless times that I am sounding like a broken record, but you understand how delicate the loom was. The resurrections, the siege, Bellora, all of it was out of my control. I cannot do my job if every witch from here to the next throws what I'm meant to handle into tangled knots. Then why, Zach, why are you and Cyri here? Not that it's really my concern at the moment.

[protector-zachariel]

Do not tell me how delicate the loom is or was. I was there when it was created, before our father passed it on to you. It was not out of control, but you let it get out of hand, just as your brother has by not keeping you in line. You forgot that you are a god who can manage witches. Our arrival should be your concern, as there is knowledge that even you are not privy to. With the chaos of timelines shattering, our Father's plans, which were supposed to take much, much longer to prepare for, have accelerated. You and the other gods have placed Heaven's Chosen in danger from forces of evil on a cosmic level that have yet to reveal themselves, far beyond what your infantile brain can comprehend. What you need to understand is that to me, Azriel is not just the chosen one, Cronus, he is my and Cyriel's son– and you are so very lucky that it is not her who is speaking to you.

[kaixfoxwood]

Okay, you blast to the mortal plane scorching some heavenly bullshit and then, what, fascinate yourself with records? Wouldn't go mentioning anything related to music if you don't want an hours' long earful.

[protector-zachariel]

Normally, I would have preferred not to have to blast my 'heavenly bullshit', but it was dire circumstances, and I have always had a fascination with humankind and your advancements during my time away. If you're referring to the miraculous summoning of young Marina at the mere utterance of music, I have already begun my tutelage with her vast knowledge. Yet, I have been meaning to speak with you, Kai. Nothing bad, I promise, just to give you a thanks that my wife and I can never repay.

[tumultuouslyxnaomi]

You are the one who killed my father, aren't you?

[protector-zachariel]

It was a joint effort with my wife, but yes, I was. You're Naomi, Henrik's second-born if my memory serves.

[angelicxcyriel]

Always the champion of my well-being, my darling, but you must have forgotten our wager. I can either rest for a few moments or see how long you last without a shirt.

[protector-zachariel]

Forgotten an opportunity to sequester you all to myself and worship you like the goddess that you are after witnessing your magnificence in battle? Never, but that makes it sound like you want to make another bet when I could simply... remove my shirt now.

[marinaxhartley]

You totally set yourself back by about four decades, dude, there was also little pieces of smaller plastic and now nothing's a physical copy anymore.

[protector-zachariel]

That is a very generous assumption, since I have not been here in centuries, perhaps longer. Time is irrelevant to me. I should have known that speaking of music would have brought you here, Marina, but if I may ask– if it is not physical, where does it go?

[timely-cronus]

I know what you may think judging me having anything to do with Bellora, Zachariel. Despite her chaos, I loved her.

[protector-zachariel]

You think that's why we're here, Cronus? I care not for who you are involved with, but the moment that you allowed the timelines to fall apart, you involved Cyri and me. We would have been here earlier, but we had to appeal to be allowed to leave Heaven. Unlike you, who throws your power around instead of doing your job, we take ours very seriously. The fact of the matter is, you know nothing.

[protector-zachariel]

Music on little pieces of plastic, no kidding. I haven't been back on the mortal plane since minstrels were a thing.

[robinxellis]

I've never seen anything more badass in my entire life than I just did watching my own father die.

[protector-zachariel]

My wife and I tend to be a little quick to hand out punishments, but I hope that it was everything you ever hoped for, Robin.