#ch:azrael

[chronicles-of-the-fallen]

You and I? We love two very different women. But I fear the woman you see in her... is the only one who truly exists.

Azrael (Chapter 22)

[chronicles-of-the-fallen]

I love you, Azrael. You are the only one who truly knows me, who truly sees me as all that I am. But I can never be yours… and you can never be mine.

Celestiel (Chapter 13 Sneak Peek) 

-Jael 

[chronicles-of-the-fallen]

VERMILION PT 2 (BLOODSTONE MIX) - Slipknot 

She seemed dressed in all of me, stretched across my shame.

All the torment and the pain

Leaked through and covered me

I'd do anything to have her to myself

Just to have her for myself

Now I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do when she makes me sad.

-Jael

[chronicles-of-the-fallen]

I have a question to lovely writers: What is the age of your characters? I know they are supposed to be immortal, so I am specifically referencing to how old do they look like. For instance, Elementals (except Mika) look like they are in their early to old 20s, Kurai like a teenager, etc. Lilith is supposed to look like a young adult, right? How about Jinho, Serissa, Nema? For some reason I see Nema as no younger looking than a 25 year old. Must be the children!

OMG, I love this question. XD 

Uriel - I’ve always pictured him as looking to be in his late twenties. I DON’T KNOW WHY. But when reading angel sanctuary, my mind automatically defaults to them being 18 looking (the angels, I mean), like they just kind of stop physically maturing once they get to that age. I thought Uriel would be the exception to this rule. That’s just me going back to the idea of him being old, like the earth. XD Not to say late twenties is OLD LOOKING, just a bit more mature. Less baby-faced. 

Serissa - I think that if Serissa lived a happier life, she would look around 18-20. But lots of stress and the general harshness of her makeup, tattoos, etc. makes her probably look around 25 or so. 

Azrael - Like Serissa, I can see him ‘aging’ under the stress of leading a rebellion, not to mention the horrible loss of his wife and son. T.T Probably early twenties, for him. 

Celestiel - I’ve been vague about Celestiel’s physical appearance because, so far, I see her always in shadow during the few scenes that we HAVE been near her. So I won’t really say much about how old/young she looks until later. 

As for the kids, they all look like… children. XD Since Chiyo is nearly a teenager, she’s starting the whole puberty thing and developing VERY SUBTLE preteen curves. 

I’m very tired right now, and I feel like I’m missing someone. Possibly Judas, but I don’t really care about him. XD 

-Jael 

++++++

I love this question; I don’t know why. XD The concept of age when applied to the immortal interests me, because in some ways it simply does not apply, but I think it can still manifest in other ways.

I actually really like that Nema “comes off” as a 25 year old; that means I’m doing my job right! XD We actually did the math to figure out what Nema’s LITERAL age is by the time of Layers. By then, she is 26 years old. So the fact that I have written her in such a way that she comes off that way is a GOOD THING~! Celebration snack food for me! XD

The thing about Nema’s age, however, is that as a result of Michael constantly pushing her via all the sparring in Impy, and the LITERAL pushing/falling off the building and dying (which causes her to cross over into the spiritual planes, i.e. Hades and such), result in the same “Peter Pan Syndrome” that Michael himself suffers from. In Impy Chapter 16, Uriel basically tells her plainly, “You will forever be 16.”

But I really do think that even if she is PHYSICALLY “forever 16,” there are definitely other ways that age would show itself on her. One way, though not explicitly pointed out, is style. Nema was heavily into lolita AND she still is, but over the years, I’m very sure there have been changes in the way her outfits are compiled. In Impy, I always pictured her silhouettes to be very “textbook” lolita, for lack of a better word. Her tops were never cut low enough to show any cleavage (or shadow of cleavage seeing as her bust is small XD), and her skirts sat up around her natural waistline, making the curve of her hips very much hidden from view. Her shoes - usually knee-high boots, were flat-footed or have very low, modest heels.

By the time of Layers, there have been subtle changes to her outfits that are NOT “textbook” lolita - I always figured that her tops are worn or cut lower, ALLOWING a bit of cleavage to show through, and her skirts are worn lower on her waist, allowing the inward curve of her waist and the beginning outward flare of her hips to show - which is only exaggerated by her corsets. The only REAL mention I know I’ve made about her change in dress is her shoes - she prefers higher heels on her knee-high boots, and in general. All of these things put together make her come across as more like a woman and less like an eternal teenager. XD

Which is why if I could art (IIIIII can’t XD), I’d totally juxtapose a picture of Impy!Nema with Layers!Nema, so that those subtle changes could clearly show themselves.

Other things that aid in Nema coming across as older than 16: Childbirth, certainly. She’s given birth twice by the time of Layers. I’m sure the pregnancies added a bit on to her hips at LEAST, and possibly her bust. Curvier figures are generally read as more “mature” than ones that aren’t. Alsooooo stress, I hate to say. But going through prolonged bouts of stress - which Nema certainly is, and was even before Layers - can certainly make one come across as older, or at the very least, quite tired. XD

And I have spent so much time rambling about Nema when I have very little to say about everyone else. XD I’ve always figured that in general the immortal races (Angels, Evils, Gehenna Vamps) have reached “full growth/physical maturity” somewhere between the mid to late 20’s…? Apparently Jael Face thinks it’s more like late teens/early 20’s, so your mileage may vary. Personally I figure 18 would have been a bit TOO young, but~~~

Regardless of what you figure, though, it’s undisputed that Michael looks much younger than the usual. XD I don’t believe the age he LOOKS is every specified and I’ve seen people interpret it as anywhere from 13 to 16. I’m one of those who think he probably fully matured looking anywhere from 15-17 at the ABSOLUTE oldest. Which is, again, another reason why I personally don’t think 18 would be the cut-off age development, but your opinion may totally differ. XD

So based on my personal interpretation of immortal races’ physical development, that would put all the other Angels and fully-grown Lilith in their mid-20’s physically, though I’m sure the way they carry themselves has an affect on how they “seem” to others. I think Uriel and Jibril carry themselves more like they’re in their late 20’s. Raphael probably varies; sometimes he seems like he’s in his early-mid 20’s when he’s quite happy and when he’s not-so-happy he seems like he’s in his late 20’s. Lilith definitely carries herself like she’s in her VERY EARLY 20’s because while her body is suddenly VERY mature, her personality and subsequent actions are still quite childish. It’s clear she has a lot to learn.

Jinho is another interesting character in that his family line, through his father, involves age manipulation. As far as his true form goes, he reached full maturity a LONG time ago, and I think he comes across as in his late 20’s. BUT. He has the ability to make himself look MUCH YOUNGER, as WELL as much OLDER. So that is something to keep in mind.

I feel like when it comes to Assiahbound Vamps, a lot of it boils down to the physical age one is once they’re Turned, in the case of those who ARE Turned versus being naturally born. I’ve always assumed they are stuck at whatever that age is, so it’s a case that goes person by person.

For those that are BORN of one or two Assiahbound Vamps, it’s hard to say. Aaron and June are currently children and they will grow to adulthood, but I don’t know what that means, physically speaking. I am inclined to say it would be in the mid to late 20’s as well, though… APPARENTLY Jael Face doesn’t care enough about Judas to provide and answer, but I always pictured him as being in his late 20’s, MAYBE his early 30’s even.

… And given that, if the Assiahbound Vamps are all genetically influenced by him (bound to the earth, bloodthirts, etc.), I feel like it should follow that all naturally born Assiahbounds would cease aging in their late 20’s/early 30’s, then?

As for the children~~~! Isobelle is 2. Nathan is 5. Abel is 9, though thus far he has not appeared in Layers. Lilliel (Nyssa and Rujiel’s daughter - it’s okay if you’ve forgotten about her by now XD) was born at the top of Layers, which makes her a mere 3 months old, as of Chapter 11. If I remember right, Chiyo is supposed to be 12. Apparently Aaron and June do not have specified ages within our notes - I just checked XD. All I know is that they’re siblings. I personally pictured them being around Abel’s age, though, maybe a year younger? So 8 or 9?

If we’ve forgotten anyone that you’re curious about, just let us know~!

- Brenli

[chronicles-of-the-fallen]

A post about Nema's political dealings post-Impy, and how it inadvertently planted the seeds for the formation of the Uprising.

This is one of a couple of posts on aspects of the world of CotF that I felt needed some elaborating... questions from the readership further influenced me to finally write them~

- Brenli