#ibweek2023

[anyarlly]

dancing ooOOO with you, with youuu

[pengychan]

[Good Omens] Flies

Ineffable Bureaucracy Week Day 2: Flies ***

“Can I ask a question?”

“You just did.”

“Well, can I ask another?”

“You just-- heh. Fine, fine. Ask away.”

“Why Lord of the Flies, of all things?”

“Well, I designed them.”

“Ah.”

“You sound surprised. Were you expecting a more sordid tale?”

Leaning back on the wooden bench, idly watching the swarm of flies feeding on the remains of what had been a fish before the small stream dried out in the heat of summer, Gabriel shrugged. “It never occurred to me that someone had the task of creating these… smaller… life forms, at some point.”

A huff, the sting of an elbow against his side. Not a lot of sting, to be honest. Beelzebub could certainly do worse, which meant they were holding back. The thought made Gabriel smile just a touch. 

“They took as much work as bigger ones, you know. There are hundreds of thousands species still in existence, and there used to be more. And besides, I didn’t just work on life forms. I made my fair share of star systems, I’ll have you know, while you were starting out your career as a messenger pigeon.”

The smile turned into a frown. “Delivering messages was vital in order to ensure all of us were working according to the same--”

“Lord of the Pigeons. Has a nice ring to it.”

“No one ever called me pigeon, thank you so very much,” Gabriel informed them. “Although some did refer to me as the Peacock of the Angels…”

“Let me guess. You took it as a compliment?”

Gabriel blinked. “Wasn’t it?”

“I wouldn’t be so sure of it.”

“Humans like peacocks, don’t they?”

“Symbol of vanity. It does fit you. How did you even live with yourself in the millennia before tailored suits and silk ties were a thing?” Beelzebub asked, and Gabriel was almost annoyed. Except that they causally leaned the side of their head against his shoulder, and he promptly forgot how to be annoyed.

“Well-- I believe we’re getting sidetracked here. You haven’t told me why it’s Lord of the Flies. I mean, you surely made more impressive things you could make your title about, no?”

A soft scoff. “Absolutely not. Flies are my masterpiece.”

“... Because they fly where they’re not wanted, make noise, and are annoying?”

“I’m sorry, when did this conversation turn to angels?” Beelzebub asked, looking up, and Gabriel laughed, placing a hand over… the approximate location where a heart would be, if he had human internal organs. 

“Oh, ouch. A low blow, that.”

“Thanks. I’ve been practicing.”

They both turned their gaze back to the small swarm of flies; Gabriel would have been perfectly content to let the matter drop and focus on nothing but the unnatural warmth against the shoulder Beelzebub was leaning on. Except that he didn’t.

“So, what is it about them?”

“About what?”

“Flies. What makes them so perfect?”

“Aside from being emblematic of putrefaction, death, and decay?”

“Well, yes. Aside from that.”

Still leaning on his shoulder, Beelzebub held out a hand, and a few of the flies separated themselves from the swarm, coming to buzz around their hand, landing on their fingers. 

“First of all, they can outmaneuver any angel or demon. See how they fly, hover, land upside down? I made them some balancing organs to function like gyroscopes. They are the greatest aerial acrobats of all Creation. And this is just one of the families - the parasitic ones are a marvel of their own. There is this genus that lays eggs in ants, and once the larvae is big enough, it decapitates the ant to keep growing--”

They talked, on and on, and Gabriel was all too happy to listen. It had been a very, very long time since he himself had felt anything much about the wonders of Creation; it had sort of grown old, like gorgeous scenery you pass by every day to work and back until it’s really nothing more than a backdrop. He’d even forgotten which parts of it he’d had a hand in making himself. How ironic, he thought, that the Grand Duke of Hell never forgot what they made.

All things bright and beautiful, as a famous hymn went, and they’d all been so very proud of it all, once. All things wise and wonderful.

Nothing had really seemed bright and beautiful in a very long time. Nothing had seemed all that wise, and nothing had seemed all that wonderful.

Until now.

Beelzebub got so animated when talking, and Gabriel found himself marveling at each minute facial expression they made while describing a type of fly that looked like a spider and lived in the fur of bats to feed on their blood. Probably not something that fit most of the known universe’s definition of bright, beautiful or wise, he thought.

But most of the known universe never got to sit under the scorching August sun with Beelzebub’s head against a shoulder, listening as they talked about their most complex and beloved creations, watching said creations dance around their fingers.

No one else but him, and Archangel Gabriel-- I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God --had never felt luckier in his entire existence.

[pnf-lover98]

[Day 1 - Dancing]

Contrary to popular beliefs, angels do dance from time to time.

[v4guelyv4mpiric]

I FORGOT TO POST THIS FOR IBWEEK HAVE IT NOW I'LL DO TODAYS SOON

[incapacitated-till-caffeinated]

"Watching flies dance by candle light"

[moth-doe]

My entry for IBWeek2023 Day 2

Prompt: Flies

I don’t actually have a good writing or drawing idea so y’all get this audio meme I made for a friend back in 2020

[whoareyoueventhough]

Prompt 1: dancing

This is my first time participating in a prompt challenge so I'll try my best! I really like this drawing and am excited to draw more of these silly guys :))

Feedback is welcome!!!

[crisalidaseason]

So, that came out of my brain while I was high on painkillers and watching good omens. A special thanks to @the-bureaucracts-are-everything for hosting this event (I meant to say a thanks on my last post but I genuinely forgot so here it is!)

Day 2: Flies

People didn't like flies, that Beelzebub already knew. And that wasn't something exclusive to humans, no, no! Many other beings expressed their despise for those creatures, even if everyone was careful about saying it near the prince of hell. At first, Beelzebub was upset about it, how could all of them feel disgust over such small and wonderful creatures that made Beelzebub's entire being? It was like an angel being disgusted of soft feathers, or humans and animals about flesh and bone. It made no sense.

But anger soon turned into malice, Beelzebub would feel joy in sending a swarm of flies to eat alive a particularly vocal demon that badmouthed their little flies, they loved to make the buzzing creatures appear in the most inconvenient places and do the nastiest things in order to cause terror to humans. The lord of flies was proud of their little beings, but a spark of worry started to form.

"bzzz" the little fly was quietly waiting on their lord's commands. The fly was happy, almost too happy to stay put. The lord had chosen it from all of the others.

Beelzebub lovingly gazed at the little one, thinking it that was the best one to behave as a container. Would Gabriel feel disgusted by it? They didn't want to admit, but if the angel expressed any sort of negative thoughts about the little one, Beelzebub would not be angry or mischiveous, they would be sad.

"I have a mission for you, sweet one" the demon softly said, supporting the fly on their finger "I need you to be someone's companion"

The little one buzzed again, in excitement.

"It is a gift" Beelzebub continued "which means you won't be with me anymore"

The fly's wings stopped and dropped down, the buzzing went silent.

"I know, little one. Do you want to stay? I can gift another one"

The fly seemed to think for a moment, maybe even considering staying with the demon, but also not wanting the demon to think less of it.

"You're my most trusted, little one" Beelzebub comforted "what about you meet my…counterpart? You can decide then if you want to stay with him"

The buzzing was still low.

"I will not be mad if you choose to stay, don't worry"

Beelzebub felt the buzzing of agreement, still reluctant. The lord of flies opened their pocket and the fly quickly entered, patiently waiting for the next command. Beelzebub checked their surroundings, not wanting to explain anything to nosy demons, and soon projected themselves to earth. They found Gabriel exactly were the angel said: at a cemetery. While the angel talked about the beauty of the statue, which Beelzebub had to admit was almost too creepily similar to the archangel, the demon wondered if the angel would ever look at them the same way. On the other hand, the fly was slightly buzzing, as if finding something funny.

"Shall we go to the pub?" the demon said, already heading to the ressurectionist.

The walk back to the pub was silent, in a rather comfortable way despite Beelzebub's worried thoughts. The little fly kept buzzing, increasing its excitement once they finally entered the pub and ordered some beverages and a packet of crisps. Once Beelzebub sat in the cushioned L-seat, they waited for the archangel to bring their drinks.

"Here you go" the angel said.

As gabriel sat down, Beelzebub curiously looked at the drinks, not really sure of what to do with it.

"You don't actually have to consume it" Gabriel continued.

"Oh" they felt a little relief, not wanting to explore foods or drinks quite yet

"And the…" the angel motioned to the bag beside the demon

"The packet of crisps? Good"

Beelzebub was completely nervous. The prince of hell, lord of flies, second in command, ruler of all lesser demons...was nervous. It was all that angel's fault and to worsen things, they recognized a tune from a while ago.

"Is that-did you?" the demon stuttered.

"A small miracle" the angel said "that song will always be there, on that jukebox, to comfort the aflicted"

Beelzebub could not hold the smile. They had forgotten about that song, but Gabriel using a miracle so recklessly, with no high purpose, sent a spark of happiness into the demon. The fly was buzzing loudly on their pocket, not being able to contain the mirrored excitement, sending Beelzebub many many little pleads to be gifted to the angel. It seemed the little one liked the angel, or at least liked how they made Beelzebub feel.

"I should give you something" the prince of hell said, silently asking the fly to materialize.

The demon extended their hand, and the little fly quickly materialized there. It was standing proud, waiting for its moment to shine.

"Here, it's for you" Beelzebub said "You never know when you'll need it. It's a container, it's bigger on the inside. You can put things in it"

The demon was rambling, trying to convince the angel that the little fly was useful despite the apparently disgusting opinions about its nature. They genuinely hoped Gabriel could see beyond the incomprehensible prejudice. Beelzebub carelessly took a box of matches, a bit nervous, giving it to the archangel. Their chest was tight as they watched Gabriel gently put the little fly inside the box.

"Bye bye!" the demon said to their little one.

The fly happily buzzed inside the box, completely satisfied. Gabriel gently put the box on his chest pocket. A small gesture that Beelzebub took kindly, the angel seemed completely alright with the little creature.

"I don actually know what to say" the angel confessed.

"Why not?"

Gabriel was surprised, brows contorted in wonder.

"No one has ever given me anything before"

Oh angel, Beelzebub thought, leaving a sigh of relief. They watched as Gabriel softly touched his chest pocket, as if not believing there was a gift in there. The angel smiled, looking at Beelzebub again.

"Thank you" Gabriel softly said.

Thank you, angel.