Send đ± for five texts my muse didn't send yours, and one that they did
[To: Oscarđ§đŹ] I need 2 talk 2 u abt sumthin. Its important. And nothin bad I promise. Actlly. Mybe? Depends how u feel
[To: Star Faceđ«đ§đŹ] Hi, Oz. I just wanted to tell you that...youâre very important to me. Very, very important. You inspire me, make me smile and laugh, pick me up when Iâm down, push me to be a better person. Iâd be lost without you, quite frankly. Canât even. go a day without popping over to see you. I love you, Oz. I just wanted you to know that.
[To: Star Faceđ«đ§đŹ] Say hypotheticaly tht a close frend of urs had a crush on u. How wud tht make u feel??? Hypothetically. Yâknow. Hypothetically. Compltly hypo and all
[To: Star Faceđđ«đ§đŹ] do ou onl like em becuz
[To: Star Faceđđ«đ§đŹ] Iâll see u when I get back from the UK with the band. I love you xxx Miss you already Star Face
[To: Star Faceđđ«đ§đŹ] See u when I get back from UK with band x
Send đ± to see how my muse has yours in their phone!
Name: Star Faceđđ«đ§đŹ
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[txt]: Pft. Dont c y. He probly just ignord us. Livd wif loads of gens of Walters and we got a shit ton of WWs. Cant not overhear somethin[txt]: But if it makes u feel betr bby I will text him 2 đ[txt]:âŠAltho if he overherd any ahem. REAL NAMES. I will kill you in ur sleep đȘ[txt]:âŠNot rly but I wil be rly mad
đ« - A moment of crime for the Engineeerrrrr ;3c
Ask the Mun for a Drabble/Fic of their Muse based on...
đ« - A moment of crime
[Set in the Angels and Demons AU.
Warnings: Use of Oscarâs dead name, misgendering, transphobia, bigotry, blasphemy, blood, gore, death, some light body horror, general creepiness.
Featuring Sal ( @wxredwrong ) and frequent mentions of Oscar ( @introvertedscience ) ]
Father Martin hummed contently to himself as he went about preparing tea, listening to the pitter-patter of raindrops against the window, the water bullets hitting hard enough to be heard pounding his roof. Rare weather for this time of year, he wondered if that was a sign a storm was brewing. He would have to make preparations, if it was.
The priest continued his humming as he brought the teapot over to his kitchen table, setting it in the middle as he collected himself a porcelain cup. The young man reached up to pull open the cupboard and pick out a cup, smiling to himself peacefully.
The good feeling in his heart and tummy had been born through helping others. To be exact, heâd performed his first solo exorcism just a few days ago. A family of three - a married couple and their daughter - who had been having trouble with a demon that had been let into their home when their child had played with a Ouija board. Horrible things. Father Martin wished they wouldnât so easily end up in a childâs hands like that; it caused the exact problem this hysterical mother had had when sheâd contacted him.
Told him of the illusions and nightmares. The scratches on her husbandâs arms and back and on the bedposts and walls. The reflection of a monster behind her when she stared at a mirror. The way the pots and pans in the kitchen had exploded from their cupboards one evening. The way the crosses would either be broken or missing after she put them up. The drawings her little girl would make of this thing, how she had called it her friend and told Mommy how she would feed it the apples in the house, how sheâd once given it the leftover pizza in the fridge because it had told her it hadnât had pizza in years.
No harm had ever come to the child, no physical harm at least. The demon had been manipulating her, Father Martin knew. Heâd seen this sort of thing before, back when heâd been tailing behind Father Clark whenever they were called out for exorcisms.
Children these days and their Ouija boards.
But Father Martin couldnât blame them for their curiosity. He supposed, if he was given a way to talk to an otherworldly being, he would take the chance too.
Bless little Emily; he hoped sheâd gotten over her manipulation by now. The way sheâd screamed for him to stop when the demon had been writhing around on the floor in pain, how sheâd asked him why he was doing this, the demon was her friend. How sheâd wailed when the demon had dissolved to dust before her and was whipped away by the wind. How sheâd sobbed over the remains.
But it couldnât hurt her now. Heâd gotten rid of it and it would never come near her again.
Father Martin collected the neat little porcelain cup and turned around to go back to the table, only to freeze. The pots and pans from his kitchen cupboards were all laid out on the counters and the floor, none of them touching the other, laid out so carefully.Â
Brown eyes glanced at them all before he took one hand off the little cup and used it to grab at the cross at his throat, murmuring a little prayer as he walked over to the table and set the cup down.
No, no. Not today.
Father Martin jumped slightly as thunder rumbled outside and he turned to look out the window. Picking up out there. He swallowed thickly, then faltered as he caught sight of his reflection. Him, standing there with his brow furrowed and fist clutching his crossâŠand the winged figure behind him, head so close to his.
Father Martin cried out in alarm and whipped around; no one there. He panted lightly, heartbeat picking up in his ears, and gulped again as he faltered, finally noticing theâŠempty feeling in his hand. He opened his fist to look down at his cross.
It was gone.
Father Martinâs eyes widened and he felt himself begin to sweat beneath his robes, a thick layer covering his forehead. He swallowed again, tried to remember a verse from the Bible to comfort himself with, and opened his mouth to recite Godâs words before he was interrupted.
âHello, Father.â
Father Martin whipped around and yelped in fright.
The demon. The very one that heâd exorcised. Standing there with its bright blue hair, dark grey-blue skin, gargoyle-like wings, needle-like claws, sharp horns - and a frown that told Father Martin exactly why it was there.
The priest went stumbling back, hands frantically searching for his cross but remembering it was gone, and The Engineer tilted his head slowly. âYou looking for something, Father? Could it beâŠthis?â He held up a fist: the beaded chain of Father Martinâs necklace hung from it, the little cross dangling there.
Father Martinâs mouth opened and closed like a goldfishâs before he wheezed and scrambled for a drawer nearby, sliding it open quickly and digging around until he found a wooden cross that he kept in there for when lost individuals came to him seeking advice on faith; it helped for them to hold it, he found. He held it in shaking fists, pointing it toward the demon. âL-Leave this house, demon! At once!â
The Engineer sneered at him. âOooohh. Iâm shaking in my boots.â He stalked forward, making the priest crawl backwards, and reached down to snatch the cross from the Fatherâs hands. He held it up. âWhat do you think this will do, exactly? Did you not learn your lesson when you attempted to use one of these on me when you paid a visit?â
Father Martin didnât like the way he spat out the words, smug expression fading to sheer fury. The priest swallowed. âJesus Christ himself -â
âCHRIST DOESNâT EXIST!â The Engineer shouted, holding the cross up like he was going to bring it down upon the priestâs head; the Father cowered. The pots and pans rattled around them. âHeâs a myth that humans made to make themselves feel special! Like there could possibly be a holy figure amongst them! PLEASE! The angels donât even PISS IN YOUR DIRECTION - what makes you think ANY OF YOU could POSSIBLY hold the abilities they do?!â
Father Martin didnât answer, couldnât answer, and instead just crawled backwards once more.
âBut letâs not talk about that.â The Engineer went on calmly, straightening himself up. His wings gave a sickening crack as they stretched out behind him and the demon brought the cross up to whittle away at it with one claw. Wooden curls dropped one by one as he carefully sliced away at the end. âLetâs talk about what happened between us, Father. Iâm sure you know why Iâm hereâŠâ
Father Martin gulped, shaking before the demon, but he forced himself to keep his ground. He raised himself to his knees. âIâŠI banished you, demon. From whence you came.â
âMm-hm.â The Engineer sounded disinterested.
âIâŠI saved that child from your grasp.â
ââSaved that childâ?â The Engineer paused. âSaved that child from my grasp? Whatâs that supposed to mean?â
âYouâŠYou were manipulating her.â
The Engineerâs expression turned sour.
âA-And I saved her.â
âHIM!!â The Engineer roared suddenly, baring sharp yellow teeth. The pots and pans that had been out in the priestâs kitchen suddenly flew up to the ceiling with clangs and clatters, sticking there. He threw the hand holding the priestâs cross into the air and slammed the wooden artifact into the kitchen counter, smashing a hole into the marble surface.
Father Martin screamed in fright, eyes bugging out of his head when The Engineer took his hand away and he saw that the cross was embedded in the counter, standing up like itâd done when Jesus had been put upon the real one (or so they say).
âThe child is a BOY!â The Engineer went on, jabbing a clawed finger in the priestâs direction. âAnd I wasnât manipulating him at all! I was PROTECTING HIM! Protecting him from people like YOU! His own parents told him heâd go to Hell for being himself, I wasnât going to stand by and let the kid believe that crap!â The demon straightened himself, forcing himself to calm. âI, of all people, would know what it takes to get to Hell - and your version ainât it.â
Father Martinâs mouth opened and closed, arguments for this on his tongue, but nothing would arise. A demon protecting a child? This had to be some sick trick. The demon was clearly manipulating that poor girl - she had fallen for its illusions of friendship. Listened when it told her these obscenities about being male. Father Martin couldnât put together why the demon would tell her as such, but who knew why demons did any of the things they did?
âManipulating himâŠâ The Engineer muttered mockingly with a shake of his head, then scoffed. âIâm not in the business of harming innocent children.â He pointed upwards. âThatâs their jurisdiction.â Then he pointed to the priest. âI only deal with the stupidâŠâ
Father Martin gulped.
âSpeaking of whichâŠas angry as I am of being accused of a crime I did not commit, thatâs not why Iâm here.â The Engineer went on, casually placing his hands behind his back. âTransphobia makes me angry like nothing else, sureâŠbut do you know what else really sticks in my craw?â He cocked his head and didnât wait for an answer. âBeing. Exorcised.â
Father Martinâs blood ran cold. The realisation had fallen upon him. There was nothing to do now but be afraid.
The pots and pans unstuck themselves from the ceiling slowly, floating downwards and hovering in the air around them.
The priest shook madly as fright overcame him. âIâŠI was doing my dutyâŠt-the Lordâs workâŠâ
The Engineer gave a cruel chuckle. âI know, buttercup, I know. But, hereâs a fun bit of news for you.â He slowly crouched before the Father, leaning in to speak in his ear as Father Martin trembled in the demonâs close presence. âYour Lord doesnât exist.â
The pots and pans crashed to the floor.
Father Martinâs scream lasted but a second before it became a gurgle; forced to choke upon his own blood once claws had cut and fingers had torn, not at all clean, at the smooth skin of the priestâs throat. Table and chair and floor were spray-painted red by the gory sprinkler, robes were stained and wet from the overflow. Eyes rolled to the back of the priestâs skull and tongue lulled out of an open mouth, still frozen within the scream.
The demon played with his prey, using a finger and thumb to delicately tilt the kneeling priestâs head back, then he pushed the lump of flesh on his palm back from where it had been ripped, gingerly placing it back like a baby trying to fit a block through a hole. When the wet lump was pushed back into place, he sat back and watched as the priestâs head remained tilted and the lump fell out again and landed on the floor with a splat.
The body slumped to the floor, droplets of red still flicking and jumping out from the open arteries and veins; it was soon that Father Martin was laying in a puddle of his own liquid life.
Water was borrowed from the Fatherâs tap to clean away the evidence sprayed upon the murderer, no more words spoken to the victim as clawed hands scrubbed at face and arms, then a human man stepped out of the priestâs house and into the street.
Pale skin, dressed up in black leather. His zipped up vest had a diamond-shaped hole in the back, where two vertical marks lay in his skin like scars. Similar marks lay on either end of his forehead and, if one looked just hard enough, they would find that the very tips of his ears were pointed. But nobody looked twice at this man as he exited the priestâs home, not even at his bright blue hair or red-tinted goggles.
It wasnât raining anymore. Not a cloud in the sky.
The Engineer grinned and called over his shoulder. âThank you for the chat, Father! Iâm sure our Lordâs words will remain with me for a long time to come, particularly since youâve gifted me with one of His holy symbols.â He held up a fist; the priestâs cross on the beaded chain dangled from it. âPlease, Iâll let myself out, donât worry. You continue to rest.â His grin widened. âGod bless you, Father.â
The leather-clad male shut the door behind him and sauntered off down the street, swinging the cross in circles. âGod bless us all!â He cackled to himself, catching the cross in one fist.
He didnât get very far before there was a flash of light, too quick for the human eye to catch, but not so for The Engineer. He didnât react as it struck beside him, nor did he react when there was suddenly another man walking along at his side. Nobody looked twice at him either, not to gawk at his height or take in his fedora and vest and alarmingly green eyes.
The Engineerâs lips tipped up into a half-smile. âHello, Sal.â
Sal frowned, keeping his gaze forwards. âThe Engineer.â
âFancy seeing you here.â
âYou know why Iâm here.â
âTo bask amongst the humans? Yeah, me too. Love âem, donât you?â He tipped his head. âTheir stupidity is unmatched.â
Salâs frown only deepened.
âAw, câmonnnnnn, Sal! Humour me here.â When Sal didnât, The Engineer frowned. âAlright, alright, I know. Youâre here to tell me Iâm gonna get punished for what I did! Even when I was entirely justified -â
âYou just killed an innocent man.â Sal snapped, head turning sharply to the left so he could glare down at the demon in disguise. The two men came to a halt together. âI hardly think that could be justified in any sense of the word, The Engineer. I think you know that as well.â
The Engineer wasnât deterred. âWell! I guess weâre both guilty here.â He sneered at Sal. âAfter allâŠyou didnât stop me.â
Salâs lips pressed together. He didnât give a defence.
The Engineer enjoyed this, but he didnât dare grin. âNow, what kind of angel allows a demon to kill a human like that?â He cocked his head so hard his neck cracked as his tone turned biting; it was a good thing nobody was watching. They wouldâve seen a man break his own neck and nobody needed to see that. âI know! The kind that takes pleasure in punishing my species for so much as pissing at the wrong time of day! Even more so when punishing us for crimes that we didnât even commit!â
The teeth on the right side of The Engineerâs mouth turned yellow and began to grow into sharp points as his head began quaking.
âYou just killed an innocent man.â Sal repeated forcefully.
âYouâre just afraid of justice.â
âThis wasnât justice. This was murder.â
âA murder well-deserved!â
The skin on the right side of his lips began fading into a deep, grey-blue and he twitched violently. Above their heads, the sky turned dark with clouds of black.
âNo murder is well-deserved.â Sal affirmed. âMurder is a sin.â
âAll murder is well-deserved if one looks back into a life far enough. If one looks thoroughly.â
The sclera and iris of his right eye turned yellow and the pupil became a mere slit, unseen because of his goggles.
Sal faltered, picking up something the humans did not, and looked over at a nearby house. Its windows were shaking in their panes, doors were quaking in their frames. He frowned tightly, then looked back to The Engineer. âThatâs a vile way of thinking.â
âItâs my way of thinking.â
The nails on The Engineerâs right fingers became to lengthen into claws. Nearby, a dog began growling in his direction.
âYâknow who else Iâm sure thinks that way? Especially when looking upon a lesser kind?â
His right ear became pointed, stretching out backwards. Thunder rumbled in the steadily growing black clouds above them.
âYour. Dear. Old. FATHER!!!â
Doors burst open around them, windows exploded into shards; houses were opened without consent. Car alarms came alive, lights flashed, and animals of all kinds cried out in their various voices. Lightning struck down a tree nearby, the wood imploding in on itself and splintering off in pieces, and people cried out and ducked for cover as burning branches rained down upon them -
âENOUGH!â Sal shouted suddenly at the demon, swiping an arm out through the air. With his mere touch, he fixed everything: windows and doors were secure and closed, cars were silenced, lights and animals were calm, the dark clouds retreated and the tree was repaired and the debris was lost.
The Engineer glared at Sal, baring his changing teeth, and Sal calmly straightened his waistcoat. He looked to The Engineer out of the corner of his eye. âYour façade is slipping.â
The Engineer stared furiously beneath his goggles, then slowly raised a hand and wiped it across the morphing part of his face. As soon as his hand came away, everything was normal and human again. He wiped his left hand over his nails to change them back too. ââŠCheers, mate.â With a sneer, he looked Sal up and down. âSpeaking of facades, that oneâs looking pretty good. One would think you do this often.â
Sal hastily cleared his throat, enough so that The Engineerâs ears twitched, and the angel in disguise went on ââŠRegardlessâŠof what you or I think of our systems, The EngineerâŠyou will be punished for this. Pappy will see to it.â
âIâm sure.â
âAnd I will warn you that it might be more severe than last timeâŠIt will be painful.â
âBoo-hoo. Iâll be sure to cry into my diary tonight before bed.â There was a pause. ââŠItâs always painful. You just block out our screams.â
Salâs expression fell.
âNow,â The Engineer cocked his head, âdonât you gotta fly on home before Daddy notices youâre gone?â
Sal stared at him carefully, like he was trying to find The Engineerâs next move, then he nodded slowly. ââŠI should be leaving, yes. Just came to deliver the message.â
âMessage received. Now leave before I have the urge to shoot the messenger.â
Sal faltered, then raised an eyebrow. âNow, that really would get you punished.â
âBut it would be worth it.â
âI doubt that.âÂ
The Engineer scoffed, then took Salâs hand and slapped the dead priestâs cross onto the palm. âThere ya go. More of a use for it than I, Iâm sure.â
Sal looked down at it, then placed it into his pocket wordlessly and pushed a strand of black hair back up into his hat. âYouâll be called before the council to receive your punishment. I suggest you prepare yourself.â
âPrepare myself to receive a punishment for a crime I did not commit?â The Engineer spat, then slowly tilted his head. ââŠI donât believe thereâs quite a preparation for that.â
The two stared at each other for a moment, then Sal sighed lowly. ââŠRight. Return to Hell soon, The Engineer. You know what will happen if you donât.â With another burst of light that only The Engineer saw, Sal was gone.
The Engineer clenched his teeth and threw his head back to scream to the sky, âYEAH, THATâS RIGHT! RUN HOME TO MUMMY AND DADDY! TELL THEM THAT THE BIG, MEAN DEMONâS GOT IT COMING TO âIM!â
Nobody even blinked at his screaming.
The Engineer huffed and shook his head, then pressed his lips together and looked down the road. A house down there was where he was comfortable calling his base, with a child that looked upon him as a hero. Who had sobbed for him when he was banished from the house, who mourned his absence. Whom he would never see again, for banishment ran deep and he was not permitted to be anywhere within nor near the property.
The demon swallowed the lump in his throat, scoffed, then faltered as he witnessed a girl heading toward the door to Father Martinâs home. His eyebrows rose and he turned around to go, walking briskly down the street before a flame swallowed him whole, quicker than the blink of a human eye.
He briefly heard the girlâs traumatised screaming as he left and smirked.
âCan ya /imagine/ bein' so straight ya have to color code your ENITRE family.â //Introvertedscience (Let's say they're actually out IN THE TOWN SINCE SCRATCH IS HUMAN)
That comment certainly earned a snicker. âI never actually, yâknow, understood that whole thing. Especially since I hardly ever saw it with the family...â
Cheeks warmed and a gloved hand shifted to cover the majority of his face in embarrassment at the words directed his way.
Darn it. This..this sweet automaton couldnât just take a compliment without dishing one back could he?
It was hard to believe that Scratch thought the same of him. Franklyâit was hard to wrap his head around what their relationship had been evolving into.
âI mean I guess so. I donât really do much deservinâ of beinâ called great.â
Tilting his head out of concern, the âbot leaned his arms on the table. âWhy wouldnât you be deserving of it?â
After a short moment, Scratch reached one hand out to lower Oscarâs from his face, but froze before making contact and retreated his hand. If he didnât want to show his face, he shouldnât have to.
âErm... Well... I suppose I canât speak for everyone when I say that I think youâre deserving of being call such. But my statement still stands.â
Blue eyes flickered over to the automaton in concern as the words were spoken, attention dropping entirely from his work to focus on his companion.
Gloved hands folded over his stomach and he took a moment, words carefully considered.
âScratch..are ya. Are ya okay..?â
Optics flickered in a blink. âDid... Did I say that out loud?â
The automaton lowered his face into his hands, a nervous laugh leaving his voice box. He hadnât meant for it to fall from his mouth; guess it did anyway.
âGosh, Iâm sorry, I watched a dumb movie last night, had me thinking into the future... weâll-- Iâll cross that bridge when we get there.â