( Video )

[confined_to_briah]

( Alexiel is glaring at her communicator, her eyes glowing malevolently. She is sitting at a bar and a number of empty (and large) cups are scattered in front of her. )

I don't feel anything. ( Drunk or otherwise. No, that's not true, actually. She's still pissed off and the alcohol only splashes against the barrier of her rage. Useless. )

Nothing can make this better. ( She shoves the cups off of the bar and stands up. As the glass shatters on impact, she stands up. Immediately, the room spins and she covers her mouth with her hand, coughing.

So she had been wrong. There is an effect. It's just not the one she wants. )

Comments

always and forever <3 even in death, bro.

[confined_to_briah]

( Her brow furrows and she stays very still, her gaze taking in his features. What does he remember? Where does he come from? Has her promise been fulfilled? The questions burn within her, begging for an answer, but the way he speaks causes a chill to climb her spine.

Raising her hands, she cups his face between her palms, expression stern. )

You and I are different; we always have been. ( She smoothes over his hair, almost as if she is trying to soothe him. ) Sevotharte was born of different circumstances. He ( She ) is none of your concern.

Tell me, Rosiel, how do you feel?

what a prospect T_T

[shall_yield_us]

[ The handkerchief proves surprisingly loud in crumple; he lets it, silk white over the white of his fingers, as he presses palms over Alexiel's knuckles.

His voice is hollowed. ]

Touch me as you are again, and I shall feel - inclined, my love, to be as Labraid, and cut off these pretty hands that're dearest to me, and toss them for gain of kingdom. I dig out bone and sip the marrow, and char your flesh, unless - you -

[ And now, the kindly smile. ]

...bathe first. I am Voice to Him, you do remember? And you reek.

happiness and joy and unicorns~

[confined_to_briah]

( Her eyebrows raise in unison and she smirks, a challenging flash in her eyes. )

Can you be a good boy and wait for me?

( She has been in this particular bar before. There are...accommodations not far away. Said accommodations include a shower. She is more than ready to make use of it. )

I don't care who you answer to. Order yourself a drink. ( Rising, she heads towards a doorway, sweeping her hair back into a ponytail. )

...and flying zombie robot nazi embryo heads, amirite.

[shall_yield_us]

[ ...picked up like a stray, then abandoned like the same -

All in the span of five minutes.

If he weren't helplessly choking on a fit of laughter, he might take cross. But he is a Good Boy [ TM ], the likes of which Raphael has never been, so he will take this particular moment in time and space to:

1) wave. ]

It'll be two and no corpses, if you return pretty.

[ 2) take a seat

3) charm a very begrudging bartender, who is really growing very tired of freebies

4) actually - wait. ]

nothing is complete without them. who's a cutie? you are!

[confined_to_briah]

( He matters far more than that, but she's inebriated, heartsick and in desperate need of soap, shampoo and hot water. However this is probably the fastest shower she has ever taken.

Because Rosiel is waiting for her.

He might notice that she comes out wearing different clothes, which are clearly hers. What in heaven's name are they doing here? Actually, what in hell's name are they doing here would be the more correct statement.

Not that it matters. She resumes her seat beside him, her curls damp and sweetly scented. Don't worry, Rosiel, she will pay for your drink(s). She has been making a living out of being a guard of sorts to another club. )

Better? ( She orders water for herself. ) I was hoping for a victimless visit with you.

.../ spar... kles...

[shall_yield_us]

[ Ah, much. Much. Much better. Perfectly out of place and ill tailored, but he's made rank due to petty complaints - he doesn't need to restate them too often.

He waves to her in greeting again. ]

God rewards all hope.

[ And he says it serenely, but the bartender's been kissed, and there'll be spilled innards coiling in a back street within the hour. ]

Now: what gift've you brought me?

o___o /awe

[confined_to_briah]

( A gift, hm? Her expression falls and she pushes back her coat to reveal Nanatsusaya strapped to her hip. )

You are losing yourself. ( She glances at the bartender, sighing. ) You have done it again, haven't you.

Finish your drink and hear my voice. ( Then... Then... The moment she has looked forward to and dreaded at the same time. She must hunt him - the one she loves most. )

I will give you salvation.

all cullens beware

[shall_yield_us]

[ For the longest moment, he simply stares, before quietly returning to his drink - tipping it to signal a toast to the bartender - then nodding towards Alexiel with belated interest. ]

No, you won't.

[ The most histrionic sigh of all time possibly cues - now. ]

You'll fluster and fumble and cry, and of course I'll escape, and given the... likely... time constraints of our encounter, and my - apologies, my love, do forgive me, claw my eyes out, but forgive me - superior approach to strategy, do you think... I... shall not be able to elude for you an evening? A week?

[ He laughs again, this time over his brandy, because he's glanced up, and of course the bartender's not stopped staring. ]

He liked me. Now, you tell me, what was I to do?

he blinded them.

[confined_to_briah]

( It hurts more than she can say to see him like this. Her beautiful, sweet brother is twisting upon himself, his mind decaying to the point where he will lose it all.

Except for her. He won't lose her. )

I'm determined. ( Her lips quirk faintly. ) You will likely elude me as you have so many times before. But... ( Throwing danger aside, she slips her arms around him, her voice lowering. ) I keep my promises.

( Drawing her sword, she pivots just so and stabs the bartender in the heart. It's a merciful killing. )

that explains so much about that series.

[shall_yield_us]

[ He does gasp.

It can't - can, but he won't let it - be helped. Stab wounds are never clean, especially when the blade is wide, and he doesn't withdraw when a few droplets rain over his throat. His cheek. The upper, then, crawling, its lower lip.

He smacks them unhurriedly, before his head collapses on the bar table over his crossed arms. ]

Must you... [ Yes, he'll sulk. ] - ruin everything I love?

doesn't it? we just made the perfect summary.

[confined_to_briah]

( Her expression doesn't change as the bartender slumps forward, a bloody mess. It doesn't help matters when she removes Nanatsusaya, but she isn't about to apologize. The poor man was going to suffer and he had been nice enough to put up with her antics.

Using her skirt, she sets about cleaning Rosiel's face, frowning all the while. )

Is that all love is to you? Pain?

who needs meyers, anyway.

[shall_yield_us]

[ Obediently, he raises his head at first to meet her cleaning hand - then he remembers, and fusses, child-like, swatting away at her fingers. ]

You'll smear it - you'll smear my -

[ ...make-up, and then he'll be cross indeed. ]

I don't much, terribly, fantastically, or algorithmically care for you right now. You're very mean. I've come to see you and deliver you to grace, and look at you, you're so mean.

I don't.

[confined_to_briah]

( She has a brief image of what it would have been like if they had been normal siblings. The greatest shame in all of heaven is that they were split apart. Alexiel likes to think she would have been an excellent big sister. )

Are you afraid to show me? ( His true self - without make-up. ) I can't say I care, brother. I have failed at looking after you.

( With a swift motion, she leaps over the bar and picks up the body. Sighing in regret, she shakes her head and dissolves it into ashes. She really doesn't want to have to explain this and she doesn't want Rosiel to be blamed. )

o/

[shall_yield_us]

[ She's faster than he recalls. It's startling, her war form, more so than her intent. There's a promise in the grace of each limb that she can-might pursue her objective. And prevail.

Settling back in his chair, he takes the time to applaud - fair performance, might as well. ]

I wasn't yours to look after, I don't think. I - very nice. That was very nice. [ His glance falls on the sword, inevitably. ] Did he teach you?

:3

[confined_to_briah]

( As she had said, she doesn't break a promise. If he has become stronger, she must become stronger. They are twins; two sides of the same coin. She has no intention of letting him leave her in the dust. )

Did he tell you that? He has filled your head with lies. ( She can be truthful here. There will be no repercussions. ) Because of him, I could not see you.

( Her eyes widen and she glances down at Nanatsusaya. A brief smile crosses her lips. )

He taught me some. It is because of him that I escaped.

<3

[shall_yield_us]

[ His lips purse, dyed with indignation (or is it blood again? Ah, that). ]

And failed to look back. Yes. I remember.

[ One arm curls over the bar; he considers, then presses the side of his cheek atop it. ]

It isn't the - convenient sort of off-your-cake-please-have-some-more-there's-glazing-too-yes-please-and-thank-you insanity, Alexiel. I remember things.

<333

[confined_to_briah]

( She presses her lips to the side of his head, emotions making her throat feel tight. Ever since she grew to know Setsuna, she feels everything sharply - like knives or glass shards in her heart. )

I never said you don't remember. ( That's the most tragic part. ) But what you remember...isn't right.

[shall_yield_us]

[ And she kisses better than he recalls, too. What marvels cryogenic stasis does for certain people's character. He's utterly in awe. Just enough so, in fact, to bear through it smugly, nose wrinkling the littlest bit as he catches her close scent.

Soap fats, flower oils. Underneath them, ash. ]

By the standard and say of an interested party. Must I preach you relativism now? It's a long talk. You haven't the patience for it.

[ Cat-like, he rolls away, introducing distance to help with gaining a sight of her. ]

You're pretty. Does whoring for him bring that in you, or is it mere chance?

[confined_to_briah]

( The distance he puts between them isn't challenged. She trains her gaze on him and rests her hands in her lap. )

Truth isn't relative, Rosiel. What has he told you about me? That I despise you? That I'm jealous of you?

( That last inquiry is more or less a scoff.

In any other woman his final question would have brought a flush of color to her cheeks. However, this is Alexiel. Her expression doesn't waver as she answers. )

Can you not grant a compliment without adding an insult? ( But she is curious. Has her appearance changed so much? If it has, it wasn't due to Lucifer. ) You have Setsuna to thank for how I am now.

[shall_yield_us]

[ Setsuna. Charcoal in his mouth. Frayed ambitions. He closes his eyes to them, working a suddenly numb tongue. ]

Joy... Me... ssiah...

[ And then he' staring again, golden ferocity and far too much decay. ]

If your hands loved me, they'd strangle him. But they don't. It's why I meant to see them cut.

[confined_to_briah]

( Alexiel turns away from him, her dark curls falling to conceal her face. She won't think badly of Setsuna. He is the only one out of all of her reincarnations that allows her to achieve her goal: to free Rosiel and tell him the truth of her feelings. )

Your mind is that of a child. If this, then that, if I don't agree or love or trust or adore you, you must dissect me, perhaps even feed on me. Would you go that far? Am I like Adam Kadamon to you? A distant star that deserves whatever pain you can mete out?

[shall_yield_us]

[ His hand goes out, half flesh, half claw, all bone - and all headed for her sleeve. ]

You're hardly distant, Deneb.

[ His voice mellows, honeyed. ]

Pet my hair. I should very much like that, until you remember to rip it out. You can lie to me some more. You enjoy it.

[confined_to_briah]

( Her head jerks and she takes in the sight of his hand, her eyes flashing dangerously. Raising her own hand, she meets his grip unflinchingly. )

I have been for many lifetimes.

( Pain follows his words and she leans forward, closing her eyes as if he has stabbed her. )

I do not. I have only lied to protect you.

[shall_yield_us]

[ Oh, Alexiel, Alexiel. Such passion. He picks himself up, the gesture strange, starting from lower back, then shoulders, then finally his head. It's so difficult recalling to enforce human gestures, now and then.

His fingers curl, grasp silkened. ]

Shhhh, shhhh, shhhh, darling, precious, pet - you're... breaking at seams. Now, sit you well, and pet my hair.

[confined_to_briah]

( She grits her teeth together and her fingernails dig into the bar. She has to keep her cool; she has to control this conversation. Otherwise it will end with a battle and him likely escaping. They aren't meant to make amends here in this bar. It should happen in heaven.

Straightening, she turns to face him, fingers finding his hair and smoothing over it uncertainly. )

I'm not the one breaking. Look at you.