( 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

[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.

[shall_yield_us]

[ That rumbling, constant, warm sound from the bottom of his chest.

That isn't. Can't be -

...yes, he is, in fact, almost purring. Good apocalyptic angel. His eyes blink sleepily, as he leans subtly into the caressing hand. ]

I would have, but you stole the eyes I borrowed.

[ And he never will get that bartender back, either. ]

[confined_to_briah]

Because you weren't behaving. ( And, oddly, she believes in mercy sometimes, though she has no trouble cutting through the masses if it means saving Rosiel or Setsuna. )

Do you miss Katan?

[shall_yield_us]

[ The inhale, hiss and stiffening - they're harder than the steel of his hand now.

He'd meant to play nicely, too. ]

Don't. Presume.

[confined_to_briah]

( Alexiel exhales. The answer is clear. He wouldn't stiffen so if he didn't care. )

Presume what? That you have a heart?

[shall_yield_us]

[ And then he laughs, because she's no fool, but plays pretend. ]

That you can speak of whatever pleases you.

[confined_to_briah]

( Her hand drops away from his hair and she gives him a emotionless stare. )

There is no god to prefer you here.

[shall_yield_us]

...oh? Ohhhh - oh? Have you... killed Him, by chance?

[ The smile rests; hardens. You can't. ]

No, no, you devil's harlot. I carry Him with me. And doesn't that sting?

[confined_to_briah]

I will. Whether he dies by my hand or the hand of one of my allies, I don't care. He has to pay for what he has done.

( Can. )

I don't care for him.