paradisa | 2.2 ✞ dictated;

Entry tags:

abel nightroad

2.2 ✞ dictated;

[maybe you remember this guy's voice, eh? cheerful and polite? he was a little... uh, confused over the Christmas vacation -- and while he sounds much the same, he's more sure of himself this time around! (is this a good thing? ...for you?)]

Good afternoon, Paradisa...! It's been a while, hasn't it? Well, I guess... not as long as it had been before, huh?

Um-- it's Father Abel, and I have to offer my sincerest, deepest, and most humblest of apologies for the long radio silence! Things have been a little... strange, since coming back from Paris. I thought it was probably a good idea to get my head in order before saying hello again, but-- well.

~HELLO~! My fairest Paradisians, you have no idea how nice it is to be back and... well, myself again! [that part is half-right, at least, he swears...!! he'll just gloss over the whole, had-a-fake-life thing like a boss.] I never thought I'd say this with such enthusiasm, but... here I am, and it's quite true! I'm very sorry for leaving without much notice, but I suppose the castle doesn't really give warning about these kinds of things, does it? I'm just grateful I was able to come back... exactly how I left. Which is to say, veritably able to recall... everything, from before August of last year. I'm not sure how it... happened, or why, but...

I'm beginning to think ignorance is bliss, at times like these. [no really.]

[...]

And, might I add, while I'm at it... a little note for those of you who saw fit to convince me that the journal was some sort of possessed demonic VOLUME OF DEATH while I was, ah. Aforementioned 'blissfully ignorant?'

[here, my dears, is quite the dramatic pause... before his voice goes lower and takes on a more MENACING TONE.]

I may forgive, but I will not forget. What goes around, COMES around, my friends, and you too shall know what it is to live in incorrigible horror one day. It may not be by my hand... but karma? Has an even longer memory than an elephant, so just watch yourself. Next thing you know, you'll be in a tutu, clucking like a chicken atop the roof and singing the blues to the wind on some horrible loss, alright?! These things ALWAYS happen.

[HUFF. --oh right, moving right along:]

--Ah, and... thank you! To everyone else with moral fiber and a conscience who so kindly attempted to explain that I was not, in fact, stark raving mad and actually... a part of the castle's ministrations. Really... I'm very grateful... It's been a long while since I've been on that end of things, and it's reminded me of how scary it can sometimes be. We should be a little gentler on our newest faces, shouldn't we? Maybe we forget how crazy the prospect of all of this could seem.

--Oh, but -- before I ramble forever... Lilith, Caterina and I will be up-keeping the church again -- it's in the Satis Tower, for those of you who might not be aware -- and, I'm living on the sixth floor with Lilith, now! So you can stop by and say hello if you want, okay? If you forgot, or, if this is the first time you've heard my doubtlessly charming and suave voice over the journals... those doors are always open to anyone at all, so don't hesitate to come any time you'd like. I mean it!

And...

[a little pause, and then something of a contented exhale. his voice is a little softer.]

...It's good to be home.

[and for those of you who feel like catching up -- or just feel like investigating the church, he'll be hanging out in there today cleaning things up and tidying a bit, humming pleasantly. feel free to harass the lanky priest sweepin' a sweep.]

[ooc: open... for ALL THE THINGS over the journal or in the church. oh my god so much tl;dr i am so sorry slkdjgsdf... and a note!!: my apologies to anyone that was still backtagging with me on lj; it's died a horrible death and won't function on my laptop sob. if there's anything you need to sort out, don't hesitate to drop me a line!!]

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[ The horns are only visible because of the speed used, but almost as soon as he lands again and spots Abel, they're gone along with the wings. DEFINITELY DON'T TRUST YOU, BUDDY.

...But he actually looks pretty excited, all things considered. The Abel in Paris was the same but...not. ]

I guess it has. I sort of lost track of time, though, since I was isolated for so long. I didn't even know you had left until awhile after.

When was it again?

[hmph. HMPH. he wasn't going to do a thing, Joshua. he's totally innocent forever!!!11 or, well, at least this time... not foolish enough to do something like try to take your horns all on his lonesome... or on the fly.

isolated, caged -- is he using these words on purpose? Abel had nothing to do with what happened... he doesn't even know WHAT happened -- but it feels like Joshua is punishing him. ;(]

Ah... August? I guess it must have been around the start of the month... I can't remember the rest of it, hard as I try. [just Paris...]

...It's good to see you again.

[ Really he isn't even saying it in a bad way. He's rather used to being isolated, since Aion would do the same with him. Riful did it to him as well. But Abel still doesn't know the rest of that story... ]

Half a year, then! Time sure flies...

[ He doesn't respond immediately to the comment, moving a bit closer but...outside of arm's reach. At the very least, Joshua doesn't LOOK like someone who's been living in the wild. Other than rumpled clothes, he looks decent. ]

Even if I'm not what you hoped for?

[Abel watches his approach, staying still and not looking bothered. maybe he's a fool, but he trusts him. even like this -- and the priest bears him no ill-intent, right now... and he's relieved that he doesn't look ill or like he's been hurt -- and that he's taking care of himself. somehow.]

Don't say something like that. You're still you, even... like this. [a broad gesture to either side of his ears.]

...You're still my friend, Joshua.

Hm. Colette says that.

No matter what happens, that's always going to be true.

Don't you know that?

I'm sure you think it, and so does she. Maybe you two are the closest things I have to friends here. But it doesn't matter. You're fun, but you don't really know me for my true self. You would always prefer my weaker self. Your justification keeps you from accepting me.

That's why you can't hold a candle. Nobody can. The only person out there who truly loves me is my sister. [ A beat, as he considers Fiore. He knows she's special, but would she really follow Aion's final order with him?

With a shrug, he waves the private thought off. ]

But that is the good news I want to share. My sister! I remember her. You don't have to keep telling me her name anymore.

[this all sounds far too familiar for his tastes. 'the true me,' 'your justifications keep you from accepting me.' Abel reaches up to adjust his glasses on his nose, the smile remaining in place, somehow.

--til mention of Rosette. and then, it's becoming a look of surprise.]

You remember--?

Well, I remember what I did before. Some things are still foggy, like her face, but... I know her name, and I remember my time with her before leaving the orphanage. I remember her warmth.

So you're not the only one with lu~cky memories.

[it was his loss, wasn't it? then... it meant it had changed. but to what?

--it's something he puts aside, for now... because surprise is starting to melt back into a smile.]

Hey-- that is good! I'm really glad, Joshua! It was sad, that you weren't able to remember your own sister... I'm sure Rosette would be glad, too.

It's a relief. Now when she shows up, I'll know exactly who she is! I would have been ashamed before, to forget somebody like her.

She would probably get along with Lilith.

[ahh...]

...Do you think so? [he'd rather like it if he could meet Joshua's sister himself... and he can't imagine anyone not getting along with Lilith /biased forever.]

Mm. She reminds me of my sister a little bit. I suppose that's why I don't mind her.

I have a feeling I would like Rosette quite a lot if we had the chance to meet, Joshua.

Well, that goes without saying! You and Lilith could make her tea and cookies.

[ Moving past him, Joshua leans against the tree trunk, eyes shut. This tree, this area, always comforts him and feels familiar. Even though Alexstrasza's magic is different from Astral Energy, both are rooted life, so he can't help it.

Still, they're different enough. She couldn't help him, could she? That reminds him of the man he ran into out here, the one who 'warned' him, but he keeps silent for another stretched out moment. ]

Do you want to know the rest?

[that comfort is why he'd picked it. if anything stood to placate the troubled Apostle, it might be this tree. his faith in it is unerring, as it's attached to its mistress, even if she's gone...

he watches him... and at that question, his response is a soft nod.]

I do.

Well... Riful had a reason for acting when she did, to return my horns. After that I had to stay there and couldn't leave, and she had gathered others. More fighters, a couple scientists...

I suppose it was meant to be as close to a coup as one can get in a place like this. It might have had a better chance at success if—

[ He laughs suddenly. ]

It didn't go the way I wanted, though. So many factors, not enough time.

[he had heard a little bit of all of this from Allen, before. something had happened that resulted in her imprisonment, as well as Arthas and some of the others who had been seen as... problematic, before he'd been taken to Paris.]

...What did she hope to accomplish, Joshua?

Even I'm not really sure. To rule as long as the castle let her? Maybe to simply lay waste to all her enemies. She had more planned out, if she had gotten that far.

It didn't matter. Arthur Pendragon's death triggered a lot of people into wanting to act, and so many others had been planning an assault of their own. That was part of the reason I acted so quickly. I didn't want anyone else to die in a battle.

But again, she underestimated me. She thought that because she gave me the horns back, I'd come to her beck and call. She didn't think at all I'd be hiding anything from her. That the residents would be more than ready to handle her when the time came. What they'd found out, what they wanted to do.

It was...worth it, to hear her cry. It hurt, it hurt, but it was soothing, too. I only wish I could have seen her face.

Edited 2012-01-16 23:45 (UTC)

[he can't really hide the grimace on his lips in response to that. hear her cry? it hurt? what had they done...?]

...What... happened? [it's clear he isn't quite sure he wants to ask, but he has to know.]

To her? I don't know. Like I said, I couldn't see her face.

Legato and I were in a different region, doing our job. Unfortunately her defeat made Legato breakdown and turn useless. He probably could have freed me from that man Charles otherwise. But it made him panic, and that's why he lost.

[ That's right, sabotaging Riful but still doing her bidding. It makes all kinds of sense. ]

[ugh, you always give him a headache. he sighs, nudging his glasses up his nose... and coming to recline against the tree beside him.]

...You're a pain, you know that? Getting yourself in all this trouble while I'm not here.

Hmph. Well I didn't need you, anyway. That's what Nancy was for. Incredibly helpful. A bit of a streetwalker.

[he gives a little huff, before nudging Joshua lightly with his elbow.]

Don't need me? That's cruel, you know! I do have feelings and I thought we were friends!

At a time like that, I think you could've used one.

We're not friends...

[ A chuckle escapes, but there's nothing pleasant about it, despite the fact that he's smiling at Abel. ]

You took my horns from me. You would do it again if you had the opportunity. I suffered for months because of that. I kept thinking I was going to die. I felt desolate when Alexstrasza said she couldn't help me. So depressed, you wouldn't believe... It was all drama that I would have much preferred to avoid.

I said I forgave you, but you are...not my friend.

But, at least, you're not my enemy.

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