001. Stargazing Meme

[afallenstar]

the stargazing meme

oo1. comment with your characters
make sure to put names, series, & preferences somewhere!
oo2. use the rng and enter 1-10
oo3. play out what happens—anything goes!
oo5. profit? oh yeah!

prompts

one → meteor shower you just saw a falling star! and another! make a wish!
two → aliens what was that? was that really? omg no way a ufo!
three → lunar eclipse you've been sitting out for hours, waiting for this. it's so cool!
four → comet does it move fast or slow? either way, it's amazing.
five → full moon the moon is so huge! just don't look too long, it's really bright too.
six → star dust anything can happen in space. make up your own plot!
seven → solar eclipse this might be happening in the middle of the day!
eight → planet sighting is that a new star? nope, just a neighbor in the solar system!
nine → constellations do you know the stories behind these odd patterns?
ten → deep space normal stargazing isn't that much fun. you got a telescope!

Comments

[servingmichael]

[Raphael is still, sitting on some high, far off mountain-top, watching an intense meteor shower.]

[afallenstar]

[ The only indication of her arrival is the soft echoing sound of flapping wings behind him, and when she walks up behind him she has a somewhat wary smile on her face.

Still, she looks up at the sky with him for a moment, and when she finally speaks her voice is soft, surprisingly gentle and calm. ]

Beautiful, isn't it.

[servingmichael]

[Raphael doesn't stir from his resting spot, but he does look up calmly, benevolently.]

It is. I've always been fond of them.

[afallenstar]

[ After a moment she sits herself next to him, and though she glances in his direction briefly her attention returns to the stars soon after. This is just one of the many things she loves about Earth, though she keeps that to herself. ]

You're not alone in that. Reminds me of my place in the world, in a way.

[servingmichael]

[Raphael doesn't mind the company for the moment, his wings reaching up and out before settling. But for a brief moment, Anna was covered in their shadow.]

It reminds me of watching it be born.

[afallenstar]

[ The shadow of those wings bring feelings that Anna isn't quite ready to address yet. Hers are hidden, as always, and she rests back on her hands as she lets her eyes close. ]

Ah, yes. 'In the beginning'. What a sight that must have been.

[servingmichael]

[Raphael keeps his tucked and hidden around humans. Here, he doesn't bother.]

It was. Michael was often holding us steady, until God said we could go look.

[And holding three archangels by their necks have been a struggle for the Eldest - he'd been excited too.]

[afallenstar]

[ Part of her - the part that she tends to ignore more often than not - can't help but be envious. After all who wouldn't be? The beginning of the world that she adores so much. Who wouldn't want to see that?

It's a bittersweet kind of envy though. She wants to have witnessed it for herself, to have seen the wonder that would have been the creation of Earth, but even that desire reminds her too much of what she is, or more specifically, what she doesn't want to be. ]

What was it like, to see it for the first time?

[ She can't help herself, her question falling out before she can stop it in a hushed voice. ]

[servingmichael]

[Raphael has seen many planets born, but the Earth was the special one, the one given to them to watch over.]

Exciting. Continents of obsidian, and tachylyte covered in a tissue-paper thin crust of smoldering basalt suspend on molten seas of lava, born of star dust and debris.

[afallenstar]

[ She's captivated - she's seen creation before but never the Earth and the way he describes t, she can practically picture it for herself. She has a little smile on her face as she watches him, listening more closely and giving more attention than she ever normally does to one thing. ]

That sounds...phenomenal.

[ With that she finally sets her wings free, stretching them out either side of her with a very quiet sigh of relief. It's never very often that he lets them out any more, preferring to keep them tucked away and hidden like she does any reminder of her angelic existence, but it's a constant - if small - source of tension. ]

And our Father, he must have been so proud...

[ She can only guess, of course, but she can't help but hope that He had been. It's strange to still want to feel close to Him, but it's in her nature. She's spent countless years seeking his approval, as most of them have, habits like that don't change over night. ]

[servingmichael]

Indeed.

[It's a tiny series of movement, a fractional roll back of his shoulders, a minute lifting of his chest, a tiny dip of his chin forward, and Raphael releases his own wings, stretched out, shadowy feathers made of thunderclouds and froth crested ocean waves, flickers of color like lightning arcs and bright light scattering over fish scales, three pairs of wings reaching out flapping gently before settling in gentle arches behind both of them - leaving Anna quite literally under his wings.]

He was. The Earth was a cumulation, something perfect and beautiful, rare of all the planets He made. Something special, He said.

[Raphael still courts God's approval, His love, His return. He's not capable of expressing his anger - or even acknowledging it - over His abandonment.]

[afallenstar]

[ It's been so long since she's had much to do with any of her own kind, literally thousands of years stationed on Earth, but they're still family. Despite it all, she can't shake that feeling of familiarity, and it's an odd kind of comfort as the much more impressive wings stretch out behind her.

Her single pair are far less dramatic, a much smaller span extended behind her. The dark grey feathers give a small flutter as Raphael's extend out beyond hers, and the small brush of contact feels foreign to her. It's been such a long time since she's had them out, since there's been any contact to her wings, and it sends a small shiver down her spine. ]

So special that He gave it to us to protect.

[ She has no such qualms about her resentment of the Father. Her words are far more bitter, a sharp edge to them that almost portray anger. ]

So special that he leaves it for us to take charge of, and never once steps in to prevent the pain and suffering of the humans.

[servingmichael]

[He curls his wings a little around hers, soothing but quiet.]

It is why He gave them feel will. Some are going to chose to cause pain.

[Raphael was weary of it, of the pain and destruction, of humanity squandering the gifts God had so generously bestowed upon them.]

[afallenstar]

How perfect and beautiful.

[ He's right and she knows it. It is the nature of free will that not all will choose the right path, but that doesn't mean it's easy to watch. She loves them, loves humanity in all of its complexity, but she may well always blame Him somewhat for the suffering she's witnessed too.

It's quiet when she speaks again, much softer. it's almost like she's just speaking to herself as she gazes out at the sky, but as she speaks there's a soft flutter of her wings against Raphael's. She wants him to hear, wants someone to hear even if she doesn't think he'll agree. Maybe, just maybe he'll change her orders. ]

Sometimes I wish I could do more than observe. We're so powerful, we could help these people. We could stop some of their pain.

[servingmichael]

[He hums a noncommittal noise. The beauty is fading, has been for a long time. Since God abandoned them.

He's growing so weary of it all. The weight of it all. Running Heaven. Guiding Creation. Protecting, leading his siblings.

His wings flutter in return, a gentle fluffing of feathers.]

We all do. But those aren't the Orders we were given. We have to let them find their own way.

[It's quiet, flat. He takes no enjoyment in those orders, in this part of the Plan.]

[afallenstar]

[ It's a comfort to know that it's not just her, but that doesn't mean she doesn't argue back anyway. Comfort isn't enough any more, she wants answers. Raphael might not be able to give them, but she's asking anyway. ]

But why? Why aren't we allowed to help them?

[ As soon as she's said it she falls silent. Her wings pull in slightly, tighter against her back as she lowers her gaze. It's not her place to ask why, but she has anyway. It's a fair question, after all. ]

[servingmichael]

[Raphael's wings tense, pull up and hood over them.]

Because they will depend on us, to solve everything. Already they cry divine protection and divine wrath as if God giving them direction. If we begin to interfere...

There will be a time to act. It's not part of the Plan yet.

[Raphael's voice is calm, cool, quiet. But no less serious than a deadly riptide hidden by a placid surface.]

Are you questioning your orders, Anna?

[afallenstar]

[ She's seen this before, on her post. Humans argue, they fight and they stand up for what they believe in. Anna could stand up for what she believes in, too.

Except she doesn't, because she's not that brave. She just shrinks down further, pulls her wings in tighter and with a quiet sigh shakes her head. ]

I would never question orders.

[ Because for all the pain, and heartache and destruction, she honestly believes the humans are better than they are. They fight, after all. She just follows. ]

Sometimes I just wonder if we shouldn't be doing more, that is all. Why give us all this divine power if we can't use it to end suffering and hurt?

[servingmichael]

[Raphael doesn't withdraw his wings but they do tense a bit more. Careful.]

Those questions are dangerous Anna.

[Evenly.]

We will end suffering in the End. Until then, God commands we allow them to chose.

[afallenstar]

[ Anna doesn't miss the tension, nor the deliberately even tone being used with her. It's enough to cause her to bite back most of the questions that are only being brought about even more by the answers he's given her. ]

In the End, yes. And until then we only observe and guide.

[ Still, she's already pushed it much further than she's dared before. The questions are already dangerous, what harm can one last one do? ]

...Do you think we should have to wait?

[servingmichael]

That is our role yes.

[The tone isn't solely to keep Anna from questioning but also to keep his own doubts locked away.]

I think we should follow our Father's Orders.

wow way to not notify me about this dw, thanks

[afallenstar]

[ She's questioning, but she's not stupid. Anna knows when enough is enough, and this is it. It's why she just nods quietly, lowers her eyes and clasps her hands together in her lap. The perfect image of obedience and contrition, she is. ]

You are right. Of course you are. You are right, and so is he.

[ Hesitantly, slowly, her wings extend just enough to brush his. ]

It's ok! It happens.

[servingmichael]

[He nods, just once, but extends his wings to brush back. It's gentle, but not hesitant. Everything is fine.]