Socheniel: “What’s so funny?”
Me: “You got a Marvel Thor vibe going.”
S: “What?”
Me: ~calls forth a few images of Marvel!Thor from both comics and live action movies~ “The Marvel representation of Thor. Totes not the mythic version. Though somehow I don’t see Thunder-britches turning down those locks of hair. That’s enough to make Sif jealous, I think.”
S: “… Are those nipple-shields? Why are there six of them on a humanoid male? I do not understand your species’ stories sometimes.”
Me: ~gently shoves Socheniel~ “Sez the entity that is bearing six wings in a physically impossible presentation, and comes from a species that sometimes appears as a giant floating eyeball winged with eyeball studded flames!”
S: “That’s different. At least we’re not trying to pass off what your mind can barely comprehend as the total embodiment of what we are. What you see of me is merely the badge of my office and the form that you are able to process without going mad.”
Me: “Badge of your office? So, I was right. You’re being called back.”
S: “… You are always suspicious of me. And yet, you greet me warmly. You are a contradiction at times.”
Me: “I’m human. Comes with the genetic code. And you can’t discount that the past encounters I have had with angels does make me biased against them. And… I’m still sore from Kay’s betrayal.”
S: “Your friend may have had no choice.”
Me: “You’re changing the subject. And I know ke didn’t. I watched that struggle as it happened, and ke lost. Someone higher up pulled the executive order lever and that was that. I guess, I’m waiting for your higher up to do the same. Every time I see you, the badge of your office evolves a little more. You now look like an angelic cross between an Assassin’s Creed character and Thor. Which screams a helluva lot about your pending function. How has this affected your alliance with the Company of Others?”
S: “We parted ways after your intercession at the terrace. [Keri’s Note: When Brother Superior was ejected from the angelic ranks, with prejudice.] We all agreed that [Brother Martial] would find some justification to come after me, and that it was not safe for the others to remain associated with me. In my wandering, I discovered what [Brother Superior] had hidden from me.” He becomes gravely silent. Realizing I am studying him stoically, he breaks out into a wide grin and pulls me close to his side. “But that is not relevant between us. Still I count you as a friend. And you have proven yourself capable of defending yourself against unwarranted attacks.”
Me: As his wings drape over me I’m overcome with the sensation of comfort and relief. Everything will be alright. I recognize it to be Socheniel’s passive aura and know better than to take the emotion as my own. “Still a friend. For now. Until events change things. But only until then. Yes. Friends.”
S: “And now I have a question for you.” He takes my face in his hands. The blight feels fuzzy as it squirms against my cheek, like living velvet. It tickles but does not harm nor infect me. “Why are you immune to the blight? I have touched other mortals, and they have fallen in judgement. But you don’t. You were the first mortal I encountered after my exile, and you draped yourself in my condemnation to help me carry it. You are apostate, and are at odds with my brethren and the divinity that willed me into being.” He rubs his hands against my face and neck. “Yet you only were touched by the blight when it was your will to do so, and even then, it did not last. Why?”
Me: “That’s a damn good question. It’s one I’ve asked myself. I am not comfortable talking about the possible reasons. It strikes at certain wounds still festering.”
S: “Understandable.” He cups my face again and smiles. “I am glad you allow me to touch you. I know you have no love for my kind. But your friendship has been of value to me. I do not understand why the blight does not strike you. Perhaps a mercy in the judgement against me.”
Socheniel leaves. I check my face for tendrils of blight. My face is warm where his hands touched, but there is no trace of the flesh-devouring scourge that still covers his hands and forearms. I am considering asking Malphas about it, but I am also hesitant. I feel like I’m being nudged into position on a game board again. Socheniel is being transformed from pawn to knight. What then would my position be, and am I on the same side?