immolxtio

[immolxtio]

If he knew that Lucifer took joy in watching him get surprised then promptly embarrassed, perhaps he would've sulked about it. As it was, he was blissfully unaware of the sentiments flowing through his older brother's mind. Instead, his attention was immediately redirected to the view that could be seen from the portal; gaze alight with curiosity towards the hints regality that could be seen just from the view provided.

Entering through the portal after being prompted to do so, Gabriel felt the stirrings of an urge long forgotten - the aesthetics of the entryway alone scratching his desire to go exploring now that he was seeing it in it's entirety. Yet despite the size and beauty of it all, or perhaps because of it, he couldn't help but but to notice how...empty it felt. Like there were hints of melancholy trapped deep within the walls - only to be seen in the areas where the chandelier's light didn't touch at all.

Pulled from his internal musings, he blinked at the Fallen - lips actually forming a tiny pout. "I wouldn't go wandering around a place I'm merely a guest in." If he had free-reign, however, that'd be a different story. It didn't show itself often nowadays, but the Messenger's catlike nature was more predominate when he was younger; which meant he was often inflicted with a case of wanderlust that truly made it difficult to grab hold of him even on the most mundane of days. Still, he trailed on after his brother - continuing to allow his gaze to roam about freely.

"Well, I can't argue that some people treat food like poison." The eldest was technically one, along with some of the other younger siblings. "I'm open to trying anything, I've even had human food before." Last time he went to Earth, anyways. If he had to admit, which was likely he wouldn't, food was something of a luxury to him. Almost as much as sleep was. It was technically a blessing that immortals of their standing don't quite need to rely on either thing to the extent mortals did, otherwise the young Messenger would have quite the sickly visage.

There was something satisfying about seeing the look of surprise on Gabriel's face. As was hearing him ask a stupid question, which he was saved from having to answer. Though, really, Lucifer would've just given him a look to convey exactly what he thought about it too. He had managed to surprise his little brother enough to ask a dumb little question and look all embarrassed about it in the span of a couple minutes. Nice.

          "Excellent!" Lucifer exclaimed before turning on his heel and heading out of the meeting room. With a tap of his cane against the marble floor, a portal opened up in front of him that was a little taller to be able to accommodate Gabriel's height.

Through the portal, part of the stairwell of the palace's entryway could be seen with their black marble stairs which had flecks of gold in it and the middle area of the steps were covered by a red carpet. With a glance towards Gabriel when he saw the other come out of the meeting room, he stepped through the portal and then took a couple steps to the side while he gestured for the other to follow. The entryway was large and the stairway was the centerpiece of it, splitting off to either side on the landing to choose to either go to the west wing or the east wing. The chandelier overhead kept the area well lit and there were some elegant sconces along the dark red walls where the light wouldn't fully reach.

Once Gabriel had come through the portal, it snapped shut with another tap of his cane before gesturing around the entryway.

          "Welcome to the Morningstar Palace, I highly recommend that you don't wander off or you'll get lost," He said with a twirl of his apple cane and a showman's grin before he began to walk in the direction of the kitchen. "C'mon, we can have a drink as long as you're not judgmental about the beverages here in Hell or the food. I swear, some of you act like it's poison."

[immolxtio]

Whatever information Lucifer managed to glean from that little nugget of truth would likely remain unknown to the younger Archangel, his expression shifting to one of slight surprise as he blinked at the Fallen - mind still processing the words spoken.

"...You don't mind?" Like he realized what he just said was foolish, his surprised expression shifted to one of embarrassment - an awkward little chuckle following soon after. "If you minded you wouldn't have offered, ignore that." It wasn't often Gabriel found himself caught off-guard in such a manner, but of all the things he expected when he made the impulsive decision to make Hell of all places his location of respite; Lucifer inviting him to his home had not been one of them. As a matter of fact, he hadn't considered it to be a possibility in the slightest. Out of all the siblings, his relationship with the older angel could be considered courteous at best.

Having been not only more observant in nature, he was also one of the more emotionally sensitive of his siblings - picking up on the second eldest's possessiveness somewhere around his 'preteen' years and making an effort to not intrude on the time the twins spent together as much as possible. It was much harder to do when he was older, and each time Samael had thrown a displeased look in his direction - he merely gave an apologetic one in response. Still, if his brother was willing to offer him an olive branch - he saw no reason not to take it.

Shifting his expression from one of embarrassment to one carrying a tentative smile instead, he clasped his hands behind his back - looking very much like a child told to be on their best behavior. "Well, it would be very impolite of me to reject such a kind offer. I'd...like it very much if we could do just that." Perhaps this impulsive decision wasn't such a bad one after all if this is where it leads him.

That first part of that sentence was a lie but when Gabriel added the specific location that he didn't like being in was the Heaven Embassy was a truth. He didn't get the familiar feeling that usually came whenever someone lied. It was enough, that little nugget of information that Gabriel had unknowingly given him. His little brother was always polite and careful with his words, though he hadn't realized how careful until now.

          "So... It would be rather impolite of you to turn down the offer I'm going to make you now," Lucifer begins to say as he leans a little more on his cane. "How about we leave the embassy for now and I'll host you for a little bit at my palace until you need to head back upstairs. You did say that you don't enjoy being here and I would prefer it if my guests enjoyed their stay, however brief."

Rolling his shoulders, the devil motioned towards the door behind him with a movement of his head. "I can open a portal for us to my place and we can... catch up a bit. What do you say?"

It is weird to think of catching up with Gabriel, considering he was the younger sibling that he'd get jealous of for stealing his twin's attention back then. Stupid of him, in hindsight. Logically, he had known that Gabriel's work and being his twin's second in command had them working together often. But he was ( still is ) a possession bastard when it came to his brother, but at least now he was less likely to give the Messenger a dirty look for it.

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'To escape.' "Because it'd be rude to simply drop in unannounced, and I would loathe to cause a misunderstanding of some kind." Gabriel tilted his head to the side, his first thought not at all matching with the words spoken but the sincerity in them were true. Given all the events that had transpired as of late, there was already far too much on his plate to handle; the last thing the young Messenger wanted to do was to willfully cause a situation that would give rise to more problems than anything else.

He didn't comment on the way Lucifer seemed to pivot away from the topic of his twin and his habits, though he would assume it was due to the memories of the past that would come to the surface should the Fallen choose to reflect for even a moment longer. If Gabriel knew what he had been thinking, he would've told him that aside from the two of them - to his knowledge - there was no one else who even had the confidence to even attempt to speak to the eldest in such a way. But he did not know, so it would be knowledge that continues to remain hidden.

It was certainly true, however, that out of all the siblings - Gabriel was an enigma even on the best of days; a smile constantly on his face and a warmth to his personality that made it easy for others to open up to. It made it hard to know what was truly on his mind and if he could, he would skirt around any issues like he was doing now. Considering the environment he had been raised in, perhaps it was only natural that a trait like this was practically his default.

"Well, I can't say I enjoy being here - in the Embassy - very much." The smile didn't twitch. "I'm as okay as I can be, rest assured." He could hear the concern that was starting to bleed into his brother's voice and he couldn't help but to feel touched by it. Gabriel knew it wasn't that his brother loathed him or anything negative along those lines, but he was aware of the fact that the older of the two hadn't exactly been the most fond of him either - mostly during the times when the young Messenger sought out the eldest. Although he appreciated the concern, it was fine, he'll be okay.

He has no choice but to be okay.

          "Okay, let me just... rephrase the question," Lucifer said as he brought a hand up to rub the tips of his fingers against his temple. "Why did you feel the need to come up with a ruse in order to step foot in Hell consensually?"

He can't comment too much about what his little brother said about Michael because it was true. His twin wouldn't appreciate the nagging, just he didn't appreciate anyone telling him to take care of himself. To take a break, to eat something, to sleep without it becoming either a debate or argument. Though, Lucifer wonders, he is unsure if Michael gives others this much difficulty about it or if it's just him that he does it to.

Gently ( not really ), he pushes those thoughts away and resets his focus on Gabriel. The other looked the same and yet different, there was an edge of... tension to his frame despite how relaxed his expression was. Lucifer knew that trying to get a read on this particular little brother was difficult. Michael was easy, even with the thousands of years apart, he could read his twin just as easily as he could before his Fall. Zadkiel was another he could read, though he was unsure if he'd be able to now. Same with Uriel. Gabriel? A fucking puzzle box on the best days. But he did not get through his time in Hell without being observant.

          "You seem.... tense," The devil stated the observation out loud as he tilted his head a little to the side. "More than a little, actually. Are you sure you're okay?" Some concern was bleeding into his voice, even though he wasn't that close to Gabriel, he was still Lucifer's first little brother.

[immolxtio]

It was, but only just a little. So used to the soft blues and gold that made up the older Archangel's palette before, it was a little odd now to see him consist of colors that were more dark and vibrant in nature; just like it was odd to see he was more sharp edges now compared to gentle disposition he carried before. But again, there was no disgust or discomfort in the young Messenger's gaze. Perhaps a little sadness, a little melancholy - but there was a resigned acceptance that lurked further in. Time has changed all of them, it was only natural that he'd change most of all. But other than that, his posture stayed the same; so did the smile on his lips. Unwavering in face of the Fallen's scrutiny.

"No reason in particular, like I said - the meeting was simply a ruse to step foot here consensually." The smile on his lips curved up a bit more. "I'm aware, but not at all. I don't think he'd quite appreciate the ah, nagging. He still sends paperwork on time, at the very least." Which really only told the younger he was alive and functional. Not really much else. But there was only so much he could do given Michael's nature. The pushback was simply just not worth it.

He held his hands up peacefully, a common sign of harmlessness that he typically tended to do especially when dealing with more tense situations. "I'm not intending on going anywhere and I won't be here long, only for a bit. Then it'll be like you've blinked and I'm gone."

@immolxtio continued from here.

He had to wonder if his appearance was jarring to the other. Lucifer hasn't seen any of his younger siblings since the time before his Fall. Yes, he did have a way to contact them via the Heavenly Gem but he had always been too scared about what expression Zadkiel would have, or even Uriel, if they saw him as he is now. He was so different from before with the sharp teeth, his eyes, the stains of vanity on his cheeks, the blackened hands and, if they were out, the color of his wings and his tail. They'd probably see him as a monster and he didn't want to see that realization on their faces if he were to try contacting them.

Red eyes stay trained on God's Messenger as he listens to what the other said. There wasn't a lie in them but it was still strange that he had wanted the meeting. Which, Lucifer had wondered about, when he received the abrupt call it had registered to him that Gabriel was lying to him but he hadn't had time to dig at it before he'd been hung up on. It was definitely nice that he admitted there wasn't anything important or pressing, but then there was the pressing question of why the other was here at all.

          "Okay, so then do you mind elaborating why you're here?" Lucifer asked as he leaned a hand against the long table as he narrowed his eyes at the other. "Are you here to check in on Mikey? I'm pretty sure you could've just called him, his Heaven-made cell phone does have reception down here."

That was the only logical reason he could think for why Gabriel would come down here, though he would've simply called Michael instead of Lucifer. He needs to know what's up. Now.

[immolxtio]

@truearchangel has been possessed.

SCREAMS. "STARS ABOVE MICHAEL WHAT THE FUCK-"

[immolxtio]

@truearchangel is just bullying him now.

"Well, better me than you. You have plenty of work as it is."

[immolxtio]

@truearchangel is scaring him.

Someone help him. At least it's not as questionable as the previous one. "I see you've um. Developed an artistic streak, brother. I'm very proud of you." Hobbies were a good thing after all, right? Right.

[immolxtio]

@truearchangel thinks traumatizing the younger brother is fun.

Um. What the fuck. "Miiiiiiiiiike? What's um. What's this?"

[immolxtio]

He's a bit unsure about what in the realms this meeting could be about. Part of him wonders if it's about Michael but he nixes that thought as quickly as it comes because then they would've simply contacted his twin. Especially, Lucifer thinks, with who it was that had decided to book this impromptu meeting without really giving him any details as to what the fuck it was for. The doors to the meeting room slide open and he sees his first younger sibling, whom he hasn't seen since the day he'd Fallen and he steps into the room.

          "What's so important about this meeting that you insisted on it being now, Saint Gabriel?" Lucifer said as he stayed at the end of the table closest to the door. He can't help but be surprised that the other is actually present and not the hologram that Sera and Adam had favored. It was rare for anyone from upstairs to step foot in the Heaven Embassy. Still, he remained tense as he always was whenever he had to step foot inside this stars forsaken building.

@thylightbringer reuniting with the brother he used to side-eye.

Were anyone to ask, there were dozens if not hundreds of reasons the young Messenger could've provided for why he had to make a physical trip down to Hell. Why he would favor traveling to such barbarian lands instead of remaining safely in the clouds where he 'belonged'. So many reasons, yet there were none to give; because no one ever asked. Gabriel was a hard one to catch on a good day, but nowadays? It was hard to even catch a strand of hair belonging to the bespectacled Archangel, traveling to and fro for reasons unknown to all except the stars above. He was always one of the more busier of the archangels, second to Michael himself but with the eldest gone on a self-imposed mission of his own; it felt as though his workload had practically tripled compared to before.

Which led him here, following through with a rare moment of impulsivity all because he wanted a break from the hustle and bustle of everything. If he had to admit, it wasn't his brightest moment - but there was little else he could do. After all, no one would ever think he'd come here of all places. The grandeur of the Heavenly Embassy was not one he enjoyed, especially not when he knew it was nothing more than a shiny reminder of the yearly event Hell and it's unfortunate denizens were subject to like clockwork. It was only moments later that whatever thoughts he had brewing in his head were put to the side, lips automatically curling up in the same gentle smile he was known for. When Lucifer had stepped into the room, it was...a little jarring to see the difference in his appearance in person.

His expression didn't falter, however - the smile instead being colored with a twinge of helplessness both at the use of his formal title and the wariness that seemed to be radiating off of his brother in waves. But, given the circumstances for the last hundreds of years, he supposed that was only fair. Especially when factoring in the abruptness of this all. "I apologize for any discontent I might've caused by requesting a meeting on such short notice." Prim and proper, with hands clasped behind him as if that's how he always carried himself. "But as unfortunate as it is to say, it's nothing important. Simply just a consensual way of stepping foot here, is all."

[immolxtio]

Pre-Fall & Post-Fall Gabe as a cupcake ✨

Tagging: You

[immolxtio]

“You’re been weird for several weeks!” Really weird, actually, he had no idea why his little broker was suddenly changing his appearance or acting weird. Michael really had no idea what was wrong with him lately or why he was doing things so strangely. He talked weird too, or was suddenly talking back. Something he definitely wasn’t used to from the Messenger. He just wanted his cute little squishy brother back. Not that Gabriel was ever quite as squishy as he used to be once growing up. “There is no such thing as different realities! There is only one of you and one of me!”

The younger of the two really hadn't expect things to escalate to this point and he couldn't help but to hold his hands up in a placating manner. Both of them getting worked up would do neither of them well. "How about we calm down first? We won't get anywhere like this." He offered a hand to his brother, not wanting to upset him further but it was clear they're experiencing an inconsistency here.

"Let's sit down, please? Because if my mental math is right...I'm not so sure about that stance, Mike."

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Now he’s getting upset. “What do you mean? I saw you a few hours ago, I worked really hard on those bunnies. Did you lose them? Did you throw them out? You said you liked them.”

Oh, no. "I would never treat a gift from you carelessly!" The bunny that sits in his room is proof of that. "But I swear this is the first time I've seen you today!" There's no feasible way for him to be in two places at once and somehow not be aware of interacting with the older archangel, let alone discarding or misplacing a gift from him. "You know I'd never doubt you, brother, but...are you sure it was me you saw? This happened before too, with you commenting on me shapeshifting despite it being a very long time since I actually have."

[immolxtio]

“Well I want them now.” He stated, smiling tightly at the other. “Think of it as payment for the bunnies. I’ll make you another baby bunny for them too. A whole little family.”

"Bunnies...?" If he was only feeling slightly confused before, he's fully confused now - eyebrows furrowing together slightly as he gazed at his older brother in concern. "Michael what...bunnies are you referring to? This is the first time in weeks we've exchanged more than mutual instructions and reports to one another." It might have been silly to do, but he reached forward to place the back of his hand against the smaller Archangel's forehead - checking to see if perhaps his brother was ill.

"Having you been resting enough? You know it's not good to overtax your body. Hadn't Raphael spoken to you about that before?"

[immolxtio]

“Gabriel, can you go through the archives and bring me the records on the exterminations for the past century that record the number of specific sinners deaths? I’ll need them charted according to where and how they died.” That should keep him busy for the next…. Decade.

What? "B-but...I thought you said you didn't want to know those particulars? And I sorted the archives after the last one." Has he done something wrong? Did he forget something important? Why does it feel like he's being punished for something? "Have I perhaps misdelivered something that didn't require your attention...?"

[immolxtio]

So he was technically interrupting something. At least his elder brother seemed to be more...rested? Than the last time he saw him. The Messenger sniffled, the confusion in his gaze deepening as he attempted to get his vision to clear.

"Back to blonde? Shapeshifting? Mikey, what are you talking about? I haven't changed my appearance in centuries. I hardly remember the last time I have, actually."

@truemessenger: "Mikeyy-" A familiar voice rang in the air that abruptly cut itself off - just like the figure who stopped dead in their tracks, bright eyes filled with tears but also confusion. "Um...A-am I interrupting something...?"

It's not often that Michael leaves his office and especially between traveling between Heaven and Hell he especially didn't leave his office. But lately things had required him to actually do that to shake some individuals down for their paperwork or visit certain places in person. Like the exterminators he was trying to reign in. A bunch of rapid animals they were. Chaotic and rude.

When he hears the call of his name, and a nickname he never uses since Samael fell, his gaze raises toward the sky and takes in the sight of one of his little brothers. A small hum leaves his lips and he watches Gabriel hover in front of him, blinking at the confused words that tumble out of his brother's mouth. "I'm just collecting paperwork. Are you back to the blonde hair now? If you keep shapeshifting you're going to confues the others you know."