sixwordstories | (no subject)

[Michael tilts his head, pondering it for a moment.]

A bit of both, perhaps.

[He will not mention - not to these - the hoards of shadows just beyond the playground, slavering for the opportunity to feast upon some youthful soul.]

[Brer tilts her head too, watching him consideringly.] But you just sit here. You didn't even talk to anyone until we came over.

[Jack has seen them. But as long as Michael continues not to acknowledge them, he'll think they're not-real, not-here, not-now.]

[He chuckles, reaching out to gently tap the end of her nose.]

That is because I was waiting for you. I knew eventually you and Jack would come sit with me, and I was waiting.

[Brer giggles and bats at his hand.] But we came to sit with you because you were here.

[Michael laughs softly.]

There you are, then.

But that doesn't make sense! We came to sit with you because you were here, but you were here because we would come to sit with you--it's all twisty! [Brer twists her index fingers together to demonstrate and grins.]

Like a circle, yes? [Oh, but he does love children so.]

[Brer nods.] But circles don't make good stories. They don't make sense. Things should make sense.

Unfortunately, not all stories in the world make sense, dear one. A hard fact to accept, but a true one.

[Jack smiles at that.] Most of them don't.

But they are still good stories, are they not?

[Brer stamps her foot.] No.

[Jack laughs at his sister.] Not all of them. But some of them.

[Michael just chuckles.]

Would you two like to fly with me?

[And watch both their eyes get really big. And for once they say exactly the same thing.] Fly with you? Really?

Of course.

[So saying, Michael rises from the bench and shimmers just slightly as his large black wings slowly unfurl, they stretching high and wide as he sighs in relief. Oddly enough, no one else about notices the archangel and the children, because as Jack said, he is there and not-there at the same time.

Feathers rustle; they are soft as cotton but can be hard as diamond if needed. There are six; two large broad wings at his shoulders spanning over ten feet, two smaller but equally powerful beneath with a six foot span, but the last pair are wounded, charred and have been for all eternity. Remnants of a battle with a brother.

Nevertheless, Michael extends a hand to each child.]

[Brer's eyes get big and she grins.] That's so cool! [She grabs his hand, still grinning.]

[Jack is more hesitant. His eyes are fixed on the last two wings and he opens his mouth to ask what happened. But after a moment of hesitation, he shuts his mouth and looks at the others. What he sees makes him smile, and he takes Michael's other hand.]

[With the children firmly in tow, Michael beats his wings and wills himself to rise slowly. Amazingly enough, neither child dangles, but rises with the angel as if they were still standing upon solidness. But the breeze wafting their hair is very real, as is the sense of rising, of flying.

Nevertheless, he doesn't ascend too high, merely just above the treeline, once again marveling at the beauty of Creation beneath. Strong wings keep them aloft and the trio hovers above the park for a moment, to give the children time to adjust to the newness.]

[Brer clutches Michael's hand as she stares around, wide-eyed.] It's so different from up here.

[Jack reaches out with his free hand like he could touch the ground below him.] They all look... small. [He smiles.] It feels safe. Like up here is its own world and nothing can get in.

It is. Truly a lovely spectacle.

[They fly onward, across the park and head for the city and the river beyond, sunlight flooding the landscape beneath. It gives him much joy to share this love with such innocent souls, they all free and weightless beneath God's endless skies.]

'tis my favorite place in all of the world, here.

I see why. [Brer looks at him.] How do you ever stop flying? It's so beautiful up here.

I have duties to attend to down there. [He nods towards the ground.] Besides, every time I take flight, there's a new joy, which makes it all the more worthwhile.

[But they cannot stay long, so Michael dips and wheels, heading back towards the park.]