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Would you share the secret to getting a smile like that?

My brother has come home.

That's wonderful. Are you going to have a party to celebrate?

Are you...mocking me, Peravael?

[Michael sincerely hoped not.]

Not at all. I wouldn't dare.

Are you talking of dear Lucifer?

[Mmhm.]

No, we aren't.

[He dips his eyes to hide his relief. He hasn't been in touch with other angels in a long time. But it seems that some things, thankfully, don't change.]

Who has returned to the flock today?

[Leviathan really, really, really doesn't agree.

Not even a little.

And while he is sure there is a very small part of him that is pleased Gabriel finally stopped being an ass-- most of him isn't. He is a demon after all, and he doesn't like not getting his way.~~doesn't like losing~~

But he also isn't stupid enough to actually do much more than glare at Michael and his stupidly smug face and flick the cap on a gaudy, jewel-encrusted lighter and tried not to grind his teeth.]

Dunno if I agree wit ya there.

[Wise decision. And you'll get over it, beast. Yet Michael wasn't juvenile enough to actually gloat. Although--there might, just might--be a touch of compassion. About a microbe's worth.]

Then it's well that your opinion carries little weight in the matter.

[Count your blessings, Fallen.]

What matters the name? Only that one who was lost has since returned, and all of the Host rejoices.

[You say that now, but Leviathan really doesn't think so. But what could an angel know of a demon anyway?

The Creature almost wishes that Michael would gloat, it would make things easier, put things a little more into perspective for him. Even a microbe's worth of compassion is something that he can't quite make sense of right now.]

Yeah, I know. Ya think I don't hear tha' all the time? Ya angels are all t'same when it comes t'that I suppose.

[Except Gabriel. At least... Leviathan thought that before. Now he wasn't so sure. He hadn't seen him since he was forgiven.]

It is the way of things.

[Not something he can change, nor would he want to.]

We are what we are.

An' yet, the way of things changes once in a while.

[Even if only for a little bit.

He snorts at the 'we are what we are' comment, snapping the lid to the lighter closed a little more forcefully than before, a dark expression flitting across his face.]

Yeah, and ain't tha a pity...

Yet the Purpose prevails.

[Michael's own countenance darkened at the beast's glower; he currently had no issue with the Leviathan, but if given a reason...]

Don't lift your hackles my way, Leviathan.

[Would he were the type.]

Curiosity. Curiosity over who it is and why they returned and why you are so eager to hide their name. You won't indulge me even slightly?

[He wasn't hiding it. Not intentionally.]

Wasn't it indulgence which barred you from the Host, Peravael?

[The smile that touches his lips then is strained and he dips his head.]

Are you teaching me restraint, Michael?

[That just garners Michael an eyeroll as he stuffs the lighter back into his pant pocket.]

'm not raising my hackles at ya, Mika. More so at circumstancea.

[He should probably be more afraid of Michael, but when it comes right down to it the only one that he fears is Gabriel. Perhaps that comes from knowing him, or perhaps that comes from the stories written about his own demise, but he still knows better than to start something with Michael.

He just hates that it's true. They are what they are; angel and demon and he will never have a chance at being anything more.]

They've never been all tha' kind t'me.

Would you even be receptive if I were?

We sit on opposite sides of the proverbial fence. Peace between us is rare.

[Circling like sharks, waiting for the signal to strike. It was wearying, at times.]

[Lucifer always did challenge everything, even if it was in somewhat good humour.]

Do you mean that today in particular is a very good day? Or that today is a very good day, compared to other days? Or that a very good day could only happen today?

[Yes, Michael remembered. Bitterly.]

Every day under His love is a good day, Lucifer. Or had you forgotten?

Forgotten? No. I just don't understand why, if "Every day under Father's love is a good day," why today needs to be recognized as something special.

[It's spoken less in challenge and more in curiosity.]

[And as such, Michael had no qualm about quenching it. This time.]

Gabriel has again resumed his place within the Host.

[Now, it was Lu's turn to stop being a jerk and do the same, right?]

Isn't it just?

[...Uriel...]

It is. I'm assuming you know to what I'm referring?

[Lucifer raises an eyebrow.]

Well, we were talking about it... but...

[A small but pleased smile crosses his features.]

Well, sometimes simply talking and listening does more than... swords and brimstone.

[Well, he's not trying to be a jerk, he just calls things as he sees them. And there is pride present. That dangerous things to which Lu is so susceptible.]

[Yeeees? C'mon, Cap-i-tan, you know you love him.]

Of course I do. The noise the Host made nearly knocked me offa my cloud. And then there's you--smiling, to everyone's shock. That means either one of two things: someone's figured out a way to save all the whales or one of the Prodigals has come home.

Yes, I'm well aware.

[Michael would no more raise his blade to Gabriel than he wanted to raise it against Lucifer. He had issues killing his siblings. The one chink in an otherwise impenetrable suit of armor.]

And now, assuage my curiosity, what advice did you impart, hm?

[Michael did, although sometimes...he really wanted smack his younger brother. Just on principle. Because he loved him, really.]

Gabriel, Uriel. Gabriel asked repentance and has once more become part of our ranks. [Where he belonged, by all the Light. Then Michael's eyebrow went up.]

I know your feelings towards him, my brother. Just as I also know I won't have to intervene, yes?

I don't give advice, brother. I simply let him talk and I responded to concerns.

[Granted, they were from his own personal understandings, but Gabe came back, so does it really matter?]

[In the large scheme of things, they didn't. At the moment.]

Out of your own goodwill, yes?

Gabriel was confused and had doubts. I gave him what he needed.

[Lucifer is going to neither confirm nor deny anything about his own motivations to Michael. This was about Gabriel, not them.]

[As if Michael was going to believe that, in any case.]

Your benevolence is...touching.

[A small smile appears.]

Really, Michael I thought sarcasm was beneath you.

[At times? Try all the time. It put a serious cramp in his style. Because he had style, of course. Lots of style.

The Creature raised an eyebrow and huffed.] Ya mean nearly non-existent. I mean, I get it, we run around temptin' people and pullin' 'em towards sin and you lot smite us for it. But, not all of us chose this, Archistrategos.

[He pauses, eyes flitting away from Michael to a pale scar on his hand, one of many, before he looks back at Michael a little more seriously.] I don't doubt that ya won't, but make sure the brat's happy finally, yeah?

You never know.

[No.]

[Well....crap. There goes Uriel's immediate idea of welcome-home hazing, drat it. And yeah, he was so gonna sulk, too.]

--allrightfine. I promise not to bend his halo or pluck his pinfeathers. Scout's honor and all that.

It's an acquired trait.

Mm. I didn't think so.

[Yeah, he wasn't an idiot.]

[Complaining about one's lot in life--especially on of them, the elementals--was akin to begging the ocean to be still. Pointless, more or less. Which was Michael simply held silent at Leviathan's moroseness, yet a flicker of emotion appeared in his gaze at the Creature's request.]

He will be.

[Provided he stayed where he belonged this time.]

I appreciate your restraint. [Michael knew you well, little brother.]

[Lucifer chuckles.]

Of course it is. It just happens to be a trait I thought you were against acquiring.

Too much time associating with Uriel, apparently.

Apparently. I must say, out of all of us... Well, I just never imagined you would enjoy it.

[And Michael seems to - at least he did just now.]

I never said I did, Lucifer.

[Call it a defense mechanism, really.]

But Necessity will have her way, regardless.

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Always late to the party.

Fashionably so. XD

XD

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