Tweak

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Tweak says, "Bartenders do it till you barf"

Ariel (defectedfromgod) wrote in utr_logs,
@ 2010-08-08 01:05:00

Entry tags:

ariel, mephisto

WHO: Meph and Ariel
WHAT: Recovering memories
WHERE: The bookshop
WARNINGS: Not likely.

He'd set a closed sign on the shop upon arriving, telling the lingering customers that something had come up and there was no one else to watch the place. With the floor clear, he was left free to consider just what he was doing. Some part of him still felt nerves, felt fear of being surprised or played false again, but he talked himself down. The fallen angel was just that, and between the service he'd done Raziel and the very real fury and loss he'd seen toward God, he couldn't doubt. Not to that degree, not anymore.

He closed his eyes, knowing the medallion wasn't far away. If you have time, I think perhaps I'm ready. Before he changed his mind.

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feedsmycontempt
2010-08-08 05:19 am UTC (link)

Mephisto felt the pull and it tugged the corners of his lips up into a slight smile while he stood from his throne and bid Uzza to look over the festivities while he was away. He left his bird there as he came to the shop in an instant, tucking his wings back, although they trailed against the floor as he walked through the rows of shelves to where he knew Ariel was, hands in his leather jacket's pockets. His hair was braided back loosely, but well. "I do hope you know," He said, "that if I could, I'd feel indebted."

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	defectedfromgod 2010-08-08 05:26 am UTC (link)
	He was curious. "I don't seek it, but why is it not possible to feel indebted?" The angel had already thanked him; it was enough. He merely wondered. Nonetheless. He looked down, then looked up and realized the grackle was absent. How odd. "I hope I've not pulled you away from anything that could not wait." (Reply to this)

feedsmycontempt
2010-08-08 05:35 am UTC (link)

"I may not be a demon now, and am capable of more than anger, but I've never felt that way before. If I could, and if I do, I wouldn't know it." Mephistopheles bowed his head over a smile, and stood closer to Ariel - closer than he'd ever stood to the mortal in their time in this world without malicious intent- and murmured, "I will need to make contact with you to do this. It grounds me." He'd already tried out this newly found power on others with similar mental blocks in his Kingdom, and they suffered no ill effects if he had a physical bond to them. He didn't particularly like touching people, but it was a necessity, in this case, and he certainly didn't want to harm the man who freed him from an unjust imprisonment.

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defectedfromgod
2010-08-08 05:51 am UTC (link)

"Ah. I understand now." Ariel inclined his head, and instantly found himself face to face with the fallen angel. He flinched, but it was from surprise, not fear. He didn't particularly like being so close to anyone, with the possible exception of Princess, but he could manage. Touching felt invasive, but something like this was invasive by nature. He set his jaw, but clarified; no need to unnecessarily offend. "I'm not afraid; I simply don't like being so close to others. But please, do what you need to."

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feedsmycontempt
2010-08-08 06:04 am UTC (link)

"Nor do I," murmured the angel, bringing his clawed hands up to the man's head, careful not to let even a single hair be touched by the sharp and deadly talons as his over-warm fingertips pressed firmly against the other man's temples and down his jaw. "This will feel inexplicably fucking weird for a moment," Mephisto warned, before he slipped into Ariel's mind, finding parts that were hidden after a few silent moments of searching. He could see the man's subconscious, but simply ignored it. He could have pried, but refused himself the pleasure of that, and while he worked, he took what fear he could from the situation and fed from it. It was only habit at this point, nothing more.

He worked to uncover the parts that were missing to Ariel, and simply brought them out of the cluttered and condemned recesses of the mortal's mind, pulling them closer to the front, as it were. They would come to Ariel in time, like long-passed memories did to most mortals. He then considered to take away the pain of what Calliope had given the man, as it was unnecessary cruelty on his own part to have done that to Ariel. He saw a bridge and Mary and sighed, slipping away at once.

"I pried, I apologize, but it is done."

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defectedfromgod
2010-08-08 06:17 am UTC (link)

Ariel did his best to stay silent and immovable, heeding the warning and doing his best to prepare. It did feel bizarre, and not in a good way; like someone was itching the inside of his head. He bit his lip and stayed stationary, though. It was only when his neck began to ache that the angel said he was finished.

Ariel sighed, cracking his neck. "It's all right. I imagine a memory can't very well be affected without viewing it to some degree."

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feedsmycontempt
2010-08-08 06:23 am UTC (link)

"I tried my best to stay impartial," he assured, though he shook his head. "I considered healing the wounds of... what she did." He turned away from Ariel and took his place across the counter from the man, leaning against it, running a hand through his hair, visibly affected by what he'd seen. "But then I saw to what lengths it drove you and now, I am... disgusted. Not by you, by..." By his own impartial behavior before. He'd said that she'd done little harm to Ariel, and while that was physically true, she left a scar far deeper. He didn't quite know how to react to the foreign emotion, but he assumed it would only be the first of countless times he'd feel disgusted by his demonic force on people.

He stood back up and settled back into a more respectable pose, hands behind him.

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defectedfromgod
2010-08-08 06:33 am UTC (link)

Ariel blinked, entirely confused by what he was hearing. It took him more than a few moments before he'd ordered his thoughts well enough to speak. One thing at a time. His face grew hot, but not with anger. "The mere fact you can feel disgust is proof not only of the alchemical success, but also proof that you have changed in some fundamental respect. If you had become aware of such a fact a time ago, I can state with reasonable certainty that at the very least, you would have encouraged me in such a course."

His voice was soft, almost apologetic, fairly awash in shame. "The idea was silly, stupid, the act of a desperate and cornered madman." He had things - and people - to fight for now. "If i were still the praying sort, I would thank God for Mary every single day."

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feedsmycontempt
2010-08-08 06:48 am UTC (link)

"It would be different, if you were any other human," Mephisto granted, "but you aren't. I've killed you once already, would that not be enough?" He set his jaw and considered the words carefully, before shaking his head. "I have put my faith in your kind now. Humanity has done more in their meager existence than God ever had. You swear to Mary, and I will not ever fault you for it, for if there is one woman in this world that deserves it, it would surely be her." His eyes closed and he tried to wipe the mental image of Ariel so scattered and frantic, and that he'd sent Calliope to do that to him.

"You are a friend, Ariel. Of that I am sure, for if you weren't, I would not feel so... disgusted by these things that I saw. I should never have fallen so far as to not see the sheer insanity of my actions."

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defectedfromgod
2010-08-08 07:04 am UTC (link)

Ariel was less and less afraid of the fact he believed the fallen angel. Still, he was unsure how to phrase his reply - Raziel was a fallen angel, but the spell had not erased the memories of what he had been. "If it's something that's made you pause and think, then perhaps it's good you know of it." It was perhaps the only way he could stomach it. "Mary saved my life, but she also has the outlook I wish I could attain."

Raziel looked genuinely upset, and Ariel shook his head. He'd perhaps earned the right to be honest. "I swore to myself I would not be indulgent in terms of believing you, trusting you. You're history's greatest liar. And yet I've seen you in so many moments where you are not lying, and I know it. I don't expect to not be fooled ever again ... but there are sometimes I know what the truth is." He leaned on the counter. "I am gratified - truly - to hear of that esteem. And while I don't believe friendship exists without trust, the idea is no longer nearly as impossible as it once was."

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feedsmycontempt
2010-08-08 07:14 am UTC (link)

"I'm still not letting you die," Mephisto said, a tone of amusement in his voice, "but you have earned my respect and gratitude, which is more than I can say of most. I lied to you about not ever lying to you, but now I'll tell you this. I will only lie to you when I know you cannot accept the truth." He paused, and then smiled faintly, head tilting, "Not that I lied to you in the time since I said that." He was rather proud of himself, actually.

"You are a good man, Ariel, and you never deserved my hatred. You earned yours towards me, and though I do not appreciate it, I will not begrudge you what you've earned. It may take time, and we both have that, but you'll learn to trust that I won't squander the gifts of friendship and purification that you have bestowed upon me. You're still a twit, though."

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defectedfromgod
2010-08-08 07:21 am UTC (link)

"Princess is very happy about having me around." Ariel was faintly amused himself, but grew serious quickly. "I can accept that. In terms of truth and lies. I know my own limitations, and I do know that there are some truths I want to know, but probably cannot accept." His imagination could fill in a few.

As for hatreds, he shook his head. "And if it's any consolation, you are not the being most of my hatred is reserved for. Not anymore." He probably ought to consider moving on, he knew; letting go, accepting the fact that in some places, there were monsters. He couldn't quite yet, though. Not after what she'd done for fun.

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feedsmycontempt
2010-08-08 07:32 am UTC (link)

"I can guess at the one you're so concerned with hating, but leave it, Ariel," Mephisto spoke in a warning tone, "Life's still too short to hold on. You're welcome to cling to the shreds of bitterness all you wish, but what do you think it'll accomplish? Contempt will only feed desires that you will not pursue, no matter how much you wish to justify them."

He arched a brow. "Besides, she is of no concern to either of us any longer. I've made sure of it."

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	defectedfromgod 2010-08-08 05:52 pm UTC (link)
	He didn't reply immediately to the exhortation to leave the woman be; instead choosing to be interested at the last. "You did what you had been debating?" Was she dead? "What was the outcome?" (Reply to this)

feedsmycontempt
2010-08-08 06:45 pm UTC (link)

"I had to kill her, temporarily, to get rid of her memories of me, to send her from me. I'm sure she'll remember you, but not why. But her... friend has assured me she will keep her safe, and she would not go against that word, knowing what that entailed." It meant to keep her away from Mephisto and all that he considered his.

He considered Ariel his.

He faced the human again and shook his head. "I could not completely destroy her."

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defectedfromgod
2010-08-08 09:20 pm UTC (link)

That meant so many different things, and he couldn't make head or tail of any of them. Eventually he nodded. "I don't know if that's compassion or pity. Either is probably a good thing." Despite his own hatred for the woman.

He had an idea, excusing himself briefly and returning with a bottle of Bill's brandy. His nerves had spiked into an irritatingly fast rhythm, and a bit of brandy might calm them down. He brought two flagons, just in case. Why not. "I'm not replacing one vice with another; a glass or so seems to settle my nerves," he explained, setting out the bottle.

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feedsmycontempt
2010-08-08 09:29 pm UTC (link)

"Excuses to fall on deaf ears," Mephisto said once the brandy was brought. "You're such a nervous man, always have been. You truly need something to rest the tired and sore mind and body, I do not hold it against you. Perhaps tobacco would work more comfortably for you than opium or alcohol. No less deadly, mind, but still more acceptable than that of poppy or spirits." He took the time to summon himself a small glass instead of Ariel's procured one. "I've been having more trouble scaring things back to their original form, and if I were to drink from your glasses, you'd have none left by the end of the year." He explained.

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defectedfromgod
2010-08-08 09:43 pm UTC (link)

As the fallen angel spoke, he felt a curious pang of something inside his head. Flashes of memory; a dark young boy working late into the night. It wasn't very clear, but it was there; starting at shadows and cursing when he upset the candle. "I have been," Ariel said softly, chuckling. "I don't know why, but even as a schoolboy, I was perpetually on edge." By the Virgin.

He did understand the explanation, though, pouring a small quantity into each glass. "Princess would likely object to tobacco, though there are some blends which are not unpleasant. Bill happened to have an excellent brandy a few nights past, and he was gracious enough to allow me some."

He leaned forward, both hands on the glass, idly tapping at the wood. "If it's personal, please say so, but I have to ask ... what are you doing now?" Certain responsibilities were likely no longer the fallen angel's purview. "Is there anything besides making merry?" He asked, he reflected, not because of any type of strategy or wariness, but because he wanted to know.

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feedsmycontempt
2010-08-08 09:50 pm UTC (link)

"Perhaps then, your work will suffice as a remedy to calm your nerves," Mephisto suggested, before he took the glass and lifted it to his lips, the rim of it corroding away as he took a sip of the brandy. He knew it was supposedly excellent, but he couldn't tell.

"Much the same as I always have, Ariel. I've been a beacon to those in need. Trades and deals come in, and I make good on them, however, I've got other things going on as well. Friends, I suppose." He turned the glass in his fingertips against the counter top, and shook his head. "I'm working on solving the puzzle of at least temporarily neutralizing acid, since it's starting to grate on me that the joys of Mary's baking have been flaunted in my face and I cannot come to enjoy them. Magnesium seems to neutralize it enough that it doesn't corrode, lime stops it as well, as does sodium bicarbonate in high enough quantities. However, all of those taste fucking awful."

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defectedfromgod
2010-08-08 09:59 pm UTC (link)

"Work has always served to center me," Ariel replied. "You've seen it yourself; there are few moments where I am more focused or centred than when an experiment is in front of me."

Speaking of experiments. "Neutralizing acid." The alchemist mused, starting to think. "The obvious answer is a base, of course ... I am guessing your acid may be the lowest, most acidic value on the pH scale. Thus you'd need a base of eight or higher that's meant to be ingested." He'd been thinking out loud. "Are you simply looking for a way to keep it down? Or proof any of them would work?"

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feedsmycontempt
2010-08-08 10:10 pm UTC (link)

"Precisely, though my anatomy is different than a human anatomy, and can withstand far greater toxicity. I've toyed with strong bases mostly, though I have considered experimenting with lithium nitride next. The strong bases temporarily neutralize the acid, but do nothing to stop it at its source. It already occurred to me, while working, that there is a chance of possibly combining the idea of transmogrification with chemistry and writing some sort of spell that takes the properties of a superbase, and applies it to the affected." He tapped the tips of his nails on the counter lightly.

"But I haven't written a spell in ages. It would be a very interesting thing to see if I still can."

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defectedfromgod
2010-08-09 02:09 am UTC (link)

Interesting. Very interesting. Ariel cursed under his breath; Raziel did know this was the simplest way to get him to do anything, to casually drop it in his lap. Still, he rose, going to get the nearest book on transmogrification. "It's not strictly alchemical, but I've attempted it before. Transmogrification, I mean."

Ariel brought the book back to the table, flipping through, then shaking his head and pulling his trusted element index from under the counter. "I might, however, have better luck with a kind of superbase. To anyone trained in non-theoretical alchemy, it would be child's play, but even with my rudimentary beginnings in that area I can meld agents." That wasn't pride; it was truth.

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feedsmycontempt
2010-08-09 02:15 am UTC (link)

"I didn't ask for your help." Mephisto scolded, but it was light and halfhearted in comparison to other times he had yelled at the alchemist. He shook his head and followed along, taking a seat after Ariel set the book down, resting his chin on his propped up thumb, fingers curled near his lips. "And I could find a way to write down what you do into a symbol and give it the power of your experiment. It could work. I wouldn't want you to spend your entire life melding and mixing for me, when I have the ability to simply take the power of a thing and affix it to a symbol. It's in the making of the symbol that requires thought on my part."

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defectedfromgod
2010-08-09 02:22 am UTC (link)

Ariel shrugged; he wasn't offended. "I misconstrued." He set the element index back under the counter, taking up his brandy glass. "Perhaps I'll make my impending travels a bit of a buying trip. One can only imagine what I might find in Egypt or Palestine." He wasn't offended by the refusal, but it did rather begin to nettle him. Who else might he find work for? And if he could simply draw symbols for most of alchemy's workings, what was he required for?

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feedsmycontempt
2010-08-09 02:30 am UTC (link)

He faced Ariel and shook his head. "I'm sure you could find a great many things in Egypt and the holy lands. Well, the holy lands not currently affected by Ares' bombs." He shook his head with a small smile. "Ariel, if you would like to help, I would not be offended. I would have to set aside everything for months, or years to find the right process. It would be foolish of me to attempt measurement of things." He tapped the corner of his eye. "It takes something I cannot do well. Even the bird's sight cannot compensate, she is farsighted and would only hinder the process. But I would strive to do it, even as long as it took."

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