Who: Ariel and Kirsty What: Terror and relief When: 10/22 Where: Ariel's shop, right after Elizabeth leaves Ratings/Warnings: PG13 Status: Complete
After Elizabeth had left, Ariel decided to just open the shop doors again. He wasn’t going to get any relief, and now he was doubly mixed up. He’d kissed Elizabeth, and he’d enjoyed it, but he still wasn’t entirely sure it was the right thing to do. For one, her father was going to kill him one day, if they kept this up. But he had more important things on his mind.
Kirsty was walking to go get a sandwich, and she felt her attention drawn somewhere else. She felt that something was wrong. It was as if she suddenly knew that the LeMarchand’s box was not where it was supposed to be. Closing her eyes, she let herself disappear from the street, shimmer into the ether, and follow the trail to the box.
When her brown eyes opened again, she was in a small used bookshop, standing in front of a handsome man who was also looking at the box. “Don’t. Touch. That.”
Ariel had decided to turn back to doing inventory - he’d opened a new box of books, but when he’d turned to put a few on the counter, he’d been confronted by a small wooden box. He’d simply cocked his head to one side, putting the books down and looking lost.
Then there was a woman in front of him, and he heard her sharp command and blinked. “I don’t ... particularly want to.”
Kirsty held out her hand, smiling at the man even as the box sailed into her hand. “Good. One second.” She shimmered out of visibility again, putting the box safely back into its vault. When she returned in front of the man, she put her hands into her pockets. “So. Why does Hell want to test you?” No sense in pussyfooting around things; he’d seen her appear and disappear.
Ariel’s eyes went wide. “I ... test me?” He felt the color drain from his face. “Before God, I have no idea about anything in this life. I’m a dreamer, but I haven’t done anything here, Lady, I swear.” What was she? An angel? A demon?
“Huh.” Kirsty blinked. “That makes sense. Hell isn’t sure about you yet.” She pulled her hair out of its ponytail, massaging her temples. “Well. You’re in the clear now, so I guess I’d make sure it stays that way.”
“How ... is it presumptuous to ask how you know?” Obviously, she was one or the other, but he’d never imagined Mephisto to send someone, rather than show his face. “All I want to do is get my daughter back, to live a good life and not upset anyone.”
“I’m a Dreamer too. I dreamed that my uncle decided he wanted to go and experience what Hell had to offer, and ended up getting me tangled up in it. I beat one of the soldiers of hell, the high priest to boot, and he never really let me forget it. When he wanted to come topside, well. He picked me.” Kirsty sighed. “I woke up one day, and I was changed. I was a cop - still am - but because of the dreams, now I’m something else.”
“Changed?” Ariel couldn’t help himself; he shrank back against the wall in something approaching terror. “You must come from Mephistopheles! That isn’t fair - I never found my moment! That’s not part of the deal!”
Kirsty held up her hands. “Hey. I come from the police department. I don’t know what you’re talking about any more than you know what I’m talking about. And besides, even if I was going to be all ‘rarr, reaper of the demons’, you’re not Hellbound.” She didn’t move, trying to put him at his ease. “The box. It’s a literal gateway to Hell. Evil people will naturally be attracted to it and try to solve the puzzle. Really good people tend to feel ill around it. People like you, who have their own mind - it’s up to them. And you didn’t. You’re good, Sir. Please. It’ll be okay.”
Ariel tried to focus. He wet his lips nervously. “I remain somewhat unconvinced that you come from the police department, unless teleportation technology just got very advanced.” He took a breath. “If you’re a dreamer too, you’ll understand.”
He told her everything he could, laying special emphasis on meeting Mephistopheles alone in a dark wood, and being whisked off to the castle for debauchery. “My dream self accepted the deal,” he said baldly. “But he insisted that there be a change - if there ever was a moment where in my heart of hearts, I wanted to remain forever, only then could Mephisto take my soul.” He sighed. “I’ve been ... I know some things come through from the dreams.” What if he did ... especially now, with Elizabeth.
She reached out to show him her badge, moving slowly. “I really am a cop,” she smiled, tossing it over to him. But his story made her wince. “That’s some Buffy the Vampire Slayer bullshit. I’m sorry. But what I can tell you is that your soul, right now, in this moment, isn’t Hellbound. In my dreams, I take a deal similar to that. That demon I told you about - he killed everyone I knew. Every friend, every lover, everyone, so I had nothing to live for. I was going to kill myself in the dreams, but he appeared to me and said I could take his place. I could help shape Hell for good.” She chuckled dryly. “Yeah, that didn’t work out so hot. The fucker played me. I really do want to do good, even in the dreams.”
He examined the badge - it seemed real enough. But still. “So, instead of merely going down, you were able to at least join the ranks of those with authority?” It was the best of an utterly terrible situation. “I have people who would be harmed if the deal comes due in this world. I can’t stop being frightened.”
“Better to rule Hell than to be punished by it. And I could make changes. I could make Hell be what it was supposed to be - punishment for the wicked.” Kirsty sighed, moving a tiny bit closer to him. “You haven’t made any deals. If you had, I’d have been made to collect you already.”
Ariel nodded slowly. “I’ve heard people debating about whether we are the people in dreams. And the idea of being subjected to that torment is ... horrible.” He sighed, eyes closed. “I haven’t made the best choices, and I’m no saint, but I have many reasons to live a good life. So I try.” And Elizabeth might turn out to be another.
“That’s basically what being human is,” Kirsty smiled. “You’re doing well. Don’t forget that.”
“I’m trying. And I don’t know if it’s presumptuous, lady, but I’m sorry for what happened to you.” He used ‘lady’ as a term of respect, not insult.
“It’s not so bad. I can still look like this for everyone. If I’d had to look how I really look, I’d probably scare everyone.” Kirsty sighed to herself.
“Oh? You’re meant to look different?” He was interested, but didn’t want to press. “I suppose that is a perk, then.”
“I am. A bit more traditionally demonic,” Kirsty chuckled. “While it might be what I am in the dreams, it’s not who I am here. It’s good for my own sanity.”
“That does make me feel better, in truth.” Ariel was able to relax. “I’d been very frightened that the two were inseparable.” And maybe they were in the grander scheme of things, but not to that degree.
“They are. I promise. Just keep sight of the man you are, and see your dreams as a cautionary tale against hubris. Your wings are made of wax.” She patted his hand.
Ariel nodded solemnly. “You’ve helped me a lot.” More than she even knew, likely. “Thank you.” For everything.
“You’re welcome.” Kirsty fished out her card, handing one over to Ariel. “If you ever want to talk.”
He accepted it, looking at it for a moment before putting it away. He might telephone Elizabeth, if he could do it without getting in trouble.