crux_fleet | (no subject)

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The problem with allowing Kevin to explore any market while unsupervised is that sooner or later he will stumble across one gambling den or another, which may or may not result in him being chased by burly individuals a little too eager to fold him into pretzelian shapes. It is not that possessing a knack for estimating probabilities and having God on his side could ever be counted as cheating. It is just that rational explanations and assertions of fair play tend to fall on deaf ears when one's listeners have been stripped to their underthings.

Honestly, some people just don't know when to stop.

Not that Kevin himself is stopping any time soon. After a few twists and turns, one ruined spice stand, three turned trashcans and one stomped cat's tail, he is crashing right into you. Yes, you.

'Excuse me! Excuse me!'

The reason for his haste becomes quite apparent when a group of very angry beings belonging to a surprisingly varied selection of species turn around the corner. In compliance with universal protocol, they are also shouting and waving weapons in a most menacing fashion. A rather impressive feat, considering that they are, indeed, stripped to their underthings.

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He strokes Mister Break's hair, bringing his face closer to his good shoulder. The flight is short, and as unnatural as one would expect from any one winged creature, almost like floating but for the occasional flapping of feathers in the wind.

Alighting on a rooftop, he looks down at the market bellow, the wind blowing on his attentive face. His closeness to the edge should be clue enough that he is not afraid of heights. In the fake sunlight, he is even brighter, his suit now a pristine white with black lapels and cuffs. He offers Mister Break the brightest and most unrepentant smile.

'God's power is not something to be revealed so casually. You should know that better than anyone.'

He'd been about to suggest once more that Kevin claim to be an alien avian ("You could say you're a swan — no, that sounds conceited. A snow goose perhaps, or a black-crowned night heron. Oooh, I know: a stork. Or a pelican?"), but he knows that it's not only Uriel's brightness that gives him away as a creature not of this world nor any other, but also that ineffable sensation of divinity.

It isn't the sort of thing to be revealed casually; it is the sort of thing for which a person might count himself blessed, if he experienced it for a single instant in his life. It's the sort of thing that makes one feel that one's existence is worthwhile and precious — even if one has managed to cock things up royally.

He shuts his eyelids and smiles half-way, his features in repose. The blasts of energy weapons seem far away, and Mad Hatter has settled down.

"Well I'm glad I ran into you, anyway. Something I wanted to talk to you about."

Once Mister Break's well-being is assured, Kevin sits on the rooftop, dangling his legs off the edge like a child. He doesn't look much different from all the birds Mister Break is thinking of, except that birds don't smile that way. The reason for his happiness is not the crazy amount of money he has just won, nor the fact that they have just escaped being shot by lasers. This divine being is definitively pleased because there is no need to hide. He can be whoever he is around this most peculiar human who has dared accept him into his life, and that is the most amazing feeling in the world. Who needs the sun? He will bask in Mister Break's affection while it lasts, and he will be grateful for every single moment of it.

'Good heavens, sir. Don't you think it is too soon to have your nails filed again?'

He sputters in mock annoyance, "That's always your idea," before alighting next to Uriel on the rooftop and leaning against him.

…

It’s gone. Uriel’s brightness and divinity had almost been sufficient to obscure it; and Break’s own discombobulation at being brought here distracted him. But now, leaning in close, he notices what has been missing all along, since the moment they both awoke on the Teuberg. Whatever he had been intending to say flies out of his mind as he asks, seriously:

“Are you all right?”

'It was not my idea to give you such charming little hands.'

The question takes him aback. No, he is not all right. Solomon is dead once again after being tortured by him, young master is nowhere to be seen, and only God knows when they will meet again. The void, anxiety and guilt left by that single precious soul are nothing but unbearable. Truth be told, he almost misses Michael at this point. Moreover, he is more than a little worried about what will happen when they approach the next solar system. He feels cold.

However, Mister Break's concern is really sweet, and further proof that he is no longer alone. The fact that they are still together after Exsilium is no small miracle. And so instead of retelling the obvious tale of his losses, he raises his pale hand towards the artificial sun, allowing Mister Break to take a look at the yellow rays filtering between his nontransparent fingers.

'Unless you are planning to discard me for not being a proper heater, this is nothing that cannot be solved by thick coats and longer nights of sleep. You may also reconsider getting terribly hurt for the time being.'

Edited 2014-02-19 10:28 (UTC)

He sputters, drawing his hands up inside his sleeves. His annoyance at having his hands called "little" is short-lived, however; Uriel's sadness is palpable and such a contrast to his thoughtless happiness just a moment before. He gazes at the artificial sunlight, uncomprehending.

Uriel's power is diminished, that much is certain. But why? He recalls the angel having been ill on only one other occasion: immediately after the bombing of Exsilium. Uriel had called it by another name, then.

"Did something happen to Britain?"

Unceremoniously he flops on the roof and lays his head in Mister Break's lap. He was not lying when he said he was a little tired and Mister Break makes an excellent human pillow.

'Good heavens, I hope not!' That would hurt. 'Sister Rosette has theorized that it has something to do with the sun. Our sun, that is. I do not believe I have ever been this far away from home. Perhaps things will be a little different once we approach someone else's solar system...'

He offers him a bright please, don't worry smile.

'I thought you had something to tell me?'

Yes good, he is completely taken in by Stepford Smiling, strong work Kevin. Break shifts and murmurs, making small noises of annoyance ("what a bother") whilst at the same time absently stroking Kevin's long hair.

"You draw power from the sun? Haha, you always were a tender flower, but I had no idea you practiced photosynthesis."

He tries so hard to please, and doesn't mind enjoying the petting like a big puppy.

However, Mister Break's question makes him blush quite a bit.

'W-well, not precisely....'

Talking about his status and titles is so awkward.

'...I am the ruler of the sun, you see.'

"Ruler of the sun, how modest."

Not for the first time, Break wonders how an angel of Uriel's status could be such a silly person. Part of him wonders if the real explanation for his getting tossed out of heaven had less to do with dereliction of duty and more to do with beating God once too often at cards.

Uriel's phrasing also bothers him: unless you are planning to discard me for not being a proper heater... He recalls his instructions to Gilbert, all those years ago: discard me if I become no longer useful to you, and I'll do the same to you. It had been a ploy at the time, to convince the child to work with him, without having to take on the burden of trust. But that is not the relationship he has (had? will they ever meet again?) with Gilbert anymore (whom he still absentmindedly tries to call on his tablet, from time to time), and was never the relationship he had with Kevin.

He grins down at Kevin, leering.

"Well, well. It's not a problem. We'll just have to keep warm the old-fashioned way."

Unfortunately, it is impossible to play cards with an omniscient being. For many years, Kevin has considered that extremely tragic. His poor God.

Kevin cannot imagine what would be of his life if he were not useful to someone, and so he is completely unaware of Mister Break's concern. Still, the human's comment makes him cover his face so nobody will see how terribly he is blushing.

'M-Mister Break, stop saying lewd things!'

However, he ends up peeking between his fingers. Why was Mister Break looking for him anyway?

Only an angel would stick his head in someone's lap and then complain about lewdness. Still coy, though no longer a maiden...

"You silly creature."

Break hesitates, as he continues to play with Kevin's hair (if only he had a pair of elastics, he could put it up in ponytails). He'd thought, initially, that Kevin would be pleased and interested at his news; but if he can no longer borrow sunshine, if he has trouble healing, will it make him feel useless?

"Look, I er... I got a little present from the medics here. Want to see?"

He reaches in his pocket, but doesn't draw anything out yet.

Kevin cannot help but sigh at the continuing caress. It feels so nice. Luckily, he knows nothing about Mister Break's ponytail plots, or thoughts about his own lewdness or lack of.

'A present?' He is obviously excited, his overlarge wing quivering as he turns on his belly to take a look in Mister Break's pocket direction, all that without pulling away from the comfy spot in his lap. 'What is it?'

It's at times like these when he wonders if Kevin hasn't been having him on this whole time.

That said, it's not like he's going to discourage this. It'll be fine, as long as they don't get caught. He lifts his gaze, furtively. He can see a building taller than this one, but it's some distance away; he wouldn't be able to recognize anyone in it...

But his vision is already starting to fade. It's lost the crisp sharpness it had had immediately after Kevin healed him. He can no longer see individual leaves when he looks at a tree. Best to get on with it, particularly now that Kevin's healing powers are affected.

He draws a silvery globe out of his pocket. It's about the size of a large marble — or an eyeball.

"I had to think about it, but now I'm certain I ought to accept. Haha! Out of politeness, you know, and all that."

He raises his head to look at the strange ball a little closer, eyebrows arching when he finally realizes what it is.

'....M-Mister Break, is it possible?'

Careful enough not to cause Mister Break to drop the eyeball, he practically pounces on him, covering his face with kisses while clutching his thighs for support.

'That is a miracle!'

And so is the fact that Mister Break is accepting something like that. Kevin is so happy for him!

He shouldn't have worried. Feeling useless and depressed would have been Gilbert's reaction, but it isn't Kevin's. Instead Kevin is on top of him, expressing his sincere delight. Break had been leaning back on one hand, but now he slumps back, giggling, so that he is lying on the roof, with Kevin on top of him.

"A miracle? Don't make me laugh. This little trinket is just a machine. It will never look real"

He had the eyeball protected in his fist. Now he opens it, again. It's a silvery white with a supersonic lens attachment.

"The real miracle was that somebody like you would want to help somebody like me."

He cannot be anything but happy at every step Mister Break takes towards embracing his own life. That, rather than his uselessness, is his main concern. Solomon has questioned his use a long time ago. He knows the full measure of his worthlessness, and that has nothing to do with Mister Break's happiness.

However, he shakes his head at Mister Break's comment, thumb stroking gently under the healed eye as he leans over his human.

'That was your choice, not mine. Loved ones have refused my meddling before. Repeatedly.' He gives the non-artificial eye a questioning look. 'How is that going so far?'

Edited 2014-02-24 10:01 (UTC)

It takes him a moment to realize what Kevin is driving at; when he does, he sidesteps quickly, "Ah, it's fine. I'm only thinking of this because it seemed... silly to refuse, when it was offered, you know."

Having been weak enough to reject his punishment in the first place, rejecting an artificial eye would be the height of self-indulgence, not to mention pointlessness, in his opinion. Abruptly he slides himself out from under Kevin. With his arms outstretched, he stands, balancing with one foot in front of the other on the edge of the roof.

"Anyway, I've got to go in for a little procedure. They said to make an appointment, once I've decided."

As a result of being around Mister Break long enough and just a tad obsessed with him, Kevin can tell when the man is behaving in a defensive manner, his body language more telling than his words. He approaches him once again, carefully watching his antics at the edge of the roof.

'What is..?' For a second, his concern is painfully obvious. Something is wrong with Mister Break's eye. He takes one more step towards him, head bowed, eyebrows knitted together. Why can't Mister Break keep his blessings? Why must he continue losing and losing? Is that too part of his punishment?

However, when he looks up again, he has a soft smile on his face. This is the wrong way to go about things, ins't it?

'A little procedure? My, my, you will be in an awful mood afterwards. I must come along and make sure no poor nurse suffers such fate!'

Break flaps his hands, waving off Kevin's serious expression. "Ha! Ha! Ha! As I value my life, I'm not going to be rude to a nurse. They're scary~! So, don't worry, don't worry! Certainly, I appreciate your kind offer, but it isn't necessary."

Break communicates by not communicating; his words are in code, hiding in plain sight what is hidden away in his heart: I value my life, and everything you've done for me. In truth, I am unnerved by the prospect of this operation, but I don't to worry you. So of course it isn't necessary for you to come with me, but I would sincerely appreciate it if you did.

It is only a matter of catching that adorable flapping hand and making sure the silly man doesn't drop off the rooftop while attempting not to communicate the obvious. Kevin approaches one more step, giving him an amused look as he brings that hand to his chest.

'Nonsense. Who are you going to hog the covers from if I am not around?'

Even if he is doing much better now, Mister Break's restless sleep is legendary.

Edited 2014-02-27 10:48 (UTC)

"Tsk, tsk. Clingy men, what a bother!"

Despite his protestations, Break doesn't draw his hand away, keeping his fingers pressed to Kevin's chest, next to his immortal heart.

"I suppose, if you insist on coming along, I can't stop you."

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