Vertigo ((For Lucifer))

[tryingitall]

Balthazar is born, with a clutch of a few thousand other winged siblings, around the same time the first multicellular organisms begin swimming in the Earth's primordial sea. A new type of angel, more delicate than multi-winged seraphim, not quite as flashy as a cherub, and tinier by far than the four Archangels. Ofanim, they're called, the Wheels, and they Never. Stop. Moving.

It wouldn't be hard to find the young angel annoying. He's an unstoppable fireburst of good-natured humor and interest in everything going on around him, and he's all over everything he can be. At first, he and the siblings his age are allowed to roam the planet a bit, Graces singing with delight at everything they see. Rocks! Look, they glitter! Oh, the scum on the water is the best shade of green! But the clouds, look at the shape and the way they move--!

Creation is just that amazing, evidently. Presumably the Father finds them endearing in their innocent delight, but it's not long before they have to be gathered back up into Heaven to be made into soldiers. Some of the Ofanim take to that well enough, but Balthazar's performance is spotty. Fighting seems to go against his grain in some fashion; he doesn't want to hurt anything. But he does have a fascination for Heavenly weaponry. That's a start, at least.

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[tryingitall]

In his innocence, Pash is partly trying to determine why God would create anything bad. The Universe is not that simple, of course (and neither is the Father, perhaps), but he's a very young angel. And yes, still full to brimming with love and delight. Perhaps that's why the Seraph teaching them set him a part a little, to give him time to think and adjust, rather than punishing him.

Questions are gateways to Doubt, though. Maybe it's for the best that Lucifer has this opportunity to provide some guidance for the little Ofan. In any case, Pash seems to be hanging on his every word, rapt and struggling to make sense of it all.

He still can't see why an enemy like what Lucifer describes should even exist, unable to comprehend shadows cast by light. He does understand protection, though, and the glints of flame between his feathers kindle brighter at the explanation. He can defend Creation. If that's what this is about, that he can accept.

"Oh," he says. Then, "Oh! I didn't mean to refuse; forgive me. I think I see better, now. I'll try again. I'll learn, Brother."

For all that he's apologetic, though, he doesn't seem afraid of Lucifer's scolding. The archangel has been gentle so far. He feels privileged to have had his ear for even a few moments.


((And then I went on vacation! I'm at a hotel right now. When my schedule normalizes a little I should be more attentive to my tags.

Ooh, yes. Wings. Have I mentioned I love angelsib wingcuddles?))

[301pt81]

"No one accuses you of such a thing," Lucifer speaks slowly, almost reassuredly. Pash seemed more than eager to please, and he didn't want the little one to think he had done wrong. "One answer leads to more questions, and the more answers you get, the more innocence is lost. Our Father is all knowing, and He loves us dearly. Whatever may be bid of us, just know that it is always for the best."

The words somehow felt rehearsed to him. Lucifer loved The Father, of that there was no doubt, but sometimes the Mark pained him, and other times he wondered why he had to bear it. But it was for the best. If nothing else, it only showed that much more how dearly he was loved and much he loved in return. A sacrifice in the name of The Father. Sometimes that thought made him feel better about it.

"You're beautiful, Pash," he then continued, watching the sparks of flame dancing against the young one's feathers, "so filled with love and light. I know you'll learn, Little Brother, but don't lose sight of the blissful innocence. It's so rare."



((Have fun on vacation! And yes, omg, I love wingcuddlestuff. I'm going to have to headcanon hard so we can do that. ♥))

[tryingitall]

"And...innocence is important to protect?" Pash thinks that's the implication of Lucifer's explanation, and he's oblivious to the irony that he's phrased his response as a question. It does make sense, though. Knowledge is a heavy thing, he's been told. An angel burdened with too much of it might suffer the weight.

Some day he'll understand that's a metaphor, rather than literal truth. Right now he just wonders if too many answers make an angel too heavy to fly. That would be harsh.

Of course, Lucifer is a bigger angel, being an archangel and all, so he's clearly built to hold more knowledge. Pash can't help but feel grateful and a bit proud to have been trusted with a piece of it. "Yes, Brother, I'll remember," he says softly but eagerly, and if he were mortal he'd be breathless with hero worship.

And then that compliment! The smallest of his feathers fluff up; possibly it's the equivalent of a blush. Lucifer called him beautiful? The Morningstar himself? He bows, too flustered (and delighted) to speak for a moment. He won't forget this either, though, this moment of affection and approval.


((It was delightful! I love the beach. I have sunburn but it was worth it.))

[301pt81]

He could smile from the little one's question, but decides to really think on it for a moment before answering. "A certain kind of innocence is necessary, yes. The kind that you already have." A blind faith. Even Lucifer knew that not everything was as it seemed, but like he had said before: It was all for the best.

Pash didn't need to be weighed down with such thoughts, though. Any darkness might tarnish that light, and he found he wanted to make sure nothing would hurt it. So much love in one of their own, such that felt empathy for all, truly was a rare thing. Perhaps a lot of it would fade in time, sadly, but this little angel would always be decidedly different in his own beautiful way.

Lucifer's pleased by the young one's reassurance on the topic. Then he does something a bit unexpected. Bowing and looking away from him in such a peculiar manner, wings adorably puffing gently outward at his words. Pash suddenly seemed more shy than before, and it confused Lucifer. After all, he wasn't used to conversing with his younger brothers and sisters. He merely spoke the truth as he saw it. Was something wrong? He seemed to appreciate his comments, the delight coming off of the young one in waves, so what happened? "Are you all right?"



((Sunburns destroy me. I either don't get them or they stay for weeks. At least it was worth it!))

[tryingitall]

Innocence. Pash didn't know that was a quality he had in such abundance, but upon reflection, he supposes the nature of innocence is such that you're not supposed to be completely aware of it. Maybe he should try to forget about it? But Lucifer doesn't seem to think he's broken it yet, so he resolves not to worry.

Pash's wings are overall a smooth, tapered shape, but the feathers closest to his core are downier, and they curl up a bit when he's happily flustered, like now. The eyes dotting them blink more rapidly, too.

The young Ofan keeps his gaze fixed roughly around Lucifer's knee level, Grace both beaming and twisting. "Yes, Brother. I'm all right. I just...no one ever called me beautiful before. And everyone knows you're the most beautiful." He doesn't disbelieve the compliment; he's not that modest. Besides, the other Ofan are beautiful, and he's like them, fearfully and wonderfully made. Still, Lucifer being the one who said it makes it feel like a higher compliment than if it were spoken by a lesser angel.

"Thank you." It's almost a squeak, but he seems to pull himself together after that, managing to make himself meet Lucifer's gaze again.


((I go insta-pink in the sun, but this was a little worse than usual. Anyway, all is well now.))

[301pt81]

Lucifer doesn't argue with the compliment, nor does it impact him very much. He knows that he is beautiful and modesty isn't really his thing, either. Still, he understands Pash's emotional reaction better now. It may have brushed against his ego some as well, since the comment coming from him specifically was what made it so special to the little Ofan.

"You're welcome," Lucifer softly answers, beaming his own happiness now. After all, he made the little one feel such great things. He had been the first to recognize his beauty and tell him of it. He made Pash feel this way. Pride and delight flowed through him but in smaller, more controlled bursts than what the other seemed to feel.

"Others will see your beauty, too, Pash. This won't be the last time you hear of it." Either way, running into the young angel has made Lucifer happier for awhile to come. But he studies the wings again, blinking towards him as it were. "You will be strong, too. No doubt very skilled. You're going to be important, Pash. Just make sure you're ready for it. Don't be afraid to learn what your elders are here to teach."

His delight is still there, no matter what he says. And, no, he has no idea if the Father had planned anything for the young Pash, but He must have. There must be an important role for him. There must. A young angel, so loving and beautiful, with smooth, curious wings built strong and quick. All of the questions hinted at an intelligence and quick wit too good for most other angels. This one had to be special.

"If you have more questions, ones that others can't answer, you can come to me." Because he liked answering Pash's questions. He liked speaking to Pash in general. For a brief second, Lucifer wondered if the other angels, specifically the other Ofanim, would be this entertaining as well but quickly dismissed the idea. It was Pash's little difference that made him so special and endearing to Lucifer. That much was obvious.

[tryingitall]

There are brothers, and then there are Brothers. Lucifer is the biggest of Big Brothers, save Michael, and Pash has never met him. Truth be told, they probably wouldn't get along well. Michael has many good qualities, but where he sees things in black and white, this little one sees them in miraculous, blazing technicolor.

If he were a young mortal creature, he would be inclined to hug Lucifer, for the answers, the affection, the building-up of his confidence. Instead, he basks in the rippling delight of the archangel's Grace; it feels like the sun pouring down on the planet below them. He's beyond awed by the invitation to speak with Lucifer again, but this time it's something more than awareness of what an honor it is to have the attention of one of the Four. Lucifer seems to like him, and he likes Lucifer, and maybe that makes for a connection between them.

He'll have to come up with good questions, to be beyond the Seraphs' ability to answer, but for the sake of an excuse to come visiting this brother again, he'll do his best. Without losing innocence. That'll make for a delicate balancing act. "I will! As long as it's all right with you."

And in days to come, Lucifer might find a bright, feathery little tagalong visiting him on occasion. Hanging back so as not to be a nuisance, but quietly devoted and wanting to see him as often as possible.


((Did you want to do another fluffy scene with them or move on to the Fall?))

[301pt81]

"Of course." There may be times when Lucifer is away from Heaven and the planet. In the past, those trips have never bothered him. In all honesty, it still didn't, but he couldn't help feeling a bit sad to not be here in times when Pash may need him.

But he shouldn't feel that way. He shouldn't feel any of these ways. Pash, too young of an angel to even have a name, was not even close to his equal nor, for that matter, his responsibility. It was up to a select few Seraphs to teach these Ofanim their ways. If the young angels didn't understand, that wasn't Lucifer's problem. To have shown himself to Pash at all was an honor too great for such a small thing.

At the same time, the want to see Pash, to protect him from the worse things in Creation, couldn't be ignored. This one was very special and, as such, Lucifer had been drawn to him. It was too late to lecture himself now. If others talked, he would ensure that their words would be inconsequential to either of them. If Michael had a problem with it, well, that would just have to be Michael's problem. "I wouldn't offer such a thing if I were not okay with it. You're more than welcome to come to me, Pash."

The bright, feathery tagalong was always noted and seldom ignored. Sometimes Lucifer liked to see what Pash would do if he didn't acknowledge him, especially if he happened to be busy, but still keeping an eye on him to gauge the little one's reactions. More often than not, Lucifer openly welcomed his company, quietly wondering to himself whose beauty any onlookers were more in awe of. The brilliant glow that radiated from Pash's love and delight never failed to captivate him at least.


((I'm open to doing another fluffy scene, because this has been ridiculously cute so far, if that's all right with you! I'm looking forward to the Fall, too, honestly.))