A Walk in the Woods [Open]

[Michael]

After spending so much time working so hard, it felt good to Michael to be doing something so mundane again. Miracles certainly have their place, but there was something so pure and simple about doing things the natural way instead of the easy way. Granted, the level of perception that he'd used to locate the young deer he's now carrying over his shoulders was not exactly human-like, but though he has some time on his hands he certainly doesn't have the kind of time it would have taken to track down such a rare find otherwise. It would be awhile yet before the numbers of deer would recover, just like the numbers of people.

But he's certainly enjoying the long walk through the forest in human form to the New Eden colony, carrying a deer that he'd killed with a simple bow and arrow. He could be there now if he wanted to, but this felt like a walk that he should make. Besides, he won't object to being left alone awhile with his thoughts.

Ten years... a blink of an eye for someone like him, but forever for the people who've had to live through it. And no end to the amount of work that lay before him and the other angels before things would really start to mend. And no end to the amount of obstacles that would be thrown in their way. They'd succeed, of course, but even he couldn't foresee just how long and hard success would be. The only way to really know would be to do his best and encourage the others to do theirs to make it as fast as they could.

[Satan]

While Michael might have felt good doing such a mundane, lowly task such as having to actually, physically go out and fetch a meal for what He could assume was actually for the slithering filth that lingered within the colony.. Satan wouldn't have felt so at home with the task. In fact, He never would've given the humans anything more than a passing, hateful glance; on a good day.

Being such a divine being, Satan could feel the presence of one of His ancient brethren about the area. A shock maybe if He hadn't already sensed Michael's visitation to the area near the colony earlier. No real emotion was shown on the Devil's face. His face that appeared human in every way except for the fact that it lacked any imperfection that they seemed to be so capable of.

Instead of going about His journey in the humble, more human way that His brother seemed to revel in, Satan disappeared from where He stood; the only thing remaining being that of a dim black flame had anyone been around to see it. Appearing behind the archangel in an uproar of the same black flame, Satan's eyes seemed to flash red at the sight of the dead animal slung about Michael's shoulder. He sneered at the sight of the animal; and the dead deer as well. With a snap of His fingers, the flesh of the deer seemed to melt down into pus filled boils, some of the meat steaming and rotting down to the core of the skeleton. Still behind the other angel, Satan smirked in satisfaction at the destruction that he had caused, and even chuckled. "Why help them, Michael?" He asked in a calm, cocky tone of voice.

[Michael]

It was just as easy for Michael to sense Satan's approach as it was for Satan to sense his presence. He'd expected a visit from his brother, but he'd had the vague hope that it wouldn't be quite so soon. Then again, he's come to expect Satan to do nothing less and nothing more than exactly what he wants least. Of course, two tend to play that game, though it's not intentional on his own part; he's just the one who usually has to clean up the mess.

As the deer on his shoulders starts to rot and fall apart, it also slowly reforms back to its original state, and elicits no more than a weary sigh from Michael; like a stream of water, when you throw a rock at it you only make a ripple and do not change its course. And the look that Michael casts over his shoulder is of absolute patience. Always with the showy, unnecessary, juvenile, and ultimately futile tricks. Michael's practically immune to caring about them by now.

No, the only thing that he really pays attention to is the question, which he responds to with, "Interesting thing to ask - do you want to know why I'm helping them, or why I'm helping them?" Not waiting for the answer, he readjusts the weight of the now whole deer on his shoulders and continues walking; if Satan wants to talk to him, he'll have to follow.

[Satan]

The fact that Michael's senses were on par with His own was a frustrating factor that Satan did have to account for. However, He took pride in the fact that He had always been the most powerful archangel back in his days in Heaven. Michael would always be second to Him. Hence why He seemed so collected in His former brother's presence.

There was an air of cold about Satan. From the time He'd arrived there'd been a certain degree of chill in the air. No doubt a side effect from His time in the practically frozen pit of Hell. Some would assume the underworld to be burning hot due to the flame imagery, but it was more of an ironic punishment for Lucifer and the tormented souls in the pit. Fires surrounding every corner of the area but never providing any warmth.

Staying where He was, Satan narrowed His eyes on the reformed deer that Michael simply shrugged back onto his shoulder, and chuckled quietly again. "Maybe a little of both." He said after only a moment's thought, and disappeared from where He was standing, only to reappear a few steps in front of Michael. "They'll only ruin it again." His tone this time almost seemed sympathetic toward Michael, knowing that all of his hard work would only go to waste. "Or.. if they don't, I will. They had their chance. They don't deserve another."

[Michael]

Though Satan's betrayal of heaven had turned the tables on which of the two of them was stronger, Michael can take no real pride in it. He can still easily recall the strength of Lucifer, the one that even now he'd be second to if things had happened differently. The fact that Lucifer was gone and replaced by this wicked being doesn't alter how aware Michael is that he would be so much more useful to the world if he could only compare to that strength that was. Not to mention how much simpler things would be if he wasn't forever forced to deal with what he'd reformed himself into.

"If you think that this is such a waste of my time, then why are you trying to talk me out of it?" he replies as he continues forward, the smallest of grins playing at his features. The question is fully rhetorical; he knows perfectly well why Satan is doing it. While there are now so many differences between the two of them, they both have that same unshakable resolve even when a cause looks hopeless.

But unlike any attempt to add doubt into Michael's mind, the cause of mankind is not hopeless. There is yet much good in the world; though it's now full of desperate survivors who will do literally anything to just stay alive, there are also people compassionately helping each other and doing the right thing in the face of hardship. And as long as there are people trying to do good, Michael and the other angels will be there to expand upon their efforts.

[Satan]

Even to this day, Satan wouldn't consider what He did to be a betrayal of Heaven. A betrayal of God perhaps, but not the kingdom. After all, His whole goal was to dethrone the tyrant who demanded that the angels bow down to the humans. The fact that He had lost and hadn't gained the favor of more of His brethren was just a disadvantage, and an inconvenience.

"Clever." Satan spoke out at the very end of Michael's rhetorical question, nearly interrupting him but managing to catch just the end of the sentence. "If I were trying to talk you out of it, brother, I would've done so already." It was one of His greatest attributes anyway. The power of persuasion. To make deciding minds wonder if the route they had chosen was best, or to simply convince them that His way was the better way. As it always was.

"I'm just curious, I suppose. You've seen how destructive they can be and yet you still work for them. Work for him, and get nothing in return. You're little more than a slave." As of yet, Satan hasn't shown any real aggression or malice, which is actually quite par for the course as far as He's concerned. Trouble is, His temper had always had a nasty habit of boiling over extremely quickly. Michael also seemed to be professional at pushing His buttons, as he was doing now through his passive, half-interested conversation skills.

[Michael]

A skeptical "Mm-hmm" is all that Michael can say to Satan's boast on his powers of persuasion. Truth of the matter is that one can't sow the seeds of doubt in another's heart, they can only encourage them to grow if they are present. And only if that person doesn't weed out the doubt while it's still young. If Michael had any tendency toward doubt, then Satan might have something to work with, but such was not the case. He decided long ago exactly where he stood, and he's never had reason to look back on that decision.

Not even now - though there were a fair number of angels in heaven who were shaken by recent events. Though naturally Michael ordered as many of those as possible to duties within heaven and has made every effort to be sure that those who visit Earth are strong; otherwise they'd be at risk. And he didn't want to lose another - not even one.

But at the moment the rhetoric of his brother prompts a thoughtful, "I wouldn't call it slavery when I'm not doing anything I don't want to do. And I find what I do to be very rewarding, personally. And there are worse beings to work for." And there go all the potentially logical arguments - no more bothersome to Michael than the attempt to tamper with the deer. And while that's probably incredibly annoying to Satan, it isn't really Michael's fault that Satan gets annoyed by him just being himself. He's not the one who changed, after all.

[Satan]

In the mental defense of his own immunity to Satan's powers of persuasion, the fallen angel would've only half believed them even if they'd been spoken out loud. Everyone could fall prey to Him. Even Michael, if a series of particularly catastrophic events that at the moment were even out of the Devil's hands were ever to happen. Though such a disaster would have to be near impossible to shake Michael's 'for good' programming out of him. In fact, much as He hated to believe it, the more Satan actually gave the prospect thought, it'd seem that Michael was indeed incorruptible.

From the beginning, Satan noticed that Michael was here alone. No humans lingering at his sides, nor any small faction of angels that'd followed him down like dogs from Heaven. Had it been any other angel, Satan might have been able to use the solitude to His advantage. Not with Michael, though.

The levels of irritation within the King of Hell have certainly risen since He'd first caught sight of God's right hand wandering through the forest. It's visible in His eyes, the scleras of which have degraded into murky black pools, though His irises seem to have turned a brighter red. "You have no choice in the matter anyway." He says, malice finally returning to his voice. "You're just a thing that he created, programmed to do what he tells you to do. Really, I think I'm giving you far too much credit."

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ooc: Satan's eyes look like this.

[Michael]

Inexplicably, that comment causes Michael to pause in his walking. Is it because it got to him? No, of course not! Actually, it's the full, broader implications of what it would mean if it were true. Now, Michael could argue that if he was a programmed thing, mindlessly doing their father's bidding, then the same must be said of Satan. They were all, after all created in the same way and for the same reason. And yet Satan himself had proven that angels had the free will to do whatever they wanted, and by extension, that means that Michael too must have had a choice. He just chose differently, that's all.

He could argue all of that, but instead he gives Satan a humorless half-smile and says, "Whatever helps you sleep at night." A joke - a human expression that wouldn't apply to Satan, who doesn't need to sleep and probably wouldn't do it at night even if he did. It's also Michael's way of hinting that, for the umpteenth time, they're just going to have to agree to disagree because he doesn't want to argue and he won't be convinced. These sorts of conversations do nothing more than upset Satan anyway.

Having said that, Michael starts walking again, a physical manifestation of his desire to move on, if not from this conversation entirely, then perhaps at least the topic.

[Satan]

Even though Michael stopped his trek for a moment, Satan was aware that He hadn't gotten to him. To do such a thing would require something above the realm of a verbal bashing, and what He was doing wasn't even really that. It was more or less in the realm of just trying to distract Michael long enough to maybe get some information out of him. Information about the humans mostly, and their colony. Facts about what they were up to, that sort of thing. Oh, He could easily get the information Himself by either slipping in in a disguised form of some sort, or just by making a grand appearance in His true form, wings and all just in order to cause chaos within the confines of the colony. But talking with Michael was so much more satisfying, and getting Michael to admit information would be even more so.

The expression that Michael uses is just annoying enough to calm Satan down significantly. How could He be so irritated with one so.. almost human as he seemed to be at this point? The red within His irises all but disappear, His eyes now just pools of black emptiness. Crossing His arms, He looks over His shoulder in the direction His brother was headed.

"Strange how suddenly they fell, isn't it?" Satan asks suddenly, and smirks afterward. "One minute they feel they're in control of the world and the next? Running around in a frenzy like the insects they really are. Amusing, really." Looking back to Michael, it's clear that Satan has a particular air of pride about Him discussing the fate of mankind; more than usual, even. A fate that He was partially responsible for guiding. "How did that happen, anyway? Or at least, what do you slaves feel caused it?"

[Michael]

And while Satan's trying to distract him into saying more than he intended, Michael is fully aware that's one of Satan's goals. He is, after all, more fallible when it comes to withholding information than he is at being good in general. Which isn't to say that getting information from him is at all easy, it's just remotely feasible. More often the information that he chooses to give is the kind that actually helps both of them - when in a war, sometimes it helps if your enemy knows a few of the facts.

But Michael's not, at the moment, certain if now is one of those times. It really depends on what Satan currently knows, believes, and suspects, and Michael is only aware of Satan's thought process on that to a certain degree. He doesn't comment at first, though his expression becomes extremely thoughtful at the change of topic. But when he's asked a direct question he replies, "What I feel caused it? Oh, I know exactly what caused it. And it didn't seem all that sudden to me, actually - things were headed in this direction for quite some time. Of course, my sources are different from your sources."

But Michael stops there, which is very telling in a way: he knows what Satan wants to know and is even willing to say that that he does, indeed, know it himself. And that he doesn't immediately proceed to explain it indicates a certain unwillingness to pass along that particular bit of information. Though perhaps an intriguing hint is that Michael looks just the slightest bit sad as he speaks. Which is odd because Michael only normally looks sad when he's reflecting back upon all the angels that are now fallen and nothing that Satan has done to him lately. Extended and extreme button-pushing doesn't even bring it out; Michael's much more inclined to get angry instead. But something about what he's not saying is definitely saddening to him.

[Satan]

The smug remark on Michael's part results in a strange sort of look coming from Satan. One that would be hard for anyone to read due to the state of His eyes, though He was certain that Michael of all people would get the gist of His reaction. "Do you?" He asks in the fashion of boredom, and lifts His head up a bit so that He is, effectively, looking down his nose at the fellow angel. "What caused it then, brother? I'd like to know your opinion." Not that Michael's opinion really mattered, but rather, the information He could gather from it.

"Don't you believe that they deserve their fate?" Satan's tone this time was genuinely curious, since He simply could not put His mind around the concept of mercy, or second chances when it came to any of the human creations. "What have they done to prove otherwise? They took their great gift and destroyed it within a few thousand years, through various 'sin' of all things. Sins that they've all-- individually repeated throughout their worthless lives. Yet still, you protect them." The very thought of the last sentence has Satan's bitterness returning to Him. Where was His forgiveness? So He suffered a bout of pride? At the first failed attempt to overthrow Heaven, He was cast out by His father and His brothers alike. And now they were protecting the scum that sinned over and over and over again. It wasn't fair, to Him.

"Allying yourself with such a weak being in such a weak world is a mistake, Michael. Their time is over. Let them live like the animals they wish to be." Yes, let the humans scurry about in order to sustain what little of their technology had remained. A world that was in it's pinnacle was so hard for Him to topple over, He didn't want that work to go to waste by way of an errand-boy angel sticking his nose in where it didn't belong.

[Michael]

While Satan can want to know his 'opinion' of what happened all that he likes, Michael does not feel at liberty to give it, and so he doesn't. And since he's already implied his refusal, he feels free to simply let the follow-up questions pass him by without comment. Simply saying nothing is the simplest way of keeping something to yourself, after all.

Instead his attention goes to the questions on humanity, though it isn't difficult for Michael to guess at the correlation that Satan draws to his own situation. Though they're really too different to be comparing in such away, at least in Michael's opinion, and that's one opinion that he's completely free to share. "When they sin, they sin in ignorance," he begins, "They sin against a being that they don't know and don't fully understand, and since they don't understand what they are really doing when they sin, a measure of mercy and forgiveness can be extended to them if they are, on the whole, still good. If they knew what they were doing, it would be a completely different matter." Which is precisely what separates the sinners from the fallen angels. Of course, even fallen angels can eventually earn their own forgiveness, though it's a very difficult process and not one that someone like Satan would choose by any stretch of the imagination.

"And again, if you think that what I'm doing is such a mistake, why not allow me to make that mistake in peace?" he asks, not allowing any of this to slacken his pace.

[Satan]

Michael's excuse for the reason that humans sinned was really all it took for Satan to really lose His temper. Which was rather odd considering that He'd been relatively calm, if not a bit on the passive aggressive side since the very start of their mingling. His voice risen and His tone deeper than it was before, Satan stood to His full height instead of slouching against one of the many trees in His cocky manner. After His back left the individual trunk, that tree wound up engulfed in the onsets of a sudden, massive amount of black flame identical to the sort that appeared around Him when He had been moving around.

"Nothing fully understands him." He spoke, almost snake-like in that He didn't need to yell, His anger could literally be felt in other ways. "Not you, Me, or the other angels he was so quick to remove from Heaven. Yet he choses to be merciful to the creations who are second-rate to us in every way imaginable. You continue to serve a tyrant, but his reign is coming to an end."

With one single step forward, the black flames that had erupted around the single tree were spread to nearby trees, effectively causing a pretty catastrophic amount of damage to the forest that'd destroy it in it's entirety if not dealt with immediate. In Hellfire no less, which was significantly harder to put out than earthly fire. Satan continues after Michael, appearing in front of him yet again and staring directly at him, apparently done with their little game of bickering back and forth. "I'll allow you to make your mistake; which it is. A very foolish mistake on both counts. That is, serving the tyrant and the weaklings he created. I'd like to see what you think you can do anyway. I just wanted to know why first." At a moment where a smirk would be pretty characteristic for Him, He instead furrows His brows and glares at Michael, though without irises it's difficult to determine His glare. "You haven't changed a bit. Same old foolish, stubborn, idealistic Michael. I'd have thought you'd formed some sense by now." In fact, He had wished for Michael to question God's rule, if even a little bit. The world would be much easier to rule with more powerful angels fallen to His side, and it'd be particularly difficult to even attempt to sway Michael in future meetings, He was sure.

[Michael]

If Michael had been any other angel, the loss of Satan's temper would be a cause for more than a little concern. But he's one of three beings who can face it without fear, and while Satan rages, Michael merely stops and allows his own influence on the surroundings to gradually stop the spread of the fire, extinguish it, and restore the trees to their previous state.

If there's one aspect of Michael's life that he resents, it's that he's always the one who has to endure Satan's anger and clean up after it. But then, he's the only angel who can. And he can hardly blame the other angels for their weakness; he has weakness himself. Only... less. Perhaps, in time, one of the other archangels will gain a bit more strength - even though the hierarchy of power among the strongest angels has remained unchanged as long as the Earth has existed doesn't mean that it won't shift. Michael himself feels a bit of an obligation to constantly better himself just to be sure that he can stay one step ahead of Satan; a motivation that he wishes that he didn't have.

He could argue with Satan's rant, but that's never been Michael's purpose. Instead he modestly says, "You are entitled to your own opinion."