[MIRRORSIDE] trying to start something new

[saunteredvaguelydownwards]

Who: Mirror!Crowley (Gadreel) & MIRRORS!!
Where: MIRROR SIDE
When: 17th March
Rating: PG-13 at the moment
Summary: The mirror side has never had a clinic. After the Queen of Hearts declaration of war, Gadreel decides that he can't wait any longer to do something about it (replies to come from neversauntered).
The Story:

i. early morning

[A large room off the entrance hall had been just the right place to begin.

Gadreel knows that he's taking a risk. He knows that most of the Mirrors can't be trusted, and that many of them will object to what he's doing. He knows, too, that a lot of them are going to try to stop him. What he knows more than anything is that the Queen of Hearts will try to stop him... but he's hoping that she's too occupied with her own fury to pay any attention to him now.

Still, he runs excuses through his head. Over and over, he thinks through ways that he can justify this. Ways he can try to make it seem like a good idea.

The angel starts by cleaning. The room is spacious, but unused, and has been claimed by layers of dust and spiders being fed by God knows what, weaving their webs in high corners and behind furniture. It takes hours to clear it out, especially if he has to do it alone, and to push what meagre furniture the room has up against one wall until he can decide what to do with it. He's going to need cabinets, and... beds. This place is going to need beds.]

ii. evening

[When the room smells faintly of citrus rather than simply musty, Gadreel sits on a lone chair and winces as it creaks underneath him. He looks around, chewing his lip, and presses his hands together under his chin.]

This could get you into so much trouble, Gadreel. [He says softly, closing his eyes.] I hope you know what you're doing.

[There is enough room for just over half a dozen beds, by his reckoning, and a desk, a few cabinets... shelves, too. He draws his lower lip in under his teeth and bites it again. After all this time spent trying to fly under the radar, this could be the thing that finally gets him branded as a traitor. It could be, but... it has to be worth it. It has to be.

A little later, he has squirreled a small number of medical supplies into the so far mostly empty room, as well as a table to sort them on. Every time he hears footsteps near the door, he flinches and freezes, staring towards the noise with wide green eyes until it either fades away... or someone walks in.]

Comments

evening

[imaketherules]

[Life is changing, and Dee isn't sure she's happy about it. She likes spending her days harassing others, wandering and swiping what she can from various mirrors through to the other side. All that's going on? She's not at all happy about it. Not that she thinks anyone cares.

The movement in one room catches her attention, curious of what might be doing on as she slinks down the hallway. Pausing to look around, she slips closer as the citrusy scent makes her frown. That was new.

Slowly she leans forward, her red hair sweeping forward and framing her face as she looks around the corner into the room, speaking when she spots a form within.]

Whatcha doing?

[Not moving into the room. She's smarter than to risk trapping herself in a room with a stranger.]

[neversauntered]

[He doesn't answer immediately. Gadreel knows some mirrors - mostly who to avoid - but not all of them, and he doesn't know this one.]

... Preparing.

[Best to tread carefully until he can be sure. But then, can he ever be sure? He stands up slowly and rests his hand on the table, just beside the supplies he's managed to gather up.]

With war coming, we should have somewhere to treat our wounded.

[imaketherules]

[She lingers there, not moving closer. Much as she might taunt others, she's also not taking chances with someone she doesn't know. That's a quick way to pain and torture.]

That's not preparing the way most are.

[But it makes her curious, just as he does, as her head cants to one side, watching his movements.]

I guess She'd want that though, huh? Can't win a war if everyone gets hurt.

[neversauntered]

Some of us are not able to fight. [He says carefully.] And some of us would prefer not to.

[A flaw in the making, perhaps, but the fact of it was that no matter how many times they were remade some of them would always fall into one of those categories.

He makes a point of ensuring it's not clear which one he falls into.]

But we can have other uses.

[imaketherules]

[That made Dee think, considering that and all it means. Shifting as she folds her arms over her chest, watching him.]

Yeah? In what ways? I mean, don't say this...

[She flicks her head to indicate the room, her hair swishing about her face as she does.]

I get that. Just curious if you have thoughts about other ways.

[neversauntered]

I do.

[Deep breath. In, and out. It isn't that he's worried for himself - Gadreel has methods of combat at his disposal that most Mirrors wouldn't dare to dream of - but he doesn't want to have to hurt anyone to keep himself out of harm.

Doesn't want to, but he will.]

We have scientists here. Doctors. People who can't fight but who can give aid to those who do. We should all have a place in this conflict, don't you think?

[imaketherules]

[She shrugs, but then she's young, and not been in a war. Even her real hasn't. Not yet in her world.]

I think we're... I think we're taking a lot of chances when the other side knows us as much as we know them.

But yeah, makes sense. If we get hurt too much, she might just get rid of us.

[neversauntered]

I don't know if the other side knows us as well as we know them. [Gadreel tells her with a small, almost tight smile.] They can't see us. They can't watch us.

['We're not like them.' echoes the voice in his head.]

But there are going to be losses in this war, no matter what.

[imaketherules]

[Dee hadn't thought it that way. Not when she considers how much they come from them. Yet... She nods, liking how that sounds a lot.]

I... I don't want to hurt her. Steal from her? Sure, that's fun, but I don't want to hurt her.

[Dee's gaze is furtive, panicked, glancing around but not quite looking at him.]

morning

[niceandhelpful]

[He's been fretting ever since Her announcement. Nothing about this is okay. No one in their right mind ever truly wants war. War means people are going to die, maybe permanently, and he certainly doesn't want anyone to die!]

[He can't go against her directly, but what he can do is sort of...quietly refuse to fight. He can do things other than fight, after all. He might not really be a medical doctor, but that doesn't mean he can't brush up on his medical knowledge. Ricks are multi-disciplinary, after all. They'll need medics for the war. That's what he can do.]

[He'll have to get started early, however, get things set up before June. And setting up a clinic seems like a good bet. He just needs a place to put it.]

[He's thinking about all of this, pacing back and forth along the halls, when he hears the clatter of cleaning. He pokes his head into a room--and this room is sizable enough that it could work, he thinks--and spots a fellow Mirror. Oh dear. Rick tries to get along with everyone, but some people just don't want to be gotten along with, and he's never spoken to this Mirror before.]

Ah, hello? Are you cleaning? Is there a-anything I can do to assist?

[neversauntered]

[Maybe this is Gadreel's own way of fretting. He's not the kind of person who can sit and do nothing, but it never occurred to him that other people here might have the same idea as him. Mirrors are, mostly, only out for themselves and Gadreel made his peace with that particular fact some time ago.

He senses company as a prickle up his spine moments before the man speaks, and he straightens up to look over with a wary expression.

... Oh.]

You can help me. [There's a certain timidity in the half offer, half suggestion.] I want to use this room for a... a clinic. But it will need to be spotless first.

[niceandhelpful]

A clinic? [He looks astonished, then smiles brightly.] What a crazy coincidence! I w-was just thinking that I would try to set up a clinic as well! What with the, uh, war to come and all that! How fortunate that we had the s-same idea!

[He steps into the room proper.]

I don't believe we've formally met before! M-My name is Rick.

[neversauntered]

[He expected many things, but he did not expect any other Mirrors to have the same idea as him. His immediate reaction is one of wariness - Mirrors, as a rule, can't be trusted to be honest - but everything he reads from this man is sincere.

Could it be that he actually found some help without even looking for it?

The angel crosses the room, not too quickly, and offers his hand with a small and slightly uncertain smile.]

Gadreel. Glad to meet you, Rick.

[niceandhelpful]

[Rick, for his part, is pretty uncertain about all of this as well. He's an optimist at heart, but this seems too good to be true. He's a little wary as the man crosses the room to him, but when he offers his hand, Rick shakes it firmly.]

Glad to meet you too, Gadreel! I h-hope I pronounced that right! May I ask, what sort of medical experience do you have?

[neversauntered]

[It's only then that Gadreel realises just how long it's been since he actually touched another person on this side. The last one hand been Zirah, and that had always been more of a necessity than a wish of his own. He clasps his free hand warmly over both of theirs as they shake hands.]

Oh, you did.

[Could be worse. He could have a name like 'Beralenensis'.]

And, well... I'm an angel. I can heal people by touching them.

[niceandhelpful]

[Rick hasn't had a friend on this side in so long. Not since Stan got...re-made. This feels like the start of something.]

[His eyes widen.] An angel! Well gosh, that makes things a lot easier. I'm j-just a scientist, but all Ricks are multi-disciplinary. The Real Rick has been a medic by n-necessity before, and I've got plenty of his memories.

[neversauntered]

[Gadreel smiles, and there's something very much like humility in his face as he squeezes Rick's hand again, just once, before he lets go.]

They're your memories, as much as his. We can't let ourselves feel devalued by the nature of our creation. [His own Real is a demon, but not a terrible one. It's a conundrum.]

I'd more than welcome your help in this, but you have to understand the risks involved. I don't know what the Queen is going to think.

[squandered]

[ The Knight-Commander rarely hears whispers outside the song. Barely even voices these days. Inside the red sings. Outside the scar that once touched his lip runs across his entire cheek now, a gash with the crystal pulse underneath. His eyes glow to the rhythm. One arm is still whole and human, the other a red claw, improved by the strength of its sharp edges. He walks laboured, as is the price of the song, and all the crystals underneath his skin. They jut out along his back, small tips that are not visible underneath his templar armor, save for one spike which sits atop his shoulder.

The Knight-Commander rarely hears whispers outside the song, but at times a quiet moment still passes through. This one, in particular, calls him to a near empty room and the man within. ]

Trouble? [ His red eyes look around lazily. ] What sort of trouble is that?

W O W I did not get any notifs for this

[neversauntered]

[Oh... hell.

And here he was, just trying to have a good time, and-- now this. This. It would be too cruel to call him a thing - too cruel, and yet... yet there he stands, barely human, and Gadreel feels the soft catch of his own breath in his throat.]

Nothing... Nothing for you to concern yourself with, I'm sure.

your inbox wanted to protect you

[squandered]

[ He does not know if he can still make his voice sound as sweetly sincere as he used to. He knows the song clings to his throat, and the sounds come distorted, a mere whisper of the beauty he hears in his mind. ]

Ser, I am a Knight-Commander of the templar order, it is my sworn duty to protect the people from- trouble. Will you not tell me your concern so I can assist?

hecky

[neversauntered]

[Gadreel grits his teeth, the motion showing only as a small tension in his jaw. He straightens his shoulders, eyes not leaving the corrupted creature for a moment.]

I know very well what you are, Cullen. [No matter how sincere he might sound, the overall appearance of the man lets the attempt down entirely.]

I'm sure I don't need any assistance you'd want to offer.

[keptnerve]

( Clementine generally makes a point of not talking to other Mirrors, because most of them, they seem pretty fucked up and dangerous, but they're all about to go into a war apparently. So things are changing. She's armed to the teeth like always. She never goes anywhere without her weapons, and she has her hand on the grip of a handgun as she turns around the doorway, noticing the way the room smells different even. )

...what are you doing?

I have not been getting notifs DX

[neversauntered]

I'm cleaning.

[He replies cheerfully enough, in the middle of wiping the thick film of dust from the top of a cabinet, balanced carefully on the back of a chair in such a way that his weight should tip it over, but does not. Gadreel looks at her and then steps down, first by one foot back on the seat of the chair, then the other.

She's armed, but she's only young, and he feels no immediate prickle of danger.]

... You don't need that in here. I won't hurt you.

it's okay ;o;

[keptnerve]

( Clementine does not leave her gun behind. She does not trust what he says, but she does step inside further. She eyes him carefully, uncertain of why he would be cleaning up this room at all. People don't really focus in cleaning. )

I never go anywhere without it. But I'm not planning on using it on you unless you try some shit.

People don't usually clean stuff around here. For the... war or whatever?

( That has changed things. Most mirrors are preparing in other ways. )

;w; <3

[neversauntered]

[In a clear indication that he isn't going to try any shit, he clasps his hands behind his back and smiles politely.]

Right.

[He looks around the room quickly, trying to place things in his mind.]

I want to start a clinic in here. I have a feeling we're going to need one.