entrancelogs | I must crucify the ego before it's far too late

Entry tags:

I must crucify the ego before it's far too late

Who:Real!Gabriel and Mirror!Gabe (OTA seriously)
Where:Mirrorverse or Wonderland
When: The duration of the event.
Rating:I'll slap a PG-13 on this just cause it's Gabe but will change if it goes in other places for one reason or another.
Summary: Mirror!Gabriel answers his Queen and crosses over, throwing his real self into the mirror world and the Archangel is going to go poke around where he doesn't belong. Still no regrets in not breaking his mirror.
The Story:

So this is how the other half lived hm? How curious. Gabriel thought to himself as he milled about the reverse mansion. He wonders who else was trapped here or what alternate versions of people were still on this side. Was Michael here? Or William? These versions were said to be polar opposites, his curiosity does have him nearly itching to see what they're like. It's just too bad he can't speak with himself… or could he? There had to be a safe way to do so.

Ah well, the Queen made a mistake letting him cross over. He'd been honestly hoping for an opportunity to get into this world and learn what he could. He wondered what would happen, if most of her soldiers are over trying to collect the sword, does that leave her mostly unguarded? Could he kill her? Would that send them all back or destroy the balance? Really, if the Queen weren't worried about having him here than she was a fool.

((ooc: you can find him all around the reverse world/mansion, feel free to toss whoever at either of them. I'm up for whatever!))

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Looking away was definitely William's idea of giving in, almost like he was rolling over in a show of submission. It was also humiliating as hell. Why was he doing this again? Why was he letting a fake archangel shove him around so much?

The twist at his arm sharply reminds him, William hissing in equal parts pain and incredulity. What the Hell? There's beads of sweat on his forehead now, skin pale and eyes watering at the pain. It felt like he was a second away from getting his arm torn clean off and it has the mirror biting his lip hard enough to draw blood. He didn't want to cave in and admit defeat, but if he didn't then how would be be able to serve God? Or more accurately, how would he be able to get his own back against the archangel?

"Clear." Just that one whispered word is hard to get out, almost as if agreeing is going to choke him.

A smile reaches the Archangels face and he reaches out with a free hand to not-so-gently pat his cheek.

"Good boy." He then lets go, quickly backing off to allow the other to fill his lungs properly. He'll wander over, stooping to pick up the knife and have a closer look at it. Hm. Not bad. Not perfect, who ever made this wasn't entirely sure how to mold Empyrean steel but it worked for a knife only made to stab angels. He's debating if he wants to take this back home with him.

"You see? I can be merciful. I'm not harboring any illusions of you following me nor do I want you to, but you can't be allowed to treat me like your mirror whore. We are not equals but I am willing to have a truce with you so long as you do not over-step your bounds Prophet." Because no, you do not get to have the Archangel calling you by your name, you are NOT William to him.

The mirror doesn't seem to be in any rush to get to his feet, staying on his back as he tries to catch his breath. The pain in his arm he'll ignore for now, will acknowledge it when Gabriel has gone and William is in private. Dammit, dammit, dammit. The smug, victorious attitude from the archangel is like nails down a chalkboard and it's taking everything in William not to make a sarcastic remark. How bad would it be if he just started calling the other "Archangel" and nothing more in retaliation? Well it would probably end in tears, William knowing he's losing a battle here, and that is a bitter pill to swallow.

Turning his gaze back to Gabriel, the young man can't help the flicker of worry when he sees the dagger in the archangel's hand. If he takes that back with him, William will be utterly defenseless. The sheer idea of it has him going cold. Should Gabriel know that he would take it in a heartbeat and so William wisely keeps his mouth shut, putting his gaze back to the ceiling.

Gosh, his arm hurts.

"I don't wish to work for you."

Gabriel tilts his head slightly, observing the way the other seems to be taking a long time to gather himself. Did he honestly break him that badly? He sighs then, setting the dagger on the table far enough away from both of them as he moves towards the Prophet. If the other should make a move for it he'll get between it and the mirror before he reaches it, however he's not expecting that to happen given the other's apparent defeat.

"You know. One of the most prominent lessons I teach my acolytes is that where One is broken, one is made stronger." He pauses, looking down at the young man and moving around to his side, doing his best not to limp, or show discomfort. He's also ignoring the wet squelching noise from his boot where blood has soaked into his sock. He stops once more and offers the young man his hand.

"I don't want you to work for me. I just want a truce." And by truce he means he wanted William to submit and stop acting like a brat, but at least he'll hold up his end now as well. Not equals, as he stated before, but not fighting either.

"We can't be one-upping each other with insults until someone is hurt. It gets tiring after a while. We had our first chance to size up our strength and intellect, see what we're about and now... we can be civil. Don't you think?"

When William hears the sound of the dagger being put down the table, he briefly glances over, instantly tearing his gaze away. Looking at the dagger would be a dead giveaway, and he would rather this Gabriel left without taking it from him.

The mention of acolytes gets a nose wrinkle, William already back to watching the archangel approach. Feeling threatened isn't a thing anymore, William is more sulking at how well Gabriel has put him in his place. Just the idea of it rankles but for now he'll listen to Gabriel's preaching. A truce...? A ridiculous notion, one he's ready to scrunch up and throw back into Gabriel's face before he actually gives it some thought. No more winding up like this, humiliated...That and had the Queen seen this William would have had more to worry about than a sore arm. A truce would come in useful, and it would give the mirror ample time to figure out how to get his own back when his own turn to visit the others came.

"I can't argue that." It's not difficult to look like his nose is out of joint at the idea, taking the offered hand and pulling himself back to his feet. And at least his aren't squelching like Gabriel's is; oh yes, William sure heard that. It warmed his very soul. "Fine. Though I can't promise no insults. I don't get to sleep often and if I don't insult someone I might die."

Of course you can't argue it. He thought to himself as he lifted the other to his feet with ease.

"I'm sure you can manage it when I'm around." There's a small smile to hide the warning within it. Really, death by lack of taking one's bad attitude out on someone? Even if it were a joke there was a very real death lurking behind pissing off this Archangel.

"Would it sweeten the deal if I showed you something that could end up helping your loyal Archangel escort if he should get hurt while protecting you from your enemies?" Which he assumes he has many in this realm alone. He's also amused at his own choice of words and what some escorts were known for.

"I'll just need a lighter or something that will burn longer than a match. A candle will do if that's easier."

William winces briefly as he gets to his feet,immediately letting go of Gabriel's hand to school his face back into what appears to be the usual irked expression. It's easier to do than looking as pained as he's feeling right now, safer in a way. At least his arm is settling down somewhat. William spitefully hopes Gabriel's foot gets infected, staring at the other with an unimpressed look when the word "escort" is thrown out there. So childish, how was this guy even an archangel again?

The moment Gabriel mentions something about helping the mirror Gabriel should he get hurt, that is the first time in their entire meeting that the archangel gets 100% of William's attention, grey eyes staring intently. So it's a dead giveaway to where his weakness lies, but William knows that these two Gabriels would never be able to cross paths, so at least there's that. He wants to know, so much that William will pull a zippo from his pocket and hold it out. Lighting candles has it's uses.

"That should do. Right?"

Well, it was also another name for a bodyguard, it worked both ways! Thus why he was amused at himself. But anyway... the Archangel makes a mental note about the Prophets weakness, confirming a suspicion he was fairly certain of. He smiles softly when the other produces a Zippo and moves carefully to take a seat and kick off his shoe. He'll peel off the blood-soaked sock, getting a good look at the damage done to his foot. The knife had sunk in pretty deep and at least now the Mirror could get an idea that yes, the Empyrean steel does do exactly what it's meant to.

Bravo.

He curls a wing around his shoulder and plucks a feather from it. He then holds it near the middle as he strikes up the Zippo. He holds the quill end over the flame until the tip grows waxy and wet as it melts. He'll then flick the zippo shut and hold the end over his wounded foot, squeezing a few drops out of it and through the open wound. He winces, hissing softly as the wound almost seems to echo the sound, skin and tissue sealing up slowly but surely.

"There." He sighs, holding his hand out to give him the Zippo as he wiggles his toes to get a feeling of the progress. Still a bit stingy and tingly but it's getting there.

William is still watching every movement carefully, all pretenses to one side as he focuses on not missing a thing. He's unsure of why the feather is needed, but at least he can be proud he managed to inflict some kind of a wound on the archangel. Good, maybe the other would think twice.

Or maybe not. William is both impressed and irritated at the healing. It's a good thing to know should his own Gabriel wind up injured, but dammit he'd been all proud for managing to hurt this asshole not ten seconds ago. Ribs give a painful twinge, reminding the young mirror that he doesn't have his own feathers to do that. The zippo is taken back without a word, William pocketing it as he watches the wound healing.

"That works for everything?"

"Just about. Obviously if the damage is too extensive it may not help much at all cause it still takes time." He shrugs, lifting his eyes to the Prophet and studying the look of impressed wonderment in his expression.

"It does the trick against Empyrean steel at least. Anything else will heal on it's own. And it's not that we can't heal something from a blade like that it just takes a normal human level of time. Though I'm sure you know that bit."

Of course William knew that, the prophet doing his best to look neutral on the matter and failing. He's too busy looking impressed to be able to put his usual mask on, and if Gabriel looks hard enough he'll see a slight hint of uncertainty. Why is Gabriel showing him this? Is it a trick? The mirror isn't sure, and it's hard to believe it's an legitimate thing when he lives in a world where it's every man for himself. Obviously the other shoe will drop at any moment now.

"I might have known that bit."

Gabriel was all too pleased with the varying levels of impressed expressions crossing the Prophets face, even more so with that tinge of uncertainty lying underneath. He liked to keep people guessing, especially enemies he wished to try and sway, if not to his side, at least to a sort of neutrality so there wouldn't be trouble. The more hostiles he could subdue into a more friendly state the better. He didn't want to make friends with the mirror so much as he didn't want to have him as an enemy or a thorn in his side. As for shoes? Nothing else was dropping that was a peace offering and a freebie.

He set about wringing the blood out of his sock before deciding to just take the other off. He'd go barefoot back to his world, it was better than walking lop-sided or putting the bloody boot back on.

"So it seems we're stuck with each other til your Queen is satisfied." He shrugs, sitting back and picking up that knife to have a closer look at it.

"Where did you get this?"

William has nothing to say on the archangel being in bare feet, knowing it's probably the smarter of the options. The boot had been well and truly wrecked, and whilst feathers could mend flesh, apparently leather was not on that list. Good, William vaguely hopes the angel has trouble finding shoes before realizing he's being childish, folding his arms and trying to shrug it off.

"It looks that way." The mirror frowns slightly, not at all comfortable with the idea of Gabriel hanging around. His arm and ribs hurt and every moment the angel has that dagger is a moment that has William on edge. He needs it back, though it's doubtful he'll get it back so easily. "I'm not at liberty to say right now. I would like it back, though."

The Archangel lofts a brow at the response he receives, no answer and a request to have the weapon given back. Did the fool really think he could give such a dangerous thing back to an enemy that easily? Just because they had a truce didn't mean he was stupid enough to just allow a human to keep such a thing without good reason. It was the only thing making the young man a threat.

"And why should I do that?" His grip tightens on the hilt and he gently lays the flat of the blade across his opposite palm, resting both hands in his lap.

"You shouldn't even have a blade made of this steel, it was not meant for humans to wield. Even if you believe you speak with my father, it does not make you worthy to own a weapon like this."

All pretenses are out the window now. William knows that Gabriel is aware of how he's feeling without that knife, the mirror watching every movement Gabriel makes with the thing. If he doesn't get it back he is up shit creek without a paddle. William doesn't expect his own Gabriel to turn on him, but he can't say the same about others. For all he knows, the other Michael from the real Wonderland could turn up and be just as violent as this archangel. He needs that knife back, but at the same time the mirror is loathe to answer the questions.

"Things work differently here. And it's mine, so I am allowed to wield it. If you give it back I promise I won't stab you with it...." William pauses, having the audacity to shrug. "Well, I won't stab you with it today." It wasn't even bragging, just blunt honesty. William wasn't going to promise away his only chance of defense.

Oh he's certain his expression is priceless, the flattest he can manage.

"Sorry, do you actually believe I care "How things work" in this realm? Because you see, this steel," Holding the blade up to indicate it. "Is from my world, not this one, not yours, so whatever it is that gives you rights to it, is bullshit because it doesn't belong here to begin with. Was never meant to, your queen made you and my mirror and stole this from us. You are my enemy and I would be a fool to simply let you have it.

Especially with a terrible argument of, I won't stab you right this second but plan to in the future."

Besides, he's not worried about being stabbed with the knife. He's worried about his brother falling for something and being shanked by it instead. Hell, he'd even go out on a limb to say he'd care if the MIRROR michael caught the wrong side of this blade too.

"Do you wish to try again to make your case?" He's carefully tucking the blade away inside his vest.

"You can't take it from me!" The mirror can't help the incredulous statement, betraying his panic at the idea in this few words. What would happen if something went wrong and Gabriel wasn't around to help him? He'd be dead, that's what.

As for making his case, William briefly has to think about it, watching as the dagger vanishes into Gabriel's vest. At least he least he'd been honest about the stabbing part.

"It was given to me. By Gabriel, just in case. Give it back. "

Those brows raise in expression that reads "oh can't I?" without speaking a word. He tucks his vest over it but doesn't zip back up just yet. He'll just study the mirror as he notes the panic, the rise in his pulse and the gentle tremor to his voice. So it was a fairly important thing to him, enough that he's feeling weak enough without it that his voice and mannerisms betray him.

"Just in case? Are you that concerned your bodyguard will fail you?"

His brows crease with question,

"You still don't understand that everything created in this world is fake. This steel being real enough to be a threat, and I'd think the REAL version would trump the copy. So if he gave it to you I can take it away."

Take it away..... If Gabriel walked out with that dagger then William knows he'll never see it again. It would, after all, be going to another world and he doubts asking the Queen for permission to go across would work just to get it back. And for once in his existence the young man is at a loss. So used to getting what he wants, William can't wrap his head around being on the short end of the stick. How could this have happened? How would he even explain to his Gabriel that it was gone? There was no ideology that Gabriel would fail in being a protector, but the dagger was some comfort for times when the mirror had to go do other things. They weren't joined at the hip that much!

"You can't.... " William can't help but mumble he wwords, trailing off as he starts to realize just how deadly serious this angel is being." It was a gift. From you. "

"A gift he had no right to give. I would never give something like this to a spoiled, delusional human." His hand smooths over the knife where it is tucked away. His fingers tap over the lump of the hilt as he considers things. It would only be a danger if one of them went to the mirror world or this William came to their world. More dangerous if Michael or someone else came to this side and met with the Mirror. One life and the one thing that could take it from them. His brother already had a brush with death to begin with.

Too many "if"s.

He studies the mirror quietly, contemplating. He couldn't strike a deal, he's no doubt in his mind the other would go back on it. Or use the knowledge of how he cares for his brother against him. Of course, observing through the mirrors could reveal that much. Or... unbeknownst to Gabriel, when his Mirror returns from the Real world, his talk with Michael certainly revealed things, no doubt he'd know one way or the other. Either way he didn't want to reveal how much of a weakness his twin is.

"I'm thinking this may help you learn a very important lesson in respect."

So that was how it would be then. William knows that arguing it from this point would be a waste of time. That Gabriel has already decided to keep it. Just that alone felt like a lead weight in his stomach, William doing his utmost not to beg or say please. He didn't do those things and he wasn't going to start now.

If he could hear Gabriel's thought process he would have tried to poke holes in it. William had no major issue with the mirror Michael, and if he was going to take a shot it would have been before now. No, this was a power play, William recognising it as such bitterly. How can he even compete? His own Gabriel will be so disappointed in him for losing that knife.....

"Well fucking keep it then, I don't care! I hope you trip and impale yourself on it. " The mirror doesn't care for hire his voice rises on the end of that statement, looking as childish as he sounds by folding his arms petulantly.

Those brows raise slightly.

"You're not very good at this learning thing are you?" There's a soft sigh.

"Well I was considering trying to strike a deal but if you're going to be like that then forget it. I'll keep it. But your little lap dog will be back soon enough and you'll be safe. Nothing to fear."

William keeps his arms folded, only peering over at Gabriel with a suspicious look. Yeah right. The archangel was only saying that just because he wanted to score more points off him. Well, William wasn't going to fall for it, shoulders hunched as he growls in exasperation.

"Yeah sure you were. I don't believe it for a second. You were going to keep it anyway, now you're just teasing."

"Oh because you know me so well." He rolls his eyes.

"I was honestly considering it. But no. Too late."

William wouldn't admit to knowing Gabriel so well, sometimes he wonders if he knows the mirror Gabriel well enough on some days. That being said, he's still giving the archangel a sceptical look, not at all budging from his stance.

"No you weren't, you're just trying to rub salt in the wounds. Doesn't matter, keep it, I'll just figure something else out." As to what, the mirror has no idea, but that thought will stay unsaid for now.

I must crucify the ego before it's far too late

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