Open

[quis_ut_deus]

Who: Michael and open!
Where: The grounds.
When: Sunday, aka the last day of the Spontaneous and Embarrassing Singing event.
Rating: PG, to be updated as needed.
Summary: Being a member of the Heavenly Choir doesn't necessarily make one eager to sing their heart out anywhere and everywhere; but, being in Wonderland, one doesn't often get a choice in the matter.
The Story:

It's hard to ignore that there's an event on with people breaking into song left and right, but Michael tries his hardest to do exactly that. The ubiquitous plaques demanding honesty are easy enough to dismiss - they are, at least, quiet - but the archangel isn't willing to risk being dragged into someone else's musical number. Heaven holds many secrets. He avoids the mansion, spending the weekend in his preferred spots on the grounds.

No matter how effectively he avoids the others, though, he can't hide from his own in-built inclination for song. Eventually, he cracks:

There, out in the darkness
A fugitive running
Fallen from god
Fallen from grace
God be my witness
I never shall yield
Till we come face to face
Till we come face to face

He knows his way in the dark
Mine is the way of the Lord
Those who follow the path of the righteous
Shall have their reward
And if they fall
As Lucifer fell
The flames
The sword!

Michael blinks back surprise. Compared to his true voice, John's own is lacking - if not exactly unpleasant. If he's fortunate, no one will have been in earshot to comment on it.

[[OOC: for your listening pleasure.]]

Comments

[dissemble]

[When Michael continues the song instead of fleeing or attacking him, Lucifer decides to make the most of this. Michael is clearly as displeased with not being in control as he is, but he has not left, and Wonderland at least seems to think that they share some similar emotions regarding each other.

As he echoes his brother's words, he walks closer.]

In perfect symmetry
Be my everything
If you just let me in perfect symmetry
Only you can make me feel complete

[They used to do this often, Before. Singing together, or simply for the pleasure of of the other. He is ready to defend himself, should his brother decide that violence is the only solution now.]

[quis_ut_deus]

[Michael lifts his wings and splays his flight feathers in warning as Lucifer approaches, but he doesn't act on the threat. Lucifer and his singing are a source of distress, but not the target he wants to attack. That honour is reserved for his vessel's vocal chords.

He could snap them away, he thinks. Would that actually stop the singing, or would Wonderland simply compel him to use his true voice instead?

It's not something he's sure he wants to risk. Hearing their vessels' voices is reminder enough of what they once shared. To hear it from his own voice would be a distraction from what he remembers even more clearly than that: Lucifer turning his back on their family. Fortunately, it's a gamble he doesn't have to take. He finds that, for the moment, he's free to use John's voice as he pleases again.]

Are you satisfied yet?

[The confusion is gone from both his tone and his expression, replaced with irritation.]

[dissemble]

[Most days, Lucifer does not think of heaven. This is not from any conscious effort- just habit. In the Cage it had hurt too much to think of the betrayal, and most days now he gains nothing to think of What Had Been Before.

He remembers now. He remembers a time when there had been no need for deception, and he and his brother had seen each other as they truly were, and spoken their thoughts without fear of rejection or rebuke.

How naive they had been.

The anger that has smouldered in Lucifer since he was cast down is stoked a little more, thinking of how their Father has ruined this between them. Michael should never have been set against him. Can he be satisfied like this?]

Of course not.

[There are other words he might say, if he had not already learned that vulnerability was not a strength.]