wake the earth [gideon]

[ARALENNE CORINNE RIDER]

take the hands of what you've known

[/size][/color]

we'll wake the earth and watch it grow

Who knew that a meadow could be so quiet? It was naught but miles and miles of rolling hills and greenery, with the occasional patch of flowers. It seemed so out of place for a world that has been darkened with blood many times, and if anything, the grass should be non-existent and be replaced with weeds. Nevertheless, the emerald beneath her feet was alive and quivering, it was almost unnatural to the dark fallen. There was a sudden, strange urge in her to stain the grass and turn the meadow into a bloody battleground, but that would do jack for her own goals. There was simply no point, and no benefits to reap. The least she could do was enjoy this time alone.

Nevertheless, as beautiful as it was, it could not compare to the beauty of a particular forest in Estonia. Though Aralenne was by all means not from Europe, one of her charges her been Estoninan, and had lived in the neighbourhood of Variku. The angel had used to follow the forest that surrounded the suburbs, The meadows in those woods were neverending, stretching out into a green sea that seemed to led into nowhere. Manuka did give the same kind of atmosphere, but the meadows in Estonia somehow felt different. However, meadows were meadows, and if anything, they were all the same anyway, logically thinking. Deciding not to waste anymore time, the fallen slowly strolled forward smoothly, gazing up into the sky. The sun shone on her long, blonde hair, giving it a snow-white sheen.

The encounter with Louis, which in her opinion, did not end very well, had left her thinking. It triggered off fragments of memories in the fallen's head, memories which she had made the attempt to forget because really now, there were only so much she could take. Only the vital ones which showed details about her life were left, as well as the occasional ones of her taking the lives of people. But this boy interested her for some reason, and perhaps that was the reason why he was so familiar.

Too much thinking was hurting her head. Shaking it, Aralenne's eyes flickered around to focus on something else. Her eyes fell on nearby birch tree, and her mind immediately made up, she began making her way towards it. However, her eyes had missed a little patch of soggy mud in the ground, and her foot sank it into it immediately. Aralenne didn't even cry out, and the only sign of surprise that came from her was the widening of her eyes and a low oath. She fell onto the ground with a soft thud, and simply laid there, not inclined to move, eventually rolling onto her back to look up into the sky. The spring laziness was getting to her, blame the warmth of it's sun. Even evil-doers had to be lazy at times.

"Eh, what the fuck."

TAGS open WORDS

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template created by NAGA for use on NIGHTMARE.[/center]

[GIDEON ISAAC OSBOURNE]

The demon never thought that he'd end up in such a serene place on a Sunday afternoon. But, he'd finished all his paperwork where the hotel was concerned, and decided to actually take a day off, for a chance. For a moment, he considered calling Jyli, his... well, he hated the modern term 'girlfriend,' but that was essentially what she was. They were committed to one another, and while the thought had disturbed him for a great while, his troubled mind had eventually eased and given way to a newer concept in his life, and a space that she could fill seamlessly. Very seamlessly, he decided, because as grumpy and emotionless as he frequently was, Gideon was actually quite fond of Jyli. Sometimes, he was even daring enough to say that the spunky faerie made him happy. And happiness had been something that had long been out of his reach, and something that he truly hadn't desired. Wealth, power, a name for himself, and a name and reputation that would make lesser men (and women) quake in their boots were more his speed on the list of things he desired. Gideon found that, in time, since he had an unlimited amount, anything could be attainable. Nothing was truly off limits when one had enough wealth, influence, and time, and he was fortunate enough to have all three working very solidly in his favor. Manuka had been good to him, and for the long run, the demon found that he could make plans to stay.

As he walked along the grass, Gideon could feel almost a forced sense of calm wash over him. Most of the time, Gideon wasn't short-tempered or violent, but preferred to take his time to make others afraid of him, in a way that much resembled the skilled Mafia “dons” of the early 1920s, which had been an era that he had particularly enjoyed. Gideon had been able to get his fingers into alcohol trafficking, and ensure that he turned quite a bit of coin right into his very deep pockets. People had depended on him, and even Al Capone had once shaken his hand and said that he'd never been so impressed with a man unless he found himself looking in the mirror. So maybe Gideon decided that he hadn't enjoyed the competition as much as Mr. Capone and took the rug out from underneath him on more than one occasion. The demon might have also had something to do with the stroke that took him from the earth, but he'd never made any official comments, and his actions were damn near untraceable, so he didn't worry about it, either. There was little someone could truly do to a man like him, which might have been why he wasn't so quick to fly off the handle and act brashly.

Few people were left that could pose any sort of challenge. Few people could have ever been called his 'equal.' Gideon liked the world to work that way, because it meant that he could sit back on his heels and enjoy the limitless amount of time he had to enjoy the earth. Sebastian, his old 'brother' was also enjoying the wonders of Manuka, and while their meeting had seemed to progress quite normally, it left the slightly older demon with a foul taste in his mouth and the feeling that the man who had followed Morningstar and fought against him in the war of the Heavens was now fighting on the wrong side yet again. There had been a time when Gideon embraced his wings, but when they were finally removed, it was liberating, and felt like they were dislodging a poison from his system and opening his eyes.

A little further across the meadow, and Gideon paused. There was a woman standing there... long, white-blonde hair blowing behind her in the breeze that brought Spring on its heels. She was familiar in a way that few others were – in a way that Sebastian was, when he knew him as Ozymandias.

”Order,” Gideon spoke powerfully, but not in any way that could be mistaken as imposing or threatening. For a moment, he felt hopeful that she, of all beings, would not disappoint him as Sebastian had done unknowingly. ”This place seems a mite too serene for the likes of you.” Gideon waited for her to turn before he would break the air with speech again, lest she be some mirage in the desert that his mind had conjured up to make him feel less alone.

[/justify]
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OUTFIT:[/color] Here!

[ARALENNE CORINNE RIDER]

take the hands of what you've known

[/size][/color]

we'll wake the earth and watch it grow

"Order."

It was as though it had been sleeping all this while, the other side of her only angels usually got to see. She was suddenly reminded of the 'good old days' back in heaven, when her wings were still a resplendent white, and a golden sword in her hand. Majestic and entrancing, she had instilled discipline in every ruffian heaven had to offer, and kept the peace and security. People had looked to her for order, and order she gave and created. Yet, no matter how well-respected the blonde had been, she had still fell pursuing her own beliefs with no regrets. And now, she was here in the human world to spread discord instead, or rather, to keep provoking it. There was no order in humans, it was non-existent.

Slowly, the fallen rose, brushing off stray grass and whatever that had managed to stick on her while she had been lazily enjoying the spring sun. Her head swiveled slightly, looking out of the corner of her eye, to see which familiar face had greeted her by her old name. Emerald orbs flashed in a mixture of menace of curiosity as she finally fully turned, to meet the dark eyes of the now demon Ozymandias. Aralenne took her time to answer him, simply tilting her head, white-blonde locks falling gracefully, studying him. She was still Aralenne, but this was another side of her, something dormant ever since she fell and more lethal...until now.

"Ozymandias," The name slipped off her tongue like velvet, and she inclined her head towards him in greeting. "What a surprise. I doubt that you are still using your birth name, so do tell me the human one you picked for yourself." Never the one to waste too much time on pleasantries, she pressed on, words flowing smoothly. "Still as handsome as ever." Aralenne's tone was flat and monotonous, but underneath it lurked a hint of teasing, as close to emotion as she would possibly get. The fallen did have a sense of humour, but most often failed to see the sardonic and wry side of it. She was not murderous 24/7, and had no intention of becoming so.

"Well...." she began, her lips twitching into a sort of smile. "All in good time, Ozy, before this lovely place becomes barren as well. Until then, even I, do take naps in a meadow filled with flowers." She strolled forward until she was directly in front of Ozy, raising a hand to clap it on his shoulder. She had no idea what the gesture really meant, but it was what the people of this generation seemed to do pretty often. Perhaps it was a greeting of some sorts, or some friendly gesture. Aralenne did hope that it was the latter, perhaps they were both, for she did not want to spar with Ozy, or engage in any fight with him whatsoever for the time being, "How fares things, old friend? It has been...a long time." It was an understatement, but she could not think of anything else that would be suitable enough to describe the years she hadn't seen him.

TAGS gideon WORDS

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template created by NAGA for use on NIGHTMARE.[/center]

[GIDEON ISAAC OSBOURNE]

Order had always been the epitome of her given name, fair and needing to find the balance in all things. She was, in many ways, the definition of neutrality, of keeping things to their proper arrangement, and Gideon had admired that of her, ever since the day she was created. Gideon had always held such passion, and while he'd learned to put that aside through his abilities as a demon and become more balanced and on an even keel, he did admire those who could achieve what he had to work at naturally. Now that she had fallen, Gideon did wonder where her alignment settled; with his side or where he suspected their brother Sebastian had gone, and hoped for the best. The greeting she gave him was different than the one he'd gotten from Sebastian: she truly seemed pleased to see him, not scared that he'd discover some hidden secret that would make him lose any fondness that had once existed. But he and Order had a longer history than he had with Sebastian, as the two of them fought against him when Heaven and Hell had gone to war. They had emerged victorious, and had fought beautifully together, as a unit. Perhaps they'd have a chance to become a unit in that same fashion once more, as another war was on the horizon.

”Names change just as much as anything else on earth, does it not?” Gideon asked, knowing that while he'd had to re-invent himself several times throughout his “lifespan” outside of the heavens, he'd always tried to adopt names that would stay true to his original identity, even though he knew that his real place was never supposed to be at their Father's hand. Falling had been his first taste of freedom, and he'd never trade it. ”But it's Gideon now. Gideon Osbourne. What about you? I doubt you kept 'Order' for conversational purposes. Although some humans do pick strange names for their offspring these days.”

Despite the fact that the former angel's tone held no recognizable emotion when she spoke the words, the compliment was felt and understood all the same. Gideon lowered his head and chuckled softly – there had been a time when he'd seen Order's beauty and coveted it, but relations between angels were strictly forbidden. Once upon a time, he had followed the rules, no matter how he disagreed in his heart. And since he'd fallen, they hadn't crossed paths. ”And you are just as staggeringly beautiful as my memory can recall, despite the years.” It wouldn't be fitting of him to covet her in the same way now, despite their history, because he was spoken for, and had a romantic companion that he was attempting to forge a monogamous relationship with. That was what Jyli expected, and he'd do his best to uphold her wishes. But as a man, he couldn't help but allow his mind to wander, only for a second, what could have happened if their paths had crossed many years ago. Gideon had always been fond of Order, and perhaps a small part of her that didn't register to her sacred duties could feel the same fondness.

”Spring has blossomed; barren fields will be a long time coming unless war destroys it all. But even then, following war, there's always a re-birth.” Gideon said, knowing that he spoke from experience. Other than the wars he'd fought in, he'd seen many and experienced many from an outsider's point of view. Gideon chose to be an outsider in human wars, as he had no place in them. The war in Manuka would be his first real battle in a while, and he was trying to prepare as much as he could. There needed to be a re-birth again, and he would see the dawning of a new era.

Taking a step closer to her, Gideon smiled a little at her question. Old friend. Somehow, her words were more true than Sebastian, and he couldn't help but feel like perhaps he would have a chance, finally, to reconnect with someone from his past with actual power and be less alone. They at least shared the same beginning, and perhaps were fated to share the same future. ”The years haven't been unkind to me. I've made my own destiny, and I can honestly say that I have no regrets. What about you? You are staying in Manuka, aren't you? For the war,” Gideon inquired, hoping that she wasn't just passing through, although he doubted it, since neither one of them could ever stray far from a battle zone. ”I have a business in town. Brand new, a luxury hotel; there's space there, for you. For free, of course. I wouldn't dare turn away such an old friend.” Kindness was something he rarely bestowed upon others for nothing, but in her case, he would make the exception.

[/justify]

[ARALENNE CORINNE RIDER]

take the hands of what you've known

[/size][/color]

we'll wake the earth and watch it grow

As Aralenne continued gazing at her old friend, she marveled at the amount of memories that the two of them had, during their time in heaven together. They had fought valiantly against Morningstar and his forces, and had worked wonderfully as a team. Although she was indeed the epitome of neutrality, her alignment had indeed been with heaven at that time, as it was her job to keep the order there. But now, that she had fallen, what she strove to do now was spread chaos and destruction. Yet, a small part of her did yearn for control and security again, to once again relieve the fragments of her time as a renowned angel in heaven. Though it was all naught but a distant dream now, Aralenne did not find harm in indulging herself in the occasional fantasy, impossible as it may seem. Whether or not she took pleasure from it was an entirely different thing altogether, although the fallen did suspect that nostalgia did occasionally worm its way through whenever she stifled through her memories.

At Ozy's rhetorical question, the blonde simply smiled in reply. Everything on the earth did change with time, but she had only gone by two names in this whole lifetime. Unlike him, she hadn't bothered with trying to hide who she really was, and until now, there were still angels who grimaced at the mere mention of her name, and even those who were born after she had fallen, did know of her. The horror she had initiated in heaven had not been forgotten until now, and she highly doubted that it would be anytime soon. Not that she was having any regrets whatsoever. "I do not, with the exception of those that truly know who I am. You may however, call me Aralenne Rider, if you so wish...Gideon." That was after all, the name she had been born and created with, and it only seemed right to use it after her time as Order came to an end. To be frank with herself, she did not mind being called either of those two names. They were what made her her after all. Unsurprisingly, she was more well-known as Order, she hadn't left such a legacy for nothing.

His compliment in return made her raise an eyebrow and laugh. "Do not flatter me, Gideon. You will have me playing the role of a jester next." Her lips twitched slightly, in the beginnings of a faint, amused smile. It was still a little strange for her to be testing the waters and experiencing the occasional emotion, but she was getting used to it. It was amazing how long spending time on earth could do to you. "And I doubt that such an experience would be pleasant for you." To have her begin to start cracking jokes in an effort to entertain Gideon was close to naught, but Aralenne did unconsciously make use of her dry humour. It still appalled at how some did occasionally begin laughing at whatever she said, because as far as she was concerned, she was not in the least bit entertaining.

"I look forward to such a rebirth," replied the blonde distantly. "Only to destroy it, over and over again." Perhaps then, order could finally, and hopefully be born for good, only to be wrecked again. Her green eyes glinted with a sparkle of menace, only for it to disappear as quickly as it appeared, replaced by its usual apathy. They were empty once again. She glanced down at the earth beneath her feet, half-expecting to see blood oozing from beneath her feet, just like it always had during those old wars she had interfered in. The corpses that she had perched on in a makeshift, macabre hill of broken limbs was still as clear as glass in her memories. She nodded at Gideon at his question at the reason why she was in Manuka. Ah, the war. The onslaught was what she was waiting for, to finally annihilate everything off the face of the earth, trailing destruction in her wake. There was simply no need for both supernaturals and humans to live; what was the point if all they were going to do was enslave each other? Humans may be weak physically, but they were strong at heart. It would be only a matter of time before they rose up, and took down the supernatural species with their own bare hands.

"I am in your debt." Aralenne said graciously at his offer. "Should you ever need me, I will find you." She would find him, as she had now, as she had eons ago.

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template created by NAGA for use on NIGHTMARE.[/center]

[GIDEON ISAAC OSBOURNE]

Even though the earth had so many different phases that seemed to rise and fall, it was still a marvel how some things were stagnant and unchanging. Order was one of them. Gideon found that he was marveling at how steadfast she still was, and how her very aura seemed to be doused in the neutral, even ground of a hurricane's eye. Peaceful in appearance, but just a short distance from utter chaos and unparalleled power. There had always been a certain draw to Order, even when they were in the heavens together, fighting valiantly at each others' side. The battle against Morningstar had been great, and many hell spawn had fallen, with only a handful of casualties on their side. Order was a fantastic lieutenant and he was a superb general. But, as the stories said, that was once upon a time, and much time had passed from those days long gone.

Order went on to answer his question, telling him the name she'd adopted to live in the human world. Even though the humans still had control for now, Gideon could practically feel both of them chomping at the bit wanting to bring change and destruction with the power that was likely a bit dormant in their own hands. Once, they had been a joint force of true lethality, and he longed to see that happen again. Only this time it would not be as Ozymandias and Order, but as Gideon and Aralenne. ”That's a lovely name,” Gideon remarked, finding that even though it wasn't from the world they had been born into, it was fitting enough for someone like her. ”I think it suits you beautifully.”

He should have known that she wouldn't be fond of flattery, but even though he was a wicked creature, the demon had gotten into a habit of complimenting women that deserved it. Partially, that was how he'd gotten Jyli to become interested in him, and to the point where he could call her his. Gideon smiled a little at the memory, but shoved the emotions down quickly so Aralenne wouldn't catch on to a lighter, less stark side of him. That was the Gideon she was used to, and he needed to stand with his roots firmly where they belonged so he could exist in the proper mindset for war, when it came. ”A jester? Not a chance. You would be too much a terror to incite any lively manner or joyous speech within a kingdom.” To an outsider, those words might have been harsh and insulting, but Gideon knew that she understood him well enough to see the words as they were originally intended: as a compliment.

She proved him right, discussing manners of death and rebirth like they were no grand consequences and not a one of them had anything to fear. The white haired woman was a wonder, and Gideon couldn't help but feel a little bit out of his depth. It had been so long since he'd had to tap into the sheer ferocity that he'd felt when he incited a war between many charges that left so many angels dead. That had been his crime, and even though the years had put a great bit of distance between that event and his current position, he remembered every detail of the carnage fondly. The earth and heavens had been soaked with the blood of humans and angels; of a war that had no cause, but had been prodded by an expert hand to turn a tiny spark into a flame. It had been one of his proudest accomplishments. ”Something to be thankful for, I suppose. We can live forever to see ages of devastation. Hopefully, we won't be parted again for some time, now that we've found one another again.” Sebastian wouldn't be an ally to him, and Gideon knew it. In time, he would tell her about their fallen brother who had turned traitor yet again. The demon knew that Sebastian would be a powerful enemy, though, and if he had Aralenne on his side there was little they couldn't do, and Sebastian would quake in his boots.

”Tell me that you're accepting my offer,” Gideon said hopefully. ”I'll arrange a driver to pick us up immediately, and you can get settled right away.” For her, he'd spare no expense, because few things had actually been important to Gideon in his three thousand years of existence. Once upon a time, she had been very important, and he wouldn't allow her to slip through his fingers again, even if she promised to find him again. And Order always kept her promises. The demon's eyes softened, and he could feel a strange pull that was almost like a magnet. For the longest time, he was convinced that Aralenne cared very little about anything but achieving whatever mission that she sought out to do. This time, he hoped that they might be able to rekindle the bond that had been forged by their births eons ago. The demon felt powerful, truly powerful, for the first time in years, and knew that together, they could bring the world to its knees.

[/justify]

[ARALENNE CORINNE RIDER]

take the hands of what you've known

[/size][/color]

we'll wake the earth and watch it grow

The past had always been a base for Aralenne to act on, and it was the main reason why she wasn't attempting anything on Gideon. It was only logical to do so, given the amount of history that they had together. Had he been someone else, a complete stranger for instance, he would have been already dead without her sparing a single thought. The fallen had always been the kind to act on impulse, following her heart and gut feelings. It was how she had excelled in her role, to be both judge and jury, and executioner. There hadn't been room for second thoughts, and given the state she was in now, a being that constantly lusted for blood and destruction, had Gideon not been the person he was, you could say that Aralenne wouldn't even have bothered with pleasant conversation. Although she doubted that she would have been able to kill him in the first place, it would still be a satisfying fight regardless of the victor. And no, to conclude everything, she had no intention of killing Gideon...unless she had to. She inclined her head at him towards the compliment of her name, she had to admit, she did like it herself.

Aralenne was indeed not fond of flattery, unable to see the humour or even point of using it, seeing it as a form of trickery that was used to manipulate people. It was quite impressive though, and she admired those with a silver tongue, able to dish out compliments and flattery as easily as one would when taking candy from children. It was a skill she lacked, and she was always blunt and stoic, but fortunately, she did know how to manipulate people by her own means. It was such a sin to even consider befuddling people, but ever since she had fallen, Aralenne had disregarded everything that had once made her whole, except her own focus in getting what she wanted. A silver bell of amused laughter then escaped her pink lips at Gideon's next comment about her being a jester. It was true. She would be a horror to any kingdom's citizens, terrorizing its citizens and dethroning their beloved king. Though being an actual jester was out of the question, Aralenne was capable of providing entertainment...in her own morbid, bloody way.

"And may such ages last for eternity." replied the blonde distantly. She thought of all the havoc she could cause with Gideon. They would turn Manuka upside down, wrecking at the city at its very core, and perhaps, eventually overthrow the elders of the dark alliance in the supernaturals. Aralenne did not crave the power that came from taking over the city, rather, she wanted to end everything and as Gideon said, dwell in the rebirth that would come, only to rip it apart again. It was amazing that she was not a bloodthirsty demon yet, though the fallen could already see herself getting there. The Morning Star's call was faint, but she could hear it, and it was only a matter of time before she became a demon herself.

Her green eyes flickered to Gideon, releasing her from her stupor about world domination. "Yes." was her simple reply, speaking nonchalantly as though she was talking about the weather, but she knew full well that her acceptance at his offer would mean that they would never be too far from each other ever again. She had finally found him again, and she wasn't willing to allow him to stray too far from her this time. Though there had indeed been history between the two of them, and it had not just bordered around their angelic duties, she had indeed missed Gideon when he fell, as much as she did not want to admit it to anyone, the least of all herself.

"I just remembered," Aralenne suddenly said, looking up at him with a faint smile. "Was this not the spot we used to run away to, when we were not on duty?"

TAGS gideon WORDS

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[GIDEON ISAAC OSBOURNE]

The demon certainly found it strange how his past that was really a long time past had a tendency to keep catching up to him, as of late. Normally, he wouldn't have been likely to suspect coincidence or even fate, because while he knew there were certainly other forces out in the world to be reckoned with, he had doubts about the more common ones that humans were so quickly to evoke. Humans, with all their senseless 'logic,' it continued to throw Gideon with how they managed to survive the years, what with all the drama and violence they managed to stir up completely on their own; nobody from a 'higher power' had forced their hand on most of the major conflicts that humanity had seen. That was part of why Gideon still, even so many years after falling and descending to a demonic state of being, continued to feel such a passion for his original reasons for starting a conflict that led to the loss of his wings and status in the heavens. Humans were a useless boil on the face of what could be a thriving society, if led by beings with minds such as his own or like Order's. Perhaps, he considered for a moment, that this was why his past was catching up to him. First, Sebastian, his 'brother' that had followed Morningstar and now seemed to be on some path toward redemption, if he hadn't found it already, and now Order who seemed... rather the same as always. That fact was rather comforting to the old demon, and proved that he was not the only truly steadfast sentinel left on the planet. Some days, he definitely had his doubts.

Aralenne took his compliments surprisingly well, even though he knew she wasn't fond of being doted on. It wasn't his nature to dote, anyhow. The words he gave her were just sentiments of an old friend who, the more he allowed himself to think about it, had actually missed her. The years he'd experienced alone had been longer than he liked to admit sometimes, and while he was certainly fond of the fact that he'd been gifted with eternity and more than enough resources to live a life filled with privilege and luxury, he was still alone. It was only recently that he had taken a companion, and one he was actually fond of: Jyli. When he thought of her, Gideon felt a swell of emotion that he was careful to stifle around Order, because she was quick to pick up even the smallest things, especially where he was concerned. So, the clever demon turned his words and thoughts to mayhem and catastrophe, and was pleased that she truly was fond of this alternate topic of discussion. ”We would be so lucky to be able to experience all of eternity's riches, would we not?” Whether angel, fallen, or demon, eternity had been something that they always knew to expect. Every since the day they were 'born,' they had been privileged, and had used their privilege for the proper cause, in Gideon's opinion. That was a sentiment he knew Aralenne shared.

Gideon was unable to contain his delight for a moment when she accepted his offer. However, that did mean that they would be sharing close quarters, and spending more time in one another's company. Where he had been able to always think of Sebastian as a brother, he had never been able to do the same with Aralenne. The feelings that Gideon had harbored for many years had been strictly forbidden, and as such, he had never been able to act upon them. The love there was certainly not brotherly, and that was why he'd always thought of her differently in his mind, and continued to think of her frequently after they had parted. For a moment, he wondered if she remembered, and then she brought up the meadow to his memory, and its former significance to them.

”Ah, your memory fares better than my own. This spot certainly makes our meeting again more poignant, wouldn't you agree?” The memories that surfaced then were of Ozymandias and Order shirking their duties as two of their Father's most successful and steadfast guardians. So many times, he had wanted to act on his feelings then, but knew that said feelings made him closer to humanity than he wanted at that time. Now that living among the humans had influenced him more, he wondered if Aralenne had a stronger urge and greater claim to temptations. But, as a loyal man, he could not act on them for other reasons. ”I have thought about our meetings and you more than a handful of times in the past thousand years. I wonder, can you say the same, or am I alone in my trespasses?” It was a daring question, especially for the place he was in, but felt an overwhelming need to ask, and concern with what her answer might be.

[/justify]

[ARALENNE CORINNE RIDER]

take the hands of what you've known

[/size][/color]

we'll wake the earth and watch it grow

The human part that had managed to develop in Aralenne over the centuries that she had been vanished was truly elated at seeing her old friends again. Along with it came strange, yet old feelings of something that she cannot put her finger on. Though her heart was by all means unbeating, simply an organ to make her human form complete, it was, in its own state, alive. Yet, the cold, calculating, dominant part of her continued to dwell on logic and reason, ignoring whatsoever emotion that wanted to come her way and force her to rethink her actions. Emotions were a waste of time, making her vulnerable and question her actions. Order did not care to be human, for it was rational thinking that kept her alive and surviving until this very moment. Though there was no need to change that sort of thinking, the fallen could indeed feel herself becoming aware of what she was actually doing, a conscience slowly developing. Erasing any sort of human in her immediately, Aralenne's mind shifted, reverting back into its neutrality.

"Why do you think I have existed this long?" laughed the fallen, her voice chiming. There had been never a reason for her to give up her existence, even after she had been thrown from heaven. Being immortal meant that she had a whole life in front of her for eternity, and she was able to watch the world and time go by. As time changed life, Aralenne liked watching how the world drastically changed. From barren lands to cities with skyscrapers, it never ceased to amaze her. It was baffling as to what humans could achieve in over a decade. In heaven, it was all clouds and orders. Nothing changed in heaven but its occupants. The halls of judgement in which she used to reside in had never changed in the years that she had taken residence.

She watched as Gideon expressed his delight in her accepting his offer, and couldn't help but feel a stab of amusement at his actions. It was as though Christmas had suddenly came for him, a child suddenly rewarded with presents. She could not see the logic behind his delight, but Aralenne knew that it of course had something to do with her staying with her taking up residence in his hotel, obviously. Maybe he was just happy that he would be able to see her again, for a long time now perhaps. And she was as well, shown in the faintest of smiles. There was no way she was going to start lopping and jumping around like an idiot, it completely deviated from her cool demeanor.

The fallen smiled. "Honestly speaking, I did not expect to meet you here again." Memories of her coming down from heaven with Ozy flashed through her mind. The two of them had done nothing back then, both of them knowing that they could have had their wings ripped out in a jiffy if they tried anything. The blonde could feel an old hunger burning up in her, but she reined it in like she always had. Though she was no longer bound by the rules of heaven and could do whatever she pleased, there was an aura about her friend that told her that he was off-limits. The revelation puzzled her, for the thought of Gideon and another companion was almost unthinkable. But she supposed, that if you were on this earth long enough, things could happen.

"As much as I wanted to say you were alone in your trespasses, you were not." Her hand rose to lightly brush against his cheek in a rare gesture of affection, and for a moment there, it looked like as though she was about to kiss him. Pulling away before the both of them caved in to their desires, her green eyes averted themselves away from his face to rest on a distant, sleek black car that was parked on the side of the road that would lead them away from the meadow. Saved by a driver...how appropriate.

"I do believe," Aralenne said softly. "our ride is here."

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[GIDEON ISAAC OSBOURNE]

Oh, it was good to be around someone familiar again. For Gideon, it seemed that his roots had become so long forgotten, likely because he wasn't that fond of his origin, but some of the people he'd known and had subsequently left behind had always been interesting to him. They were his brothers and his sisters – the only family he'd ever known. Granted, there was no blood or genetic relation that could link them, just a common creator, and that was his way of rationalizing... feelings that had once surfaced for Order. She was a magnificent creature, even when they both fought for the wrong side of things, and her tenacity and intelligence had always been factors that Gideon had admired. Thus, their event of reintroduction had been pleasant, and made Gideon feel the lingering pull of nostalgia taking hold of him – a dangerous way to tread, possibly, but he considered himself to be a man who held strong willpower, even if his morals were incredibly ambiguous and lived in a gray area where he liked to keep most of his seedier business prospects.

The demon laughed heartily at her comment about existing so long for wealth – it was certainly a draw, but not everything. There had been a time when he had disagreed, but that was before he'd met Jyli, before he'd known the flickering of care for another being. Before he'd truly tasted power and discovered that power did not always equate to the number of zeroes in one's bank account. ”Wealth certainly helps with a luxurious lifestyle, of which I have become very accustomed, but I don't believe it's everything. Do you?” It was a hard fact for him to confess to most people, that money and power weren't everything he held dear, and he didn't wish to discuss some of the facets that he did hold in high esteem. But even though the years had passed both of them by, Gideon still trusted her. She was honorable, which meant a lot in a world that seemed to have skewed morality, and he even questioned his own sometimes. But the demon knew when it came down to it, once he pledged his honor to someone, he stuck by it. He was a man of his word, and she was a woman of hers.

Gideon's offer to give Aralenne a place to stay indefinitely earned him a small smile, which spoke volumes from this taciturn woman. They had both been that way once, of course, more interested in their duties and work than any sort of indication toward emotion. He'd spent more time in the Heavens than he had on Earth and yet where he was concerned, it had influenced him significantly. Gideon now could experience greed, anger, lust, and even though as a demon, he was able to shut these emotions down almost to the point where one could say they didn't even exist, he still felt them. He was a man of his experiences now, and had learned to adapt to the modern world. Gideon was certain that Aralenne, given her penchant for blending in and accomplishing even the most difficult of tasks had managed to do the same, yet around him she resorted to her old mask. The quiet, calm exterior of a woman who could not be fazed, and he admired that quality. Therefore, the small smile had been received as a victory of sorts.

Which was why her next comment made him even more pleased. Neither one of them had intended their paths to cross, but they had, and Gideon considered himself rather fortunate. ”The world is only so large, Aralenne, and our years indefinite. One might say it was only a matter of time,” his lips curled around a small smile as they started to really take a stroll down memory lane. The feelings he'd once felt for her had been something he could now relate to lust, longing, and the need to feel another warm body next to his own. Not love, but in time, something stronger could develop. They'd just never had the time and now he was spoken for, and cared for his little faerie quite deeply, though he'd never admit that to anyone other than her. ”If only we had the foresight to act on our trespasses so long ago...” The demon's voice was a smoky whisper when Aralenne's hand touched his cheek and she moved in, just close enough for their lips to touch. He swallowed hard, trying to keep his composure because while he lusted and wanted, he was again forbidden to tread down this path.

Gideon cleared his throat when his driver arrived with their car and looked into Aralenne's green eyes with a mixture of relief and apology. ”Right on schedule,” Gideon said, then walked over to the car and opened the door for her, letting her in. He gave his instructions to the driver to take them back to the Luxor D'Monaco, and away they went, thoughts of the meadow still fresh in his mind.

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