canon: Book of Joby

[impudentsongbird]

Forgive me, but are you certain there's enough room in here for two of ... well, me?

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[impudentsongbird]

Different worlds, and The Lord is Master of them all. If everyone who sinned were damned without question, they would be empty worlds.

[But there's the faintest bit of something like hesitance, or grief, in his tone, because, well ... he is probably damned by now.]

[disbenefits]

[ She notes his hesitation and stores the information away, but for once doesn't mention it. She's not sure why. ]

I suppose you'd know better than I would.

[impudentsongbird]

I think I would, yes.

[The way he says it doesn't sound condescending in the least; in fact, if anything, he sounds sympathetic, even understanding. And gives her another one of those smiles.]

It's not beyond my purpose to hear confessions, if you feel the need to unburden yourself.

[disbenefits]

[ Her eyes narrow. ]

I'll unburden myself in my own way.

[impudentsongbird]

[He's not going to push, but his smile does turn a little wry.]

Yes, I imagine you will. Humanity is good at that.

[disbenefits]

Fond, are you?

[impudentsongbird]

[This time the expression that dawns over his face is nothing less than pure joy.]

Yes. You're so--fun. The things you come up with, the graciousness and kindness and love of which you're capable even in the darkest of moments. Your imagination. Your art. I can never predict what you might do next; it's incredible to watch.

[disbenefits]

[ For a brief moment her mask falls and she looks - touched. Then up it goes again, and she frowns. ]

You overestimate us.

[impudentsongbird]

No. I don't.

[He says it with such certainty that it's impossible to object.]

I've been watching you for a long time. And I haven't gotten tired of it yet.

[disbenefits]

[ She just stares at him, unsure how to respond. This is so far out of her depth. ]

[impudentsongbird]

[After a moment he holds out his hand, all sincere and welcoming.]

I can show you, if you'd like.

[disbenefits]

[ She looks at his hand. ]

[ And she'd like to say it's pure shock that makes her take it, or curiosity, or something like that. Something simple. But the fact is, she's tired of living in the underbelly of a rotting city, trying to make up for genetics and inheritance. She's tired of penitence. She'd like a little hope. ]

[ She takes his hand delicately, like a queen, and looks at him expectantly. ]

[impudentsongbird]

[Once again, that brilliant smile, as if there had been nothing more Gabriel wanted in the universe than for Mal to accept, and now she had, he had all he wanted. One moment, they're there; the next, they're on a beach.

[The sands are smooth, golden and free of seaweed, the breeze brisk but not overly so, the surf white with foam and glittering in the sunlight. The clear sky looks endless. They're not there alone; the beach isn't packed, as with holiday destinations, but there are still a number of people present. Families whose children are playing happily in the sand. Couples relaxing, swimming, walking hand-in-hand.

[Gabriel is barefoot, in a T-shirt and shorts, and he steps into the surf, taking a deep breath and then letting out a delighted laugh. Then the Archangel turns toward Mal, his expression warm, and tugs her gently.]

Walk with me. There's so many people to see.

[disbenefits]

[ She's awestruck instantly. She's never seen the ocean - not in her life and not in her hallucination. Life had been all mansions and haughty long halls, followed by a landlocked city and its darkest streets. She'd dreamt blood and castles and war and violence, but never once had she glimpsed such a vast expanse of water. ]

[ Her hand briefly tightens on Gabriel's before she pulls up her haughty mask once again. ]

All right. But you'll have to tell me where we are, exactly.

[impudentsongbird]

Not far outside of Perth, in Western Australia.

[He turns to follow her gaze and has to stop and just marvel, his awe written all over his face and in the softness of his voice.]

It's beautiful, isn't it?

[disbenefits]

It's all right.

[ She's smiling, though. Even though she doesn't know what or where Australia is, it doesn't matter. It's perfect. ]

[ She tilts her head slightly, suddenly impatient. ] Are we going, then?

[impudentsongbird]

[Gabe grins back, unfazed by her impatience, and tugs her down the beach, his feet kicking up sand and water.]

Look.

[He points at a group of children playing in the sand. There's a definite landscape around the area, with moats and bridges and castles hip-high. As they watch, a girl of maybe eight leaps up and shouts.]

I am the dragon and I've come for my prize!

[She curls her fingers and roars, racing around the sandcastle. A boy so alike to her in appearance he could only be her brother cowered behind one of the castles, pointing at her with a shaking hand.]

It's the dragon! She'll burn down the whole castle if we don't give her what she wants!

Never fear!

[A third child, another girl the same age as the first, leaps to her feet and strikes a pose, her sword in hand and a crown of seaweed jade on her brow.]

A knight is here! En garde, dragon!

[The dragon eyes her, snarling and claws digging the 'earth'.]

Challenge me, will you? It's your life!

[Thus a duel begins between dragon and knight, with the townsman shouting encouragement and, occasionally, tossing buckets of water to douse the dragon's flames. It's a play of such wild, joyful abandon that Gabriel watches them with a broad, slightly melancholic grin.]

[disbenefits]

[ She watches them silently, her smile slipping away. She wonders if it's as fun as it looks; she'd only ever played solo, her brothers not being much for play. And when she glances sideways at Gabriel, she frowns at the complicated expression on his face. ]

Do you know them?

[impudentsongbird]

[Gabe looks a bit startled at her observation, but then offers her a sweet, sad smile.]

No. But they remind me of someone who was once like them. Someone who doesn't deserve what his life has become.

[disbenefits]

[ She looks away from him again, back to the children, her expression unreadable. ]

Children generally don't deserve what they get.

[impudentsongbird]

No.

[His gaze returns to the three children. Apparently the dragon knew how to use a sword.]

But Joby's fate was ... is ... particularly cruel.

[disbenefits]

[ She lets go of his hand, almost violently, and folds her arms, clutching her elbows. She will not look at him anymore, she decides. ]

Then help him. What the hell is fate?

[impudentsongbird]

[The loss of her hand makes him feel oddly cold, but he lets his arm drop and answers quietly, his voice pained.]

I did. I disobeyed my Master's order to do so. It nearly made him lose all of Creation.

[disbenefits]

[ Oh. Damn. She should've kept her mouth shut. ]

But . . . his fate was unchanged?

[impudentsongbird]

[For a moment Gabe is silent, staring past the children as if seeing something beyond them, or the beach, or the ocean. Then, finally, he turns and looks at Mal.]

I don't know. My brother won't let him go so easily. But maybe ...

[He smiles, a slow, uncertain but hopeful smile.]

Maybe what I did will give him some time for peace and to heal before the next battle.