Post by Carl on Nov 9, 2011 1:13:55 GMT -1
Makael hit the ground with a thud, looking around him at this odd planet he had landed on. A jagged, rocky planet, with a bright blue supergiant star in the sky, bathing the planet in a pale blue/purple hue. The distress signal had originated from this planet. So far out on the edge of the universe, it didn't have a name.
Makael was under orders to find the source of the distress signal, and aid if nessecary. Seemed like it was going to be another typical search and rescue. He took to the air again, scanning the land with caution. The heat from the blue supergiant was intense, any mortal would be almost instantly dust. Though heat like this was uncomfortable even for some of the lesser mortals. The fact the distress signal even originated here was evidence enough that the survivor was an immortal of at least lesser devil status. But Makael knew who he was here for. Hence why he voluntered for the search.
A small impact to his forehead knocked him off balance a moment, causing him to lose control and smash headlong into a mountain range. Any lesser being would have been killed instantly. Even so, it was enough to ensure Makael would have a headache for the rest of the day.
"'bout time you showed up angel boy. I've been waiting here hours! Me... and the wind."
It was Carliana. Great. Out of all the...
"I was testing a new book and I think I said the wrong word... I ended up here, and I think that star is talking about me behind my back."
Makael nearly facepalmed on the spot. But the bruise on his head was damage enough. "Carliana... didnt Melaus tell you to stop experimenting without his supervision?" He had decided not to complain about being hit by the pebble. Because if he did, Carliana would likely launch into a 4 hour monologue about how pebbles are evil and should be destroyed.
"I'm a fully grown adult! ...Well actually i'm the age of a thousand fully grown adults... But that makes me smarter! And you're... you're just a fish lover."
"Fish lover?!" Makael was already confused.
"You hear them talking... they want to conquer the galaxy. Even Isaan will be unable to stop them... unless you take the ring! Destroy the ring and they will all be destroyed! Or was it a doughnut..."
Makael had seen this in her before. When particularly scared, she would retreat into this mad shell, hiding her fear behind a tirade of random chatter. "Carliana... what is bothering you? Is it me? Do you want me to fetch someone else?"
Carliana suddenly seemed agitated. "What, you're going to hold me down and tickle me! I know how men work! My husband won't allow it!" Her voice sounded different, with a hint of sadness, perhaps a little anger.
Makael sat down near her, the scorching rock not even singing his clothing, ah, the benefits of higher immortality. "Come, sit near me. I want to talk a while."
"Um... ok..." She did sit down, but a few meters away from Makael, folding the skirt of her robe over her feet, as if to hide any skin.
Makael was as blunt as a sledgehammer in winter. "You're running from your fear again, aren't you."
Carliana didn't say anything, just looking at her robe.
"You have nightmares every few hundred years, and you try to run to the edges of the universe to escape them. You sit on the edge of the universe, stare into that great blue star, and pretend that nothing is real."
"...How do you know that? I've never told anyone... especially not the muffins... evil muffins... plotting our downfall."
Makael looked into the vast purple sky. "I've been following you when you run. Been doing it for a long time. Because I wanted to make sure you are safe. But there is one thing I don't understand... you don't want to be found here, yet you turn on the distress beacon. Why?"
Carliana frowned, looking at Makael now. "You don't understand... I want to be found. I wanted someone to follow me, come here, and tell me 'Its going to be alright.' and make me feel safe again."
Makael looked back down now, at the floor, a sudden dour look in his eye. "I see... perhaps I was not the best person to come here... you still hate me, don't you. I've heard you say you forgive me, so many times... but you never truly did. Didn't you."
Carliana was unmoved. "No. I didn't."
Makael rose to his feet, turning away from her. "I understand. No number of lifetimes could excuse the pain and suffering you endured at my hand. No justification will make me feel better about what I did. If I could go back and do it all again... I think I would let the universe die, rather than make you suffer."
Makael began to walk slowly away. "I'll let Melaus know you are he-" He felt a hand on his shoulder, turning him around.
"You... you would really sacrifice everything for me?"
"Gladly."
Carliana suddenly hugged Makael tightly, tears pouring down her cheeks. "I forgive you... I forgive you... I don't hate you..."
Makael brought her hand to rest upon his chest, embracing her softly with a compassionate smile.
"Its going to be okay Carliana, its going to be okay..."
Makael was under orders to find the source of the distress signal, and aid if nessecary. Seemed like it was going to be another typical search and rescue. He took to the air again, scanning the land with caution. The heat from the blue supergiant was intense, any mortal would be almost instantly dust. Though heat like this was uncomfortable even for some of the lesser mortals. The fact the distress signal even originated here was evidence enough that the survivor was an immortal of at least lesser devil status. But Makael knew who he was here for. Hence why he voluntered for the search.
A small impact to his forehead knocked him off balance a moment, causing him to lose control and smash headlong into a mountain range. Any lesser being would have been killed instantly. Even so, it was enough to ensure Makael would have a headache for the rest of the day.
"'bout time you showed up angel boy. I've been waiting here hours! Me... and the wind."
It was Carliana. Great. Out of all the...
"I was testing a new book and I think I said the wrong word... I ended up here, and I think that star is talking about me behind my back."
Makael nearly facepalmed on the spot. But the bruise on his head was damage enough. "Carliana... didnt Melaus tell you to stop experimenting without his supervision?" He had decided not to complain about being hit by the pebble. Because if he did, Carliana would likely launch into a 4 hour monologue about how pebbles are evil and should be destroyed.
"I'm a fully grown adult! ...Well actually i'm the age of a thousand fully grown adults... But that makes me smarter! And you're... you're just a fish lover."
"Fish lover?!" Makael was already confused.
"You hear them talking... they want to conquer the galaxy. Even Isaan will be unable to stop them... unless you take the ring! Destroy the ring and they will all be destroyed! Or was it a doughnut..."
Makael had seen this in her before. When particularly scared, she would retreat into this mad shell, hiding her fear behind a tirade of random chatter. "Carliana... what is bothering you? Is it me? Do you want me to fetch someone else?"
Carliana suddenly seemed agitated. "What, you're going to hold me down and tickle me! I know how men work! My husband won't allow it!" Her voice sounded different, with a hint of sadness, perhaps a little anger.
Makael sat down near her, the scorching rock not even singing his clothing, ah, the benefits of higher immortality. "Come, sit near me. I want to talk a while."
"Um... ok..." She did sit down, but a few meters away from Makael, folding the skirt of her robe over her feet, as if to hide any skin.
Makael was as blunt as a sledgehammer in winter. "You're running from your fear again, aren't you."
Carliana didn't say anything, just looking at her robe.
"You have nightmares every few hundred years, and you try to run to the edges of the universe to escape them. You sit on the edge of the universe, stare into that great blue star, and pretend that nothing is real."
"...How do you know that? I've never told anyone... especially not the muffins... evil muffins... plotting our downfall."
Makael looked into the vast purple sky. "I've been following you when you run. Been doing it for a long time. Because I wanted to make sure you are safe. But there is one thing I don't understand... you don't want to be found here, yet you turn on the distress beacon. Why?"
Carliana frowned, looking at Makael now. "You don't understand... I want to be found. I wanted someone to follow me, come here, and tell me 'Its going to be alright.' and make me feel safe again."
Makael looked back down now, at the floor, a sudden dour look in his eye. "I see... perhaps I was not the best person to come here... you still hate me, don't you. I've heard you say you forgive me, so many times... but you never truly did. Didn't you."
Carliana was unmoved. "No. I didn't."
Makael rose to his feet, turning away from her. "I understand. No number of lifetimes could excuse the pain and suffering you endured at my hand. No justification will make me feel better about what I did. If I could go back and do it all again... I think I would let the universe die, rather than make you suffer."
Makael began to walk slowly away. "I'll let Melaus know you are he-" He felt a hand on his shoulder, turning him around.
"You... you would really sacrifice everything for me?"
"Gladly."
Carliana suddenly hugged Makael tightly, tears pouring down her cheeks. "I forgive you... I forgive you... I don't hate you..."
Makael brought her hand to rest upon his chest, embracing her softly with a compassionate smile.
"Its going to be okay Carliana, its going to be okay..."