jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella is generally referred to as: promising.

Angels in general are a breed apart. Of course they've all got lovely voices, they've all got classical music training and know the masses and prayers, they're all blessed winged creatures -

But that doesn't mean they're all smart, or all good, even (Isabella was taken to see Windy Point, once, or what's left of it, and of course she sees the scars on Galo Mountain every year at the Gloria; there stood angels who were not good). And Isabella is smart and good.

Isabella is always the first to volunteer for an intercession. She likes them. She'll call down weather, plead for seeds, pray a shower of medicine to fall from the sky, and she will get what she asks for, and she loves nothing more than to dive from hours aloft in prayer and clasp the hands of the people she helped and go home to the Eyrie to take on her next assignment. When there are none - when there is the right amount of rain and sun in the province, when there is no plague and no famine - she studies. She studies a bit of everything, but she fancies herself particularly a historian, investigating the accounts of Archangels' reigns past. From books, mostly, although once she wrangled herself a year in Cedar Hills to assist the Archangel Linus, and when she is in the Eyrie she closely follows the leader of the host there, the former term-lapsed Archangel Delilah.

She tried to get in with the other living former Archangel, too, Alleluia the oracle who served as Delilah's interim while the latter's wing recovered from an injury, but after a few hours' conversation Alleluia said that she could not accept Isabella as even a temporary acolyte and sent her to Peninnah instead. Isabella learned a lot from Peninnah, but she's confused about why Alleluia turned her down personally only to send her to another oracle, after such a prolonged interview. Particularly since Sinai is in her own province; what was the point in sending her all the way to Gaza?

But the instruction came from an oracle, and oracles' words more often than not come from Jovah. She went to Gaza, learned from Peninnah, and went home.

Now she is back at the Eyrie, and the first thing she wants to do is let Delilah know that she's back. Her wings aren't so tired that she can't immediately fly to the Corinnis or the outskirts of Semorrah or anywhere and accomplish something. Failing that, she'd love to sign up for harmonies again now that she's home and wants to know what she ought to schedule around.

Delilah is with her husband Noah, and a visitor. He doesn't seem like a petitioner, and he doesn't look like an Edori, although the fact that he and Noah are talking in Edori suggests that he might be an adopted one. (There are hardly any Edori of either sort left; most of them live in Ysral, now.) Isabella waits patiently outside the door for the host leader's attention.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
The stranger is about Isabella's age, with curly brown hair down to his shoulders. He pushes it back from his face as he talks, between grand, expansive gestures. He is, as it happens, telling Noah a funny story about a man who mistook a goat's horns for a tree branch and hung his hat from them for a moment, to the surprise and dismay of all involved. His comic timing is exquisite, as is his imitation of a startled goat.
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella doesn't know more than fifteen words of Edori, so she can't follow this conversation at all, or she'd feel intrusive standing here. (She doesn't have any particular talent for languages or she'd have stayed with Peninnah for longer.)

Delilah knows more Edori than that, Isabella knows, but she's not really participating in the exchange either. She sees Isabella's wingtip. "Come in, whoever you are," she calls, "all I'm getting here is that goats are involved and it's making me hungry and there's hours before dinner."

Isabella steps into the room. "Hello, Delilah, I just wanted to let you know that I'm back from Gaza and I'm wondering if there's anything you'd like me to do."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
The Edori goat-imitator bites his lip and clutches his arm and spins to face her. His Jovah's Kiss is glowing like a hot coal.

He looks enthralled.
jovahs_heiress: (unsure)
Author: jovahs_heiress
If Delilah was going to say something, she's thrown off balance by this display. "Erm," says the former Archangel. "Isabella, this is Micaiah, who stopped by to talk to Noah about goats and possibly other topics that have gone by too fast for me to notice. Micaiah, this is Isabella." Delilah is not the type who will redundantly explain that Isabella is one of her angels when there are great gray-flecked wings arching from Isabella's back.

"...Hello," says Isabella. "It's nice to meet you. And it's good to see you again, too, Noah," she adds politely to the former angelico.

"Isabella," says Delilah. "Look at your arm."

Isabella looks.

There are such colors. She doesn't feel any pain, but there are such colors.

"Oh my," she murmurs.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"It's nice to meet you too," Micaiah says softly. He sounds out of breath, and he looks like he is experiencing either intense pain or divine revelation. Perhaps both.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Are - are you all right?" asks Isabella, taking a step back. "That looks like it hurts."

Delilah gets to her feet, wings swishing along the floor as they follow her up. "Isabella, your time is your own for at least the next week, but I for one want to wake up to your rendition of the Sunrise Chorus with a decent tenor of your choice at least once in that time, and I wouldn't dream of prohibiting you from answering any petitions you happen to hear. Noah, shall we go see about those Manadavvi I've left poor Mark entertaining for the past hour?"

And with that Delilah and Noah are gone.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Sure it hurts." He tosses his hair back and grins. "I don't see that as a problem, do you?"
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I don't want to hurt you," she exclaims. "Mine doesn't hurt at all..."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Ah, then it doesn't hurt," he says, straightening up and letting go of the afflicted arm and waving it at her theatrically. "It's Yovah's Kiss and it's giving me kisses. Mwah."
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...It stopped?" she asks uncertainly. Her own is still a dancing aurora of opal-color.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"No," he says promptly. "I lied to spare your feelings. The truth is, it feels like being stabbed with a hot poker, but I like it and it isn't doing me any harm, so where's the trouble?"
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...You like feeling like you're being stabbed with a hot poker," she says skeptically.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Sure," he agrees, with a wide, guileless smile. "I don't like actually being stabbed with a hot poker, so much. Very messy. Turns you off hot dinners for a while. But this, this is fine." He hugs his arm to him with clear affection.
jovahs_heiress: (considering)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Stranger things have happened, she supposes.

"If the stories are true," she says slowly, "then... you'll either want to make sure you're listening or make sure you're off the mountain when I perform the Sunrise Chorus."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Make sure I'm listening," he says. "Definitely."
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Okay. Are you staying here? Do you know where the harmonics signup sheet is, so you can look at it?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I wasn't going to be staying here, but now I am," Micaiah says brightly. "I don't know where the harmonics signup sheet is. Where's the harmonics signup sheet?"
jovahs_heiress: (portrait)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"It's just outside Elisha's room, as he's in charge of making sure it's full. I'm going to ask him if he'll sing it with me or if he knows any other tenors who want to do a morning piece, I may as well show you."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Okay!"

He actually bounces in place, hands clasped in front of him.
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella smiles at him. "You're a friend of Noah's? Or just passing through and afraid you'll forget the language if you don't move to Ysral?" she asks conversationally, heading out into the hallway to find Elisha's quarters.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"The second one, more like," he says as he tags along. Given the wings, it makes more sense for him to walk at her side and a little ahead than to actually follow. He manages to match her course nevertheless.
jovahs_heiress: (away)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Your tribe didn't go? You came back without them?" she guesses.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
All asmile: "First one!"
jovahs_heiress: (considering)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"But then you'd have them to speak the language to. Are they all here visiting Noah so he doesn't forget that - that he's supposed to say mikala whenever he forgets Serah's name, or something?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Well, that's why I said more like," he explains with a quirk of a smile.
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"You could've explained," she laughs.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Okay," he says. "The Manderras stayed, but we don't all stick together. I wandered up this way, I found Noah, I liked Noah, I talked to Noah. I like you better, so now I'm talking to you."
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"You've only just met me," she points out. "Manderras... that sounds familiar - Oh, I remember now, the angelica Rachel was an adopted Manderra, too. I thought most of them were gone. Did they re-form after the Archangel Gabriel freed everyone?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Something like that," he agrees vaguely. "I'm not a historian. We have the most adoption out of all the tribes, though. I'm adopted," he adds, with an impish grin that suggests he knows she can tell.
jovahs_heiress: (considering)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"How'd that happen? I'm not an expert on the language but your accent didn't sound substantially different from Noah's to me. You must've been young." She reaches the signup sheet, finds an open sunrise hour slot in two days' time, and knocks on Elisha's door.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Oh, that's a nasty story," he says, still cheerful. "Lots of me getting hurt. Not in ways I like. Wanna hear it anyway?"
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...Maybe not?" she says.

Elisha opens his door. He's an angel, too, blond and with tawny wings to Isabella's white-flecked-grey, and on seeing her he instantly gives her a hug. "You're home! For good this time?"

"Until something else comes up," laughs Isabella. "I wouldn't turn down another stint with the Archangel, but right now I have no plans to set up anywhere but here. Will you duet the Sunrise Chorus with me in two days? Delilah asked for it specially."

"Always," says Elisha, producing a fountain pen and scratching their names and the song onto the sheet. "It's good to have you back. Do you want to practice this before then?"

"Couldn't hurt," she says, and then she notices that there is someone it could hurt, and belatedly says, "Oh, Elisha, this is Micaiah. Micaiah, Elisha."

"Hello," says Elisha genially.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Hello, Elisha!" says Micaiah with equal friendliness. "Your wings are pretty."
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Elisha's wings flutter slightly and he seems bemused at the compliment, but he replies, "Thank you."

"Do you want to practice now, or are you busy?" Isabella asks.

"Now works. Serah's down in Velora with Zipporah, won't be back for hours. Micaiah, are you coming?" Elisha asks.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Yeeeeeee-es," he beams; the word tumbles down at least half an octave over the course of that elongated vowel and then skips back up at the end.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Elisha is looking very quizzically at Micaiah now, but he says, "All right, let's go."

The three travel to the practice rooms, and find an unoccupied one. "You have this memorized still, right? You don't want to listen to the disc through once?" Elisha teases Isabella.

"I have it memorized backwards, forwards, and, impossibly enough, sideways," laughs Isabella. "On my mark. One - two - and -"

They begin at the same moment, a perfect fourth apart, and then she skips up and he skips down. There's a reason Elisha was her first choice: her soprano and his tenor are well-matched in timbre and there's a supportive, uplifting cast to his notes that keeps her more firmly on pitch. He doesn't overpower her, either, - which is good, because while her occasionally timid volume is probably her voice's worst feature, she's worth leaning in close to hear.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah leans close.

He doesn't—quite—lean too close. But he shuts his eyes and tilts his head and engages an absolute focus on the sound of their voices, and his Kiss glows like it's on fire.
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Elisha keeps sneaking looks at the pair's arms, although he's too professional to miss a note due to distraction.

The chorus lasts just shy of one hour. They sing it straight through.

"Isabella," says Elisha pointedly, when the song ends and he's caught his breath, "you didn't tell me that Jovah already named you Archangel and picked you an angelico."

"Elisha!" exclaims Isabella. "No such thing happened!"

"Well, your Kisses are both glowing like little suns," Elisha says defensively. "I've never seen anything like it."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I heard it means you've found your true love," Micaiah says, opening his eyes and smiling. "Am I supposed to make you lots of little angel babies? I wouldn't mind, especially if you sang first."

His Kiss is dimming a little now, though; apparently it thinks he's got the point.
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I - but - the -" Isabella splutters.

"It is supposed to mean that," says Elisha, eyes dancing with amusement. "Isabella never even takes a handsome angel-seeker with her. Doesn't want to be attached until she knows who's succeeding Linus because Jovah wants to pick angelicos for Archangels. I guess Jovah got impatient."

"Elisha!" exclaims Isabella, blushing hard.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Awwww, you're blushing," says Micaiah. "It's really cute. I think I do love you a little."
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I - I - but - sweet Jovah singing," breathes Isabella. "I - think I need to go back to Peninnah. Or Alleluia, maybe she'll talk to me if I only want to ask her one thing."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Where's those?" chirps Micaiah. "Can I come?"
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Alleluia's at Sinai, Peninnah's all the way in Gaza - and - well, I suppose I can bring you, if you want," says Isabella, peering dubiously at Micaiah.

Elisha taps his finger to Isabella's nose. "I know what you're going to ask," he says.

"You have known me my entire life. I know you know what I'm going to ask," Isabella says.

"Micaiah doesn't!" Elisha turns to Micaiah and explains for his benefit, "She's not going to even think about angel babies with you until she at least knows if you would be angelico if she were Archangel. She's an ambitious one. In a good way," Elisha amends hastily at Isabella's halfhearted glare. "In the being-sincerely-smart-and-good-so-Jovah-will-love-her-best way."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Good for her," Micaiah says blithely. "Okay."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"It's not about who Jovah loves best," Isabella mumbles. "All right. You want to come with me to Sinai?" she asks Micaiah helplessly.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He grins. "Sure!"
jovahs_heiress: (considering)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Okay. Elisha, please tell Serah I'll be back tonight - tomorrow evening at the latest, and that's if I see a plague flag and have to go to Gaza," Isabella says. "And tell everyone else too, everyone who'd want to know. I'll see you to sing the chorus."

"Have fun," says Elisha in insinuating tones, and Isabella sighs at him and leads Micaiah away from the practice room.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah giggles.

"I like him, he's funny."
jovahs_heiress: (portrait)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"My best friend's brother," Isabella explains. "I like him too, when he's not being deliberately annoying. Do you want to leave right away? Are you hungry or anything?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Well, how long a trip? I ate, but I could eat again if we'll be hours."
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Three hours to Sinai. Maybe a little slower if I'm carrying you," she says. "I could use a snack myself, honestly. The kitchens are this way."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Bouncing, he follows.

"I've never flown with an angel before. Do you carry people a lot? Ever dropped anybody?"
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I carry people now and then - Serah most often, she's mortal. I have never dropped anyone. I didn't even drop that one fellow who was delirious with fever and was trying to make me - angels are very strong." She picks up a large snack tray from the kitchens and leads Micaiah away to where Eyrie residents take their meals. She finds them a table with one angel chair and one mortal chair, sets down the tray, and picks up a little cucumber cup filled with beans and spices.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"How strong?" he asks with interest. "You must be, to carry people around, I guess."

He eats quickly but not messily, except that he has seemingly no problem talking with food in his mouth.
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"If I had a way to hold you and - two, maybe three other people your size, without any of you slipping out of my grip just from sheer bulkiness - I could still carry you through the air, although I'd be much slower and clumsier," says Isabella. She tries one of everything on the platter and then monopolizes the ham and the rosemary crackers. "If I didn't have to fly, maybe twice that."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Amazing," he says. When he sees her going for the ham and rosemary crackers, he leaves those alone and attacks the rest of the platter.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
She smiles. "It's ordinary for angels. Elisha's stronger than I am, at least in flight carrying capacity - wingspan helps and mine's nothing special."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Your wings are pretty too," Micaiah offers.
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Thanks," says Isabella, fluffing them a little. "I always liked the speckles. The fashion's always been utterly white, spotless wings, but I'm fond of mine."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"The speckles are nice," he opines. "And I bet they're cuddly." With another of his broad grins, "The wings. Not the speckles specifically."
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Uh. Have you... been around angels much, before?" Isabella asks, a crease forming between her eyebrows.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
All innocence: "No. Edori, remember? Why?"
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Well, Edori go everywhere, I'm told, you might have run into some," she shrugs; it makes her feathers flutter. "You don't go around touching people's wings, at least by default. It's... approximately the equivalent of grabbing someone's rear, only less potentially playful, does that make sense?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Perfectly," he assures her, still smiling but more serious than she has seen him yet. "I won't, then. But I still bet they're cuddly. And warm, angels are warm, right?"
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Very warm," she agrees, taking another one of the cucumber cups. "That you'll notice as soon as I pick you up. And a good thing too, or you would be very uncomfortable at cruising altitude." She's wearing unremarkable flying leathers, a wing-cut vest and pants and boots, and her bracelets with the curlicue gem pattern of her mother's family, and that's all.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah just smiles, a little dreamily. And scoops up another snacklet.
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I'm glad you don't seem alarmed by the whole... Kiss thing," Isabella says. "I know a lot of people might be. A lot of people might be even if I'd been named Archangel instead of just harboring ambitions. They say Rachel and Gabriel had that problem."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"It's not alarming," he says. "Well, maybe it's a little alarming. But it's too much fun to be very alarming."
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Can you sing?" she asks, a little suddenly.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Edooooori," he laughs. "I'm all right. Why?"
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Well, there is a not inconsiderable chance that I'll go ask Alleluia my question, and she'll say yes, and then in eight or ten years someone will ask an oracle who the next Archangel to be and he'll tell them, "Isabella, daughter of the angel Rinnah and the mortal man Charles," says Isabella. "And if all that happens then you'd be obliged to lead the Gloria for twenty years."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Sounds fun," shrugs Micaiah.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
What a blasé reply. "All right. I'm glad that doesn't bother you," she says. "I read a lot of history, and while Jovah's choices usually work out in the end, there are sometimes... inital trials."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"You seem pretty set on this Archangel thing," he observes. "Why's that?"
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I'm not as set as Elisha makes me out to be," demurs Isabella. "But I think I'd be a good Archangel, and I think the job wouldn't make me tear my hair out like it would if someone handed Elisha - for example - all that responsibility, and while I think Linus is doing a perfectly competent job, I do have some ideas."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Good luck," says Micaiah.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Thanks!"

Their snack platter has been demolished. Isabella picks up the dish and returns it, thanking the employee who takes it from her, and rejoins Micaiah. "Shall we? I can take off from out there." She gestures to where the harmonics are being sung - currently a trio of women, two mortals and one angel, all older.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Sure!" he says, and follows where indicated.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
She scoops him right up and strides forward, beating her wings. Before they're halfway across the plateau, they're in the air, and she makes a great circle to direct them towards Sinai.

"Let me know if I go too high and you're cold or have trouble breathing," she says above the wind as she gets up to speed.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox




Micaiah just laughs.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"You like flying?" she chuckles.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"It's my second favourite thiiiiiiiiiiing," he says beamily.
jovahs_heiress: (considering)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"After what?" Isabella asks curiously.

(She has the data to guess, but not the perversity.)
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"After Yovah's gorgeous kisses. I've got lots of new favourite things today."
jovahs_heiress: (unsure)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Is it still hurting you?" she asks, uncertain of whether that would be desirable or not.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"A little," he sighs. "I like it, I promise I like it."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Okay. I wonder if that's why yours hurts and mine doesn't. I wouldn't like it," Bella muses. "But I think it's fairly typical for them to hurt, and I don't think everyone likes it... perhaps it's also got to do with how hard Jovah has to work to get the person's attention," she concludes.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Wouldn't be the first time," laughs Micaiah.
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"What do you mean?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"That somebody thought a hot poker to the arm was the best way to get my attention?" he says, still laughing.
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...Do... you want... to talk about that?" asks Isabella uncertainly.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He shrugs easily in her arms. "Do you?"
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Well, I don't know, but I try to be a good listener, and that doesn't mean only hearing things that would happen to amuse me."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Mm," he says, shrugging again.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Okay."

She flies on. "What's being an Edori like?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Fun!" he says enthusiastically. "You go where you want and do what you want, unless you starve, but that's what the tribe's for."
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella notes the impulse she has to say, "For eating?" and puts it aside. "That sounds very freeing," she replies instead.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Exactly," Micaiah says happily.
jovahs_heiress: (firm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I like the holds. I don't think I would have been half so happy anywhere else. I don't exactly go wherever I want - I go where I'm needed, where I can be useful - but wherever I go I'm accomplishing something. Even if it's a political goal, attending someone's party, instead of fixing a drought, although I much prefer the latter."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"If I had to pick between going to a party and fixing a drought... well, it'd depend on the party," Micaiah muses.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Some of them are, I'm sure, fine parties," says Isabella diplomatically. "Although things outside the holds aren't usually designed to accommodate angels - they keep the rooms so warm, and there's dancing, and none of the chairs work with our wings. Things aren't designed for angels in the places that have problems with drought, either, but we're not obliged to stay long after singing the prayers."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Do angels not dance?" he asks curiously.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"We can," she says slowly, "but our wings get in the way - people bump into them or step on them, and we don't really have quite the same gait as mortals either, because of the weight of them. So dancing is awkward and most of us don't like it. I'm particularly inept at it and usually manage to beg off if someone wants me to try."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I'd dance with you if you wanted," he says.
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I hate dancing even more than most angels," laughs Isabella. "But that's kind of you."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Well, then I won't dance with you," Micaiah says cheerfully.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Grand, we're agreed," laughs Isabella. "Why, do you particularly enjoy dancing?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"It's fun!" he says.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"You seem to be a very cheerful person," she observes.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Got me there," he agrees. "I do what's fun and avoid what's not, and I make people laugh, especially me."
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"That sounds like a reasonable philosophy."

(Not a particularly responsible philosophy. But when - if, if - she's Archangel she is willing to do most of the work herself. The only thing the angelica or angelico strictly has to do is lead the Gloria.)
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Most people don't think so," he says, unruffled by this knowledge.
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"No? Do they say why?" she asks.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"We-ell," mischievously, "some of 'em say it after I pick their pockets."
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Er," says Isabella. "I think you had better stop doing that. If you're hurting for money I can buy you some things."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
This sends him into fits of giggles.
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Was something about that funny?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Yes," he says, laughing.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"What? Help me out," she laughs back.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I don't knoooow," he giggles. "You're just so - serious about it."
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Well, pickpocketing is illegal," she says reasonably. "I don't think I can find everyone who's got reason to do it anyway and make those reasons go away, but I'm already talking to you, so..." She can't really shrug in the air; it'd throw off her wingbeats.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"It's not just for money, it's for fun," he explains.
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Do you give the stuff back afterwards, then? Or are you calling from volunteers from an audience?" she asks dubiously.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Sometimes," shrugs Micaiah. He doesn't seem concerned about the difference.
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella looks unhappy about this.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Well, there's two kinds of people," he explains. "One you take their stuff and they want it back, one you take their stuff and they wanna hurt you. I give back to the first kind."
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
That makes a twisted sort of sense, but Isabella can't claim to be happy with it, and it still shows on her face. She can't come up with a sufficiently diplomatic reply, given that it seems reasonably likely she will eventually be divinely commanded to marry this person.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah laughs softly. "What?"
jovahs_heiress: (unsure)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I - that isn't a fair test," she says. "Serah carries her money in a little bag that her mother gave her before she died. If someone took the bag from her I'm sure she'd fly into a rage. That wouldn't mean it's okay to take the bag, or to judge her based on what she does when it's taken and punish her by keeping it."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"It's not about who deserves it!" he says. "It's about whether I can give their things back without getting my head bashed in!"
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"You could always drop them and run away," she says.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He shrugs again.
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella sighs. Jovah has a reason for everything. She flies on, quietly.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Did I make you sad?"
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"A little."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I'm sorry," he says earnestly.
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I'm sure you didn't mean to."

(She is in fact fairly confident of that.)
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I still did, though," he says. "So I'm sorry."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I'm fine, really."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He smiles. "Okay!"
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Flap, flap, soar. Flap, flap, updraft, soar.

Isabella loves to fly. It never fails to calm her. Presently she's not thinking about the fact that the person Jovah may have chosen for her is a pickpocket.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
And presently Micaiah is laughing again.

Whatever his other qualities, he is definitely a very happy person.
jovahs_heiress: (considering)
Author: jovahs_heiress
After the promised three-hours-and-change flight, Isabella touches down on the landing outside the oracle's mountain. She sets Micaiah on his feet, and greets the acolyte who stands at the door - some Manadavvi's child, there for a year before entering the priesthood - with a, "Hello. I am Isabella, and Alleluia might remember me - I have a question for her, but I can wait until she's ready to receive me, I know I'm not expected."

"Just a moment, angela," says the acolyte, dipping his head and running inside.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah peers around with open, cheerful curiosity.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
The acolyte is back presently. "The oracle will be with you in less than an hour," he says. "Will angela and her guest prefer to wait here, or at the foot of the mountain?"

"Micaiah, do you have a preference?" Isabella asks. "The foot of the mountain has Alleluia's husband's workshop; he and one of their children are there most of the time. Up here there are acolytes. I'm fine either way."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He tilts his head from side to side for a moment, then concludes, "Workshop!"
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Okay. We'll be back up soon," Isabella tells the acolyte, and she picks up Micaiah again and throws herself off the cliff. (There are stairs. This is faster.)

The workshop is a warehouse-like building, all over electric lighting and with a couple of generators out back, one of them puffing away. In addition to the oracle's husband and their kid, there must be a number of students, because there are more than two people present swarming about the place with their arms full of parts and wires and clockwork.

"Hello, angela!" says a girl about twelve years old. "What brings you and your friend here?"

"We're waiting for Alleluia, and thought we'd look around while she's finishing up what she's doing, if that's all right," says Isabella.

"That's fine! Want to see the clock I'm making? I'm making a clock!"

"Sure," says Isabella.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Ooh, show me the clock," Micaiah says excitedly.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
The girl shows them the clock! Its innards are clockwork, though the blocky battery that also weights its base powers the spinning of the first gear rather than there being any winding mechanism, and she is adding parts to make little figurines of fish spin in place on the surface on each hour.

Isabella refrains from complimenting her on it, though she does smile kindly. People are always giving angels gifts, and this only becomes more likely if they compliment relevant objects.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah, on the other hand, is all over it. He loves the tiny fish; he gets excited about the wiring; he listens attentively as the girl explains how the mechanism fits together.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
She is utterly thrilled to explain. She seems to be a junior student; Alleluia's husband, gray-haired and laughing, is paying more attention to an older boy's miniaturized car. He waves at Isabella, and she waves back; that's the extent of their interaction.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
When they have exhausted the subject of tiny fish, Micaiah starts telling the goat story.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
The girl finds this terribly amusing, and it takes up the remainder of what Isabella estimates to be their hour. She bids the girl goodbye and picks up Micaiah again to take him back up to the oracular chambers.

The acolyte who greeted them earlier escorts them in, and there is the interface room: a glowing screen with arcane symbols dancing across it and a butter-blonde angel sitting before it with her hands on rows of buttons. "Hello again, Isabella," she says, swiveling in her chair. "I hear that you have a question for me."

Isabella swallows and nods. "Er, yes. I'm not sure if Jovah will choose to answer it. I know he hasn't chosen Linus's successor yet, and I'm sorry to be so presumptuous, but - can you tell me, if I were to be the next Archangel, who would be my angelico?"

Alleluia raises an eyebrow. "That's your question?"

"Yes."

"I will consult the god," Alleluia says ritually, and she turns back to the screen and taps away at the symbols inscrutably. Isabella can't make out the words. She has no particular talent for languages, and the oracles are said to comprehend the words by grace anyway.

After a minute, Alleluia turns back. "In the event - Jovah did not remark on its likelihood - that you were to be Archangel, he would name as your angelico Azaziah, son of Canaan and Judith."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
As soon as Alleluia speaks those names, Micaiah chokes.

He backs away from the screen, eyes wide, hand to his mouth, as though he just saw something too horrifying to comprehend. Saw, or heard.
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Is... that not you?" Isabella asks, concerned, peering at the Kiss in her arm. It's still glowing brilliantly. That attracts Alleluia's attention as well, and the oracle blinks. "Micaiah? Are you all right?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah shakes his head rapidly. "That's, I, that's not— aaaaugh!"

He crumples to the floor, curls up into a tight little ball, and starts messily crying.
jovahs_heiress: (unsure)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella drops to her knees next to him and rests her hand on his back. "Micaiah, what's wrong? I don't understand - please tell me?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Burn that name," he wails, somewhat muffled by the fact that his head is tucked between his hands and his knees. "Kill it with fire, kill it with lightning, never call me that again."
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I - Alleluia? Is that something you can ask Jovah to do? Change the record away from how he was dedicated?" Bella says, looking up.

"I can ask. I think so. Micaiah?" Alleluia confirms. "Just that?"

"Of the Manderras," supplies Isabella. "Right? Sia a Manderra?" She does know the Edori words for "of the" as they go in names; Peninnah was asked to update records of undedicated Edori often enough during the year she spent there.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Y-yes," he sniffles.
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Micaiah sia a Manderra," repeats Alleluia as she types. The screen blinks back at her. "...Jovah will of course remember the original name and will be able to find you by it. If someone asks an oracle whether the person of the original name is alive, he will still be able to tell us yea or nay. But apart from that it's been changed."

"Okay?" says Isabella. "But - it is him?"

"Yes, as if there could be any doubt, Isabella, look at your arms," says Alleluia, half-fondly. "Jovah does not say one thing for love and another for politics. You have your answer."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah shivers and curls up tighter.
jovahs_heiress: (unsure)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella rubs his back as soothingly as she knows how. "Micaiah, is there anything else I can do?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He shivers again, but uncurls a little under her hand.

For the moment, they're getting nothing out of him but muffled, quiet sobbing.
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella decides that there is no reason for this to be going on in Alleluia's oracular chamber. "Thank you very much for your help," she tells the other angel. "I'm sorry about this." And she picks up Micaiah, carries him out to the cliff, and flies down - not to the workshop, some hundred yards away on a grassy foothill, and sets Micaiah down to wait for him to be done crying.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
When she picks him up, he snuggles into her arms.

When she puts him down, he covers his face again.
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella pets his hair, because she can't think of anything else to do.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Somehow he gradually migrates from curled up on the hillside to curled up in her lap.

He seems to like it better there, or maybe he's just winding down anyway.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Mostly unconsciously - maybe she's remembering singing Elisha and Serah's baby brother to sleep, maybe she's just defaulting to music in the absence of other ideas - Isabella begins to sing quietly. It's not a prayer, though Jovah is mentioned; it's a lullaby.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah lets out a sigh and snuggles into her lap.

There. That's better.
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
She finishes the song - she knows six verses of it - and then stops. "Better?" she asks.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Yeah," he exhales.

"Thanks."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"You're welcome," she says. "Now Jovah knows you by the right name."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He shivers again.



"There was a reason I ran away and joined the Edori," he says softly.
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella nods and strokes his hair.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"My father used to hurt me. When I did something he didn't like, or when he was in a bad mood, or just because he thought I was bad and I needed it."
jovahs_heiress: (unsure)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I'm so sorry," murmurs Isabella.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I used to hate him. I don't as much, now. But hearing his name like that, and what he used to call me... I didn't think Yovah would be so cruel. Maybe he just doesn't know what it's like to be afraid."
jovahs_heiress: (quiet)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Jovah's ears are good but he still needs to be told things the right way. The priest who dedicated you told the god that name and he was never formally updated," murmurs Isabella. "It's the same for everything we want to tell him. If I want rain or sun, I can't only sit in my room asking in plain language, I have to go aloft and pray for it. But now Alleluia's told Jovah your name and he's fixed it."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Okay," sighs Micaiah.
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella goes on stroking his hair. "Did you pick Micaiah yourself or did the other Manderras name you?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I never told 'em a name, and that's what they started calling me after a while. I liked it, so I kept it."
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"That makes sense." She's still petting his hair. (It's soft.)
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I like it when you do that," he adds.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"If I didn't think you did," she laughs, "I'd stop."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"You're really nice," he says comfortably. "I like you a lot."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I'm glad," she says. "Are you ready to head back to the Eyrie?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I think so."
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Okay then." She scoops him up in her arms - one under his knees, one behind his back, holding him securely, and she gets up and runs down the hill, wings outflung, until she catches air and rises into the sky. "So - now we know the answer to that question."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"We do!" says Micaiah. "Now what?"
jovahs_heiress: (considering)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...Well, I'm not sure. If I didn't know that Edori don't even believe in marriage I would be asking you to avoid marrying anyone who isn't me. Since that would interfere with angelico-ing if it came up."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"...Oh," he says, "yeah, I guess I'd have to marry you."

Pause.

"Okay."
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"It's - hardly urgent. It may not be necessary at all; Jovah only commands it of Archangels and he could still easily choose someone else," says Isabella.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Well, I'm not saying let's hurry right up to the—wherever people get married," he says. "But if we have to. It's okay."
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Priests," laughs Isabella. "Priests do it - oracles can too, and host leaders are empowered to do the same but often don't. I'd ask Delilah, probably. I don't think Alleluia likes me and Peninnah hates doing weddings for anyone out of her own family."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Delilah's fun," opines Micaiah.
jovahs_heiress: (considering)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"A lot of people describe her that way. I think my go-to adjective would be... passionate, maybe. But maybe I'm just not her kind of fun and I don't see as much of that side of her."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Passionate works too," he agrees.
jovahs_heiress: (away)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"She didn't seem to be talking much during your conversation with Noah. How'd you form your impression of her?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"She was talking more earlier," he explains.
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Makes sense. Um - you said you were planning to stay at the Eyrie but only as of recently. Did someone offer you a guest room, or...?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"No," he shrugs.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Okay. There may be one, but there may not, especially if I'm guessing right about why Delilah and Noah went off to entertain Manadavvi - there could be a lot of them."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I'll find somewhere to stick my head under a rock," he says serenely.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...I was going to say that under the circumstances I can put you in my quarters," she says. "The angels' rooms have a lot of space."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Oh!" He grins. "That's sweet of you. Sure!"
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"There's only one bed. I can get another, if you want, but the one there is huge - most angels sleep on their fronts with their wings out all the way, and so there's room for that, but I'm just as comfortable on my side with one wing stacked on the other," she says.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I don't mind sharing," he says with a smile.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"That's easier, then, I have honestly no idea how anyone gets a bedframe through the halls there. It may be that they have to be nailed together in the rooms themselves," laughs Isabella.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Maybe they do," he giggles.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Okay. It'll be late when we land, but I think the laundry should still be open and I can get you a blanket - I know mortals are often cold in the Eyrie, everyone going around in sleeves all the time and shivering, I don't actually know what it's like but it sounds unpleasant - and what else do you need?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Blanket. Dinner? That about covers it," he shrugs.
jovahs_heiress: (firm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"The kitchens are open until midnight," she assures him. "And they're open again at six the next morning."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I like your Eyrie," he declares.
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"It's not mine," laughs Isabella. "Delilah's maybe. Jovah's."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I'd say 'I like your city' if I was talking to somebody who lived in a city I liked," he says. "It's the same thing, isn't it?"
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Mmm, maybe. I think that makes more sense if the thing you're saying you like is a class of things - 'I like your city', 'I like your friend', 'I like your recipe for mint sauce'. There's only one Eyrie, but it's an angel hold."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I like your angel hold, then," he says agreeably.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"That's good," says Isabella, smiling.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah falls silent, smiling back.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
They travel the rest of the way to the Eyrie in companionable non-conversation, although not silence, as Isbella notes that they pass over an area that looks too brown for the season and spends the middle half-hour of the journey praying for a brief shower of rain. (Major weather interventions wait for petitions, but minor ones are permissible in passing.) They depart an area of drizzle, fly just over another hour, and touch down at the hold. A quartet of men - two mortals, two angels - are singing something somber and soft, not enough to wake sleepers; Isabella waves at them after she puts Micaiah down.

"My quarters are near Elisha's," she says softly, leading him through the corridors. "Not right next to them, but the same general area - you might find it easy to get lost in here at first." They find the kitchens again and Isabella gets two plates of potatoes, greens, and venison from the cook; apparently the meeting with the Manadavvi went on for long enough that they're still eating now.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I get unlost pretty easy," he says.

Mmmm, food. Food is good. He likes food.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella likes food too!

The walk to her room is through most of the same hallways as the walk to Elisha's, but with a veer off to the right at the end. She pulls a key from where she keeps it on her boot fastenings and lets them in. "I don't have a copy of this, but I can get one," she says. "But - please don't steal my stuff, even if you mean to give it back after; if you need anything you can just ask me. Please don't look at my notebooks either. They're private."

The notebooks are an obvious stack in the corner. Isabella turns out to have one tucked in the back of her vest, which she adds to the pile. The room is a bit dusty with disuse, but not a year's worth of it - she's been visiting for the odd week here and there even during her two years of the Eyrie not being her primary residence. And the bed is indeed twelve feet wide to comfortably accommodate even the most sprawling, impressive wingspan.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox


Micaiah looks curiously at the notebooks.
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I just write - all kinds of things in there. They're like journals. If you think they'll be very tempting I can find a lockable box..."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I pick those," he says absently, and then gives her a reassuring smile. "Nah, it's fine, I won't peek."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Okay." It wouldn't be a disaster if he did read them, but it would certainly discomfit her. "...Please don't pick the locks to anyone else's room. I'm going to give you a key to this one so I suppose it doesn't matter if you also want to pick the lock recreationally."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He grins. "Okay!"
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella smiles, then ducks into her closet for a nightgown, and into the bathroom to change out of flying leathers into same. It ties behind her neck and has no back, to accommodate the wings, but it falls all the way to the floor when she steps out barefoot and carrying her boots and vest and pants.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Pretty," comments Micaiah, smiling shyly.
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Thanks," says Bella. "I forgot that when I'm not around to tell them not to the maids always make up the bed with the blanket to... look pretty or something, so I don't have to run down to the laundry after all. It's all yours." She unpeels it from the right side and folds it over in the middle. "I'm tired, are you tired?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I'm tired!"

His getting-ready-for-bed routine is much faster: he just takes off most of his clothes and snuggles under the folded blanket.
jovahs_heiress: (quiet)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella turns off the gaslamps and flops down onto the other side, wings out, facing in. She is asleep in moments.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah follows not long after.



Micaiah, it turns out, cuddles up in his sleep. First he just snuggles himself a big armful of blanket, but eventually he rolls close enough to Isabella to curl up against her.
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella doesn't wake up, although the tone of the nonsense she mumbles in her sleep changes a bit for a few moments before she resettles.

She sleeps late. She doesn't have to be up to do the Sunrise Chorus until the next day.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah wakes up first.

He decides that he is really comfy here in his little blanket-and-angel nest, and he's not moving unless she wakes up and squawks. Or he gets hungry.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella yawns herself awake mid grammatically incorrect sentence. "Oh," she says. "Hello. ...Were you cold?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Don't know," he says. "I was asleep. I'm warm now, that's for sure."

Mmmmmm.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Do you always do that? It's not a problem, it's just unexpected."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Yeah, I guess," he says, thinking back.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Huh. Well." She closes her eyes for a moment. She's all snuggled up to, after all. And then she says, "I think it's breakfast time."

She changes into her leathers again - she might be called on to fly somewhere at a moment's notice, after all - and heads for the kitchens, letting Micaiah choose whether to follow or remain abed.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
The bed is much less cuddly without her in it. He follows her very shortly.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Breakfast is tomato-bread and eggs and sausage. "The food here is much better than at Peninnah's," comments Isabella. "So, today, now that I expect to stay in one place for a while, I'm going to catch up with my mother and father. What are you going to do?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"No idea," he says. "Maybe I'll follow you around. Maybe I'll go back to bed. I like your bed, it's soft."
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"It is," agrees Isabella. "I suppose I can introduce you Rinnah and Charles if you'd like. Charles'll probably interrogate you a bit, though."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Sounds like fun," he laughs.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Does it really?" she laughs.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Grinning, "Sure."
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"All right then. I wonder if they know I'm back. I don't think Delilah would have bothered to tell them, but Elisha might have. I should see Serah today, too, although I bet she's still asleep; she's an incorrigible night owl."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Busy, busy," he says.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I like to be busy. When there's nothing else to do I get in everyone's way in the petitioner receiving rooms and tear off to the Caitanas for a day to bring calmer winds, or whatever they need. Today, I think, I will block off for social catching-up."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah smiles at her.
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"You're really very cute," she observes, almost as though surprised, and then she finishes her bread and returns the dishes to the kitchen. "My parents' quarters is off that way." She leads them out of the dining hall through a different door, and through more corridors, humming along to the soprano part of the current harmonics. "Don't bother calling Rinnah 'angela', if you were at all likely to do that; she'll only laugh at you and tell you to call her by her name."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I wasn't," he says cheerfully.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"There you go, then." Isabella doesn't have a key to these quarters. The quarters are a cross between individual rooms and apartments; some adjoin with doors between them, but on the corridor, the keys only belong to those who live in that specific room. She knocks.

"Just a minute!" calls a warm alto voice, half-singing, and Isabella smiles automatically at hearing her mother speak.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Awwwwww. Micaiah grins at her.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
The door opens to reveal an angel who looks like an older version of Isabella, with paler hair and a grayer background behind the flecks on her wings. "Isabella!" she cries, flinging her arms around her daughter. "I knew you were coming back around now - and here you are! And -" She notices the eternal dance of color in Isabella's arm, catches the relevant limb by the wrist and peers at the Kiss in it, then makes a comparable assessment of Micaiah and hugs him too.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah giggles and hugs back, careful of the wings.

"I like you," he declares. "You're nice. I can see where she got it."
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Aren't you precious," says Rinnah, taking a step back to look him over again, smiling beatifically. "Well. When's the wedding?"

"Mom," says Isabella. "I met him yesterday."

"Yes, and it's a wonder either of you can stand, remember when this happened to Jerusha and -"

"And Jerusha couldn't sleep for the first four days, I know, but mine doesn't hurt," says Isabella. "It just does the light and the colors. Anyway, there isn't a wedding planned. Is Dad in?"

"He'll be back any minute, but right now he's still with Nehemiah, talking about -" She waves a hand. "Security arrangements of some kind. I scarcely understand your father's job, you know, why would anyone commit crimes in an angel hold where Jovah watches so closely...?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Because it's fun," Micaiah suggests.
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Rinnah blinks at him. "Is it?" she asks dubiously, in the tones of someone who's never found fun lacking in perfectly pedestrian/avian non-criminal pursuits.

"Micaiah," says Isabella slowly, "my father handles the hold's security measures. It'd be... troubling if he had to encounter you in that capacity."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"He won't," he says. "I'm just saying, maybe that's why."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Well," says Rinnah, "why don't you both come in? I want to meet the boy Jovah's picked out for my Isabella!"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Brightly: "Okay!"
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
In they go. There are three angel chairs and two typical chairs around an ellipse-shaped card table; both angels take seats in appropriate furniture. "Tell me about yourself," Rinnah encourages.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Well, my name's Micaiah and I'm an adopted Edori and I like good food and pretty clothes and snuggling your daughter," he says with a grin.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Rinnah obviously considers this too cute for words. After she recovers from glee well enough to form sentences, she says, "And what's your vocal range? And what brings you to the Eyrie?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"What do you want it to be?" he laughs. "I just kinda came wandering by, I do that."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I think tenors show off Isabella's voice best, but of course you're whatever Jovah made you," says Rinnah, tilting her head. "Are the other Edoris here?" she adds with the ungrammatical inquisitiveness of someone who knows perhaps three things about Edori, one of which is false.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Yovah made me adaptable," Micaiah says cheerfully. "Nah, they're somewhere else."
jovahs_heiress: (portrait)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"So you've got a range on you, have you? Let's hear it," invites Rinnah, all asmile. "Have you even heard him sing yet, Isabella?"

"No," Isabella admits.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"All right," he says, smiling, and tips his head back and drums his fingers on his knee. "What should I sing, what should I siiiiiiiiiiing..."

The word trails off and drops in pitch from his normal speaking voice to something much, much lower.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Sing an Edori song," says Rinnah, clapping her hands. "Something that shows you off."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Okay!" he chirps, and rubs his hands together, and sings.

The lyrics are in Edori. The tune is not that complex, but it's fast and it's cheerful and he brings it all the way up and down his incredibly extensive range over the course of several repetitive verses.

Whatever the song is, it seems to make Micaiah very happy.
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"What do the lyrics mean?" Rinnah asks earnestly.

"You could probably manage half of Uriel's masses. Pity I'm not Hagar," laughs Isabella.

"Oh, Isabella, you sound just as pretty as her," soothes Rinnah.

"Opinion's divided on that and I don't have her range, objective fact," blushes Isabella.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I'm not sure you wanna know," says Micaiah with a wink.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Oh goodness," laughs Rinnah. "I suppose I should hope Noah or even Delilah wasn't walking down the hall just then, or -" She starts rattling off more names; children of the former Archangel and other members of the hold who might know enough Edori to detect a less than genteel lyric line.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah giggles.
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I don't think Zadok knows any more Edori than his mother does," Isabella eventually interrupts, and Rinnah stops naming people. But she has no real ethical objections to singing dirty songs and doesn't chide Micaiah for having chosen one.

The door swings open, and in comes a gruff-looking mortal man in practical clothes. There's a trace of Isabella in his face, although not nearly as much as there is to Rinnah. "Bells!" he says when he sees his daughter. "You're back! Visiting again or for good?"

Isabella gets up to hug him. "No plans to leave. No promises, though, I wouldn't turn down another invitation to Monteverde to help Linus."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah gives the newcomer a friendly smile.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"And who's this fellow?" Charles asks, after releasing Isabella from the embrace.

"This is Micaiah!" says Rinnah brightly before Isabella can. "Look at their arms, dear, I've never seen anything so clear since Jerusha -"

"Sweet Jovah singing," mutters Charles.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He grins.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"How'd this happen, Bells?" Charles asks.

"He was visiting Noah - he's an Edori - I mean Micaiah, you already know Noah's an Edori - and I'd just come back from Gaza," says Isabella. "And - well, he noticed first, his hurts and mine doesn't, but it's been like this since then."

"Hrm," says Charles. He scrutinizes Micaiah. "So. Micaiah. What do you do with yourself when you're not... visiting here?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Go places," he says. "See stuff. Tell funny stories. Sometimes with my tribe, sometimes not."
jovahs_heiress: (firm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Mm," Charlie says noncommittally. "Well. Edori believe in Jovah, don't they?"

"Apart from the pronunciation, yes," Isabella says, who knows more about Edori religious beliefs than either of her parents and doesn't want to get deeply into that subject today.

"Mind you remember he's watching, then," Charles tells Micaiah, sitting down in the other non-angel chair. "Whether or not anybody else is."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah just snorts.
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"He's got a lovely range," Rinnah says chattily to Charles. "I think I heard everything from low baritone to mid alto, if I don't miss my pitch -"

"You never miss a pitch," says Charles loyally. "Bells, catch us up on what all else has happened - how were your last two months in Gaza?"

Isabella agreeably relates the more interesting questions people asked of Peninnah, and about her frustrating efforts to make the oracular language click, and about the events in the lives of the Gaza acolytes who her parents have come to be interested in through previous stories on previous visits.

Partway through a story about Tobiah's pet bird and his attempts to convince Isabella to catch it for him after it escaped, Rinnah picks up Isabella's hand from the table and puts it on top of Micaiah's, smiling impishly and wordlessly. Isabella blushes but doesn't move her hand away, and resumes the story after only a little stuttering.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Awwwwwwwww.

Micaiah beams at Rinnah and squeezes Isabella's hand gently.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella stammers again but finishes the story, which ends with her chasing the bird into a tree too densely branched for an angel to climb and ultimately carrying Tobiah himself down to shimmy up the trunk and retrieve his pet.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"You're sweet," Micaiah says fondly.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Thanks," says Isabella, smiling at him.

"It's like a fairy tale," sighs Rinnah.

Charles harrumphs.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah beams.
jovahs_heiress: (portrait)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella's reunion conversation with her parents continues to range over miscellaneous topics and continues to incorporate handholding. When Isabella mentions that she ought to see Serah today, Rinnah ushers her and Micaiah out the door, laughing. And Isabella doesn't seem disposed to let go of Micaiah's hand.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He smiles blushily at her and laces their fingers together.
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Serah's quarters are nowhere near her brother's. (Angels and mortals require different accommodations and live in different sections after they move out of the rooms that adjoin their parents'.) Isabella knocks, bouncing on the balls of her feet, and a person who looks like a female wingless Elisha perhaps one year older than he explodes out into the corridor and immediately engulfs Isabella in a hug. "Elisha told me you were back! Why didn't you come see me first?" Serah said. "I was only down in Velora! You could have found me. Is this Micaiah? Oh, he's cute -" She aims her face at the ceiling, as though addressing Jovah - "I approve!"

"Yes, Serah," says Isabella patiently. "This is Micaiah. Micaiah, this is Serah."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He giggles!

"You're really cute," he says to Serah.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Why thank you," says Serah with complete unselfconsciousness. "So you're going to be Isabella's angelico, huh?"

"Serah."

"No, no, you're too modest, you really don't need to be you know, many Archangels have been famously pompous - anyway, I'd say I ought to be friends with you so I can get special favors when you and her rule Samaria together but I'm already her best friend so you can be sure I will like or dislike you solely on your own merits," Serah says cheerily.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Good to know," he laughs.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Tell me about your merits," urges Serah, grabbing Isabella and Micaiah each by a hand and pulling them with awkward simultaneity through her door. One of Isabella's wings winds up buffeting Micaiah, all soft and warm; she doesn't seem discomfited by the accidental contact. "Elisha only knew a handful of things!"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Aww, they are cuddly," he says, grinning at Isabella. To Serah: "I have huge vocal range and I tell funny stories and a lot of people will tell you I'm the best kisser in my tribe."
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"What do you think about this claim, Isabella?" Serah asks very seriously.

"I... would have to take his word for it?" Isabella manages awkwardly.

"Your Kisses are like stars come to earth and you have not sampled any less capitalized kisses?" exclaims Serah, completely scandalized.

"...Yes."

"Well," snorts Serah. "I suddenly need the water room. I'm sure I'll be at least five minutes." And she flounces off to her adjoining water room.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"A lot of people will tell you I'm the best in my tribe at some other things, too," Micaiah says cheerfully. "Well?"
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Well - if you want to," says Isabella. "I cannot at this time claim it as one of my own talents. Fair warning."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"That's okay," he says, and he leans in and kisses her.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
She makes a creditable effort to kiss back.

She also makes an intrigued little sound in the back of her throat.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah makes a sound somewhere between a hum and a giggle. She definitely seems to be getting the idea.
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Experimental kisses ensue.

Serah gives them a bit longer than five minutes, and still comes out to a scene of kissing. "Goodness gracious," she deadpans. "I am astonished to find this going on. Whatever shall I do."

Isabella breaks off to roll her eyes at her friend. "So what did you do in Velora yesterday?" she asks.

"Shopping!" crows Serah, clapping her hands. "Do you want to see what I got?"

"Why not?" Isabella laughs.

Serah got several pretty dresses. She shows them off each in turn with loving and elaborate descriptions in spite of the fact that her visitors can plainly see them for themselves.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Oooh," says Micaiah. He gets very enthusiastic about the dresses.
jovahs_heiress: (considering)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Serah considers this no more or less than the height of virtue on his part, and winds up directing most of her commentary at him rather than at Isabella, who regards the pair of them with tolerant amusement. Her own interest in outfits is very limited.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah commentaries right back at her. Excitedly. He should add flattery to his list of talents.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Eventually, Serah runs out of dresses to show off, and has exhausted her remarks on her new hairclip too. "You're dressed so plain, I would never have guessed you'd like fancy things," she tells Micaiah.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I like fancy things," he emphasizes. "I like them way too much to travel in 'em."
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Well, you're staying here, now, aren't you? Isabella, why haven't you taken him shopping yet, that's verging on criminal, the poor boy, I insist you fly him to Velora right now - and then come back and fetch me! - and put him in some nicer clothes," says Serah imperiously

"Do you want to go shopping?" Isabella asks Micaiah mildly.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He laughs. "Sure!"
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"All right then," says Isabella, rising to her feet, "to Velora we will go."

Serah winds up leading the way to the nearest takeoff spot, and once they are there, Isabella picks up Micaiah and throws them both off the mountain, only to catch them and spiral down for a landing.

She sets him on the ground. "I'll be right back with Serah," she says, and, impulsively, she gives him a little kiss before she runs and leaps into the sky again.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

He still looks all happy and blushy by the time Isabella finishes her second trip.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Serah assumes instant leadership of their party and drags the other two to a little shop for menswear. "Elisha goes here. He has to get everything butchered custom, for the wings, but you should be able to take something home today! Go on, what do you like?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Everything," he sighs.

But he's made his preferences clear soon enough. He likes bright colours. He likes contrast. He likes variety. He has an excellent idea of which things will look good on him, and he likes it when they do.
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella obligingly flashes her bracelets for his favorites, and they emerge with several shopping bags.

"Satisfied?" Isabella asks Serah.

"Only if Micaiah is," says Serah reprovingly.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
By way of communicating his feelings, he hugs them both. Serah first.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Should we go to another store?" Isabella asks while hugging back. She's carrying most of the bags, as the strongest in the group, and this is slightly awkward but doable.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"No, I think I'm okay for now," he says laughingly.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Back up?" Isabella asks.

"No," says Serah. "I haven't seen you in months and you owe me lunch, Isabella."

"All right," laughs Isabella. "Sandwich place?"

"Sandwich place!" cries Serah, and she goes charging off. Isabella follows at a more sedate pace.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah tags along with Isabella.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
There is handholding.

And presently there are sandwiches. Isabella's bracelets pay for these too; if Serah has her own set she didn't bring them. Isabella catches Serah up with what she's been doing in the months intervening her last visit to the Eyrie, and Serah catches Isabella up right back. Serah's time has apparently been consumed with preparing with the Eyrie choir group she belongs to for the next Gloria.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah eats his sandwich and listens to all the catching-up and enjoys the comfort and happiness of the moment.
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
They finish their sandwiches. Serah has just remembered that she's signed up for harmonics any minute now, so Isabella takes her up the mountain first.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Which leaves Micaiah all by himself in a lovely new city with nothing much to do and no adorable feelings to keep him occupied.

He wanders off.
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella's back at the sandwich shop a moment later. "Micaiah?" she calls. "Where'd you go?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He does not immediately appear.
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Now she's worried. Velora's generally safe, but...

Well. She looks at her arm, and turns slowly in place, and goes in the brightest direction.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
There he is! He has found a little kiosk that sells odds and ends of various kinds, and is browsing at it.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"There you are. Did you find something else you want?" Isabella asks.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He straightens from his perusal of a table and looks back at her. "There you are! Nah, not really," he says, hurrying forward to give her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Okay. Back up to the Eyrie, then? Serah's harmonics start any minute now, we can sit and listen - she's got a wonderful contralto."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Brightly, "Okay!"
jovahs_heiress: (unbalanced)
Author: jovahs_heiress
She scoops him up, but while she's taking her first step forward to get to launch speed, the arm supporting his legs slips. Her grip with the other arm tightens automatically - he would not have fallen even if they'd been in the air - but he does drop enough to not-quite-sit on her thigh.

"Ow!"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Oh! Sorry," laughs Micaiah.
jovahs_heiress: (considering)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"What is that?" Isabella asks, re-situating him in her arms and retrying takeoff.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Just a little something I picked up," he shrugs. "I can put it back if you want."
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
She brakes and loses the lift she'd been accumulating, skidding on her boots in the street and scattering a couple of people who'd believed themselves well out of their way. She shoots them an apologetic look.

"...You told me you didn't find anything else you wanted," she says slowly.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I wasn't thinking," he says.
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
She puts him down and takes his hand and marches him back to the kiosk. "Is this where you got it?" she asks him.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Yeah," he says, resisting her hand a little but ultimately going where she takes him.
jovahs_heiress: (unsure)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Excuse me," Isabella says to the proprietor. "My friend picked something up and neglected to pay for it. Would you rather it be returned or would you prefer to bill the Eyrie?"

The man blinks. "What was it?"

"Show him, please, Micaiah," says Isabella tightly.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He shrinks away from both of them a little, but produces the object: a tiny folding knife.
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I'll bill the Eyrie," says the kiosk operator. "Thank you, angela."

"Thank you for understanding," she replies. And, still holding Micaiah's hand, she turns back the way they came. "So. You can keep that."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Okay," he says in a subdued voice, and disappears it again.
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella covers her eyes with her hands. "What were you - no, you weren't thinking, you said. Why weren't you thinking?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I don't know," he says, looking at the ground. "I got distracted, I guess. I'm not used to being able to just get things the way you do, so... I just got it the way I do."
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"If I get you a set of bracelets," she says, "will that fix this problem, or will they not successfully remind you?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I don't know," he repeats. "Maybe? Probably?"
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella rubs her forehead. "Okay. We can talk more about this later, I guess. Let's go listen to Serah and whoever she's singing with." She picks him up, does not slip, and launches.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He snuggles nervously into her arms.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella kisses his forehead. "I'm sure you can get used to being law-abiding. I'll help you, okay?" she says as she goes over the top of the mountain and descends to the plateau where harmonics are sung. Serah's and her friends' are already underway; they're doing a folk song harmonized at snug intervals, and Serah and one of the other women is swaying to the beat.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah makes a quiet grumbly sort of noise, then smiles and cuddles up a little more happily.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Serah and company finish the song and turn over the responsibility to the next group, a mortal woman and what appear to be her two angel children. Serah bounces over to them. "What's got you so solemn?" she asks, ushering them away from the music so they won't compete with the soaring voices.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Solemn? Who's solemn?" he asks with a playful grin.
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Isabella is. Did something happen? Trouble in the fated fairytale?"

"It's - minor," says Isabella. "Micaiah put something in his pocket without remembering to ask me to flash my bracelets for it, and it was embarrassing to go back about it."

"Oh. What'd you get?" Serah asks Micaiah.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Just a little knife," he shrugs. "I thought it was pretty."
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Oh. Well, I'm due to practice," Serah says. "I'll leave you two..." She pauses significantly. "Aloooone."

Serah scampers off.

Isabella stands in the corridor, looking down at her hands.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Hey," says Micaiah, resting a hand on top of hers. "I'm sorry."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
She clasps his hand. And after a moment's thought, kisses his knuckles. "No harm done," she says. "...Do you want to see if there's a spare practice room and learn something?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Sure!" he beams, and kisses her cheek.
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
There is one spare practice room. They seize it. Isabella starts flipping through the racks of disks. "What strikes your fancy?" she asks. "Anything in particular?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Pick something you like," he suggests.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella plucks a disk from the collection. "This is Uriel and his daughter, instead of Hagar - I can match Prisca's range without a problem," she says. "Will it interfere with you learning his part if I sing along with hers?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Even if it did, I like it when you sing."
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I can sing anytime," Isabella chuckles. "The idea here is to learn the piece. If you'll be able to pick out what Uriel's doing when he's competing with me as well as Prisca, then that's fine."

She pops the disc in. Prisca opens with a high, crystalline note that Isabella matches.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah closes his eyes, and smiles, and listens.
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Uriel comes in two measures later, and his range is indeed impressive, although Micaiah can hit every note he utters in this piece, just as Isabella can match Prisca.

It's a long song, nearly two hours start to finish - a mass intended for the Gloria, sung one year when Hagar's voice was ruined from a cough - and Isabella has the entirety memorized.

She sings like she's crooning directly into Jovah's ear.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
It's absolutely glorious.

And he pays attention to the part he's supposed to be learning, too.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
At the end, Isabella says, "Want to hear it again and see if you can join in for some bits?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Yes," he says immediately.
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
She hits the button to start it over for the beginning, and breathes out Prisca's first notes.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah follows Uriel's part as best he can, which means a lot of stumbles and missed phrases. But he doesn't seem to find failure discouraging.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella grins when he comes in, and doesn't falter at all when he makes mistakes.

She reaches out and takes his hand.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Holding hands doesn't do anything for his singing, but it does put the most unutterably sappy look on his face.
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Awwwwwwww.

They finish the mass hand in hand, a perfect fourth apart, him buoying her up while she soars.

At some point, her nearer wing has crept around to settle over his back.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Cuddly," he remarks, grinning at her. "So if me touching your wing is like grabbing your rear, what's it mean when your wing touches me?"
jovahs_heiress: (away)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Um, slightly less than that," says Isabella. "Wings are big - them accidentally touching people happens pretty often, and sometimes the most comfortable way to occupy a space involves less accidental contact. It's more like hand-holding than like rear-grabbing if you're not actually reaching out and petting my feathers."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Oh," he says, still grinning. "So if I did this...?"

And he turns his head and rests his cheek against her soft cuddly feathers for a moment.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Mmmmm," she hums. "Then - well - I can feel it. There's not a - a chart of what it all means anywhere."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Is it nice?" he asks, and nuzzles a little.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Yeah," she breathes. "It's nice."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Then," he says, and smiles, and lifts his hand and runs his fingers gently down the inside of her wing.
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
She shivers; her other wing flutters involuntarily, feathers shushing against the floor. "Mmmmm."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Curious and affectionate, he does it again with the flat of his palm.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Her wing pushes back. "That feels good," she sighs. "People told me - I didn't try it though -"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Let's kiss some more," Micaiah suggests brightly.
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Mmmhm." And both wings encircle him and nudge him closer and she kisses him.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He puts out a hand and strokes her feathers while he kisses back. It seems like the thing to do.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Oh, and it is. She squirms and makes a squeaky, happy noise.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Laughing softly, he snuggles up against her and does it again.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
This could go on for a while... (And Isabella would not mind a bit if it did.)
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
It does.
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Mm-hm.

After said while, Micaiah has a very happy pseudo-limp angel wrapped around him, and she murmurs, "I'm kinda hungry."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"For what?" he giggles.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...Food, what else?"

(She honestly doesn't know!)
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
By way of demonstration, or perhaps just because she's being adorable again, he kisses her.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Mmm." Isabella hardly objects, but this does not solve her hunger problem. "Dinner?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Dinner," he agrees.

But first, hug.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
A reasonable order of operations.

Serah, Elisha, and their small full brother and smaller half-brother (the full a mortal, the half an angel) whom they are babysitting join them at the table, and the little angel boy has approximately nine million questions about the Edori, many of them requests for verification of insulting rumors of one sort or another.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah quite cheerfully answers every single question.

Sometimes he answers them with outrageous self-contradictory lies, but how else are you supposed to talk to children?
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
The small angel seems to find the outrageous self-contradictory lies highly entertaining, and everyone else finds his giggles similarly entertaining.

Ultimately dinner is concluded, the small children are escorted away by their elder siblings to their respective evening music lessons, and Micaiah and Isabella are left alone.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He grins at her.

"That was fun," he says. "What now?"
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I think you've seen what there is to see in the Eyrie. There's stuff to do in Velora, but except for a few standbys that I've checked in on during visits home, I'm not sure how much of what I remember is still there - it's been two years, I went to Monteverde to assist Linus when I was only sixteen. I might go hang around the petitioners' rooms and see who wants weather or who's dealing with plague, but if I go anywhere now I might not be home in time for my harmonics in the morning and that would be irresponsible unless it was a dire emergency and no one else could handle it. So. What do you want to do?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Kiss you some more," he says immediately.
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
She blushes, but doesn't stammer when she says, "Okay," and gets up and takes his hand and heads for her room. (Their room.)
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Aww. Micaiah squeezes her hand and walks close by her side.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
More kissing ensues. Micaiah spends this period of time wrapped in a speckled-white wall of warm and highly pettable feathers.

Eventually she yawns and trips off to change into her nightgown for the night. She takes the blanket off the bed - waving one wing by way of explanation; it's more than big enough to cover a person, especially one as cuddle-inclined as Micaiah - and flops facedown thereonto, inside wing lifted for him to slip under.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah gets out of his clothes and climbs into bed with her, snuggling up under her wing as invited.

"I love you," he murmurs sleepily.
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella tenses marginally, but - well, he's already said something like that, isn't this a good thing, she doesn't have to chase him all over Samaria convincing him that Jovah says, and she doesn't want to lie to him just to be kind but there's no reason to freak out. She relaxes again. She closes her eyes.

And then - just before she's about to fall asleep and start babbling - she opens them again.

"Is it possible that you have siblings?" she asks in a dismayed murmur.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox


Micaiah hisses, jerking as though he would like to curl up into a little ball of misery again and is only just stopping himself.

"I don't know. I don't want to know," he says vehemently. "I hope not."
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Isabella murmurs. "You - don't want to know? Are you sure?"

(Not wanting to know a thing is alien to her - especially a thing that could be about someone she might care about being hurt - but if he doesn't want to know, she can fly to Sinai herself, ask Alleluia, and go investigate herself, perhaps bringing Elisha or another angel as backup. Angels are still the law where they choose to operate as such. Delilah won't contradict her - nor Linus, if Micaiah is from one of the other provinces.)
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"If there's another kid where I was ten years ago, I feel bad for them," he says. "But not bad enough to think about my father any more than I have to."
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"If I look - and there is one, or more - and I get them out - do you want to know them?" she asks quietly.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Maybe," he says hesitantly. "If they want to know me... maybe. If they didn't turn out like him... maybe."
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"All right," she soothes, picking up her enfolding wing just enough to pet him with it and then settling it over him again.

She makes sure her clock is set to ring its bell in time for her to prepare for the Sunrise Chorus, and then she sleeps, murmuring words.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah curls up close and goes to sleep as soon as she does.
jovahs_heiress: (considering)
Author: jovahs_heiress
The bell on Isabella's clock dings softly in the morning, and she reaches out to still the sound as soon as she opens her eyes. She checks to see if Micaiah managed to sleep through that. It is very early.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Zz.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Yep.

Bella puts the blanket over him as soon as she's withdrawn her wing. She changes into her leathers and meets up with Elisha for a quick warmup. But Micaiah did say he wanted to be sure he was listening when she performed. So on their way to the harmonics she ducks back into her room to wake him up. "Micaiah? We're going to sing the Sunrise Chorus now," she says in his ear.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
He stretches out and yawns and opens his eyes and kisses her.

"I wanna listen!" he says, beaming. "Lemme get dressed."
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Sure. Be quick," she says. "I didn't want to wake you up sooner than I had to, you looked peaceful."

Elisha coughs. Isabella rolls her eyes at him.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah scrambles out of bed and into clothes with astonishing speed.
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
And they're off!

The Sunrise Chorus is a pretty song, the sort that it is reasonable that Delilah would like to wake up to. Unlike when practicing, Isabella and Elisha prefer to do public performances facing each other from a few feet away; the acoustics make that the best way to hear and react to one another's timing and dynamics.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah finds somewhere to sit—a corner of floor will do—and closes his eyes, and listens.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Their timeslot ends; they conclude the song with an improvised handoff to the next group, and Isabella trots over towards Micaiah. Elisha calls, "See you around, I promised to go visit Abel," and takes off. (Visiting Abel does not sound like a source of joy in his life.)
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Who's Abel?" he wonders.
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"His son. Probably. Abel isn't an angel, so it's hard to be sure, but he looks more like Elisha than like the other possibilities," says Isabella, sounding resigned.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Um..." says Micaiah.
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I think things will improve in a few years. Elisha just doesn't seem to... see the point of babies, when they can't talk yet, let alone sing," Isabella says apologetically. "It was the same with his brothers when they were babies, and he likes them both very much now. And Abel's mother is nice as angel-seekers go."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"That's better," he says doubtfully. "I just... I feel like you should either love your kids, or give them to somebody who will and then leave 'em alone."
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"There used to be much more of a problem in that department before the angelica Rachel. She and Gabriel set up a sort of a school system that now has branches near each angel hold and it absorbs... strays," says Isabella. "I think about it sometimes, but I'm not sure what else to do. The angel population is a real problem. Gabriel started his tenure with barely a hundred angels flying around Samaria, because the entire contingent of Windy Point died - some of poison when they wouldn't follow Raphael, some by thunderbolt when they did and he challenged Jovah - and we still haven't gotten back up to the numbers we had before that in all the intervening generations. The angel-seekers are willing, angels like Elisha are willing - and the mortal children are - not an easily avoidable consequence of all this willingness," she shrugs helplessly. "If the mothers of angels weren't honored and welcomed into the holds, I'm sure fewer would try to join their ranks, but then there would be fewer angels."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"So what are you gonna do about that?" he asks with a quirk of a smile.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"...About... there not being enough angels, you mean...?"
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Yeah, that's about where I was going with that," he agrees.
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
She looks down. "Well. I've always expected to have children. One day. It's strange that I'm an only child - it's only because Rinnah had a stillbirth and hasn't been able to get pregnant since. We are supposed to try."

("We" here means "angels" - but it would be easy to interpret it as meaning "Isabella and Micaiah".)
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"Do you want to try?"
jovahs_heiress: (unsure)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I have... mixed feelings about... timing. I have a lot that I want to do. And really, the hold is set up so that having the baby is all anyone expects a mother of a winged child to do. If I make a little angel and for some reason I then want to spend all my time tearing around doing this and that and don't feel like parenting, no one's going to say a word against me, there's no shortage of people intensely concerned with the future of angelkind who'll take over. But that doesn't feel right to me. And I don't know when I'll ever have less to do."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"If we have kids, I can be there for 'em when you can't," he says. "Unless I turn out to hate 'em; then I'll just get out of the way."
jovahs_heiress: (concern)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Yes, but - I don't know. If Charles had had to raise me half by himself, with Rinnah - doing - whatever? I wouldn't have liked that. I mean, of course she travels, all angels travel, but she didn't neglect me, she often took me along. And sometimes I think I'm so busy, that I arrange to be so busy as a matter of habit, that I would wind up being neglectful." She sighs. "Histories can tell me all kinds of things about politics. They can't tell me much about how all the movers and shakers handled their children, privately."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah hugs her.

"Okay."
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"While I'm still promised several days of no assignments I'm going to - fly to Sinai and see where Alleluia sends me," Isabella says obliquely. "After grabbing some breakfast. Are you going to be bored? Do you want me to fly you to Velora - and leave you one of my bracelets - so you have someplace less repetitive to wander around in? You'll be able to climb back up the stairs if you're bored before I return," she adds, "it'll just take longer than flying."
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I'll stay here," he decides. "And go use the music rooms, they're fun."
jovahs_heiress: (portrait)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Okay. Did you figure out how to work the machines or do you want me to show you first?" she asks, starting for the kitchens; she didn't mind singing for an hour on an empty stomach but it has emphatically become breakfast time.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
"I'll figure it out," he says confidently.
jovahs_heiress: (upward)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Okay. Be careful not to break them - they were broken once a while ago and I'm sure it would annoy Caleb to be hauled all the way back here to fix them."

Breakfast is had, pastries and loaded omelettes and bowls of fruit. And then Isabella gives him one very thorough kiss and heads for the nearest takeoff point.
pythbox: (jokebox)
Author: pythbox
Micaiah goes to the music rooms, and picks that song she was having him learn, and practices.
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella flies to Sinai.

Alleluia is surprised to see her again, but understands when asked the question, and provides what Jovah can tell her about Micaiah's birthplace.

It's not too far. It's in Semorrah. (Why does he keep reminding her of the angelica Rachel?)

She flies to Semorrah, and finds the records hall, and inquires after Canaan and Judith.

And she is sure to act sufficiently aloof that no one asks why.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Canaan and Judith had one son, Azaziah, who went missing about ten years ago.

Now they have another one. His name is Nathaniel and he is nine years old.
jovahs_heiress: (unsure)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella receives an address from the hall of records - you don't gainsay an angel, not even a young one who won't tell you what she wants, unless you're looking for trouble.

She finds this address, and she sits on the roof of the stack of apartments across the street from it to see what she can see.

Introducing herself would let Micaiah's parents find her - and hence Micaiah. If she can determine that Nathaniel is no longer at this house, or that he's happy, she can just go.

If she determines that Nathaniel is present and unhappy, things are more complicated, but she can tell her father not to let anyone of Canaan's description into the Eyrie.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Visible through the window: a little boy with dark messy hair and a solemn face, sitting quietly in a chair and watching an older woman read a book.

Apparently, Micaiah takes after his mother. Judith has the same hair and similar features.
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella decides to wait. She will interrupt if anything dreadful happens, but it will be easier if she can catch Nathaniel while he's out of the house away from his parents.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Canaan enters the room.

The first thing he does is draw the curtains shut.
jovahs_heiress: (firm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Fire and lightning.

Isabella glides down from the roof, concocting a half-baked story, and knocks on the door.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
A servant opens it.

"...Yes, angela?"
jovahs_heiress: (considering)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Hello! The Eyrie children's choir director is hoping to add some voices from a little farther afield than the Eyrie itself and Velora at the Gloria this year." (This is actually true.) "I'm helping him look." (This is true in the sense that if she picks up Nathaniel and carries him away she may as well try slotting him into the children's choir.) "I noticed a little boy the right age through the window. Is there any chance I can meet him?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I will ask," the young woman says doubtfully, and closes the door.
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella waits.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
The young woman returns shortly after, and she brings Judith.

"What's this about my son joining a children's choir?"
jovahs_heiress: (firm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella repeats the out-of-context fact about the director wanting voices from farther afield and having seen Nathaniel through the window.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I think that would be a fine idea," Judith says firmly.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Is there someplace I can talk to your son where some singing won't bother anyone?" Isabella asks with a winning smile.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I'm afraid he's with his father now, and they're not to be disturbed," Judith says in a tone of polite regret. "Would you like to come back another time?"
jovahs_heiress: (doubt)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Finding children for the choir is not my primary business in Semorrah, and I don't plan to be in the city for much longer," Isabella says slowly. "I suppose I can go get lunch and come back in an hour? Will he be available then?"

She doesn't like it, but her cover story doesn't have an opening for pushiness.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"That should be fine," says Judith. "Canaan takes his family time very seriously, that's all."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Of course. I'll be back then. Do you happen to know if there are any restaurants here with angel chairs?" Isabella asks.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
She brightens. "I do, in fact!" And she gives directions to someplace just down the street.
jovahs_heiress: (breathe)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella thanks her. She goes there. She eats lunch, and minds the time, and, an hour later, returns to the house.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
The same servant from earlier answers the door.

"Come in, angela," she says. "Did you want to see Nathaniel in the music room?"
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Yes, please," says Isabella.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"This way."

The music room is very quiet, and contains Nathaniel and a few musical instruments. The servant shuts the door and leaves them there. With the door closed, almost no outside sound is audible.
jovahs_heiress: (gaze)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Hello there," says Isabella, looking for someplace acceptable to sit. "Did your mother tell you why I'm here?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Nathaniel is sitting on the piano bench. He stands up and drags it out a little and offers it to her.

"She says you're from the Eyrie and you want to put me in the children's choir," he says. "I've never been in a choir before."
jovahs_heiress: (firm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
Isabella is sort of reluctant to take his seat, but it's the only chair without a back; she sits on it, legs on one side and wings on the other. "Thanks. That's about the size of it. The director is very good and he'll be able to teach you to blend in with the other children. Can I hear you sing a little something? River Cara is fine, if you don't have another idea."

(She's going to declare him, at a minimum, "trainable", regardless of whether he sounds more like a frog than like an angel. But she has to hear him sing for that declaration to make sense.)
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Nathaniel hesitates for a moment, and then sings. It is not River Cara.

He is not 'trainable', he is trained. And he has worked very, very hard to get as far as he has. He's a little quiet; in a choir, his voice would be easily lost. But he doesn't miss a note.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Beautiful!" applauds Isabella. "You're a little quiet, but that's okay, so am I. I can tell you like to sing. You know that if I take you to join the choir you'll need to live in or near the Eyrie - in a room with one of the other boys or possibly in the Gabriel School. You can send letters, of course, but it would be a few months without coming back here to see your parents."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
He nods.
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I can take you with me today if you can get ready. You're not afraid of heights, are you?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
He shakes his head. "No, angela."
jovahs_heiress: (warm)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Okay! Why don't you run along and pack and say your goodbyes?" Isabella says brightly. "It's a bit of a long flight, so you might want to pack a snack, too. The Eyrie is far from here."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I will," he says, and leaves the room.

A very short time later, he is at the front door with a small bag and his mother is pressing a wrapped sandwich into his hand.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"All set?" Isabella asks. "We can tie your bag to my belt loop so there's no risk of dropping it."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Yes, angela," says Nathaniel.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
She ties it. She shakes Judith's hand.

And she picks up Nathaniel, gently and carefully, and goes aloft.

"Let me know if you have any trouble breathing, or if you're cold," she says, "and I can fly lower or slower or both."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Yes, angela," he repeats obediently.
jovahs_heiress: (considering)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I don't think I ever told you my name. It's Isabella," says Isabella conversationally, as they reach a reasonable cruising-with-mortal-passenger altitude.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I'm Nathaniel," he says hesitantly, as though he expects her to object.
jovahs_heiress: (content)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"It's a lovely name. You know, the first leader of the host at Cedar Hills was named Nathaniel. Although he went by Nathan."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I didn't know that."
jovahs_heiress: (considering)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"I study history in my spare time, so I know these things," says Isabella. "What do you like to do besides sing? Practice for the choir is a few hours a day, but you'll have time to do other stuff too."
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"I play piano," he says. "And I have lessons. But Mother says I'm allowed to miss those while I'm not at home."
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"Would you like to go on studying piano?"
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Softly, without excitement: "Yes, angela."
jovahs_heiress: (pause)
Author: jovahs_heiress
She's not sure she likes that voice. That is the voice of someone who is routinely obliged to "like" things.

For that matter, now she's not even sure if he likes singing. But she didn't have any other ideas for legitimate ways to get him out of the house and directly under Delilah's purview, and she would really need to check with Delilah first before pulling even a small-scale equivalent of the Archangel Gabriel's Exodus of the Jansai Women at the behest of the angel Obadiah, barging in and commanding the release of the abused member of the household on pain of Jovah's thunderbolts.

"Well, you could probably locate a teacher, if you looked, but you could easily find yourself too busy to have time to work on piano," she says. Carelessly. This is not an angel who cares whether Nathaniel plays the piano, certainly not.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
"Thank you," he says after a moment, as though he's not sure what the correct response is and is just falling back on a likely guess.
jovahs_heiress: (Default)
Author: jovahs_heiress
"You're welcome."

She can't ask this kid point-blank if his father hits him. She can't. There's no way he doesn't, but Nathaniel would assuredly lie to her.

So she'll just have to get him set up and then use the months before the Gloria to get Micaiah to talk to him, that's all. Micaiah will have a better shot if he's willing to try.

And failing that she can always just tell Delilah everything.
pythbox: A book. (Default)
Author: pythbox
Nathaniel is, predictably, very quiet for the rest of the flight.