24A/N: There will be a lot of editing in the fic before next (last! But I've said that before lol) chapter. Nothing I think demands a re-read, mostly grammar, word choice, and including allusions to the full range of archangels/princes/branches before they're directly called into action.
The theater had stayed miraculously empty, and the projector just as strangely overlooked, as Uriel watched one film after another.
Every angel had to spend time on Earth as an unavoidable part of the job. But one had to be very smart about it, lest the mind be clouded from the sanctity of Heaven. It gave one… Wrong ideas that then needed to be stamped out for everyone's safety.
The ideas that swirled in Uriel's mind, then, were more troubling than the wine she'd long since grown bored of. She avoided stories because they tended to do that to her, as did visuals and music which these had unfairly packed in. They sprouted ideas that were so far removed from the peacekeeping and soldier training she'd been assigned to handle. And it turned out those ideas tended to be found in more movies, so she obviously had to watch those as well.
Humans had always been fascinating creatures. They built like angels, destroyed like demons, and all the while found time to be something entirely unexplainable.
It wouldn't be so bad, she thought, to stay amongst them for a while. To inspire, to cultivate, and record was a very tempting prospect. Also an incredibly dangerous Wrong idea that shouldn't have put such a warm feeling in her gut.
Unless it wasn't Wrong, anymore. Maybe it never had been and she'd never listened properly. Or maybe it hadn't been Right before, but without a prophecy to work towards it could be now.
The feeling became warmer, softer, and Uriel closed her eyes to relish in it.
After an indulgent amount of time, she allowed herself to noticed her phone. There were a multitude of missed calls and messages from Michael. She didn't have to open them to know that she was being demanded back to Heaven.
And she would go, of course. She still had her regular duties.
Maybe just one more movie first
The issue with not meeting for centuries was that centuries worth of housekeeping accrued. And it probably would have continued to do so, had it not been suggested they go through it after they had repeatedly tried and failed to start discussion on what to do about 'the demon problem'.
They soon realized that the hole of procrastination was as bottomless as it was tedious, but since nobody had come up with a solution they soldiered on.
According to Beelzebub, Hell had a system of delegation that kept the everyday minutia out of the Prince's hair. The major tasks they had to monitor were still endless, of course, but at least ze never had to worry about a single demon's soul quota.
Heaven should institute the same sort of hierarchy, ze had suggested. Gabriel reminded zem that following the lead of a demon would be seen as blasphemous, perhaps even traitorous if the others were in an unforgiving mood. And who knew what She would think...
Ze had nodded in acknowledgement of the red tape, didn't acknowledge the last part, and probably never thought of the conversation again.
But Gabriel certainly did everytime he had to head to Earth to check on an angel, or fuss over some minor detail because there was nobody else to handle it. And he thought about it again as the hours dragged on without touching on a major issue.
It'd been a good idea.
He didn't remember if he'd said that, in addition to everything else, but he was sure he did because compliments should go where they're due. And ze had always been amazing at organization, which would have made Seraphiel such an asset in head office. Maybe if he'd led with that, she would have taken the offer and Beelzebub would never have had to exist...
Some part of him knew that wouldn't have worked, even if the other parts of him didn't understand why. Ze wanted a lot of things that Heaven couldn't provide, and now wanted something that an angel really shouldn't delve into.
Regardless of 'should', the amount of transfer requests increased by the day. More importantly than that, the public incidences of… Well, they weren't on opposite sides anymore so 'fraternizing' wasn't the word. With how many pairs stood too close to one another, and how few looks this received, it had lost its taboo status. And it couldn't be said they'd lost productivity, even if it was hard to say what productive even was anymore.
A lack of concern didn't eliminate the risk, though. After all, the first fall hadn't happened immediately. She could decide at any moment it wasn't acceptable.
Michael certainly didn't agree with that. She insisted that there wouldn't be a second fall, but she also couldn't deny it was possible. Nor could she deny that by indulging, and refusing to condemn those that did, she put the entire Host at risk.
In a blatant play to avoid the conversation, Michael started another round of budgetary housekeeping. The others, similarly lacking in answers, were perfectly willing to be stuck in this endless loop.
"If She didn't want demons back in Heaven, they would never have been able to." Sandalphon finally said, firmly and loudly enough to quiet all the others.
The others mulled this over, nobody willing to be the first to agree or not.
"Since this is a joint issue, it's the best time to reunite both administrations. They may have even come up with a solution already. They have demons designated to handle budgets and curses, so they've had time." Sandalphon turned their attention to Michael. "Unless you'd rather keep going?"
Her mouth drew into the tight line it did when she didn't have a safe move. "None. I'll draft the request."
The others hid their relief as the group disbanded quickly, lest one of them foolishly suggest something that ruined their escape.
Hell was awful, but Beelzebub was far worse if ze wanted to be. There wasn't a single creature that doubted it.
As ze strode through the hall jammed to bursting with demons and weaponry, and everything scrunched to the side so ze wouldn't have to break stride. Zir office door was able to open and slam shut without impediment. And, on the desk, the phone had already begun to ring as if terrified to be the first to delay zem.
"What'zzz going on up there?" Ze asked as soon as ze picked up the receiver.
"I was just about to ask you the same thing," Gabriel replied. His voice had the slightest waver to it when he left the company of angels for the privacy of his office and added, "He's late ."
"Are you ready to go, then?"
"Of course. And if you could only bring the-" He took a moment to consider his words. "Good parts of Hell with you."
"The good parts."
"You know, the Hellfire. The intimidation. Not the grime and… everything else. We're trying to make a statement."
Beelzebub stayed on the line long enough for him to know that ze intentionally didn't answer, then hung up rather roughly.
Still… he wasn't wrong. It was best not to scare the boy when they needed his cooperation. And there was no telling what would happen if ze didn't get it…
Beelzebub ran a hand over zir face to clear zir skin. Ze consolidated the swarm to be larger, more intimidating, but also more palatable as ze headed to the surface.
"Good timing on that assignment."
Tranquil as Uriel felt, she'd had too much time in Heaven to be unprepared for Archangels. She didn't give Gabriel the satisfaction of her jumping, nor did she square up into a more professional posture.
He blinked in surprise but kept his smile. "We just dismissed."
Uriel gave a rather serene shrug. "It's best to do a thorough job."
"Will Michael accept that?"
"I've been handling her for thousands of years. I'll manage." As he headed off, she added, "I've put in a transfer to Earth, anyway."
"You're… going to Earth? To do what?"
"Inspire and cultivate art and music, and-"
Gabriel's smile grew, "She gave you orders!"
"No. She just approved of the decision I made."
His face hardened, and he forcefully said, "You can't just decide your role, Uriel."
"Why not?"
"You know exactly why."
The professional squaring up came back into her stance. "Are there new orders I should be working on instead?"
"Well… there could be!" He insisted. "Any moment now, She could come to us and-"
"And if orders come, I'll be the first to start on them."
"Then at least follow the last orders."
"The prophecy is over, I'm not going to stay and pretend to work towards it."
Gabriel glanced around for other angels before he leaned in and hissed, "This is tantamount to treason."
"It's not. But giving your blessing for Michael to operate the elevator…"
He froze up.
"Gabriel," she said, a touch more gently though still with authority. "I don't think new orders are coming. She's trusting us to know what we're meant to do."
His nails dug into his palm, and he finally eeked out, "But what if we're wrong?"
"We didn't take any risk at all for thousands of years. We take one now and… It's starting to feel like Heaven used to."
Gabriel looked around at the angels who seemed relaxed for the first time since… well. "I have something I need to do, then."
"I have an office to pack." She glanced towards the pocket that held her phone. "And someone to avoid."
"Good luck."
"You too."
