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Who: William Twining/

notsolomon & you
When: OOC 3/13, IC: 6/6
Where: His and Kevin's apartment/the shopping district
What: For people who either want to celebrate his birthday or touch base with him after the last event. Or whatever your heart desires.
Rating/Warning: None

I: Apartment

[So today was his birthday. William had been so preoccupied that he had forgotten about the date until Kevin had reminded him. When he woke up that morning, William found that his feelings about the day were rather complicated. Especially since his last birthday had seen a complete upheaval in one of the very foundation stones of his life.

That had been when he'd learned that Kevin wasn't who he had appeared to be. That Kevin wasn't the Kevin he'd known since childhood, but someone who had taken the original's place, like a cuckoo bird invading a nest. And there had been countless other deceptions tied into that, Kevin's being an Angel among them.

It had all worked out in the end and for the better, as their relationship was now much stronger. But the date was firmly etched into his mind, more bittersweet than something to celebrate.

Of course, William wasn't one to let himself dwell on such things and he quickly gained his bearings and decided to get prepared for the day. He couldn't go to London this year, but William was going to enjoy the day and all it brought with it, regardless of any negative associations.

Throughout the day he texts different friends, inviting them over for cake and snacks, because there's only so much he can eat on his own.]

II. Shopping District

[He's saved enough money that he can treat himself, so William's been hitting different stores all day. He's mainly thinking of buying some books and a few video games, though mostly he's been window shopping here and there.

Despite having been in the city for a while, William still finds a bit of modern technology or some alien merchandise that surprises him. And he's staring at one particular thing now, whatever it is, one eyebrow raised.]

Whatever it is, they shouldn't advertise it with such an absurd slogan.

III Wildcard

[If you have your own idea for a prompt, type it up by all means!]

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[Eighteen years old. Old enough to broach uncomfortable questions unfortunately.

He does hesitate for a moment, because William really doesn't want to make Kevin uncomfortable. He knows it's complicated. He's seen Uriel in Solomon's memories and he's known Kevin himself. But he's also curious.]

Kevin, I do not want to talk about this too in depth on my birthday, especially since it bothers you, but isn't that a bit strange? Humans are filled with hatred and passion. While a bit of detachment is necessary for fairness, I would think complete detachment would make it impossible to understand people adequately enough to punish and judge them.

[Okay now he got too serious. But well, it's out now.]

. . . You mean like we hack our own bodies?

[Okay, so William has a definite point about the bad side effects, which Leon can only guess would be swift and many. Sure, that's how CERES operates. But setting that aside for a moment, that still sounds friggin' cool.

And what if there weren't? Couldn't that potentially be a useful strategy, to beat CERES at their own game?]

Young master, it was my past that almost ruined your birthday last time, wasn't it?

[He attempts to gain time by pouring tea for both of them. Well, at least Master William is not being chased by a serial killer tonight. Trust me too, wasn't what what he said?]

Master Kazuya made a similar point the other day. He said that we do not understand humans. But young master, all that was required from me was to understand what caused humans pain.

[And that he did way too well. Compartmentalization. Kindness was for other angels. Rarely ever Uriel. It was when he stared asking the "whys" and "ifs" that he lost his wing.]

[He relaxes against whatever he's sitting on.]

When you've got it, you should flaunt it. That's my philosophy.

It wasn't quite that. It was the lie that did that.

[He's really not trying to be cruel. But they need to be honest with each other when it comes to such matters. That's what trust meant in the end. Being able to talk like this, because no matter how painful, damning or shameful the topic was, you could trust that the other person wouldn't abandon you. And William definitely didn't intend to do that to Kevin.

So Kazuya had said something similar? He wondered if his friend had told Kevin the truth? But that seemed unlikely, otherwise Kevin wouldn't have been so calm in regards to him.]

I am not surprised. I think his views are not exactly the same as mine, but similar.

[Though still different. Kaz came from something more painful than William did. Sure William had Solomon's memories of untold suffering and cruelty at God's hands, but reincarnation meant that William had a distance from that pain. He could look at it more objectively.]

But, let me put this another way then. Do you want to understand humans? Right now? As you are?

[Kevin blushes terribly at what he instinctively takes as a rebuke. ]

Honestly, I cannot understand how you could forgive me.

[He sips his own tea, looking repentant enough, but also as grateful as one year ago.]

And as for understanding humans, I fear that I only wished to understand half a dozen of them...And only one still lives. The most important of them all, I must add.

[The other chose to be a demon and totally doesn't count.]

...I would think it would be easy enough to understand why I did.

[Because what they had built is important. Even if it isn't quite what he'd thought it was.]

While that does make me happy you feel that way Kevin, I think you should open your heart to others as well. For your own sake. Make some friends.

[That was what made life worth living. Being with others and laughing with them. And William hated to think that someone so important to him was missing out on that.]

Not that I can force you though.

[There was no contract after all and even if there had been, it would be meaningless to manufacture such relationships.]

[He raises a free hand to rub his left shoulder, averting his eyes.]

Oh, young master. It is not...easy. Not for me. Not for any of us. We are never forgiven because as angels we should know better. If we err there is nothing to do but accept our punishment, and hope we will not fall. Hope for some measure of mercy. But, just like you, Solomon forgave me...I will never forget those gentle eyes...

[The eyes that both ruined and saved him. And now they are back, looking at him. Still forgiving.]

...As for friends, I wouldn't know where to start.

[But there is little conviction in his voice. He'd do anything to fulfill young master's wishes, even if he wishes him to have friends. ]

I find that very sad,that you have lived that life.

[To always walk that narrow path where any flaw could doom you...

It seemed too painful. And limiting. People grew through their failings.

He doesn't know how to respond to that last bit. It's still difficult to wrap his mind around how much he affects Kevin, how much he changed the trajectory of his life. So he'll leave it alone, because anything he could say seems trite.]

Is there anyone other than me you enjoy talking with here? Because that would be a good start.

[He has a feeling that this might be a losing battle. He doesn't want Kevin to have friends just to please him. That would defeat the purpose. But baby steps.]

It was not sad. It was never sad. [He has to protest, really.] We sang. Raphael better than any of us. And Michael was not so wounded by betrayal. All we wanted was to remain in God's Presence...

[He still misses it, and he knows he always will. He shakes his head. It's gone now, like his wing. He is no longer that angel. He will never stand that close to the throne again. And God has never answered his prayers. It is all right. He has found another precious treasure, hasn't he?]

I like Master Kaz, I believe. But I fear I disappointed him.

Oh...

[Well when he talks like that, William can't criticize.]

I guess that's another part of your life I never knew about. You should talk more about it. If you wish of course.

[He deliberates for a brief moment on asking about that conversation and decides to dive in.]

Do you want to talk about it? About what happened with Kazuya? He hasn't mentioned anything to me, though he might not wish to.

[Oh dear they really all are on different wavelengths. But in for a penny, in for a pound apparently. This is a pretty objectionable way to spend his time, but now he's curious and not willing to go on his own. Because somehow that feels so much more perverted. Totally. And this way he can just blame it on the other two of more pure hearted acquaintances catch him there. It's actually really convenient for him.]

I am not like that. [He's not that arrogant. At all. How very dare you Leon. That is totally not a perfect imitation of him or anything. At all.]

And stop being so perverse. My heart cannot take it.

[He glances at Kaz. He's feeling heartless right now.]

And just so you know, I'm not paying for you when we go, since it was your idea.

If we are data, it wouldn't be impossible. I mean, we could assume that when things go wrong with us here, it is just a problem with the coding. Like things became updated and now there are a bunch of bugs.

But if a person knew how to do it, imagine what they could do.

[It was a bit staggering to think about.]

Not that I am inclined to actually do such a thing though. I am already fairly perfect as is.

[Except for athletic ability.]

[At Leon's threat, Kaz's guileless smile transformed into a shit-eating grin, his eyes glittering with mischief. He was going to call him Lion-O in public. He was going to do it. It was clear he was going to do it. Even worse: he was going to make additions to that nickname. He was thinking... "Private Lion-O Pussy Addict", or something...]

Eh? [But all thoughts of that went flying out of the window when William delivered that cruel blow] E-Eh!? What?! You mean, I'm gonna have to pay for my own stuff...?!?

[The horror! THE PAIN! Well, okay, not really because Kazuya had plenty of money to buy food with, but that was because of his strict mooching style! William, why you do this!?!]

I suppose so. Though you seem to be in a constant state of flaunting it. You must have an excess.

[That's how it worked, right?]

What is honest, what is not honest, what is eternity?

I'm a gift from the Goddess Herself to all of humanity. I'm only doing what would please Her most and make Her proud of what She gave to the world.

[He appears and sounds completely serious in regard to what he's saying.]

I upset him. He was angry at God, and I could not understand.

[Do you know who else is kind of angry at God? This kid right in front of him. So angry he refuses to acknowledge his existence, but - somehow - Kevin finds that easier to deal with.]

Sometimes I wonder if we are even talking about the same being...

[It is one thing when a little kid's parents die in front of him. But what Master Kaz keeps telling him is on a complete different level, or so Kevin wishes to believe.]

[Oh how to discuss this with him? Hadn't William tried that before even? Back in London, when he'd asked why God would torture Solomon when he loved him so much? Of course, William hadn't known Kevin was actually Uriel, the very angel from those dreams.

And anger at God was a complicated thing. One that had been tempered over time as he'd embraced Realism. How could you hate something that didn't exist? Far better to think that the horrible things that happened in life were not the work of some all powerful deity, but random chance. That was far more comforting.

But then demons and angels had entered his life and William had been forced to shift his world view again. And for the moment, he had concluded that God was nothing more than a strict teacher or a controlling parent. Pitiful in his inability to get that he couldn't control humanity, so he foolishly doubled down instead, which only worsened the problem.

He searches a moment for what he wants to say.]

Well we do come from different worlds. It might be that the God of his world is very different from ours. Though I think that what he says and feels still applies to ours.

[While they were different in many ways, William could understand much of what Kazuya felt in that regard.]

It's hard to be told that God can punish and take from you and that you are supposed to love him anyways. That you are supposed to understand and obey someone who will never even bother to speak with you. It's frightening and frustrating.

And it's hard when someone like yourself come along and says to love him and accept his punishment. It even sounds dismissive.

[This isn't a pleasant topic and honestly, it would have been easier when William had still thought Kevin human. But the fact that he's not is all the more reason to try. Because if they can't reach an understanding, or learn to at least respect one another's differences, then what do they have?]

[Kevin grows very quiet and starts fussing with his gloves. He did not intend to sound dismissive. There are rules, and there is a price for breaking them. For Kevin, that is a fact of life, and it always baffles him that humans have such a hard time accepting something as simple as that.

But right now, expressing his theological views coherently is the least of his concerns. He fears that he will say something terrible and Master William will reject him as he should. And then what? Chances are God will forsake him too. ]

Please, forgive me, sir.

[It is a scared plea more than anything. Don't kick me away. Don't rip off my wing. Don't stop talking to me. He doesn't even exactly know what he is apologizing for. Well, disappointing his precious person is most certainly a huge part of it. ]

I understand how you feel.

[About Master and Mistress. It was cruel of Kevin to bring God up, really.]

What the hell, does he usually pay for all your dick eclairs or something?

[Well that's a weird arrangement. And hard to believe, considering how tight with William is with money himself. Leon watches the two of them with a confused little frown; the more comes out about this relationship they have, the stranger it seems.]

[Way to change the mood of the conversation there. The last part makes Leon snort.]

What, you don't wanna be taller? More built? Never think about that stuff?

[He's still got the more important stuff in the back of his mind, but now he's kinda curious about this.]

[He can't help but feel a momentary flash of glee at Kazuya's crestfallen expression. Serves him right.

It doesn't last when Leon makes that comment though.]

...Leon, this guy is a mooch. He will do anything in his power to avoid paying. You have to know when to be firm with him.

[Not that William was good at that. Usually.]

[He can sense the fear in Kevin's voice, which wasn't William's intention at all. He's realizing that he might have been overly ambitious in starting this discussion at this point, even though it's something that he's wanted to say for a while.]

Kevin... [He swallows the lump in his throat that he hadn't even realized had formed.] I'm not angry with you. There is nothing to forgive.

[And then just like that, William's going to let the conversation go for the moment. Because he suspects it will not be fruitful at this point. At least not the way it's going.]

I will not say anymore Kevin, though what I said still stands. And I hope you will at least consider what I said. You do not have to agree with me, though I would appreciate it if you at least try to think about where I am coming from.

But I will not pester you anymore on it. Not on today of all days.

Hey, I'm not a mooch!

[Kaz fluffed up like an offended water fowl like that. He was not going to let this become another Sir Mooch-a-lot incident with people slandering his amazing money saving skills!]

I-I'm just... really good at bargains and deals! Like, y'know, the best coupon is a friend with a generous wallet!

[Which is... mooching...]

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