Michelle, Noah And A Dead Guy

*The door swings open.*

*Cassiel walks in, looking like she got caught in a downpour and holding a child that seems to be no older than two, who refuses to stop squirming and he is covered in mud. Elizabeth takes one look at her and covers her mouth to muffle her own laughter*

Oh you brought company. Hold on I’ll grab the toy box.

ོSorry, he tried to drown the last babysitter, I couldn’t find anyone who can handle that well in time. ོ

*Cassiel closes the door before she lets the toddler down, grimacing at the muddy footsteps he leaves as he runs to the toy box*

*the footsteps vanish as Denny freezes, looking at Azrael with wide eyes*

Do you wanna? We can take the toys out there too.

*Azrael picks up the toy box*

ོyou do know how to swim, correct? ོ

Cass, I was raised in the palace. I’ll be fine.

ོI meant in water, not in space. ོ

…I will be fine.

*She sighs, but nods, crouching down to be on Denny’s level as she talks quietly to him*

*Elizabeth looks at the time and frowns*

*Elizabeth mumbles something and Cassiel frowns but doesn’t disagree*

❅…really? ❅

*Elizabeth nods slowly, and Cassiel puts her hand on Elizabeth’s forehead, grimacing as she leans into it*

*Azrael watches*

ོ…any chance I can make her something to eat? She’s feverish. ོ

Everything is labeled, kitchen is fully stocked. Go for it.

*Cassiel nods, immediately setting about making chicken noodle soup, and Elizabeth closes her eyes while Denny digs through the toy bin*

*Denny moves to block the door before Lavina can exit, holding out a toy cat to her*

*He presses the cat against her hand insistently*

*Denny smiles back, the halo around his eyes glowing brighter*

“I bet she’ll let you pet her.”

*Denny nods, moving out of the way*

*Lavina offers a high five.*

*He high-fives her happily, halo glowing again*

*Denny runs over to Cass and she smiles at him*

ོno one you can get away with killing who isn’t related to us. ོ

Damn.

What about tortured then?

*Denny looks between the door, Azrael and Cassiel*

You ready to play?

Let’s go make the coolest mud pit ever then!

*Denny headbutts Cassiel’s legs and she drops a hand down to sign something to him, he nods and runs over to the door*

*Azrael follows, opening the door.*

*Denny sprints outside, as soon as his feet touch the grass, the dirt turns to mud, splashing with each step*

*Azrael chuckles a little, bringing the toy box outside with it.*

*he sprints around, circling back to Azrael after a few seconds and causing some of the mud to splash in its direction*

*Azrael splashes some of the mud back at Denny*

*He makes a noise that Azrael can’t quite place but he’s grinning widely*

*They chuckle*

*He grabs a fistful of mud, but it turns even more liquid-y and Denny frowns*

What is it?

*He throws it to the floor and stomps about, splashing mud everywhere*

Big feelings huh?

*Denny stares at it like it’s just grown a second head*

*Approving nods*

You having fun?

*He nods again*

*He scoops up mud and manages to get it into a ball shape… before throwing it at Azrael, and it deforms mid-air*

Gasp. Mud fight?

*nod*

*It nods and throws some mud at Denny*

*Denny laughs as he gets splattered, the mud becoming very diluted on contact with him*

*Azrael makes a bunch of mud balls*

*Denny tries to make one, and it actually manages to make it to Azrael in a ball this time*

*It huffs a laugh and tries to wipe the mud from its face-which just smears it everywhere.*

*Denny smiles widely*

*Denny dodges, but barely, throwing some back. Elizabeth looks out the door and smiles*

*It smiles to Elizabeth, but sputters when a chunk of mud flies from a tree and hits it dead in the nose*

*Denny makes a delighted noise, and Elizabeth covers her ears seemingly on autopilot*

*Denny runs over and dumps even more mud on both of them*

*Denny runs at Elizabeth, who shuts the door in his face, just in time for mud to splatter everywhere on impact with the door*

*Denny hesitates at Azrael’s tone, inside, Cassiel is portioning out chicken noodle soup, handing Elizabeth her bowl and summoning one other which is in the shape of a shell*

He won’t stop making things for the kids and I’m running out of ideas to suggest and when that inevitably happens one of your kids is going to end up with a pet chicken that’s taller than you so please help-

ོI’m sure your dad could… be convinced to allow you to spread out the gifts to benefit anyone you choose ོ

ོThere’s a community centre, one that Jophiel set up. I’m sure that his Poyel would know exactly where things are needed. Better than I do, at least. ོ

*Denny frowns, glaring at Tez*

ོAlso because I am holding a siren who will tell his eldritch siblings that I was melted by you. Unless you would like to see what the children of Exile and Isolation would do to you in retaliation, it would be inadvisable to melt me in front of witnesses. ོ

*Denny’s eyes well up with tears, and Cassiel hums a lullaby that Azrael only very vaguely remembers*

Yeah, we’re both alright.

*Denny’s shaking subsides, enough for him to gasp a breath, face hidden in Cassiel’s chest*

⋆ . ࿔ ˚I didn’t mean to scare you⋆ . ࿔ ˚

*After a few seconds, Denny nods, still clinging to Cassiel for dear life*

*Tez waves a little*

*He waves back, the action so quick it would be entirely missed if anyone blinked, before returning to clinging to Cassiel*

ོMay I ask what party that is? ོ

Azazel’s birthday, there’s a bunch of people at the palace for it and I am content to pop by when there’s not so much noise.

Which is why I’m not going.

Probably none of them? Hopefully none of them.

ོ…Happy birthday regardless. I’ll bring you something next time I come over, I’m sorry that I forgot. ོ

ོSorry, you were saying Azazel was having a party, is that in the palace up here or at your dad’s? ོ

Dads, neither of us really go to the palace up here for anything good.

ོ…Definitely more recent than that, considering you brought Nieko there to get healed. ོ

Right. Well anyways Zazel’s doing like a game night thing I think. Which always ends badly because no one in this family is a good loser. If you ever get invited to one, don’t go.

ོDuly noted, though I don’t tend to go to family events if I can avoid it. ོ

Dinner is usually nice. Though it sometimes turns into breakfast.

*She smiles a little*

They’re not like the ones here. At all.

*She hums, not convinced but not arguing*

They’re…nice. Weird but nice. I go in my pajamas half the time.

ོ…I’ll take your word for it. ོ

*Denny looks curious*

*A photo album appears and Tez starts to flip through it, showing Denny and Cass. In every single photo, there’s genuine smiles on people’s faces. Whether they be just talking to one another, playing cards, cleaning up, or making more of a mess(food fights are inevitable), each image radiates joy.*

*Denny smiles back at the pictures, and Cassiel’s eyes soften*

⋆ . ࿔ ˚This one is when Az first introduced us to Vivi. I stuck googly eyes all over her.⋆ . ࿔ ˚

ོAdorable. ོ

Yeah. They’re like…actually fun to go to.

ོBelieve it or not, our oldest brother started the family dinners without God’s interference. I’m aware of what they should be. ོ

Oh. I didn’t know that.

ོ…It changed a lot by the time you were created, but between Samael and Zadkiel, they both… tried… to make us a family. ོ

…that sounds like it was nice.

ོIt was. It was also brief. ོ

Oh I’m sure. Nothing good lasts up here.

ོI wouldn’t go that far. I’m sure it would’ve lasted if not for myself and Gabriel arguing in such a volatile manner. ོ

Eh, I’ve never had anything nice last.

ོNo? What about your children? ོ

That’s here so doesn’t count.

Yes but that implies it’s going to last. I’m very doubtful in that regard

*They position themself between Cassiel and the door just in case.*

ོThey won’t harm me while I hold a child, if that’s what you’re worried about. ོ

*Gabriel walks out into the clearing around Azrael’s cabin, their expression grim, and Denny stares at them in awe*

*Tez makes popcorn*

Cass doesn’t bring out the worst in everyone, she’s great. Also could the both of you try to be civil? There’s children here.

Cass didn’t do anything to me-? She’s allowed to be here.

“Not by Heaven’s laws.”

And I care about those since when?

“Were you not trying to get one of those children to go back to living with her?”

*Gabriel goes willingly*

I don’t know what the conflict between you and Cass is but there will be none of it in my house, and there will certainly be no claims to my children because next time when I drag you out here it will be to fight.

“She renders all of us inconsequential. Even you, though she claims otherwise. Her being here is a danger to your children.”

She is a mother who cares about her children and as long as her kids are here she will never be unwelcome.

“And that is another thing! Have you even seen the true forms of her children? Of Burjachiquí and Baji? Because you wouldn’t be so willing to house them if you had-“

*Azrael’s fist connects with Gabriel’s jaw before they can finish talking.*

*they take a step back, frowning*

*Azrael steps forward and punches them again, harder this time*

*Gabriel stares at Azrael, but doesn’t do anything to defend themself*

Get off of my property and stay the fuck away from my family until you have the basic decency to not talk bad about children.

You have five seconds. Leave.

*The door swings open.*

*Cassiel walks in, looking like she got caught in a downpour and holding a child that seems to be no older than two, who refuses to stop squirming and he is covered in mud. Elizabeth takes one look at her and covers her mouth to muffle her own laughter*

Oh you brought company. Hold on I’ll grab the toy box.

ོSorry, he tried to drown the last babysitter, I couldn’t find anyone who can handle that well in time. ོ

*Cassiel closes the door before she lets the toddler down, grimacing at the muddy footsteps he leaves as he runs to the toy box*

*the footsteps vanish as Denny freezes, looking at Azrael with wide eyes*

Do you wanna? We can take the toys out there too.

*Azrael picks up the toy box*

ོyou do know how to swim, correct? ོ

Cass, I was raised in the palace. I’ll be fine.

ོI meant in water, not in space. ོ

…I will be fine.

*She sighs, but nods, crouching down to be on Denny’s level as she talks quietly to him*

*Elizabeth looks at the time and frowns*

*Elizabeth mumbles something and Cassiel frowns but doesn’t disagree*

❅…really? ❅

*Elizabeth nods slowly, and Cassiel puts her hand on Elizabeth’s forehead, grimacing as she leans into it*

*Azrael watches*

ོ…any chance I can make her something to eat? She’s feverish. ོ

Everything is labeled, kitchen is fully stocked. Go for it.

*Cassiel nods, immediately setting about making chicken noodle soup, and Elizabeth closes her eyes while Denny digs through the toy bin*

*Denny moves to block the door before Lavina can exit, holding out a toy cat to her*

*He presses the cat against her hand insistently*

*Denny smiles back, the halo around his eyes glowing brighter*

“I bet she’ll let you pet her.”

*Denny nods, moving out of the way*

*Lavina offers a high five.*

*He high-fives her happily, halo glowing again*

*Denny runs over to Cass and she smiles at him*

ོno one you can get away with killing who isn’t related to us. ོ

Damn.

What about tortured then?

*Denny looks between the door, Azrael and Cassiel*

You ready to play?

Let’s go make the coolest mud pit ever then!

*Denny headbutts Cassiel’s legs and she drops a hand down to sign something to him, he nods and runs over to the door*

*Azrael follows, opening the door.*

*Denny sprints outside, as soon as his feet touch the grass, the dirt turns to mud, splashing with each step*

*Azrael chuckles a little, bringing the toy box outside with it.*

*he sprints around, circling back to Azrael after a few seconds and causing some of the mud to splash in its direction*

*Azrael splashes some of the mud back at Denny*

*He makes a noise that Azrael can’t quite place but he’s grinning widely*

*They chuckle*

*He grabs a fistful of mud, but it turns even more liquid-y and Denny frowns*

What is it?

*He throws it to the floor and stomps about, splashing mud everywhere*

Big feelings huh?

*Denny stares at it like it’s just grown a second head*

*Approving nods*

You having fun?

*He nods again*

*He scoops up mud and manages to get it into a ball shape… before throwing it at Azrael, and it deforms mid-air*

Gasp. Mud fight?

*nod*

*It nods and throws some mud at Denny*

*Denny laughs as he gets splattered, the mud becoming very diluted on contact with him*

*Azrael makes a bunch of mud balls*

*Denny tries to make one, and it actually manages to make it to Azrael in a ball this time*

*It huffs a laugh and tries to wipe the mud from its face-which just smears it everywhere.*

*Denny smiles widely*

*Denny dodges, but barely, throwing some back. Elizabeth looks out the door and smiles*

*It smiles to Elizabeth, but sputters when a chunk of mud flies from a tree and hits it dead in the nose*

*Denny makes a delighted noise, and Elizabeth covers her ears seemingly on autopilot*

*Denny runs over and dumps even more mud on both of them*

*Denny runs at Elizabeth, who shuts the door in his face, just in time for mud to splatter everywhere on impact with the door*

*Denny hesitates at Azrael’s tone, inside, Cassiel is portioning out chicken noodle soup, handing Elizabeth her bowl and summoning one other which is in the shape of a shell*

He won’t stop making things for the kids and I’m running out of ideas to suggest and when that inevitably happens one of your kids is going to end up with a pet chicken that’s taller than you so please help-

ོI’m sure your dad could… be convinced to allow you to spread out the gifts to benefit anyone you choose ོ

ོThere’s a community centre, one that Jophiel set up. I’m sure that his Poyel would know exactly where things are needed. Better than I do, at least. ོ

*Denny frowns, glaring at Tez*

ོAlso because I am holding a siren who will tell his eldritch siblings that I was melted by you. Unless you would like to see what the children of Exile and Isolation would do to you in retaliation, it would be inadvisable to melt me in front of witnesses. ོ

*Denny’s eyes well up with tears, and Cassiel hums a lullaby that Azrael only very vaguely remembers*

Yeah, we’re both alright.

*Denny’s shaking subsides, enough for him to gasp a breath, face hidden in Cassiel’s chest*

⋆ . ࿔ ˚I didn’t mean to scare you⋆ . ࿔ ˚

*After a few seconds, Denny nods, still clinging to Cassiel for dear life*

*Tez waves a little*

*He waves back, the action so quick it would be entirely missed if anyone blinked, before returning to clinging to Cassiel*

ོMay I ask what party that is? ོ

Azazel’s birthday, there’s a bunch of people at the palace for it and I am content to pop by when there’s not so much noise.

Which is why I’m not going.

Probably none of them? Hopefully none of them.

ོ…Happy birthday regardless. I’ll bring you something next time I come over, I’m sorry that I forgot. ོ

ོSorry, you were saying Azazel was having a party, is that in the palace up here or at your dad’s? ོ

Dads, neither of us really go to the palace up here for anything good.

ོ…Definitely more recent than that, considering you brought Nieko there to get healed. ོ

Right. Well anyways Zazel’s doing like a game night thing I think. Which always ends badly because no one in this family is a good loser. If you ever get invited to one, don’t go.

ོDuly noted, though I don’t tend to go to family events if I can avoid it. ོ

Dinner is usually nice. Though it sometimes turns into breakfast.

*She smiles a little*

They’re not like the ones here. At all.

*She hums, not convinced but not arguing*

They’re…nice. Weird but nice. I go in my pajamas half the time.

ོ…I’ll take your word for it. ོ

*Denny looks curious*

*A photo album appears and Tez starts to flip through it, showing Denny and Cass. In every single photo, there’s genuine smiles on people’s faces. Whether they be just talking to one another, playing cards, cleaning up, or making more of a mess(food fights are inevitable), each image radiates joy.*

*Denny smiles back at the pictures, and Cassiel’s eyes soften*

⋆ . ࿔ ˚This one is when Az first introduced us to Vivi. I stuck googly eyes all over her.⋆ . ࿔ ˚

ོAdorable. ོ

Yeah. They’re like…actually fun to go to.

ོBelieve it or not, our oldest brother started the family dinners without God’s interference. I’m aware of what they should be. ོ

Oh. I didn’t know that.

ོ…It changed a lot by the time you were created, but between Samael and Zadkiel, they both… tried… to make us a family. ོ

…that sounds like it was nice.

ོIt was. It was also brief. ོ

Oh I’m sure. Nothing good lasts up here.

ོI wouldn’t go that far. I’m sure it would’ve lasted if not for myself and Gabriel arguing in such a volatile manner. ོ

Eh, I’ve never had anything nice last.

ོNo? What about your children? ོ

That’s here so doesn’t count.

Yes but that implies it’s going to last. I’m very doubtful in that regard

*They position themself between Cassiel and the door just in case.*

ོThey won’t harm me while I hold a child, if that’s what you’re worried about. ོ

*Gabriel walks out into the clearing around Azrael’s cabin, their expression grim, and Denny stares at them in awe*

*Tez makes popcorn*

Cass doesn’t bring out the worst in everyone, she’s great. Also could the both of you try to be civil? There’s children here.

Cass didn’t do anything to me-? She’s allowed to be here.

“Not by Heaven’s laws.”

And I care about those since when?

“Were you not trying to get one of those children to go back to living with her?”

*Gabriel goes willingly*

I don’t know what the conflict between you and Cass is but there will be none of it in my house, and there will certainly be no claims to my children because next time when I drag you out here it will be to fight.

“She renders all of us inconsequential. Even you, though she claims otherwise. Her being here is a danger to your children.”

She is a mother who cares about her children and as long as her kids are here she will never be unwelcome.

“And that is another thing! Have you even seen the true forms of her children? Of Burjachiquí and Baji? Because you wouldn’t be so willing to house them if you had-“

*Azrael’s fist connects with Gabriel’s jaw before they can finish talking.*

*they take a step back, frowning*

*Azrael steps forward and punches them again, harder this time*

*Gabriel stares at Azrael, but doesn’t do anything to defend themself*

Get off of my property and stay the fuck away from my family until you have the basic decency to not talk bad about children.

*The door swings open.*

*Cassiel walks in, looking like she got caught in a downpour and holding a child that seems to be no older than two, who refuses to stop squirming and he is covered in mud. Elizabeth takes one look at her and covers her mouth to muffle her own laughter*

Oh you brought company. Hold on I’ll grab the toy box.

ོSorry, he tried to drown the last babysitter, I couldn’t find anyone who can handle that well in time. ོ

*Cassiel closes the door before she lets the toddler down, grimacing at the muddy footsteps he leaves as he runs to the toy box*

*the footsteps vanish as Denny freezes, looking at Azrael with wide eyes*

Do you wanna? We can take the toys out there too.

*Azrael picks up the toy box*

ོyou do know how to swim, correct? ོ

Cass, I was raised in the palace. I’ll be fine.

ོI meant in water, not in space. ོ