#miscellaneous log

I suppose I should preface this by explaining myself to you. You see, while all of these documents are highly classified and secretive, I also want  to make sure you will read them. Call me biased or whatever, but every good writer has a message, even if they are merely documenting truth. Facts without an overarching theme or message is just journalism, and that is not what this is.

We are real. We are more like you than you could ever know. And by the Gods, I WILL have you understand us by the end of this project.

The following is a brief description of the relationship between our resident angel and demon. Specifically, a Persian Peri and a Japanese yokai. 

As two beings from different sides of the supernatural meter, divine versus unholy, good versus evil, blessed versus cursed, you would think that Mr. Al-Hashemi and Mr. Takahashi despise each other. The truth of the matter is they get along better than anyone else on the team. Both have been denied access to their homes for being too unnatural, not fitting the bill; Mr. Al-Hashemi is a mischievous sex addict whom at one point took up a job as a prostitute, while Mr. Takahashi is a reserved and oftentimes quiet yokai that inhabits the darkness that follows us. Indeed, it is an angel’s job to be disciplined, thoughtful, and even-tempered, while it is a demon’s job to be ruthless, maddening, and irrational.

Mr. Al-Hashemi’s debauchery knows no bounds (though I should clarify he is NOT a predator), and Mr. Takahashi’s debauchery is less than that of even the most pure angel.

There have been times when I have caught them, though. The unmistakable pull towards each other; a magnetic force that should have incited hatred, instigated war.

The first time it happened was after our first mission as a 10-man unit. The giant and the succubus had left quickly, as neither were used to being around others for very long, and the two undead had taken a liking to each other very quickly. The three female-aligned members of the team, the Fury, the dryad, and the cryptid, all decided to retreat to get to know each other better. If you’re able to count correctly, then you will note this only leaves me, the angel, and the demon.

The tension was palpable. I cannot say that I have ever truly felt fear in my life, but in that moment, I cursed the brass for being so reckless and stupid as to bring a divine being and a demonic being together.

Fortunately, I had still been thinking in terms of Christian mythos. Not all angels and demons are like ours, thank the Gods. The two of them quickly turned into good friends, and I was amazed at how... handsy they were each other. 

I am no prude but male intimacy between friends is not something I can say I am familiar with. It seems that even after 3,000 years I have not learned to separate the platonic from the romantic.

Is it platonic though?

Mr. Al-Hashemi does not speak. His voice does not work. And yet Mr. Takahashi understands him just fine. They kiss each other on the cheek and for a moment I swear their gazes linger. There is a profound connection there that I long for with somebody, anybody. I fear that even if soulmates exist, I will never have the same connection as Seraph and Shadow.

They go to bed together each night. None of us are sure if they sleep together or... ah, “sleep together”. We dare not ask.

Now my mind is delving into places I would rather keep closed off to the likes of you. My point was to humanize us, not fetishize us.

Ugh, where was I?

The teamwork that the two of them exhibit is amazing, but the both of them have their own respective fields. When engaged in tactics that require aerial superiority and tactical information, when espionage, brute-force, and long range fighting doesn’t work, Seraph takes to the skies. The Fury, Sister, is usually right beside him, but their job is to distract. Crowd control.

Seraph finds the target he’s looking for. A commander, a tactician, anyone who would know enough. At the speed of light, the Seraph has captured them and brought them to Takahashi’s waiting arms.

Then Takahashi begins his work.

When I tell you that Takahashi is a reserved and all-around pleasant man, make no mistake. He’s just as capable of violence as the rest of us. His type is simply... the more brutal, more psychological kind.

Civilizations have risen and fallen, wars have constantly been waged, and yet the question we always find ourselves debating is whether torture is humane.

I will tell you now: your government does not care about being humane, especially not when they employ the likes of us.

Takahashi works efficiently and quickly with little regards to his victim’s rights. Once we have enough information to map out the battlefield, Takahashi’s work is done, for the most part. He disseminates the information into well-thought strategies, and serves as our foremost Tactical Operations Officer.

Usually when the briefings are over, it is just like that night. I am alone with the Seraph and the Shadow, and their eyes quietly ask me to leave.