Wholly (Un)Holy

does he?

it gives iloren more pause than he would have liked, some time ago. he slowly sits up again as he thinks about it, suddenly needing to pay more attention to the thoughts in his head and the feelings in his chest.

his gaze sweeps over the rest of the church. ' i met mythal. one of my gods. it would be hard to lose my belief after such a feat. ' and if the stars hadn't taken his abilities, he would hear the ancient elvhen voices in his head still, whispering knowledge to him.

it's shame that festers in his next words. ' but i doubted. i wasn't sure— who could survive so many things without divine intervention? '

The years of her age make itself present in her voice. In the way her fingers travel over the keys as the music fills the air of the church.

Eiden rolls his eyes a little.

" Can't say I know much about that sort thing though. And... "

" Not much point hunting anyone here if they're just going to revive anyway... Not to sound cold or anything. But I guess it's nice to end up here for a fresh start? "

Though, it seems she's distracted from her question as she nods. "I agree, but for some that may not stop them. As I said, it is a hard to stand to see a Fallen Angel. For most, I mean."

"I do not need you defending me," he answers, "You are nothing." Sebastian huffs out a sigh.

"If I am nothing, then why are you so concerned about what I said to your spouse?" Ismene says coldly.

"What do you want out of this confrontation, Sebastian? I cannot take back what I said. Are you afraid that knowledge of his divinity will ruin your relationship with Vanth?"

"Is that right?"

He picked up his own pair before he blew on the still steaming dish and started eating.

"Well," He thinks about his own answer, mulling over the least important bits, "I lived, died, got brought back a second time, killed myself, and now third time's the charm."

He chewed around the chop sticks.

"Believe me or not, but that is my story, Toji." Ismene points out. She could hear the disbelief in his tone.

"The wings aren't for show."

"You continue to test my patience, Ismene Ciara Killough. You are like a rat, whispering into ears to anyone who will hear." While he has no idea what she could have possibly talked about with Vanth, he's sure it isn't anything good.

"So like you to presume the worst, Sebastian Everest Amaros." Ismene replies coolly. "I only had a brief conversation with your spouse regarding his divinity."

She looks up at him, her eyes cold. "I even defended you to him."

Send an emoji for our muses to enjoy a wild night out!

🍸 - for a drinking contest between our muses

🍷 - for our muses to have an honest conversation about life while drinking

🫗 - for our muses to spill their secrets while drunk

🎯 - for a drunk darts game

🥤 - for a game of beer pong

🎱 - for a pool game

🪩 - for our muses to go dancing while drunk

🎤 - for our muses to sing karaoke while drunk

👊 - for our muses to start a fight while drunk

🧱 - for our muses to do some crime while drunk

🫂 - for our muses to try and get home after a night of drinking

📱 - for my muse to call yours to pick them up after drinking too much

📵 - for your muse to call mine to pick them up after drinking too much

" But ahh. I wonder if we're thinking of same people. I do get along with one at least but the other one.... No hope there. "

At least he leaves him alone most of the time these days.

"After all, Fallen Angels usually mean that they gave in to temptation." Ismene continues. "Not quite demonic yet, but maybe there."

Ismene doesn't seem bothered by such a fact. 'I am just very fortunate that both I have met so far are reasonable."

ismene looks towards the sky as if it would hold an answer. he watches her as she does and wonders how many times he's looked towards the breach in the sky, and later its scar, forever embedded into it. much like the scar in his left palm.

who he is, that's a question too large to ask her and expect an answer.

iloren nods solemnly. ' the dalish don't follow the maker or his prophets. the people didn't care whether or not i believed— the belief of the masses outweighed my own. '

it was a lonely position. in the beginning, he had made his opinion clear. he didn't believe in andraste. he didn't feel a higher power at the conclave. he didn't remember most of the conclave. with time, things changed, but his lonely position remained the same.

The fallen angel sighs. "Humans easily do the same no matter the realm, it seems."

Her fingers rest lightly on the keys again. Ismene picks another song to play, though it is softer so they both may speak.

It oddly enough sets her mind at ease, despite her slaying these monsters with the weapon she found!

She takes a breath as the song ends. Ismene knows she can't stay silent for long.

"Salve, Regina, matermisericordiae, vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve."

Even as she has to sidestep some shrapnel, even as she feels her wings hurt, Ismene continues to sing. This was her only task. Her only way to contribute. While she may temporary be back to what she had been before she came to this island, Ismene still knows she cannot fight in her condition.

He snickers a little.

" I do know for certain. I mean, we did that in school too. "

Normally people in class just weren't making dildos for their projects.

" Hmm. Funnily enough you aren't the first one I know here... An angel, I mean. "

Ismene nods as Eiden mentions other angels. "I believe I have met a few, yes." The smile on her face is warm and gentle.

Devils often used deception to get what they want, and with this man's reaction Ismene understands just how the possession could have come to be. It is almost eerie just how still the fallen angel stands with her shoulders back as Vanth steps away.

"I will repeat myself," she says instead, "that Sebastian will have his reasons as to why he withheld that knowledge from you. Just as he has his reasons for keeping you in the dark regarding his children."

There's a rustle of feathers as Ismene's broken wings twitch.

"I cannot claim to know what the others of my kind know, but they may have been waiting to confirm their suspicions before approaching you."

They also could have been at a loss to break such delicate news to someone so devoted to Sebastian.

Who knows how Vanth would have reacted then?

Except the last woman he married. He didn't spend all the much in the home itself in the last few months. It didn't feel as awkward like now, even then.

The food was split between two plates and the two plates were set down on the kitchen table. A pair of chopsticks were added to each.

"Well, I was an angel, as I said earlier." She explains. "Then I fell. I was pushed out because I cam too close to exposing their lies." All of this is sad so matter-of-factly. Like it was just the weather to her.

"I found an abandoned church to live in, and that has been my home since." There's a pause.

"I was not asking you to trust me more than your spouse," she points out, "just simply asking if my own age could also provide a basis for trust."

Still, Vanth acquiesces to letting Ismene explain. Might as well rip off the bandage - as it seems Sebastian at least did not.

"I believe you truly are a Virtue of Heaven. I do not believe you came from my heaven, though. My heaven is the same heaven Love and Sebastian's mother came from, but I know what another fellow angel's presence feels like. Demonic possession or no."

Ismene's eyes show her conviction well enough.

"If you truly are a host to a Sin, then your Heaven failed to protect you. I am a little surprised that you didn't know that. Sebastian could have, possibly, sensed it if your Sin was weak."

She pauses. "Though, if he did sense it and did not tell you, I am certain he probably had his reasons behind withholding it."

Ismene folds her hands in front of her again, and she stands with her shoulders back. She will not voice the fact that she feels like Sebastian's reasons are as asinine and harmful as his reasons as to how he raises his firstborn.

" ...and no. I mean. There are safety concerns. You can seriously injure yourself if you don't know what you're doing. "

That's not a bad reaction it seems. Which is good. You never know with people.... Although, speaking of people -- the hair could be a sign but you can't assume things by that alone so Eiden asks.

Perhaps that type of conversation would be best left for not-public spaces.

"Yes, doing studies of master paintings or, at least, other artist's paintings is a thing. I think. I used to know for certain, but I don't... have access to that anymore."

"Yeah," He starts, already dropping the first part of the conversation, "Whoever was leaving pans of food in the fridge-- it just ain't really for my own palate."

It's bland. Cooked fine, but bland as all hell. Thought it had been a curse set on him by the ghost he assumed was living here. Who turned out to be alive and well.

"Steak and peppers felt like a good choice."

It smelt good to him at the very lease. And that's really was the point in the end.

It was hard to cook with anything, really, when you lived out of a remote rundown church and your trips into town for goods was every other month.

She nods. "I appreciate the offer of a plate, thank you. I will join you, if that's alright."

"Alright, sure I'll give you that much. What are you supposed to be anyway?"

He gestures to the wings adorning her back.

"No. I was an angel, once," she answers with a shake of her head. "I fell, and my wings were my cost to survive." There's a twitch, a wince on her face, as she skirts around a chair.

And then immediately back into the pan so his food wouldn't burn.

"Fushiguro Toji," He answers as he cuts his eyes back to his supposed roommate.

"Our schedules must differ a lot," she answers as she steps further into the shared living space. "I also have the habit of spending time in the abandoned churches I have found on this island."