Gabriel Lance

[ Harry Shum jr, male, he/him ] whatever you think you know about GABRIEL LANCE, the 28/UNKNOWN year old, pansexual, NEW COMER, it is likely time for you to start reconsidering. the rumored ANGEL (ARCHANGEL) is often described as PERSONABLE + COMPASSIONATE, but don’t let them fool you; they can also be FREETHINKING + CONFIDENT, which often has them regarded as the THE VAIN. they are a/an PHOTOGRAPHER at FREELANCE, but it’s also said they are a/an ARCHANGEL within the LEGION OF HEAVEN whatever you hear, you can’t deny there’s more to them that meets the eye, and it’s time we start uncovering the truth.

Leo cracked another smile and held up a hand in ‘swearing’ to keep their little trespassing secret from this Spear company - whoever they were. They warranted investigation, of course, from the things he had heard in idle passing throughout town about them. Some of the townsfolk’s remarks about the beliefs Spear supposedly held were admittedly interesting. As the man danced around the topic of Leo being up on the snowy trails, the man could only chuckle somewhat dryly.

“Well, I mean… you move into a new town and you hear some crazy stories about the mountains….? Who wouldn’t be at least a little curious to find out more about their new home? I can protect myself though.” He remarked as casually as he could manage. The added pressure about the danger of the area had Leo looking around them for a brief moment. “Seems pretty safe to me… no bears or mountain lions hiding in the snow…” He trailed off.

“Really?” He questioned. “I guess I can get that. I’ve never really thought about how much longer and time-consuming the process of painting is. Once I get started it’s pretty easy to just let everything else fall away and lose track of time.” He shrugged his shoulders and shivered lightly from the cold before stepping forward slightly with an outstretched hand. “I’m Aurelio, by the way. Though, I usually go by Leo - less chance of people butchering the pronunciation somehow… it’s a simple name, but people can be… creative.” He joked lightly.

-

The angel laughs, “Maybe that’s why there are so many stories of missing folks from these mountains.” People were curious, he couldn’t fault them for that, they were made that way it seemed and he was too or rather he once was. Over the eons people had gotten less exciting more predictable but there was always those rare moments when people surprised him. Those were the reason why he stayed among humanity rather going back to Heaven. “If they’re hiding how do you know?” He points out looking around, he could sense a number of wildlife but it seemed they kept a wide birth from Lucifer’s cage. 

Time was a fickle thing, it went by so quickly for some and dragged for others, there were times for Gabe when he merely blinked and humanity shifted from wars to peace and back again and then there were times when it seemed linger. He had the ability to instantly go anywhere on the planet he wishes, speak any language of the men and women he came across making the planet seem smaller to him than it ever would to humans or even supernaturals with mortal lives. 

Gabe eyes the hand of the other before taking it, “Gabriel, thought many do call me Gabe. I don’t think its for how complex my name is but rather quicken the pace.” He smiles amused, “People should practice their tongue work, Aurelio.” He notes with a soft chuckle, some of his siblings hated to shorten their God given name but God created nicknames did he not? “I admire artists, such a God given gift.” If he had to say he would think God was a painter of a sort, certainly an artist to come up with the things around the world. Angels weren’t as creative as humans, they could copy works of art with perfection but the creativity needed to come up with something completely new, angels weren’t made with.

.

The streets of the Peaks were buzzing with talk about the heroics of Spear, Inc and the strange cacophony of sounds that many people reported hearing coming from the direction of the mountains shortly before the missing individuals were returned to the town. So, it wasn’t too difficult to peak the hunter’s curiosity and since he really didn’t have any pressing plans, he decided to make a day of an escape into the mountain trails.

Packing up a small shoulder bag with some different art supplies and a canvas or two, he found himself doing more wandering around than stopping and finding any sort of scenery to make a painting of. As he traveled further up the mountains, his boots made their footfall upon more and more snow until the crunching ice was the only sound beneath them instead of loose gravel. According to the towns folk, this area was supposed to be close to the caves Spear had raided, or so he had understood.

Rounding a small bend, he jumped slightly at the sound of someone else and adjusted the bag on his shoulder. “I wasn’t expecting anyone else to be up this far along the trails.” He spoke. It was an honest statement at least. “But, yeah - snowy landscapes often make for some pretty nice landscape paintings.” He looked around from their vantage point partially above the lower tree tops further back down the mountain.

-

Gabe looks the human over, easily detecting the angel’s grace that ran through his body, a bright aura that emitted from the human. Enhanced human, his wished it would rare to see but given the current climate of things he only suspected that he would be finding more in the area. “I won’t tell if you won’t.” The angel muses with a teasing smile on his face, he didn’t need Spear knowing about his little walk anymore than he was sure this one would want anyone knowing. “Is that what you’re doing up here in the middle of no where? Not the least bit interested in the chaos that happened?” He asks tilting his head a little at the other, it was always hard to tell if an Enhanced was taken under their angel’s wing, so to speak, or left to figure things out for themselves. Than again there was always the chance of the angel whose grace was given had been killed. Much more rare case.

“Pretty dangerous area for a painter.” He adds putting pressure on the other’s story as he glances around. “Personally I’m a little too impatient for the whole painting bit, instant gratification for the likes of me.” 

Blue eyes inspected the aftermath left behind by the Spear agents, the brunette kneeling down and looking over the darkened spots on the snow. The attack was precise, obviously well planned and well armed. Zeldris could have respected such efforts, had the vermin not been so cowardly to only attempt it when the General and the Queen were away from the area. The insolence. The audacity. To cut down Lucifer’s children right above His prison. To further torture the Dark Lord by forcing Him to listen to their cries…

Spear Inc had been a thorn on their side for years, but they had never been more than a nuisance. Now, the organization had truly made an impression. And signed their death sentence. Zeldris would ensure their end was as slow and miserable as they deserved.

Her attention shifted when she sensed a new presence nearby, recognizing who it belonged to instantly. She calmly rose to her feet and walked through the tunnels of the mines to meet him, standing behind the archangel before he spoke. “You should visit Hell then,” she offered. “Many of the circles are exactly like this year-round.” Zeldris paused, stepping closer to Gabriel. “Never thought I’d seen you around here.” Her head tilted slightly, a hand comfortably resting on the handle of her sword. “Don’t tell me you’ve finally decided to take up arms?”

-

Gabe smiles at his former sibling and even gives a small chuckle, “I can only imagine the scandal.” It was one thing that he had been living among humanity all these years, for his siblings to hear he had decided to go down to hell...well he was sure that Rafael would drag him to heaven by the tips of his wings and refuse to allow him to leave again for some time. “I do enjoy a nice sky above my head, however.” He points out knowing that no illusion could be made to make him believe he wasn’t in the pits of Hell. “Shouldn’t tease, Zel. I’m sure I wouldn’t be given much of a welcome party.” If Lucifer was around perhaps, with the attempts to lure the youngest Archangel to switch up sides. Yet war between siblings hardly seemed favorable either way it was presented. 

Giving a shrug of his shoulders he smiles slyly at his fallen sister, “You didn’t think Raf wouldn’t send someone eventually?” Though it was more to the point that she didn’t think he would send the likes of Gabriel, it was brought up once or twice that he was either being sent on a fools mission or a suicide one. Gabe was willing to look at it in a different light, he was the least likely to go off the handle and the most likely to be able to protect himself. He holds up his camera, “No arms, just art.” Snapping a picture of her, knowing full well that it would only be distorted but with any luck it might look interesting enough for humans to take interest without knowing its true contents. “You’re not gonna try to pick a fight with me now are you, Zelly?”

Standing once more he tosses the stick into the wood, allowing his camera to hang around his neck freely as he wipes his hands together. “I always did enjoy a snowy landscape.” He comments as steps within the snow crunched behind him.

“Hm?” A soft hum escaped the man as he heard someone speaking up to him as he walked down the sidewalk leading away from his newly furnished home. It wasn’t much, but it was going to be home for the foreseeable future and he wanted it to at least look nice. “Uh, no sorry, I don’t really know where that’s at - I just moved into town.” He told the stranger and watched as they walked away.

Moments later, another set of footfalls approached him and he looked over the individual with a small roll of his shoulders. “Are you here to ask me for directions to? I’ll save you some time - I just moved here. Other than my home back there, I’m as clueless as anyone where anything is in this town.”. ( @risingpeaksreblogs​ )

-

New people in town were usually a strange sight but in the recent times it seemed that the flow was growing, he wondered half the time if it was just more Spear folk coming in and making a home of their town. He was never sure how to feel about it, the more the better or if the more of them the less of the locals there seemed to be. But if people felt that way about him years ago he likely wouldn’t have come to love the place like he did. “Oh no, no I been here long enough that I know where most of everything is. It doesn’t take long so its not a real bad brag but I thought I would welcome you to town.” He held out a container with freshly made bread and pastries. “I own the local comic book store slash coffee place slash diner, so home cooked goods are pretty much my go to. Till I find out which comic suits them.”

“I’ll check on my apple tree then, I’m sure there’ll be some ready for picking.” She assured him, forcing a smile again - if they weren’t, she’d just will it to grow a little more until they were ripe. She shrugged at his comment about Spear, looking over at the window.

There was a face missing from the window, of course, but the subject was too… delicate. She didn’t have a photo of them, but even if she did, there was politics involved in announcing he was missing, and honestly, she didn’t know the right thing to do. She hadn’t seen Marshall either. She just told herself he was too busy trying to track the missing down that he hadn’t returned her calls.

“Has anyone been found yet that’s been listed as missing? Maybe some got taken to hospitals outside of the area somehow.” She didn’t sound like she believed it herself, but she was clutching straws at this point. “At least the children like the snow. It means they can take their minds off things.”

-

“You’re a gem.” He comments with a smile, it was one more thing off his plate giving him room to pile something else on. His nature made him a busy body, can’t think of the allure of magic if you’re dead tired after a long day of work. 

He takes in a deep breath and gives a slight shrug, “Honestly I have no idea, haven’t heard anyone say anything about it. I haven’t seen Marshall he’d be the one to tell me anything he got from work.” Dude was a chatterbox but again that wasn’t something that Lex faulted him for, gave him a distraction. 

“Oh yeah, its the one silver lining in this.” He agrees with a nod of his head, Lex liked kids, he found them easy to get along with, they were painfully honest and he liked that he had a place open to them to stay out of trouble. “Kids shouldn’t have the same worries as adults, they should get to enjoy the perks of being kids for as long as possible and it never lasts long enough.” He pauses for a moment, “Are you missing anyone?”

Eponine stepped up to the counter as the other spoke, and she tried to force a smile, but it was one that didn’t quite meet her eyes. The loss, the uncertainty, the chaos that surrounded her felt like a weight crushing her these days.

“Well perfect timing, I was coming by to see what fruits and vegetables you were needing. It’s not much, but my greenhouse is still standing so… If I can help until suppliers can get in, I will.” She said softly, hugging herself. “I sent a mom over to put her daughter’s photo on the window earlier, I hope that’s okay?”

-

Levi faced enough shit in shit life that he felt keeping a smile on your face was the only way to get through it without wanting to do anything drastic. Plus he found people couldn’t help but shift their mood when there was someone being positive, mostly. 

“That makes you one of my favorite people today then.” He answers rather honestly, fresh fruit and veggies did wonders for cooking. “You got any peppers, berries, apples, oh man some good apples for some fritters.” He lets out a slight groan at the idea of baking them and knowing the smell would just fill people with some warmth. “Of course.” He nods his head and looks at the window slowing filling with pictures. “Be nice to think maybe Spear had their own thing going on and those people are in some bunker with them ready to come home.” He somehow doubt that was the case and given Spear’s creepy lingering in town if they had people it was uncertain if they’d just let them go.

If you were to be unfortunate enough to live within a few doors of the James residence, in the aftermath of that terrible night, you would have been privy to the sounds of raised voices between a tired father and two broken children trying to pick up the pieces of their lives. On days when the rest of the family was out and about, you might have heard the sounds of glass bottles shattering as they were forcefully thrown into the walls before the slamming of doors signaled the young teen male storming out onto the front porch - where he would sit in silence for minutes before laying back against the wood and staring at the overhanging ceiling.

Life was just supposed to go on, but how was it supposed to go on if nothing could pad the sharp edges of his broken heart? Fury constantly drowned out by sorrow and grief. It was an amazement that he could even find the willingness to get up out of his bed - only to end up yelling at a father and sister that didn’t deserve it; didn’t deserve to put up with him. They were hurting too and he knew that. He knew that, but that didn’t stop his pain. As he laid back on the wooden porch, he heard the sounds of someone approaching, but rather than look their direction he continued glaring holes into the roof above him. “My sister and father aren’t home….” The words came out bitter. Many of the people that had come by to express their sympathies had wanted to speak to his father, or to his sister - the elder child and not her “kid” brother.

( @risingpeaksreblogs​ )

-

Levi understood the love between a son and mother, he was raised by his single mother. She was all that he knew, his father wasn’t hidden from him just wasn’t someone that was worth knowing since he cared so little to know Levi. He could understand just a bit about where the kid was, he had been pissed off at the world once too, lived a shit time addicted to magic and full of anger. He could relate more than ever to the anger that the young wolf was likely feeling, deciding to take something over for him he figured the poor family was being overwhelmed with casseroles and whatever guilt foods the soccer moms were making. “Oh well guess that makes it good news for me. I don’t think this pizza is big enough for all of you.” He mentions placing the box from Freaks and Geeks down next to the kid.

Getting new supplies in from out of town was still difficult given the road conditions but he was determined to remain open, give people a place to go, not that they would likely be able to get their minds off of things but at least they could get a hot coffee and warm meal. “Sorry, we’re officially out of avocado.” He mentions as he wipes the listing of avocado toast off the board and adjusts a few other things on the menu due to lack of supplies. Oddly enough there’s a lot of ham...” He muses before turning around and offering a welcoming smile.

“Uh…” He paused for a moment, but instead of finding the words to make another counter-argument he just cleared his throat softly again. “Wha – no, I’m not a weather man.” He furrowed his brow, giving the man a confused look for a minute before quickly shaking his head. “No, with the way things in this town seem to just be getting worse and worse these days, it wouldn’t surprise me at all that a freak snow storm becomes worse than expected.” He stated bluntly.

-

Lex gives a shrug of his shoulders, “This town always has some kind of freaky things going on.” The storm didn’t worry that much, it was snow and that was something people could just wait out. “Could always be worse, at least we’re somewhere with power, that is warm and has enough food to keep everyone going for a bit.” It would take a terrible ice age for them to run out food, at least he hoped that would be what it took. “Personally I rather deal with the snow over being stuck in some kind of mining accident, which seemed to be this places biggest tragic backstory, on repeat.”

“Hey, it’s not like the vending machine was completely emptied out. I had some self-control—- I mean, the vandals. They had the self-control. Not me. I got these legitimately, remember.” He cleared his throat slightly. When the man clarified he wasn’t actually a doctor, Arynn let out a small sigh and nodded as the nurse passed by and took the candy he’d handed over. “Yeah, I have my doubts about how long this situation is going to really hold up if it goes on longer than they anticipated.” He admitted.

-

“I’m sure people will totally love that excuse as we’re rationing all the other food.” He points out, knowing full well this was on the hospital staff, someone should have gone around collecting the junk food to be rationed with everything else. “Hmm yeah great save.” He agrees with a nod of his head, as if he was buying what this kid was selling, even if he didn’t break the machine he was just as guilty of taking from it. “Oh are we a weather man in training?” Not that the weather channel helped much in preparing for the storm.

belle  was  quick  to  shook  her  head.  “  i  would  never  plan  on  hurting  anyone with  those,  that  for  sure  ” she was  quick  to  add,  “  but  if  i  know  razor  is  out  there  waiting  for  me,  i  will  have  to  make  sure  he  doesn’t  kill  me,  don’t  you  think  ?  ”  the  brunette mused.    “  oh,  well  it’s  nice  of  her  to  volunteer  here,  i  guess  they  need  as  many  hands  as  possible  ”  she  smiled.

-

He smiles, “I’m sure.” It wasn’t always the case, even the most well meaning could cause trouble but he wasn’t one to point fingers, if he tried to help anyone with magic he would be opening Pandora’s box. No less dangerous than anyone walking around with bullets made of wood or silver or laced with wolfsbane. “Razor? Seriously? Is from an 80′s gang?” Lex couldn’t help but judge the name of man she seemed worried about. “If it between life and death I think someone is always right to defend themselves.” He couldn’t fault someone for that in the least. “Small towns are kind of known for it right? Personally I thought it was creepy how involved people were in each others lives when I first got here but its grown on me.”

          Artemisia eyes landed on lex for a moment before they looked back elsewhere but his eyes .  all he saw was her SISTER and she felt GUILT in not only lying to him and pretending to be athenodora … But the fact is that she can no longer deny is that she is in love with him . she has willingly loved this man for over four miserable years . The absolute worst years of her life.  The worst Christmas’, the worst Birthday’s, New Years Eve’s brought in by tears and valium. Four years that she has  been in love have been the darkest days of her life. All because she’s been cursed by being in love with a man who she was sure does not and will not love her back if he knew the truth . All he saw was ATHENORODA . 

         “ Will you offer yourself as well .” She lightly teased as she put on the mask . despite knowing all of that , she was selfish for it . There were times when she grew distant and others when she just wanted to be with him . Standing up , artemisia took the blankets from his hands and opened them up to wrap herself with it . “ I think I am done helping out . I did enough . Those within the coven are settled .” she moved towards him and wrapped her arms and blanket around him . “ Of course , I am more worried about you .”   

-

Four years ago, Lex was in a terrible situation that he wasn’t sure how to handle, most might have an opinion on how he handled it but he knew that if they were in his shoes they’d know nothing was black and white. He loved his wife, there was no mistake in that. Athenodora was a kind and understanding woman even if her mother never hesitated to bust his balls. The judgement about his siphoning status was always on her mother’s mind but Athenodora looked past that, even his rocky past. However he also knew how much she cared for her sister, even without being in contact for years she talked about her. When he caught onto the woman in the bed next to him not being the same one he married he was torn between outing her to the coven. Knowing it would mean the loss of her life, there was no way they would allow her to take over the coven after the loss of their leadership. He wasn’t a cruel man, so he didn’t take the information and run with it. He sat on it and the longer he sat with it the harder it was to bring it forward, the more he felt like he couldn’t speak up. Athenodora wouldn’t want her sister’s death on her husbands hands and what was worse, he couldn’t bring himself to see her suffer himself. He lies to himself that it would be what his wife wanted but he couldn’t lie and say he selfishly couldn’t see a woman he loved put to death.

A smile pulled at his lips, she was teasing him, that was a positive. She had been distant, it was a constant of hot and cold between them, joking around with him was a step in the right direction. “That’s always a given.” It was a dance to no music, they stepped around the situation. She wouldn’t admit anything to him and he couldn’t say the farce wasn’t pleasant, it felt more complex to be open. “Marshall was wanting me to ask if you’d have the coven put some wards on the building.” He relays to the woman as she neared him, he was glad that she was putting some boundaries up when it came to spreading herself too thin. “Worried about me huh?” He asks sliding his hands around her waist as she engulfed them both in the blanket. “Everyone wants to make sure the guy who can feed most the people is alive and well.” 

Marshall looked at the witch with a blank stare for a moment before between at his own eyes and then Lexi’s repetitively. “Stay with me,” the Light Faye asked, the mask falling a bit as he let out a laugh that sounded more like a cry for help. Funny alien jokes didn’t help sadly. “You all should have better titles really. Alpha, Beta, Omega sound cooler and cooler. You guys ever thought about adopting it?” he teased. 

“I understand, but the majority of town is here. We maintain order and we keep them safe. Those who made it to Town Hall will probably do the same.” And reality was, wherever else others took shelter, the smarter thing was to bunker down. Either way, tough choices needed to be made and while he was sure his voice alone wouldn’t count to make it: he could advocate for it. 

-

Lex rolls his eyes, “I will run that up the chain, though I think we have enough alphas running around town. Pretty sure that its not the hard, we got the coven members, the elders and then the top of it all is the Leader. Sorry that’s not as spelt out as Kings, Queens, and nobles.” Seemed a little too rich for Lex’s blood and maybe that was the whole point, peasant marrying the Queen sounds a little far fetched. 

Hearing the witch’s familiar voice, Marshall’s gaze shot up. “Lexi!” Grabbing two blankets, the Light Faye tapped on an elderly woman behind him that took over his spot. Going around, he handed Alexi the blankets. “Walk with me.” He had no idea the pressure the noble was under. Walking towards an isolated hallway, the Light Faye scanned their surroundings. “I need to speak to your leader,” he said leader to separate official business from personal relationships. “I’d like to ask you guys to help with some protection spells. I got another noble that can make a perimeter of ice and snow around us once we have enough people here.” Heartless? Perhaps, but they were fighting demons and a psychotic pack of werewolves… 

-

Lex grimaced only slightly by the nickname, it was something he had learned that he couldn’t keep the faye from calling him...no matter how many times he asked or threatened so he just accepted it at this point. “Yeah sure, I got some time to kill.” Tucking the blankets under his arm he followed the other down the hall, it wasn’t as if he wouldn’t find his wife at some point. The hospital was only so big, she could only hide for so long. “I hate when you say it like that, makes it sound you’re an alien invading the planet.” He points out to the faye, “I’m sure she can make that happen but if people still have loved ones out there they might not be too thrilled about the idea. What do we need all this protection from?” Sure the storm was a little out of character even for the mountain town but it was still winter and global warming seemed have the opposite effects than the name would suggest. 

the  french woman  furrowed  her  eyebrows  at  his  words. taking  a  mental note  of  his  words,  maybe  she  could  go  there. but  she  would  have  to  ask  first  where  that  place  was.  “  yeah,  well,  i  didn’t  have  to  right  bullets  to  be  able  to  safe  myself,  so  somehow  i  wasn’t  expecting  anything  different  ”  she  shrugged. she  would  take  her  family wolfbane-bullets  with  her  for  now  on.  just  in  case  that  man  was  expecting a  second  round. “  i’m  not  planning  on  running  or  anything  so  i  guess  those  can’t  pull  out  ”  she  shrugged.  “  i’m  good  ”  she  nodded,  “  safe  that   for  someone  who  really  needs  it  ”  the  french woman  smiled.  “  does  your  wife  work  here  ?  ”

-

Lex gives a shrug, “Bullets that extreme can be taken...poorly by some around here.” He wasn’t sure how the local pack would like deputies walking around with rounds like that but safety was important for everyone. It was hard to decide which side to be on when there was so many. “I’m sure there’s a lot going on that no one expected.” He points out with a soft chuckle but he did like that she was positive about the whole thing, that played a huge part in things. “I’m sure a lot will, depending on how long this lasts.” Food was the one thing everyone could agree on, even vampires, may it be that they had a liquid diet. “Here? Oh no, she’s more a community leader. So she is volunteering somewhere around here I’m sure.”