[IC] Cataclysm 【bittersweetsymphonia & AllOurPrettySongs】

[AllOurPrettySongs]

Abaddon could sense the conflict witin the angel and tensed, unsure as to whether his suggestion had broken their tenuous deal. The corner of his mouth twitched in a slight smile at the use of his human name.

Nodding slightly, he headed towards the door which was the entrance to the building on which they stood.

"I'd prefer to walk rather than fly, if you don't mind." There was a slight strain in his voice as his back burned at the thought of having to release his wings again.

[bittersweetsymphonia]

Camael scrunched up her nose, preferring flight above all else, but nodded. She knew of Abaddon's pain, how his wings tore through his body unlike the gentle appearance of angelic wings. He headed towards the only door around, and while Camael and Kristiel had unofficially dubbed the rooftop as their meeting spot, they'd never entered the building. She only hoped that if they would encounter humans inside that it would be a better experience than at the club.

As they descended the stairs, Camael spoke, "May I ask where we're going?"

[AllOurPrettySongs]

Abaddon was, truthfully, unsure as to where they were going. He knew of few quiet places; however, he now recalled that on one of his former trips to this world, he had appeared in a quiet library downtown, near deserted - at least, in the section that he had materialized.

"A library." Abaddon replied simply. He glanced at the angel, smiling a small smile.

[bittersweetsymphonia]

"A library," Camael mused. Her first thought was of the library in heaven, a magnificent abode of all the knowledge in the world, known and unknown to man. But of course, that couldn't have been what Abaddon meant. No such place could ever exist in the mortal realm.

"Do you visit that place often?"

[AllOurPrettySongs]

Abaddon shook his head as they rounded the corner, nearing the exit of the building. "No, not often. I've only been there twice, the first occasion being by chance. On one of my trips to Earth, I found myself there."

He put his hands in the pockets of his trousers, falling silent for a short while. He had a tendency to stop talking for periods without truly keeping track of time. "I think you'd like it. Most that go there are worthy of salvation."

[bittersweetsymphonia]

Worthy of salvation? Camael doubted it. She'd began to associate libraries with humans who sought after intelligence, and most of the time, those humans became far too absorbed with the science they've discovered. Atheist and the like. Camael didn't understand them, and hoped that she wouldn't see one at the library but she knew it wasn't likely. Still, she followed Abaddon. "Do you visit earth often?" Camael asked. She didn't often visit herself, thinking that it would be a waste of her time.

[AllOurPrettySongs]

They soon exited the building and Abaddon indicated which way they were to go with a subtle flick of his wrist. He breathed in the cool air - they had only been inside for a few moments but the outside air was so much more pleasant. Even as a demon, he could appreciate pleasant.

He shook his head in response to Camael's question. "No, not often. When I do, it's to engage in activities I'm sure you wouldn't approve of."

[bittersweetsymphonia]

Camael scowled. No, she definitely wouldn't approve of what Abaddon meant. Was that all that demons did when they visited earth? If so, Camael was glad she rarely visited. She followed Abaddon through the streets he seemed to know so well, the cool air making all her senses sharp. For a while, that seemed to be the end of conversation between them. Camael had taken the time to look around and frowned at all she saw. Shops had the holy rosary adorning their doors, but the owners themselves had fallen into the sin of lust and greed. Hypocrites. Camael was really glad she rarely visited.

[AllOurPrettySongs]

Abaddon settled into the surprisingly comfortable silence and, out of the corner of his eye, watched the angel. She seemed upset and angry; it wasn't difficult to understand why. He too saw the holy objects as they passed, barely affected by them.

They were still holy objects and afforded him some discomfort but the owners had lost faith and rendered them essentially powerless. Faith was essential. Abaddon thought it clichéd, comparing it all to a children's movie. Why, the power was in you the whole time! Truly, we are all heroes.

He laughed a little at his internal musings, so lost in his own thoughts, that he nearly missed the library as they neared. He stopped walking abruptly. "We're here."

[bittersweetsymphonia]

Camael had been too lost in her thoughts to notice the library and had passed it entirely. If it hadn't been for Abaddon's voice announcing their arrival, she would have continued walking forward. She backtracked with a small smile on her lips before looking over at the building. It certainly wasn't that amazing a place, especially compared to the Heavenly Library, but it looked good enough for human standards. "Lead the way," she said, straightening her clothes to appear more presentable.

[AllOurPrettySongs]

Abaddon smiled a little at the sight of the angel actually cracking smile. He was sure that he'd just been privy to an extremely rare sight.

He nodded and walked up the cracked stone steps, pushing open the heavy front door and stepping inside. As he'd guessed, the library was scarcely populated. Just as he wanted it.

Shooting a charming smile at the librarian as he passed by her, Abaddon ventured further into the library. The population dwindled to just he and Camael. He found two worn leather seats in the corner of the room, nestled between shelves of books.

"Please." He murmured, gesturing for her to sit down before he did so.

[bittersweetsymphonia]

Camael had mostly ignored the library's patrons, They mostly reeked of sin, but one or two had pure souls. She'd smiled and silently blessed them. It was always something to see pure souls among sinners.

She followed Abaddon to a desolate part of the library and sat down on one of the chairs. As she did, a book from one of the shelves caught her eye. Its spine was new, unlike the ancient texts that flanked it. Taking it out with a careful hand, Camael read the title. Fifty Shades of Grey. How odd. She flicked through its pages, settling on one near the middle. Two sentences in and she was already blushing furiously. She closed it abruptly, placing it back demurely on the shelf. What these humans found as literature was atrocious.

Gathering herself again, she turned back to Abaddon. "So," she said, making a gesture with her hands prompting him to speak.

[AllOurPrettySongs]

Abaddon had taken the seat beside her, body facing towards her. He had watched her take the book curiously and couldn't contain his grin; he knew all about that book.

He couldn't help but explode into laughter at her reaction, quickly covering his mouth as the sound was amplified by the overall silence. "The popular literature not to your tastes, angel? Personally, I find it very...educational."

Abaddon had once heard an individual describe their friend's grin as 'shit eating'. He knew that it was the only way his expression could possibly be described.

[bittersweetsymphonia]

Camael cleared her throat, ducking her head in an attempt to hide her still heated cheeks. Somehow, the book's words added with Abaddon's gave her a mental image of his doing the most sinful acts of skinship. The thought made her cheeks redden even more. "I-I'm sure you do," she sputtered out. Honestly, why was she being so flustered? Still, she couldn't look up at Abaddon lest the images return full force.

[AllOurPrettySongs]

Abaddon found the flustered angel's behavior to be adorable. Honestly, adorable. He could show her so much; so many wicked things. After all, where else had the author gotten such ideas but from a particularly inventive demon?

Shaking his head to keep his mind from wandering further, he forced his expression into a more subdued one. "Really, angel. You have to get a handle on those emotions. You don't know who could take advantage of you."

He had chosen his words carefully.

[bittersweetsymphonia]

Camael cleared her throat and rolled her shoulders, attempting to regain her composure. An angel of her stature shouldn't let her emotions run wild. It just wasn't right. So she did her best and caught Abaddon's eyes, saying in a still slightly shaky voice, "I don't think anyone can ever take advantage of me."

[AllOurPrettySongs]

"I'd be willing to prove you wrong," Abaddon murmured quietly, his eyebrow quirking slightly. He decided to leave it there and allow the angel to mull over his words; he didn't want to push it too far. Camael was still an important player on his road to salvation.

"So, Camael. What would you like to know?"

[bittersweetsymphonia]

Camael released a sigh of relied. She was thankful for the change in the subject of their conversation as the first one was making her far too uncomfortable. Moving on to safer topics was necessary, and she was glad Abaddon had gone and done it. For now, she was just gping to choose to ignore his quip.

She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ears. "Everything," she answered.

[AllOurPrettySongs]

Abaddon heaved a sigh of his own but his was one of weariness. He was unsure if he had the strength to relieve his downfall but was willing to try.

"I had been a loyal servant of the Creator for so many centuries. I was strong, smart and, probably most of all, powerful. But power corrupts the mind, does it not?" He paused to give Camael a rueful smile.

"I thought of myself as too powerful to be a servant. As it turned out, I wasn't alone in my way of thinking. An angel, Lucifer, much more conniving than I, thought the same of himself."

[bittersweetsymphonia]

Camael had to stop herself from outright cursing Abaddon for the thoughts he had prior to his downfall. Truly, she couldn't even comprehend why any angel would think of such a betrayal, but she kept herself silent. She had to listen to all Abaddon had to say, even if she thought all them to be folly.

Lucifer, He was one Camael had the displeasure of meeting a couple of times. She'd met him when he was still an angel, one of the most powerful of all. She'd been there to lay witness to his downfall too. And he'd met him after his chaotic revival as the devil. She'd always thought him to be the worse. Powerful and truly corrupted, he was one Camael didn't ever want to cross paths with again.

She nodded and gestured for Abaddon to continue.