Fantasy Silent Rapture - The Solomon Files

[SilverFlight]

Location: Over the Western Desert, Egypt
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

Harian watched him draw near, she held still, trying to figure out what he intended to do. Whatever she was expecting, it wasn't that.
"Ah! You dick!" She punched his arm, more relieved that he had energy to goof off than she was upset. He was cold though. As his hand found hers she sighed and shifted right up against him, summoning her magic to raise her own temperature to warm him. She slipped an arm around the small of his back and rested her head against his shoulder.
"We're not done yet." She tapped the medallion, still hanging around his neck. "Get some sleep. I have a feeling once we get to where we're headed, you're gonna want to stay a while."

It was at least an hour before they reached the first road. Keh'wet was more than happy to speed up when they hit it. There was a street sign up ahead that read: "50km to Alexandria". It would be another four hours, when dawn's light appeared, that the first signs of city life emerged from the dusty landscape. They crested a hill and the city sprawled before them, and beyond that, the wide, stunning blue of the Mediterranean sea. There wouldn't be anymore demon attacks now. Harian knew the city had been protected for millennia. They were safe.
Naberius

 

[Naberius]

Location: Over the Western Desert, Egypt
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

GGabriel couldn't help but laugh at her reaction. Maybe it was the tension easing out of his body, the adrenaline wearing off that had caused him to act a bit more like a child than usual. Or maybe it was that she made him feel so at ease, so relaxed and happy that he couldn't help himself. The overwhelming joy he experienced when she pressed against him, feeling her arm wrapped around his body. Gods, he never wanted to leave that spot. He wrapped his own arm around her waist, pulling her as tightly against his side as he could. The warmth spreading through every inch of his body was only partly due to her powers. The rest was a magic all of its own. She lay her head against his shoulder, and his emotions compelled him to do something that he had never done before. He leaned down and planted a kiss on her forehead. A sign of true, pure affection. He put every bit of his love for her in that one simple gesture.
"Looking forward to it."
And with that, he drifted to sleep. He slept silently, his body needing every second it could get to recover from their ordeal. He didn't awaken from his much needed rest until they were already entering the city limits.

SilverFlight

 

[KhazTheGiraffe]

Location: Home--- Kitchen
Timing: Sometime after returning from Paris
Interaction: Hino, Hayle, and Ayramis

"Maybe he's hasn't found a name yet," Hino told Ayramis after the jackal did not end up revealing his name, "You can find them in the strangest places, sometimes. Sometimes places you never think to look. I knew someone who found his name under a very small rock on a beach full of nearly identical ones. He only chose that one because it was going to be an excellent skipping rock," He then turned to the jackal and put a hand on his head, "Don't worry, you'll find your name soon," He said reassuringly before turning back to the others at the mention of aura's. Ayramis had mentioned that he had an ancient soul similar to his own, but he had a hard time believing he was anywhere near as old as the Egyptian. After all, the religion of his people was on the younger end compared to some of the others, which meant that he was also most likely younger than most other gods. It was then that Hayle asked the forbidden question.

Hino hated talking about himself, mostly because he had spent such a long time running from his past. There was a reason he had separated himself from the world in the densest forest he could think of. He stared at her blankly for a few moments, trying to think of an excuse to leave, but the chicken smelled so good and he was very hungry. He remembered that conversations were usually a two-way street and the sooner he answered, the sooner he could pass the burden on to someone else.

He cleared his throat, "... well... I am from what is now known as Canada, but I live in the States as well. I have a pet thunderbird named Volt....I am Iroquois.... and... I am 6'4"." He had overshared and he knew it. His face felt hot from embarrassment, why hadn't anyone stopped his rambling? The others would certainly be annoyed by the word salad he just bestowed upon them. Hoping to shift the endless conversation from himself, he turned the converation back to Hayle.

"What about you? What's your story?" He asked awkwardly.

GamerCarrot andujarprime

 

[SilverFlight]

Location: Over the Western Desert, Egypt
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

Harian couldn't hide the smile that lit her face as Gabriel pulled her close and kissed her forehead gently. What would it be like, she wondered, to spend every day like this one? When she thought about that, life on the mud ball didn't actually seem so bad, not when he was on it too.
Harian watched him fall asleep. She reached up and pushed a few strands of his hair back into place, giving him a look full of the tenderness she was afraid to show him.

When they reached the city limits and Gabriel stirred she smiled at him. The medallion about his neck seemed to grow warm as they turned in to the city proper.
Keh'wet took them right up against the ocean, driving past docks lined with small cruise vessels and fishing boats. They drove along a few miles of empty strand, where the waves lapped against yellow beaches. They finally pulled into the parking lot of a tall, modern building, round like a coin, with a roof that sloped down towards the sea, as if someone had pressed an edge of that coin into the earth. The highest wall was decorated with words written in the most ancient languages, and beside it, a replica of one of the stone-carved pharaohs stood as a silent sentry.
The building's title was written in stone above a large set of glass doors in Arabic. Beside it was a plague with an English translation: The Alexandria Library.
It was a modern take on the old concept, and of course, the books lost in the fire all those centuries ago were still gone...but the way Harian was grinning as she went to stand in front of the building might have put a bit of doubt into his mind. The medallion was now noticeably hot and seemed to hum, resonating with something very close by.
Naberius

 

[Naberius]

Location: Over the Western Desert, Egypt
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

Gabriel watched the gorgeous scenery roll by, a goofy and childlike smile splitting his face. But the real joy came from his closeness with Harian. These past few days, they had grown so much closer than ever before. It filled him with the kind of youthful excitement that a high schooler might have when hearing they had a date for the prom. But it was much more intense, more solid. He barely noticed the heat on his chest at first. He was too content with holding her as close as he could and watching the deep blue ocean as they drove past. He first noticed when it started to get more intense, a candle flame instead of a hand warmer. Then it stopped being in his mind all together when he saw where they were going. His eyes lit up brighter than they ever had been before. He looked over at her, his eyes threatening to pop right out of his skull.
"Harian.... Where are we...?"
He stopped talking to stare out at the place as they parked. He nearly ran to stand next to her, practically bouncing on his heels in pure joy.

SilverFlight

 

[SilverFlight]

Location: The Library of Alexandria
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

Harian blinked at him. She gestured to the sign. "Geez, you can read right? If you can't this whole trip would be a bit of a waste." She was joking, and smiling while she said it.
Keh'wet had her book out again. "You'll have to come back out again to use your door portal. Say goodbye to me before you go."
Harian nodded and took Gabriel's hand, pulling him towards the building, her excitement growing too.
She didn't take him to the front entrance, but to the side, where a small patch of wall sported much smaller symbols, written in Sanskrit, and at eye level.
"So the public story is that the library burned in about 48 BC." She explained. "What really happened is that the citizens, afraid the knowledge collected would be used by the Roman Empire to continue their conquest, planned with Egyptian forces to besiege the docks, force Caesar to set fire to his own ships, and use that as a cover to stage the burning of the library, when in actual fact, they were hiding it...It wasn't just science and technology they were afraid of giving him...the library has one of the biggest collections of books on magic, casting, enchanting and on deities, legendary beings and all things occult."
Harian pressed several letters in a specific order. The air about them shimmered, and behind them, a reflection of themselves appeared. Their mirror selves seemed to lose interest with the wall and wander off, just as the glamour spell had intended. The real Harian and Gabriel, were shielded from view as before them, a door opened in the wall and a flight of steps lead them down below the modern building.
As they descended the steps became older, and much more worn. They went down for what seemed like an age, well below sea level, yet the stone passage remained perfectly dry. The steps ended in a candle-lit foyer, worn white marble and ancient tapestries, where an elderly old goat sat behind a desk. Literally, he was a goat, or, he had horns and ears like a goat. His spectacles were balanced on a broad nose and his long, silky beard trailed over a red velvet robe, the hem of which just barely covered two goat feet. The old faun looked up at the pair of them and his eyes shifted to Gabriel.
"Ah! Haven't seen you before. You must be a new patron. Welcome, to the real Alexandria Library. May I see your token please?"
Harian was grinning ear to ear. "Happy birthday, you big nerd."
Naberius

 

[Naberius]

Location: Over the Western Desert, Egypt
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

Pure, raw excitement buzzed its way through Gabriel's body like lightning. It was unreal. He could barely wrap his mind around Harian's words as she spoke, so entranced was he with the reality of the situation he found himself in. Like Harry Potter walking into Hogwarts for the first time, he could hardly contain himself. She lead him in, and he never even registered what she did to get them inside. He was more obsessed with just staring at the building. He memorized every detail of every surface and every architectural marvel they walked by.
Gabriel couldn't even correctly take off the medallion he wore, dropping it back around his neck several times before finally pulling it free over his head. He didn't even look at the desk clerk as he handed it over, barely even noticing his existence as he tried his best to get his mind to work properly and failed. Then, something changed. His demeanor relaxed, and he took hold of Harian's hand and gently spun her around to face him. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against him, staring deep into her eyes with a look of pure awe, love and affection. It was a look not unlike the one he gave her before he kissed her for the first time.
"I was entirely convinced that there was no way today could possibly get any better. I thought it was already absolutely perfect, just having a fun day together. Alone. And then you went and proved me wrong. Like you always do. But I feel I have to point out something you were wrong about, too. You said Djinn can't grant wishes. There's at least one who can. Because you've made all of mine come true."
He didn't even wait for her to respond. His lips met hers, and he kissed her with all the passion, love and devotion he had in him. He wanted her to know just how incredible he thought she was, how perfect. How absolutely amazing she made him feel. He didn't care who was watching. He didn't care about how dangerous it was. The world could leave them alone for just a few moments of pure bliss.

SilverFlight

 

[GamerCarrot]

Location: Home--- Kitchen
Timing: Sometime after returning from Paris
Interaction: Hino, Hayle, and Ayramis

Hayle couldn't help but giggle at how stubborn his little jackal was, after all this trouble trying to figure out a name for it just for it to say something to Ayramis she didn't quite know what it was the jackal said. It also looked pretty pleased with itself in its response which only made her smile more "Are they always like that?" she looked at the jackal who was now looking back and forth between Hino and Ayramis. Nodding in agreement with him "I'm sure they will let you know when they've come up with a name it may take awhile though." She said taking another sip from her glass. Her eyes fell onto Hino who started to answer her question about who he was, a bit surprised at his rambling she still listened intently smiling once he was finished talking "It's good to learn a bit more about you, I had no idea you had a pet thunderbird guess I really wasn't paying attention. Sorry about that" She chuckled. As Hino asked about her, her eyes widened just slightly not sure what she could tell them just yet. "Well... I um... I'm from Russia originally but I've lived in America my entire life so you wouldn't guess where I'm from originally. I unfortunately do not have any pets unlike the two of you. As you know I have the ability to control ice but so long as there is some sort of liquid around that can freeze... um I dont really know what else is interesting about me in all honesty I'm pretty plain to think about it." She smiled, she was holding back on revealing everything about herself, sure she wanted to tell them what she was but she just didn't think it was the right time to reveal such a thing to them.

andujarprime KhazTheGiraffe

 

[SilverFlight]

Location: The Library of Alexandria
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

Harian watched him fumble the medallion and didn't hide her smile, but it was warm and doting, not mocking. She knew Gabriel would be happy with this gift, she thought she would be prepared for his reaction. She wasn't.
Harian let him pull her close, leaned into him, though not altogether meaning to. Her arms slipped about him like they belonged there. That look her gave her, a thousand times more powerful than the smile she would die to protect. It sent shivers through her essence and for a moment, the edges of her form began to shimmer as she had trouble keeping hold of it. She felt the shape of him against her, used that as an anchor. She wanted to be here, not anywhere else...not even home. The look she gave him said all that and more. She had never truly learned to value anything, until she learned that to her, the human standing here could not be measured.
He spoke then, and she laughed when he said it was the best day ever.
"We nearly died. Boy have you got a low bar..."
Then he mentioned wishes. She had no witty comeback for that, she only closed her eyes against how corny the line was, but, she realized, it was an essential part of his charm.
Suddenly he was closer, he kissed her and she lost track of everything but him. She could feel all the emotion packed into that one simple gesture. Gabriel had not needed to learn magic. He had a magic all his own.
Harian returned the kiss, deeper and fiercer than she had on the bridge. She had been warring with her feelings in Paris, now she understood them, and she invited them. They were a part of her that she would not trade for anything.
She met Gabriel's emotion with a tide of her own, tightening her arms about him, a promise that whatever it took, she would see them both free, both together.
The faun blinked in surprise. This was not the usual reaction to being brought to a library, yet he waited with patience, politely pretending to be occupied by the catalogue list open in front of him.
Harian didn't draw back, but stayed close to Gabriel, her whisper was a ghost against his lips:
"You are going to get us both killed." But she smiled as she said it, as if she invited the world to try and take them. In that moment, she felt invincible.

"Um, your hand sir...when you...have one free." The faun was holding the medallion, gesturing for Gabriel to put his hand underneath it.
Naberius

 

[Naberius]

Location: Over the Western Desert, Egypt
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

No paradise in any religion ever conceived by man could ever compare to the pure, raw beauty in that blissful moment they shared together. Time stood still and flew by all at once. They couldn't say what they were feeling. But they never needed words. There were no words that existed that could describe what they shared, that special link they created just from one simple kiss. He felt her press against him even harder, and there in that bubble of rapturous wonder, the world was not a dark place anymore. It was bright, filled with hope and joy. They would see each other through whatever might come their way, because they had one another to lean on and support. There was no danger, no enemy in the world more powerful than that heavenly feeling. He refused to pull away even an inch. He pressed his forehead against hers, smiling as he met those beautiful eyes with his own steady, calm gaze.
"What's life without a little risk? For you, I'd challenge heaven and hell both, consequences be damned. I told you before, you make this 'no touching' thing difficult. I was wrong. You make it absolutely impossible."
For what seemed like an eternity, he couldn't bring himself to even blink. The sight of her was far too glorious to miss even a second. The only one he had ever felt such powerful emotions for. And here she was, wrapped in his arms and he in hers. He would make sure they had many more moments just like these. They would both be free. And they would be together, bound by no man, no god. Finally, he seemed to notice the desk clerk and reality painfully began to seep back in. He kept holding Harian as close as he could, planting one last quick kiss on her lips.
"I think we're causing a scene. Let's....revisit this topic at a later time. Perhaps, over a movie later tonight?"

SilverFlight

 

[SilverFlight]

Location: The Library of Alexandria
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

Harian simply smiled at him. Other people's opinions were definitely not things she spent much time with. A movie sounded fantastic, but she gave him a playful glare. Her arm lingered about his waist as she took his hand and held it under the medallion.
"You haven't even gone inside yet."
The faun whispered the words to a spell and the medallion crumbled to dust. The symbol that had been carved into the bronze now appeared, glowing blue on the back of Gabriel's hand. Then, it vanished.
"This is your key. It is assigned to you and only you, proof that you have been considered worthy to enter the Great Library and partake of it's knowledge."
There was a set of doors against one far wall that seemed to have come from nowhere at all. They parted in a gentle breeze of leather and old paper.
The library was unfathomably big. As they passed through the doors they stepped out onto a balcony, and high above them and fifteen floors down there were shelves upon shelves of books, lining every available wall, stacked in stands down hallways and tucked into little nooks set with couches and small tables. The torches that lit the place glowed warm but they didn't seem to be made of fire. Instead of ladders to reach high shelves there were great stone platforms that fit two people barely and glowed with sigils the same blue as the symbol now hidden on Gabriel's hand.
"So, " Harian said, sidling up and leaning against him. Her hand slipped into his gently. "Which section do you want to check out first?"
Naberius

 

[Naberius]

Location: Over the Western Desert, Egypt
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

Gabriel gave Harian a mischievous wink, the smile that played across his face hadn't faded or fallen since they got in the car hours before. Nearly dying aside, this had been the most magical and amazing time he had ever had in his whole life. He wanted them to have many more days like this in their future together. It was dangerous to be having so much fun, to get as close as they had been getting the entire trip. But he didn't care. He loved her with every bit of his heart and soul and it made him want to sing. They walked into the library proper, Gabriel trying his best not to trip over his own feet as he tried to perfectly divide his attention between her and the absurdly impressive library.
He stared out, dumbstruck, at the sheer size of the colossal building. It was no wonder they had to make the entrance such a long descent. He tried to take in every detail but there was just too much to see. Harian pressed against his side again, taking his hand in her own. Gods just having her that close was one of the greatest feelings in the world. He held her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze and looking down at her, smiling like a giant goof ball.
"Do you realize just how hard it is for me to divide my time between the two most incredible sights I've ever laid eyes on in my whole life? I have absolutely no idea where to even begin."

SilverFlight

 

[SilverFlight]

Location: The Library of Alexandria
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

Harian heaved an overly-dramatic sigh. "How you managed to function before is completely beyond me." She stepped back from him for just a moment, her green eyes glinting with mischief. "Luckily, I can fix both problems."
In a twist of dark smoke Harian changed into a crow. She flapped in mid-air for a moment before swooping over to land on Gabriel's shoulder.
"This library contains everything you could possibly imagine" Harian the Crow continued in her own curt voice "...for example, it contains books on histories and workings of divine debts and servitude. I didn't just bring you here because you're a book nerd, I gave you that medallion so we could find a way to get you out of that deal with Adrestia, who, by the way is not permitted anywhere near this place. No gods allowed. The staff had enough of them always trying to manipulate human history."
Her tone turned a bit more gentle, almost sad. "It could take us a long time to find what we need...but every spare moment we get, we could come here and keep looking...this is what I wanted to give you."
Naberius

 

[Naberius]

Location: The Library of Alexandria
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

Gabriel contemplated her words for a time, his eyes growing distant, almost sad. A thousand yard stare. He had been dwelling on this avenue of thought for some time over the past few months. And he realized something during that time. Something that would make her rather upset, and he knew it.
"Harian...What if I don't want...to be free? If...if I lose my powers, I'll start aging again. I'll...get old and die. I'm not afraid of death. But I am afraid of leaving you here alone. I would rather remain a slave for eternity and have you by my side. That might not make any sense to you. I don't expect it to. But I'll use our time here to study something else. Something that may very well help you, at least. I'm not sure if I should say anything more about that particular subject because of....well....You already know why."

Gabriel spent the majority of the day combing over the contents of the shelves, searching for anything that may help him in freeing Harian from her own slavery. Counter rituals, tracking spells, long distance scrying, anything and everything that could help either locate her summoner or disrupt, mitigate, or entirely remove her bindings. It was an obsession for him. All he cared about right now was seeing her, the one he cared for most in the whole world, gain her freedom back.

SilverFlight

 

[SilverFlight]

Location: The Library of Alexandria
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

Harian The Crow, sitting on his shoulder, blinked her small, black eyes. From the body of a crow it was impossible to assess her reaction.
When she spoke, her voice was slow, careful, as if she was trying to take hold of the idea behind them.
"You would...offer your freedom...for me?"
She had to sit with that for quite a long while. As Gabriel began finding books, doing as he said he would and looking for ways to help her, Harian sat on the desk they had chosen and thought. As he started to read, Harian resumed her human form, taking a seat beside him after fetching one of the strange orange lamps for him to read by.
She sat a long while, not moving from his side, simply thinking.
At length, she stirred, looking up at him, something set in her summer forest eyes.
"Gabriel."
When he turned to her her hand would already be against his cheek, a whisper of a touch and then she was there, pressing a tender kiss onto his lips, gentle, loving and so unlike everything else that she normally was. She let the kiss linger between them before drawing back only a little ways. Something had changed: The hard layers of defense that he had been taking down slowly, wall by wall, were suddenly gone. Harian was looking at him now beyond the torment she had endured, beyond the torture, pain and humiliation, before she had been summoned, the pure being from another world, who did not know what torment was.
"No one has ever offered me so much..." and she smiled and for the first time the smile contained no shadow of pain.
"But I'm not about to let you get killed either. We can bend the contract. Give you more autonomy while still being her hand...and I'll be there to keep you from harm."
She sat back in her chair finally, and all of a sudden a small yawn escaped her.
"Protection spells." She murmured. "For the library. They don't harm beings like djinn or demons but...they put us to sleep...they're also the reason why I can't read a single word on any page of any book...that's why I couldn't use the medallion...this place is for mortals only..."
Naberius

 

[Naberius]

Location: The Library of Alexandria
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

Gabriel was unsure at what he had expected her reaction to be, but precisely how she ended up doing so was definitely not it. While she sat silently, he put eyes to pages like a man possessed. He would see her freed, that they could truly be together. She said his name, soft and honey-sweet, a far cry from her usual tone. As he met her gaze, she kissed him. He wasn't sure why it was as shocking as it was, but it was the first time she had ever kissed him first. He met her gentle, loving, and calm emotion with his own burning passion. This, he decided, was impossible. An experience even greater than the passionate kiss they shared earlier that same day.
"Of course I would offer up my freedom in exchange for you, Harian. I..... love you. I wasn't really sure how I felt about you until... Well, until I died. It may sound cheesy, but we both know you love it when I'm cheesy. I don't ever want to spend another day in this or any other world without you. And I don't care how dangerous it is to tell you that. I needed you to know..."
The smile he gave her was honest and full of the love he felt for her and her alone. She offered up her own ideas for how to deal with his situation and he was on board immediately. If they could get him a more autonomous, more self-sustaining position instead of the current one, without taking away the deal entirely, then that would be the best compromise they could manage.
"We'll protect each other, exactly as it should be. We'll take care of each other, neither of us ever has to be alone or afraid again. Because we might be facing down an army of darkness bent on ruining the world. But nothing they can do can touch that special bond between us."
He leaned closer and wrapped his arms around her, both a gesture of affection and a promise that he would never let anything happen to her as long as he still lived.


SilverFlight

 

[SilverFlight]

Location: The Library of Alexandria
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

It was one thing to suspect his feelings. For Harian, it was quite another to hear them spoken, made real by words. She gave a small laugh and looked away, almost disbelieving. This was absurd. A human and a djinn? And yet, weren't their thoughts the same? Their feelings? Didn't djinn feel pain like humans did, and joy and sorrow and...
"I didn't think it was possible..." She was looking at him as if he was the only thing she ever wanted to see. He took her in his arms and she leaned into him, pressing her forehead into his soft hair.
"I've never been in love before...so I don't know if I can tell but, I'm pretty sure I love you too."
She held onto him tighter and this time, she did laugh, in earnest. "We are so screwed!..but if we play it smart, work together...maybe we just might win."
She slipped back into her own chair but pulled it right up to his, leaning over the books that to her, were entirely blank.
"Ok, you're a magician now, that means you have a chance at getting into specific clubs and meetings. If we're set on finding a specific magician, then those would be your best bet. The bad part about it is...I can't help you. There is a little wiggle room though, in that my current orders clash with some of the other things I've been bound to."
She could do nothing to betray her master, however, she had also been ordered to protect the group and every member in it. That included giving them the power to stand up to the challenges they were facing. Helping Gabriel learn magic counted as such, and if she helped him improve in that, he would automatically be drawn closer into the same circles as the one who had drawn her bindings. Infiltrating a society built entirely of magicians was a terrifying prospect, but she reasoned that Gabriel would do it anyway, with or without her, and her knowledge may just save his life.
"The less I know about what you're planning the better, but Jophiel already suspects, I think. He'll help you."
She took his hand and tapped where the sigil had been placed. "You can get back here whenever you like now. There are doors all over the world, the magic isn't dissimilar to the magic of our front door. Just put your intent into finding an entrance, and the nearest one will make itself known to you...so, no more dangerous desert treks."
And as for helping him outsmart Adrestia... "I know a few people who have fairly close dealings with gods, but if we can't find enough here, the best people to speak to about contracts like this...would probably be the fae...that world has a danger all it's own, but at least I can be by your side every step of that path."
Naberius

 

[Naberius]

Location: The Library of Alexandria
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

Her response was precisely what he had hoped for, but didn't dare to dream of. He thought he knew just how she felt about him, but to hear her put it into words was like the sweetest ambrosia. It made his knees weak and his heart skipped a beat. He joined her with lighthearted laughter, almost on the verge of tears of pure joy as they embraced.
"Love is one of those things that no one, regardless of what race we are, can ever hope to understand. Someone once told me 'No one can tell you if you're in love. You just know it, all the way to your core.' And gods above, I know I love you. We haven't even known each other for a full year yet and already I can't ever imagine going back to not having you at my side. God, monster, mage, or eldritch monstrosity, nothing could keep me from you. I belong here, in your arms. Just as mine were made to hold only you."
He believed every word he said, in his very heart and soul he knew these things to be true. She returned to her seat, bringing it as close as she could. He planted a quick kiss on her cheek with a wink. She called him a magician and that gave him pause. He had never actually considered that before. Spellcasting was something he never really had a knack for but Keh'wet had helped fill in that puzzle a bit. He understood the basic principles now, having needed to understand such things to learn the spells he was given.
"Jophiel, as much grief as we give him, is a smart guy and only wants to help. He truly cares about us, and this world. I don't doubt that he'll prove invaluable. I can't tell you anything about what I've got in mind, but...Harian, I'll see you set free. I promise you, we will truly be together someday. As we should be, as we want to be."
When she mentioned parlaying with the fae, his skin crawled. He didn't particularly dislike any of the faerie races, but their politics would make even the staunchest vampires and mortal bureaucrats faint. He hadn't come into contact with many of them directly, but the interactions he had had were...less than ideal. He groaned loudly.
"Fantastic. Fae. I survive an ugly sand monster only to be crushed under the apocalyptic amount of red tape that is the fae."

SilverFlight

 

[SilverFlight]

Location: The Library of Alexandria
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

Harian's form was made from the warmth of the desert sun, and the hot winds that ruled there. She was always warm, but this was a different sort of warmth. Harian smiled as Gabriel spoke, taking a deep, comforted pleasure in knowing his words were for her alone.
"I believe you." Harian said when he promised to find a way to free her, and she meant it. She had never before dared let herself hope, but now...she felt she could.
She chuckled at his reaction to the fae. "I don't believe anyone said this would be easy."
She settled back, leaning against him as her eyes began to close slowly. The warding spells on the library were beginning to take effect, and for once, she felt safe enough not to fight them.
Sleep had always frightened her, it felt too much like dying, but knowing Gabriel was there, would wake her, this time the sensation felt almost comforting.
Naberius

 

[Naberius]

Location: The Library of Alexandria
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

"I believe you."
From her, those words were more of a confirmation of her love and trust than anything else. He knew it was hard for her to trust anyone other than herself. She had been alone, enslaved for longer than he could even guess at. And yet, he, some nobody human too stubborn or otherwise too idiotic to take no for an answer, had melted her heart. That beautiful, secret side of her is who he fell in love with. The real her. Not the facade she showed the world built on walls she surrounded herself with to keep out the pain and suffering life had given her for so long. He cherished every second they spent together, and he knew that he would do anything in the world to make her happy. Making her happy made him happy, and knowing that he was the reason there was a warm smile on her face made his heart race.
"Nothing in life worth doing is ever easy. That won't stop us."
He placed a gentle kiss atop her head as she leaned against his side. Her warmth was a welcoming comfort, a sign that he had her complete trust. And he would die a thousand horrible deaths before he ever betrayed that trust.
"Don't fight it, sleep if you need to. I'll be here, keeping watch. I'll wake you when it's time to leave. We still have to say goodbye to your friend."

SilverFlight

 

[SilverFlight]

Location: The Library of Alexandria
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

Harian blinked sleepily as they left the library again. She even went as far as to hold onto Gabriel's hand, using him as a guide to help her navigate in her bleary-eyed state.
It was dark when they finally came out onto the busy Alexandrian street, the street lights were blinding points of light that hurt her unless she cast her gaze down.
Keh'wet was waiting for them beside the rover, still reading her book, which had miraculously survived all this way.
When she looked up and saw them, saw Harian's finger laced with the human's her eyebrows shot into her hairline.
"Was it that kind of library trip?" She asked wickedly, but Harian was too tired to toss her an angry retort.
Keh'wet regarded Gabriel with a look that revealed she was both impressed, and thought he was crazy.
"Hey, you still have Harian's gun no? You can give it back to her. There won't be anymore danger here."
Harian seemed to remember her gun for the first time since they'd gotten out of the desert and frowned as she realized she didn't have it.
Naberius

 

[Naberius]

Location: The Library of Alexandria
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

Gabriel did a great deal of reading and research in the hours that followed, learning a couple new tricks that may serve him on his mission to track down Harian's summoner. He would need to have as many tricks up his sleeve as he could get if he was going to take on a seasoned sorcerer. He hoped and prayed it wouldn't come to a conflict, but if it did, Gabriel would not hesitate to kill the person to set Harian free. He had made up his mind on that particular bit of planning even before he formally gave her a promise.
He woke Harian in the early night hours, the sky fully darkened by the time they ascended back upstairs. They made their way back to Keh'wet, Harian having slipped her hand into his. He would never get used to that sensation, the sheer joy of just holding her, in any way. As her ba friend greeted them, setting aside her novel, Gabriel noticed the priceless shock on her face and smiled mischievously.
"I believe that's for us to know, and you to wonder at forevermore."
She reminded him of the borrowed firearm. He had completely forgotten about it, and the previous days dangers and near misses. The whole experience felt like a world away in a different lifetime. Not the happy, exciting life they lead now. He opened the back door to the car and retrieved her gun, deciding soon after they arrived that carrying a weapon into a special super secret occult library probably wouldn't have been the best move. He didn't hand it to her immediately, instead he slipped it into her holster himself, not worrying about how it might look or how close he had to get to do it.
"There, safe and sound. Unfortunately I used all your bullets. Sorry.I'll be sure to bring mine the next time we all almost explode."

SilverFlight

 

[SilverFlight]

Location: The Library of Alexandria
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

Harian had only registered half the words when Gabriel slipped the gun back where she carried it, a hidden holster underneath her vest. Keh'wet watched carefully, then, in a flash she darted forward. One hand went to Harian's shoulder the other to the gun and she shoved the djinn roughly aside. The ba pointed the gun expertly, straight at Gabriel's heart. It happened so fast there was almost no time to react, let alone think. All that registered in Harian's mind was that Gabriel was in danger, and the reflexes that had saved her own life countless times, worked like a loaded spring.
"Don't!" Harian was back between them in an instant, planted firmly in the line of fire. In the next second that followed Gabriel's words caught up with her.
"Wait...it's..."
Keh'wet pulled the gun up, a satisfied smirk on her face.
"Empty. Well, I never thought I'd see the day. You really are committed to this human."
Harian looked utterly confused, then she glanced back at Gabriel and a smile of realization appeared on her face. Keh'wet was confirming in action what Harian had already declared down in the library.
"Thanks Keh'wet, but...I think caution has officially been thrown to the wind..." She gave her friend a helpless shrug and that, surprised Keh'wet more than anything.
She pointed the empty gun at Gabriel again, narrowing her eyes. "What the Hell did you do to her?"
Harian only laughed. "We should get back. Now that the medallion's power has been locked to Gabriel, there won't be anyone tracking us."
Keh'wet still looked amazed, yet she relented, handing the gun back and gesturing to the door of an old guard shed just outside the parking lot. The door would let them open their portal back home.
Harian held out her keycard and then opened the door. She looked back, waving to the ba. "Until next time, thanks for getting us to the library."
"Don't forget about my new plane!" Keh'wet called after her and Harian laughed.
Naberius

 

[Naberius]

Location: The Library of Alexandria
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

Gabriel knew the gun was empty, being the one who had pulled the trigger each time. Despite that, as Harian moved between them with reflexes impressive even next to his own, his right arm had been in the process of swinging up in a disarming strike, his eyes flashing a brilliant aqua-marine for a split second before he fully realized exactly what was happening.
"You should see what she's done to me..."
Gabriel's eyes lingered on Harian, the love and affection worn on his face like a neon sign declaring his feelings for all the world to see. As she returned the weapon, he moved in front of her, smiling easily, holding out a friendly hand. A farewell.
"It's been fun. Maybe next time we won't be shot out of the sky and almost eaten. Speaking of, you doing okay? You're Harian's friend, which makes you at least a friendly acquaintance in my book. Get used to me worrying when you get hurt. I worry about everyone who isn't an asshole. Decent folk are few and far between lately."
Their goodbyes said, and the doorway home ready and waiting, Gabriel waved goodbye over his shoulder as he stepped through. When the door shut behind them, he turned to look Harian directly in the eyes, a playful grin on his face.
"So. Something you said a bit ago got me wondering....Am I really your first....well...whatever we are?"

SilverFlight

 

[SilverFlight]

Location: The Library of Alexandria
Timing: After the clue that lead to Moscow
Interaction: Harian & Gabriel

Keh'wt laughed and ruffled his hair as he worried about her. "Aww, you're so cute. You better get used to trouble boy, you're running with her now." the ba jerked her head in Harian's direction as she took his hand firmly.
She waved at them as they vanished through their magical door.
Gabriel turned as the lock clicked and Harian leaned back against the wood, her eyes alight as she saw the playfulness in his.
"And what are we?" She challenged with evident mischief, inviting him to offer some words that fit. There was no use for it now. Her master would find out about this. How she was going to keep Gabriel and herself alive through it would have to wait for another day.
"I have a feeling you're going to be the first in a lot of things in my life...Gabriel." She said his name gently, like a charm that would bring good luck, and she gave him a look that said she would be proud to call herself by whatever title he devised for them.
"Before most of those though, you need sleep. It's late."
Naberius