Fanfic100 001 - Beginnings
Title: Memos from the Messenger
Summary: Of the overall series - The life of the Archangel Gabriel, from his creation right up to the Apocalypse.
Of this installment - In the beginning, the archangels were created.
Prompt 001 - Beginnings.
Disclaimers: The Silver City is my take on the one introduced by Gaiman in his Sandman series and short story Murder Mysteries. Gabriel, whom I claimed for this fanfic100 challenge, is mentioned by name in Good Omens, where it’s implied that he is Aziraphale’s supervisor, but other than that I am taking free rein with the appearances and personalities of him and the other archangels. Aziraphael and Gadre’el are my take on what Aziraphale and Crowley were like in Heaven before the Fall; they are the property of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.
Thanks to my dear beta Jen for helping with ideas, editing and the idea for the Michael-Gabriel interaction, and to my best friend Lakshmi for being supportive.
Chapter 1: Prompt 001 - Beginnings.
In the beginning, there was the Name. And He created the Archangels Michael and Lucifer, and for them and their brethren He created the Silver City.
Awaken, Gaḇrîēl, Strength of God.
And the newly named Gabriel, only just created, opened his eyes, and the first thing he beheld was God. Gabriel looked upon His visage, and a fierce love for Him and awareness of His Presence burned within him
His Creator smiled at him before moving on. Awaken, Ûrîēl, Flame of God.
Gabriel turned and saw two bright Archangels watching him, glorious in their light. The one with paler hair and bright golden eyes approached him, and Gabriel knew it was Lucifer, the Lightbringer. His shining twin may have smiled as well, or said something, but for the moment Gabriel saw nothing but the Morningstar. As the Messenger, recognition was part of his function, but even without it he couldn’t not have recognised Lucifer.
“Gabriel,” he smiled, intense golden eyes holding Gabriel’s own dark blue ones. “I am Lucifer, and this is Michael.”
“I know,” Gabriel answered, glancing at the Warrior. Michael’s eyes were a lighter blue, and his smile was more open than the light curve of Lucifer’s lips, yet Gabriel somehow felt more drawn to Lucifer.
“Hello,” a voice behind Gabriel said, and he turned to face golden eyes even brighter than Lucifer’s. Uriel blinked, smiling, long pale hair blowing in a light breeze, contrasting with Gabriel’s black hair. “Look at the City. Is it not beautiful?”
Raphael, his red-gold hair almost a shock after the muted colours of their backdrop, now joined them as they moved closer to the edge of the balcony; there was no railing and no need for one for they all moved with grace, and their large, glowing wings would save them from a fall. Below the balcony on which they stood, graceful silver spires stretched out, glimmering in the muted light that permeated every corner despite having no discernible source. There were mainly towers of varying heights, though there were a few shorter and wider buildings, and some distance from the Palace was a large, open field.
“That is for the training of the Host,” Lucifer murmured. “He has named me Captain of His army.”
“And I will have to Heal you often, then,” Raphael cut in, eyes the colour leaves would be once they were created glinting in amusement.
“I hope not,” Michael laughed. “If the Captain should have need of your help, Healer, then it does not bode well for those who train under him.”
“Perhaps you will have an opportunity to test your skills now, Raphael, on Michael,” Lucifer responded, holding Michael’s gaze almost challengingly despite his friendly smile, and then Gabriel noticed that though they wore nothing else, they all bore swords on their hips. He touched the glittering sapphire in the hilt of his sword, curiously.
More angels were being brought into being, in their own towers across the City; they could all sense it. They all knew their functions.
Michael came to stand beside Gabriel, still grinning. “Why do you suppose He named you the Strength of God? I don’t mean to offend you, but I’m curious. One would have thought He would name the Warrior - ” he gestured to himself, “His Strength.”
The question was without malice - for such a thing did not, after all, exist yet, and Michael simply preferred to be direct - and so Gabriel smiled. “One should not question Him. But I would suppose not all strength is physical. In fact, if strength was judged by mental acuity, Michael, I have a feeling you would be very unfairly disadvantaged.”
Michael stared at him for a moment, before all of them burst into laughter.
“Good one,” Michael responded, still laughing.
“Well said, my friend,” Lucifer smiled, inclining his head towards Gabriel. He held out a hand, spreading his huge, lustrous wings, the colour and sheen of mother of pearl. “The Lord will wish to see us soon, to discuss our tasks, but before that I’d like to test these wings. Join me?”
Gabriel took it, spreading his own large wings, white with a tinge of blue where the light struck it. “Of course.”
~*~*~*~
Scribbled in elegant script on a piece of paper stuck to the small table just inside the entrance to Gabriel’s rooms: Note to self - Look into Michael’s suggestion of ‘armour’ and set up liaison teams for Cherubim and Virtues to work on it. Also, set up organising/filing systems for paperwork. Hall of Being reports in particular are rather disorganised and will only get worse. Ask Phanuel to condense everything?
Also, Uriel, no, this is not your room. It’s down the hall, the door with the doorknob right in the middle. You’re welcome.
Feedback/concrit would be loved. <3 Next installment: Prompt 021 - Friends.
For some reason it won't let me edit this entry in HTML O.o so here's the link to the prompt table: sirius-luva.livejournal.com/34881.html
Summary: Of the overall series - The life of the Archangel Gabriel, from his creation right up to the Apocalypse.
Of this installment - In the beginning, the archangels were created.
Prompt 001 - Beginnings.
Disclaimers: The Silver City is my take on the one introduced by Gaiman in his Sandman series and short story Murder Mysteries. Gabriel, whom I claimed for this fanfic100 challenge, is mentioned by name in Good Omens, where it’s implied that he is Aziraphale’s supervisor, but other than that I am taking free rein with the appearances and personalities of him and the other archangels. Aziraphael and Gadre’el are my take on what Aziraphale and Crowley were like in Heaven before the Fall; they are the property of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.
Thanks to my dear beta Jen for helping with ideas, editing and the idea for the Michael-Gabriel interaction, and to my best friend Lakshmi for being supportive.
Chapter 1: Prompt 001 - Beginnings.
In the beginning, there was the Name. And He created the Archangels Michael and Lucifer, and for them and their brethren He created the Silver City.
Awaken, Gaḇrîēl, Strength of God.
And the newly named Gabriel, only just created, opened his eyes, and the first thing he beheld was God. Gabriel looked upon His visage, and a fierce love for Him and awareness of His Presence burned within him
His Creator smiled at him before moving on. Awaken, Ûrîēl, Flame of God.
Gabriel turned and saw two bright Archangels watching him, glorious in their light. The one with paler hair and bright golden eyes approached him, and Gabriel knew it was Lucifer, the Lightbringer. His shining twin may have smiled as well, or said something, but for the moment Gabriel saw nothing but the Morningstar. As the Messenger, recognition was part of his function, but even without it he couldn’t not have recognised Lucifer.
“Gabriel,” he smiled, intense golden eyes holding Gabriel’s own dark blue ones. “I am Lucifer, and this is Michael.”
“I know,” Gabriel answered, glancing at the Warrior. Michael’s eyes were a lighter blue, and his smile was more open than the light curve of Lucifer’s lips, yet Gabriel somehow felt more drawn to Lucifer.
“Hello,” a voice behind Gabriel said, and he turned to face golden eyes even brighter than Lucifer’s. Uriel blinked, smiling, long pale hair blowing in a light breeze, contrasting with Gabriel’s black hair. “Look at the City. Is it not beautiful?”
Raphael, his red-gold hair almost a shock after the muted colours of their backdrop, now joined them as they moved closer to the edge of the balcony; there was no railing and no need for one for they all moved with grace, and their large, glowing wings would save them from a fall. Below the balcony on which they stood, graceful silver spires stretched out, glimmering in the muted light that permeated every corner despite having no discernible source. There were mainly towers of varying heights, though there were a few shorter and wider buildings, and some distance from the Palace was a large, open field.
“That is for the training of the Host,” Lucifer murmured. “He has named me Captain of His army.”
“And I will have to Heal you often, then,” Raphael cut in, eyes the colour leaves would be once they were created glinting in amusement.
“I hope not,” Michael laughed. “If the Captain should have need of your help, Healer, then it does not bode well for those who train under him.”
“Perhaps you will have an opportunity to test your skills now, Raphael, on Michael,” Lucifer responded, holding Michael’s gaze almost challengingly despite his friendly smile, and then Gabriel noticed that though they wore nothing else, they all bore swords on their hips. He touched the glittering sapphire in the hilt of his sword, curiously.
More angels were being brought into being, in their own towers across the City; they could all sense it. They all knew their functions.
Michael came to stand beside Gabriel, still grinning. “Why do you suppose He named you the Strength of God? I don’t mean to offend you, but I’m curious. One would have thought He would name the Warrior - ” he gestured to himself, “His Strength.”
The question was without malice - for such a thing did not, after all, exist yet, and Michael simply preferred to be direct - and so Gabriel smiled. “One should not question Him. But I would suppose not all strength is physical. In fact, if strength was judged by mental acuity, Michael, I have a feeling you would be very unfairly disadvantaged.”
Michael stared at him for a moment, before all of them burst into laughter.
“Good one,” Michael responded, still laughing.
“Well said, my friend,” Lucifer smiled, inclining his head towards Gabriel. He held out a hand, spreading his huge, lustrous wings, the colour and sheen of mother of pearl. “The Lord will wish to see us soon, to discuss our tasks, but before that I’d like to test these wings. Join me?”
Gabriel took it, spreading his own large wings, white with a tinge of blue where the light struck it. “Of course.”
~*~*~*~
Scribbled in elegant script on a piece of paper stuck to the small table just inside the entrance to Gabriel’s rooms: Note to self - Look into Michael’s suggestion of ‘armour’ and set up liaison teams for Cherubim and Virtues to work on it. Also, set up organising/filing systems for paperwork. Hall of Being reports in particular are rather disorganised and will only get worse. Ask Phanuel to condense everything?
Also, Uriel, no, this is not your room. It’s down the hall, the door with the doorknob right in the middle. You’re welcome.
Feedback/concrit would be loved. <3 Next installment: Prompt 021 - Friends.
For some reason it won't let me edit this entry in HTML O.o so here's the link to the prompt table: sirius-luva.livejournal.com/34881.html