accidental video -> text; sunday morning

[expunger]

[The video clicks on softly, with little static or feedback normally associated with angels. It's broadcasting from a rooftop, pointing off-kilter slightly to take in the panorama of Adstringéndum's horizon in the early light of dawn. The sky is striped and bright, the sun only just peeking over the distant horizon to paint the city and Wastes with

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[Video]

[showchoirstar]

[Rachel had woken up to a brilliantly wonderful beginning to her birthday, but this seems... wrong.

And so, she's frowning, with strings of silver tinsel around her shoulders, still in her pajamas.]

Raphael?

[text]

[expunger]

[Alas, text. She doesn't want people to get a good, full view of her face.]

Rachel.

[Video]

[showchoirstar]

[Well, she's not using text, so there.]

...I would want to live long enough to know I've lived a good life.

[She frowns to herself slightly.]

Why did you ask?

[text]

[expunger]

[Well... well, fine. She can do that.]

Step out of Solve.

[video]

[showchoirstar]

[She frowns slightly before pushing herself up to head down the stairs, still in pajamas.]

Alright.

[offline]

[expunger]

[Raphael knows the instant Rachel is out of the building, and takes flight immediately.

Still, she doesn't land until ten seconds later. The flickering lights and vague lightning smell last for several seconds, the faint sound of wings echoing for a few long seconds before she lands with a very human, fairly winded pant.]

[offline]

[showchoirstar]

[She's waiting outside, shivering slightly, because... well, her fathers didn't exactly decide to have her at a warm time of year. But she immediately steps off of the steps toward Raphael, alarmed by the sight of the angel and the smell of lightning -- that was lightning, right?]

What's wrong?

[It's instantaneous.]

[offline]

[expunger]

[Uncharacteristically, she doesn't answer right away. A detached, vaguely thoughtful expression passes over her face as she looks at the sky, the morning light throwing deep shadows into every line, crease, and hollow in her face- the shadows of her cheeks, the circles under her eyes.]

I've never flown slowly before this week. Such a wonder that birds can stand it.

[That singularly strange thought shakes from her mind, and she gives Rachel a look more approaching normal.

Then hesitates. And hesitates again.

This is going to be terrible.]

I am sick.

[offline]

[showchoirstar]

[That statement is particularly worrying -- angels never fly slowly. They just appear. Well, except for Castiel, but Rachel is certain that when he has wings, he does the same thing. They have no sense of privacy or personal space. That's just how they are.

So -- for Raphael to fly slowly -- ]

Why can't you be healed?

[expunger]

[Even standing here Raphael can feel the curse taking its toll, like something physically in her. After a moment she takes a few steps to the right to lean tiredly against the wall.]

It is unfortunately both irreversible and fatal.

[showchoirstar]

[Give her a moment or two to absorb that before she stares.]

Fatal?

[expunger]

Yes.

[Bluntly. Raphael rests her head against the wall, still winded from the flight.]

[showchoirstar]

But --

[She can't quite wrap her mind around that idea.]

-- how? I -- there must be something to be done, it can't be fatal.

[expunger]

[Denial. A stage of... something, some unimportant human concept. Then Raphael realizes that she knows, but can't remember.]

The curse is always fatal. I am told that my continued existence is remarkable.

[showchoirstar]

But --

[That shouldn't be possible, and Rachel is quite obviously wracking her brain, to try and figure out a solution.]

-- surely one of the angels can help you?

[expunger]

The only one stronger than I is Lucifer. He has proven unable.