Fallen: Azazel/Ariel- "Heaven's Light and Hellfire"
Title: Heaven's Light and Hellfire
Author: kawaiispinel
Fandom: Fallen (Miniseries)
Pairing: Azazel/Ariel
Word Count: 3067
Spoilers: Pretty much the whole series.
Notes: I've been working on this little monster for several months now. Seriously, these two characters just won't leave me alone. XD Based on the ABC Family miniseries of Fallen, as opposed to the books. Very quote heavy and a lot of the backstory information came from the Fallen website, which I had to prowl around on at length to fill in details.
Disclaimer: Fallen belongs to ABC Family, Tom Sniegoski, and all other parties who may have been involved in the creation of the miniseries. Caps all come from dj_capslock.
"When God created Man, a jealous Lucifer mounted a great rebellion in Heaven. His army of Angels was defeated and forever banished from Paradise. These Angels, The Fallen, abandoned Lucifer, choosing to live on Earth amongst the pleasures of Man. They took mortal wives and fathered abominations- children called Nephilim, who had the powers of Angels, but the souls of Man. Angry, The Creator flooded the Earth, killing all the Nephilim and driving the Fallen into hiding. He sent The Powers, fierce warrior Angels, to hunt those who had survived the flood.
But there was hope for the Fallen in a prophecy. A Nephllim would be born who would redeem them and return them to Paradise.
So the Fallen watched and waited . . . "
-Opening Narration to Fallen
An Introduction to Fallen
Loosely (very loosely from what I’ve heard) based on the concept of a series of novels by Tom Sniegoski (known as The Fallen series), Fallen is a six-episode ABC Family miniseries that tells the story of an eighteen-year-old boy named Aaron Corbett who discovers that he is a Nephilim- a child of a Fallen Angel and a human, and is destined to become The Redeemer, who, according to a prophecy, would return the Fallen to Heaven. The first two episodes (a two-hour movie “pilot” that aired on ABC Family in 2006) explain the backstory behind Aaron discovering his powers and the dangers that come with them, and the final four, aired a year later in August of 2007, feature Aaron continuing his quest to redeem the Fallen with his guardian, former leader of The Powers (Angels dedicated to hunting and killing Nephilim and The Fallen) Camael, a year after abandoning his adoptive parents and his normal life. Upon running into The Powers in a small college town, Aaron is separated from his guardian and finds himself going on a journey of self-discovery that leads him to The Lightbringer, a Fallen Angel who allegedly can tell him everything he ever wanted to know about who he is and what his destiny is really about.
The series boasts a mix of humor, action, and a brand of suspense that seasoned film and television fans might find “blah,” although it still manages to be entertaining. The special effects are only slightly above the average Sci-Fi Channel B movie, but it’s the characters that truly make the series. Not so much in Aaron, his Nephilim girlfriend Vilma, or Camael, but in supporting characters such as Lucifer, Mazarin, Zeke, Sachiel, and, of course, Azazel and Ariel.
"I'm not a Guardian Angel . . . I'm an Avenging Angel. This is who I am. The world needs both."
-Azazel, Episode Four: Mysterious Ways and All That
The Avenging Angel
"I'm Azazel. You've never heard of me? Yeah, I'm one of the Fallen. I’m the Fallen."
-Azazel, Episode Four: Mysterious Ways and All That
Azazel was Heaven’s “favorite son” in the early days of the universe, a mischief-maker, a jester, whom every Angel loved and adored . . . Until he grew jealous of the care and consideration The Creator put into Earth and begin to wonder whether Earth was meant to be a better Paradise than Heaven. With Lucifer’s help, he tempted Angels to his side with his many charms, convincing them of the wonders that Earth held, and together they formed the rebellion that was quickly defeated by The Powers, leading to Lucifer’s exile to the depths of Hell and the Fallen’s exile to Earth.
"I'm not just any other Fallen, sweetheart. I led them."
"You led them?"
"Almost straight to Hell. It was my idea to come to Earth, you know. We made a decent team-Lucifer and me, but it was a temporary alliance. I never wanted to take over Heaven like he did . . . I was fighting for the right to leave it."
-Azazel and Aaron, Episode Five: Someone Always Has to Die
For Azazel, it didn’t end there, however. The darker side that had emerged during the war began to fully take hold of him as he moved throughout Earth without care, delighting in abusing all Seven Deadly Sins, especially Lust, which was prevalent due to his newly discovered obsession with mortal women. Allegedly, this obsession led to him fathering more Nephilim than any other Fallen and was the primary cause for the flood that wiped them out. When the flood waters cleared, The Powers arrived, determined to put an end to Azazel’s reign of deviance and prevent him from destroying the earth with his careless, sinful nature. After a brutal fight, they finally managed to seal him away in a pit, chained to a slab of rock, where he was to be left until Judgement Day, after which he would be cast into the fires of Hell where he would spend the rest of eternity.
Azazel might have been forced to sit out his punishment had his old friend Lucifer not shown up with a deal, and an offer he couldn’t bear to refuse..
"What do you want?"
"To give you what you most desire."
"You'd give me my freedom?"
-Azazel and Lucifer, Episode Three: The Time of the Redeemer
In exchange for tracking down The Redeemer and bringing him to him, Lucifer offered Azazel the one thing he desired- his freedom. Desperate for another chance to be free, Azazel readily accepted, and began his mission- get into Aaron’s good graces and lead him to Lucifer, which he did by promising the confused young Nephilim answers about his destiny and protecting him when The Powers came after him. Despite Aaron’s protestations about Azazel’s obvious issues with morals, he followed him unconditionally, right to Lucifer’s door.
Personality-wise, Azazel is vain, lusty, and fond of vice in all forms. In order to adapt to modern society, he took on the persona of a British biker he came across in a bar prior to being freed, and, as such, he tends to deliver snarky, biting dialogue with a thick London accent. He can almost come across as charming, particularly when seducing a woman, and easily managed to get Aaron on his side with sincere promises about the “Lightbringer” (Lightbringer is Lucifer in Latin). He never outright tells a lie, but rather speaks in perpetual half-truths, omitting and deleting information as he sees fit to prove his point. He is also fond of goading Aaron and his overwhelming sense of moral ethics as much as he can, all while keeping his promises, so to never once allow the Nephilim the chance to abandon him.
"Where'd you get that?"
"Remember that waitress from the diner?"
"Yeah."
"Remember that line you told me not to cross?"
"....Yeah?"
"I crossed it... But, in my defense, it was before you told me not to."
-Aaron and Azazel, Episode Five: Someone Always Has to Die
Azazel, unlike most Fallen, doesn’t want to return to Heaven and gets testy at the slightest thought of going back, obviously preferring the sins and vices of Earth to his old home.
"Do it to him."
"What? No, you keep that voodoo to yourself."
"Don't you want to go to Heaven?"
"Hell no! If I liked it, I wouldn't have rebelled in the first place."
-Vilma and Azazel, Episode Four: Mysterious Ways and All That
He is extremely put-out about his imprisonment, believing himself to be completely wronged by The Powers desire to use him as a scapegoat and seems to be incapable of understanding his own violent, destructive personality, although the rest of the Fallen are well aware of it, and often blame him for their misfortunes on Earth. He never seems to think about the consequences of his actions and merely lives in the moment. What seems to excite him most are battles (he fights like a demon, always with the intent to kill) and women, especially easy women who fold to his charms within seconds.
"It doesn't seem like he's fighting to protect us as much as he just likes to fight."
-Vilma, Episode Five: Someone Always Has To Die
"You know you really shouldn't say that stuff."
"..Why?"
"Because it's derogatory towards women."
"...I'm saying I like that they're easy."
-Vilma and Azazel, Episode Four: Mysterious Ways and All That
He is also thoroughly in love with himself.
"I saw you looking at me... No, no, don't be embarrassed. Sometimes I can't stop looking at me."
-Azazel, Episode Four: Mysterious Ways and All That
"Vanity is a sin, Azazel."
"If The Creator hadn't wanted me to admire myself, he wouldn't have made me so pretty."
-Lucifer and Azazel, Episode Five: Someone Always Has To Die
The Guardian Angel
“Nobody dies on my watch.”
-Ariel, Episode Three: The Time of the Redeemer
In every way Azazel’s exact opposite, Ariel is a Fallen who felt such remorse for her actions during the war that she devoted her entire existence to healing the sick and wounded with her powers, desperately trying to atone for the transgressions of her past. Now, in modern day society, she has a job as an EMT and continues to use her powers to save as many lives as she can.
When Aaron and Camael arrive in her hometown, it’s under difficult terms- Camael, having recently been injured severely by the new leader of The Powers- Mazarin- finds himself seeking her help, an odd request from someone who had once hunted and killed her kind.
"You're not supposed to be here."
"Ariel."
"Punisher."
"Punisher?"
"Yeah. That's what we called him in high school... Linebacker."
-Ariel, Camael, and Clarence, Episode Three: The Time of the Redeemer
Ariel, however, displaying her large capacity for kindness and forgiveness eagerly helps her wounded former enemy, and offers Aaron a chance for some fun in the city, something he was denied under Camael’s constant watch. And after a tragic incident later on renders Camael fatally injured, she desperately races against time to help him find Aaron, willing to throw away her years of hiding from the Powers in order to aide him in his plight, even going as far as to accept help from The Powers, themselves.
After the death of the Fallen Samshiel, Ariel took over the mission to protect and hide the Fallen from the eyes of The Powers, proving that she is always willing to lay her life down for another. The fact that she heals humans despite the fact that, if not careful, doing so could pinpoint her location to The Powers is yet another testament to her selfless nature.
"How was work?"
"It was great. I didn't even have to use my healing magic on anyone."
"Aren't you worried about The Powers?"
"I'm always worried about The Powers, but if it means saving someone's life..."
-Aaron and Ariel, Episode Three: The Time of the Redeemer
Ariel is of a forgiving nature, easily accepting people into her good graces no matter how they’ve wronged her in the past if they are repentant for their actions. Above all, she is a kind, generous soul, occasionally prone to light teasing of her friends. She is also capable of deep remorse, especially when she finds that she can’t save someone. If it can be said than any Angel could posses a soul to call their own, it’s Ariel.
If anything, it’s Ariel’s devotion to duty that keeps her on Earth. She feels her powers are better suited to the planet and has made her choice on where she would like to stay for all eternity, although she doesn’t say as much out loud as only a unrepentant Fallen such as Azazel would refuse the gift that the Redeemer is offering.
"It's just... Usually when I'm around the Fallen, I get this weird feeling. It's how I know they need Redemption. I don't feel that from you."
"You're picking up on their desire for forgiveness... You're not picking it up from me, because it's not my time yet. I'll be the last Fallen you'll Redeem."
-Aaron and Ariel, Episode Three: The Time of the Redeemer
The Nature of Demons and Angels
(Or “Kisses Can Lie”)
"Ariel."
"Long time no see."
"Don't do it."
"No... You're going back."
"Then how about a kiss goodnight?"
-Azazel and Ariel, Episode Six: Il Gran Rifiuto
As unalike as night and day, there seems almost no way that Azazel and Ariel could ever manage a successful relationship in the present even if Azazel weren’t currently doomed to spend his life imprisoned. However, there seems to be plenty of suggestion that there could have been something between them in the past, and, if that’s so, perhaps, old flames haven’t fully been doused.
"Everyone gets rejected sometimes."
"Not me. Nobody rejects me. Ever."
-Vilma and Azazel, Episode Five: Someone Always Has to Die
What we know of Azazel’s adoration for the females of whatever species he’s currently pursuing is that he cares little about them once he’s gotten what he wanted from them- namely sex. We’ve seen him carelessly toss aside Gadreel, the only Fallen who doesn’t currently think he’s scum, after a passionate night with her, among other related events, generally summing it up that he cares nothing about love and prefers the less meaningful alternative- lust.
"It's not like fidelity was ever your strong suit."
-Gadreel, Episode Three: The Time of the Redeemer
Ariel, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to have much of a love life. She is presently single, living alone in a large apartment, but is openly flirtatious with Aaron (almost teasingly), suggesting that she does appreciate male companionship when she can get it. She seems to exhibit strong feelings for Camael and he seems to reciprocate those feelings, although since they were on opposite sides during the war, it is highly unlikely that these feelings, if romantic, are anything more than a new development, and could suggest that Camael felt Ariel’s talents and charms were wasted when she decided to follow Lucifer and Azazel.
"Perhaps this is what I deserve. I clipped many an Angel's wings when I led The Powers. I clipped yours."
"At least you didn't use Angelfire."
"Not on you, Ariel."
-Camael and Ariel, Episode Six: Il Gran Rifiuto
So what about in the past? Ariel often speaks of Azazel with a twinge of regret and cites that the only thing good The Powers ever did was imprison him. (The lady doth protest too much, perhaps?) She seems to give off vibes that seem as if she, moreso than any of the other Angels, knows firsthand what Azazel is capable of, and seems extremely heartbroken at the thought of Azazel siding with Lucifer again.
"Azazel did this. I can smell him."
"Azazel is a force of nature. He will never change."
"But realigning with Lucifer after all it's cost us?"
-Ariel and Camael, Episode Six: Il Gran Rifiuto
As for Azazel, well his feelings for Ariel can be hinted at even earlier in the series during his brief fling with Gadreel, who reluctantly confides in him that Ariel contacted her. The tension in this scene provides more fuel for the “past romance” concept as Gadreel almost point-blank refuses to give Azazel the information on Ariel’s whereabouts until he forces it out of her. Denying such information could be construed as an act of jealousy on Gadreel’s part as she seemed keen on keeping Azazel all to herself.
Now this scene could be played out as if Gadreel felt abandoned by Azazel’s quick dedication to his mission, but the expression on Azazel’s face when Ariel is mentioned says it all as does the fact that immediately afterwards, Gadreel taunts Azazel with her own ex-lovers. (Jealous, much?)
"Ariel contacted me a few months ago..."
"Really? Where is she?"
"..."
"Where... Is... She?"
-Gadreel and Azazel, Episode Three: The Time of the Redeemer
Which now brings us to the only scene that Azazel and Ariel share in the whole series. After occasional tidbits of subtext, they are brought together face-to-face as Azazel lays fatally injured, having been wounded by Mazarin during his final fight for his freedom. With the intent to have the injured Fallen healed and returned to his prison, Mazarin calls Ariel over. The moment is short, simple, but contains much to be said about whether or not there was ever anything between these too.
First of all, there’s Azazel’s willingness to beg for her not to heal him. Prior to this moment, Azazel has never begged for anything and just moments before he ordered Mazarin to finish him off. However, the moment he sees Ariel, he almost becomes a different person, pleading with her to let him die, and when she refuses, he gives up completely- something else he also hasn’t managed to do during the course of the series. If it’s one thing Azazel doesn’t know, it’s when to shut up or when to back down from a fight.
“Then how about a kiss goodnight?”
The question isn’t asked seductively, nor suggestively, which everything Azazel’s said to a woman up until this point has been, but rather passionately, as if it’s the only thing in the world he’d rather have if he can’t have his freedom.
And Ariel almost takes him up on his offer just before knocking him unconscious. Her fake-out might be a throw-back to her somewhat teasing nature, but it could still be a sign of respect for their former relationship, taken back at the last moment lest anyone misinterpret her intentions. After all, she’s standing before two members of The Powers and a dying Camael, so how would it look if she were seen kissing the Fallen she came here to take down? Despite the fact that the kiss never manifested, there’s still the tenderness of the moment, which Ariel aided in bringing about physically just as much as Azazel did verbally due to spending the whole scene stroking his hair. (Which in the minds of delusional shippers such as myself is all but a declaration of love or former love.)
Ariel was also the only Angel to not fight in the battle with Azazel at the end, so we didn’t see how the two would react to each other if faced on the battlefield- old allies (perhaps former lovers) on different sides after all this time. Perhaps it’s just one more piece of subtext- Ariel refusing to fight on the grounds that she couldn’t or perhaps wouldn’t fight someone whom she had been so attached to in the past. Perhaps it’s merely another aspect of Ariel’s nature not to fight. Personally... I lean towards the former, but that’s my delusional shipper personality taking effect.
Tiny fandoms make Ariel cry.
Devoid of Sense and Motion
(AKA “The Fandom”)
At the moment, the Fandom consists of... Me. There’s a small section on Fanfiction.net and a rarely updated comm here on LJ for the books, but nothing for the miniseries, which is vastly different and probably deserves a fandom all its own, especially since Azazel and Ariel aren’t actually featured in the books (to the best of my knowledge). I’m trying to correct this as best as I can, but it’s hard to get a good fandom going for a series that, while good to an extent, is mostly something of a guilty pleasure.
The only fics I can offer are actually my own, but I'd rather not use this manifesto as a chance to pimp my own fiction. All I can hope for is for more people to become interested in this fandom (and this pairing) and give it the sort of respect it needs.
Author: kawaiispinel
Fandom: Fallen (Miniseries)
Pairing: Azazel/Ariel
Word Count: 3067
Spoilers: Pretty much the whole series.
Notes: I've been working on this little monster for several months now. Seriously, these two characters just won't leave me alone. XD Based on the ABC Family miniseries of Fallen, as opposed to the books. Very quote heavy and a lot of the backstory information came from the Fallen website, which I had to prowl around on at length to fill in details.
Disclaimer: Fallen belongs to ABC Family, Tom Sniegoski, and all other parties who may have been involved in the creation of the miniseries. Caps all come from dj_capslock.
"When God created Man, a jealous Lucifer mounted a great rebellion in Heaven. His army of Angels was defeated and forever banished from Paradise. These Angels, The Fallen, abandoned Lucifer, choosing to live on Earth amongst the pleasures of Man. They took mortal wives and fathered abominations- children called Nephilim, who had the powers of Angels, but the souls of Man. Angry, The Creator flooded the Earth, killing all the Nephilim and driving the Fallen into hiding. He sent The Powers, fierce warrior Angels, to hunt those who had survived the flood.
But there was hope for the Fallen in a prophecy. A Nephllim would be born who would redeem them and return them to Paradise.
So the Fallen watched and waited . . . "
-Opening Narration to Fallen
An Introduction to Fallen
Loosely (very loosely from what I’ve heard) based on the concept of a series of novels by Tom Sniegoski (known as The Fallen series), Fallen is a six-episode ABC Family miniseries that tells the story of an eighteen-year-old boy named Aaron Corbett who discovers that he is a Nephilim- a child of a Fallen Angel and a human, and is destined to become The Redeemer, who, according to a prophecy, would return the Fallen to Heaven. The first two episodes (a two-hour movie “pilot” that aired on ABC Family in 2006) explain the backstory behind Aaron discovering his powers and the dangers that come with them, and the final four, aired a year later in August of 2007, feature Aaron continuing his quest to redeem the Fallen with his guardian, former leader of The Powers (Angels dedicated to hunting and killing Nephilim and The Fallen) Camael, a year after abandoning his adoptive parents and his normal life. Upon running into The Powers in a small college town, Aaron is separated from his guardian and finds himself going on a journey of self-discovery that leads him to The Lightbringer, a Fallen Angel who allegedly can tell him everything he ever wanted to know about who he is and what his destiny is really about.
The series boasts a mix of humor, action, and a brand of suspense that seasoned film and television fans might find “blah,” although it still manages to be entertaining. The special effects are only slightly above the average Sci-Fi Channel B movie, but it’s the characters that truly make the series. Not so much in Aaron, his Nephilim girlfriend Vilma, or Camael, but in supporting characters such as Lucifer, Mazarin, Zeke, Sachiel, and, of course, Azazel and Ariel.
"I'm not a Guardian Angel . . . I'm an Avenging Angel. This is who I am. The world needs both."
-Azazel, Episode Four: Mysterious Ways and All That
The Avenging Angel
"I'm Azazel. You've never heard of me? Yeah, I'm one of the Fallen. I’m the Fallen."
-Azazel, Episode Four: Mysterious Ways and All That
Azazel was Heaven’s “favorite son” in the early days of the universe, a mischief-maker, a jester, whom every Angel loved and adored . . . Until he grew jealous of the care and consideration The Creator put into Earth and begin to wonder whether Earth was meant to be a better Paradise than Heaven. With Lucifer’s help, he tempted Angels to his side with his many charms, convincing them of the wonders that Earth held, and together they formed the rebellion that was quickly defeated by The Powers, leading to Lucifer’s exile to the depths of Hell and the Fallen’s exile to Earth.
"I'm not just any other Fallen, sweetheart. I led them."
"You led them?"
"Almost straight to Hell. It was my idea to come to Earth, you know. We made a decent team-Lucifer and me, but it was a temporary alliance. I never wanted to take over Heaven like he did . . . I was fighting for the right to leave it."
-Azazel and Aaron, Episode Five: Someone Always Has to Die
For Azazel, it didn’t end there, however. The darker side that had emerged during the war began to fully take hold of him as he moved throughout Earth without care, delighting in abusing all Seven Deadly Sins, especially Lust, which was prevalent due to his newly discovered obsession with mortal women. Allegedly, this obsession led to him fathering more Nephilim than any other Fallen and was the primary cause for the flood that wiped them out. When the flood waters cleared, The Powers arrived, determined to put an end to Azazel’s reign of deviance and prevent him from destroying the earth with his careless, sinful nature. After a brutal fight, they finally managed to seal him away in a pit, chained to a slab of rock, where he was to be left until Judgement Day, after which he would be cast into the fires of Hell where he would spend the rest of eternity.
Azazel might have been forced to sit out his punishment had his old friend Lucifer not shown up with a deal, and an offer he couldn’t bear to refuse..
"What do you want?"
"To give you what you most desire."
"You'd give me my freedom?"
-Azazel and Lucifer, Episode Three: The Time of the Redeemer
In exchange for tracking down The Redeemer and bringing him to him, Lucifer offered Azazel the one thing he desired- his freedom. Desperate for another chance to be free, Azazel readily accepted, and began his mission- get into Aaron’s good graces and lead him to Lucifer, which he did by promising the confused young Nephilim answers about his destiny and protecting him when The Powers came after him. Despite Aaron’s protestations about Azazel’s obvious issues with morals, he followed him unconditionally, right to Lucifer’s door.
Personality-wise, Azazel is vain, lusty, and fond of vice in all forms. In order to adapt to modern society, he took on the persona of a British biker he came across in a bar prior to being freed, and, as such, he tends to deliver snarky, biting dialogue with a thick London accent. He can almost come across as charming, particularly when seducing a woman, and easily managed to get Aaron on his side with sincere promises about the “Lightbringer” (Lightbringer is Lucifer in Latin). He never outright tells a lie, but rather speaks in perpetual half-truths, omitting and deleting information as he sees fit to prove his point. He is also fond of goading Aaron and his overwhelming sense of moral ethics as much as he can, all while keeping his promises, so to never once allow the Nephilim the chance to abandon him.
"Where'd you get that?"
"Remember that waitress from the diner?"
"Yeah."
"Remember that line you told me not to cross?"
"....Yeah?"
"I crossed it... But, in my defense, it was before you told me not to."
-Aaron and Azazel, Episode Five: Someone Always Has to Die
Azazel, unlike most Fallen, doesn’t want to return to Heaven and gets testy at the slightest thought of going back, obviously preferring the sins and vices of Earth to his old home.
"Do it to him."
"What? No, you keep that voodoo to yourself."
"Don't you want to go to Heaven?"
"Hell no! If I liked it, I wouldn't have rebelled in the first place."
-Vilma and Azazel, Episode Four: Mysterious Ways and All That
He is extremely put-out about his imprisonment, believing himself to be completely wronged by The Powers desire to use him as a scapegoat and seems to be incapable of understanding his own violent, destructive personality, although the rest of the Fallen are well aware of it, and often blame him for their misfortunes on Earth. He never seems to think about the consequences of his actions and merely lives in the moment. What seems to excite him most are battles (he fights like a demon, always with the intent to kill) and women, especially easy women who fold to his charms within seconds.
"It doesn't seem like he's fighting to protect us as much as he just likes to fight."
-Vilma, Episode Five: Someone Always Has To Die
"You know you really shouldn't say that stuff."
"..Why?"
"Because it's derogatory towards women."
"...I'm saying I like that they're easy."
-Vilma and Azazel, Episode Four: Mysterious Ways and All That
He is also thoroughly in love with himself.
"I saw you looking at me... No, no, don't be embarrassed. Sometimes I can't stop looking at me."
-Azazel, Episode Four: Mysterious Ways and All That
"Vanity is a sin, Azazel."
"If The Creator hadn't wanted me to admire myself, he wouldn't have made me so pretty."
-Lucifer and Azazel, Episode Five: Someone Always Has To Die
The Guardian Angel
“Nobody dies on my watch.”
-Ariel, Episode Three: The Time of the Redeemer
In every way Azazel’s exact opposite, Ariel is a Fallen who felt such remorse for her actions during the war that she devoted her entire existence to healing the sick and wounded with her powers, desperately trying to atone for the transgressions of her past. Now, in modern day society, she has a job as an EMT and continues to use her powers to save as many lives as she can.
When Aaron and Camael arrive in her hometown, it’s under difficult terms- Camael, having recently been injured severely by the new leader of The Powers- Mazarin- finds himself seeking her help, an odd request from someone who had once hunted and killed her kind.
"You're not supposed to be here."
"Ariel."
"Punisher."
"Punisher?"
"Yeah. That's what we called him in high school... Linebacker."
-Ariel, Camael, and Clarence, Episode Three: The Time of the Redeemer
Ariel, however, displaying her large capacity for kindness and forgiveness eagerly helps her wounded former enemy, and offers Aaron a chance for some fun in the city, something he was denied under Camael’s constant watch. And after a tragic incident later on renders Camael fatally injured, she desperately races against time to help him find Aaron, willing to throw away her years of hiding from the Powers in order to aide him in his plight, even going as far as to accept help from The Powers, themselves.
After the death of the Fallen Samshiel, Ariel took over the mission to protect and hide the Fallen from the eyes of The Powers, proving that she is always willing to lay her life down for another. The fact that she heals humans despite the fact that, if not careful, doing so could pinpoint her location to The Powers is yet another testament to her selfless nature.
"How was work?"
"It was great. I didn't even have to use my healing magic on anyone."
"Aren't you worried about The Powers?"
"I'm always worried about The Powers, but if it means saving someone's life..."
-Aaron and Ariel, Episode Three: The Time of the Redeemer
Ariel is of a forgiving nature, easily accepting people into her good graces no matter how they’ve wronged her in the past if they are repentant for their actions. Above all, she is a kind, generous soul, occasionally prone to light teasing of her friends. She is also capable of deep remorse, especially when she finds that she can’t save someone. If it can be said than any Angel could posses a soul to call their own, it’s Ariel.
If anything, it’s Ariel’s devotion to duty that keeps her on Earth. She feels her powers are better suited to the planet and has made her choice on where she would like to stay for all eternity, although she doesn’t say as much out loud as only a unrepentant Fallen such as Azazel would refuse the gift that the Redeemer is offering.
"It's just... Usually when I'm around the Fallen, I get this weird feeling. It's how I know they need Redemption. I don't feel that from you."
"You're picking up on their desire for forgiveness... You're not picking it up from me, because it's not my time yet. I'll be the last Fallen you'll Redeem."
-Aaron and Ariel, Episode Three: The Time of the Redeemer
The Nature of Demons and Angels
(Or “Kisses Can Lie”)
"Ariel."
"Long time no see."
"Don't do it."
"No... You're going back."
"Then how about a kiss goodnight?"
-Azazel and Ariel, Episode Six: Il Gran Rifiuto
As unalike as night and day, there seems almost no way that Azazel and Ariel could ever manage a successful relationship in the present even if Azazel weren’t currently doomed to spend his life imprisoned. However, there seems to be plenty of suggestion that there could have been something between them in the past, and, if that’s so, perhaps, old flames haven’t fully been doused.
"Everyone gets rejected sometimes."
"Not me. Nobody rejects me. Ever."
-Vilma and Azazel, Episode Five: Someone Always Has to Die
What we know of Azazel’s adoration for the females of whatever species he’s currently pursuing is that he cares little about them once he’s gotten what he wanted from them- namely sex. We’ve seen him carelessly toss aside Gadreel, the only Fallen who doesn’t currently think he’s scum, after a passionate night with her, among other related events, generally summing it up that he cares nothing about love and prefers the less meaningful alternative- lust.
"It's not like fidelity was ever your strong suit."
-Gadreel, Episode Three: The Time of the Redeemer
Ariel, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to have much of a love life. She is presently single, living alone in a large apartment, but is openly flirtatious with Aaron (almost teasingly), suggesting that she does appreciate male companionship when she can get it. She seems to exhibit strong feelings for Camael and he seems to reciprocate those feelings, although since they were on opposite sides during the war, it is highly unlikely that these feelings, if romantic, are anything more than a new development, and could suggest that Camael felt Ariel’s talents and charms were wasted when she decided to follow Lucifer and Azazel.
"Perhaps this is what I deserve. I clipped many an Angel's wings when I led The Powers. I clipped yours."
"At least you didn't use Angelfire."
"Not on you, Ariel."
-Camael and Ariel, Episode Six: Il Gran Rifiuto
So what about in the past? Ariel often speaks of Azazel with a twinge of regret and cites that the only thing good The Powers ever did was imprison him. (The lady doth protest too much, perhaps?) She seems to give off vibes that seem as if she, moreso than any of the other Angels, knows firsthand what Azazel is capable of, and seems extremely heartbroken at the thought of Azazel siding with Lucifer again.
"Azazel did this. I can smell him."
"Azazel is a force of nature. He will never change."
"But realigning with Lucifer after all it's cost us?"
-Ariel and Camael, Episode Six: Il Gran Rifiuto
As for Azazel, well his feelings for Ariel can be hinted at even earlier in the series during his brief fling with Gadreel, who reluctantly confides in him that Ariel contacted her. The tension in this scene provides more fuel for the “past romance” concept as Gadreel almost point-blank refuses to give Azazel the information on Ariel’s whereabouts until he forces it out of her. Denying such information could be construed as an act of jealousy on Gadreel’s part as she seemed keen on keeping Azazel all to herself.
Now this scene could be played out as if Gadreel felt abandoned by Azazel’s quick dedication to his mission, but the expression on Azazel’s face when Ariel is mentioned says it all as does the fact that immediately afterwards, Gadreel taunts Azazel with her own ex-lovers. (Jealous, much?)
"Ariel contacted me a few months ago..."
"Really? Where is she?"
"..."
"Where... Is... She?"
-Gadreel and Azazel, Episode Three: The Time of the Redeemer
Which now brings us to the only scene that Azazel and Ariel share in the whole series. After occasional tidbits of subtext, they are brought together face-to-face as Azazel lays fatally injured, having been wounded by Mazarin during his final fight for his freedom. With the intent to have the injured Fallen healed and returned to his prison, Mazarin calls Ariel over. The moment is short, simple, but contains much to be said about whether or not there was ever anything between these too.
First of all, there’s Azazel’s willingness to beg for her not to heal him. Prior to this moment, Azazel has never begged for anything and just moments before he ordered Mazarin to finish him off. However, the moment he sees Ariel, he almost becomes a different person, pleading with her to let him die, and when she refuses, he gives up completely- something else he also hasn’t managed to do during the course of the series. If it’s one thing Azazel doesn’t know, it’s when to shut up or when to back down from a fight.
“Then how about a kiss goodnight?”
The question isn’t asked seductively, nor suggestively, which everything Azazel’s said to a woman up until this point has been, but rather passionately, as if it’s the only thing in the world he’d rather have if he can’t have his freedom.
And Ariel almost takes him up on his offer just before knocking him unconscious. Her fake-out might be a throw-back to her somewhat teasing nature, but it could still be a sign of respect for their former relationship, taken back at the last moment lest anyone misinterpret her intentions. After all, she’s standing before two members of The Powers and a dying Camael, so how would it look if she were seen kissing the Fallen she came here to take down? Despite the fact that the kiss never manifested, there’s still the tenderness of the moment, which Ariel aided in bringing about physically just as much as Azazel did verbally due to spending the whole scene stroking his hair. (Which in the minds of delusional shippers such as myself is all but a declaration of love or former love.)
Ariel was also the only Angel to not fight in the battle with Azazel at the end, so we didn’t see how the two would react to each other if faced on the battlefield- old allies (perhaps former lovers) on different sides after all this time. Perhaps it’s just one more piece of subtext- Ariel refusing to fight on the grounds that she couldn’t or perhaps wouldn’t fight someone whom she had been so attached to in the past. Perhaps it’s merely another aspect of Ariel’s nature not to fight. Personally... I lean towards the former, but that’s my delusional shipper personality taking effect.
Tiny fandoms make Ariel cry.
Devoid of Sense and Motion
(AKA “The Fandom”)
At the moment, the Fandom consists of... Me. There’s a small section on Fanfiction.net and a rarely updated comm here on LJ for the books, but nothing for the miniseries, which is vastly different and probably deserves a fandom all its own, especially since Azazel and Ariel aren’t actually featured in the books (to the best of my knowledge). I’m trying to correct this as best as I can, but it’s hard to get a good fandom going for a series that, while good to an extent, is mostly something of a guilty pleasure.
The only fics I can offer are actually my own, but I'd rather not use this manifesto as a chance to pimp my own fiction. All I can hope for is for more people to become interested in this fandom (and this pairing) and give it the sort of respect it needs.