ten_fwd | Where Angels Dare to Trod

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Where Angels Dare to Trod

Islington is walking along the ship. It is a steady pace. But slow. If people didn't know better, It would like like It was floating or gliding. If you run, It will walk. If you stop, It will continue Its pace. Never changing, never pausing. As if by walking, it can change something about this place.

It's garments seem to be made of light itself. As It goes along, It is humming an ancient tune: The Lyke Wake Dirge (As sung by Benedict Cumberbatch)

And that's the interesting thing about this particular Angel: It seeks neither to offer help nor the counsel of others. It is simply walking. Perhaps It is measuring the ship, perhaps It is weighing the integrity of the people gathered. Whatever the reason, It continues on Its journey. Simply walking....

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It's a good night for walking, or in Minoru's case, running, swinging, flipping, moving through corridors any way he pleased now that most of the people were gone. He was on his way to the holodeck for some training with his snake summons when he rounded the corner and nearly hit the angel.

(He was literally walking upside down on the ceiling at the time...)

He mostly dodged the other man, but still dropped to the floor when he jumped.

"Woah. Sorry about that!" he smiled as he rolled upright.

Cue a vaguely surprised expression. But mostly It's just curious.

"Is it common for you to... run on the ceiling?"

Because this is honestly the first the angel has encountered it.

"If so, then I have been walking incorrectly and I should apologise."

"Oh, that..." Minoru stood and scratched his head. His goofy grin definitely meant that no apologies were needed. "No, you're walking just fine. It's a training exercise for chakra control."

... An explanation which might necessitate even more explanation.

Ship security had already made a habit of telling Minoru to get down from just about anything. But on this deck, not many people were awake at this hour, so he had a little more freedom to just move.

"I'm Minoru, by the way. I don't think I've seen you before."

"Islington. And I haven't met many people yet. I have... how did that put it? I was brought here, recently."

The Angel doesn't particularly care. It heard that It is behaving correctly, so that is enough.

Minoru nodded politely, happy to meet someone new.

"It sounds odd, but a lot of people just appear here." He used the word 'people' as an all-inclusive term, as many species from just as many worlds found themselves dropped onto this ship via Q. "I used to think I got here through the same portals I always use, but I'm not so sure anymore."

He paused for a moment, and then asked, "Where are you from?"

That is a good question, where was It from?

"Everywhere and nowhere. Perhaps you might say 'Neverwhere'."

It looks the man up and down. "I take it you're not native to this place either?"

Depsite having been on the Enterprise for a few months, Minoru had yet to adopt the clothing style of the age. He liked his simple tunic better than their starched uniforms and uncomfortable shoes. It was much easier to move around in.

The answer got a pleasant laugh from Minoru. In many ways, he could say the exact same thing. "You travel between dimensions too?"

Or perhaps, he came from a place beyond even that?! How fascinating!

"If by dimensions you mean Heaven and Earth, then yes."

Its tone is smooth, soft and well, angelic.

"Though something tells me that is not quite what you mean."

Not quite. Minoru traveled to the far reaches of multiple universes, but he called two places home, predominantly. Konohagakure village and Ryuuchi Cave. He wasn't sure what planets they were on, but he was pretty sure Ryuuchi Cave was in an entirely separate dimension from everything else.

"I've heard people talk about that being from that Earth place, but not..." He had to pause, and think about what this man just said. "Heaven? You mean the pure world? The realm of the afterlife?!"

Cue a stunned, but amazed, Minoru!

"If that is how you choose to name and describe it. But that is only where I'm from originally. And where I long to return."

More recently, he's from various places on Earth.

"Did you not have to die first?" Minoru scratched his head. Maybe he already had and didn't remember it. Or could the pure land actually have natives? The world between worlds had dreamsnakes. (or guides that simply appeared to Minoru as dreamsnakes.)

"Sorry, I've been to the world between worlds, where souls go before they're reincarnated. But never to the pure or impure plains of the afterlife. Please, tell me more about where you're from!"

Forget practicing with his summons. He was genuinely curious about this realm of life after death. What incredible things could be learned!

"I am an Angel, why would I ever have to die?"

Utter confusion. It doesn't know what to do with this strange person.

"It is not the afterlife for me. It is simply my existence."

"Angel..."

Minoru wasn't always the sharpest kunai in the pouch, so it took him a minute to put all the pieces together. He'd heard the term in different worlds and dimensions - a title, perhaps, given to a person who worked miracles or put others before themselves. And there were stories...

But no, this was a real angel - a person that actually lived where others traveled only in death. Just like when he first encountered the Great Snake Lord Elders, Minoru felt instantly humbled.

"Sorry. I've never met an angel before." he smiled sheepishly. "Can you help me understand?"

"Minoru, it is not a matter of understanding or not. It is a matter of acceptance. I am an angel. Specifically, a Guardian Angel."

Though currently a very confused Angel. Taking care of Its cities was very different compared to this...

He let himself ponder that for a moment. That it wasn't about understanding, merely acceptance. That it was something to feel, not something to think about. It was an entirely different approach than the other immortal being he'd met here. Angels, apparently, are very different from sentient boxes-turned-people.

"That sounds like a very important role."

"Well that's because it is. Caring for a city and all who dwell within it. And you are held accountable should any become lost."

He felt the gravity of the position, and how similar it was to the one his father, and now his brother, held as leader of his birth-village. Caring for all those within its walls, assigning the right shinobi the right missions so that everyone who left on duty came back alive.

He wondered if Konohagakure had an angel watching over it too.

"That city is lucky to have someone watching over it."

"Luck had nothing to do with it. In the end, I could not save it. The waves took it over and now it lies at the bottom of the ocean."

Of course It will leave out that It allowed that to happen, at least to an extent. There's no need to stir up trouble in this place just yet.

Minoru's eyes opened wide upon hearing the fate of the angel's city. He empathized, not just with those who lost their lives, but to the one who could not save them. The exact circumstances hadn't crossed his mind.

"Do angels feel pain?" He asked softly. "Do you... mourn?"

"Of course we do. And we can be wounded and die."

But Its expression is a mask at the moment. Maybe in an effort to hide the pain?

"I still think they were lucky to have someone watching over them. For all the good you must have been able to do before that."

Minoru closed the distance between them and put a hand on the angel's shoulder. (If that was even possible.) If that kind of touch was welcomed, he may even attempt a friendly hug.

The Angel is shocked to receive the hug. It has been such a long time since It has experienced such a thing. It takes It a minute to respond, but it is... nice.

"You are kinder than I expected, Minoru."

He simply held the angel for a moment.

"No one can save everyone forever." Even as a snake sage, dedicated to the domains of life, death and rebirth, the hardest lesson was still letting go. Sometimes, it's when a person is ready to go, and sometimes, it's because you just can't save them. Neither is easy. Neither is painless.

But hope, the strength of simple compassion... It helps.

"True, but that city perished before its time."

At least according to some. It backs out of Minoru's embrace.

"But your sentiment is appreciated."

"But you did what you could, right?" He always looked for the hopeful angle. "What can you do?"

Minoru didn't know exactly what powers an angel possessed or how they protected a city. In truth, he was kind of curious about all that worked too. Maybe there was something he could learn and adapt to help protect others too.

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sorry, couldn't resist the insert.

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