#by me angel rafael

[bodielovesbookss]

“In vain, I love you; in vain, the dawn streaming onto you, beside me; in vain, I want to be yours, your angel. Angel of love, angel of Michael.”

@nicosraf's 'Angels Before Man' absolutely destroyed me :'))

Reference photo from @thetogfather on Instagram <3

[pomlimeaide]

uncensored art under the cut

‘My heart. Oh, my heart, it’s there. I’m starting to feel again.’

huh i wonder who those 2 shadows are.

im back on my bullshit and read abm a second time while i was sick with covid. chapter 30 still makes my stomach hurt. curse u rafa.

@nicosraf

[0lympians]

officially finished angels & man

[pegsmothman]

ⁱ. ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ᵒᶠ ᵃᶜʰⁱˡˡᵉˢ ᵇʸ ᵐᵃᵈᵉˡⁱⁿᵉ ᵐⁱˡˡᵉʳ. | ⁱⁱ. ᵗʰᵉ ᶜʳᵉᵃᵗⁱᵒⁿ ᵒᶠ ᵃᵈᵃᵐ ᵇʸ ᵐⁱᶜʰᵃᵉˡᵃⁿᵍᵉˡᵒ. | ⁱⁱⁱ. ᵃⁿᵍᵉˡˢ ᵇᵉᶠᵒʳᵉ ᵐᵃⁿ ᵇʸ ʳᵃᶠᵃᵉˡ ⁿⁱᶜᵒˡᵃˢ.

[fatacodrului]

hi hello i’m still shaking but i need to discuss angels for man by rafael nicolas with someone i can’t do this, i never felt like this after a book what the fuck did you to me rafael 

[nicosraf]

i'm sure you've asked this a lot, but do you have an estimated date for abm2 or specific timeframe you're hoping to get it out by? 👀

Yeah, I've been hesitant to say anything given that it's basically out of my hands to decide on releases and etc. at the moment. But I'm gonna try to be transparent.

So here's my plan: ABM 2 before the end of the year, likely October. However, this is only if a certain someone (as in, a publisher) doesn't change things for me.

My hands are tied right now and I, as per an agreement, can't release ABM-related stuff (including audiobook) without, well, permission. Despite that, I'm trying to plan as if I still have full creative control and hoping for a release in the fall of this year. I hope to have more updates soon.

[seraphim-viktorious]

Currently been reading Angels Before Man by Rafael Nicolás @nicosraf

What I find to be perhaps the most breathtaking aspect of the novel, thus far, is the tension imbued in the audience whenever God is present within a scene.

My fascination with Christianity began as a result of my Catholic education, in my critical consideration of the teachings presented to us students. A concept I find most interesting is the duality in God as a figure, being both benevolent and kind, yet being a jealous God. The idea that Christian's should 'fear God', yet revere Him for His omnibenevolence and power over creation, establishes a very intricate perception of God.

The juxtaposition of God's character is so well executed in Angels Before Man that it leaves me utterly breathless. As a reader I find myself struggling with my thoughts towards this God; despite being a witness to His manipulation, I find myself distracted by His 'love and care for His angels' and endeared by His 'Fatherly bond' with Lucifer. The overwhelming sense of reverence within Lucifer seems to overcome me the same way, as I wish dearly that he receives God's validation and praise. Yet, simultaneously, as someone aware of Lucifer's story I feel a sense of helplessness and despair at the unfolding tragedy - in which God is cruel and merciless.

In the case of this God love and fear are not mutually exclusive, appearing complementary to one another. In loving God the angels fear Him, and through fear of God they experience love.

"You have my mercy." But the Father didn't tell him to stand. "And you have my love, Lucifer."

...

"All that I say comes from a place of love." 'Is love meant to pierce?" (Pg. 126)

Perhaps my favourite quote to represent this dual nature of God can be found in Proverbs:

Proverbs 28:14

Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

It suggests that in fearing God mankind will receive His blessings, and thus show their adoration and love for Him; warning, however, that a lack of fear will lead to destruction. A quote wonderfully reflective of the development of Lucifer's character, which makes God all the more powerful of a presence in the story. To see that Lucifer's change of focus to Michael as opposed to His previous worship of God is progressing into his downfall cements this fear, the omnipotence God possesses.

As I am still not finished and continuing through the second part I'm going to refrain from discussing more until I finish - which is very hard when Christian mythology and Biblical lore is my special interest *sobs*.

[bembembembis]

im reading angel & man ( which is definitely gonna be in my top books of 2024 anyway-) and i just love how the human women and angels have found like kinship or common ground with each other in their common role of being blamed for the actions of one of their kind and also their shared expectation to serve men and serve god

[givemebishies]

Preordered the revised ABM ebook AND the physical copy so I can actually read the ebook and but also display the physical book on my shelf to prove that I read a real book lol

[andromedaexists]

Angels Before Man || Rafael Nicolás

★★★★★

y'all i am fucking screaming

TW: OFF-SCREEN RAPE, VIOLENCE, BODY HORROR, BLASPHEMY

this book? 10/10, everyone needs to read it. i am crying as i am writing this and i love that for me. it is so good

I am gonna throw this under a read more just because of the content of the book as well as the fact that i've got a lot of things to say

Let's start off with the fact that this book is beautifully written. I was a little hesitant starting the book just because of the style of writing. There are a lot of longer sentences with a lot of commas in them, but my opinions has very much changed.

You see, this book is written about biblical content in a biblical style. In my classes we are working on translating the Acts of the Apostles, and this book is very much written with the same level of poetry and mysticism. I love it!

Then getting into the way the angels and God are written. I love, love, love the Hispanic take on these characters. The outfits are beautiful and the city is bustling with life! It is everything to me to see the personal touches of Catholicism through the lens of being Hispanic, it's not something we see often.

Now getting to the actual story:

First off, the book is split into two sections. The first half is a happy story full of love that tore my heart out. If you just want the happy story, you can end here.

The second half of the story is the fall, the tragedy, the horror. All themes that need a warning are in this second half. It is beautiful, it is horrific. It is the culmination of the Fall of Lucifer, which is good because that is what the book is about.

I was sobbing through the first half. There are foreshadowing lines through the first half that tore my heart out and crushed it every single time. I mean, knowing the story of the fall of Lucifer and knowing this is a tragedy, how could I not cry at:

"I could never deny you"

"But it'd be difficult to hate you. If someone asked me to despise you, I don't think I could."

"Creation as an act of love"

"All was as it should be, and they were happy"

There are so many more, but as my group chat can attest to, these were the hardest hitting. This book is delectably tragic. It hurts to read, but that is what I signed up for.

I have some words for Rafael (who really shouldn't be reading this but idk man, you do you. i know you follow my main lol). Firstly: are you gonna write another book? I need to read everything you have ever or will ever write. Secondly: what the fuck. Thirdly: are you considering doing a hardcover run? I would love to have a pretty hardcover edition on my shelf next to my annotated paperback.

I highly suggest everyone reads this book, it is an amazing book that will change you forever. It has earned it's place on my recommendation shelf and I cannot wait to go back through and fully annotate the book.

I am planning on writing little things like this every time I read a book just to help me keep track of them. If I don’t write down my opinions and thoughts right away I am liable to forget them. I am hesitant to call these a review because i’m really just not comfy with that lol I will do my best to make sure I appropriately tag and warn about topics. If I miss any please let me know!

[pomlimeaide]

im in danger

[sysirauta]

In the Serkan's tags you put that "my headworld angels are basically impossible hybrid kids of things". Which hybrid is him? Also, which more of the angels are an impossible hybrid? The only two I remember are Raphael and Ciiri.

Technically speaking, Serkan is a half mammal half bird.

Here things go a bit tricky. Other of his parents was a creature from millions of years ago - the original main rulers of their world, but now are long gone. But they did some time traveling at least once, since Serkan's other parent was a black gureta. Not the individuals portraited here but images for reference. Technically-bird-people-they-don't-have-name-yet-still are very deep dark blue, some imagination for color required.

(Fun fact: that sketch is the origin of my logo triangle thing.)

Rafael is a gryphon mess with some datyle and dragon in some distant past in his bloodline, but his parents were pretty much dead before he was born.

(He's like: Please don't ask.)

Ciiri is salkahi x dravene. I've actually drawn her parents (back when even they were kids) at some point and didn't mention anything.

('00 time, the large leg era.)

Merkabah is technically full salkahi but his mother was cursed and was basically "inside out", having an exoskeleton.

(Artifical wings comically too large are his thing.)

Then a couple of new guys that are not that new in my head. Loushar, who is datyle x dravene. At least his heritage doesn't incule time warping, curses, or being undead, but his parents were renegades bad enough to eventually got hunt down and killed. Also, he's very distantly related to Rafael. It's complicated.

(Loushar has a lisp and to this date nobody knows is his name Loushar or should it be Lousar.)

Then there's Asagwen who is repurposed Very Old Character and she's salkahi x datyle.

(She doesn't believe in clothes but the scepter and crown are a must. Also she keeps hitting her buddies with so said scepter, reason yet to be known.)

One more oldass sketch of all in line, Merkabah in armor, just Loushar, and Loushar getting hit.

Anyways, just yet another bunch of characters in non-focus in this mess I call headworld, but everything is connected enough that I'm here like:

[coryosbaby]

Cw: stepcest (stepbrother x stepsister), intoxication/drug use, a bit suggestive . Slight angst . Soft Rafe <3

Rafe, he thinks, fell in love with you before the drugs.

He shouldn’t of— and for obvious reason. You were perfect, an angel. But you were Rose’s daughter.

He tried to pry the thoughts away, at first. Tried not to think about your kindness, your innocence, your pretty eyes — your ass, your tits, your cunt. But it wasn’t long before they utterly consumed him.

Another day it was, in the Cameron household: Rafe, coming home, completely coked out of his mind, drunk, and clattering around in the kitchen. He didn’t know what he was looking for, just knows that it had something to do with a spoon and a jar of peanut butter.

It would’ve been almost funny if he didn’t look so distraught to you. When you came down the stairs you knew the noises were Rafe. He always did this; you’d have to clean him up, put him to bed— sometimes you’d cook for him. But that was when he was in your good graces.

“Rafe, what the fuck are you doing?” You groaned, rubbing your eyes sleepily. He hadn’t woken you up, but you were extremely tired. You had wanted to wait up for him because he promised to go on a 7/11 run with you when everyone was asleep and then watch a few movies.

And as usual, he broke his fucking promises.

It angered you, but when Rafe turned around and greeted you with that beautiful intoxicated smile, your frustration wavered when you saw the way his eyes seemed to light up.

“Hey, y/n!”

“Hi, Rafael.”

He frowned, knowing you only called him that when you were aggravated at him. He stumbled drunkly when he tried to approach you. You made sure to catch him by his arm.

“God, you’re wasted,” you said. “Do you feel sick?”

“I did…” he slurred. “But ‘m better now that my favorite girl is here.”

Your face became flushed at his words, but you pulled yourself out of your wandering thoughts and dragged the boy over to the couch. He plopped down onto the cushions, grunting.

“‘M tired..” he murmured.

“Gotta check you for any cuts, first.”

You usually checked him out so you could make sure he wasn’t fighting anyone or getting any bad injuries; he was likely to not even feel it until morning, and when he got a disgusting cut on his ankle once it had got infected and he had to be sent to the hospital. You’ve cleaned up his wounds since then.

And of course, taking his palm into your hand, you found that he had a medium sized cut on his palm. You sighed.

“Any idea how you got this?” You asked.

“No sir, doctor, sir.”

“You’re insufferable.”

“You love me.”

It was true, but you just let out a scoff and went to get the first aid kit from one of the cabinets in the nearest bathroom. Pulling out the proper cleaning materials, you got on your knees in front of Rafe and began to care for his wound. He was almost in a daze as you did this; you looked even better when he did a line or two. He’d mistaken you for an angel quite a few times.

“You’re ‘s pretty.” He whispered.

You couldn’t help but smile. You didn’t say anything until you could see that his eyes were shut and his breathing had calmed. You looked up at him and lightly slapped the side of his cheek.

“Rafe— you can’t go to sleep yet.” You stated calmly. He opened his eyes, just a tiny bit, and a grin spread across his face when he saw your doe eyes staring up at him.

“Sorry, sweets. Couldn’t help it.”

You finally wrapped some gauze around his cut. Made sure to press a kiss to it. He always gave you hell if you didn’t.

“Cmon. Gotta get you upstairs.” you said.

Rafe yawned and stretched when he stood up, and you grabbed his hand so you could guide him up to his room. It was immediate when he saw his king sized bed, and he made sure to strip down to his briefs and climb under the covers. You tried not to stare too long at his chiseled chest or his pretty sculpted muscles. You were about to leave when his fingers grabbed your wrist and wrapped tightly around it.

“Stay,” he murmured. “Don’t want you to go, momma.”

The nickname isn’t one he used often, but on nights like this he let it slip up once or twice. You didn’t mind it; in fact, it was quite cute.

“I shouldn’t,” you replied.

“Please.”

You couldn’t say no when he begged like that, with those puppy dog eyes. You had already gotten into your pajamas earlier in the night and done your skincare routine so you didn’t really have anything left to do. You climbed in beside the boy, laid down beside his half naked body. You didn’t trust yourself or him to be in the same bed, but exhaustion was taking over you and you just wanted to sleep.

“Happy?”

“Mhm..”

He looked up at you, dazed. He stared at your lips almost intensely. It wasn’t long before his breath was hot against your lips and he was trying to lean in.

You move away from it, from his kiss. You couldn’t do that with him. You knew how wrong it was.

“Don’t. Please,” you murmured to him. Rafe looked saddened, pained, at your rejection.

“Give me one kiss,” he pleaded. His thumb came up to run over your bottom lip. Your face was on fire. “Just one, I promise. I can’t keep going on like this forever, without one kiss.”

You wanted to kiss him; you wanted it so badly that it hurt. You had wanted it since the first year that you moved in and saw him sitting at the kitchen counter with a bowl of cereal every morning. You’ had wanted him since he taught you how to roll your first joint, took you to your first high school party.

You always wanted him.

You gave him what he begged for. It was small, feather light and like angel wings against Rafe’s lips. He went back in for another one; he knew he promised just one, but as usual, the boy didn’t keep his promises.

You let him, though. And it felt nice. He peppered them along your neck, too, after that. You could smell the alcohol on his breath and the cologne he used as he did it. It left electric shocks along your skin.

After one more sloppy kiss against your jugular, he pulled away and buried his face into your neck sweetly.

You didn’t know how you were going to look at him in the morning. You didn’t know if he even remembered the next day.

He did, though. He remembered all of it. In fact, he made sure to get you back in his room and kiss you even more the next night, and the night after that, and the night after that.

You were so fucked.

© 2023 bratty-lxndry444 🤏🏻 all rights reserved. do not copy, translate, modify, repost, or claim as yours !!!

[i-ve-risen-and-im-overwhelmed]

Lmao, noone is going to get it.

Btw it so fucking funny to me that they translated just ONE of the boys' names in english

Like why is it Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo AND RAPHAEL

Dude the original artist name is Raffaello, it would have been consistent lmao

[skyeslittlecorner]

Gabriel (Christmas),

Michael (Christmas),

Raphael (Christmas)

likeability comics - spoilers below!

I didn't expect to get these comics so early, but what a surprise. A true Christmas miracle

Do we… see God for the first time here?

They're mood lol, I guess they haven't conquered hell because they're busy beating each other up. Everything is wrong with them lol and that's why they are so funny

Honestly, although I'm not the biggest fan of angels, I think I will become one. They are well-developed as characters, they have their own depth, their own history and relationship, I didn't expect that we would get to know them so quickly… and that they would be so silly.

But since I'm still faithful to Andrea, nope, don't do this to me, I don't want to sympathize with Rafael, I'm just a weak person, don't show me such things-

[greenlaut]

death of the divine ✸

as your flatter talk shivers down my spine i hear the Holy One exposing all the lies (Lord, forgive me, i know my flesh needs to die) x

baal / lucifer / michael from angels before man and angels & man by @nicosraf

close-ups + work progress under the cut

og sketches

cleaned up sketch (i can't perceive my own messy sketch's coherency ok)

1st version. didn't like how thick the lineart and the colour palette isn't clicking with me. is so i scrapped it. decided i want to do frame/illuminated manuscript thingy so i added frame and re-centered michael.

i kind of winged it for the final version, so i don't have progress of me picking colour palette or compositions. idk how i did it, i just did it, it was hard. i had a bad day so i blanked out the entire day to just lose myself in this illustration. and then uh. tada.

now some close-ups:

and some notes:

i know i want lucifer's skin to come across as "gold", so i keep picking his colour in the orange spectrum. bcs yanno--the sun (morningstar). naturally baal is more red leaning, which i think also suits his lion associated imagery well (because lion -> strength card (in tarot deck) -> red. idk, it's how my brain is)

originally michael doesn't wear an armour. i decided last minute to put him in one because fuck it; (1) armour cool and (2) i am a masochist ig

both baal and lucifer wear lipgloss. this is entirely dedicated to rafael's (the author. not the angel.) suffering. they share lipgloss by kissing, you fools.

michael has "jellyfish" hairstyle because. the front bob kinda reminds me how catholic friars/monks in certain schoolings cut their hair in that bob hair? yknow the one?? ya?? anyway it's for that imagery.

both baal and lucifer's legs are caging michael. bcs they're what ground him (vices/temptations) ahahahahaa

i actually asked rafael (author not the angel) and he said he imagined baal is a brunette, which is the same like i had in mind. except that baal asked that he got depicted as a wizened old man/wizard. so now he gets a beard and his hair is white. (he also insisted i gave him a stylish beard)

if u look closely at the jewelries the demons wore; one of lucifer's rings and baal's visible earring have gemstones the colour of michael's eyes

in return, michael's sash is the colour of the demons

baal has a ring with heliodor (yellow) for lucifer, and lucifer has a(nother) ring with red ruby for baal

baal's other gemstones are topaz and lucifer's are yellow jasper

both demons have pearl necklaces. they're supposed to represent michael('s wings ahahahahahaahaha)

my headcanon is that michael's wings are brown like sparrow's actually. BUT during the war, god gave him more power and authority and my understanding is that he got tempered into a perfect sword; so his wings turned white. when book 3 came out and they finally bang (I FUCKING HOPE THEY DO. RAFAEL. THIS IS FOR YOU RAFAEL.) his wings will turn brown againehehhehe

lucifer's coat has wing-like cut at the ends to represent his no longer existing wingsbye

michael is blue because one time i shared this imagery with rafael; michael wearing blue because of the same reason virgin mary is depicted in blue. god's favourites are in blue; fated to suffer and be left behind.

fin.