#rc abh

[suckitphaneuf]

she went "I know y'all aren't talking" 💀

[superspynova]

Happy Update week everyone!

[bobby-turner]

All of us David romancers seeing him covered in blood, professing he'd kill everyone and burn the whole world for Audrey:

[malbontevicky]

Me knowing HS2 and HS:R exist:

[kazu-naito]

deep diving into the angel hierarchy of heaven's secret:

disclaimers: a) most of what i'm writing here are my own thoughts and theories; b) i'm not yet caught up with the abh january update, so if there is anything missing from there i'll add it later on

in the original duology we never got much information about how the angels hierarchy work in this universe and only knew a few names, however we did get the full picture in hsr and the order goes: seraphims > cherubs > thrones > supremacy > authority > beginning > archangels > angels

so far into the hs we've only met representatives of 3 of these 'classes' (aside from regular angels ofc) and i put one for each here:

(moreover, keep in mind these rankings are not exclusively set by birth, as we've seen rebecca climbing from the very bottom to the very top)

now it differs a bit from most of the christianity angel rankings, in which supremacy and beginning don't exist, no alternate names that i found had these names but i don't think it matters. in this context they would be replaced by dominions and principalities, respectively. still going by these, there's an omission of virtues but they do what they gotta do (or maybe they belong to that empty spot in the middle)

going back to heaven's secret, the only visible difference between angels of different spheres is that those of the first sphere have yellow/golden wings, whereas everyone else has common white/fair wings. a good example is fencio, who lost his throne status and therefore - the colour of his wings as well

i also don't think they would've shown us the full ranking if it wasn't gonna be explored more, after all we went years without it with no issues. and it was only the angel's that was revealed, not the demons' as well

from the new characters we only know of mikael's ranking so far - archangel. which tbf makes it a bit hard to guess everyone else but here are some theories:

raphael: although he is not mikael's blood brother he could still also be an archangel. throughout the book we see he has a special connection to heaven and formidable power - he could be a regular angel with unusual abilities. i don't think he is higher ranking than mikael since he is his 'subordinate'

somnus/furius: higher ranking than mikael. i haven't seen the wings to put them amongst the actual big shots but if i had to guess i'd put them in the second sphere - they have enough power to be an archangel's superior but if they had actual power they'd be busy ruling heaven and not supervising earthly matters

anhea: regular angel. she has said it herself she fought the war against the mother of life on the outskirts while the big names were in the frontlines

edit feb/25: anhea confirmed she is a lower ranking angel

cain: everything about him is a mystery ngl. if we are to believe pileon's words about him going against his own family, the type of power he possesses, the easy superiority in fights/energy/strength against other immortals - i would say he is in the very least an archangel. the recent confirmation that his family is indeed dead (and he was very very likely responsible) made me think he either got a lenient punishment (which wouldn't happen if he wasn't 'important') or he got a punishment similar to fencio's and lost his original ranking. or maybe he's just old idk

[ordinary-lab-assistant]

this path is everything i ever wanted it to be. whenever authors introduce LIs like malek, i'm always so worried that eventually they're going to lose their nerve and soften the character, and everything that made the LI interesting and unique will be gone.

that's not happening at all with malek. he's been fully revealed to be on the side of the beast, mikael killed him, and now audrey is left to fantasize over him, completely obsessed and unable to do anything about it.

this route is like a sickness, and it's just...so well done.

[fates-castiel]

this makes me so giggly like i actually can't wait to see lane, audrey and vicky together😭

[webanglikethat]

◟Mikael and Audrey .ᐟ

hold my hand, let me tattoo all the creases and lines and the spaces between your fingers into mine / you are the peace I crave in this world. for @mikaelsrose

[writinginthestars]

Some thoughts about our archangel after the January update

I thought a bit about that scene from episode 8, where Mikael destroys the stone and what this says about his character and how it relates to other aspects of him.

It was definitely not surprising that he would make that decision and also take it upon himself. This is very in-character for our Mikael, who usually makes only rational decisions (except when his feelings for Audrey get in the way), who tends to be unemotional, rather cold towards the fate of random people and very calculated. He's also a leader and a soldier (Felonia's term), so making hard decisions and accepting the consequences is something he's probably done over and over again.

Also, that scene is pretty much exactly what that mysterious voice once told us about Mikael in Audrey's dream:

So, Mikael did what he usually does and what he thinks is necessary and right. Audrey even comes to this conclusion (at least if you took the kiss scene, where they briefly talk about masks):

And because of all this I find it even more interesting that between him and Raphael, Mikael is the one with healing magic. And not just that. He has a rare gift and is also exceptionally good with it:

So, of all immortals in this story it's our cold-blooded, unfeeling solier with the presumably hight body count who has healing magic. And even though he's already among the best healers, Mikael would still like to be able to do more:

So. There's that.

I don't really have a conclusion for this little essay, because I wouldn't go as far as saying that there's two sides to Mikael. Because he's too complex to divide him into just that.

But there's also no denying that some parts of him seem to be opposing one another: He's a soldier and killing people. He's a healer and healing people. He doesn't feel the weight of his decisions (or at least doesn't allow himself to), yet he regrets not being able to do more to help.

I find that so interesting about him and it makes Mikael even more attractive. To me, his icy, calculating side is really hot most of the time and he's also so appealing when he cares and soothes. And it makes him such a complex and complicated character that I really want to dive even deeper and see what else there is to him.

And kudos to Elena for creating a character who is everything of the above and still never feels out of character. It's always Mikael, whether he destroys or heals.

[secret-fungi]

I Love You.

Book: Astrea's Broken Heart Paring: David/Audrey Word count: 1729 Rating: T TWS: blood, emotional distress, panic attacks, and love.

A bday fic for JB.

Heavy. It was so heavy, the air, the weight upon her chest, the thoughts. It was as if they were all a large wooden chest that sat upon her ribs, and slowly it was filled more and more, and slowly, she was crushed. 

She’d have to answer, soon enough, but Inside, curled up in blankets as she stared ahead blankly at the wall, she could wait just a while longer. The room smelled of salt and copper and her sheets smelled of sweat. The curtain’s drawn and the door locked, there was no sound that escaped the dark room. The shadows on the walls spelled out a truth she feared most of all; She was alone. 

Don't you understand? there is no one coming for you.

There was never anyone at the end of the tunnel, no one sitting out on the steps in the cold waiting for you to return, there was never anyone. There never will be.

This is it, you’re alone. 

In the end, You’re only just the sword, and when the battle’s done, all those who fought to hold you will lay you down, and you’ll be alone once again.

You’ll always be alone, that’s what you were meant for. There’s no one looking for you, there’s not anyone who could. No one even knows your name, there's no posters because they’ve stolen your face, there’s nothing you’re nothing— and you’re alone.

She almost shivered as the wind called her name, as it came to drag her away, it yanked at her ankles and dug into her flesh, and as it did she thrashed about, screaming out as it mocked her, it hadn’t stopped since she stepped into that basement, the basement where the mold and rot clung to every surface there, where it lingered in the air and made it grainy and stale so much so that with every breath you took it was like you breathed in sawdust, She still smelt the place, she still felt the damp wooden floor  –that only seemed to help the stench of the place–  sink in just a touch and let out a wet squishing noise with each step taken. 

Her chest heaved, and her hands trembled, and despite herself she rose to her feet, leaving the safety of her room, of her blankets to roam the halls like a listless spirit. Each step she took she replayed the events. 

David kept an eye on her, glancing back at her from time to time to find her tensed, as if she was a rubberband pulled as tight as could be. It was clear he thought her strange but said nothing of it, telling her to stay in the living room that unsettled her just as much, a mercy she hadn’t realized he had given until she walked down the uneven steps, her eyes jumping around, her flashlight tight in her hands, knuckles white, shoulders hunched.

“You can go back up.” he offered again. “No, I’m fine.” she repeated once more. “I’ll be fine on my own.” he tried. “I’m not staying up there by myself.” she mumbled, quickening her pace to come up beside him. He scanned the shelves and anything laid about on the floor, be it the boxes, furniture, papers, or discarded objects that were left scattered about, as they crept closer the stronger a rotten, nauseating smell became until it engulfed the surrounding area in its foul stench.  

“David.” she called, her hand grabbing hold of his arm, “look.” she instructed, pointing towards the corner where a thick, jelly-like substance leaked steadily from the wall, it was almost like blood, but too thick- too dark, and though the smell was similar to that metallic twang, it spelled more like rotten flesh than it did like pennies. 

“You stay here.” he said, shining his light in the direction, walking forward slowly only to hear a low moan, but the floor held firm.

Audrey. Came a voice that was far too close, it sounded amused, and violent, hungry. As David pushed a shelf and found a red painted door, the thick dust dug it’s claws into her, wrapping around her wrist as it’s hot, putrid breath beat against her cheek. He lifted up the heavy metal lock before he let it fall, and the sound of it hitting the door brought her back. Like hypnosis, like the reaper tugging her by her hair, she squirmed about and yet, she remained, frozen still where she had been standing, but she was gone. A gnarly key that still was caked in a dried rusty like crust clanked onto the floor, as if the wind tossed them a bone and laughed. 

Go on and open it, if you’re so keen. It mocked.

David casted a weary glance at the key then to the evaluator and then to the door before he took a cautious step forward. “Audrey, go up stairs.” he instructed, but she stayed, frozen in place as the door moved, as if someone was beating very hard against it. He didn’t seem to notice it, the pulse. But it beat nonetheless.

“It’s bleeding.” she said, not taking her eyes from the door, Her eyes glazed over her mouth fell open, her heavy flashlight dropping with a metallic clank, it sent once settled dust flying into the air and david’s steps to quicken, It only took that beat for him to bridge the distance and come to her, taking her hand in his in an instant. Gone, somewhere within herself where he was not allowed, and so he waited, holding her hand as he led her from the door. 

But trouble never lets you leave, does it? A thud and the door was open, the lock nowhere to be found. They paused, looking at the door from halfway across the room.  Oh it begged for them to look inside the room, to come within it’s depths and see what haunted its corners, what else other than mold clung to the corners. But he held her, firmly in place as the door shook. “Audrey, Go upstairs.” he instructed again. 

But she was gone, no longer beside him, no longer in this city- she was home– she was behind the door, locked. She screamed an exasperated, angry cry that scratched her throat raw, bloody and hoarse, she screamed, and screamed as she ran she tried to escape from the air that clung to her, she punched and with every punch she threw she tossed her whole weight into it, yanking her body forward along with her arm. Bloody, split knuckles painted the bolted door as she pounded against it. She clawed at the door, thrashing about, and yet, she knew.

Her mind taunted her, and mimicked the voices of her loved ones, and in the end, There was no use in any of this. Because she was alone, locked and forgotten and there was no one coming for her. What would she do if all that was left of her life was to sit, wait, and obey. The thought made her sag, shoulders hunched as she pressed herself against the wall. For once in her life, she was obedient.  

Obedient and Alone. As she was always meant to be. 

She screamed, banging against the hold he had on her, against his chest as he pressed her head into his shoulder, as he rocked her, smooth pleasant words falling from his lips. She cried into the door, the red wood splintering under her nails as she begged for anyone to listen.

When she came to, he held her still.

And then, as she had previously she would wake up, numb and frozen but unharmed, no marks or scrapes, no shadows lurking, just a sheen of sweat across her brows. She tried to sleep and the wind laughed, her dreams would repeat and repeat, and repeat. Until she assumed daybreak. She followed wherever her feet led her, not putting up a fight when they landed outside his door. The light was off, the room was still and the faintest knock was rapped against his door. She waited.

One.

Two.

Three.

And then she left, carrying on with her wandering until she landed in the kitchen, finding the man in question making a sandwich. It took him three seconds to notice her, only one more to slide a plate towards her as she made her way to him. She didn’t know how to tell him about the dream, didn't know if she should. “I love you so much it scared me into having a nightmare.” was a weird thing to say. 

He didn’t seem to mind, watching as she struggled, each and every thought so clear on her face that he couldn’t help but smile. Her eyes darted behind him, searching for the words in the background before she tried to find them on his face. What did ‘together’ mean when it was him she was with? Each and every reservation, every moment's hesitation was narrated in the space between them. The dense air suspended it for far too long before her thoughts could sink away. 

“Can demons……” she started only to trail off at the end. “love? Have children? Feel joy?” he supplied easily, a strange look in his eyes as he looked at her. “Yeah.” she said “I’m damn willing to try.” he said with a grin, as sure as the sun, as the beating of a heart. It was a promise of giving his all to something, and when he did, he very often got what he wanted. He took her hand in his, pulling it to his lips as she made up her mind. “I’ll make you happy.” he swore. “For free, or does it count as my one wish?” she asked.

“No, Not for free, I’ll have to keep you if you agree.” It didn’t sound too bad to Audrey, who allowed herself to be swept up in his arms, a grin on her lips as she looked at him in amusement. The thrill of being known, a sharp jump down into a cave and the freedom of crashing into the cold water below. Learning was as if you were the only two in that cave, the only ones in that glittering, blue water, and the only ones that mattered.

Through it all, there was only ever her. 

[superspynova]

I think that Cassiel scene in the new episodes is the perfect example of “I’d rather no CG at all to a bad AI one” like it was a cute scene but the whitewashed AI version of him completely took me out of the scene. I’d much rather they just use the sprites for those kinds of scenes.

[agattthaa]

Tumblr quotes as my lis

[somecrimsondream]

With my duo in 2 vs 8, I'm gonna do this to you if you're the last meg. 😈

[kazu-naito]

not to be a masochist but it would absolutely slap if everyone died in abh and hsr

[rcgame-thoughts]

MCs with the BEST closets

I tried to pick 10, but decided I like these 7 the best.

Not in any particular order…

1. Lada - And the Haze Will Take Us

2. Vyxaria - Soulless

3. Eva - Song of the Crimson Nile

4. Audrey - Astrea’s Broken Heart

5. Luna - Garden of Eden

6. Amala - Kali: Call of Darkness

7. Tiss - The Thunderstorm Saga