#we're all simply pawns to the grand scheme at the end of the day. ⸢ 𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐀𝐄𝐋 / makai. ⸥

[caelcstis]

@diivineray wanted a starter. 1/2 the muse they wanted: raphael for his extremely tired, stubborn bastard of a general

half of his time had been spent away from heaven, sometimes up to no good and picking on the smaller demons in his territories - mostly to blow off his steam. as much as he adored summer and the warmer seasons, a small part of him abhorred it. it was his own personal guilt, his heavy heart and the anger scratching at his ribs to break free.

having some sense return to him, he made his way back up to the clouds and floating lands above that he called home. he still felt that tingling numbness in his scraped up hands when he found a certain angel in his crossway. raphael blinked slowly, as if he wasn't entirely processing michael in his presence, and he tilted his head like a curious animal. "what are you doing here?"

he hadn't meant to voice his thoughts aloud, but alas.

[caelcstis]

raphael long gave up expecting any sort of respect or excitement to his return - from anyone really, not just michael. still, it hadn't made him feel any better when he was feeling the way he was. irritable, angry...so insufferably angry. so horribly broken inside. he couldn't even force his bubbly attitude to mask how empty his gaze was, or how hollow his voice was while it echoed throughout these ancient halls.

"no one was aware i left to begin with, so no one needed to authorize that i came in." he wasn't entirely sure why he needed it when he was merely a step below michael in his power and status these days. "unless you hounded the other angels in my care, no one else really knew where i was, what i was doing and no one bothers asking." because it was so rare that they ever got a straight answer out of the angel, or he was so annoyingly chipper and talkative that they gave up before they received a proper answer.

"do you wish to authorize my return? should i return to the gates?"

                     ˚ʚ 𝓜 ɞ˚ ―In the quiet of the night, Michael found it challenging to seek solace when it was most needed. For six long weeks, he toiled without respite, shrouded in solitude. Emerging from his chambers in the late hours, he unfurled his wings, weary yet resolute. The weight of Heaven rested upon his shoulders, compelling him to stay vigilant and prevent it from descending into chaos. As he fought off exhaustion, he knew that numerous ambitious angels eagerly awaited the moment his eyes closed, ready to seize their chance.

                  The sound of the voice jolts him out of his hazy thoughts, and his intense crimson eyes dart towards the speaker. Michael struggles to contain his urge to react angrily. "Shouldn't that be my question to you?" he retorts, his wings instinctively pulling back. "Who authorized your return?"