#which is of course utter bullshit I don’t need to justify my existence nor does anyone else

[pen-of-roses]

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[romcomathon2016]

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (USA, 2003)

This week, not a special bonus edition of Romcomathon, but a regular edition featuring a special bonus GUEST!!!! Our friend Tillery passionately loves this movie, so we simply had to invite him to join us for this entry. In Tillery's own words, "You know how people have seen Star Wars like 20 times, and everyone talks about the movie that they've seen the most? This is the movie I've seen the most. I was once dumped on my birthday, but the actual worst thing that's ever happened to me was my disappointment that Fool's Gold was not a worthy follow-up to this movie." Tillery wanted to dress up for this event but, sadly, discovered that a Knicks jersey was probably too expensive an item to purchase for this one-off activity. Nor did he bring us a love fern. Shame on him.

Predictions: The three of us have all seen this movie several times. In fact, when Tillery eagerly accepted our invitation to join for movie night, he asked if he should bring the DVD or if we already had a copy, and we were like, “HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, in fact we already have two copies, thanks.” We predict that we will have a great time watching this film.

"For some reason I was thinking it was only 90 minutes, and I'm so happy that it's an hour and 55." -- Tillery, seeing the run time at the bottom of the screen.

Plot: First of all, if you haven't seen this movie, you really should. This movie is fantastic. It is funny. It is charming. It is incredibly well-constructed. BUT FINE, WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENS IN IT. (Tillery: "Even though you should already be watching it right now.")

Kate Hudson is a ~*~serious reporter~*~ who happens to currently work at, well, Cosmo, essentially, under Bebe Neuwirth, who insists that she write only frivolous "How To" articles, while Kate Hudson would prefer to be bringing peace to Tajikistan. Because that's what Tajikistan needs: a "How To" article. But one day, Kate Hudson's excessively pathetic friend/coworker Kathryn Hahn gets dumped yet again, because she is leading her excessively pathetic life in what appears to be an old lady's apartment (clearly murdered someone and stole their identity AND THEIR CLOTHES) and doesn’t know how to not terrify men, and Kate Hudson has a stroke of inspiration. Her next article will be “How To Kathryn-Hahn Your Way Out Of A Relationship,” or, as Bebe Neuwirth more succinctly names it, "How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days."

Enter Matthew McConaughey, an ambitious advertising executive who's looking to stop selling athletic gear and start selling ~*~DIAMONDS~*~. He somehow finds his way into a bet with his boss (and his one-dimensional conniving colleagues) that he can make any woman fall in love with him, because APPARENTLY that is precisely the skill one needs to successfully advertise diamonds. Bit of a leap in logic? Sure. But we must accept this premise in order to move forward with this charming film, and so we shall.

That night, at the bar, both Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey are scoping for prey. With a little nudge from Conniving Colleague #1, they find each other. They immediately hit it off and spend the rest of the evening together, during which they hatch their respective plans. Matthew McConaughey is playing the slow game, if you can call falling in love in 10 days slow. Kate Hudson intends to transform into a crazy person the very next day, driving him away as quickly as she can. Shenanigans ensue, for approximately the next week. Kate Hudson gets more and more psychotic, to the point that, if we were Matthew McConaughey, we might pursue a restraining order or seek to have her seen by a physician, while Matthew McConaughey does everything possible to accommodate her, including accompanying her to a Celine Dion concert and allowing her to name his penis. Yikes.

Eventually, Matthew McConaughey reaches his breaking point, and they almost break up, but then his coworkers persuade him to hang in there -- just four more days!!!! They go to couples therapy at Kathryn Hahn's apartment, and Fake Dr. Kathryn Hahn, to Kate Hudson's horror, encourages them to visit his family in Staten Island.

♫ Staten Island, where people fall in love! ♫

On Staten Island, we meet Matthew McConaughey's family, which is weird, because his accent up to this point would have led us to believe his family was in Texas. His mom also sounds pretty Southern. Where is this family from?? Maybe they...recently moved???? These linguistic quirks, however, do not bother Kate Hudson, who quickly bonds with his family over a game of Bullshit. "Oh no!" Kate Hudson realizes. "I'm lying to all these generous-spirited blue-collar folks!" And then a montage, in which she appears to have dropped her psychotic personality entirely, and falls in actual love with Matthew McConaughey. Kissing!

At the end of the weekend, however, they must return to the city, where their 10 days is up. Matthew McConaughey invites Kate Hudson to the...diamond party???? while Kate Hudson tries to persuade her boss to let her off the hook on the article. No such luck, of course. Bebe Neuwirth is a professional, and so are you, Kate Hudson. #journalistic integrity

Nonetheless, they attend the diamond party, and things seem to be going well at first. Matthew McConaughey's boss (a love expert, apparently) meets Kate Hudson and confirms that she is indeed in love with Matthew McConaughey, although she tries to deny it, because she knows that falling in love with someone after 10 days is utter insanity. Enraged by Matthew McConaughey's happiness and success, Conniving Colleagues #1 and #2 then trick his dumb coworkers into discussing the bet WITH KATE HUDSON. WHY SO DUMB, DUMB COWORKERS???? At the same time, an unwitting Bebe Neuwirth tells Matthew McConaughey what Kate Hudson is up to. Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson are both mad and make a ginormous scene, including an off-key duet of "You're So Vain." Kate Hudson storms off, and all is lost.

Soon after this, Kate Hudson turns in her article to Bebe Neuwirth. She has written the whole story, including the twist ending of, gee, maybe one shouldn’t casually torment others for magazine research. Bebe Neuwirth LOVES IT!!!! but she still won't let Kate Hudson write about Tajikistan, so Kate Hudson quits. Matthew McConaughey, magically basically at the exact right moment, reads this article and realizes that Kate Hudson really did love him. WELL, THEN. HE HAD BETTER LEAVE WORK AND RUSH TO HER SIDE IMMEDIATELY. What?? She's no longer employed at Essentially Cosmo???? She’s moving to DC?? He must chase her cab through New York City, dangerously bang on her window from his moving motorcycle, and force the poor cabbie to pull over so he can declare his love on the side of a bridge!!!! Yup. He does that. And then, they are together and everything is perfect, except for that poor cabbie, who has to just hang out while these two idiots work out their feelings.

Best Scene: The three of us are all huge fans of the Staten-Island sequence. Kat and Alex's favorite part is the shower scene, in which Kate Hudson talks about her feelings, and then they make out. Tillery, on the other hand, wept (twice -- we did some instant replay) at the Bullshit scene preceding this, when Matthew McConaughey's blue-collar mom hugs Kate Hudson and tells her not to break Matthew McConaughey's heart. (Apparently, prior to this moment, Kate Hudson had not considered that he was a human being who might have feelings. What a beautiful sociopath.) Non-Staten-Island runner-up: the scene where Kate Hudson attacks Matthew McConaughey and names his penis. So funny, you guys. So insane, but so funny.

Worst Scene: Because all the bizarre shit that happens in this movie is fairly well-justified, there really aren't any full scenes that we don't like, but there was a moment in the bar when Matthew McConaughey was unnecessarily rude about a fat girl. We did not like that.

Best Line: "Tone-deaf and drunk is not a good combination." -- Matthew McConaughey's coworker, cringing at the Matthew McConaughey/Kate Hudson duet. Runner-up: "Our kids are really...attractive." -- Matthew McConaughey, when Kate Hudson shows him the truly horrifying, Photoshop-composited faces of their future children. Not so much the line itself, but the combination of the visual and the delivery. Is pretty fabulous.

Worst Line: Besides the fat-shaming moment we already mentioned, pretty much every line of this movie is fucking amazing. Even the side characters have such fantastic little zingers. We maybe did get a teeny, tiny bit embarrassed for Kate Hudson when she said, "I meant every word," near the end on the bridge, but, even that, we were mostly willing to buy.

Highlights of the Watching Experience: "This man won an Oscar." -- Alex, marveling (not for the first time on this blog) at Matthew McConaughey's, you know, existence. "If comedies were more respected, his role in this deserves an Oscar." -- Tillery, in response. "Look at these two Knicks lunatics!" -- Alex, appreciating Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson's obvious compatibility. "Yes, they belong together. No one else wants these people." -- Tillery, in response, really earning his nonexistent fee for being here tonight.

How Many POC in the Film: Kate Hudson's upbeat coworker. One of Matthew McConaughey's conniving colleagues. Various people at newsstands, in kitchens, on the street, and at the party. Most of the Knicks.

Alternate Scenes: This movie is perfect as it is. However, we would be curious to see a 2017 adaptation, in which Kate Hudson, instead of moving to DC, just goes home and starts a blog. We would also watch a sequel about Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey's domestic bliss, but only if it featured a scene in which Kate Hudson discovered blogging in approximately 2005.

Was the Poster Better or Worse than the Film: Worse. The poster begs the question of why you would put a blonde person in a yellow dress against a yellow background. The movie shows us that, in fact, blonde Kate Hudson, at least, looks amazing in this yellow dress. Also, as Tillery helpfully points out, the tagline on this poster is, "One of them is lying. So is the other," which, seriously. This could be the tagline for almost any movie.

Score: 10 out of 10 ~*~serious reporter~*~ smooches. This movie, you guys!!!! Kate Hudson is fantastic. Matthew McConaughey is fantastic. And they are both such appropriately motivated people, with non-romantic goals that come PERFECTLY into conflict. It's amazing.

Ranking: 2, out of the 76 movies we’ve seen so far!!!! It was surprisingly close, dear readers, between this and Bridget Jones's Diary! We’ve always loved this movie, but doing such a detailed watch-and-commentary on it really highlighted for us anew how perfect it really is. Let’s say “really” some more. Really.

Thanks for joining us, Tillery! If any of our readers would like to further read Tillery's hilarious commentary on the world, he can occasionally be found on Twitter. Follow him, guys! He is a delight. Also, if you invite him over to watch a movie, he'll probably cry. If only Titanic were a romantic comedy -- he would 1000% be our first choice as a guest on that entry.

[strainingfororiginality]

Chapter 1.2 - Justice

Michael knew that the next bit would be extremely tricky to navigate, given they were both exceptionally intelligent. Ozryel could pick up the slightest of hints and no one in existence knew him as his older brother did.

"How is--" Quintus started immediately, which Michael halted sharply with his mind.

Be mindful of your next words. For her sake ... knowledge of our acquaintance… needs to be kept discrete. Michael warned mentally as he glanced into Quintus’ concerned pale blue eyes.

The dhampir stared down to the ground as he breathed out slowly, accepting that he was no longer in any form of control, "How is … Earth?" He found it difficult to utter the final word, as he finally came to terms with the gravity of his situation, acknowledging that he was no longer there himself.

"Congratulations, General Sertorius. You have saved the world from impending Divine Retribution. The infected are now without direction. It will take some time, but I have faith in mankind's ability to clean up the leftover mess."

"How is … “ Quintus hesitated again, “How are my friends?" He asked, a modicum of desperation for knowledge trailing his normally confident voice.

".סי דליהק רווי וואָה וואָנק אָט סעהסיוו האַ"

("He wishes to know how your child is.") Ozryel chuckled from behind as Michael turned to glare directly at him.

"You had your turn." He scowled to his always over talkative sibling.

".טעעווס ס'טי קניהט איך .רעה סעקיל האַ? טאַהוו"

("What? He likes her. I think it's sweet.")

".הג איין .וועריזאָן"

("Ozyrel. Enough.") Michael attempted to hush him again.

".קניהט איך אָאָט רעה דעקיל איך .סעקיל צוד��ש נאַהט עראָם Yas ד איך דנאַ ... דליהק רווי סעקיל עטיוק האַ צעבער .ענוירעווע ... נאַעם איך דנאַ ... ענוירעווע סעטאַה האַ .עראַר ירעוו ס'טאַהט דנאַ"

("And that’s very rare. He hates everyone … and I mean … everyone. But he quite likes your child … And I’d say more than just likes. I liked her too, I think.")

".עסאַעלפּ .ליירזאָ"

("Ozryel. Please.") Michael huffed again.

".אָאָט אונטער טלעף ווי ערוס מ'י .יאָב האָ, פאָאָאָאָ .הטראַע קיין YAD צאַל אונטער דנאַ"

("And that last day on Earth. Oooof, oh boy. I’m sure you felt that too.")

".פּאָץ .זאָ"

("Oz. STOP.")

That old and painfully familiar nickname just rolled off of Michael’s tongue and suddenly everything felt almost more normal to him. Having Ozryel back felt like … home and he was still just as incorrigible as ever. For just an instant, Michael smiled behind his helmet as he felt the effect of Dawn’s sadness wane temporarily.

"--יעהט אונטער ניאַטרעק ילריאַף מ'י .טי טלעף ערוס איך? אונטער לעעף טאָן יללאַער ווי האט"

("Did you really not feel that? I sure felt it. I’m fairly certain that they--")

_"!!! לריג עלטטיל ימ אָט האט טיהס עלטטיל סיהט טאַהוו ילטקאַקסע וואָנק איך! אונטער טלעף איך עסרואָק fo"

("Of course I felt that! I know exactly what this little shit did to her!!!  For God’s sake, BE QUIET!")

Michael’s frustration peaked as he turned back to Quintus, whose own eyes were full of shock and confusion while he listened intently to the unintelligible argument. The clear attention Michael was giving him caused Quintus to press on, asking his previous question again.

“She does not stop talking.”  Quintus stated plainly and Michael shifted back to the dhampir.

“No.  He never has.”

"Please, Governor. How are my friends?"  Quintus tried again.

"Your friends are alive and safe. You needn’t worry about them now. You’re in far more danger than they are." Michael offered him. “And if you wish the girl to live, then her existence won’t be mentioned again … to anyone here. Is this clear?”

"? האַ סעאָד, סרווי ס'עהס וואָנק ט'נסעאָד האַ"

("He doesn’t know she’s yours, does he?") Ozryel questioned, a hint of glee leaking into of his crisp voice.

"? צו עהס טאַהוו וואָנק שניי האַ סעאָד? טי ט'נסי, עקאַף רווי נעדדיה עוואַה ווי יהוו ס'טאַהט"

("That’s why you have hidden your face, isn’t it? Does he even know what she really is!?"), Ozryel continued to question gleefully.

".יאַוו אונטער ניאַמער אָט טי הסיוו לליוו ווי נעהט, עוניטנאָק אָט מיה הסיוו ווי FI דנאַ"

("And if you want him to continue at all, then it’ll remain that way.") Michael threatened as he turned back to his beaming brother, pointing a finger.

"Why?" Quintus brazenly asked, his tone raising with protective fervor, “Why do you protect her?”

"Don’t concern yourself with my reasons."

"What did the Fire Djinn see in her eyes?" Quintus demanded even harsher as Ozryel’s eyes flashed wider.

Damnit. Michael paused for a moment before he spat back, "Do not push me, boy!"

"Your hesitation belies your obvious fear. You are the Governor here. Surely--"

"Her father is important to me. Heaven cannot lose him over old antiquated laws." Michael stated, “And if you mention her existence to anyone here, I can’t guarantee her safety and therefore there would be no reason for me to guarantee either of yours.”

Ozryel sighed a nod, understanding the politics that were at play here, "You have our word."

"Do not speak for me, Snake." Quintus hissed to his maker as Michael turned to demand the same compliance from the dhampir. Flaring his nostrils slightly, Quintus reluctantly nodded, “You have my word … I will not mention her again … but … ”

Michael turned to take his leave and Quintus reached through the bars, putting a finger up and asking gently, "Governor. You mention danger … " The shiny angel paused to allow him to finish his sentence, “She is … safe?”

Sighing heavily as his shoulders fell with annoyance, Michael didn’t wish to visit these emotions right now. He was already struggling to control him as it was as Dawn’s affect on him was nearly overwhelming, so he offered as little information as he could, "She breaths. Never ask of her again."

Quintus pressed further, grabbing the bars as he stared, "Why am I here? Why am I … caged? Will I be released?"

Michael had never seen the boy so unsure of himself as he was at this moment and he relished in it. The little shit. "Your right to continued existence is still up for debate." The statement was plain.

"My right?"

"Nephilim are our most unforgivable sin. They can’t be allowed to suffer an existence, Quintus." Michael turned to look at him from behind his hidden helmet.

"Then I am to be … exterminated?" The dhampir asked, not an ounce of anger nor fear audible in his voice though Michael knew it was there.

"That remains to be seen. There will need to be a judgement levied at the new claim."

"What claim?" Quintus asked as Ozryel grabbed the metal bars, stuffing his forehead between them as he smiled, realizing the trick that Michael had up his sleeve.

".סללעווס ווי ראָף עדירפּ ימ .רעהטאָרב עלטטיל רעוועלק, רעוועלק"

("Clever, clever little brother. My pride for you swells.") The white-skinned Angel cooed.

"What claim have you made?" Quintus asked, obviously annoyed at being left out of the inside joke.

"I can make no claim. I am the Governor. It’s the claim that Ozryel has just now levied against your charge." Michael turned, giving his brother the chance to answer.

That pleasant smile again as he cocked his head to the right, "My claim that you are not mine." He laughed suddenly, “That you are not nephilim at all.”

Michael nodded and turned to leave, "I will call forth the magistrates and if there is a majority that will hear it, then the hearing will begin tomorrow."

"Thank you, brother!" Ozryel shouted at the Governor as he walked away down the expansive corridor briskly out of their sight without another word, “I really have missed you!”

Quintus stared at the angel across the hallway with an expressionless glare, unable to voice any kind of thought. "What?" Ozryel smiled, “All things considered, I think that actually went very well.”

"Hello Brother." Just as Michael entered their presence without either realizing, the mocha-skinned man stood just off to the right and Quintus turned to face him, but the man was focused on Ozryel.

His clothing was fairly modern and Quintus didn’t see armour nor a weapon of any kind. His stature was shorter than theirs by more than a few inches and his skin was darker and flawless while his hair was short and black. But his eyes, they were by far the most catching feature for they were a deep and unnatural violet.

Ozryel’s demeanour changed considerably, as his nervous smile melted into a relieved one, reaching his arms out through the bars towards the man, who graciously accepted the clumsy embrace.

"Oh." The bald angel cupped his face in both hands as his eyes welled up with happy tears and his smile broadened even more, “But … I have missed you the very most.”

Raphael pushed his forehead against the bars to touch his brother’s as their eyes closed, enjoying the brief contact before Ozryel pulled back, thrusting a hand out towards Quintus and the man turned to face him.

"Quintus … may I introduce you to Raphael."

"Hello." His smile was so broad it was nearly contagious. His teeth were white and glistening, “It is nice to finally meet you.” He asked as he fearlessly offered his palm to the dhampir through the bars.

Gabriel stood up from the table, kicking his chair back slightly as he huffed in disapproval, "That is bullshit. Ozryel has no right to make any claim in our laws any longer. He is tainted."

Michael shrugged simply, "That remains to be seen, doesn’t it? That’s the entire point of this."

"I don’t follow your logic." Gabriel spat as he narrowed his eyes at his older brother.

"He is tainted only if the boy is deemed nephilim. If the boy is not, then Ozryel has been purified of that treacherous woman’s curse."

Gabriel shook his head, "The chicken and the egg then? He can levy the charge if the charge itself is justified in the end? That makes no sense. He is Nephilim! To be safe, we should just--"

Raphael’s voice was always welcomed, though he rarely used it against Gabriel … ever, "I’ve seen him. Oz is free of the curse now. The Face of God has purif--"

"Bullshit." Gabriel sneered at the entire table, providing a sweeping glance at the other generals at the table and hushing his shy brother with a single word.

"Please." Michael waved a hand back to the seat, urging Gabriel to sit back down, “We’ve come here to discuss things, not to throw unnecessary fits.”

Raphael pinched his temple as Michael stoked their tallest brother’s fury, "Fits?!" Gabriel bared his fangs to Michael with a fierce hiss.

"Gentlemen, please." Seraphiel, the highest the Seraphim, shook its head again and the rest of the table shuffled moderately with discomfort. The magistrates of the other races whispered amongst themselves in hushed tones with concern.

Gabriel sat back down begrudgingly, pulling his long bronze hair behind him as he gently stroked his salt and pepper beard, "This is not a decision for just you, Michael. There should be a vote on this. Who thinks there even needs to be a trial?" He looked around the table as everyone waited for Michael to raise his hand first and the others all followed suit, even Raphael. “Are you all serious?” His eyes flew to his little brother and Raphael shrugged simply, “Fine. Then I will prosecute him.”

Michael cringed. He had been worried about this scenario. Not taking much interest in courts and the law itself, he had hoped Gabriel would allow those Angels who enjoyed such things to step forward. He knew everyone would fear standing against the towering, angry Archangel and he also knew Gabriel would be hoping for this.

"I will represent him then." Michael offered and the table erupted into more hushed whispers as Gabriel fiercely shook his head.

"No, you will not. You will judge him. That is your duty."

"No. I must concede judgement for this trial. Ozryel’s fate is too dear to me. I can’t promise to be entirely … impartial."

"No." Seraphiel stared at Michael with its black eyes, shifting its six red wings slightly with its trilling Hennu words, “Governor, you will not. We have ultimate faith in your ability to be entirely impartial. We trust no others to judge. This is the law.”

There was a silence that befell the table as none other came forth with an offer of representation. Everyone feared Gabriel and his most assured wrath and resentment should they chose to stand against him on this matter. He was a pettiest of angels.

"Will none present the boy?" Michael asked again, his voice pleading ever so slightly. If none would stand, then the laws were clear. If no peers were willing fight for another’s innocence, then the verdict would default to guilty.

"Then it is settled." Gabriel started to chuckle to himself, “Guilty by lack of counsel. By lack of faith--”

"I will stand for him." The voice was soft and clear as all at the table turned to stare at the usually silent violet-eyed Angel. He was always silent at these types of meetings, just as his massive brother, not giving much care to issues of state.

"Wait … what?" Gabriel stared across the table with bewildered, giant eyes, “You would … stand against me?”

"Not to stand against you … but to stand for him." The look at his face gave away no emotion and Michael’s heart sang a sigh of relief. Other than himself, there was none other than Raphael who could stand against their brother, both mentally or politically.

"Why would you do this? You would chose that abomination over your own brother?" Gabriel continued to gawk in disbelief, his nervousness and concern obvious. The amber-eyed Angel relished in his ability to dominate all of those around him, but even he knew that Raphael was far smarter than he.

Where Michael and Ozryel were nearly perfectly balanced, in mind, body, and spirit. Gabriel and Raphael were not. Gabriel was physically stronger, dominating his little brother in height as well as strength, but Raphael’s mind was far sharper, both in the Nexus as well as intellectually. Michael had often wondered if he might have been smarter than Ozryel, but his quiet nature kept a definitive answer to that question at bay.

Raphael showed a glimmer of emotion as he smiled finally, as genuine as ever, "Abomination is what is up for debate. And if you would back down and let another prosecute, then I would be happy to stand down as well. Perhaps leaving this to lesser Angels would be for the be--"

"NO." Gabriel accepted the challenge quickly, “The fate of our brother should be determined by us.” He stood as the whispers continued to ripple through the remaining generals at the table. “And I will expect a fair trial.” He pointed his finger to Michael who nodded before Gabriel took his leave showing absolute disgust.

As the rest of the company funneled out of the meeting room, Michael nodded a thank you to Raphael as he stood to slip away with the others. He knew it was not an easy thing for his little brother to stand against Gabriel so publicly.

Raphael blinked softly to him.

Quintus sat on the ground in the back corner, as far as he could get himself from the light and the prying eyes of his Angel progenitor. She’d finally stopped talking, but after hours he’d found himself restless with the intense solitude and silence.

He opened his eyes from his meditative state and finally spoke first, "Are you a man or a woman?"

Ozryel stirred from her position on the bench, turning to look at him, "I am either. Or I am neither. It matters not to me. Which would you prefer?"

"How can you be both and yet neither." Quintus questioned further, “You are either one or the other, how can you be both something and its exact opposite?”

Smiling, she stood, "Because … I can choose to be both or I can choose to be neither." As he saw her body start to change shape, Quintus rose immediately, walking to the bars to get a better view of the spectacle. Her skin shifted from white to tan as her stripes disappeared and her features suddenly became more feminine than masculine, then she shifted it back to the opposite of the spectrum, as she suddenly grew hair. The only piece of her that remained utterly the same no matter what her shape were her scarlet eyes.

"What trickery is this? You possess the power of illusion?" He gasped at the feat.

"No. I am a shifter. I was made this way. All of the First are. It is how our qliphoth were formed. We are not confined to a particular shape, though it's easiest for us to revert to one. There are a few lessers who possess the talent, though not quite as well." She shrugged.

"Qliphoth?"

"My earthly husk. My … shell … if you will. That which houses my divine spirit." She looked down at her arms as she became what she was before, only slightly making herself more feminine in the process and growing white hair, “If you prefer me to chose, then I will be a woman for you. It will take concentration, but if it will make you more … comfortable. Women are the life bringers. I’ve always admired them the most.” She mused.

"I don’t care what you chose to be. It makes no difference to me." He scoffed as he turned. She was getting enjoyment from his questions and he wished to stop, but his own curiosity got the better of him, “Am I like you? Does my qliphoth allow me to change as well?” He remembered Michael’s words to him while he battled the Master on that island … Michael had told him to will it.

"I am unsure. You were becoming stronger every year. Perhaps? Well … when you had one, at least." She grabbed the bars as she stared at him.

Staring down at his own arms, he looked up at her bewildered, "When I had one?"

"You are just a spirit now, child. Your qliphoth was … vaporized. Do you not recall that? That was your fault." She chuckled as she shook her head.

"And yet yours was not?" He sounded confused and her brows furrowed at his question. Was it that ridiculous of a thing to ask?

"I am Hayyoth. Forever Eternal." She reached her arms to the sky as if she was speaking to God himself, “I can never be truly destroyed.”

He found himself nearly speechless as he took a sharp breath in. "It is … not possible? Is this … common knowledge?" He knew that the Djinn had been lying to him about something. He knew there was a hint of insincerity in Barqan’s words and Ozryel could read the surprise on her son’s face quite clearly.

"Everyone knows this. Did you think you could actually destroy me?" She chuckled again.

"I was … hopeful." Be careful, Quintus told himself suddenly. Do not trust this snake. “But if you cannot be destroyed, then ...”

She completed his simple observation, "You sacrificed yourself for ... nothing." He felt his heart fall suddenly as he leaned back against the wall, defeated.

"I believed my life was bound to yours." He admitted, “It’s what has always been believed. The Ancients lied to me.”

"We did not lie … I did not lie." She shook her head, “It is the truth. Nephilim cannot survive past the destruction of their progenitor, but … “

"You cannot be destroyed." His disappointment was starting to bubble up inside of him as he sneered at her.

"Exactly." A simple apologetic shrug, “You have to admit … it was quite clever. It was intended to keep the Born in check. We didn’t want you all rising up to kill us.”

"It did not stop me." He huffed.

"No, it did not. But you were never like the others. You’ve always been quite different, Quintus. Determined. Unconquerable." She purred with pride from her cell as she made a gentle clap with her hands, “And I am quite surprised by your final act as well. I did not see it coming at all.”

"Did not see what coming?"

"Sacrificing yourself. You wanted to live, I could feel it. Using the Face of God against me. How did you know?" She squinted as he could feel her fishing for precious information.

"You used it against your other pieces first. Did you not? It seemed like it had been … effective."

She nodded, seeming to accept his justification but she pressed further, "True. But … how did you disarm it? In the penthouse … The Seventh made sure there wasn’t enough time. How did you do it?"

Hmmmm. Awfully good question, wasn’t it? "Miss Velders aided in that respect."

"Hmph. Maybe. She was quite useful, wasn’t she? Very smart." She squinted at him further, seeming to disbelieve his lie as he refused to give any tells that might disclose his fib. He wondered if she could feel the hesitation from his mind, but she shrugged anyways, “I am grateful to you, in any case.”

"Grateful? Why would you be grateful to me? You are now caged." He questioned.

"The Seventh had no intention of restoring me fully. It only wished to restore the divinity. It would have left the rest of my spirit and mind to wander in broken isolation." She seemed sincere in her gratitude and Quintus felt uneasy, “Even in a cage, I am free of the plague now. I am whole again. Restored.” She stretched her arms up over her head and spun around, giving herself more feminine features in the midst of her energetic dance. “"In your quest to destroy me, you in fact, saved me."

"Your brother is right. You are still mad." He spat at her happiness.

As she twirled to face him, she smiled the largest grin he’d seen so far, "We are all mad here. I’m mad … you’re mad."

Quintus’ face fell into deep furrows, "You … you are quoting Carroll to me right now?" He choked in disbelief. The memories it stirred were bitter and painful.

"Sorry." Ozryel offered as she sat back down quickly, seeing the result of her transgression, “I am truly sorry. I’ve had him stuck in my head since you kept repeating that bloody poem in your mind before you vaporized us.”

Not wishing to continue with the conversation at all, he stared down to the ground, not wishing to expose his wounded heart to her perception, but unable to fully retain the emotion that flooded from his sorrowed face. She enjoyed quoting Carroll and he could hear her light voice inside of his head even now.

"You have to let her go." Ozryel softly said from across the way and Quintus finally looked up to an overly serious face. “… for both of your sakes. Even if Michael can make it so that you are welcome here, _she _can never be.”

He didn’t look up, but he heard Ozryel’s voice yet again, riddled with delight, "Hello again, Brother. Back so soon?" As he looked up, he found the violet-eyed brother staring back into his cell.

"Indeed. But I have not come to see you this time." He smiled gently as his tone was soothing, “Do you mind if we take a walk, Quintus? I wish to speak with you privately.”

As Quintus stood, Raphael waved a hand to the bars and his mocha face lit up with light blue electricity that seemed to course through his veins as the worms had coursed through The Ancients. As this occurred, Enochian scripts became visible on the bars themselves and enough of the bar seemed to just vanish as he stepped through into the corridor.

The air outside of the cell was brisk and clean and Quintus breathed in deeply, picking up the slightest hint of Angelica as his heart pinched in his chest again causing him to hesitate momentarily. Raphael waved him to walk a head, back the way he came and Quintus felt Ozryel reach out with his mind suddenly, in a rush.

Do not let him in your mind or feel you are connected to the Nexus, child. Raphael is incredibly powerful. Do not give this secret away to him.