#you can play cassie or lu? or we can switch?? idk

[siderealxmelody]

Open Your Eyes

@silentwcrds

@foreverfallen

Cassiel watched as the ball got underway, he'd been there for a few hours already. He liked to people watch, it was interesting to see how everyone acted when they thought no one was noticing.

He heard an excited ripple flow through the crowd, he looked down to see his parents entering. His ma, Ierimiel wasn't here apparently he was going to be taking a day for himself.

It had been a while since he had seen his mama Fraciel had last attended a party. He looked good, his suit fit just right, and gold cuffs glinted as he moved.

The last time he remembered Mama being here was when Jophiel and Seraphiel had been too small to leave alone.

He loved his parents, he really did. But sometimes he didn't see what his father saw in his Mama. Fraciel wasn't as politically inclined as Ierimiel was. Ierimiel had been on the seraphic council representing the Galaerii as long as he could remember.

The immediate memories he had of Mama were being helped with homework, or told to do this or that chore. When he was much younger he remembered helping Mama make cookies and other treats...but nothing else very substantial.

His eyes slid to his father, he commanded the room - angels moved around him as if he had laid a halo around himself.

But his father wasn't paying attention, he was laughing at something his mama said. His father looked almost too happy.

Cassiel gripped the railing, a spike of jealousy flowinh through him. What was it like to have so much power that he act so careless? What was it like to have such a love that nothing else mattered?

He slid eyes to Damiel on the other side of the room. He was surrounded by a few angels, he seemed to command the group's attention. How did he do it? He wasn't even raised with any royal blood in him?

The group burst out laughing and Cassiel felt himself flush. It was exactly like the laugh Metateon and his cronies used to give in their school days. He pretended not to notice but it still stung.

He felt his breath catch as Damiel lifted his eyes and met his. He winked and inclined his wine glass in his direction.

Cassiel swallowed and gave a quick nod back. He hadn't meant to be noticed. What must Damiel think of him now? A stalker with an odd obsession? Or worse? An easy archangel to break into submission?

He turned away and grabbed a glass of wine, the lucid dream he had this morning wasn't helping. He - he didn't like how easy it felt to give Damiel so much control in bed...he was an archangel, surely that was taboo?

Weren't they always supposed to be in control? He crept closer to hear his parents talking, they were just underneath him now. Though no one could see him from this angle, but he could see everyone.

Lumiel was walking backwards laughing as something Fraciel was saying. He could make out snatches of conversation and-

"Lumiel! Watch where you're going!"

Lumiel turned and grinned to see Michael watching them both.

"Why? Won't everyone just move for me?"

Fraciel was laughing and sipping his wine. Michael rolled his eyes but he was smiling.

"Yes, but that's not the point. We need to be on gaurd what if -"

"Where are your mates Michael? Don't tell me you ditched them to talk to Lumi?"

Lumiel grinned when Michael flushed.

"I didn't Fraciel. Omniel went to find us a quiet place place catch up, and Narel went to get us drinks...what? Why are you both looking at me like that?"

Lumiel burst out laughing and Fraciel grinned wider.

"To catch up? Honestly Michael what are you 16? If you're going get laid you could just -"

"Shh! Someone could hear you! Not all of us are as crazy as you two!"

Lumiel beamed and pulled Fraciel into an embrace kissing the top of his head.

"You say that, but I bet you're just jealous at how healthy my relationship is!"

Michael stared at them both and just shook his head.

"I'm perfectly content and my relationship is fine. I'm going to go before I get roped into anything too insane. Oh look Gabe! Wonderful, go bother him."

He slipped past Gabriel who hadn't noticed Lumiel and Fraciel yet. Cassiel shook his head, he hadn't wanted to know any of that. He needed that mind bleach potion Zaphiel had been talking about.

Fraciel looked up at Lumiel.

"He's just jealous isn't he?"

"Of course he is darling. He must be boring in bed no wonder -"

"Oh good, Fraciel I was looking for you."

Fraciel groaned and gave Gabriel an annoyed look.

"Funny, I wasn't looking for you Gabriel, what do you want?"

Lumiel chuckled as he pulled away keeping only a hand on the small of Fraciel's back.

Gabriel didn't seem particularly dettered or surprised by the hostility in Fraciel's voice. Cassiel, on the other hand, was surprised he'd never heard his mama this irritated before, not in public anyway.

"I need your help. I need you to vet someone -"

"No, there are plenty of other angels to do you dirty work for you. Besides I'm sure Asmodel would do it for free anyway. I'm done remember?"

He went to push past Gabriel who grabbed his elbow in response.

Lumiel who had been watching Michael snapped his attention back to them as Fraciel let out a low growl.

"Get your hand off him Gabriel, he was more than polite with you."

This was the side of his father he was more comfortable with. This was the side he wanted to emulate - an archangel no one ever crossed. A powerful beacon for righteousness and justice.

"You call his tone polite? This is in public Lumiel, he needs to learn his -"

Gabriel cut himself off as Fraciel wrenched his arm free. He sent Gabriel an icy glare.

"I don't need to be anything. Lumiel is loved, my children have proven themselves over and over again, more than they should need to. I'm not your mate, or employee Gabriel - to be molded into something you like. The only opinions I take into consideration are Lumiel's and Ierimiel's. You are neither, so I suggest you learn to hold your tongue next time."

Cassiel stared in shock, he didn't know the background. Whenever he'd seen his uncle Gabriel and father they'd been more than friendly. But he'd never think his mama would be like this. Didn't he know better? If this had been Damiel...No he couldn't even think that.

How did his father put up with such disrespect? Why did his father not reprimand him? Perhaps he was waiting for when they were more alone to say something?

Fraciel slipped past Gabriel and to a small table in the corner. Lumiel was trying hard not to smile, did he find all of this amusing?

Gabriel rolled his eyes.

"Ithuriel's Destined, I just wanted him to look into the family Lu. Ithoo has been through so much more heartache than I'd ever wish on a child. I just wanted this one thing to go smoothly for him."

Lumiel gave a soft smile and patted his older brother's shoulder.

"You could have opened with that Gabe. You know he'd do anything for one of the kids. Look, I'll talk to him okay? Just keep your distance for the night?"

Gabriel gave a curt nod and walked off. Cassiel crept closer to hear Fraciel as Lumiel reached him.

He had gotten a few middle of the road nobles around him. He seemed amiable and conformable speaking with them. Which in of itself was odd, his mother wasn't one for political schmoozing.

He beamed as Lumiel made his way over. Even blushing when Lumiel kissed his cheek.

"Can you get you anything my love?"

In that moment Cassiel knew his father was never going to reprimand his mother. Apparently, his mother could say whatever he wanted and not have any consequences.

"A glass of wine if you don't mind?"

Lumiel nodded and squeezed his shoulder before he slipped away again. Cassiel gritted his teeth, his father wasn't some lowly Wisp to jump when his mother snapped his fingers.

He crept out of his hiding place and went to find his father. He was surprised to find him in the hallway looking out at the grounds. Hadn't he gone to get wine?

"Papa, I wanted to -"

"What is troubling you Cassiel? Why shouldn't I show how much your mothers mean to me?"

He turned to look at Cassiel, his blue eyes solemn, waiting for his answer.