Broken Wings(Tech)(Mature?)

[Brandon (Tech)]

Brandon now knew what he had done wrong, he had spoken to Kelsie as though she were a child, and she had had far more than her share of that already, he knew that. "I know you would, those poor bastards would never have stood a chance" He joked along, but the smile turned alot more serious at what she said next "Thank you, and you have nothing to apologize. I was out of line, sorry" She was a brave girl, he saw the way she ought the pain, and that was he didn't adress it just yet. She lay him down ever so gently, but he got up soon afterwards, he didn't need to rest after Kelsie's healing.

"Don't apologize, sis" Jonathan grinned, hugging her back. "Yeah, this way, we get to beat up assholes AND we get some morning exercise" Core grinned. "Though I damned well wish they would make a better effort to be a challenge" "Yes, you would wouldn't you? I bet you'd say 'excuse me good gentlemen, but wouldyou have tthe common decensy not to be so easily defeated next time' " Demo joked back, and so the two of them had begun their first debate of the day.

"Shall I lead you, maiden of legendary beauty?" Brandon offered, taking Kelsie's outstretched hand as he spoke with his fake british accent. Then he changed back to american and put his other hand on her cheek, cupping it "Come here, let me have a look at that hand of yours" He said, taking her bruised hand in his own, trying to hurt her as little as possible. Then he let his own energy, already magnified by Kelsie's own, flow into hisprosthtics, through the purifiers and into Kelsie's hands. Brandon's form of healing was a lot less effective and sophisticated than Kelsie's was, where she actually recreated damaged tissue, he only empowered the body's cells with energy, quickening the body's natural healing. It was crude and inefficient, not leat when compared to Kelsie's form of healing, but it worked.

After her hand had healed Brandon leaned in and kissed Kelsie again, he just needed that. "Come, the table is this way" He whispered, leading her by her now healed hand. He lead her to her seat and sat down next to her again. Jonathna, however, wasn't in his seat. He was busy helpsing the bartende dumping the unconciouss thugs in an alley outside the building, dragging them across the floor. There had been a good few of them, but both Grobutz and not least Jonathan were exceptionally strong, so after 5-10 minutes he was back in his seat "If you think I'm giving you that egg, you little bacon burglar, you're sooo wrong" Jonathan teased, laughing. It felt good, he had cleared some stuff out of his system now

[Kelsie]

Kelsie chuckled at the joking between the guys she really loved her family. Kelsie couldn't have been happier that Brandon had brought her all the way out here to meet them they were all so nice and she felt so included immediatly. It was nice to be with them the way they watched out for her and the way they took care of her making her laugh and she was happy for the first time she was more happy than ever. She had a family and she had Brandon in her life she couldn't find anything else she could want more than that. After getting her hug from Jonathan and Ace she smiled softly and Brandon took her hand gently with a very fake accent she chuckled keeping her hand close to her chest.

He cupped her cheek and her eyes closed for a moment savoring the touch of his hand. He asked to see her hand and took it gently into his own she winced her pain sensors much more heightened than the average person. Tears rolled down her cheeks but she didn't care as she felt energy moving into her hand from him and her hand began to become moveable again the pain receding slowly back. She smiled and blushed as finally her fingers would bend again and the pain was more like just a dull nagging, the shadow of a bruise than the acutal pain it had been filled with moments before. He took her hand more firmly and led her to the table.

"Thank you, for taking care of my hand." she whispered softly as she took her seat and got her plate settled with more food. She smiled as she began to eat her egg and bacon with much gusto because it was good and she was hardly put off by the weird colors while Jonathan was gone she stole the rest of his bacon since he was too busy and it seemed awfully lonely on there with just her old egg to keep it company.

When he came back she giggled at Jonathan and placed some more bacon on his plate giving him a bright smile as she finished eating her meal. It was good and as she drank down the last of her juice she smiled. Everything was better now, everyone was okay and happy and no one was hurt. She closed her eyes while the rest ate and lay her head on Brandon's shoulder just letting herself relax in his arms and enjoying his scent that metalic and old spice scent that he had about him. He was so wonderful. She sighed wistfully holding his left hand with her left hand and letting her fingers play with the ring on his ring finger gently. She'd get a ring one day, perhaps when he was ready or whenever, she would wait, and be surprised when it happened.

"I love you." she whispered in his ear softly a wistful smile on her face. "I love all you guys." she said louder with the same smile Kelsie was truly happy.

[Brandon (Tech)]

"It was the least I could do for you" Brandon whispered back, kissing her cheek briefly, thanking God that it was unharmed as well as the rest of her. He couldn't bare th thought of her getting hurt, least of all when he was near. He sat down and resumed his breakfast, barely having begun earlier. Ace, after a few moments of gathering composure, cleared his throat, just a little nervous. "Listen Kel, your praying doesn't offend me, I just wasn't expecting it. Don't... don't hold back on your praying for my sake. In truth, prayers like yours are one of the best things I know, they're just so rare these days that I'm startled everytime I hear them" Ace had decided, know that they considred each other family, what he was. He hoped she would understand, and not shun him like nearly every other church patron he knew. But he would wait a bit, such a story was not one to be shared over breakfast.

Kelsie leaned against Brandon, who all but purred at her touch. "And I love you" Brandon whispred back, putting his arm around her in a loving hug, holding her tightly and savoring every bit of her. "And I'll never stop loving you, never" All the boys stopped eating when Kelsie told them that she loved them, they all felt the same for her, she was their sister, a part of their family, and they loved her. "We love you too, sis, you're part of teh family" "Even though you steal my food right under my nose, you're still my little sister, and woe befall those who would hurt you"

"Agreed, just try not to get yoursef kidnapped by any more biologically enhaced, highly trained and heavily armed soldiers with no sense of fear, pain or empathey again, ok? They're blood sticks like hell, and my clothes aren't just off the rack" "But those creeps before, next time you get us involved with them, at least make sure they pose enough challenge to be fun. I swear they were... OI, I GOT THAT GUY'S BLOOD ON MY SNEAKERS. Ok, now he's REALLY dead!" "Who knew death was measured in degrees? You never cease to amaze me, young brother, though you wouldn't happen to have the mathmatic formula on you? And I love you too Kelsie, like all the others. It's good to have you on board"

[Kelsie]

Kelsie listened to Ace's voice as he began to tell her that he didn't mind if she prayed at breakfast and she smiled softly. If he wasn't sitting so far away she would have hugged him she could tell from his voice that it wasn't something easy for him to say, that he was being more kind to her than say if it was someone else that was praying in his presence.

"You're right, no one really prays anymore, some do, before bed, but I like to think it's starting my day off right to pray before it gets started." she said softly. "I won't chase you around with my bible, it's huge because it's in braile and would most likely hurt." she grinned playfully.

"But.. I won't hide who I am, and I don't expect you to either, if you don't want to pray I won't ever force you to, I think that people that push their beleifs on others are idiots. There is no reason to do that, no reason at all." she said. "People have to make up their own minds in time and I'm not here to make it up for them. You have a good soul Ace, you don't have to worry about me." she confessed.

Brandon took her attention by putting his arm around her waist and holding her close. She nuzzled into him even more not wanting to move from his embrace while he ate his breakfast. All the boys began professing their love to her and she got more and more red before she thought her face was going to light up on fire, she wasn't used to such nice behavior such gentle treatment. But now she had a full band of brothers that she could love and take care of, she would become a great sister she promised herself that.

"Well if I'm your sister I want real names. I know Relic's, Brandon's, and Jonathans. But I want to know Ace's, Core's and Demo's because I think a family knows those kinds of things." she smiled laughing softly. "And since I don't have a nick name, I am probably going to end up calling you both, real and nicknames." she told them.

"My full name is Kelsie Marie Sky." she told them with a smile. "I was born in Oregon but I lived in New York for the last few years after my mom married and sent me away. She has two other children from her new husband. And I recently was called back, to Oregon for a visit I thought, anyway. But.."

Kelsie went silent having not really expected to go all the way into this but she couldn't stop now.

"They.. disowned me. So you are my family now and I need you all. And I'm going to take care of you, all of you." she smiled brightly trying to keep an up beat on everything.

[Brandon (Tech)]

(OOC: I'll finish this later)

Ace smiled at Kelsie's words, it was so rare to meet a person of true faith. Most turned that way to have an excuse for hunting those who were different, to manipulate or be manipulate or, most common of all, because it was the thing to be seen doing, beacuse it was something that made them look as thouhg they belived in the eyes of others. Even the priests these days weren't as faithful as they had been, and it tortured Ace."It's not that people don't pray, though it's that too. It's that most of them don't mean it, because they they pray out of tradition or hopes of getting something in return some day rather than truly have faith and it sickens me. You just caught me offguard with your true faith, 'is all. And I agree completely, one shouldn't hide who one is. As for the quality of my soul, you don't want to get into that discussion, take my word for it"

Brandon smiled when Kelsie nuzzled into him, he didn't know a better feeling. She felt so soft and warm, and he could feel her love there too. Nothing made him feel better. He gave her a slight squeeze, to let her know that he enjoyed it as much as she did. "Well, my name is Justin, Justin Lundegaard, and this here" He clamped his hand down on Core's shoulder, then remembered that Kelsie was blind and added "Core's name is Maximillian Brown" "...Who doesn't even get to introduce himself on his own" Core complained, but it was all part of the brother act the two kept on playing. They seemed to find it comfortable that way. "I'm sorry to hear about your parents, but judging by the choice they made, it sounds like they we'rent worthy of having you as one of their members anyway"

"I've been there too, it hurts, it hurts like your heart is dead and sometimes you just want to claw it from your ribs. But there is a tommorrow, and you seem to have seen that. We're here for you, even if those fucknuts can't see what a sweet girl they've thrown away we do. We'll help you any way we can, you just need to tell us" This was Core showing himself from his more mature side, one he rarely showed as he was usually caught up in acting immature, or at least that was what many thought. Even he didn't know for sure.

"In truth I have two names, one for my mortal shell and the other for my... more other self. I'm sure you've heard the later of those, and not in a good way" Ace sank a lump, even his kind got scared at these moments. He had found something so special, so very beautiful amongst these people, and he would hate to see it fade because of who he had been. But Kelsie, in contrast to far too many of her fellow believers, seemed to understand the principle of forgiving and understanding. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all, but there was only one way to know. "My first name, the name of my shell and the soul that once inhabited it, is Ronald, Ronald Clark. He taught me a lot, and legally I live by his name, as to the government he still lives"

"My real name is a name that I fear you'll dislike, as it has been used in many terrible connections throughout the ages, some of them even true. I am Asmodeus, a fallen cast from the lord's grace out of my own foolishness. I have committed crimes and treacheries that I... I'm sorry for the drama, it's just hard to think about" Ace sighed and rested his head on his palm, images from his past flickering through his consciousness. He remembered how he had felt when the lord for the first time lay his eyes on the humans, and he remembered what followed. It had been horrible, but he didn't want to think about it now, his past was over, it was gone. He would never get the chance to undo the atrocities he had committed.

"As for those imbeciles who denied you your birth right" Ace began, embracing the other subject. "They're are fools to have done that, but we'll do our best to be your new family, in any way we can. Ronald was never truly disowned, so I'm afraid I can't say I know how you feel the way Core can, but I'll do whatever it takes to make you feel at home" If you'll have me, He thought, but he didn't say it. It wasn't just Christians who turned they're backs on him when they found out who he was, and not even just the religious members of the worlds many religions, but everyone who had ever heard his name before did, and those who didn't wanted to make blood pacts with him, selling their souls in desperation so they could just feel like they were something in life. They had no idea how much they offered to surrender for how very little.

[Kelsie]

Kelsie smiled brightly as everyone began introducing themselves. Justin and Max. They were so sweet and nice to her Kelsie was so happy to have found a real family here, they might not be related by blood but they were closer than if they had been and kelsie wasn't about to let any of these wonderful sentiments go to waste. It was then that Ace began to speak and her face turned in his direction though her eyes stared just past him as he spoke and she listened. Her eyes did indeed grow wide when he told her who he really was. Cast down by God to hell because of the things he had done there, becoming jealous. She nodded softly and quickly said a silent prayer for his forgiveness.

Kelsie remained silent for a moment as she stood up and using Brandon's shoulder for balance she walked around the table until she got to Ace and moved sitting in the man's lap. She felt rather small there but it would get her point across better as she felt out his hand and ran her fingers over the callouses and the lines feeling out all the ridges and the rough spots. She felt his other hand too and smiled finding it ws the hand he fought with most and wrote with as well. Then turning her upper body she gently rose her fingers to his face and began to look at him, feeling his brow, nose, cheeks, lips, chin, jaw.. all of it even his hair, making her own picture of him in her mind and she smiled even brighter.

"I think, that no one evil.. or bad, could have a face like this. So kind, and look here.." she said touching the sides of his mouth were smile lines had creased his skin. "Evil people don't smile true smiles. You shouldn't carry such a burden on these shoulders." she said softly. She took his hand in hers again and ran her fingers over it.

"These are not the hands of the dark, they are the hands of the light, the hands that do good and honor those around them that deserve that honor. Do not think less of yourself for past transgressions, think of how, in the future you can make those up. Think about the good that one life of yours can do, it will be long and hard, but you can do it because your will is strong and you know what it's like to have fallen as low as you can go, but you've come back, and into the light. God is forgiving, and even if you do not believe in him any longer, or do not wish his forgiveness it is there, waiting for you to reach out your hand and take it. Never the less, lead a good life, and those around you will know you are good. Just like I, your voice alone told me but I wanted to show you, that I am not afraid, I love you, all of you. Be proud of what you have become, Asmodeus. For you have become an earth bound angel, helping those in life, find a purpose."

With that Kelsie rose, she turned and kissed both his cheek and his forehead before she moved away. She blushed softly as she sat back down by Brandon no longer hungry she just leaned against him silently, she had said a lot, and she hoped that Ace would understand what she meant and live his life the best he could.

[Brandon (Tech)]

Ace, being who he was, took the moment of silence as a bad sign. The twisted image that all of the religions gave of his kind was nearly always the same, they were described not only as the inventers, but also the very masters of sin and evil, this was not true. They had been among the first to fall into such depravity, but they were not its masters. Some of them had developed various ways of controlling sin, or manipulating those whom it infested. Ace, as he had discovered, had great power over the ways of gambling, and he had even found ways to use that in combat. One of the primary advantages of this was the deception involved, nobody anticipated the amount of damage about to be inflicted on them when he flicked a playing card in their direction.

But his eyes went wide when she got up, and they followed her all the way to she sat down. He closed his eyes and smiled when her fingers began painting her face in her mind. He listened as she spoke, and recognized the words from so many good people he had met throughout the ages. He knew most of it, but it was good to hear it from a true believer, not to mention a true and close friend, the sister and mother of their little family. He couldn't help but let his smile grow as she continued speaking, her words soothing his tortured soul into its deepest, most agonized corners. He knew it was true, but even then doubt still haunted him, along with the memories of what he had done.

"Thank you" He whispered as she got up from his lap and he felt her kisses on his cheeks. "I'm not here because it is God's will, she would rather have that I be happy than tormented, as she wishes for all of us. I'm not here because I await her forgiveness, it is my own. But I think you just cast me up another ten steps on the stairway. And, as I suspect you think differently, your prayers don't hurt me. True prayers, like yours, remind me and me brothers and sisters what we once were. I just wasn't expecting it, I wasn't prepared. But I'd love to hear some more in the future" He smiled, he was happy now. He remembered why he had chosen to flee to earth in the first place. It had awoken some part in him that he had thouhgt long dead.

Brandon, just like the others, had shared Ace's silence and just listened to Kelsie as she spoke. They had already been happy with Kelsie being in the family, and now they were even more so. They all knew what Ace was, and though it had scared them a bit at first they had quickly learned what he was really like. He was sweet and caring, as well as brigth and sharp and he had assumed the leading position of the gang, though there was no definite heirachy.

"That was well said" Brandon whispered to Kelsie when she came back, and he let his arm slip around her waist in a loving hug like before. "I think he needed someone to tell him that"

[Kelsie]

Kelsie smiled softly when Brandon slid his arm around her waist again. She nuzzled into his shoulder softly as he told her that he liked what she said and that Ace had really needed to hear it. Se smiled softly and ran her hand through his short hair and then down the metal parts of his cheek softly loving him so very much all of him not caring what had happened to him in the past she loved him so very much she never wanted to be without him and she wanted to stay in his loving arms forever. Most might be appalled that he was half metal but to Kelsie it was just something else of him to love more. She kissed his nose gently finding it with her fingers she kissed the bridge of it just like he always did to her. She was lost in her own little world with him not even thinking about the guys around them and if they minded.

"I'd like to go now. To whatever our day brings I want to go and have some fun. I"m through eating and I'm bored lets go somewhere and no one gets kidnapped this time, it's a rule and I'm putting my foot down." she chuckled as she nuzzled back into his neck softly wishing she could be in his lap again she loved being there completely connected with him and nothing seperating them. She kissed his neck softly twice and nuzzled even more inhaling his scents. He smelled like gunpowder and metal today but she didn't care underneath it all was his scent the one he had since she had first met him.

"so is everyone coming with us or is it just me and Brandon today?" she asked curiously as she waited for and answer her hand rubbed Brandon's thigh softly back and forth she really didn't care if they came or not but sometimes it was nice to be just them. Then again they were only visiting their family so they wouldn't be around forever so maybe it was best they did spend time together. Regardless she just wanted to go do something and actually make it home in one piece.

[Brandon (Tech)]

Brandon smiled at her little caresses, feeling her gentle love through the little touches. He looked into her eyes and smiled, he had already made his decision with the ring, he would give it to her when... when he had given her the greatest gift he could think of for her. Ace, despite being a refuge on earth, still h ad contácts out and about on the various planes, and one of them seemed to be the ideal candidate for this... ritual.

Brandon chuckled at her little joke, she seemed to have recovered from the shock rather quickly, and he couldn't help but feel that he had a part in that. "Yes, I agree. We should get going, there's still a lot to see and the SoG shouldn't try and show their faces for the next little while. We should all be safe" When she asked her question Brandon and Ace exchanged looks, and Brandon nodded. "I think I might just drop along too, not a lot of other things to do around here"

Most of the others agreed to go along, for the sake of company and just in case the SoG turned up again. But one of them didn't, the one they had all expected to go. More than a few pairs of eyes opened wide in surprise "I'm sorry" Jonathan said, obviously not happy with his situation. "But I can't go sis, I've, I've got to follow up on something. The only reason I came back yesterday was to tell you that I remember who I was now, and I have to act on that. I always felt that I was... older than most, but this blows my mind. But I'm not the only one of my kind here, my brothers are out there, spread across the world, and perhaps one of them can help me make sense of all this. They're my only lead"

"I thought you'd remebered" Ace smiled sadly "When you sadi that about the Emperor yesterday, I knew you had. He was a great man, and he probably still is, whereever he is. Sorry I didn't tell you before. But I wasn't sure that it was really you, and even if you were, witch you turned out to be, I had no idea what effect it would have had on your... darker side, the one thatI remembered. The one that I fought against"

"Yes, I remember you, we fought both with each other and against. Yuo served under my lord until he changed sides" Jonathan's voice was not angry, but after he had finished the sentence it took on a victorious and somewhat extatic tune. "I defeated you in the last war, before Mephistoles reduced me ash. You were one the bast fights I ever had, and I still have the scar to prove it" Jonathna's body was peculiar, it seemed to react with the spirits of those who injured it. When he had originally joined the gang his pale skin had marked by black scars of various size and origin, marks of battle, and he took great pride in them. They didn't even respond to healing energy.

"I'll be sure to keep you posted with my progress, and if you need my help, just call my cell. It may take me a while but I'll get here as fast as I can" Most of the boys around the table, everyone but Ace and Jonathan in fact, were not even trying to hide their confusion "Pardon me" Core began, resuming his little-brother role "But just WHAT THE...!" "I'll explain it later" Ace quickly interrupted, motioning for Jonathan to leave.

"Best of luck on your search my brother, and stay safe. Remember, not all of your brothers stayed loyal to the Shadow Emperor after his change of heart" "I haven't. Farewell brothers and sister, I won't forget you and I will drop by when I can"

Again, everybody but Jonathan Ace were shocked. Was Jonathan leaving, just like that? He was their brother, their family, he couldn't just leave like that. But the tears in his eyes and the sadness in his voice made them realize that this had not been an easy choice for him to make, and it also helped the final realisation dawn to them "Don't leave, we'll come with you" Core tried, caught between his two roles as parent and little brother, tears forming in his eyes

"No, you won't" Jonathan responded, stroking the head of his close friend. "You'd be giving up everything we've fought to create, maintain and strengthen, and I don't want that. When I come back I'll bring those of my brethren still faithful to our dark oath, those of my brthren who stood by our master's side to the end. They'll help us with our work, and we with theirs" He kept walking around the table, giving each of his brothers a hug goodbye. At last he reached Kelsie and Brandon "Thank you, thank you both" He bent down and embraced Kelsie, holding her close because he knew how much he was gonig to miss her "I'm happy I got to meet you" He whispered to her. "Thank you for giving me my past back. Take good care of Brandon and the others, they need you as much as you need them"