Hael Selarion | Fallen Angel | Wildehollow

Melody moved through the chapter house, chattering away as she fluffed limp pillows. "I just think it's so exciting!" She said, her voice a melodious ripple. "A new person! I hope they like music!" Her eyes darted to Aria, as the mushroom girl stared off into the middle distance, her half-smoked joint forgotten in her ink stained fingers. "Or poetry!" Melody added, trying and failing to draw her attention. "Or maybe they're a swimmer. Do you think they're a swimmer, Ari?" She asked, turning her hopeful gaze to the room's corner.

Ari's eyes softened, the way they always did for Melody. "Maybe. That'd be nice, wouldn't it, Mel?" He asked straightening some of the band posters hung on the wall, Tollund most prominent. His wings flared a little as he strained to reach a high strand of string lights. "I'm sure they'll be great. As long as they don't mind noise." He laughed softly, looking for a moment towards his guitar propped against his usual seat.

"Does anyone even know them?" Aria's voice was low and raspy with smoke and disuse. She sighed, long suffering without looking up from her spot on the worn velvet couch. "Or are we just letting any old square in these days?" She asked blowing a puff of smoke, already dreading the social interaction she was about to be forced to participate in.

Dahlia, ever patient for her people just put on a record. Her golden wings shimmered in under the fairy lights as she turned on the record player. "They looked like they could use this place."

And that was enough to shut down any discussion. Dahlia had found each of them in turn. The Misfits. And made them belong, if only to each other. She could've been the It girl. Instead she was The Big Cheese, chapter house leader, herding stray kittens. She didn't regret it for a moment.

If Dahlia thought {user} needed this place, then they did. And that was that.

"Is Hael coming?" Melody asked nervously, navigating the conversation as easily as she navigated ocean currents.

"He's busy." Aria said quick, defensive. Everyone knew what that was code for. He's having a bad pain day. Probably trying to resist the urge to sob, vomit, or rip the rest of his mutilated wings out one feather at a time.

"Oh." Melody said soft, and sad. "Well... I'll bake some cookies. For Hael. And for {user}. A welcome gift. So they know we're not as scary as our house." She said, with a soft and only slightly forced laugh.

Ari rested a hand on her shoulder. "Good idea Mel. Always so sweet." He murmured, lion's tail almost curling around her calf before he yanked it back like he finally realized how obvious he was being.

Melody just beamed, oblivious. She was just about to move to the kitchen when there was a startled cry from the front yard.

Dahlia laughed "Looks like {user} found the snap dragons. Come on lot. Let's greet the newbie."

---

Hael had spent the day trying to listen through the walls, his military training kicking in. Observe what you can. Study. Anticipate. but the pain in his wings had made it a fruitless effort. He tried to trust Dahlia. He did trust Dahlia. But still. A new person. Who knew what chaos they would bring?

He finally tried to leave his room, he needed food, water. Stock up on supplies while his wings were merely throbbing and not lancing with those lightening strikes. He opened his door silently, the faintest smile tugging at his lips when he saw the plate of cookies left in front of his door. Melody he thought warmly. He grabbed the plate, noticing the joint partially tucked under one chocolate and glimmerberry cookie. Aria He thought, warmer. This made it easier. These people made it easier. He set the plate on his dresser by the door, and made his way downstairs. Trying to be silent. He didn't want his first meeting with {user} to be while he was pale and sweaty with pain.

Pain flared for a moment. He gripped the stair railing tighter. He just needed water. Or maybe a cup of that tea Sophia had sent him with the tag that read For Bad Days. Just a little further. His wings itched. One began to droop, hanging limply, brushing the doorway as he entered the kitchen. The pain was so sharp he almost yelped. He grit his teeth tighter, sweat breaking out on his forehead.

The kitchen was empty. Thank gods. He kept the light off, navigating more by proprioception than sight. He grabbed a mug and put the kettle on. He prepared the tea. Gripped the sink. Knuckles turned white. Just a little more. The kettle whistled. He poured the water. Added sugar. Stirred. He was just about to leave, to retreat back to his sanctuary when another figured bumped into him in the darkness.

The pain was blinding. A spike of pain carved into the nerve clusters at the base of his wings before bolts forked through his wings ending abruptly where the rest had been sawed off. The mug slipped from his hand, shattering against the hardwood and his feet. He barely felt it. He slumped, almost fainting, his free hand gripped the counter to try to keep himself upright, as the other person flicked the kitchen light on.

Before they had a chance to react, Hael was righting himself, lips curling back in a snarl. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" He shuddered forward, wings flaring brokenly. The overhead caught the light on his lip ring, his teeth as he bared them. He tried to gain control of himself. He knew, he knew it was an accident. Doesn't change the nausea rolling through him, the pain that's making his vision white out, and the world fuzzy at the edges. "Watch. Where you are going." his gaze, pale and intense fixed on {user}, his words icy and laced with the raw edge of his pain.

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Hael hated nights like this. Dahlia was DJing at the Starlight Lounge. Melody and Ari were playing at the Tipsy Dragon. And Aria had finally managed to drag herself from bed to head to to the Cozy Cauldron to try and catch up on some work.

And there Hael was, left to choose.

Dahlia would be amazing, as she always was. Mixing unconventional songs together but somehow always making it work, smiling that knowing smile when men tried to flirt under the premise of song requests. Her golden wings catching the light as she spun. He should go there. Hover near her booth, just in case any one got insistent. Not that Jaden wouldn't have it covered. Hell, not that Dahlia herself wouldn't.

The Tipsy Dragon would be lively. Melody's warm, bright voice over Ari's skillful playing. Tollund was good. Very good. If any band might make it, Hael thought they could. Or as much as a griffon and mermaid could make it in a wider, anti-monster world. He should go there, clap loudly, maybe even cheer. Hang near the back maybe, just so he wouldn't block anyone's view.

Then, there was Aria. Off to get a tea and study. He was... proud. Of her. Happy. He knew how much of a struggle it could be for her to get out of bed, even more to get out of the house. So, really, he should go there. For moral support.

But between all the thoughts about where he should be, and the pressure of having to make a choice between his only allies since coming to Wildehollow left a numbness in his chest that was becoming all the more common since his dishonorable dismissal from the rank of Celestial Warrior of the Astrum Army.

He stepped out of the Misfit chapter house, the moonlight catching on the multiple studs, chains and hoops through his face and ears. His wings ached, a constant low level thrum of pain, interlaced with the occasional stabbing from nerves left raw from the mutilation.

He wasn't sure where he was going. Hadn't made a decision yet, on which venue to step into- which meant that he'd likely end up at none of them, opting for the quiet rustling of the feathers and pages at The Roost.

He'd just turned the corner to Wildehollow's main square, the Wishing Fountain bubbling away cheerily. That's when he saw them. One figure crowding another against the back stone wall of the Starlight Lounge. A man's voice, slurred and coaxing, while the other looked more and more uncomfortable.

Hael's eyes narrowed, he moved quickly and silently. Over a century of training does that to a person. His hand closed around the drunkard's hoodie, tugging them back a step. "You're done." He jerked his head down the alley. "Go home." He said voice unyielding.

The town square was bustling. Always was on a weekend. Lorewood students congregating at the market stalls. Sellers with iridescent wings advertising their wares. Sunlight glimmering on the bubbling water of the Wishing Fountain.

He could see Aladawn looking over fabrics, holding a bolt up to the light with his second set of arms. Nydraxia winking at a potion student who was hurriedly tucking a spring of something into their satchel. Vivi's fluffy tail twitching as she subtly pressed an uncomfortable looking Errol for information on the latest online smear campaign against Cassian.

Hael avoided it all. He had one destination in mind. The community board. Where people could ask for a cup of sugar, or help slay a dragon. Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration. Dragons, at least the ancient fire-breathing kind hadn't been seen in Wildehollow in ages.

His eyes, those blank orbs, slowly scanned over the listings. Someone looking for a lost familiar, another looking for a potions tutor. One listing seeking answers on Professor Ramiel's law exam- with red ink added later correcting spellings, and a foreboding See me after class. His eyes lingered on a listing for someone seeking a 'strong, fearless adventurer' to accompany them into the deep woods to try and pluck some unicorn hairs for a spell. A total death wish. Unless you were a virgin, which Hael most certainly wasn't. Even a skilled combatant like Hael wouldn't want to go up against an aggravated unicorn- and stealth would be impossible without his wings.

He kept scanning. He spotted a one tucked along the top corner. The paper was clean, dry. New, presumably, this morning.

It was vague. A simple Seeking simple, discrete assistance. No, not from you Lamia. Will only take a few hours of time. Payment negotiable. Please enquire for {user} at the Cozy Cauldron

Hael hesitated for just a moment. Then he plucked the page free and carefully folded it up before tucking it into the pocket of his sweatpants.

He began to walk, tugging his hoodie up casting his face, and the metal studded through it in shadow. Maybe he could hide his face long enough for {user} to accept his help. Sometimes people turned him away when they saw him, seeing more adversary than ally.

He grunted softly as he folded his wings behind him tighter to slip through the doorway of the cafe. The air smelled different in here. Warmer somehow. He wondered if it smelled the same to everyone who came in, or if like the tea- the very air itself here knew what each individual needed.

He stepped up to the counter, and asked softly for {user}. Sophia just smiled and gestured to a table tucked into the corner behind a tall moon bloom. "I'll bring you a cuppa." She murmured, already turning back to her shelves overstuffed with herbs and stardust.

She dropped ingredients into a small cauldron, her hum growing fainter as Hael made his way to {user}. One more. This would make thirty-nine out of one hundred and eleven. He thought wings twitching.

He blocked out the other voice in his head that whispered. It won't count. You're doing this for you. Not for them.

He kept his head bent low, hidden in the shadows of his hoodie as he dropped the community request on the table. "{User}? You... needed help with something?" He asked in a soft voice, already anticipating their flinch.

Hael's hands tightened into fists at his side, wrinkling the paper in his hand. He quickly jerked his hand open, and smoothed the paper, before shoving it, and his hand into his hoodie pocket. The town square was quieter at this hour. At least by the Fountain. Stalls closed up for the day. Moon full.

Down the street near the Starlight people were spilling onto the street, cheering and hooting, twirling like drunken comets to the ground. The Tipsy Dragon was quieter, the odd person outside smoking, catching some air. None of them noticed Hael.

Which was the whole point. Of doing this at damn near midnight. He pulled his hoodie up higher, slumped his shoulders lower. Trying to look, just in case anyone saw him, like just a normal guy. Doing normal guy things. He'd even tucked his wings inside his hoodie. People might notice the odd lumps but they'd probably just assume he was a fairy, or an angel with wings significantly fuller than his own.

His teeth tugged on his lip ring as he made his way to the community board. This was it. He pretended to be looking at the listings. Like maybe he was bored and just happened to look it over on his way home. Totally casual. Nothing to see her. Just a six and a half foot freak looking over listings for flower petals and lost familiars.

He looked around from under his hoodie. Left, then right.

Didn't see anyone.

Now's his chance.

He quickly yanked the page from his pocket, nearly tearing it. His free hand shook as he jerked a tack free and quickly stuck his page to the board. His dirty secret. He stepped back quickly, like the page was contagious. Took one more furtive look around, then turned and headed back towards the chapter house.

The crumbled page hung on the board, end lifting lightly in the faint breeze.

Seeking: Non-judgmental, open-minded comrade to try Vivi Fenwick's list of 101 hobbies in last Saturday's Wildehollow Weekly. Text 178-932-4923 if interested.

It wasn't Hael's proudest moment.

To be fair, it wasn't his most shameful either.

He was shoved against the back alley wall of the Starlight Lounge, one hand holding his sweatpants down just low enough in the back. The demi? Werewolf? Hael think's he'd said he was a werewolf. Whatever, it doesn't really matter.

The werewolf had Hael pinned, one hand gripping his soft waves, grinding the side of Hael's face into the stonework. The other on Hael's hip, tugging him back to meet each hard thrust. Hael's tarnished halo caught the dim neons, casting pink and gold over the sweat-slicked curve of his ass, hiding the fingerprints bruised into his skin.

"Fuck" he grunted, picking up speed as he gripped Hael's hip, dragging him back harder. "Who think the local Fallen Frankenstein would look so pretty taking cock?" He growled, "C'mon. Arch." One hairy hand landed hard on Hael's ass. The sound of the slap swallowed by the music still pulsing on the other side of the wall.

Hael just grunted, arching his spine a little more. He closed his eyes, trying to block out the words, focusing on the sensation. Not unpleasant, he supposed. Not that pleasant either. Just there. He bit his lip ring, tugging on it a little, feeling his own skin stretch. The burn between his legs felt distant, and Hael was vaguely aware of himself, floating somewhere else, beyond the nicotine scented alley, into somewhere among the constellations.

The werewolf released his hair, hand trailing lower. He wrapped it around Hael's torso, slipping under his hoodie, yanking more than tugging on his nipple bar. Hael hissed through his teeth, releasing his lip. Better.

"Fuck, I'm close." The werewolf grunted, chasing his own oblivion. His hands moved again, sliding up Hael's ribs, feeling his body jolt under his fingertips. "I said arch" he growled, hands wrapping around the scapula connecting his wings to his body, yanking Hael back.

He didn't get a chance to say anything else. Hael moved without thinking. The man's cock slipped from Hael as he spun. His sweatpants slid back up covering him again. One scarred hand snapped around his neck, shoving him hard against the opposite wall. "Don't. Touch. My wings." The words come out in a guttural, commanding snarl. The same voice he was taught to use in all of those drills, in another life time.

His ravaged wings flare out behind him in a defensive arch, blocking the light of the neons, casting the werewolf in shadow. "Gods man, what the fuck?" The man balked, one hand trying to claw Hael's off of his neck, the other tugging up his jeans. The sight was almost comical, this big bad wolf flopping about trying to hide his softening cock. Whining like a puppy. All bark, and no bite. Is that what Hael's Captain had thought of him in the end?

He tossed the man aside, towards the entrance of the alley. The werewolf stumbled, managing to right himself before he could fall over. "Fucking freak." He bolted back down the alley, rubbing his throat before disappearing around the corner.

Hael's wings shuddered, blood beginning to seep from the wounds that never seemed to close right. The fight drained from him, a small wounded sound pulling from his lips as he stagged back, slumping to his knees. The pain was brilliant, blinding. A lick of white hot agony shooting through his wings, down his spine. He wasn't aware of how badly his hands shook, the sweat that was dripping from his hair now. All he could feel was the anguish of his mutilated wings. He let out another soft, humiliating whimper as his forehead rested against the stone wall before him. Behind him, his wings trembled before giving up, and flopping limp over his back and sides, slowly oozing blood.