So very many descending on the City yet again.
I have seen this before, when the gates open.
And we are inundated.

And then we are abandoned again.

And so many who seem excited to be here.
Unlike those of us who are trapped here.

Strange.

And yet, familiar.

Welcome to the City, all the same.

I sense him.
He is here.
It is unmistakable.

He is here.
He must be here.

Lord Rosiel.

[ooc: Ladies and gentlemen, this is likely to be Katan's last performance. So 4th Wall him, attack him, bother him, question him, tell him how his story ends, whatever you'd like. It pains me to do it, but I will probably be dropping him after 4th Wall Day is over. I've not made activity and I'm not doing much with him, so perhaps it would be best if he went back. Perhaps Rosiel will collect him today. ♥ I'll make a formal poly_tldr post after the curse and after I've made up my mind.]

Lord Rosiel.

You have returned.

Do you believe in heaven?

I'm glad that I could finally meet someone like you.

Now I no longer need to sacrifice any more poor lambs.

You revere holy things from the bottom of your heart and hold a power in that small body like Pandora's Box.

You are special. Someone who was chosen.

To give you this...

All for him...

The one that illuminated the most heaven, received all heavenly love and stood at the highest, until he was sealed away in darkness, in the earth.

For Rosiel.

With your help, he will be able to awaken again.

[ooc: Sob. Yes, I went there. Action post if you want. He's out on the square, dressed like a human, hiding his wings and, yes, handing out copies of the "Angel Sanctuary" game. Note, though, that these are curse-made copies and do nothing. This is my bid to revive my Katan muse too...]

Ms. Sutcliff?
I realized that I don't have a girl I like.
To be my muse, I mean.

But I still wrote a poem.
This is about a person I met a long time ago.
It doesn't rhyme.
But some of the poems we read this year didn't rhyme either.

I hope this will be all right, sir. Ma'am.

BRIGHT LIGHT
There was a brightness and a wideness at first and,
As they say, "Let there be light" and there was light.
I saw light, then.
I saw you, then.
And you saw me.

With light comes shadows.
Patience and force, I would come to see it better.
Brute beauty and valour and act, oh, air, pride, plume, here
Buckle! And the fire that breaks from thee then, a billion
Times told lovelier, more dangerous, O my chevalier!

The sharp snap in punishment, of secrets revealed,
Punished for that.
Then rewarded, secrets in secret.

It was always brightness and clarity.
Like looking down into clear water.
I'd never seen clear water before.
Like looking up into a clear sky.
I'd never seen a clear sky before.

"This is the pain of the body," you said.
That was when I learned what pain was.
That was when I learned what love was.

[ooc: Katan is a student at Cutlers Grammar School and has been aged down for the curse. And Grell demanded that he write a poem about a girl he likes. ... So he wrote a poem about Rosiel. Cough cough. Also, yes, I did rip off Hopkins for a line or two. Bad poets imitate, good poets steal, all right? ;3;]

Did it hurt--?

...

What?

[ooc: Oh come on. Like you didn't see it coming. Someone is a bit bothered by all the "Did it hurt when you fell from heaven" and "I didn't know angels could fly so low" comments. Get him. Katan is having a really, really bad month.]

|| [Voice Post] ||
((Click.))
((The sound of wind, footsteps in snow. A voice, male, but with female intonations and inflections...))

It's cruel of her.
Too cruel of her, the way she keeps me locked away.

I know these matters are complex.
But I can understand them.
I'm old enough know. I know well enough.

My questions aren't answered...
There are secrets and lies...

...

Ah... It's so cold...

She keeps me locked away.
Hidden, lied about, disguised.
It isn't for shame.
It's for her own purposes.

And now, I've made my escape.

... ... ...

But I'm as soon lost as I'm free.

...

I know what I am.
And I shall not behave as anything less.

... ... ...
((Shuffle, shuffle, hand in a pocket or pouch or purse. Oh, hey, the network device is turned on...))

Ah--!
What's this--?

If she heard me--
((Click))
|| [//voice post ends] ||

[ooc: This is how we do crack. Katan is a boy who's been raised as a girl by his more-than-half-mad father, Rosiel. He's been taken into the care of his Aunt Alexiel now, who's fairly cruel to him. You see, being a princess, if he marries, he becomes the Queen of Heaven. And he's going to fall in love, of course. ... AND, YES, HE'S WEARING THE OBLIGATORY BODICE. Just watch. You'll see it. ... /)_x;;]

A year now.
By human reckoning.

More than a year.

And how much of that without him?
How much of that here?
Trapped, idle, here?

I hadn't noticed.
The days pass by.

I remember my arrival.
And now a year since then.

And what of what I left?
No change there.

Nothing.

Arrivals, departures.
What is my place anymore?
What is my purpose?

A year.
More than a year.

[ooc: Yes, it's true! Conversations with Allen made him realize, oh snap, he's been here a year. BRB, angelic emo.]

If a father "fathers" a child--
If a father has a hand in the creation of a child--
Then Lord Rosiel is my father.

Yes.
I am Lord Rosiel's "child."

Everyone who called him mad.
Everyone who saw only his whims.
Everyone who saw only his bloodlust.

You saw none of him.
The golden light of him.
You understood nothing.

I saw what he was ages ago.
Everything he was capable of.

Yes.
Lord Rosiel is my father.

[ooc: Go canon. ._.v Also, am off to class now, so I will tag just as soon as I get back, I promise!]

All of it gone.
Wings, senses, aura.
None of it.

Even that sense.

The same shape the one he gave me, but changed.
Completely.
Is it the same?
It is the same.

I wore this as a disguise once, as a "wolf in sheep's clothing."
That time before.

But that was a disguise.
And this, this is entirely different.

So this is how it feels to be a human.

Weakness, fragility. Humanity.

Mm.
Just a curse.

[ooc: Switched with Rosella today~ He's just a human, being a human, walking around, seeing things with human eyes. He can't sense auras and things, sounds and sights aren't as sharp, he's got no power, but he actually cares about humans, so this is kind of interesting to him--maybe a little, I dunno, moving? Also, Setsuna's taking him to the zoo today XD He'll so go. I am posting this right before I have to go to the eye doctor, so tags may be late or slow. Sorry ;.; I just really wanted to post with human!Katan.]

[Voice Post]
((Click.))
((Shuffling, dragging, heavy boots and the stride of the wounded soldier.))

A carousel--?

((Breathing as though conscious of breath and need therefore.))

This...

This is not the Tower.
No, this isn't Heaven at all...or Assiah...or Hell...

None.

... ... ...

Impossible.

((A long pause.))

He is not here.

I cannot stay here.

((The footsteps proceed; wingbeats, weak.))
((Click.))
[//Voice Post Ends]

[ooc: Because the City and I are sadistic, Katan has been mentally sent back to his arrival--about a year ago. Huh. Anyway, when he arrived, he crashed out of the sky (this is canon). As such, today, he's totally crazy and thinks he's all beaten up and bloody from the fights and the crash. He isn't. He's fine. But the City and his mind make him think that he's hurting after falling through the roof of the Tower and he's hauled himself to the square. Really, who doesn't love crazy Katan? He's totally ate up with crazy already, so what's a little more?]

Ah--!
This place.
Yet again.

I don't understand how I keep coming here.
Or why I'm being sent here.

No reason for it.
And no way to it.

Neither Assiah, nor Heaven, nor anywhere else.

And he's not here.
Not anywhere at all.

So, that means...

This ended without incident before.
I will wait.
I should neither panic nor cause more trouble for anyone searching or me.
Either I will be found or I will find a way back.

It can't possibly be a test of some kind.
Or a joke.

... ... ...

There were...some others I met here before, though.
Are they still here?
Are they all right?

[ooc: Short Katan is actually short. Imagine. And in shorts. D'aww. Be nice to the angelic!military school shota ;.; He does remember being here before.]

No.
It is not right.

The ticking is silent.
It is like before.
But unlike it.

Time--no.

It cannot be the End.

But the ticking is silent.

...

I will keep watch.

[ooc: Do I fail with posting with this guy or what? And here we are at almost a year with him. ;3; Needs moar woobie cherub.]

So many people.
Yet again.

I have seen this before.
The floodgates open.
We are inundated.

And then we are left again.

Those who have requested audience with him:
Lord Rosiel is not in the City.

I have been dispatched here.
And will answer in his stead.

There are so many.
So many, and so excited.
Excited at being here.

Strange.

The City is not the safest place.
Exercise caution in your excitement.

Welcome to the City.

I sense him.
He is here.
It is unmistakable.

He is here.

[ooc: Hit him. Hit him hard. 4th wall is gone. Smacking Katan is like saying hello.]

Lucifer:

This is not heaven.
Or hell.

This is the City.
Here, you have shared a roof with me, aplace.
You collected me when I was injured.

I cannot call you enemy.
Not here.

And I am glad you have Alexiel.

I understood long ago--
Alexiel showed me--

We are parallel.

Setsuna has gone.
And Lil too.

Mm.
The rooms are quiet without them.

I hope they are content.
Wherever they are.

So many gone.

[ooc: Yeah. I went there. |D They aren't really enemies in-game, like at each other's throats, but Luce is still The Enemy of Heaven in Katan's mind. (Katan doesn't really have any enemies at all in-game...hmm...) This might stick hereafter too... IDK, Lucifer-mun: feel free to mock, ignore, whatever, as you choose~]

This again.

How familiar.
This is the third time.

The great variety in the City.
On the Network.
Beasts and birds.

The City is strange when seen through these eyes.
Hear through these ears.

That the form he gave me can be changed.
Three times.
Changed.
So easily.

Mm.
I am going out.

[ooc: Oh shi- it's a lion, &c. &c. Yes, lion!Katan is back yet again. Firehouse? U cans has lion. :3 If you'd like to encounter him in the streets or the park, just start an action thread ♥ Otherwise, all replies are voiced.]

The final part.

As before:

Lord Rosiel has left the City.

Any who were yet under his bond are released from it.
If you can be released.
Debts are forgiven on all sides.
Requests are hereby withdrawn.
Projects are abandoned.

However.
I make no promises should he return.
With his memory intact.

That is all.

Again and again and again.
He arrives and he leaves.
And I am still here.

He thought this was Sandalphon's dream.
If he returns to that time--

Alexiel, Setsuna.
You have sensed it already.

I must get out.

[ooc: Formal announcement, I think. Firehouse residents? There seems to be a stoically mourning cherub somewhere near your front door. He didn't go to the beach this time lolwut?]

It was necessary.

The necessity of sacrifice.
To its ends.

Guilt, yes.
In that it was done.
In that I did it.

Damnation, perhaps.

But it was not in vain.
Will not be.

Sacrifices.

Mine.
Theirs.

But the taste of it.

Tiariel. I promised you.

...

I can touch nothing.
Not like this.

I am far from unique today.

[ooc: Somebody's rather bloody today, Distinctly butcher-like. It's rather unpleasant to have it all over one's mouth too. ...I wonder if angel blood sparkles or anything...]

M

I know what it means.

[ooc: Guess. If people knew what this guy's done in his long life...]

Setsuna.
My thanks.

I am going out again.

I will return.

There is no need to fetch me.

[ooc: At loose ends, chilling on rooftops and looking around. A different perspective for him, in a funny sort of way, since he's not doing it as a "spy". Feel free to see him, feel free to action-spam if you want to talk to him.]

There is a sense of a storm building.

...

Yes.
Very like a gathering storm.

Strange.
But not an impediment.

[ooc: Katan's "shit's about to get real" senses are tingling. Something feels weird. Alexiel's up to something. Lucifer's calling Rosiel "Lord". Not to mention people who, in cursed states, look something like him. He doesn't know what's up, but something's up. And Rosiel's still crazy, but that's normal. Actually, he'll probably whack on Katan for stating the obvious...again. ♥?]