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Okay. So. I'm doing what's probably one of the sillier things I've yet done in my Gaian life. xd Well, maybe more like crazier, but anyway...
I'm questing for a rose corsage, but not because I want one to wear. I'd like one to use for the Fa'e autobuy, first of all assuming that I can get it done in anything resembling a decent amount of time, or before someone else snatches it up. I know the Lost Children event is going to happening sometime in the future, and I fully intend to try...but I know there's bound to be a lot of really, really good people trying. I'd prefer to get Mikhail that way, because I really like the background it would give him with his guardian, Stefan, but I know better than to assume that I'll be succesful. XD;
I know that either way I probably haven't got much a chance, but I think I'd kick myself for not trying to take them.
I'm not really asking for donations, because I don't expect them, but I'm not going to push away the help if someone wants to give it. And because I can't bring myself to just...take like that, I'll be giving something in return for whatever anyone gives me (kind of like Dusty did for her quest). ^^ I'll feel better that way :3.
And obviously, if this doesn't turn out, I'll give back whatever anyone gave. smile
_________________________
I have the funds, now I just need a corsage. &3 Thank you so much to everyone who's donated and encouraged me along the way. crying heart
And donations, so I can keep track of what I'd owe: heart
*Amy D - 10k
*Taejira - 50k
*[Midnight][Blaze] - 2k
*Baneful - CN scarf, Angelbow, Gwee, Sword of Aegis, 6k
*Athear_Vaeri - 4.5k
*Archnasa - Ancient Katana, 20k
*Auriga - 20k
*neokitsune - Nitemare collar, 7k
*pinkdog - 30k
*[ ipod ] - Gwee, 75k
*~Sinecura~ - sealed, 61k
*Rylerion - January '06, daisy bouquet
*Inside You I Was Reborn - demon horns ;__;
*Nuxaz - 100k
*Quicksilver the Archangel - 2x sealed, 30k
*Ronove - angelic mic, 2x sept 06, 2k
*Remove - elegant veil, CN scarf, coon tail, sunstaff, feb 06 x9, dec 05, nov 05 x2, , jan 06 x4, mar 06 x2, 106.6k
*Reborn (again! T-T) - NM HB, bear PJs, Dark Halo, Bammi hat, G-blade
*FullMetal_Dragon - 4k
*Crowfoot - 7k
*Artsywolven - 200k
*xx_Bullseye_xx - Feb 04, Sept 06
*TrinityCowgirl - 4.5k
*Camhren - angelic mic, gwee, 5k
*Beat Fu - June 06 x2, July 06
*Ecavi - 70k
Camhren - bammi hat
Ary Keeyara - april 06 x2, 20k
FallenMercury - jlly slippers, fox mink, spirited socks, sun staff, sept '06 x2
Lady Kitania - 20k, squidstuff
Iris_virus - seal slippers
Sirenz - July '04
Andrani - 10k
KasaiLoki - dark halo, phoenix circlet
Vashtya - angelic mic
*=present delivered
crying *loves all over*
Okay, since some people want to know, here's some of the stuff you might get if you donate~
siira
ferrus
tWG familiar
SoA familiar
regular SoA
an erras when tWG opens
[Everybody'll get something, I'm just...not setting values to it. XD;]
[Look out below for concept x3. And if you happen to notice something wrong with it/worrisome about it, hit meh with whatever it is.]
<center>Mikhail (Mik for short), based on the Archangel Uriel
['Mikhail' has no intentional relation to his past life - it's just the name Stefan gives him, and happens to be close to the name of a different archangel.]
Other names for Uriel include: Suriel, Phanuel, Sariel, Zerachiel, Sarakiel; Angel of Repentance, Angel of the Presence, Archangel of Fire, Archangel of Salvation, Prince of Lights, Angel of Vengeance, Angel of Thunder and Terror, Presider over Tartarus.
This is my absolute favorite depiction of Uriel, by Ruth Thompson.</center>
Appearance:
Mikhail is relatively tall, standing about 6' as a teen (having been one of the tallest of all the angels), and very well-muscled, though not to the point of looking like some 'musclebound brute.' His hair is red-orange and wavy, falling just past his shoulders with an almost metallic sheen. To begin with, his skin is relatively fair, tending towards pale (he's not out in the sun overmuch). Mikhail's eyes are a bright amethyst flecked with gold. Being an angel, he does of course have wings. These are quite large, as often seen in pictures of angels, the feathers crimson, orange and gold, as they are in the stained glass window of St John's Church in Warminster (picture). Overall, his appearance is one of masculine power and beauty (although he's not quite matured into it yet, of course).
The reason for his hair color, and also for the skin-color change that will hit him at some point (dark skin and red hair have both been associated with the Mark of Cain), relates back to the Cain and Abel story. Uriel posesses these features for his slaying of another favored of God, a unicorn. His red-orange hair color does, however, also serve the aesthetic purpose of reflecting his past name's meaning, "Flame/Light of God."
Under his left eye, in gold, are the Hebrew letters aleph, lamed, and daled (picture). Together, these form one of the 72 names of God, and according the the Kabbalah are a sort of mystical protection. Near the outside corner of his right eye is the letter zayin, 'sword' (picture), also in gold.
[In response to critique: I think metallic kind of makes me think a little bit of foil-type stuff, sometimes things like cars or what have you. I don't know. I think it was just the closest word I could get to what I wanted (which I do have an issue with now and then...I know what I want, just not what it is). I'll see if I can figure out what it is.
As for the skin color, when I wrote him he started out as dark-skinned, but then I decided it was something that would change when he hit Youth, as a result of his quest (one of the other Archangels will 'mark' him). Something for him to have to deal with and hate. (And yes, the gold is kind of sparkly.)
He's not out in the sun too much because his guardian is a dhampir and a vampire hunter. They just tend to be..up at night more than they are during the day. Also, when Mik is out, he's pretty well covered-up. Since he's grown up on Earth and needs a damn big coat to hide those wings...although that's not going to hide the bulge of them, so he doesn't look so great when he goes out.]
[More critique response: Alright, appearance. XD I'd actually forgotten that I'd put his eyes as being that way until a week or so ago, when I was like '...huh.' And I do have to admit that it's kind of embarassing. If he does have it, it would just be the kind of thing you don't notice 'til it catches the light, but either way it's not something I'll make a big deal out of, description-wise.
Having the extra character at the corner of his right eye looks good to me in my mind's eye, but it could be that I like shiny a little too much. I'm not really sure.]
As for what he might wear, hmm. I haven't thought about that much. No flowy angel robes, at any rate. Bare-chested, I think, with some sort of simple, calf-length 'manskirt' deal, cut so it would give him good freedom of movement. Maybe bracers on his wrists/forearms, or bands on his upper arms. Colors and such keeping with the color scheme he has going on. If I were to get him as one of the 'lost children,' his clothing would be simple and black. Trousers, a button-down shirt, and a bandana for his hair, which he'll keep pulled back. He also wear a thin silver cross on a silver chain (not necessarily out of true belief, but because he's a vampire hunter...or learning to be one, anyway). [Screw that, after doing some thinking about it, I'm not going to be avoidant like that. Although the vampire hunter bit hasn't changed, Mik will be Roman Catholic like his guardian. Right now, he's got no reason not to be and every reason to be; whether it will change as he learns about what he is and was, well...we'll see what happens.]
Note: All instances of Hebrew script are a particular form of Hebrew-Samaritan script, which I found here.
Personality:
At his core, Mik really does have a good heart, even if it's not always obvious. He's a person of relatively few words, and practically no sense of humor. He's also easily offended (and a prude, and a homophobe as well), and holds one hell of a grudge. He's neither quick to forgive nor quick to forget.
Rousing his anger is very easy, but once roused, it's left to seethe just beneath surface. He tries very hard to keep a rein on it and control himself, so when he's angry, he's quite likely to storm off and brood in private. When his temper does get the better of him, his first course of action is generally to yell--very, very loudly. Arguments where Mikhail is involved are rarely quiet, and as such don't often stay private, since he makes it so easy for anyone nearby to hear. Once he gets started, he won't back down of his own volition, even if things do escalate to the point of violence.
The angel has a very high opinion of himself, and he can often come off as downright arrogant. He's also incredibly self-righteous, hates to be wrong more than almost anything else, and can have a very narrow-minded view. Once he forms an opinion, getting him to change it is nearly impossible.
He also has something of an overactive conscience, and constantly frets over the things he's said and done. If he hurts someone who didn't deserve it, it'll be a long time before he's able to forgive himself for it, even if they've long since forgiven him themselves. His behaviour around those he's hurt can border on pathetic, as he scrapes and apologizes and generally makes himself out to be unworthy.
But as said, he really is good at heart. He'd do anything for those he loves, and possibly even consider it for those he doesn't. He's fiercely loyal to and protective of his friends, though at the same time can be apt to judge them a little too harshly.
[In response to critique: Okay, the deal with his possible switch to scraping and apologizing goes back to his being forsaken (or at least, he thought God had abandoned him), and he's absolutely terrified of being alone like that again. He's also desperate to be forgiven, afraid of falling out of favor (and then, consequently, being forgotten). And it would be just to people he holds very highly :3. This is not, however, if he thinks they deserve what happened/what he did. This is kind of like 'ohshitIdidn'tmeantobreakyourmother'svase.' If that makes sense. I might scrap it entirely or tone it down somehow, so that it's something less in-your-face.]
[I think what I mean by him having a good heart is that despite his faults, he's not actually a bad guy. Yeah, he can be an a*****e...but not really for the sake of being one. He's not going to knock some granny over the head and steal her purse. XD; He really would help her across the street.
He would be the sort to help people...well, some people. It would depend on whether or not he thought they deserved to be hurt (or struggle with homework or whatever XD) in the first place. If he knew nothing about them, he'd probably help; if he knew they were gay but hadn't come onto him, he might help (carefully and somewhat awkwardly)...same goes for anyone scantily-clad and 'dirty,' really. Now, if he had reasons beyond those to really dislike someone or think they deserved it, he'd leave their asses. It also depends on why they need help...if someone wearing next to nothing is bleeding on the floor, he wouldn't walk off just because they weren't dressed right. If they were asking for help on their homework, he wouldn't give it to them. So it really depends. A homeless puppy he would help. XD He wouldn't be cuddling it until it had a bath, though.
As for how he views people, it's another thing that just sort of depends. If he sees a chick walking around in skimpy clothes, that's Not Okay, and he'll start off not liking them (and quite possibly saying something about the way they dress). Anyone who dresses properly doesn't start out with that strike, but if he finds out they're spreading themselves around, the nicely-dressed bit isn't going to do them any good. If a guy looks or acts like maybe he's gay, he will do his best to avoid them at all costs. If a guy hits on him, he'll probably hit them or something.
The overly apologetic thing...obviously that's been giving me issues when it comes to working it out/explaining it. So at this point, either it's getting scrapped or it'll be left to come out in RP, where hopefully it would make sense in action, so to speak.]
Likes and Dislikes:
He hates water and has never learned how to swim, nor does he ever have any intention to. He also thinks pork products are disgusting and can't stand the taste of them.
Sex is bad, kthx. Sex is dirty. People who have sex with people they're not married to are dirty. Alcohol and drinkers are also pretty gross. (Consequently, his guardian classifies as dirty. He loves his guardian, because Stefan is his father and they love each other, but that doesn't keep Stefan from disgusting him sometimes.)
Women should not be scantily-clad/provocatively-dressed. That's dirty, too.
As for what he likes, let's see...he likes to sing (but no dirty lyrics! xP). He likes sunshine and light, and people with honor and dignity. Politeness is also key. He also likes fire, and storms give him a thrill.
[Umm...working on this.]
[The dislike of water goes back to the deal with the Flood, pretty much. It traumatized him, and it's something that's carried over into this life with nightmares of drowning, that kind of thing. The likes/dislikes section I just kind of slapped together, so I'll clarify that stuff :3.
Hobbies I'm definitely still working on x3. The singing was just an easy no-brainer to toss in, what with his being an angel and the praise-singing and all that. He's not going to be doing needlepoint, but I'll find some things that fit.]
Abilities, etc.:
Mikhail is practically a born warrior, hearkening back to his former life as an archangel. He's a skilled wrestler, though also quite capable with a sword (he prefers a short sword, accompanied by a small, round shield), but he's best by far with a longbow. Due to his growing up in Stefan's care, though, he'd also be very much acquainted with more modern weapons like guns.
[In response to critique: Alright, when it comes to the sorts of weaponry you'd see around early-ish Biblical times, if it was metal it would be bronze (we'll say around 2000 BC, give or take). Since it's his sword we're mainly concerned with here, the metal is obviously an issue. Now, I don't quite see the angels as having been restricted to using/having only what humans would have access to, so it makes me think of a kind of non-Earth material, or at least something more 'advanced' like steel. So, while allowing for the material difference, in basic design I'd be tempted to go for something that would resemble swords of that period; that would mean short (no more than about 30 inches) swords, which I understand to be about the limit of what bronze craftsmanship could achieve. In short, that gives Uriel/Mikhail a semi-period weapon, but with much greater strength and quality than a 'real' Bronze Age sword would have.
The longbow shouldn't be a problem, as there has been at least one example found that dated back to around 4000-3000 BC. I do have to admit I see Uriel's as something similar to the mediaeval longbow, in that it would have bene very powerful indeed. It was also very fast as far as projectile weapons went, had a long range, and required a great deal of skill to use. They ranged anywhere from 4 to 6 feet in length. I'd put Uriel's at 5, I think - still quite long, but maybe a little more managable than one with an extra foot.]
His eyesight is incredibly sharp, be it night or day or anything in between. He can also see things at a greater distance than most, very much an 'eagle eye.' This may branch off into some form of farsight, seeing what's going on somewhere else entirely.
[In response to critique: It's not so much that he sees everything, he just...sees really damn well? Whether it's twilight, midnight, or early afternoon. The reason for that and especially for his distance-sight is imply because Uriel is described as having a very keen eye. Naturally he sees a little bit farther than the average person, but anything more crosses from an ability into power, and therefore something that costs him. When it comes to power, I'd imagine that how far he sees depends on how much he's concentrating on it and also his stage/power level. If he does it for too long, tries too hard, or looks too far, it'll give him a headache (varying in intensity, of course, depending on just how far he went). When he's looking out at a distance, he won't see/notice things that are going on up close or near to him. Especially early on, he'll need to 'tune out' everything else to be able to concentrate hard enough to do this (as he goes through later stages and gets more practice, he might be able to, say...hear someone trying to talk to him). Because it's a power that requires intense concentration, it also a power he'll have pretty good control over, not one that's likely to happen by accident (but probably one he did initially discover by accident when he was squinting to try and see something in the distance).
This does make me think, though, that it mgiht be kind of fun to have him actually farsighted and need glasses or contacts. He'd undoubtedly wear contacts unless he didn't have a choice (lost them, whatever), because he wouldn't like the look of glasses. With contacts, the 'weakness' of his impaired eyesight wouldn't be as obvious to others.
The 'farsight' (the term itself is from a fantasy series I used to read, but not an intentional rip, just a case of grabbing the word that described what I wanted) I referred to would be the ability to see something that's going on somewhere else, at the same time but in a different place (say he's thinking really hard about someone, and suddenly he sees/has a vision of what they're doing). Again, I'm not sure if this will ever be a power of his, at the moment it's just an idea.]
As the 'Fire of God,' he'll also have some skill with the creation/manipulation of flame. (Edit to this: I talked to Neith a little bit, and to keep him somewhat distant form Kia power-wise, his power with fire will be to set flame to something he's physically holding - if he drops it/puts it dwn/lets go for whatever reason, it'll go out again...unless it was actually flammable in the first place and he really did catch it on fire). I'm pretty much going to drop the 'Angel of Thunder and Terror,' for the most part...but perhaps he'll be able to do something like amplify his voice beyond what's normal/natural for most people.
[In response to critique: His powers won't branch into the manipulation of existing fire, due to a certain discussion I had, although that was my original intention for him. It is likely, however, that he will have a high tolerance for heat. He could still get burned, but it would take prolonged exposure (so he might be able to walk through a fire if he were quick about it, but if he lingered there'd be some ouch).]
He also sings very well, although it's just a talent, not something with a power attached.
Possibility of seeing guilt in someone, maybe amplifying the feeling. Possibly much later and at much higher cost to him, seeing the actual wrongdoing? (Would be touch-based.)
History:
In his former life, Mikhail was the archangel Uriel. Prior to the Creation of Man, Uriel would have been among the two-thirds of the angel host that remained faithful to God, helping to throw Lucifer and his fellow traitors down from Heaven. Following this, he was set for a time to guard the gate of Hell, ensuring that it's inhabitants stayed where they'd been put.
There came a time, however, when Uriel was needed to take up the duty of guard elsewhere, and so he relinquished that post to accept another. After the expulsion of Adam and Eve, the fourth archangel became the guardian of Paradise. Eden had since been vacated not only by the first man and woman, but also by all the animals who had been their companions. Only the plants of the garden remained; unable, as it were, to uproot themselves and follow. The Garden remained a place of peace and beauty, but a quiet one, an empty one. Empty, that is, except for Uriel.
Uriel kept his post for countless years, happy to do as his Lord had bidden him, but with time he became lonely. He missed the Heaven in which he had dwelled with his friends and brothers, and their songs and friendly contests and feats of arms. He missed the light, too, that always shone there. Though the light of the sun shone on the earth, it was dim in comparison to the light in Heaven, and was daily replaced by the even fainter light of the moon.
His growing discontent did not go unnoticed by the Lord, who sought to relieve Uriel of his loneliness, at least for a little while. He would send His angel to complete other important tasks for Him, provided that a being could be found who would take Uriel's place as the protector of Eden while he was away. The sole volunteer for this was a unicorn, among the oldest of her kind, who was posessed not only of a want to help the poor angel, but also to walk in Paradise again.
As for Uriel, he was now free to carry for God a message to Noah. He was reunited for a time with his friend and fellow archangel Raphael, as both had business with the man who would be the future of his race. It was Uriel's task to warn Noah of the impending flood; Raphael's to instruct him in the building of the Ark. Noah duly warned of and prepared for the Great Flood that would sweep the land, Uriel's brief sojourn away from Eden came to an end. He returned, glad for his time away and in the company of one of his brothers-in-arms, but with a heavy heart, for he would be lonely once more.
But this time, at least, his loneliness would not be entire. For the unicorn, in accepting her chance to return to the Garden, had in turn given up her place on Noah's Ark. Uriel was no longer fated to wander Eden alone. The unicorn became his beloved friend, and they cherished each other all the more, for they were each the other's sole companion.
Also, very soon after Uriel's return to the Garden, he was forced for the first time to defend it from true danger, instead of from the petty mortals who every now and then came in search of it, and finding it, sought entrance. No provision had been made for Eden to protect from the Flood that was to devour the earth. As much for his dear unicorn as for the Garden itself, he protected Paradise from the terrible waters at great cost to himself.
He sacrificed not only his flaming sword, weapon of the archangels, but also exhausted all the power that there was to him. It was a sacrifice that, perhaps, touched even on his sanity.
Regardless, Eden was saved, and Uriel and the unicorn could live in content once more. Even the Paradise-seekers who had once troubled them were now gone, all those with knowledge of the Garden's location swept away in the Flood. But still, despite the companionship of the unicorn, Uriel began to long again for what he had lost, and also was curious as to what the world was like after the disaster that had threatened even Eden.
Again, God knew this, and every now and then would send Uriel on one errand or another, leaving the unicorn as sentinel until his return. It was on such divine missions that he answered the questions of the prophet Ezra, and wrestled Jacob on Peniel. And for awhile after he returned from these tasks, he was happy again, but always the loneliness returned, despite every effort on the unicorn's part.
At last, after many thousands of years spent in Paradise, an unshakable despair took hold of Uriel. Lonely beyond all imagining, feeling as though he'd been forgotten by his Lord and abandoned by his brethren, he resolved to put an end to his torments at last.
On a cloudy night, when the moon was new and the light of the world at its faintest, he came upon the unicorn as she slept in a darkened glade. Seeing no cure for his despair, he flung himself down onto the unicorn's wickedly sharp, spiraling horn. The white ivory pierced his heart, ending his loneliness and his life.
The unicorn woke, posessed by a fury the moment the the angel's blood began to run down her horn, pouring over her face and into her eyes. Blinded by blood and by unnatural rage, she flung Uriel's body from her horn and trampled it.
Not until morning came, and the rays of then sun fell on the unrecognizable, once-perfect face of Uriel did the rage lift enough for her to realize what had happened, and what she'd done. In the moment of that horrified realization, the unicorn laid down beside her beloved Uriel and died, unable to live with the taint his sin of suicide had left upon her.
And so, Uriel left his immortal life with three grave sins upon his soul: the first, to abandon the duty given him by God; the second, his suicide; the third, his tainting of a unicorn, the beast first named by Adam and most loved by the Lord.
Perhaps it can be said that there was a fourth sin.. For in all the world, only Uriel and the unicorn knew the secret of Eden. With their deaths, Paradise was lost, never again to be found.
Sources:
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=49&letter=U&search=uriel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uriel
http://www.paranormality.com/archangel.shtml
http://www.sarahsarchangels.com/archangels/uriel.html
The Book of Angels by Ruth Thompson, L.A. Williams, and Renae Taylor
 Meepfur · Tue Sep 12, 2006 @ 10:42pm · 4 Comments |
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