Of Ruffles and Roses~Dan Lee~

[URIEL ELDRICH]

Uriel lay on the sand. He didn’t move, not even when the surf playfully pounced on him. He just lay there, thinking, and blocking out the two voices in his head. Grit and salt covered his clothes and eyelashes and tangled his hair. He had absolutely no idea why he was letting his true personality come out, or for that matter why he was laying on the beach with absolutely no reasoning. He also had absolutely no idea why he was wearing ruffles. Actually, he was just wearing one ruffled clothing object-a vest worn over top of a tight black button down. However, the voices in his head were attempting to tease him about it. He liked ruffles, so what? It didn’t change who he was, he was just a guy who liked ruffles. He dressed a bit androgynously, it was his ‘style.’
That is so gay, Devil broke through the barrier Uriel was attempting to throw up in his mental praise for ruffles.
I… I think I get it now. Angel followed.
Get what?
Well, we were talking about how we all had different types yesterday, remember? Well what if Uri’s type are guys and that’s why we couldn’t figure it out? Uriel started ignoring his other personalities at this point and let his mind wander again. It went back, it usually did. It went all the way back to the Cult Days as he’d christened them. Mostly lingering on faces; Dan, Dan’s father, and even further back to Uriel’s own parents, or rather mother and stepfather. His half-siblings’ faces formed in his mind, though they shivered around the edges as if he couldn’t remember them quite as well as the others.
Uriel wouldn’t admit it, but he missed the cult most of all. Everyone had been more friendly then, than here or at home. How he wished he could have gone back. Uriel tried to shake this from his mind, attempting to find a Bible verse he had memorized. The first that came to mind was the first in the ‘Romans’ series.
"Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service," the ashen blonde boy muttered aloud. What the hell did that even mean? They were trying to change an entire culture from their religion, attempting to do the impossible. Stupid Christians. Wait, was he a Christian? Ahh, whatever, it didn’t matter. The boy rolled over to face the ocean, waiting for the waves to carry him away. Or at least, waiting for someone who would entertain him enough to pull him out of this slump.

[DAN LEE]

A dark brown haired boy walked towards the beach, he was not in the mood to deal with anyone right now, well except for one person, and he had his heart set on finding this person. Even though that voice in the back of head was telling him that he was worthless and didn't matter and that was why 'he...' had left. He never gave the boy who ran after he had told him how he felt a name, well sometimes he did...but today was not one of those sometimes.

He was dressed in a pair of black pants, and a white shirt was tucked into his pants, which of course showed of the scars on his back, but that wasn't what Dan was caring about, he liked the feeling of the slight breeze, and the water that was brought with it. Dan was comtemplating cutting his hair because it was getting to long, and it was kinda getting annoying.

"Why did I even come out here?" He whispered to himself as he moved closer to the beach seeing someone laying on the sand. At first he was a bit wary about approaching whoever was laying on the sand. He had not liked having contact with people since what had happened awhile ago, but he had to get that out of his head, so he walked forward highly unaware of what would be waiting for him there. The way he walked revealed nothing,even though under the surface he was going through quite a lot of tension. He had to rethink how he felt towards people, and that was not getting very easy. He wanted the truth from what had happened with Uriel and he wanted to know now, or it was going to drive him insane forever, if he even lived that long. People like him seemed to have a habit of getting themselves killed at a young age.

"Well I didn't quite expect to find someone out here...." he stood leaning against a rock that was a certain distance away from the water, but close enough for him to feel the cool water, but also be able to hear Uriel if he spoke. He already knew that this was going to be difficult, but he might as well try to have a conversation, because just maybe this could save them both, and also what he had be working with in the very beginning. He still felt really close to Uriel after all these years, if you could call them that.

[URIEL ELDRICH]

Uriel shot up, whipping to face the old friend.
"Dan! What are you doing here? Why are you here?" The ashen blonde boy attempted to shake the sand from his clothing, mostly from the white ruffle vest because it would stain easiest. Then he blushed deep crimson, realizing that he must look ridiculous. Oh, how he did not wish to make a bad impression on the long lost friend. The tiniest smile twitched across his lips, he had decided it wouldn't matter what he was wearing as long as he could make up for that badly worded rejection in the form of running away.
Who's the guy? An ex-boyfriend? Devil taunted.
Just an old friend, don't worry, you guys wouldn't know about him. You were born after I... after I left. Uriel responded mentally.
So you are gay. Angel.
Oh shut up, you homophobe.

[DAN LEE]

Dan turned to face him, not letting any of his emotions show through his eyes. "Well I was picked up you could say...or well something happened and I managed to find my way here somehow..." He didn't really know what to think at this point, this boy seemed to be a bit flustered, and it seemed like something was going on that he couldn't see and yet part of him wondered what it was. "so what has been up with you? You kinda up and left, and everyone was so worried about you..." he left out the rest of what had happened after Uriel had left.

After all that was probably another stress Uriel didn't really need right now, at least with how Uriel's face looked right now. He wanted to say so many things to her but he could barely think about it, because of what turmoil he felt coming of a Uriel, but he didnt' know if it was just his imagination. 'I wonder what he has been doing...he's seems a bit different...' He thought, then looked over him again.'Okay make that a lot different...' He was so confused and he wanted just to get mad at Uriel, but with how his heart felt he couldn't do that.

He wanted to move closer to him, but right now he figured that wasn't a good idea.

[URIEL ELDRICH]

"I was such a coward. I'm sorry. Really, I was just confused. It was for my benefit not yours-I was being selfish. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't even be talking to you right now." Uriel blushed deeper if possible.
Oh, look, he's turning red. Angel commented to Devil.
He's gay, definitely gay.
Didn't he tell us not to say that?
Since when do we do what he tells us to do?
Uriel ignored them, he didn't want to deal with them today. He only wanted to pay attention to the old... friend. The ashen haired boy stepped toward Dan, wincing at the cold expression he was getting from the old... friend. Yes, Dan was still a friend. If he kept on telling himself that, it would be true. A warm smile crossed Uriel's lips, as he tried to break the ice.

[DAN LEE]

"Everyone has moments where they are cowards, but its what you do about it that changes everything..." He didnt' even flinch when he heard him say that he shouldn't even be talking to him, but it had hurt, but that was nothing and he had finally thought about what he was doing here, and part of him knew there was only one reason why he was here, and that was standing right in front of him.

"then again why are you here? I mean i didn't think you would actually run off here...or did you just end up here?" It wasn't that Dan hated him, it was just that Dan was having a hard time with things and this was one of those things he was having a hard time with. He had never been taught how to deal with rejection, so he never expected to get it, and since this time it had come from Uriel, it hurt him a lot more than he had thought it would.

Deep inside of Dan was the side of him that he had locked away when he had been rejected,but still he was struggling it, because that was who he was, and plus the way he acted and the way he dressed made him not seem like he was actually gay, but yea deep down he was and there nothing he could do about it, because he liked being who he really was, even if it didn't always work out the way he had planned, the only one that ever messed him up was something he never wanted to talk about again.

[URIEL ELDRICH]

"I dealt with my cowardice selfishly, and I do apologize. I didn't mean to... I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just surprised, I have absolutely nothing against you." Uriel again attempted a smile, this time it fell into the ruins of a grimace. He couldn't think of any way to make them seem closer again, make it seem like he still wanted to be closer.

"I... you could say a little bird told me... or showed me, the way here. Hey, Shiroi, come on out." Uriel smiled truly, as the sword sheath at his feat sprang to life, and emitted the transforming white dove. For once, Angel and Devil didn't speak up. So, for lack of a better way to make up for what Uriel believed to be a fight they'd had, the smaller boy stepped forward and hugged Dan. "I missed you," Uriel whispered, "I thought you would hate me or something...I'm sorry."

[DAN LEE]

Dan was shocked somewhat by what he had heard come out of the boys mouth, but then again this was what he was looking for right, so why did it make him feel so wierd....he couldn't understand why he felt like something was different, and not just the way that someone has changed over the time you haven't seen, he meant that something was really different, and couldn't tell whether it was good or bad. But he wasn't going to let anyone see that, much less let it seem like it was really getting to him. "Well at least you can acknowledge that, not many can, they just let the others suffer for there mistakes..." he was happy that he had found Uriel after all these years, or whatever and that he was also still alive.

But he was still slightly irritated with him, not just becuase he felt hurt, but because Uriel could have gotten himself killed running around alone like that, the only reason he had followed him other than his own feeligns had been because he cared so much about Uriel that he didnt' want anything to happen to him. He had the ability to prevent it from happening, so he had to find him, that had been his mission, and in all of that he wanted the truth from them, well from Uriel, he didn't quite know why he had said them.

'It's only Uriel...how hard can being friends be...' He reacted a bit when Uriel hugged him, but not out of fear, he just was deep into his thoughts so it shocked him a bit, but he hugged him not to tight, but just enough to say that he was there and wasn't mad at him at all, even though he was still a bit stung by what had happened, and what had been said today. But Dan was a strong man, boy, whatever you could call him, and he was not going to let this drag him down at all.

[ARADIA PETERSON]

Uriel pulled away from the hug with a sudden realization and a grin. "Hey, if you're here, that means you've gotta be a one of us, right? A demigod? Who's your parent?" Uriel sat down on the sand and pulled Dan's sleeve, gesturing for him to do the same. The blonde just hoped his friend really didn't hate him.
That's so cute and mushy and awwwwwww... Angel grabbed some mental popcorn.
And gay, don't forget gay, Devil scoffed.
You're just sore 'cuz we wouldn't let you have your way with that girl the other day, the pretty blonde. Angel munched on his popcorn.
A little, I suppose. But only a little. Maybe I should come out and break this up.
NO! Uriel broke in, He is not to find out about you two. Not ever.
Yes Uriel, of course Uriel, his two voices chorused.

[DAN LEE]

Dan watched him feeling like something was definately not right, but he stopped thinking about it, sitting down next to Uriel looking out at the water. He didn't know what to tell Uriel, he hadn't known that would ever see each other, and here of all places. "Um...Ares...." was all he muttered as he looked out over the water, wondering what Uriel would think, because he was son of the god of War, and he didn't want to be hated for who he was. "Um so whose kid are you?" He wanted to ask, and plus he barely knew that he was actually here, it was all what seemed like an illusion to him, and he felt like he was in a dream, and all the people he had meant were nice to him unlike the ones who had been at his old home.

And yet he still felt like he didn't belong, Uriel was the only who actually made him feel like he actually belonged here, and he had a home here, but part of him was feeling that he was about to lose that home, and he really didn't know why. Maybe it was just that voice that would never leave him alone, and would always keep him awake at night, and plus he had so many things happen to the people he had meant in the past. "So are you always by yourself?" he had expected that he would find Uriel, but he wouldn't have thought he would have been here by himself, he thought he would have actually had some friends, but maybe him leaving had changed him and that was why he had no friends, but well this boy had no idea. "I'm sorry i'm asking so many questions..." he figured the boy thought he was mad at him, but no he wasn't, maybe it was just the confusion that he had since Uriel had left, and now he had met Uriel again and he seemed so much different.

[ARADIA PETERSON]

Uriel winced when his friend said the war god's name.
Ouch, burn little guy.
Shut up, Devil.
Why should I?
Because. And Devil, left without anything to say or think about but puzzle about Angel's response, was silent.
"I...I'm sorry about your dad, really. I hope he wakes up soon, I really do." Uriel paused to take a deep breath before continuing, "My dad's Thanatos. And yeah, I'm usually alone. I don't mind, the questions are fine."
If he's alone, what are we? Devil emerged from his confusion.
We don't exist to this guy. Remember?
That doesn't mean we're chopped liver.
Shut up, Devil.
Why should I?
Because.
That's not a good answer
Deal with it.

[DAN LEE]

"Well if father wakes up, hopefully things will be a bit different, I kinda liked it better when I didn't know who my real father was..." part of him knew he shouldn't have said that, but it was true because he had been getting wierd looks ever since he had found out who his father was. He wasn't really caring much about his father right now, because he had no idea what had happened and he didn't know any better.

"So well I mean...you should at least have some friends..." he wanted to be Uriel's friend, and be as close as they were before, but ya know he always thought that they couldn't because of what he had done, and what he had said. "Um are we still friends?" he had wanted to ask that question forever because he wanted to know if they were still really friends or if well ya know Uriel had hated him,but yea he didn't think that was really true, and he knew they were probably really really good friends and nothing could really change that, or at least he hoped nothing could change that.

He was so unsure and he knew that he had to do this and he had to take his changes, and keep trying to be friends with people, even if Uriel didn't want to be his friend, but part of him knew that Uriel really wanted to be his friend and nothing could ever change that thing, but still there was always those voices, and those nightmares that caused him to think differently.

[ARADIA PETERSON]

"I know, I half wish I'd never known... But I guess it's for the best in the end." Uriel smiled at his old friend, with next to no effort now. Maybe they could be all warm and fuzzy like they used to be. He knew, though, that they had many bumps in the road before that happened. And he was not looking forward to the ones who had the names 'Devil' and 'Angel.'

"We can be whatever you want us to be. I won't object." Another sweet, chaste smile came from the boy who hadn't realized how the thing he'd just said could be taken. He just hoped his friend would really be alright with them being close again. Devil burst into a mental fit of laughter as Angel tried to suppress giggles. Uriel ignored their pesky presence and mocking.

[DAN LEE]

Dan was unsure if he belonged here, put he knew that he had to do this, and he couldnt' back out now, he had come this far, and he had finally found Uriel. He blushed slightly turning away to get rid of the blush, a familiar pain appearing his heart, one he had thought was gone, but now it had come back and he could barely believe it and he didnt' want it anymore. 'Why can't this leave me alone...' He could keep back many of his feelings anymore because they wanted to break out, they wanted to be noticed just like he wanted to. But he knew that he had to keep some of it to himself because he didn't want to scare anyone else like he had scared well Uriel mainly. That was the only person he had ever told besides his father, and he had not scared his father, because that was who he had learned to, even if he still felt bad about saying it to Uriel like his father had said it to him, but now he had to figure out how he could fix that. He had to make things the way they were, so he and Uriel could be as close as they were then.

"um you wouldn't object...but before you..." he didn't know why he was even saying this, that probably wasn't what Uriel had meant, so he didn't know if he was going to actually bring it up, because he didn't want Uriel to run away from him again, that was just not something he could handle, after all the first time it had happened, he wanted to hide into a hole. He was so scared and he could barely believe that anything was really going to go the way he wanted it, he felt like he should go hide in the hole that he had dug himself a long time ago and he knew that was where he was going to end up if he did something wrong.

[ARADIA PETERSON]

"Wait... by before you mean... When I ran. Yes, that's what you must mean. Oh. I didn't realize, I'm such an idiot... but what's wrong with it?" this was all muttered in a very garbled slur underneath Uriel's breath, pretty much undecipherable. Then he turned to his friend, and said in soft, dulcet tones; "I ran because I... I was surprised, startled, confused. Most of all, confused. I didn't get anything back then, I was only eleven. You knew that." He was letting himself go again, and was trying not to break down into tears or laughter, he couldn't tell which. It was torture, pure torture, this confusion. He pressed closer to Dan, hoping to find an anchor for his whirling mind. Devil threw a taunt at him, but angel hushed him, hoping for a mushy moment. Uriel half agreed with the nice little voice.