Isaiah was not like other angels. Even though he had wings, he could not fly and for this reason he was forbidden to enter Heaven again. It was frustrating. It was not easy living on earth at all because he had long ago lost his land legs and basically had to learn how to walk all over again. Not to mention the fact that he had cumbersome wings to carry around that didn't do him any good. They were just for show now. It was hard hiding them too, but somehow he managed because he would have been captured by scientists or something before too long...

The young man looked to be in his mid-twenties, but in reality he was closer to 200 years old. He had been one of the messenger angels until one day one of those newfangled airplanes clipped his wing and broke it. The bones were hollow and brittle, like a bird's. His wing had never healed right after the accident so he was forced to stay down on Earth like a common Mortal. It was beyond frustrating.

Isaiah really didn't know what to do with himself. He was beginning to think that he was doomed to spend the rest of eternity like this. It wasn't suitable at all. He took to wandering the streets often or spending his time in the local libraries trying to figure out if there was anything he could do for his wing now, months afterward... Probably not knowing his luck. He now sat at a coffee shop with an overlong trench coat thrown over his... deformity. That's what his wings had become now; just an eyesore.

Gabriella, of course, was the epitome of an angel. She was sweet and kind, but also stern when it came to those who defied the laws of heaven. Until recently, she had been a guardian angel; now striped of her ward, she had nothing to do with her time, since the mandate of heaven was that each guardian had to wait a hundred years before they could be assigned a new ward.

That's what brought the angel to Earth. Her wings were small enough that they were easily hideable when they were furled against her back, although she usually had to wear a big coat to do so.

Although she seemed to be in her older teens, maybe even her early twenties, she had decades under her belt. Today the girl was walking down the street, her hands in her pockets as she hummed something to herself, a hymn she had learned as a "child". She paused when she was in front of the coffee shop, and slowly looked up. Something was... odd, here. Was she sensing another angel?

Over the months Isaiah had learned how to do everything all over again so he didn't feel out of place as much anymore. People tended to notice him less and less these days; then again, Mortals were pretty fickle creatures in his opinion. He browsed through the newspaper as he sat at his table, stirring his coffee absentmindedly. The stuff tasted nasty so he only bought it for show...

The blonde raised his head for a moment. He had not lost his senses yet. Isaiah held onto whatever he had left that marked him as an angel even if he couldn't fly so he felt another one nearby. He glanced around, blue eyes narrowing on each and every person that he could find within a reasonable distance... He finally spotted a young woman who was also wearing a big coat and it wasn't necessary in this sort of weather.

Intrigued Isaiah got up from his table, newspaper and coffee in hand, and went up towards her. He wasn't completely comfortable with just approaching some nobody off the street though. He had to make sure first. He tripped over his shoelace and spilled the coffee down his front and all over the paper. Luckily it wasn't hot (it had gotten quite cold), but she didn't know that... Smirk.

Gabriella hesitated, surprised as the man began to approach her, then gasped, a look of surprise on her young, heart-shaped face. "Oh my goodness, are you alright," she asked, rushing over, her guardian senses kicking in. Her turqoiuse eyes searched him, a little confused. Could this guy really be an angel? Angels weren't that clumsy.... She chewed on a full bottom lip, leaning back a little.

She tucked a long strand of blue-black hair behind one ear, frowning a little. She was thoroughly confused now. Not only had he tripped, but he felt... off. Like an angel, but not. What was going on here? His wings were obvious to her now (a mortal wouldn't have noticed it, though.) Also, the coffee wasn't even hot, and that irritated her. Liar.

"We should... go inside somewhere," she suggested slowly, as thunder began to rumble in the sky. We definetely need to talk, she thought to him, testing her boundaries. If he was really an angel, he would be able to reply.
[[I gots to go for now, but I'll check back in the morning. Night!]]

Bingo!

"Fine, fine, thanks."

He brushed off her concern like it was an irksome fly. Of course it was all just to test her; to see if she was an angel and not some freak. Although it had taken him a little bit to get his land legs, he was just as graceful as he used to be in the air. He glanced up for a moment as he heard the thunder and frowned slightly, but he brightened when she suggested that they move inside.

"All right." Isaiah agreed. Where to? He thought right back.

She chewed on her lip, thinking for a second. Where would be a safe place? Suddenly, she knew.

Follow me.

She turned and started walking, not waiting for him. She figured he would be able to keep up. She wove through the people until they reached a part of town where the crowds started thinning out, where the buildings looked more run-down and the characters started looking shady. She found the place she was looking for- a bar with practically no costumers.

"Come on," she said, pausing at the door and waiting for him to catch up. "The bar owner can barely hear a thing," she said softly as he approached. "We'll be free to talk here."

Isaiah followed her easily enough. He started to feel a little uneasy when they moved into the seedy part of town (not that it was much better than the regular portions, mind you). The buildings were beginning to look wore down and the few people wandering the dark gritty streets seemed shady at best. He didn't protest though. He still trusted her... for now. Finally the came up to a bar and he shrugged his shoulders at her words.

"If you say so."

They entered without further ado. Besides the bar tender, the rest of the place was as silent as a tomb. They were the only ones there. Isaiah wrinkled his nose somewhat at the faint odor that greeted him, but he quickly pushed his discomfort to the side. He followed her to a table and sat down. Having disposed of his coffee and paper long ago, he now had nothing to do with himself save wait.

"So... What did you want to talk about?"

Gabriella sat down and waited for a second, then let out a deep breathe. "Who are you," she asked, getting straight to business. No sense in beating around the bush, right? "You.... You feel like an angel, but...." she hesitated, chewing on her lip. What did she say now? I'm sorry, but you feel all wrong. Something is off about you and I don't know what.

She took another deep breathe, a human habit she had picked up. "I'm Gabriella," she began again, holding out her hand. What was the saying, introduce yourself before you ask of others? Or something like that, she had never really paid attention. She continued to chew on her lip, twirling a strand of long black hair around one finger. Her booted feet swung daintily just above the ground, making a soft swishing sound.

"I'm Isaiah."

He didn't respond right away to her other questions; instead he just introduced himself, rather like Gabriella had, and shook her hand. He smiled somewhat. She seemed... nervous, almost; unsure of herself. He figured he might as well get this over and done with. She was just curious about him, that was all. It wasn't like she actually cared or anything, right?

"Well... I am an angel... or I was. I can show you my wings, if you'd like."

She blinked, startled, then glanced at the proprieter, who was currently snoozing. She chewed on her lip, then shrugged. "I believe you, but if you want to show me you can." She watched him for a second, her turqoius eyes deep and thoughtful.

Would you mind explaining to me why you aren't an angel anymore? This is rather..... vexing, she thought. She had always felt more comfortable talking in her mind; all the other angels were capable of it, and she had always established links with her wards. It was true, she was curious, but something was also gnawing at her inside.

Isaiah shrugged. As long as she believed him then he wouldn't bother removing his trench coat because he thought of his wings as a deformity rather than something beautiful. They served no purpose now so they really were quite useless. He sighed slightly, wondering whether he should tell her or not, but he figured he would be better off in the end if he did. Perhaps that would get her to leave him alone.

I can't fly.

Gabriella watched him for a moment, the emotions on her young face easily readable for a brief second. Shock, horror, sadness.

What happened?

She shook her head, composing herself, but there was a sad look in her eyes as she examined him. It sounded horrible; if Gabriella couldn't fly... She'd rather burn in the pits of Hades then not be able to fly.

He almost smiled to see her react in such a manner; almost, that is. He had had the same reaction for weeks after the accident. Isaiah had been devastated and hurt. He had even briefly entertained the notion that once he healed, everything would go back to normal again... How wrong he had been. Seeing her reaction brought those long-forgotten feelings back to surface once more.

One of those newfangled planes... clipped my wing and broke it... But it didn't heal right so now... He shrugged. No flying.

I'm so sorry.

She looked down at her hands, which were clasped in her lap. She tried of thinking of something else to say, but couldn't find anything that would seem appropriate or not cliche. How long has it been? she asked again, looking up at him through her dark bangs.

It's been a while now. Almost a year.

Isaiah knew as well as anyone else with enough brain that no matter what he found in the library, there was no way he could get his wing to function properly again. Too much time had gone by. It had healed wrong and that was that. The only hope he had left now was that maybe the Big Man would take care of him; perhaps he was down on Earth for a reason... Or some such nonsense like that. Frankly it was a load of bull.

It doesn't matter though. I'm used to it now...

Gabriella frowned a little, her eyes searching his face. Something was... off. It wasn't just his broken wings. It was something deeper.

Are you alright?

She felt a little stupid for asking, already knowing the answer. He would tell her he was fine, and leave it at that. But she was asking if he was alright mentally, if the breaking of his wings hadn't made him loose his faith. It almost made her cringe to think of it like that.

Isaiah raised his eyebrows when she asked him if he was all right or not. For a moment he considered giving her a straight and honest answer. He wasn't all right. He would never be all right until he could take to the air again. He missed flight. He missed having a proper set of wings. He hated the cards that had been dealt to him and he wanted to trade in his hand for something better... But who was he to question the All Mighty and Powerful? Pfft.

I'm fine. He lied easily. Are you finished now or is there something else you want?

Liar, she thought back in an almost teasing matter, but she didn't push the matter. She placed her elbows on the table, clasping her hands in front of her face as she leaned forward a bit. Was there something else she wanted? There wasn't, but she had the feeling that she shouldn't leave him. Also, if she was honest with herself, she was lonely. It was hard being an angel among humans, all by herself. It wasn't like Heaven was any better at the moment; everyone had a charge right now, and the Great One was busy, always busy.

Yeah, out of curiousity, that liquid you were drinking, did it taste good?

It was small talk, she was scrambling and she knew it, but she needed a moment to think.