February 9, 2022

Claire is laying in bed listening to the Yume Nikki soundtrack. There's a knock at her door, but she ignores it. After a moment of silence, theres a soft white glow. Gabriel stands in front of the door.

"I assume this is Claire's home, yes?" He asks.

"Mmmmmmh, the one and only," she groggily replies.

"Ah, so I've come to the right place. My name is Gabriel, it's a pleasure to meet you." Gabriel gives a light smile. A comforting, peaceful feeling fills the room.

"I bet it is," she just kinda rolls over, as to not look at him.

"How have you been these last few weeks, Claire?" He takes a couple steps toward her.

"Oh, I've been just perfect, thanks for asking."

"It's because of Harmonia's death, correct?" Gabriel tilts his head. Claire stays silent, turning up her music slightly

"Bottling your emotions is no way to process your grief, Claire." He frowns slightly, taking a few more steps towards her. "I'm sure you're intelligent enough to recognize that."

"Why do you care?"

"Well, why wouldn't I care? You're a friend to thoseIi'm allied with, and therefore, you're a friend of mine. It's the least I can do to help." A soft, understanding smile, another wave of calm washing over her. "It's a frightful thing to see you try and handle this on your own, Claire, and it's something you shouldn't have to attempt."

"..What does it matter anyways? The world's ending. And so is everyone with it. Just a matter of time till it gets to me too."

"That's a terrible way to think of it, Claire. I have been observing you and your friends fight back against this terrible calamity that has struck your world, and I've seen you succeed. You're a capable person, Claire. It'd be a shame for you to not put it to use because you discount you and your allies' accomplishments." She feels warm and prickly, that guilty itch, and she goes to scratch her neck. Gabriel can see cuts and scratches along her arms, and also that her hands are covered in third degree burns. She doesn't seem to react to what should feel like pain, though. Gabriel eyes the injuries and walks up to the side of the bed, "Oh dear, let me tend to your wounds, those can't be comfortable."

"You will not touch me." She shoves her hands under the pillows.

"Why are you so averse to it if I may ask? And there's no need for touch, I can do it from here."

"I don't like angels."

"And why's that?" He nods slowly.

"Pretending to serve a God that doesn't exist a good enough reason?"

"I believe the existence of Veils, as you call them, accounts for such a possibility." He takes a deep breath.

"Mhm."

"Believe what you would like, but I work in my own free will. While I am devoted to God, not all of my actions are an extension of his wishes."

"Sure. Now, will you leave me alone? I didn't plan on having guests."

"I wished to help calm you down before attempting to give you this news, but Harmonia is alive. I've been speaking with her. She misses you, Claire."

"You will leave my home now." She tenses up at that.

"Ask whatever you'd like of me, I can prove I know her."

"You will leave my home now." Her hand appears to be gripping something under the pillow.

"Let me assist you with your wounds beforehand, then."

"No, you will do as I say and leave."

"My goal is to help, Claire. Leaving you like this would be directly opposing that." Claire gets up, pulling a blade from under the pillow, and starts carving a symbol into the door and whispering something. Gabriel quickly follows her, a sword appearing in his hand as he attempts to break the symbol with his own cut, "While I'm not aware of what you can do, I'd prefer this to be a simple conversation."

"Nice trick." She stares at Gabriel for a minute.

"Why are you so averse to the idea of Harmonia being alive?" He looks down at her, a slightly concerned look on his face.

"Dead people can never come back." Her eyes change shade slightly.

"Why not?" He tilts his head slightly, "More outlandish things have certainly happened."

"She's gone, I watched her die and that thing took her she's gone She'S GONE," Claire starts to breathe heavily, trying to make her way back to her bed.

"Then explain to me how I've seen her, Claire." His voice is soft, quiet.

"Nno It's not possible you're a liar you're deceiving me get out GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT." Gabriel stayed perfectly still, waiting for her to finish.

"The others have seen her too. I understand your lack of belief in my words, but why do you discredit the testimonies from those you trust?"

"To die is to swim in the metaphysical hippocampus of the ionosphere. That personal existence is unable to be stored there, there is no room for the possibility of retrieval," She's curled up in a ball on her bed, her eyes looking glossed over.

"It's ok, Claire. It's a lot to process, and you don't have to do it all now. But she's alive, and on that you have my word," He approaches her, kneeling by the bed. His voice stays quiet.

"All human knowledge and consciousness is stored on a collective cloud as the firing of synapses is energy and as such cannot be destroyed. As nothing can truly be deleted neither can your memories, your personality, nor your sense of self," she says, ignoring him.

"Take a deep breath, Claire." A feeling of calm and peace washes over her, a lot stronger than the other ones. Gabriel's body flickers for a moment, almost a glitch. She stops talking, but her eyes are still glossed over and she's still curled up in a ball. "It's going to be ok. Would you like to see her tomorrow?"

No response.

"Shall I bring her here?"

No response.

"Claire, can you hear me?"

No response. Gabriel sets a hand on her, the already potent feelings of peace and calm becoming stronger upon contact,

"Claire?"

Her eyes flicker, still no verbal response.

"Interesting..." The feeling of peace and calm fades. He keeps his hand on her. She eventually falls asleep like that, though it's hard to tell. Gabriel pulls his hand away and both an armchair and bible appear with a soft glow. He sits in the chair, opening the bible and reading to himself, letting Claire sleep.