7 February 2007, Three Fifty Four PM
After the rescue mission, things had returned to normal. As normal as one could get while entertaining an angel on a monthly basis. Topics covered a wide range of subjects, and now, nearly three years into their deal. Mycroft was more comfortable with an angel who could kill him at the snap of her fingers. Odd, it was. She was intelligent, and certainly able to keep up with whatever he wished to discuss or bounce ideas off of her. He didn't necessary mind the company.
However, he still didn't trust her completely. Trust was something to be earned, and he had little knowledge of whether or not she was simply going to be using him in one way or another. The years didn't change that.
Nothing ever really changed, Naomi would arrive on time, they'd talk from anywhere from twenty minutes to two hours, and then she'd leave again. No other contact, just tea, conversation, and occasionally chess at 4 o'clock in the afternoon on the seventh of every month. Tea, which she drank; conversation, which was always interesting and never boring; and chess, which she'd become quite good at, beating him two out of three times regularly.
Today she was due to arrive any minute, and he was in the kitchen getting the tea tray ready as usual.
Mycroft hadn't expected Naomi to arrive early, and he turned around at the familiar, but subtle, sound of wings. He gave her a polite close-mouthed smile, as usual, and stepped away from the counter to address her. "Naomi, you're early,"
"Yes, I wanted to catch you before you started the tea. I have a proposition for our time together today." Naomi said, clasping her hands in front of her. "We're going out."
"Out?" Mycroft asked, for deductions were more than difficult with her, and he wasn't sure he was completely understanding it yet.
"Out, as not here." Naomi said vaguely. "We're going to talk as we take a walk. You won't need your coat, are you ready?"
Mycroft turned his head slightly at the suggestion, glanced down at his usual three piece suit, this time in black pinstripes, and then nodded. "Yes, I think, if what I'm wearing is appropriate. Let me just retrieve my umbrella."
"It should be." Naomi said, with a short nod, eyes scanning his appearance.
Mycroft turned, abandoning the tea set, and went to fetch his usual black umbrella he was never without. A minute later, he was returning back to the kitchen, double checking his phone in his trouser pocket. "I believe I am ready."
"Then off we go." She slipped her hand into his, taking him completely by surprise. The next surprise was the fact that suddenly they were not in his kitchen, but rather along the ocean somewhere. He couldn't name it, and he let go of her hand as he took a step forward towards the ocean. The flying thing he'd only done the once before, and it was difficult to describe, but he supposed he'd get used to it if it continued.
The view was exquisite, if he allowed himself to think about such things. The fact that he was there and not in his estate was pushed to the side as his eyes drifted over the expanse of blue water. If he had to guess, it was the Caribbean, around noon with the time change. He didn't have to guess for soon Naomi was speaking again.
"This is St. Thomas Island, near Puerto Rico." Naomi informed him as she stepped away and down the path. "Lovely place for a walk, even if I prefer the mountains. Next time, perhaps. Come along."
Mycroft moved with her, his sharp mind taking in the fact that they had flown away from London to the Caribbean in a blink of an eye. Again, easy enough to understand, but the why still escaped him. "Why the…change of location?"
"Because I wanted to." Naomi said simply. "Creation has it's beauty, and I've always enjoyed aesthetics, in Heaven or on Earth. Sharing it with you is simply better than visiting alone."
Mycroft quirked a brow at the last statement, but didn't read too much into it. "Can I expect more trips away?" He asked.
"If you have a favorable reaction to this trip, yes." She confirmed. "But if you'd rather remain in London, we can as well. I have no desire to make you uncomfortable nor drag you all over the planet without your permission."
"Oh, that's good to know." Mycroft said, putting his hand in his trouser pocket. "What are we discussing today then?"
"Your choice, I believe I questioned you last month about your trip to Italy and subsequent work there."
"Yes, I remember." Mycroft paused for a moment. "I suppose we can adventure to another curiosity of mine. We've never been through some of the more in depth nature of your existence. I'm a bit curious, if I can admit it."
"Naturally." She replied, turning her head from the ocean view to his face. She paused a moment before speaking. "This isn't my actual body, but I have a feeling you knew that already."
"A hypothesis at most, I wasn't going to ask specifically."
"Understandable. To continue, this is a vessel. A woman I courted and then asked to occupy. She said yes, and I've been using it ever since."
"When did you acquire it?" Mycroft asked.
"Around two hundred years ago." Naomi replied, pausing before continuing. "I went on an undercover mission on Earth and I needed a vessel."
"A mission." He raised a brow, but didn't press. Likely a conversation for another day. "Curious. And is she…in there with you?"
"Yes. The human consciousness and soul are locked away, I suppose you could say. Lost in her memories."
"And she agreed to that?" Mycroft asked. "Being used as a vessel for hundreds of years?"
"Yes."
"I would, in no way shape or form, be willing to do that. Trapped inside your own body, essentially forever, correct?"
Naomi answered again. "Yes. Though some, if the vessel is only needed a short time, release them again. By the time I didn't have need for her any longer, it was too late to return her to her family. I made the choice to keep her. It varies with the angel in question."
"It sounds like there are quite a few of you." Mycroft commented.
"Thousands." Naomi said. "But many are in Heaven and have no need for a vessel. Or some have kept a vessel for thousands of years."
"So you only need a vessel while you are on Earth."
"They are for you." Naomi responded. "The human eye cannot behold an angel's true form."
"Oh?"
"I would burn your eyes out in a way that we can't heal." Naomi said practically, but there was a little smile. "Very painful, and debilitating, of course. Not something one enjoys causing."
"Then consider my curiosity appeased." Mycroft replied with a bit of a smile of his own, eyes drifting from her back to the ocean view as they walked.
In response, Naomi did something he didn't hear very often. She laughed. It was short and light, and then spoke again. "Very well." She considered him a moment. "Do you like it here?"
"Here?" Mycroft turned his head to meet her eyes. "St. Thomas? Yes, I suppose I don't mind. The view is pleasing. I'm generally not one who travels for pleasure, however."
"You consider this pleasure?" Naomi asked with a quirked brow.
Mycroft blinked twice, looking away. "In a matter of speaking." He said to attempt to recover. "'For pleasure' is used to refer to things non-work related. That is simply what I meant."
"Would you like to do it again?" Naomi asked, her blue eyes fixed on him. "Travel somewhere instead of stay in?"
"Perhaps, I don't think I'd mind. Location matters little for our conversations."
"Correct." She replied. "Not every month, because I do enjoy chess."
"I've noticed, you've become quite good." Mycroft said, thinking back to the last game, which he'd lost rather quickly. Not that he disliked losing, her skill simply provided him with the opportunity to improve.
"Then I believe I'll make trips a part of our regular meetings. If you have anywhere you'd like to go…for pleasure. Please let me know." Naomi offered a smile.
"I'll get you a list next time." Mycroft mirrored her smile and then turned back to the walk.
