In the serene glow of a heavenly garden, two archangels and three Virtues gathered beneath a towering tree that shimmered with golden leaves. The air was fragrant with celestial flowers, and a gentle hum of peace seemed to envelop the group as they settled onto soft, luminous grass.

Veritas, Virtue of Truth, leaned against the tree trunk, her silver hair cascading like a stream of moonlight. Triel, Virtue of Temperance, sprawled out with an elegance only they could manage, their butterfly-like wings reflecting soft pastel hues in the sunlight. Levia, the Virtue of Kindness, sat cross-legged, absentmindedly braiding strands of her flowing hair that sparkled like ocean waves. Uriel and Cassiel, Archangels of Wisdom and Tears, rounded out the group, their more subdued auras creating a perfect balance to the lively chatter.

"Honestly, Levia, I don't think I've seen you take a day off in centuries!" Veritas teased with a knowing smile.

Levia chuckled softly, her cheeks glowing faintly. "What can I say? Kindness doesn't sleep. There's always someone who needs a little extra care."

"True," Triel interjected, adjusting one of their delicate wing patterns, "but even the ocean has its tides. You can't pour from an empty cup, Levia."

"Exactly!" Veritas added, nudging her gently. "I mean, look at Triel. They're literally the definition of balance, and even they let loose sometimes."

Triel smirked, brushing a strand of their molten-glass-like hair aside. "My idea of letting loose is organizing a perfectly symmetrical dance formation, but thank you for the compliment."

The group laughed, their camaraderie evident. Uriel, ever the quiet observer, smiled warmly but seemed distracted. Cassiel noticed and nudged her with an elbow.

"Uriel, you've been awfully quiet. Something on your mind?" Cassiel asked, tilting her head.

Uriel hesitated, her golden eyes flickering with hesitation before she finally sighed. "Well... I did overhear something interesting. It seems... God is working on a big project."

The group went silent for a moment before Veritas and Triel exchanged a wide-eyed look.

"A big project?" Veritas pressed, her curiosity immediately piqued. "What kind of project? Don't tell me you're holding out on us!"

Triel leaned in, their wings fluttering with excitement. "Come on, Uriel. Spill. You can't drop something like that and leave us hanging!"

Uriel raised her hands defensively. "I honestly don't know much! I just overheard bits and pieces during a council meeting. Something about it being... monumental. But that's all I know."

Cassiel nodded in agreement. "Same here. I caught whispers, but nothing concrete. Whatever it is, it's apparently going to change things in a big way."

The mystery hung in the air, and for a moment, even Veritas—who prided herself on knowing everything—was at a loss.

"Well, now I have to know," she said with a dramatic sigh, crossing her arms. "But if you two are playing coy, I suppose we'll just have to wait."

"Patience, Veritas," Triel teased with a wink. "Isn't that Uriel's domain?"

The group shared a laugh, but Cassiel, always quick to steer the conversation, suddenly grinned mischievously.

"Speaking of patience... Levia, care to explain why Plutus has been sending you gifts left and right?"

Levia froze mid-braid, her emerald eyes widening. "W-what? Gifts? Oh, he's just being generous! He's the Virtue of Charity, after all."

"Uh-huh," Triel said, smirking as they leaned closer. "Generous to everyone, or just to you?"

Veritas joined in, her sharp yellow eyes gleaming with amusement. "Levia, you can't hide from me. I'm the Virtue of Truth, remember? Spill it. Do you like him?"

Levia's face flushed a soft pink, her usual serene demeanor faltering. "I-I mean, he's very kind, and his gifts are thoughtful, but—"

"But?" Cassiel interrupted with a sly grin.

Levia fumbled for words, her tail curling around her feet as if to shield her from their teasing. "I don't know! He's... nice, okay? Can we drop it?"

"Absolutely not," Triel said, laughing. "You're too fun to fluster. Besides, if Plutus likes you, why not give him a chance?"

Levia groaned, burying her face in her hands. "You're impossible, all of you."

"That's what friends are for," Veritas said with a wink.

The laughter echoed through the garden, the bonds of friendship between the angels ever present. Even with the mysteries of Heaven looming, for now, they were content to simply enjoy each other's company.

———————————————————————-

Samael lounged on a cushioned bench surrounded by the vibrant energy of the Virtues: Asmodel, Plutus, and Azazil. The atmosphere was lively, filled with the sounds of laughter and soft conversation. Gabriel, ever the social butterfly, joined the group with his usual glowing presence, while Michael loomed quietly in the background, his arms crossed, observing the exchange without much participation.

Plutus leaned back with a wide grin, his three-pointed jester hat jingling slightly. "Alright, mates, listen to this one. What do you call an angel who keeps tripping over their own wings?"

Asmodel smirked, elegantly crossing his long, flowing arms. "I don't know, Plutus. What do you call them?"

Plutus puffed out his chest for the punchline. "A fallen angel!" He burst out laughing before the others could react, his boisterous guffaws infectious enough to earn a chuckle from Samael and Azazil.

"Plutus, that joke's older than creation itself," Samael teased with a mischievous grin. "You've gotta step up your material."

"Oi! Comedy's timeless, mate," Plutus replied, wagging a finger. "But if you lot are so clever, why don't you give it a go?"

Before Samael could retort, Asmodel tapped his chin thoughtfully. "You know," he began with a sly smile, "all this comedy reminds me—Plutus, how's your little courtship with Levia going?"

Plutus froze, the cheerful glow on his face shifting to a flustered red. "What? Me? Oh, you know, slow and steady wins the race and all that," he stammered, tugging nervously at the collar of his oversized sleeve.

"Come on now, don't be shy!" Samael leaned forward, his grin widening. "Give us the details. Is she warming up to all those charming lines of yours?"

Plutus sighed, finally breaking into a sheepish smile. "Well, she's gorgeous, ain't she? Beautiful scales, those kind eyes... I reckon I made some progress last week. She actually laughed at one of my jokes instead of rollin' her eyes."

Asmodel and Samael exchanged knowing glances before bursting into laughter. "That's a start!" Samael teased. "I mean, if she didn't laugh at that 'fallen angel' bit, she must really like you."

"Oi, don't push your luck!" Plutus shot back, laughing along despite himself.

The camaraderie was palpable, but it came to a screeching halt when Michael's stern voice cut through. "The Virtues are meant to focus on their duties, not frivolities like romance," he said, his tone sharp and cold. His piercing gaze flicked toward Plutus. "It's unbecoming of your role to be distracted by such trivial matters."

The group fell silent, the cheerful energy deflating under the weight of Michael's words.

Gabriel, ever the diplomat, stepped in with a warm smile. "Oh, come on, Michael. Even the most virtuous among us need a bit of lightheartedness. Besides," he added with a playful wink, "You've asked Belfagel out at least a dozen times, and she still turns you down. Doesn't mean you're slacking on the job!"

Plutus snickered at that, and even Asmodel cracked a smile. Samael couldn't help but laugh outright. "That's the spirit, Michael. Persistence pays off... or at least keeps things entertaining."

Michael, however, merely grumbled something inaudible and turned his attention elsewhere, retreating further into his brooding silence.

The tension eased, and Samael took the opportunity to shift the mood. "Anyway," he began, his excitement bubbling over, "you wouldn't believe what I heard from the other Archangels about God's next big project. It's supposed to be—"

"Samael," Michael snapped, his voice low and dangerous. "That information is not for idle chatter."

The younger angel flinched, his words cut short. "Right. Sorry."

The group exchanged uneasy glances, the joyous atmosphere once again dampened by Michael's overbearing presence. Gabriel sighed softly, placing a reassuring hand on Samael's shoulder. "Don't worry, Samael," he said with a wink. "He's always like this before a big mission. Stressed, you know?"

"More like a stick in the mud," Plutus muttered under his breath, earning a stifled laugh from Samael.

Despite the interruptions, the Virtues and their companions gradually found their rhythm again, their laughter and warmth pushing back against the looming shadow of Michael's disapproval.