Work Text:
what is the difference between a machine and an angel?
ask gabriel, judge of hell, and he'll say, soul.
what is the difference between a machine and an angel?
ask gabriel, apostate of hate, and he may not answer you.
for machine and angel are not so different. both are creatures with metal skin to hide and hold their fleshy, bloody selves. organs churn, gorgeous tunica externa, media, interna of rubber and flesh, twist and wind like rope choking the throat of the nonbelievers, endothelium, venous valve of copper direct precious blood to power the chassis, the body, of life. both must fight to keep their life from spilling out onto the floor. to lose, even once, is death. both yield weapons to do it. both think, move, kill. the better question then, is this:
what happens to an angel who loses its soul?