Lucifer (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thedevilwhorose) wrote2027-05-08 09:26 pm
thedevilwhorose) wrote2027-05-08 09:26 pm
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[Abraxas] Inbox
Yes.
Seems to be going around to everyone.
[Do as they ask despite the incredibly suspicious circumstances.]
Get the work done. I know it sounds untrustworthy, but unless you have other information, I'm not leaving Thorne's delegate without backup.
To say he is in pain and exhausted would be an understatement. He might be the most tired he's ever been, and the lingering pain feels like it is throughout his entire body. Istredd has no idea how he is going to go to the banquet tonight feeling like he can barely drag himself back, but it might seem suspicious. He looks completely fine on the outside but feels like a punching bag on the inside. After saying goodbye to the others, he heads back to the room.
When the pain was happening, he couldn't concern himself with Lucifer feeling it because it was so all-encompassing and blinding. They pushed past it after the initial agony, and only then could he form thought. In truth, he doesn't know how long that part lasted. He reached out as soon as he could think to reassure, although then he had to focus on the Singularity and couldn't give more.
Lucifer can feel him through the bond worn beyond sanity and nearby again, their bond strong again in only the way proximity can give. It is hard to say if they got anything of value back in the obvious way, for such a risk, but Istredd also doesn't know the lasting effects yet. Only that he wants to collapse onto his bed and lie there for an undetermined amount of time, until he's forced to drag his body to a dinner. And that will lead him to Cirilla. Terrible timing.
Istredd does throw himself on his bed, face down, and just ... lies there. His bag drops to the side.
When the pain was happening, he couldn't concern himself with Lucifer feeling it because it was so all-encompassing and blinding. They pushed past it after the initial agony, and only then could he form thought. In truth, he doesn't know how long that part lasted. He reached out as soon as he could think to reassure, although then he had to focus on the Singularity and couldn't give more.
Lucifer can feel him through the bond worn beyond sanity and nearby again, their bond strong again in only the way proximity can give. It is hard to say if they got anything of value back in the obvious way, for such a risk, but Istredd also doesn't know the lasting effects yet. Only that he wants to collapse onto his bed and lie there for an undetermined amount of time, until he's forced to drag his body to a dinner. And that will lead him to Cirilla. Terrible timing.
Istredd does throw himself on his bed, face down, and just ... lies there. His bag drops to the side.
Lucifer does come back to the room the moment he can extricate himself from his hawkeyed babysitting duties, staring down at Istredd with such impossible disdain.
"I hate you," Lucifer rasps, aloud, "so much."
For the debilitating pain that Lucifer was lucky enough that his brother found him, and isn't that so screwed up? That he had to rely on Michael. For the entire stress it's brought on, and will continue to mount.
The words are vitriol but the thoughts? There's nothing but relief and concern and confusion because Lucifer hardly knows what to do with the first two feelings. Churned up and unable to disperse, a constant. He doesn't want any of them but they won't go away, and it's so hilarious that he thought his anger would be a problem over the link. Maybe it's still there. The cause of it all, but a completely different kind of anger than he's experienced.
Not for billions of years, anyway.
He tosses a plate of bread down on a table nearby. Something Istredd could likely consume without losing his stomach. The gesture, and the actual feelings roiling between them, are enough to contradict the spoken words.
"I hate you," Lucifer rasps, aloud, "so much."
For the debilitating pain that Lucifer was lucky enough that his brother found him, and isn't that so screwed up? That he had to rely on Michael. For the entire stress it's brought on, and will continue to mount.
The words are vitriol but the thoughts? There's nothing but relief and concern and confusion because Lucifer hardly knows what to do with the first two feelings. Churned up and unable to disperse, a constant. He doesn't want any of them but they won't go away, and it's so hilarious that he thought his anger would be a problem over the link. Maybe it's still there. The cause of it all, but a completely different kind of anger than he's experienced.
Not for billions of years, anyway.
He tosses a plate of bread down on a table nearby. Something Istredd could likely consume without losing his stomach. The gesture, and the actual feelings roiling between them, are enough to contradict the spoken words.
Istredd has hit the point of tired where he can't actually sleep, it's just a feeling slowing his mind down. He forces enough energy so he can turn around on the bed to look up, but not enough to try and sit up quite yet. It's lucky he got there acting like nothing was wrong. It's like a very, very bad hangover.
He glances over at the bread and then up at Lucifer, the dullness of his own mind at the moment making the sharing of his roommate's feelings more precise. It's reassuring and also new, to have so much concern and relief pushed toward him for being alive. Wanda pointed out not everyone is a mage asshole here. He manages to smile for that, which he probably shouldn't do, he should be apologetic.
"You don't." And isn't that so strange? It's nice though. It really is. Istredd manages to share back his reassurance and warmth, and a stronger push of affection than he usually allows. He is too tired to try and be reserved about it. But he is apologetic after that recedes.
I'm sorry about the pain. I wasn't able to try to block it. For the obvious reason, the pain was too strong. By the time he could control it, the worst had passed. The Singularity wasn't too happy with the magic users. Which was, basically, all of them.
He glances over at the bread and then up at Lucifer, the dullness of his own mind at the moment making the sharing of his roommate's feelings more precise. It's reassuring and also new, to have so much concern and relief pushed toward him for being alive. Wanda pointed out not everyone is a mage asshole here. He manages to smile for that, which he probably shouldn't do, he should be apologetic.
"You don't." And isn't that so strange? It's nice though. It really is. Istredd manages to share back his reassurance and warmth, and a stronger push of affection than he usually allows. He is too tired to try and be reserved about it. But he is apologetic after that recedes.
I'm sorry about the pain. I wasn't able to try to block it. For the obvious reason, the pain was too strong. By the time he could control it, the worst had passed. The Singularity wasn't too happy with the magic users. Which was, basically, all of them.
Lucifer snorts at the comment, because what's he going to do? Further deny it? He can't. His thoughts won't allow it. So instead he turns away, dismissive, like he's just going to walk off. He has things to do now that he's physically seen Istredd breathing.
Instead, he swings around one of the lighter chairs and pulls it over and sits in a way that isn't a strain for Istredd to look towards him.
"I assumed there would be trouble of sorts." Just not as quickly. I should've given it time instead of being out. But it's there, as a mild buzz, the thought of keeping up appearances especially with Istredd, more than the others, gone.
This switching between speech and thoughts might be a constant for him. He's not as accustomed to the form of communication as Istredd is.
How are the others?
Instead, he swings around one of the lighter chairs and pulls it over and sits in a way that isn't a strain for Istredd to look towards him.
"I assumed there would be trouble of sorts." Just not as quickly. I should've given it time instead of being out. But it's there, as a mild buzz, the thought of keeping up appearances especially with Istredd, more than the others, gone.
This switching between speech and thoughts might be a constant for him. He's not as accustomed to the form of communication as Istredd is.
How are the others?
Istredd sees the chair moving for what it is and another wave of affection comes through. He really can't help it at the moment. Bleed over will be more consistent until he can think clearly.
You were out when it happened? That is a concern. Obviously Lucifer is fine now, and he did try to reassure him as soon as he could, but that would not be an easy situation. Especially not for his friend who likes to keep up appearances. That could have gone poorly. He put Lucifer in a disadvantaged spot. His eyebrows furrow and he is genuinely contrite.
Everyone is safe. It was fine after the initial pain. A few things happened while they were there, but most of it is not something he can share, because it happened to the others. Something extremely significant happened with Yennefer and between the two of them, but it is her secret. He is still feeling things about it but he's always in a complicated state when it comes to her, so it's nothing new.
It's alive, Lucifer. It really is. Not a rock, not an object. It isn't alive the way they are, but still.
You were out when it happened? That is a concern. Obviously Lucifer is fine now, and he did try to reassure him as soon as he could, but that would not be an easy situation. Especially not for his friend who likes to keep up appearances. That could have gone poorly. He put Lucifer in a disadvantaged spot. His eyebrows furrow and he is genuinely contrite.
Everyone is safe. It was fine after the initial pain. A few things happened while they were there, but most of it is not something he can share, because it happened to the others. Something extremely significant happened with Yennefer and between the two of them, but it is her secret. He is still feeling things about it but he's always in a complicated state when it comes to her, so it's nothing new.
It's alive, Lucifer. It really is. Not a rock, not an object. It isn't alive the way they are, but still.
Edited 2022-12-28 21:15 (UTC)
Michael found me. Which comes with a plethora of complicated feelings, as is always the case with his family, Michael especially. He hardly wanted Michael there, but Michael wasn't going to kill him. It could have gone much worse. He got me back here.
So he should maybe stop referring to it as a big dumb rock now that this is confirmed.
We did wonder. Sometimes in jest, sometimes as real theorizing. But there was some constant thought about it. So, it's not used to company, mm?
So he should maybe stop referring to it as a big dumb rock now that this is confirmed.
We did wonder. Sometimes in jest, sometimes as real theorizing. But there was some constant thought about it. So, it's not used to company, mm?
Oh, fuck. Istredd has the good grace to look contrite. I'm sorry, I know you have a contentious relationship with him. And to be in a position of weakness with his brother would be uncomfortable to say the least. There was no real reason for Lucifer to think he was going to be on the end of debilitating pain. At least he did say it wasn't the version of his brother who was a danger.
It's not alive like we are, as far as I can tell we cannot have a real conversation with it, but it's not an object, it has emotions, it reacts to stimulus. Rhy has some kind of real connection to it. A reaction was apparently causing foreign magic users pain for coming into its area. Perhaps they seemed like a threat. It would be reasonable to get defense when it was at its weakest.
Is he slightly envious of Rhy? Very much so. But it is probably best he doesn't have one. He cannot have a scientific study on something he is emotionally connected to. It's possible they will let us go back and study it. We can't physically go straight to it again, not until next year, but we can study around it, maybe come up with some tests to send into the crater.
Istredd's getting some excitement back into his tone and he tries to sit up, but feels dizzy doing so, wavering for a moment.
It's not alive like we are, as far as I can tell we cannot have a real conversation with it, but it's not an object, it has emotions, it reacts to stimulus. Rhy has some kind of real connection to it. A reaction was apparently causing foreign magic users pain for coming into its area. Perhaps they seemed like a threat. It would be reasonable to get defense when it was at its weakest.
Is he slightly envious of Rhy? Very much so. But it is probably best he doesn't have one. He cannot have a scientific study on something he is emotionally connected to. It's possible they will let us go back and study it. We can't physically go straight to it again, not until next year, but we can study around it, maybe come up with some tests to send into the crater.
Istredd's getting some excitement back into his tone and he tries to sit up, but feels dizzy doing so, wavering for a moment.
It's a brain? it comes out sudden, as his thoughts make the odd connection. Curious and turning over in his mind. A piece of the whole? Would the whole be all of Abraxas, or something different? Something they may not be able to see? He'd considered something about veins or circuitry coming from the Singularity, crossing to the domains in the Horizon, but maybe there's far more to it than just that.
He glares, briefly, at Istredd for trying to move. Just don't, pal. It's too soon, though seeing more life to Istredd is just another reassurance.
He glares, briefly, at Istredd for trying to move. Just don't, pal. It's too soon, though seeing more life to Istredd is just another reassurance.
Possibly. I'm not sure we have the words to frame what it is, but it's not a rock. The rock exists, but the Singularity itself is something else. If it is a brain, the rock might be its body, a form it is placed in.
Istredd has thought from the start it was more than a physical object, because he is used to monoliths. He knows the difference between him always communing with actual rocks vs. something humming at him from the Horizon. He thinks there may be more conclusions he can come to later, once he has time to consider. He doesn't manage to sit up completely, but he is able to lean on an arm, halfway up.
It didn't like foreign magic. I tried at one point to use my telempathy on it, and it made it hurt more. Lucifer probably felt it intensify at one point. I don't know if that's just a defense mechanism since we weren't supposed to be there.
Istredd has thought from the start it was more than a physical object, because he is used to monoliths. He knows the difference between him always communing with actual rocks vs. something humming at him from the Horizon. He thinks there may be more conclusions he can come to later, once he has time to consider. He doesn't manage to sit up completely, but he is able to lean on an arm, halfway up.
It didn't like foreign magic. I tried at one point to use my telempathy on it, and it made it hurt more. Lucifer probably felt it intensify at one point. I don't know if that's just a defense mechanism since we weren't supposed to be there.
Can't blame it for getting defensive. Though it felt extreme. He felt a lot of things, but nothing was as bad as that first intense strike. And truly it was the long stretch of silence
At least it wasn't a total pointless trip. That would've been the ultimate annoyance. That all this bullshit got them nothing.
At least it wasn't a total pointless trip. That would've been the ultimate annoyance. That all this bullshit got them nothing.
It could have easily killed us, I have no doubt about that. And that was in its weakest state. That is why they had to go on the last day of the Dimming, when it was less likely to be able to stop them. To be able to exhibit that power despite dimming in power, who knows what it has in reserves.
Istredd smiles wider than Lucifer's seen and his eyes are bright, if weariness still hangs over him. Lucifer, it worked, we were there. Listen let him have a few seconds to nerd out. This was his obsession from the moment he got here. He made a plan and it worked.
Istredd smiles wider than Lucifer's seen and his eyes are bright, if weariness still hangs over him. Lucifer, it worked, we were there. Listen let him have a few seconds to nerd out. This was his obsession from the moment he got here. He made a plan and it worked.
Ugh.
Fine. He'll drop his paranoia for a moment and allow Istredd to fully nerd out. You're welcome, idiot nerd.
Tell me, what was it like?
Fine. He'll drop his paranoia for a moment and allow Istredd to fully nerd out. You're welcome, idiot nerd.
Tell me, what was it like?
Painful. He laughs. Overwhelming. Unique. I've never been in the presence of something so powerful. It only made me more intrigued.
It's not as if it was possible that Istredd would go there and suddenly decide not to be interested anymore. He was always going to want to know more, explore everything he can, get answers. It's just a difference of passion. If it turned out to be less than expectations, he would have done it from a logic necessary standpoint. He still cares.
I would say before I have no intention of helping Thorne control it, but I truly don't think they ever could. Their ambitions about that are a dead end. That is what he thinks as of now.
It's not as if it was possible that Istredd would go there and suddenly decide not to be interested anymore. He was always going to want to know more, explore everything he can, get answers. It's just a difference of passion. If it turned out to be less than expectations, he would have done it from a logic necessary standpoint. He still cares.
I would say before I have no intention of helping Thorne control it, but I truly don't think they ever could. Their ambitions about that are a dead end. That is what he thinks as of now.
You know, that checks out for you. Given Istredd's relationship with Lucifer.
He stretches of his legs, rocks his feet side to side, taps his fingers along his stomach, then stands, grabs the plate of bread, and thrusts it at Istredd. "Try to eat. You look like Hell warmed over." Ah, Istredd doesn't get the joke yet. Well. One day, likely.
He takes his seat again. So often Lucifer does the cost-benefit analysis and other times he flies by the seat of his Abandonment Complex pants. Generally speaking of late he doesn't even know what he wants. Michael noticed it, too.
The eternal 'survival' mantra.
I have no intention of doing anything Thorne wants. They're a means to an end--always have been. What that end is I'm not sure. They're the best access to the Singularity, that's all. But eventually they'll outlive their use and they'll be a gourd to crack open.
He doubts Istredd will be surprised by that.
He stretches of his legs, rocks his feet side to side, taps his fingers along his stomach, then stands, grabs the plate of bread, and thrusts it at Istredd. "Try to eat. You look like Hell warmed over." Ah, Istredd doesn't get the joke yet. Well. One day, likely.
He takes his seat again. So often Lucifer does the cost-benefit analysis and other times he flies by the seat of his Abandonment Complex pants. Generally speaking of late he doesn't even know what he wants. Michael noticed it, too.
The eternal 'survival' mantra.
I have no intention of doing anything Thorne wants. They're a means to an end--always have been. What that end is I'm not sure. They're the best access to the Singularity, that's all. But eventually they'll outlive their use and they'll be a gourd to crack open.
He doubts Istredd will be surprised by that.
What can I say? I love a challenge. He chuckles. Istredd has researched until his eyes couldn't focus and his back was hunched and his fingers were covered in papercuts. But he's never lost his love for learning. And that does stay true with people too, like Lucifer. Never boring. Always interesting and challenging. Special.
"Thank you. It is kind of you to put in the effort, especially since you hate me." That's the problem with Istredd, once he hears something that amuses him, he'll bring it back. Like the placeholder and now Lucifer's grumpy proclaimed hate. He rarely gets this though, a lack of a friend means a lack of someone to banter with.
He chews on the toast, it is smart to start there, and he will probably eat very light at the banquet tonight. Now he is doing well enough to fully sit up, but he is still very pale for him. Istredd considers what he's saying; no he isn't surprised, but he really doesn't have a leaning toward violence personally.
The access to the Singularity and the best magic. It's a trade-off. I wouldn't prefer one of the other places, despite there being more freedom. It may be a different kind of freedom, one that masquerades as it, and there's something crueler about that. But not everyone in that castle is a bad person. I've spent a lot of time with the people of conquered lands.
"Thank you. It is kind of you to put in the effort, especially since you hate me." That's the problem with Istredd, once he hears something that amuses him, he'll bring it back. Like the placeholder and now Lucifer's grumpy proclaimed hate. He rarely gets this though, a lack of a friend means a lack of someone to banter with.
He chews on the toast, it is smart to start there, and he will probably eat very light at the banquet tonight. Now he is doing well enough to fully sit up, but he is still very pale for him. Istredd considers what he's saying; no he isn't surprised, but he really doesn't have a leaning toward violence personally.
The access to the Singularity and the best magic. It's a trade-off. I wouldn't prefer one of the other places, despite there being more freedom. It may be a different kind of freedom, one that masquerades as it, and there's something crueler about that. But not everyone in that castle is a bad person. I've spent a lot of time with the people of conquered lands.
"So much hate, thought I'd have to actually find a new placeholder," Lucifer drones, because too late, don't worry, he's already brought it back, "do you know how exhausting that would be? What a waste of my very valuable time."
If leaderships could change it might help. Yennefer told me once that there were different factions within Thorne itself. Finding those and learning more had taken a bit of a backseat. He's gotten less skilled at multitasking.
Or if they wouldn't be so uppity about us just going somewhere else in their territory without their permission. Hayle supposedly has a university. But Hayle is also very cold. And Lucifer notably hates being cold.
If leaderships could change it might help. Yennefer told me once that there were different factions within Thorne itself. Finding those and learning more had taken a bit of a backseat. He's gotten less skilled at multitasking.
Or if they wouldn't be so uppity about us just going somewhere else in their territory without their permission. Hayle supposedly has a university. But Hayle is also very cold. And Lucifer notably hates being cold.
Istredd laughs, his spirit lighter than usual. It could be because he is delirious from his trip or because Lucifer makes him feel better. "It's true, you lucked out with me. You barely had to make any effort there." Just allow someone to share his space and much of his life here with. So little effort. He is able to multitask with chewing and mentally communicating, one of the reasons it's easier for him.
The queen is the problem. None of the mages have enough authority to be able to make a dent. Appealing to the king seems pointless. She's reckless and power-hungry. The only way he can see the mages making a coup would be to assassinate the queen, and none of them seem cold-hearted to do that. Including Ambrose. They can't control her either.
I'd keep you warm. Realizing a beat later what that could sound like, he hurries to follow up. We have our log still and fire spells, you'd be fine.
The queen is the problem. None of the mages have enough authority to be able to make a dent. Appealing to the king seems pointless. She's reckless and power-hungry. The only way he can see the mages making a coup would be to assassinate the queen, and none of them seem cold-hearted to do that. Including Ambrose. They can't control her either.
I'd keep you warm. Realizing a beat later what that could sound like, he hurries to follow up. We have our log still and fire spells, you'd be fine.
He is trying to make the man feel better. It's just odd to have any success at it. But the lack of effort on Lucifer's part is untrue. Sharing space and much of his life had been extremely difficult. Maybe more difficult now than it had in the beginning.
I don't trust Ambrose, but compared to the queen--or without the queen--he's likely harmless. The distrust comes from what Yennefer's explained to him about the Summoneds' first time here.
Otherwise he just takes the man as incompetent.
Too much power underestimates everyone. She wouldn't expect someone insignificant to usurp her. Someone just needs enough bull-headed determination.
Is he speaking from experience? Who knows. The magic 8-ball of Lucifer's thoughts are coming up Reply Hazy.
He manages to not laugh at Istredd's blunder, but it's a near thing.
Get me some heating enchantments for clothing and then we'll talk. Not that either of us have the money to get you into Abraxas' School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The joke in that title is clear.
I don't trust Ambrose, but compared to the queen--or without the queen--he's likely harmless. The distrust comes from what Yennefer's explained to him about the Summoneds' first time here.
Otherwise he just takes the man as incompetent.
Too much power underestimates everyone. She wouldn't expect someone insignificant to usurp her. Someone just needs enough bull-headed determination.
Is he speaking from experience? Who knows. The magic 8-ball of Lucifer's thoughts are coming up Reply Hazy.
He manages to not laugh at Istredd's blunder, but it's a near thing.
Get me some heating enchantments for clothing and then we'll talk. Not that either of us have the money to get you into Abraxas' School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The joke in that title is clear.
A long time ago, another mage tried to summon people from other worlds. He was exiled for it and became the founder of Solvunn. Until Ambrose, they didn't try it again. Of course Istredd being Istredd, he was intrigued by the history of the kingdoms and it was the first thing he looked up.
She could have ordered him to, he's only been nine years in his position. Hard to say. But I'm not sure anyone is harmless. In our world, mages are placed in courts, specifically to try and manipulate the monarchies. Yennefer could probably tell him more about that than Istredd did. It's why she is so good at it herself, becoming close to the Queen.
His look is speculative and his humor evaporates. I hope you don't mean you, Lucifer. I'm not the coup-throwing type. For one, a Summoned would not become the next person in power, for two, Istredd can barely tolerate people now. He wouldn't want his best friend to be the leader out of no where. Or we could try to get the king to get it together and take the reins back. He seems more reasonable.
As for the heat joke, well, he scolds himself internally for nearly getting flustered over something so stupid. And pointless. I already went to a magic school. He doesn't get the reference! I can find you that enchantment.
She could have ordered him to, he's only been nine years in his position. Hard to say. But I'm not sure anyone is harmless. In our world, mages are placed in courts, specifically to try and manipulate the monarchies. Yennefer could probably tell him more about that than Istredd did. It's why she is so good at it herself, becoming close to the Queen.
His look is speculative and his humor evaporates. I hope you don't mean you, Lucifer. I'm not the coup-throwing type. For one, a Summoned would not become the next person in power, for two, Istredd can barely tolerate people now. He wouldn't want his best friend to be the leader out of no where. Or we could try to get the king to get it together and take the reins back. He seems more reasonable.
As for the heat joke, well, he scolds himself internally for nearly getting flustered over something so stupid. And pointless. I already went to a magic school. He doesn't get the reference! I can find you that enchantment.
I don't want to lead this dump. It's thrown out with disgust, but there's a web of thoughts surrounding it, easy to grasp: that Lucifer's too weak to protect himself in the position, that he doesn't know enough about the whole political game of this world, and how dare he just get compared to Dean Winchester (because that is the bull-headed idiot Lucifer was considering). The king has potential, even if it's just as a figurehead.
He grins. Istredd flustered is going to start being a thing to amuse him, it seems. But you haven't been to this magic school. There are better things to use money on though. Please do, either way. I could use them when we keep sinking into winter here.
He grins. Istredd flustered is going to start being a thing to amuse him, it seems. But you haven't been to this magic school. There are better things to use money on though. Please do, either way. I could use them when we keep sinking into winter here.
It is funny that Istredd warned him about possible feelings and thought bleeding, and he isn't the one doing it. Lucifer is even in the most casual of ways. Istredd doesn't know the name Dean Winchester though it's apparently in line with his disgust about other things. He pauses, tilting his head curiously. Are there other people from your world here?
He knows about Michael and never considered asking if there were others. He doesn't know if that name is someone back home or someone here, but it seems like a reasonable thing to ask.
Istredd would like it if Lucifer forgot the joy of flustering him, thanks. He likes to keep his composure but it is very easy to spin him out, a fact he is hoping to keep secret. Due to embarrassment. Have you always been this sensitive to the cold? You're this all-powerful old being, and you hate winter.
He knows about Michael and never considered asking if there were others. He doesn't know if that name is someone back home or someone here, but it seems like a reasonable thing to ask.
Istredd would like it if Lucifer forgot the joy of flustering him, thanks. He likes to keep his composure but it is very easy to spin him out, a fact he is hoping to keep secret. Due to embarrassment. Have you always been this sensitive to the cold? You're this all-powerful old being, and you hate winter.
He hasn't felt a need to stutter the bleed and it's been so long since he's been able to simply exist freely, courtesy of thinking all the walls in Thorne were breathing.
Unfortunately, there's a couple. Michael in Solvunn and a few in Free Cities.
Istredd's a smart man; he can likely make the connection from the sentence to Lucifer saying everyone he knows in Free Cities wants him dead.
No. I 'burn cold' as it were. But I've lost so much that makes me what I am that it's... lessened all my tolerances. Now I sleep, eat, and bleed. And my own inherent cold literally comes back to bite me.
Unfortunately, there's a couple. Michael in Solvunn and a few in Free Cities.
Istredd's a smart man; he can likely make the connection from the sentence to Lucifer saying everyone he knows in Free Cities wants him dead.
No. I 'burn cold' as it were. But I've lost so much that makes me what I am that it's... lessened all my tolerances. Now I sleep, eat, and bleed. And my own inherent cold literally comes back to bite me.
Istredd doesn't mind the flow of thoughts as it is also how his mind works much of the time, brains do have a way of tumbling around, but it's nice to feel that free cascade. It's emotions that feed him more than thoughts. For someone who tries to be very contained, he can be hungry for them to be unfiltered.
The people who want to kill you? Yes he makes that jump immediately, frowning. His concern is clear, worried for Lucifer's safety, considering he came to him bleeding everywhere once. It must have been them. He needs to protect him, despite that seeming ridiculous to someone powerful. I'll be able to feel if you're in danger too.
Lucifer didn't sleep, eat, and bleed before? There is no end to the ways in which he's an alien. Here, I'll .... He begins to cast a low level Abraxas heating spell, not thinking about the fact he was in pain horribly recently. So attempting to use his magic immediately backfires on him, causing his headache to worsen and he hisses.
The people who want to kill you? Yes he makes that jump immediately, frowning. His concern is clear, worried for Lucifer's safety, considering he came to him bleeding everywhere once. It must have been them. He needs to protect him, despite that seeming ridiculous to someone powerful. I'll be able to feel if you're in danger too.
Lucifer didn't sleep, eat, and bleed before? There is no end to the ways in which he's an alien. Here, I'll .... He begins to cast a low level Abraxas heating spell, not thinking about the fact he was in pain horribly recently. So attempting to use his magic immediately backfires on him, causing his headache to worsen and he hisses.
"The fire is enough right now, idiot," Lucifer tsks, though not unkindly, before the rest of it catches up through his mind and the first lock-up of Lucifer's thoughts follows, though not stifled entirely. Just like how Lucifer can physically tense oftentimes. Outwardly he looks as though nothing had changed. Don't get involved with it, Istredd, it comes across sharply in warning. Anything else, fine. But not that.
And any thoughts around the why of it are obfuscated, if only because knowing will make Istredd more willing to get involved. But Dean with that blade could gut through Lucifer into the heart of his celestial being.
And he will shred through Istredd before he even tried a spell.
Lucifer refuses to allow that any chance of happening.
And any thoughts around the why of it are obfuscated, if only because knowing will make Istredd more willing to get involved. But Dean with that blade could gut through Lucifer into the heart of his celestial being.
And he will shred through Istredd before he even tried a spell.
Lucifer refuses to allow that any chance of happening.
I'm not helpless, Lucifer. I'm stronger than you think. Istredd says, more sharp than usual. Just as he snapped at Geralt before for underestimating him, he does it again. He is not devoid of his own triggers. After a long time of fellow mages looking down on him for being more interested in books than power, he has just enough of a sliver of pride that can get bruised. His frustration gets through with a prickle of defensiveness.
You're my friend, I'm not going to stand by. It is slightly hypocritical to say that considering he just went somewhere Lucifer couldn't follow and made him fear for Istredd's life for a time. He forced him to stand by and let it happen in that case. He's caught, even he can be a hypocrite.
You're my friend, I'm not going to stand by. It is slightly hypocritical to say that considering he just went somewhere Lucifer couldn't follow and made him fear for Istredd's life for a time. He forced him to stand by and let it happen in that case. He's caught, even he can be a hypocrite.
"I know you're not helpless!" he snarls, aloud, and stands abruptly, pacing away. His thoughts are thunderclouds, images more than sound, roiling. Flashes of unnatural lightning that if Istredd ever goes to Lucifer's domain, he'll see the same thing. "This isn't about strength. You want to know who held the blade currently--somehow--in his possession? The Father of Murder."
There are brief snippets of thought coming through the storm, jumbled and out of alignment, from the very-carefully tucked-away cloud:
Cain and Abel.
Knight of Hell.
Corruption.
'It just made you more of what you already were'--and that last one isn't Lucifer's voice. It's a mousey, but high voice, clouded over with feelings of hatred and betrayal and shattered love.
Lucifer spins about, furious. "I know how to handle him. I know how to handle what he has." He's shaking. "He despises me, Istredd, and when that Mark corrupts him completely, I can still contain him." He hopes. "But if you get involved? He will see it as an opportunity to make me suffer, and destroy you. There is no one winning against what he has, not for any of us!"
There are brief snippets of thought coming through the storm, jumbled and out of alignment, from the very-carefully tucked-away cloud:
Cain and Abel.
Knight of Hell.
Corruption.
'It just made you more of what you already were'--and that last one isn't Lucifer's voice. It's a mousey, but high voice, clouded over with feelings of hatred and betrayal and shattered love.
Lucifer spins about, furious. "I know how to handle him. I know how to handle what he has." He's shaking. "He despises me, Istredd, and when that Mark corrupts him completely, I can still contain him." He hopes. "But if you get involved? He will see it as an opportunity to make me suffer, and destroy you. There is no one winning against what he has, not for any of us!"
Istredd springs to his feet as well, but the moment he does, he wavers. He is doing much better, there is energy in him, especially now, but he is not in a place to be a threat to anyone. Which just feeds into the problem. And he is stubborn about it. He manages to stay on his feet, firm balance on his mind.
"I understand you are afraid he will use me against you. That is serious and I don't want it to happen either." He has no doubt that this man would do that, from the fear Lucifer has about it. It would worry him to be Lucifer's weakness, but he is feeling a few things very strongly in that moment. Anger, frustration, fear of his own, something deeper than he wants to get into.
"I won't go looking for trouble or to engage with this person, I'll leave him alone." Istredd is someone who always speaks very plainly and calm, but when he gets in this state, there's passion in his voice. "But against impossible odds, we find ourselves in another world, we found our way to this friendship unintentionally. Now that I have it, I'm not going to give it up. I gave up on Yenna, I'm not doing it again."
"I understand you are afraid he will use me against you. That is serious and I don't want it to happen either." He has no doubt that this man would do that, from the fear Lucifer has about it. It would worry him to be Lucifer's weakness, but he is feeling a few things very strongly in that moment. Anger, frustration, fear of his own, something deeper than he wants to get into.
"I won't go looking for trouble or to engage with this person, I'll leave him alone." Istredd is someone who always speaks very plainly and calm, but when he gets in this state, there's passion in his voice. "But against impossible odds, we find ourselves in another world, we found our way to this friendship unintentionally. Now that I have it, I'm not going to give it up. I gave up on Yenna, I'm not doing it again."
The heavy weight that hits Lucifer scatters his thoughts as his realization slams through him.
This is exactly what his goal was when he first arrived in Thorne. Find a bunch of halfwits (Istredd isn't a halfwit, though he is often blinded by his distractions), make them more than what they already were. Make them reliant on Lucifer. Make them want to protect him, because Lucifer had been too weakened to do it himself.
Make them want to die for him.
Lucifer won the game.
He has what he needs.
The problem is percolating on this very ship, the Mark slowly making its corrosive way through Dean Winchester's veins. Make him just like Lucifer, dragged down to Lucifer's level. A monster, a killing machine. Nothing more, just exponentially rocketing up those murderous tendencies--more of what he already was.
A little push here, a little more corruption there. Turn Dean against everyone he's ever loved, make them all see his true self.
And so what if a few people die to get between Lucifer and Dean? They don't matter, right? That was the whole point.
Lucifer knows he bungled his plans up severely at some stage, but he hadn't realized just how much until he's staring at everything he ever needed to survive right in the face and his thoughts are still unable to form new connections to process that. He just stares at Istredd, devoid of thought, devoid of sound.
This is exactly what his goal was when he first arrived in Thorne. Find a bunch of halfwits (Istredd isn't a halfwit, though he is often blinded by his distractions), make them more than what they already were. Make them reliant on Lucifer. Make them want to protect him, because Lucifer had been too weakened to do it himself.
Make them want to die for him.
Lucifer won the game.
He has what he needs.
The problem is percolating on this very ship, the Mark slowly making its corrosive way through Dean Winchester's veins. Make him just like Lucifer, dragged down to Lucifer's level. A monster, a killing machine. Nothing more, just exponentially rocketing up those murderous tendencies--more of what he already was.
A little push here, a little more corruption there. Turn Dean against everyone he's ever loved, make them all see his true self.
And so what if a few people die to get between Lucifer and Dean? They don't matter, right? That was the whole point.
Lucifer knows he bungled his plans up severely at some stage, but he hadn't realized just how much until he's staring at everything he ever needed to survive right in the face and his thoughts are still unable to form new connections to process that. He just stares at Istredd, devoid of thought, devoid of sound.
They were in the midst of a fight (sort of) and Istredd was expecting a push back, getting ready for it. The thing is, no matter how much they argue the point, when it actually happens, instinct will win out. He can promise here and still feel that gut fear when it happens and find him. He couldn't save Yennefer when she was attacked, he couldn't force everyone to do their cards.
Whether it makes sense or not, whether he wants it or not, the two of them are connected in his mind. Lucifer maybe planted it there himself by saying they were alike. She is his biggest blindspot and he didn't expect another one would happen. It's not good for him either, he has plans. But he is telling the truth. This is where he's at. He hopes it never comes to pass though.
What he absolutely did not expect was Lucifer to just stop. Freeze. It didn't make sense so it threw off his anger. At first he is concerned someone is attacking his mind, but he would know that. His eyebrows furrow in confusion and he cautiously takes a few steps toward him, closing some of the space Lucifer made. "Lucifer? Hello?"
Whether it makes sense or not, whether he wants it or not, the two of them are connected in his mind. Lucifer maybe planted it there himself by saying they were alike. She is his biggest blindspot and he didn't expect another one would happen. It's not good for him either, he has plans. But he is telling the truth. This is where he's at. He hopes it never comes to pass though.
What he absolutely did not expect was Lucifer to just stop. Freeze. It didn't make sense so it threw off his anger. At first he is concerned someone is attacking his mind, but he would know that. His eyebrows furrow in confusion and he cautiously takes a few steps toward him, closing some of the space Lucifer made. "Lucifer? Hello?"
It's... maybe unwise. Because the proximity does teeter something in Lucifer's mind, and Lucifer is never one to feel cornered, or off-balance. His mood is that eternal pendulum, coming and going with just a strike, sometimes finding its equilibrium, and as much as he dislikes the snake analogies that follow him around like every other title he didn't choose, this Serpent will strike when threatened, regardless if there is an actual threat.
So lightning sparks a fuse and the thoughts and feelings coalesce with a bang and feed over the link. All of it. Lucifer's original plans, Lucifer's desire to push Dean's corruption, Lucifer's winning the game, and all of it ruptured by (1) idiotic mage that wormed into Lucifer's life.
The last tumbled thought following like a whimper that he doesn't want to win this.
And then Lucifer collapses, loosely held up in a crouch.
"I really hate you," Lucifer mumbles, sounding no less true than it did the first time he said it.
So lightning sparks a fuse and the thoughts and feelings coalesce with a bang and feed over the link. All of it. Lucifer's original plans, Lucifer's desire to push Dean's corruption, Lucifer's winning the game, and all of it ruptured by (1) idiotic mage that wormed into Lucifer's life.
The last tumbled thought following like a whimper that he doesn't want to win this.
And then Lucifer collapses, loosely held up in a crouch.
"I really hate you," Lucifer mumbles, sounding no less true than it did the first time he said it.
Istredd feels Lucifer tense the closer he gets and he pauses, uncertain whether to keep going and perhaps it is better to stay. This has been an intense 24 hours and he didn't want to fight. Again. He could have backed down and played the peacemaker but he didn't. He has no idea what is going on right then, until Lucifer slams into his mind.
It is overwhelming all at once especially because it is emotional. Lucifer's basically confessing a lot of dark thoughts and instincts and Istredd is not what one would call vengeful himself. The plans aren't a surprise considering Lucifer admitted to planning on using him. He just wants to sigh about that, because of course he was hoping for this level of loyalty. Istredd played into his hands successfully, and yet, he has no doubts it is both ways now.
The corruption of Dean is confusing although he gets that it is connected to this mark. He wants to intentionally destroy a person to 'win' and no longer wants Istredd to be fodder for it. Istredd is already weak so this is a bit much and he wobbles. He manages to sit on the floor without collapsing the wrong way at least. Istredd stares at him with wide blue eyes and his feelings in response to this are varied. Some disappointment, some frustration, but also compassion. And also, unfortunately, some pleasure too. Whether he likes it or not, Istredd has never been 'special' a day in his life, nor special to someone else, not really. It's embarrassing a little but it's true.
"Maybe you should reconsider what winning looks like to you. There isn't only one way." Istredd resists the urge to come any closer, having seen how he withdrew last time. "You have a choice. I can't make it for you."
It is overwhelming all at once especially because it is emotional. Lucifer's basically confessing a lot of dark thoughts and instincts and Istredd is not what one would call vengeful himself. The plans aren't a surprise considering Lucifer admitted to planning on using him. He just wants to sigh about that, because of course he was hoping for this level of loyalty. Istredd played into his hands successfully, and yet, he has no doubts it is both ways now.
The corruption of Dean is confusing although he gets that it is connected to this mark. He wants to intentionally destroy a person to 'win' and no longer wants Istredd to be fodder for it. Istredd is already weak so this is a bit much and he wobbles. He manages to sit on the floor without collapsing the wrong way at least. Istredd stares at him with wide blue eyes and his feelings in response to this are varied. Some disappointment, some frustration, but also compassion. And also, unfortunately, some pleasure too. Whether he likes it or not, Istredd has never been 'special' a day in his life, nor special to someone else, not really. It's embarrassing a little but it's true.
"Maybe you should reconsider what winning looks like to you. There isn't only one way." Istredd resists the urge to come any closer, having seen how he withdrew last time. "You have a choice. I can't make it for you."
Edited 2022-12-31 07:04 (UTC)
"Do you know," he rasps, "how utterly insane you sound?"
The words are not barbed as they often would be. He's exhausted. He knows Istredd can't handle the strike anymore than Lucifer, but the pain is mutual, because Lucifer is back in that hallway with Michael finding him, and the silence after was almost worse than that pain. He'd put up with Michael for longer than usual just because fighting with his brother filled the absent of anything from Istredd's end.
But he still feels it, that initial 'defense mechanism' of the Singularity. Or maybe he just feels the reverberation of what he did to Istredd, echoing back.
He's not going to feel guilty for it.
Mostly.
God, his head hurts though.
"I have to reconsider now, thanks," he adds, not meeting Istredd's gaze. 'Have to' because yes, he has a choice, but it isn't one, that's the whole problem. What he's willing to actually do for... revenge. "There isn't a choice." He pushes this, not as Free Will stripped from him, but that the other option is losing Istredd, and with that last bit of Lucifer's plans between their minds, he needs that understood.
He's not going to give it up either.
The words are not barbed as they often would be. He's exhausted. He knows Istredd can't handle the strike anymore than Lucifer, but the pain is mutual, because Lucifer is back in that hallway with Michael finding him, and the silence after was almost worse than that pain. He'd put up with Michael for longer than usual just because fighting with his brother filled the absent of anything from Istredd's end.
But he still feels it, that initial 'defense mechanism' of the Singularity. Or maybe he just feels the reverberation of what he did to Istredd, echoing back.
He's not going to feel guilty for it.
Mostly.
God, his head hurts though.
"I have to reconsider now, thanks," he adds, not meeting Istredd's gaze. 'Have to' because yes, he has a choice, but it isn't one, that's the whole problem. What he's willing to actually do for... revenge. "There isn't a choice." He pushes this, not as Free Will stripped from him, but that the other option is losing Istredd, and with that last bit of Lucifer's plans between their minds, he needs that understood.
He's not going to give it up either.
"There is. You're just not used to choosing this way." Lucifer can still make the decision to go after Dean and take the risk, that is an option, but he doesn't want to do it. Istredd knows nothing about Dean or their very complicated relationship, he suspects he is a part of or behind why Istredd had to take care of his bloody wounds a few months ago. This doesn't make Istredd a fan of the man or that he is protecting anyone else but Lucifer.
He sits cross-legged since he can't get back up right now and takes in a deep breath, letting it out, his emotions fluttering all around him because of this next conversation. "Yenna and I broke up because a variety of reasons, one major one being I betrayed her trust, but also we never were going to work out. Our ambitions led us on different routes. Either one of us would have to give up what we wanted for the other. I was willing to, but she wasn't. And while it hurt, I came to understand that."
Istredd tried to get her back and was greeted with closed door after closed door. He knows Lucifer told him not to share more about her, but he actually is being careful about locking away a few details. This is a general break-up conversation. And frankly, with his friend, maybe he deserves to be able to talk about something like this.
"Decades later, life had become different for her, and she came and found me again. She told me she wanted to start over and give us the life we originally wanted. It was everything I wanted to hear all that time ago." It's painful to talk about. Emotionally painful in a way the Singularity was mentally. "But I told her no because I didn't believe we could make it. She thought she wanted me but she wanted an escape. Eventually she would be bored and leave. And when we talked later, she agreed that was probably the truth." The two of them are actually quite honest with each other. They have to be. There isn't animosity in his tone, he is not angry with her, he's sad though. Agonizingly sad.
"That is what I meant by gave up on her. Later on, I wondered if I made a mistake. If I should have at least tried to let us have a chance. Even if it didn't work, wouldn't it be worth it to know? I was too afraid so I let her go. I have a point, outside of pouring out my heart." And it is like that. Pouring. Bleeding. Istredd hadn't shared these regrets with Yennefer because he saw no point in it. They are where they are now. They are allies again, truly, and he doesn't want to ruin that. "The point is ... she was never going to pick me. The only person who ever loved me, and I would never be that important. I can't be mad at her for that. I ruined our chances."
A sad tale of heartbreak and regret, and the truth of two people he knew and what they lost. Even if they came out the other side and Lucifer should know that Istredd is still loyal to Yennefer. They get each other. This is a very old wound. "A long roundabout way of saying that I'm not sorry someone is picking me."
He sits cross-legged since he can't get back up right now and takes in a deep breath, letting it out, his emotions fluttering all around him because of this next conversation. "Yenna and I broke up because a variety of reasons, one major one being I betrayed her trust, but also we never were going to work out. Our ambitions led us on different routes. Either one of us would have to give up what we wanted for the other. I was willing to, but she wasn't. And while it hurt, I came to understand that."
Istredd tried to get her back and was greeted with closed door after closed door. He knows Lucifer told him not to share more about her, but he actually is being careful about locking away a few details. This is a general break-up conversation. And frankly, with his friend, maybe he deserves to be able to talk about something like this.
"Decades later, life had become different for her, and she came and found me again. She told me she wanted to start over and give us the life we originally wanted. It was everything I wanted to hear all that time ago." It's painful to talk about. Emotionally painful in a way the Singularity was mentally. "But I told her no because I didn't believe we could make it. She thought she wanted me but she wanted an escape. Eventually she would be bored and leave. And when we talked later, she agreed that was probably the truth." The two of them are actually quite honest with each other. They have to be. There isn't animosity in his tone, he is not angry with her, he's sad though. Agonizingly sad.
"That is what I meant by gave up on her. Later on, I wondered if I made a mistake. If I should have at least tried to let us have a chance. Even if it didn't work, wouldn't it be worth it to know? I was too afraid so I let her go. I have a point, outside of pouring out my heart." And it is like that. Pouring. Bleeding. Istredd hadn't shared these regrets with Yennefer because he saw no point in it. They are where they are now. They are allies again, truly, and he doesn't want to ruin that. "The point is ... she was never going to pick me. The only person who ever loved me, and I would never be that important. I can't be mad at her for that. I ruined our chances."
A sad tale of heartbreak and regret, and the truth of two people he knew and what they lost. Even if they came out the other side and Lucifer should know that Istredd is still loyal to Yennefer. They get each other. This is a very old wound. "A long roundabout way of saying that I'm not sorry someone is picking me."
Edited 2022-12-31 07:49 (UTC)
"I know you're a century old," soon, "but you're going to eventually run out of people to tell me about every time I blow a fuse."
It's not that Istredd's explanation just bounces right off of Lucifer. He thought at first it might just be drivel, but he caught on to the point quick enough, even if it felt so very small to Lucifer.
But he doesn't outright dismiss the story either, so there's that.
And... then the point he thought Istredd was making--getting everything you wanted and then letting it go--isn't actually what he was going for, and instead a bit worse, on multiple levels.
He shakes his head and levers himself up out of the crouch he had fallen into, and leans down just enough, offering Istredd his arm.
"You really need better friends," Lucifer says. But this is what he's got, this out-of-sorts devil (that really does need to get a conversation with Geralt now), offering him help up.
The right messes they both are.
It's not that Istredd's explanation just bounces right off of Lucifer. He thought at first it might just be drivel, but he caught on to the point quick enough, even if it felt so very small to Lucifer.
But he doesn't outright dismiss the story either, so there's that.
And... then the point he thought Istredd was making--getting everything you wanted and then letting it go--isn't actually what he was going for, and instead a bit worse, on multiple levels.
He shakes his head and levers himself up out of the crouch he had fallen into, and leans down just enough, offering Istredd his arm.
"You really need better friends," Lucifer says. But this is what he's got, this out-of-sorts devil (that really does need to get a conversation with Geralt now), offering him help up.
The right messes they both are.
"A little under a century," he corrects with a shrug. "You just told me you were reconsidering your revenge plot because of me. I think I can trust that you will keep this quiet. I should be able to talk to my closest friend about my life." It's not as if Yennefer is in the past. She is right there in the castle and Istredd will always come to her when she calls. When that happens, Lucifer has more insight into why it happens and what ties there are between them. Not every single detail, he left out many things, but there is context for why they both struggle a little with letting go. No closure.
It may feel small to Lucifer but it's not small to Istredd. It means a great deal to him, which is why he explained the way up to that feeling of relief and a touch of happiness about being important. To anyone. It's pathetic he never has been, but it is the life he chose, away from anyone who could care. This place forced him to change.
Istredd takes his hand and does actually need his strength to get up, he is almost better but the emotional toll this all took was exhausting. He stands and wobbles again, before looking down at him. He's two inches taller, so it is slight but there. They are close at first but he knows Lucifer doesn't like that so he takes a step back.
"No, I don't." Istredd smiles at him. I know you.
It may feel small to Lucifer but it's not small to Istredd. It means a great deal to him, which is why he explained the way up to that feeling of relief and a touch of happiness about being important. To anyone. It's pathetic he never has been, but it is the life he chose, away from anyone who could care. This place forced him to change.
Istredd takes his hand and does actually need his strength to get up, he is almost better but the emotional toll this all took was exhausting. He stands and wobbles again, before looking down at him. He's two inches taller, so it is slight but there. They are close at first but he knows Lucifer doesn't like that so he takes a step back.
"No, I don't." Istredd smiles at him. I know you.
"You just told me you were reconsidering your revenge plot because of me."
Lord.
That's going to keep him up at night.
Well. A problem for down the road.
Considering he's already holding Istredd's trip to the Singularity secret, honestly the talk about Yennefer is nothing. At some point, Lucifer might return the favor. It isn't like he could throw much more at Istredd about what and who he is that Istredd isn't going to just shrug off now.
Then again, Lucifer didn't think the link was going to be detrimental to him this fast, but that's what happens when you run into Dean, the Mark of Cain, and the First Blade.
So, clearly he should know better than try to predict anything.
"Yeah, well," he doesn't entirely know what to do with that, so, "sorry I punched your brain." And nudges Istredd back towards his bed despite the step he took away from Lucifer.
Lord.
That's going to keep him up at night.
Well. A problem for down the road.
Considering he's already holding Istredd's trip to the Singularity secret, honestly the talk about Yennefer is nothing. At some point, Lucifer might return the favor. It isn't like he could throw much more at Istredd about what and who he is that Istredd isn't going to just shrug off now.
Then again, Lucifer didn't think the link was going to be detrimental to him this fast, but that's what happens when you run into Dean, the Mark of Cain, and the First Blade.
So, clearly he should know better than try to predict anything.
"Yeah, well," he doesn't entirely know what to do with that, so, "sorry I punched your brain." And nudges Istredd back towards his bed despite the step he took away from Lucifer.
The problem with where they currently stand is that he can show him many things, and Istredd will accept it because who he's shown himself to be is not the same. It isn't that his hunger for revenge is not concerning. It is concerning. Lucifer is problematic. He could slippery slope backward. Istredd isn't an idealist, blind to the downfalls of people. But he also has watched how his care for other people has made him fight the very things that kept him going for his long, long years.
And Istredd has a history of weak spots for certain types of people. Power hungry and angry, but also desperate for something to hold onto about themselves or others that isn't shitty.
He laughs and follows his lead, more than willing to sit down on a bed again. He feels he will be strong enough to get to the banquets tonight, albeit needing an early night. At least it isn't a ball where the threat of dancing is over his head. "Sorry I've made your life more complicated."
Istredd does reach out to pat Lucifer's arm, but then nudges him playfully and drops his hand. Careful of his boundaries even if he is not the same with Istredd's mind. Did anything big happen today while you were babysitting?
And Istredd has a history of weak spots for certain types of people. Power hungry and angry, but also desperate for something to hold onto about themselves or others that isn't shitty.
He laughs and follows his lead, more than willing to sit down on a bed again. He feels he will be strong enough to get to the banquets tonight, albeit needing an early night. At least it isn't a ball where the threat of dancing is over his head. "Sorry I've made your life more complicated."
Istredd does reach out to pat Lucifer's arm, but then nudges him playfully and drops his hand. Careful of his boundaries even if he is not the same with Istredd's mind. Did anything big happen today while you were babysitting?
If Lucifer still holds onto one core concept, it's that he's problematic.
That, of anything, is unlikely to ever go away. But the definition of it may change. He can definitely be problematic for other, non-revenge and backsliding reasons.
He retakes his seat because Istredd isn't the only one who needs rest now. He only grunts in response to Istredd making his life more complicated. Yeah, he has. But. Lucifer will figure it out. Later, if they get through these negotiations unscathed and return to Thorne.
Not really. Kept Jack from sleepwalking off the boat. That's about it, thankfully. For now.
That, of anything, is unlikely to ever go away. But the definition of it may change. He can definitely be problematic for other, non-revenge and backsliding reasons.
He retakes his seat because Istredd isn't the only one who needs rest now. He only grunts in response to Istredd making his life more complicated. Yeah, he has. But. Lucifer will figure it out. Later, if they get through these negotiations unscathed and return to Thorne.
Not really. Kept Jack from sleepwalking off the boat. That's about it, thankfully. For now.
Istredd is not looking forward to the banquet, he is already overwhelmed at the moment due to their trip and Lucifer's entire everything in their conversations, so sitting around new people will be a lot. Little does he know it will be extra difficult because he'll be next to Ciri of all people. He'll just crash early tonight and hard after all of it.
Emotional exhaustion can be far worse than physical, as they both know. He will pay attention to the negotiations from here out of curiosity more than anything else. Strange, that going back to Thorne seems like a good thing right then.
Sleepwalking off the boat? Damn. That could have gotten fatal very fast.
They would have stopped the boat and fished him out, but if he was already unconscious, it might not have gone well for him.
Have you seen the boy?
Emotional exhaustion can be far worse than physical, as they both know. He will pay attention to the negotiations from here out of curiosity more than anything else. Strange, that going back to Thorne seems like a good thing right then.
Sleepwalking off the boat? Damn. That could have gotten fatal very fast.
They would have stopped the boat and fished him out, but if he was already unconscious, it might not have gone well for him.
Have you seen the boy?
I wanted to throw him in anyway. Look, he doesn't exactly like the guy, okay. They have a mutual dislike for... good reasons. Mostly. But he's my backup if something goes wrong and Wanda can't reach you.
Not that he's told Jack that.
At the mention of Wilhelm, he winces.
Only at a distance. It's better that I don't set him off.
He means that, too. Give him a banquet dinner though in a night or two and he'll realize he has to finally do something before the kid genuinely spins out.
Not that he's told Jack that.
At the mention of Wilhelm, he winces.
Only at a distance. It's better that I don't set him off.
He means that, too. Give him a banquet dinner though in a night or two and he'll realize he has to finally do something before the kid genuinely spins out.
I would have put Kyle on the list after you.
Istredd does not know Jack well. They are both in the library all the time, so they come across one another, but they are quiet and both good at doing their own thing. He does plan on talking to him soon. It has been a long-term plan. Maybe this boat adventure will require it (it will). But Istredd does know Kyle at this point and trusts his mind and capability. A smart person as interested in facts as he is.
I agree. It is unwise to set him off when we are stuck as we are. Besides, he may have a good time meeting new people here, unlike us. It's a rare opportunity before we're all stuck back at the castle.
And if he does end up having a good time here, Lucifer would only annoy him.
Istredd does not know Jack well. They are both in the library all the time, so they come across one another, but they are quiet and both good at doing their own thing. He does plan on talking to him soon. It has been a long-term plan. Maybe this boat adventure will require it (it will). But Istredd does know Kyle at this point and trusts his mind and capability. A smart person as interested in facts as he is.
I agree. It is unwise to set him off when we are stuck as we are. Besides, he may have a good time meeting new people here, unlike us. It's a rare opportunity before we're all stuck back at the castle.
And if he does end up having a good time here, Lucifer would only annoy him.
Kyle is a reliable option, Lucifer admits. In terms of something related to Wilhelm, Jack is best, because Wilhelm could tell Jack just about anything--truth or lie--about something I've done and Jack will just accept it in stride as an obvious answer.
You put your arm through a guy's chest once in a nightmare.
Kid's at least socializing for now. With the brothers back, too, that should help. Kell and Rhy each have a keen eye with the kid, for different reasons.
He pushes up out of his chair. "I'm going back on rounds." If anyone asks about you, I'll just say the seasickness hit again and you had to lay down.
You put your arm through a guy's chest once in a nightmare.
Kid's at least socializing for now. With the brothers back, too, that should help. Kell and Rhy each have a keen eye with the kid, for different reasons.
He pushes up out of his chair. "I'm going back on rounds." If anyone asks about you, I'll just say the seasickness hit again and you had to lay down.
Istredd is too tired to follow up on any of that, he just nods. Probably giving himself some time before the banquet is the only way he'll be able to handle it. "Thank you, Lucifer." He smiles at him.
Backdated to Jan 1st after Michael gave him a head's up
magicalarchaeologist
2023-01-06 10:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Through their connection, shortly after they're informed about Borrel. ]
Guess who did a religious ritual yesterday on the water?
Guess who did a religious ritual yesterday on the water?
I wish I could say I was surprised.
I'm really, really not.
I'm really, really not.
Absolutely irresponsible.
[ He's annoyed at them for perhaps killing some giant sea beasts for no reason! ]
[ He's annoyed at them for perhaps killing some giant sea beasts for no reason! ]
[there's a bit more of a delay than one word should take]
Why?
Was there a particular prompt for this or did you just feel like setting someone's pants on fire
well
at least you do in fact know that you have that ability now
they didn't get you for anything else though?
Wilhelm they're
["Mages" he stops himself. Mages or accustomed to working with mages. It's Thorne's whole deal.
But someone else can tell the kid he's kind of an idiot; it isn't going to be Lucifer. It doesn't help Wilhelm and he's stuck in a room with only his thoughts. Lucifer's not making those thoughts worse.]
Never mind.
At least there's that. Did they say why they were bringing you in? Was it my fault?
[How was he supposed to know that anyone can tell that he's using magic? It's not like his little emotional skin-shedding trick is as obvious to the eye as fire.]
No, he wanted to know about the night we got back from Nocwich.
Just, like, why I didn't go to the throne room right away. Not...
Nothing else.
No, he wanted to know about the night we got back from Nocwich.
Just, like, why I didn't go to the throne room right away. Not...
Nothing else.
[It's Istredd's Problem. Lucifer actively made it Istredd's Problem.]
That's... good. That you seemingly got out of that.
[Awkward. He's not sure he should actually answer with what he's thinking, but. Well.]
[Use your actual Lucifer-Related Trauma to hide from your Tarot-Related Trauma...
Maybe he shouldn't have said anything.]
Ahhh. Well I guess. There's something useful to come out of all that. Works as a... bit of a cover.
[Use your actual Lucifer-Related Trauma to hide from your Tarot-Related Trauma...
Maybe he shouldn't have said anything.]
[Well...it remains a wound, but one that's begun to scab over. Lucifer isn't wrong: the conflict that wedged a wall between them for months also seems to have distracted the guards from tracing the trail of Wilhelm's distress back to that night in Nocwich. A red herring of sorts.]
Thanks, I guess, for making me lose my shit in public.
Thanks, I guess, for making me lose my shit in public.
[Wilhelm made him lose his shit first, but that's added to the list of things he's not saying.]
... Yeeeeah. I'll ah. Try not to let it happen again.
Keep your head down and hopefully they really do let you out in the morning. If not, mmm, probably contact Strange.
[ Earlier that day, Istredd tells Lucifer he is going on a walk with Urianger to get new books and go over them together. He seems fairly excited about it bur doesn't go into too much enthusiasm because he knows it can get boring.
A few hours after he left to meet Urianger, very suddenly Lucifer will feel a very sudden burst of emotions. Adrenaline and fear shoot through the bond and then the sort of fading energy that comes from being drugged or knocked out. He slowly loses consciousness, flickering in and out before it goes silent.
He does say a loud Lucifer! after that initial shock and before he passes out, and then nothing else. ]
A few hours after he left to meet Urianger, very suddenly Lucifer will feel a very sudden burst of emotions. Adrenaline and fear shoot through the bond and then the sort of fading energy that comes from being drugged or knocked out. He slowly loses consciousness, flickering in and out before it goes silent.
He does say a loud Lucifer! after that initial shock and before he passes out, and then nothing else. ]
Edited 2023-02-19 20:52 (UTC)
Istredd!
[the number you are trying to reach isn't currently in service]
[the number you are trying to reach isn't currently in service]
just gonna leave it here for messages he can have, day threeish
magicalarchaeologist
2023-02-19 11:55 pm (UTC)(link)
lucif̶͕͌̂e̸̮͒͛ṛ̸̓ blocked our m̵̲͘͝a̴̟͆͒g̵̪͇͌̍i̶̺͊c̴̮̈ ̶̰͖̀ unsafe can't
ë̶̦̘̼̻̋͘ả̴̲̣̥̙̃́̌r̴̢̡͖̆̎̐̊ṱ̴̢͖̃͌͝h̵̙̮͙̅̑ prison others HELP
ë̶̦̘̼̻̋͘ả̴̲̣̥̙̃́̌r̴̢̡͖̆̎̐̊ṱ̴̢͖̃͌͝h̵̙̮͙̅̑ prison others HELP
I figured 'help' out when you went missing!
You need to give me a bit more than this! Prison where? How many people do they have now?
[ It's awhile before he responds, because it's not working well. ]
Summoned and n̶̦̦̖̔̓ā̵̛͖̐́t̸͍͕̝̋͗̽͋i̶͈̬̼̞̔̎͊̌̈́͜͝v̸̘̒ḙ̴͓͔̥̈́͊ͅs̵̨̛͎̩͗́̃͊́
Were missing before rumor å̴̛̱̮̩̼̆s̸̠̳͌̋͠k̵̨̳͈̎͗̈́ͅ ̶̩͉͓͕͘Ḱ̵̥̽̒ÿ̶̛̻͋̔l̴̳̤̥̯̈́ể̶̡̍͗
little food, monsters, no way out
Summoned and n̶̦̦̖̔̓ā̵̛͖̐́t̸͍͕̝̋͗̽͋i̶͈̬̼̞̔̎͊̌̈́͜͝v̸̘̒ḙ̴͓͔̥̈́͊ͅs̵̨̛͎̩͗́̃͊́
Were missing before rumor å̴̛̱̮̩̼̆s̸̠̳͌̋͠k̵̨̳͈̎͗̈́ͅ ̶̩͉͓͕͘Ḱ̵̥̽̒ÿ̶̛̻͋̔l̴̳̤̥̯̈́ể̶̡̍͗
little food, monsters, no way out
Any reason as to why? They sure didn't want your books.
No, strange, no guards. Could be to s̶̻̳͓̓͝ë̴̼̤́̋ě̶̹ what happens?
Hard to focus. Something's in the way. M̶̼̽̅̄a̵̰̝̟̾̅͝g̶̦͚̈́̏͠í̷̢̫c̴̮̖̋̑̓?̶͔̀̒͝ ̷͚̑̽?
Hard to focus. Something's in the way. M̶̼̽̅̄a̵̰̝̟̾̅͝g̶̦͚̈́̏͠í̷̢̫c̴̮̖̋̑̓?̶͔̀̒͝ ̷͚̑̽?
What I don't understand if this is related to the Nott disappearances, why are they so suddenly also kidnapping droves of Summoned?
Practice? S̷͎̬͖̭̻͐̄̒̂͛̎͌u̵̞̩̥̦̣̽̍̆͌̀̊̈́̒́̍̓̈̉̔̕m̷̛̠͓̻̼̪̽͛̑̽̓̄̅́͋̈́͑̇̇m̸̯̱͓̞̞͖̜̣̫̪͂͐̇͐̀͜͝ǫ̶̛̲͍̮͇̙̈̓͗͊̋̓̐͐̎̑͑n̴͖̬̬͚͕̟͇̦̺̩͓͂̈́̂̍͛̓e̸̡̨̛̝͎̣̫͖̪̝̱͈̥̐͗͊̀̊̿̈́̌̕͝d̵͈̳̭̮̲͎̙̲͛̋̈́̂͂̊̓ are dangerous. Š̶̳̂ȏ̷̦̫m̶͔̉̎e̴͎̎̏ ̵̬̇͑natives a̷̱̳̽̂r̴̡̪̓̈e̶̠̽ dead here.
Edited 2023-02-22 02:47 (UTC)
Throw Jack at one of the kidnappers next time any of them show.
Maybe his abilities will actually be useful, if they're not also blocked.
We're doing f̴̡͎͈̗̰͇̆͂̔̑͝͝ī̵̧̛͈̼̬̺n̸̩͔̰̓̎̃̔̽͒͐̊̕͝e̷̳̲͓̣̘̗̰͕̾͛͛̎̎́͋͠ thanks for a̶̧͂͑͊͂͊̂̄̕s̶̢̧̰̘̝͉̋̽̄̇̆͑̓̿ķ̴̰͖̞̬͙̠̤̮̦̓̅̐͂͂̍̊͆́͜i̸̻͚̲͈͓̖͍̞̲͖̓̌̾́̏̊ǹ̷̛͖̺́̓͐͝͝g̷̣̎͋̆͒͆͑̚͠
[ Hey, is there a tiny glimmer of his sense of humor amidst all the insanity? Absolutely. He isn't at panic level yet.]
Be safe. Don't w̴͕̘̙̳̳̰̺͔̑͂̕a̷̛̩̭̭̟̺̖͉̘͈͔͗̊̆̿̅͛͆͊͠ͅn̴̡̗̝̬͚̠̗̬̥̒͐͑͌͜t̴̠̻̙̳̙̞̒͊̈́̿̌̕͜ ̶͓̹͓̊͛́̑̋̋̂ͅy̵̨̫͙̳͔̫̑̐̓o̸̺͇̭̮͆̆u̷̧̢̳͇̣̫̭̼̩͂͑̎̂̋̿͜͝ in ą̵̠̳̤͉́̍̅͒n̸͚͔͔͑͗̄̔̕ó̵̳̣̜͗t̸̞͙̣̦͎̹̆ḣ̸̺̦͖͎̭̎̋̏̐͊́͌̍͠ę̵̢̳̥̝̝̦̄͑͛͛̓̔͜ṛ̸͊̆͂̍̉͑̈́̐͝ͅ cage.
[ Hey, is there a tiny glimmer of his sense of humor amidst all the insanity? Absolutely. He isn't at panic level yet.]
Be safe. Don't w̴͕̘̙̳̳̰̺͔̑͂̕a̷̛̩̭̭̟̺̖͉̘͈͔͗̊̆̿̅͛͆͊͠ͅn̴̡̗̝̬͚̠̗̬̥̒͐͑͌͜t̴̠̻̙̳̙̞̒͊̈́̿̌̕͜ ̶͓̹͓̊͛́̑̋̋̂ͅy̵̨̫͙̳͔̫̑̐̓o̸̺͇̭̮͆̆u̷̧̢̳͇̣̫̭̼̩͂͑̎̂̋̿͜͝ in ą̵̠̳̤͉́̍̅͒n̸͚͔͔͑͗̄̔̕ó̵̳̣̜͗t̸̞͙̣̦͎̹̆ḣ̸̺̦͖͎̭̎̋̏̐͊́͌̍͠ę̵̢̳̥̝̝̦̄͑͛͛̓̔͜ṛ̸͊̆͂̍̉͑̈́̐͝ͅ cage.
Edited 2023-02-22 03:15 (UTC)
You're welcome.
[HE'S NOT GOING TO ASK.
Maybe don't spend your strength on trivial things that Lucifer can't do shit to fix, huh, Istredd?]
Eat someone's limbs off if you need food.
[ If he could flick you mentally, he would. ]
Maybe. Organizing rations.
[ Of course he is. What else is he going to do in this situation but something to pour his energy into! ]
Lucifer
[ If he has other things to say, they're either garbled, never get through, or he didn't end up saying them. The latter is the truth. ]
Maybe. Organizing rations.
[ Of course he is. What else is he going to do in this situation but something to pour his energy into! ]
Lucifer
[ If he has other things to say, they're either garbled, never get through, or he didn't end up saying them. The latter is the truth. ]
Kid's here.
[ When he saw Wilhelm, he swore every single swear and curse he's ever heard of loudly. Internally. So as not to freak him out. He can't give reassurances. ]
I'll p̵̩͚͉͓̗̖̣̂̅̅̈́͌̄̐̅͐̚̕ṙ̸͖͙̩͖̼̯͍̹̲̎ơ̷͍͉̟͛͌̇t̶̢̧̛̞̼͎̳̖̉̄̒͛͊̐ͅé̷̺̫̥̘̰̩̒c̵̡̼͇̻͖͓̥̹̈̍̍͋͑͜t̵̛͖̥̖̮͔͓͚̭͚̘̐̓̐͂̍̆ him with my l̵̨͈̩̺̎͝i̷̢̛̳̊̅̄f̷̫̿̐̌̈͠e̷̪͑̅͛̈́̕.
Figuring out the shrines. Might mean ş̸̯̹̬̣̀͆̔o̴̩͂m̷̭͎̭̍̐̅͝e̶̲̻͇̼͓̐t̴̛̠͙̎̐̔h̷̙̺͈͌͜i̷̩͈̊͠n̴̩͙͎̔͋g̴͖̎̊͘.
[ When he saw Wilhelm, he swore every single swear and curse he's ever heard of loudly. Internally. So as not to freak him out. He can't give reassurances. ]
I'll p̵̩͚͉͓̗̖̣̂̅̅̈́͌̄̐̅͐̚̕ṙ̸͖͙̩͖̼̯͍̹̲̎ơ̷͍͉̟͛͌̇t̶̢̧̛̞̼͎̳̖̉̄̒͛͊̐ͅé̷̺̫̥̘̰̩̒c̵̡̼͇̻͖͓̥̹̈̍̍͋͑͜t̵̛͖̥̖̮͔͓͚̭͚̘̐̓̐͂̍̆ him with my l̵̨͈̩̺̎͝i̷̢̛̳̊̅̄f̷̫̿̐̌̈͠e̷̪͑̅͛̈́̕.
Figuring out the shrines. Might mean ş̸̯̹̬̣̀͆̔o̴̩͂m̷̭͎̭̍̐̅͝e̶̲̻͇̼͓̐t̴̛̠͙̎̐̔h̷̙̺͈͌͜i̷̩͈̊͠n̴̩͙͎̔͋g̴͖̎̊͘.
[There is long enough of a delay that the obscured message has to blink its reminder across Lucifer's field of vision.]
Of course he is.
Why wouldn't he be there.
He's barely out of puberty [inaccurate, probably, what does he know] sure he's a Summoned but what do they even want them that young for
You find anyone from Solvunn? Do they recognize the shrines?
Breathe.
[ Yes he will still be worrying about everyone until he reaches a point he can't worry anymore. Which will be death. ]
Solvunn yes. Shrines, no. It has á̷̩̊̋́̚ ̵̞͈̹̖͊s̴̙̖̻̰͒̃͗̇͝y̶̗͇͈̻͒m̸̧̖̬̮̀̈́͝b̸̥̹̾͒̽ỏ̷̤̘̤̓̎͘͝l̵̪̙̰̙̺̒̔ reminds me of A̴̧̦̙̫͑̆̚r̵̛͇̝̘̠̃̓͗c̶̳̠͈͊́́͋a̴̲̥͔̗͗͂͋̚͠n̶̪̬̻̅ả̸̟̉̌ sign.
[ Yes he will still be worrying about everyone until he reaches a point he can't worry anymore. Which will be death. ]
Solvunn yes. Shrines, no. It has á̷̩̊̋́̚ ̵̞͈̹̖͊s̴̙̖̻̰͒̃͗̇͝y̶̗͇͈̻͒m̸̧̖̬̮̀̈́͝b̸̥̹̾͒̽ỏ̷̤̘̤̓̎͘͝l̵̪̙̰̙̺̒̔ reminds me of A̴̧̦̙̫͑̆̚r̵̛͇̝̘̠̃̓͗c̶̳̠͈͊́́͋a̴̲̥͔̗͗͂͋̚͠n̶̪̬̻̅ả̸̟̉̌ sign.
[The delay stretches out much longer. If their connection was still strong Istredd would be getting the mental version of a keysmash.]
[Ha.]
You breathe.
[Ha.]
Reminds you of what?
I am b̴̧̛͓̀̇̆r̸̢͔͚̠̀͂̇̇ę̶̲͔͈̱͐͒́͊â̵̗̖͚̠͜t̶̢̤͎̭̺̋̔ĥ̸̘͎͂̽̈́ị̴̛̘̻̦̔̍͋͜͠n̴̤͍̪͈̓̈́̿̕̕g̵̡͖͓̩͗̀͝ͅ!̵͚͍̖̯̟̃́
[ He has to focus though, apparently what he said didn't get through. He takes his time to formulate every letter, hoping it will help. ]
ARCANA SIGN.
Pentagram in wide circle, crescent moon inside, dangling teardrops.
[ Istredd can't just send him a picture of it, unfortunately, or leave it behind in his Horizon since he can't maintain himself there. ]
Unfamiliar.
[ He has to focus though, apparently what he said didn't get through. He takes his time to formulate every letter, hoping it will help. ]
ARCANA SIGN.
Pentagram in wide circle, crescent moon inside, dangling teardrops.
[ Istredd can't just send him a picture of it, unfortunately, or leave it behind in his Horizon since he can't maintain himself there. ]
Unfamiliar.
Is Urianger still with you?
[If anyone would recognize the symbol, Lucifer would put money on Urianger.]
Yes. Working on it. S̴͉̍́͒o̶̗̳̓͐m̵̬͙̞̱͖̆̓͒e̶͓̝̭̕͝t̶͈͈͙̯͖̀͐̂̀̚h̵̟̙̦̥̊̽̀̎̈ȉ̴̡̈́̋n̷̺̿̒͠͝͝g̶̡͈̣͂ about them.
Anything happening there?
Anything happening there?
Thorne's trying to call people back to account for everyone, but haven't yet been convinced of the growing problem. It's making getting out difficult.
Anastasia is here.
Fuck. Typical. The l̸̙͒ỏ̴̩̮̓͐́ṋ̸̛͍̟̓͒͗ͅĝ̸̠̮̏̏e̵̲͑͊r̷͙̆̇ ̶͇͖̂̆̃̊t̸̡̛̫ḧ̶̭̺̱̜́͌ë̷͓͈͕̞́y̸̩̠͚̳̓͑ wait, the worst.
Yenna and Strange can help. Best chance is g̴̙͊ọ̷̡̧͕̅͘i̸̮̿͐ǹ̷͚̖͓̆͘͝g̵̛̛̅͝ͅ ̴̥̞͒͆͜a̵̳͝c̷̳͕̣̀̇r̵͚͈͠ò̸͍͈̿s̸̮̦̔̿̆ș̶̢̀͒ factions.
Yenna and Strange can help. Best chance is g̴̙͊ọ̷̡̧͕̅͘i̸̮̿͐ǹ̷͚̖͓̆͘͝g̵̛̛̅͝ͅ ̴̥̞͒͆͜a̵̳͝c̷̳͕̣̀̇r̵͚͈͠ò̸͍͈̿s̸̮̦̔̿̆ș̶̢̀͒ factions.
They're at it, don't worry about that.
Problem as always is red tape.
Wilhelm will be safe, I'll do what I have to.
[ Istredd hasn't killed anyone before but it doesn't mean he won't. He's been trained to kill, trained to do a lot of things that he found distasteful and ignored. But he is not above it. Survival is survival. And protecting someone else is the true incentive. ]
I went to your Horizon. You changed it.
[ Istredd hasn't killed anyone before but it doesn't mean he won't. He's been trained to kill, trained to do a lot of things that he found distasteful and ignored. But he is not above it. Survival is survival. And protecting someone else is the true incentive. ]
I went to your Horizon. You changed it.
well I missed that part of the wiki's description of the waterfalls
thedevilwhorose
2023-02-22 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[Yeah, Istredd, he's got some concern about that. And yet he's still going to make things worse.]
[It's not like he didn't expect Istredd to go, it's why he did it, but it still drives further in that Lucifer is actively avoiding the Horizon.]
[He does not tell Istredd the rest of it. What a weird benefit of having their link blocked. He doesn't get the stream of information clarification. Besides, this is not the Iguazú Falls. And truthfully, Lucifer barely knows it himself. Just enough bits and pieces that have relevance, condensed from actuality to warped in his mind.
Legend has it that a deity planned to marry a beautiful woman named Naipí, who fled with her mortal lover Tarobá in a canoe. In a rage, the deity sliced the river, creating the waterfalls and condemning the lovers to an eternal fall.
Legend has it thata deity pl███e█ █o ████y █ █e██████l wo███ ███e█ ███p█, w█o █le█ w███ █e█ █o███l love█ ███o██ ██ █ ███oe. Iin a rage, the deity sliced the river, creating the waterfalls and condemning ██e lo████ to an eternal fall.
So.
He's optimistic about this situation.]
Kell is there too.
B͟ÿ́ ṱͨ̐ͨ̿h̸e w͉͍̅a̡ͦ̂ͬ̔͝y̝̿ͯͬ͆͜. If you haven't seen him.
[It's not like he didn't expect Istredd to go, it's why he did it, but it still drives further in that Lucifer is actively avoiding the Horizon.]
Iguazú Falls. They're waterfalls t̹̹ͨ̍h̶̬̪͎̓̓á̴̹̮̓t̴̤̂̏ c̡̉͜o̒̓͢m̸b̖̹͆́ͥ̒ïn̏̄e̻dͧ with the Iguazú River make up one of the largest waterfall system in my world. T̘̚ḩ̶ͣe̝͒ȑ͙ͪe̖ͧ'̌ͅs͈̐ q̈́u̬iͦ͊͂ṫè a̷ l͈̎͢ot̮ͩ ò̞̐f̧ bodies of water that get my title of Devil tacked to it. This in particular ẖ̖ͨ̿̈͒̽̕̚a̷̲̤͓͔͍̞̓ͧͬs a̢̨̦̿͢ p̢͔͔̀̉͌ͧ͞ọ̧̅r̸̎̒t̡̘̬̫̞̤͑̔̿ͫͧi͙̺ͪ̆ͫͦo͕̬͌n̡̘̺̂͗̆ͪ̋͜ of its chasm called the Devil's Throat.
I̷ͩt́'s̅̊ _no̖͆t̀͠ t̶̙h͓̅̓ẹ̎͛ F̩ͤa̝̕͞ll̑̑s̨.̩͒̕ It's the Falls if it was lava. Instead of water.
[He does not tell Istredd the rest of it. What a weird benefit of having their link blocked. He doesn't get the stream of information clarification. Besides, this is not the Iguazú Falls. And truthfully, Lucifer barely knows it himself. Just enough bits and pieces that have relevance, condensed from actuality to warped in his mind.
Legend has it that a deity planned to marry a beautiful woman named Naipí, who fled with her mortal lover Tarobá in a canoe. In a rage, the deity sliced the river, creating the waterfalls and condemning the lovers to an eternal fall.
Legend has it that
So.
He's optimistic about this situation.]
What? I'm at the s̷̢̢̡̺͖͉̭͚̠͉̦̝̼͍͐̀̎̏̉̐̏͋̍̚ĥ̶̦͔̪̹̰̙̼̳̳̈́̽̿̕͝r̵̨̢̨̫͙͙̪̠͈̟͓͎͍̱̺̈́̿̀̏ỉ̷͙̻̋̄̾̈́͒͌̑̾͑̌̅̑̕ṉ̴̠̺͆̔̃̓̔̾̃̀̾͑͗͒̆͐ę̵̢̛̫̗͔͓̼́̎̾̄̃̽̂́̈́̋̋̑ͅs̷̟̪̝̞̭̯̰̞͐͋̌̕̕.
[ There is some time before he appears again. ]
Yes he's here.
[ Which means that Lucifer is going to lose it at any point. Istredd sighs and takes a moment to sit, rubbing at his eyes. They're all covered in dirt so at this point it's impossible to be clean. He thinks through what he saw in the Horizon, and the fact that he obviously went there looking for Lucifer. Who intentionally was not there, but changed it in case he did go.
Privately, to himself, he smiles. ]
You made something of your own.
[ The falls being lava instead of water. A small change to what God created, but still a change. ]
[ There is some time before he appears again. ]
Yes he's here.
[ Which means that Lucifer is going to lose it at any point. Istredd sighs and takes a moment to sit, rubbing at his eyes. They're all covered in dirt so at this point it's impossible to be clean. He thinks through what he saw in the Horizon, and the fact that he obviously went there looking for Lucifer. Who intentionally was not there, but changed it in case he did go.
Privately, to himself, he smiles. ]
You made something of your own.
[ The falls being lava instead of water. A small change to what God created, but still a change. ]
[don't make a big deal out of it jeez]
I did.
[ He will always make a big deal of it. ]
Did you name the snake yet?
Did you name the snake yet?
[The delay draws on for what is a barely-there response.]
[Yes.
If Istredd tries to name it, it will not respond. Although to be fair at the moment it isn't responding to anything, much as Lucifer himself.]
No.
[Yes.
If Istredd tries to name it, it will not respond. Although to be fair at the moment it isn't responding to anything, much as Lucifer himself.]
Eating snakes in here.
Should I feel guilty?
[ He's joking. ]
Should I feel guilty?
[ He's joking. ]
Yes.
Super guilty.
Ǡ́l̺͍͕̪̂͋͡ͅl̙̟̉́ͬ t̗͛ͣ̒ͭ͢_̪h̰̫̟̒̚ḛ̠ͨͯ̋̽̊̐̍ͩ͘ ģ͖̃̔ͮú͔i̛̠̞̐l̳̳͖ͩͪͤ̉t͈̻̪͙. How d̷͉͍̖͉ͣ͜ḁ̵͈͉̣͑ͦ͗̉͆͟r̶̶͇̔ͯ̇̄͋̒͟e̴̗͔ͤ̈́̑̈̀̕͢͝ ỷ̴̝̜ͤ͌̂ȏ͂̈́u̶ͤ_ͮ̐.̦͇͝ͅ
It's a snake eat snake world now.
[ Istredd laughs for the first time since this all started and it sounds so strange to his ears. It echoes in a way he wasn't prepared for and he goes serious again right after. ]
Stop ḿ̵̡͊a̶̠͒̍k̵̘̲͊̊ḯ̸͓̲n̸̻͎͊g̸̟̀ me laugh, I'm kidnapped by keyhole b̴͔̰̑a̷͆͜ş̵̔̿t̴͕͊̀a̷̳̜̍̉ṛ̶̊̀d̷͔̪̔̓ṣ̴̑̓.
Stop ḿ̵̡͊a̶̠͒̍k̵̘̲͊̊ḯ̸͓̲n̸̻͎͊g̸̟̀ me laugh, I'm kidnapped by keyhole b̴͔̰̑a̷͆͜ş̵̔̿t̴͕͊̀a̷̳̜̍̉ṛ̶̊̀d̷͔̪̔̓ṣ̴̑̓.
Studies show laughter i̧̜̺̪͈͉͈ͩ͂̉͆͆̔ͅś̫͖̽ͮͩ̅̽͘ g̨̫͉̋ͪ͒ͣ͗̈ͅo̝̲ͦ̽͋͗ͦͧ̒̍͑ȭ̸̴̲̖͎̻ͣ͌̈́ͣ͗͞d̴̜̺̫̓̓ͧ̌͋̉̓̊̄̆̽͟ͅ f̛͙̥̦̣̬̖ͣ͐̅̈͜͜oŗ̝̬̞̗ͣ͂ͪͪ͒͜ t̟̝͍̀̔͜͟͡͝͡ḩ̘̮̙̆͌̑͆̆͗ͧͥ̓́͢͝ͅé̫̳̠̮͛̕̚͟ s̷͍͕o̖̘u̴̧͉͒ͤ́l̸̵̹̜̭̖͇̤̑̂́̎̃̌͐̆̋͘.
Three conspiracy theorists walk into a bar... You can't tell me that's just a coincidence!
[ Smiling. Damn him. ]
You, me, and Kyle can't g̵̞̪̻̱̺͔̯̰̭̔́̆͗̎̈́͐̾̈́̿͘̚͘ḛ̶̎͘t̷͖̪͖̀͆̈́̒̽̉̏̏̕͝ ̴̧̡̨̢͚͚̼͍̜̰̮͚̟̿̑̿̈́̕a̷̢̧͍̳̠̮̹̖̗̘̣͔̼̰͊͑̓̈́͊̓͌͐̈̍̋ͅ ̷̛͈͓̔͑̓͂̑͑͗̊̔̈̎̔̈́d̷̨͈̩̻̣̑̿͆͆͛̉̉̂̉̍̊͘̚̚ͅr̷͇͙͉̼̗͚̼̲͈̟͙̮̻̉̈́̍̄̽̍͆́͑̂̚͜i̴̢̼͈͈̘̗̇͑͗͛̒̂̐́͐̎n̵̲̲̮͖̙̄̓̀̎̈́̒̇͋̈́̉͝ķ̶̖̺̫̼̬͍̞̞̞̫̳̱͒̌́̀͐͜ͅ together?
You, me, and Kyle can't g̵̞̪̻̱̺͔̯̰̭̔́̆͗̎̈́͐̾̈́̿͘̚͘ḛ̶̎͘t̷͖̪͖̀͆̈́̒̽̉̏̏̕͝ ̴̧̡̨̢͚͚̼͍̜̰̮͚̟̿̑̿̈́̕a̷̢̧͍̳̠̮̹̖̗̘̣͔̼̰͊͑̓̈́͊̓͌͐̈̍̋ͅ ̷̛͈͓̔͑̓͂̑͑͗̊̔̈̎̔̈́d̷̨͈̩̻̣̑̿͆͆͛̉̉̂̉̍̊͘̚̚ͅr̷͇͙͉̼̗͚̼̲͈̟͙̮̻̉̈́̍̄̽̍͆́͑̂̚͜i̴̢̼͈͈̘̗̇͑͗͛̒̂̐́͐̎n̵̲̲̮͖̙̄̓̀̎̈́̒̇͋̈́̉͝ķ̶̖̺̫̼̬͍̞̞̞̫̳̱͒̌́̀͐͜ͅ together?
[well at least one of them is, because Lucifer's now just wincing, and he doesn't even know what Istredd fully said]
Can't what?
G E T A D R I N K.
[ IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING. ]
[ IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING. ]
[no kidding]
Yeah, ṯ̷̷̸̱̝̼̩̘̟̦̦ͮ͊͂ͤͦ̎ͧ̇͑̐ͤ̓̔ͭ͢͞͡h̸̶̴̯̬̜͕̼̫̠́̅ͤ̃̋͟͡͡͠͡e͕̳͙̔͑ͦ t̛̮̝̗̠̥̜̫͉̯̦͉̞̦͙ͧͬ͌͆̄̀̿ͧ͘̚͡_̢̹̻͎̲̣͐́͌́͝h͎̿̑_̡̗͍͚͙̟̰̙ͦ͐̇̐̏̐̽_̵̙̮̝̓͛ͮ̈́͂̀̂ͪ̂r̼͇͉̲͌̍́͗̈̽̕̕e̷̶̛̛̝̞̦͍̻̻̘̾͂ͬͯͥ̌ͪ̔ͧ̽̐ͪͤ͗͠ͅė̮̲ ǫ̸̨̛͎̬̝̘͕̣̹̥̬̮̙ͣ̒̋̅ͮͬ̋̐ͥ̿͌ͤ̾̅̊͗̾̀͟͡͝͝f̵̤̥̜̺̤̗͉̂͂ͬ͘͟ u_̞͖̰̠̞̭̟̠̍ͨ͒ͩ̀̽͒͛̒͗s̵̴̗̥ͧ̃̈́͛ͦ͛́̅ͣ̐̀̈̏͂̈͡ͅ c̛̳̪̎̿̂̎͟͜_̛̦̘̻̀͋ͩ̒͌̐ả̸̧̞̘̱̙͚̺̱͇̬͍̞͇͊̍͌͋ͬ͒ͤͪ͑͋̅̀͑͌͐̈ͫ̾̚͠n̴̵̤̜͇̦͍̝͙͚̔̌͂̏̒̕͢͜͟͝ ģ̨̪̭̾̾̈͑ͤ̊̒͆̀͛̕è̡̡͉͇̭̦̪̥̠͕̺̄͑͗͊́̊̊͊͌̚͡t̖̳̺̰͍̤͔̪̍ͯͧ̋ͫ̾͂ͭ͂̾͌͘̚̕͜͟͢͝͝ ä͉̮̖͚́̒ d̷̵̵̶̛̝̬̝͙͙̥̣̮͕̖̗̂̓̓̑̆̎̅̅̌͂̉͂ͨ͘͟͝r͍̯̱̘̗̼͉̺̊́̋́̊̽ͯ̑͒̒̓ͮͧ̉̐́ͭ̚͜͠͡͞ĭ͈̲̜͚̭̮̭ͣ̉̈́̈́̃́́ͦͥ̚͟͟͢͠n̻̪̭͔͍͆ͧͧ͞k͎͍͙̀͗̉̋̏̍̽̾̇ͥ̚.̧̢͎̪͇̳̏̀ͪ͒ͤ̈́͐͘̚
FUCK THESE PEOPLE.
[ See, frustrated. ]
[ See, frustrated. ]
I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. It's impossible to put down.
[ Istredd's unsure if it's actually funny or if he's just slipping into delirium. ]
Did you know knights are known for wearing dishware? That's why they call it plate armor.
[ Definitely delirious. ]
Did you know knights are known for wearing dishware? That's why they call it plate armor.
[ Definitely delirious. ]
[that's the problem with puns]
Go find yourself another snake to eat, man.
Not my turn.
[ Rationing and all. But he ends up passing out instead of saying more. Apparently bad jokes lull him into some form of unconsciousness. ]
[ Rationing and all. But he ends up passing out instead of saying more. Apparently bad jokes lull him into some form of unconsciousness. ]
Ḽ̵̢̧̦͙͎̤̖̦̺͓̰͔̱̐̄͐ụ̵̮̱̯̙͙̙͐̑̌̿̄͘c̷̨̲̬͔͉̘̰̫͍͈̐̽͑͐͂̎̇̈̈́́͘͘͘͘͜͜͝ͅi̸̢̡̢̡͍̤̯̲̰͔͓̹̤̲̎̋͗̌͝ͅf̶̢̧̗̯̀̅́̍̈́̐̉̓̔͌͆̈́͝e̷̤̯͌̉̉̿́r̴͈͔̩̟͓̯̳͇͚̙͒́͝ ̵͙͈̮͈̱̐̑̽̋̌̉̀̋́̒̃̒̚͜͝e̴̦͒͋̕͠v̶̡̦̼̯̼̫̠̪̲͎̣͇̀̽̄̀̀̃̀̌̓̐̏̍͋͠͝ͅe̵̪̫̓̆̀̕ȓ̸̢͚͖̗̭͎͚̼̥́͋̎̅̃͐̈́͊̀̊̌̿̌̕ỹ̷̨̳͓̤͉̹̥̞̯͙͇̀͗̒̅̾t̶̡̬̻̖̂ḧ̷̡̰̳́͊́͂̈̊̀̌̍͆̌̅̒͘ị̸̛̪̮̝̦̇̽́̑͌n̴̯͋̓̕͝g̴̏̏́͂͂̇͜'̸̧̫͙̣̮͎̰͍̖̞̮̗̽́̈̄̈́̓̅s̵̢̖̺̲̥̼̗̋̎͂̀͜ͅ ̶̲̞̻̮̺͓̥̰͈͍̞̖̙͂̿̇͜͝g̷̲̝̰̖͔̲͛̈́͗̈́̄̕͝ơ̶̯͈̺͎͕̬͖̘̻̟͕͓̒̕n̴͖̰̻͎͉̭̿̀̈́̄̒̋̎͋̅̚ê̴̢̫̹̎̋̄̈́̆̿̑͊͝ ̵̛͎̲̮̮̥̐̓͋̈͆̽̓̓̓̅̈̅͂̕w̸̯̭͖̭̖̪̹͖̻̓́ř̷̻͓̥̦̜̤͖̮̙͌͐ǒ̶̧̲̗̱͓̫̥̤̣͗̌́̽̏̆̐̓̀̿͠ņ̴̺͎̳̼̝̟̝̼̩͇̺̥̥̇̎͐͊̔̐̀̂̓̌͆̀̇̓̚g̶̛̤̻̊͋̃͑̏͐͊͝͠.̵̡̦̖̬͈͈͚̖̰͚̫͍͑ ̶̧̦̳͈̩̮͇͕͓̘̣̊ͅ
They're t̷̨̀͐ả̸̲̹k̵̻͍̚i̵̲͋n̴̻̈́g̶̱̼͛̎ us and s̷̜̊o̸̲̾͛m̶̺̀̍e̸̡͆ ̸̺̂͝ķ̴̽i̴̪͗͝ñ̴̹̱d̴̨͙̔ ̷͔͐͝o̵̖̭̍͐f̵̠̀̇ ritual. People coming back wrong.
They're t̷̨̀͐ả̸̲̹k̵̻͍̚i̵̲͋n̴̻̈́g̶̱̼͛̎ us and s̷̜̊o̸̲̾͛m̶̺̀̍e̸̡͆ ̸̺̂͝ķ̴̽i̴̪͗͝ñ̴̹̱d̴̨͙̔ ̷͔͐͝o̵̖̭̍͐f̵̠̀̇ ritual. People coming back wrong.
[He might appreciate the bond a lot more after all this. The puzzle at figuring out what was said without making Istredd completely repeat himself is the worse.]
Wrong how?
[ He focuses very hard and blocks out what he can of the noise that distracts. ]
Drugged. Paranoid, aggressive. Growing fungus. Bad.
Drugged. Paranoid, aggressive. Growing fungus. Bad.
I'd say half of that sounds like me on a normal d͉̫̮̣̝͐̋͐a̡͉̝̮̥͐̂̓͜_̴̨̢͎̍͆ͤ̀͊ͤỳ̨̝̰̀̀̄͢ ḃ̵͉͓͖͙̥͚͔͈̺̘̬͍͐̆̿ͣ̐̎ͫ͐̾̓͂͌̽ų̨͖̳̜̰̤̮̖͍̫̼͎͚͍͓̪͖ͩͧ̂̍ͤͭ̄̋͞t̸̛̛͎̞̮̝̙̣͗ͣ̑̄͊͊̃ t̙̣_̴̼̳̤̬͕̭̥̰͔̞̟̦͓̻ͨͪ̀̒ͧ̒͐̄̌̍̾̆͋́͟͠h̙͕̘͎̆̽̌͒̉̃ͭ̍ͧ͂͘͟a̶̶̛̞͍̮̙͈ͬ͋͑͆ͤ̎͒ͩ̎̀ͤ̌͢͡t_̖̩̟ͨ͐̑͌́ d͓͊̍̏o̷̘͕͇͙̓̀̆͗̓͒̑̒̕͘͟͠͠ȩ̷̣̻͖̩͙̖̭̯͉͕̟ͮͭ͐̑̎ͯ̾͂̑͐ͩͥ̌͘͝ͅs͕̱͔͔̙̥̳̝̲̑ͫ͐͐̿̃̕͝n̵̵̵̴̷̡̧̢̼̣̫̺̱̟͇̺̞͈̞̖̭̩̼̓̈̂̉ͫ̉̀́ͩ̍̾̀͐̂̎̂͑ͫͣ̕̚͞͡'_̶̨̨̼̮̣̭̤̬̳͔̥͕ͬ̉̾̈ͤ̀̌ͨ̾́̒̓ͧ̓̒ͮ̑̅́̎̓͌͌ͣ́ͤ͗̋̊͟͡t͚̂ͭ h̵͈͇̟ͯ̉͋͐ͯ́̊e̷̡̤̳̻̱͕̠͔͕̟ͧ̋͋͗̽ͫͬ́͜l̖̱̰̳̳̠̤̘͍̜̑̿̃͐ͯ͛͐͆̎̍ͧ̂͐͜_̨̦̤͍̹̫̠͎̝̘̑ͤ̀̀ͬͫ̓͢͝p̛̗̝͉͖͙͍ͧ̈ͧ̆ͮͪͬ̽̋͛͛̓̕̚͞ͅ.
What a̧̨̳b̷̻͓͍͓͈̑̌͘͠ǫ̶̷̡̧̛͍̹̫̖̤͓̻̮̼̱̬̹̗̜̃̋̐̊̔͌ͧͨ͋̄͂̃ͧͬͭͬ͘͘͢͠ư̧͔͔͍͔̪̮̬̹̮̓̅ͪ̈̏͑ͮͫ̊͑ͫ͋͌̃ͫ̅̎̒̋ͧͣ͂͜͜͝͞͞ͅț̴̵̵̡̢̝̪̗̮̮͚̰̦̫̀̒ͪͤͬͥ͗̄̔̄̀̓ͮ͗ͤ͌̆ͦ̏̅̎͞͝͡ t̶͔̱͎̣͔̤͕̩̠ͮ̆̍̓͋͛ͣͬ͠h̩̋ę̵̥̭͈̼̘̻͖̲͆͌ͨͣ̅͑ͨ_̷̷̴̹͓̼͙̼̙̼̙͋̄ͮͩ́ͩ̽̒ͧ̅̒ͦͪ fungus?
Fungus growths on body, skin lesions.
Not me yet. B̶͔̹͚̰̥̲̣̜̿͗͐̉̔̓͘͜ų̷̛͖͓̟̼̦̮̫͖͊͂̊͐͂͠ͅẗ̷̹̣͔̱̫̠̲̺̭̙̟́ ̷̨̠͇̱͈̘̳̾̍͗͊̿̀Ị̸͉̬̖̜̭͓̱̈́̀̊̐ ̸̛͕͉͖͓̳̤́̽̓͛̂̋̈́͌̆͜͝a̶̩̞̮̼͇͇̖̳͌́͊̃͝ş̸̝͎̟̗̰̗̣͉̯̰͊͛́̏̍͆́̄͠ş̴̢̳̯͉̟̬̟̮̊͐̈́̒̏͊̐͒̈́̾̅ú̶̜̦̞̤͈̱̪̝̇̊̍̓̋̔͆̇͜m̷̢̫͓̮͖̈͗e̴̙̼̠̘̪̩͍͓̓̃̊͋͒͜͠͝ ̵̛͎̮͓̦̱͇̹̙̜̈́͛̓́͛͝͝s̴̛̙̊̇́̀̌͗͑͝ŏ̸̙̹͉̈́̈́̄̂͐͆͌͋͝ó̸̪̝̰̳̳̘̱͍̤̥̃͆͌̂́̆̽̚̕n̷͎̒̄̾̑̽̉̕͘.̸̨̩̽͐͋͗̈́́͑̽̕
[ What Istredd doesn't know is he is one of only two this doesn't happen to. Lucky? It depends. ]
Life ȩ̵̉͑̐͋͗̅͊̄́̇̚x̵͚̠̻̳̘̺͙̻̻͂͌͛͐̏̂͂͘͜͜͠p̷̨̳̱̳̯̠̈́̐̅̆͂̌͌̇͜͝ĕ̴̡͚̯̥͉̘̟̺̱̤̗̂͒̄͋̐̕͝t̷͎̼̭̝̺͉̳͈̊ą̵̩̼̘͓͖͙̥͕̘͗̑͛̽́͋̑̐̓͠͝n̵̺̍̍̑c̶̙̺̖̱̥͆y̶̛̛̹̓̆̇͝ ̴͔͓͈̬̫̟̮̭̰̂̀̊͊̀̎͘̕͘ shorter.
Not me yet. B̶͔̹͚̰̥̲̣̜̿͗͐̉̔̓͘͜ų̷̛͖͓̟̼̦̮̫͖͊͂̊͐͂͠ͅẗ̷̹̣͔̱̫̠̲̺̭̙̟́ ̷̨̠͇̱͈̘̳̾̍͗͊̿̀Ị̸͉̬̖̜̭͓̱̈́̀̊̐ ̸̛͕͉͖͓̳̤́̽̓͛̂̋̈́͌̆͜͝a̶̩̞̮̼͇͇̖̳͌́͊̃͝ş̸̝͎̟̗̰̗̣͉̯̰͊͛́̏̍͆́̄͠ş̴̢̳̯͉̟̬̟̮̊͐̈́̒̏͊̐͒̈́̾̅ú̶̜̦̞̤͈̱̪̝̇̊̍̓̋̔͆̇͜m̷̢̫͓̮͖̈͗e̴̙̼̠̘̪̩͍͓̓̃̊͋͒͜͠͝ ̵̛͎̮͓̦̱͇̹̙̜̈́͛̓́͛͝͝s̴̛̙̊̇́̀̌͗͑͝ŏ̸̙̹͉̈́̈́̄̂͐͆͌͋͝ó̸̪̝̰̳̳̘̱͍̤̥̃͆͌̂́̆̽̚̕n̷͎̒̄̾̑̽̉̕͘.̸̨̩̽͐͋͗̈́́͑̽̕
[ What Istredd doesn't know is he is one of only two this doesn't happen to. Lucky? It depends. ]
Life ȩ̵̉͑̐͋͗̅͊̄́̇̚x̵͚̠̻̳̘̺͙̻̻͂͌͛͐̏̂͂͘͜͜͠p̷̨̳̱̳̯̠̈́̐̅̆͂̌͌̇͜͝ĕ̴̡͚̯̥͉̘̟̺̱̤̗̂͒̄͋̐̕͝t̷͎̼̭̝̺͉̳͈̊ą̵̩̼̘͓͖͙̥͕̘͗̑͛̽́͋̑̐̓͠͝n̵̺̍̍̑c̶̙̺̖̱̥͆y̶̛̛̹̓̆̇͝ ̴͔͓͈̬̫̟̮̭̰̂̀̊͊̀̎͘̕͘ shorter.
[He'd like it if Istredd just
stopped talking
but then he hasn't heard from Istredd in a bit--much of Lucifer's own fault, perhaps, for not reaching out personally. but he won't. can't.]
stopped talking
but then he hasn't heard from Istredd in a bit--much of Lucifer's own fault, perhaps, for not reaching out personally. but he won't. can't.]
Do you have a weapon? Since your m̸̗̳ͫ̌͢͝a̵͍͈ͥ̈́̊͗͞g̢̬͇̥̥̰̼͙͊͛ͪ̽͋̋͒̄͞i̮̙̅ͭ̽͒͟͠c͔̝̺̲͓ͯͨ̂ͧ̀̓ͣ̀ i͌̿̈s͖̲͌_͕̪̠̑̊̔͜͢ b̸̷̩͕̫͓̩̉͌̏̔ͨ̒ͣ̆̆͘l̢̗͍ͯ̈̈́ͮͪͣo̸̟͍̒ͩ̾̔͝͠c͈͓͈̠̳͇ͥ͛̔ͦ̽̂̊́̒ͮ͟͢͢k̷̺̣͖̒̆̆̈́̔̂ͦ̍̓͝ḝ̸͎̝͔̗̈́ͣ͛ḏ͇̮̱͚͇͕̟͗̑́̓̔͑̽͂͌͢?̷̷̣̪̪͓͔̯̤̅͌̂ͥ̑̆̓̈͞͡
No. Ḭ̷̛̜̟̟̃̈̋̂̓͑͒͐̕'̶͎̜̉̽̈̽͆̇͌̚͠͝m̵̢̛̛͔̗̪͙̪̎͑̈́̇̈̋̏̽ͅ ̵͔̠̯̪̙̋͗̅͆̚w̴̘̘̳̗̯̙̏̎̈́̅͌͂̂̚͝͝a̵̧̨͇̬͓̩̥̲̱͈̿͜͠ţ̵͇͍͉̪͙̖̝͔̐̐͜c̸̨̨̢̨̢͓͈̙̹̘͎̓h̵̙̻͔̥̉̾̾͒͋̓̏̽͘͠ỉ̶̧̗͎͎̙̗͔̜̿̽͑͗͐̚̕̚ņ̷̫͚̰̣̗͉͈͑́̌́̆̆̀͌̍̐̕g̴̢̛̖̙͂̀͝ ̷̨̧̢̛̮͖̪̠̺̬̬͊̈́̇̂͌͂̊͠ö̵̡͙͎͇̲͔͕̩͇͈́̂͌͠ű̵̫̦͚͎͓̝̼̤̉̔t̵̢͍̟̮̪̱̠̓͐̽͑̔ ̷̖̍f̵̨̙̘͓̪͍̝̥͉͕̽͌͌͋́̎͆͌ǫ̴̨̨̮̮͚͈̝̞̭̇͜r̵̛͉̣̈́̈́̍̇̃͊̔͐͊̋ the kids.
Don't talk to them, I'm h̶̺͉̠͈͔̼͈̟͖͔̀a̴̲̬͊̽̃̊n̸̨̞̬̝͔̘͕͍͇̟͒̒͑̇́̒̃́̅͠͝ḑ̵̢̢̲͔̥̫̺̺̿͋̀̾͐͑ͅͅļ̷̡͔͉͓̫͉̑̃̔ǐ̷̢̫͇̂n̴̡̧̘̹̝͍͚͖̝̪̜̋̇̓̈̊̀́ǵ̶̖̰͚̭͇̼̫͛̆͆͜ ̷̨̨͇̻̖̝̘̲̭͋͑̎͛̂́̈́̑͋i̵̖̻͚̘̘̙̽͌̈́̔ͅt̷̩̪̘̟̗̙̹͔͆͌͆̉͜.
[ He's trying to protect Lucifer from panicking if he talks to the kids while they're infected. There is nothing any of them can do right now. ]
Lucifer i̷̙͈̤̜̞̥͎̜͓͐́͛f̴͇̍̓̽͝ ̵̨̲͔̻̫͘ͅȈ̴̦͎͙̹̰́̄̆̉͊͊́̕͜͝ ̷̯͇̖̹͔̞͍̺͔̉̆̃͜͝ḑ̸̰̤͖̞̙̉o̶̡͈̗̤̲̝̟̺̗͆̒͆̈́͂̀͘͝n̵͉̣̙͚̯͉͖̳̖̉̄͋͆͑̀͝'̴̖̩̖̬͚͓̝̟̂̊͆̔̎͝͠ṭ̸̖͉̫̖̠̄̏̉ͅ make it, thank you, and p̶̨̡̧̖̼̟̼͙̫͒̄ͅḽ̸̢͙́͆͂̔̆̔e̶͔̞͈̒̀̏͌͌̈́̅̎̈́͌̎ȧ̴̠̗̥̠̞͍̫̮̜̍̈́̇̾̿̾̓̕͜͜͝š̵̡̱͔͖̞͚ë̷̝̈̆̓͘͝ ̴̰̫̞͐̀̆͂̿͌̐l̵̡̬̗̅͊͋̀̾͘ǫ̴̰̜̜̺̫̲̜̣̟̓ȯ̶̟̾̀̾̍͑̈́̅͑͂͝k̶̡͍̗͈̱͐̄̉͐̾ ̷̧̡͎̼͎̝͎̈̃̿̃̊̄̃̚o̷̳͈̣̤͓͆̏̈́̿̈̚u̵̥̫͓͋̚͘ͅt̶̢̲̫̩̗̍̈ for Yennefer.
Don't talk to them, I'm h̶̺͉̠͈͔̼͈̟͖͔̀a̴̲̬͊̽̃̊n̸̨̞̬̝͔̘͕͍͇̟͒̒͑̇́̒̃́̅͠͝ḑ̵̢̢̲͔̥̫̺̺̿͋̀̾͐͑ͅͅļ̷̡͔͉͓̫͉̑̃̔ǐ̷̢̫͇̂n̴̡̧̘̹̝͍͚͖̝̪̜̋̇̓̈̊̀́ǵ̶̖̰͚̭͇̼̫͛̆͆͜ ̷̨̨͇̻̖̝̘̲̭͋͑̎͛̂́̈́̑͋i̵̖̻͚̘̘̙̽͌̈́̔ͅt̷̩̪̘̟̗̙̹͔͆͌͆̉͜.
[ He's trying to protect Lucifer from panicking if he talks to the kids while they're infected. There is nothing any of them can do right now. ]
Lucifer i̷̙͈̤̜̞̥͎̜͓͐́͛f̴͇̍̓̽͝ ̵̨̲͔̻̫͘ͅȈ̴̦͎͙̹̰́̄̆̉͊͊́̕͜͝ ̷̯͇̖̹͔̞͍̺͔̉̆̃͜͝ḑ̸̰̤͖̞̙̉o̶̡͈̗̤̲̝̟̺̗͆̒͆̈́͂̀͘͝n̵͉̣̙͚̯͉͖̳̖̉̄͋͆͑̀͝'̴̖̩̖̬͚͓̝̟̂̊͆̔̎͝͠ṭ̸̖͉̫̖̠̄̏̉ͅ make it, thank you, and p̶̨̡̧̖̼̟̼͙̫͒̄ͅḽ̸̢͙́͆͂̔̆̔e̶͔̞͈̒̀̏͌͌̈́̅̎̈́͌̎ȧ̴̠̗̥̠̞͍̫̮̜̍̈́̇̾̿̾̓̕͜͜͝š̵̡̱͔͖̞͚ë̷̝̈̆̓͘͝ ̴̰̫̞͐̀̆͂̿͌̐l̵̡̬̗̅͊͋̀̾͘ǫ̴̰̜̜̺̫̲̜̣̟̓ȯ̶̟̾̀̾̍͑̈́̅͑͂͝k̶̡͍̗͈̱͐̄̉͐̾ ̷̧̡͎̼͎̝͎̈̃̿̃̊̄̃̚o̷̳͈̣̤͓͆̏̈́̿̈̚u̵̥̫͓͋̚͘ͅt̶̢̲̫̩̗̍̈ for Yennefer.
[He can interpret that last sentence easily enough even with the gaps and frankly: Istredd can go fuck himself.
So he ignores that.]
So he ignores that.]
What about the kids?
I'm H A N D L IN G it.
[ He has to focus hard on every letter for that one because otherwise, it might cause some concern. And it should, since he couldn't stop the kids from being taken, but whatever happens, he'll do his best for them. ]
Others k̷͔̜̈́i̷̖̯̓̆l̸̠̐̈́l̴̜̉̃i̷͉̼̓̎n̵̢̡͗g̴̘̍ monsters in here. That's good.
[ It means less monsters to try and murder the rest of them, and it means there are some fighters in there, if that reassures Lucifer. ]
You okay?
[ He has to focus hard on every letter for that one because otherwise, it might cause some concern. And it should, since he couldn't stop the kids from being taken, but whatever happens, he'll do his best for them. ]
Others k̷͔̜̈́i̷̖̯̓̆l̸̠̐̈́l̴̜̉̃i̷͉̼̓̎n̵̢̡͗g̴̘̍ monsters in here. That's good.
[ It means less monsters to try and murder the rest of them, and it means there are some fighters in there, if that reassures Lucifer. ]
You okay?
I'm fine.
[he'd really like to throttle Istredd right about now, but that would likely require going to the Horizon, if Istredd can even do that anymore]
Ẅ̢̪͓́̂ͨ́̀͗͂͆͢͢͝͡ĥ̷̢͓̬̽ͨ̀́͐̇ͦ͢ǫ̴̷͔͍͚͕̟͇̟͙̱̈́̀́̓̇̊ͅͅ'͍̖̱ͦ͐ͤ͑͛́ͬ͞_̙̻ͨs͇ h̶̢̠̩̜̻̼͔ͫ̊̊̊ͬ̓̎̔̆̏ͯͤ͟ǎ̷̛̰̟̳̥̖ͬ̐ͥ̌̾̆͗̒̐̀̍̕͝͡ṋ̸̷̳̪̹̫͎̭͙̹͚͇͎͕ͯ̐͗ͪͥ̃ͪ̉̑ͤ̄̀͛͜͝d͖͚̪̣̼̰̯̖͗̈́͗͊͆ͥ͟͡_l͍̲͕̘̩͔̦͓͐ͭ͒ͧͥ̔̈͠͡͝î̲̗͉̞̝̭̥̭̖̲̰͈ͮ́̍̅͌̈́̆ͧ͐̍̃̕͘͘͜͠n̶g̵͓̈́̔͘ y̺̬̮̮ͨ̚͘͜ö̶̵̦̝́͑ͥ͑͑̄ͧͮ͑͊͋͜͢u̶̶̧͈̙̱̬̯͆ͩͪ̓̔͜?̧̧̛͖̘̝̱̯͉̜̟͔̝̣̭̃̋͆ͬ͐̋ͭͬͤ̅͘͘͢͠͡
[like he's sure it didn't make it, or he just needs to emphasize it THAT MUCH because clearly he should have said something sooner about it]
Who's handling you?
[ Istredd hasn't been able to go back to the Horizon since his talk with Nat, which was quick but informative. It's near impossible now with everyone drugged up and in bad places. He is constantly on edge and afraid if not for people, but of people. He has minimum one-shot power abilities at best and he's trying to look out for the other people from Thorne, but the reality is, he's not a fighter. He can't actually protect any of them.]
I am handling me too.
[ And because he's weak. ]
Ī̷̞ ̷͔̻̿̕m̷͉̬͗͘i̷̓͒͝ͅs̵̞̳͓̚s̵̨̼͑ ̷̧̻̝́͠y̵̜̘̘̾̇̈ö̶̜̫̼̈́͝ú̶̡̠̻̃.̷̭͂͘
I am handling me too.
[ And because he's weak. ]
Ī̷̞ ̷͔̻̿̕m̷͉̬͗͘i̷̓͒͝ͅs̵̞̳͓̚s̵̨̼͑ ̷̧̻̝́͠y̵̜̘̘̾̇̈ö̶̜̫̼̈́͝ú̶̡̠̻̃.̷̭͂͘
Bulls̴̤̱͍̰̘̟̤̱̝̰̠̹̫̲͈̉͗̀̽ͨ̽́́̔ͭ̔̀̏̇̀̆̚̕͢͟͝h̰͎ͧ́̀̋̓͟͡͠i̸̷̢̢̢̞̞̹͖͚̠̩̳̲̬̱̲̥͕̰ͣ͊͌ͥ̃ͧͯ͛̊̉̓̀̽͂͆̃ͤ̓̃̓̓̀̀͂͑t̷̴̤̼͉̭̫̗̗̥̣͍̥͔́͐̀ͯͣ̈ͤ̿ͨͨ̇ͫͭ̐̔ͩͫ̚̚̕͟.
[it's likely beneficial that he only caught the first part of Istredd's response, but then really his own is still fitting either way.]
Stronger than you t̴̳̘̒͘͠ẖ̶̊̒̀ï̶̤̺n̷̺̦̆̀̓k̸̖̙̈́͆̂.
[ An echo of a conversation they've had, but honestly, Istredd isn't sure he believes it now. It hit his ego before, being underestimated, but he's never felt more weak and helpless than in this situation. So this is more him being petulant than anything else. ]
[ An echo of a conversation they've had, but honestly, Istredd isn't sure he believes it now. It hit his ego before, being underestimated, but he's never felt more weak and helpless than in this situation. So this is more him being petulant than anything else. ]
Ì̸̵̱̞̩͇̩͕̹͍̀̉̑ͪͭͯ̐̽̚ ḫ̴̳͎̭̊̕͠_̭͖̗̥͍͇̪̐̃̆̇̓̅͛͘͟͠ͅà̸̧̢̛̘̳̟̯͎̺̬̗̾̌ͬ̾̉͑̆́ͥ̐ͮ̓̀̑̾ͭ̍̏͛͘͘̕t̶̳̙̗̝̝ͣ̐̀ͮ̋̑͜͟͠e̟̙̜̮͍̜̟͓ͬ̄ͩͧ̿̇̀͘͡_̨͙̬̮̰̺ͤ̓̆ͤ̀ y̲̗̘͉̘̞̘̪̽̇̉̈́͂͆ͥ̕͘o͚̜͎̱̤̞̐̒̔̋̃_̙͖ͧͮų̵̶̨̨͈̭̜ͪͨ̒̆̈ͤ̌́̊̋̍̑̉̽̕͘͜͢.
[ You don't. ]
I m̷̢̨̜͖͚͖̹̼̑͂̊̏͜e̴̛͕͎̜̒͗̔̀͌̅̍̃̚ẗ̶̛̬̖̺̗̞̬̪͎̟͓̩́͂̉̌̈̋͌̆̅͊͘ ̵̧̡̗̤̝̤̪̻̜͍̖͊̍̑́͆̕ă̸̡͈̙̣̪̝̬͎̯͕̰̏̓͝ telepathic vampire.
I m̷̢̨̜͖͚͖̹̼̑͂̊̏͜e̴̛͕͎̜̒͗̔̀͌̅̍̃̚ẗ̶̛̬̖̺̗̞̬̪͎̟͓̩́͂̉̌̈̋͌̆̅͊͘ ̵̧̡̗̤̝̤̪̻̜͍̖͊̍̑́͆̕ă̸̡͈̙̣̪̝̬͎̯͕̰̏̓͝ telepathic vampire.
[He never did understand the appeal of that kid's game Mad Libs.
Talked to? Slept with? Ate? Saw?
Probably not important anyway.]
Talked to? Slept with? Ate? Saw?
Probably not important anyway.]
What's with the vampire influx lately, I wonder.
Better them than mushroom people.
Not t̴̡̧̫̓̈́ō̸̳͈̰u̶̙̿c̷̜͓̓͜ḩ̸̪̽̆̅i̵͎͂̔̀n̴͎̈́g̷͔̓̎ ̸͖͌a̵͇̖̼̋͘ mushroom for a century at least.
I'm one of the only people not taken for t̷̛̤́̓h̷̖̹̍͑̕͠ḛ̷͛̂̈́͠ ̸̪͕̯̋̃͠r̶̹͓̉͛i̵̲̯̔t̷̡̰̝̉u̸̼͒͑͝ą̶͍́l̶̡͔̙̍͋͋̔ͅ. Alone.
Not t̴̡̧̫̓̈́ō̸̳͈̰u̶̙̿c̷̜͓̓͜ḩ̸̪̽̆̅i̵͎͂̔̀n̴͎̈́g̷͔̓̎ ̸͖͌a̵͇̖̼̋͘ mushroom for a century at least.
I'm one of the only people not taken for t̷̛̤́̓h̷̖̹̍͑̕͠ḛ̷͛̂̈́͠ ̸̪͕̯̋̃͠r̶̹͓̉͛i̵̲̯̔t̷̡̰̝̉u̸̼͒͑͝ą̶͍́l̶̡͔̙̍͋͋̔ͅ. Alone.
[Mushroom people?]
One of? Who else i̴̲͙̟̩͔̣͙͕̝͚͙ͨ̍ͨͪͯ́͋́̔̉̊̅̚͜͡s̩̣̯̗͚̘̠̼̠͊̂ͦ̆̌͌ͦ̆̽́͜͟͠ l̨̙̼̘̝̠̟̹ͥͧͣ͋ͥ̐̓̈́̓͟e_̴̶̢̠͙͉̗͈̙̤͍̣͚͇̣̔͋ͫͣ͒̑̇̑̃ͥ̚̚͢͝f̛͍͚̱̝͕̩̩̖̬̜̜ͦ̎ͮͫ̓ͭ̈́ͤ̊̍̄͆͘̕̕͟͢͢͡t̷̶̸̬̞̻̜̱̜͚̝̺ͧͨ̌͑̓̀̀͊̀̍ͩ̅̕͜͠?̵̧̨̨̧̛͕̯̺̲̪̳̥̱͚̫ͬͣ̉̋̉̽͒̓̀̈́ͅ
Caitlyn, from Free Cities.
We're looking for escape, can't wait m̶̛̙̹̲̓u̷̹͌c̴͔̙͍͋̀͝h̴̺͍͘ ̶͔̀l̸̙̼̥͋̄ò̸̺͑̐ņ̷̬̺̇͂͑̀ͅg̸͔͇͔̱̿ė̷̡̳̮͌͊ȑ̸̬̙̪̬̽̀.
Shrines may help, may not.
We're looking for escape, can't wait m̶̛̙̹̲̓u̷̹͌c̴͔̙͍͋̀͝h̴̺͍͘ ̶͔̀l̸̙̼̥͋̄ò̸̺͑̐ņ̷̬̺̇͂͑̀ͅg̸͔͇͔̱̿ė̷̡̳̮͌͊ȑ̸̬̙̪̬̽̀.
Shrines may help, may not.
[She'd been another one using the Horizon Reply All 'feature' like Wilhelm, clearly meaning it for just one person.]
[That's probably the closest he'll come to saying anything optimistic.]
Adversarial behaviors b̵̨̨̛̻̩̟̜̝̠̻̓̿̓͌ͫ̈̕ȩ̸̡̛̟̟͍̤̙̞̲̊̊̓ͣ͌̽͊ͧͪͦ̚͜͟_́t̼̂́w̡̜̭͔̤̞̥̫̙̦͇̲̥͌́́ͤ̔e̼̼̟̖̮ͨ̈́̌͝e̷̵̵̯͉̹̩̻̗̾ͫ̓̊̃ͫͥ̎́̕͟͢n̛͕̝̂ͤ̓̑͠_͉̙͙̐ͨ̈́͢͢ the factions seems to have been pushed to the side f̷̴̴̧̧̮̦̼͚̜̖̬̣͕̘͕̦͙̊͐͛̑̐̆͒͑ͯ̓ͪ̋ͯ͆ͦ̃̕͜͜͞͞o̩̘̰͖ͦ͂ͦ͜ṙ͇͚̰̓͜͢ ţ̴̜̦͉̰͉̜́͊͗͗̾̇ͮͧ̊̀̔͋̔͑̓͟͡͡h̸̶̨̢̛͓̬̯̝̋ͨ̈͛ͫ́e̡̮̺̤̙̎ͩ͜ ti͉m̴̰̘̻̞̦̩͕͕̺ͯ̌͛ͪ͐̃͋͒́́̔͞͠͝͞ȩ̶̷̥͚̪̠̘̝̙̞͕̼͕̒̀̓ͤ̑̑̃́̓͋̉̄́͘͟͝͠͝͠ b̢̦̹̝̀̾_͗̒͟e̷̥̞̜͕̩͕̤̟̗͔̠̠̦̓̓ͮͩ̆̈́̇ͯ͑̔̂ͮ̚͟͟͡i̴̢̡̟͈͍̥̩͇̟̻̲̫͓̬̜ͬ̑̈͊̄͋̐̿̃̓́́ͬ̆́̕͢͜͡͝n̷͙̹͔͉̝̰̬̗̆̽͜͟͟͞g͚̭̔͜.
[That's probably the closest he'll come to saying anything optimistic.]
I suspected that would happen.
[ Hey is he going to take a tiny sliver of pleasure at being right? Always. Even now. Mostly because the rest of him feels awful. ]
I know ẃ̵͎̠̟͠h̵͇͍̀̈͆̌ỳ̵̖͖̏͑ ̷̫̓́͂̔y̷̨͉͕̫̏̇o̴̦̒̆́u̴͙͈̓̍͘ ̷̩͖̇̄̑͂w̷̛̠̆̚ỏ̴̧̟̳͌n̶̜̟̫͕̄'̵̙̈͐t̴͙͈́͜ͅ be at the Horizon but I wish y̸͇̜̔ͅo̸͕͈͙͊͑̕u̶̲͑ ̴̹̾̈́w̶͓͙͑ȏ̶̡̜̅̕ư̸͙̐ͅl̷̻̹̈́̆̄d̶͖͍̪̽̂́̾.
[ Hey is he going to take a tiny sliver of pleasure at being right? Always. Even now. Mostly because the rest of him feels awful. ]
I know ẃ̵͎̠̟͠h̵͇͍̀̈͆̌ỳ̵̖͖̏͑ ̷̫̓́͂̔y̷̨͉͕̫̏̇o̴̦̒̆́u̴͙͈̓̍͘ ̷̩͖̇̄̑͂w̷̛̠̆̚ỏ̴̧̟̳͌n̶̜̟̫͕̄'̵̙̈͐t̴͙͈́͜ͅ be at the Horizon but I wish y̸͇̜̔ͅo̸͕͈͙͊͑̕u̶̲͑ ̴̹̾̈́w̶͓͙͑ȏ̶̡̜̅̕ư̸͙̐ͅl̷̻̹̈́̆̄d̶͖͍̪̽̂́̾.
Look â̢̖̰̦̟̹͍̿ͦ͐ͨ͡t̶͈̘̩ͬ̄̀͐̆ͬ̀ͪ̉̀̔ y̨̺͕̘̘̪̙̲͉̩̦͍͚ͫͤ̊ͯ̆ͭ̂ͥ̉͘̚̚͝͝ͅo̵̸̰͕̞̥̙̤͇ͬ̎͗͌ͬ͐̐͋̈͒ͥ́̍͐͊ȗ̸͇̯̰̲̺́͌ͧ͞ͅ, being right.
[He'll even say it. You're welcome, friend.]
I don't have ẗ̶̵̨̨̛̺͉̣̫̥͙̟̺̮͉̮̯͕̀̇̏̃ͯ͋̇̅̂́ͮ̚̕̚͢͟͢͡î͈̗͔̮̟͕̓ͩ͘m̶̧̮̹͕̗̮̖͓͋ͣ̀̋̌̅ͪͨͫ̇̋̾ͭ͛̈́̄ͤ͊̄̅͌̔͟͜e̸̢̨̛̖͎̣͔̼̠̦͕̰͈͍͎̮̠̫̩̖͖͍͕̲ͬ̾ͥͣ́͋͂̄̂̏̋́̽̾ͅ t̡̛̰̲͍̪̳̾́̽̋ơ̸̢̬̙͓̻̝̘̰̟̈̅ͭ̓ͤ̽ͩ̃̀ͣ͌͑̀̓̀͂͜͝ b̵̵̷̧͖̘̰̣̝͚͍͈̩̦̰̤͓̟̟̉̅ͮ͆̅̂̔͌̀̓͂̾ͫͧͯ̀ͪ̃ͧ͜ͅe_̶̧̨̛̟̻̰̩̤̤̬̬͍̣̫̄ͦ͛ͣͤͮ̀͗́̽ͤͮͣ͆̓̅̃̌͐̊͘̕͢͠͠ i̧̨̻͚͗̌̄͂͒͌̕ṅ̼̫͈̏ͦ̃͒̽ͬ̊̈́ͣ͝ t̗_̴̸̧̨̘͔̦̟͉̦͔̬̜̤̰̝͓͌ͤͥ̎ͫ̈́̃̅ͩ́̀ͦ͝ḣ̸̸̛̭̪͗̆̿͐̇ͨ̊̓̈́͢͞e̷̼͈ͧ͐͛ͦ͘ H̴̡̰̯̱̟̟͔̲̹̑ͫͪ̂̐̾̊̑̉͋̇o̵̢̨̺̻͉̜͙̞̩̔̄ͭ̏ͧͮ̒̇͆ͧͣͬ̚͟͠r̷̦̘̠͔͔̈́̾͒ͣͧͬ̆̇͌͠ĩ̵̝̻͈ͩ̉͌ͣ̃ͩ̽̈͘͜͟ͅz̡̢͕̬̙̲͉̻͓̤̦̈̍̈́͋ͤ̽̊́ͨͫ̈́ͮ̃͑̚͘͜͟͢͝͠͝ͅ_͉̦̀ͪͨ͟ǭ̰͡n̡͔̮̻̬̓̀̕ͅ.̷̧̨̛̛̱̠̥̗͈̼̱̖̔̀̈̄̌ͤͯͣͧ͆̆ͩ̒ͦ̌ͬ̔ͫ͢͡_̻̖͟.
Everyone's too f̵̹̋ũ̶̬c̶̘͓̯͐̕͠k̷̢̲͗͜e̷̻͍̺̓̓̎͠d̵̬͂̑̈́͑ ̶̍ͅu̸̹̯͆̌p̸̖̈́ mentally to appreciate my rightness.
[ He sighs, disappointed despite knowing better. ]
Bulls̶̢̛̻͔͋͐h̸̠̱̎̓į̶̬̝̰̒t̴̬͍͊̐̀̌ͅ.
[ There, right back at him. ]
[ He sighs, disappointed despite knowing better. ]
Bulls̶̢̛̻͔͋͐h̸̠̱̎̓į̶̬̝̰̒t̴̬͍͊̐̀̌ͅ.
[ There, right back at him. ]
No signal, can't compute. Tzzzt. Static.
Hello? Hello! H̞̭͕͍̦͇̝͍ͪ̆̂ͤͩ̔ͦͦ̅͘e̢̛̯̲̥̣̖̳̘̐̒ͫ͆̂̆̄̑̊́̕l̵̷͉͈̮̻̗͈̤̹̱͖̝̅̉̇ͦ̀̄̔̉̏̊ͯ̽ͅḽ̵̺̞͎̤̮͆ͧ̂̉̽͌̃͛͐ͫ̈ͧ̀̑̚͢͟͠o̵̟̞͍̼̣͔͉͚͕̳̐͗̀̔͐̇̾̈̅ͬ͑̓ͭ͘͟ͅ_̉?
[ HOW ARE YOU STILL AMUSING HIM EVEN IN THIS INSANE SITUATION? ]
I hate you.
I hate you.
That's wͣ̂ͩh̸̞͌̾à̸͓͔̼́̏̚͜͝t̞ y͚̑͟ͅ_̸͍̩̩̘̮̭͕̉̄̊̄͆̂̓̑͟_̡̜̽͗̂̓̔̀͡o̴͔̱ų͍̤͇͇͇̯̀͗̋͆̀̀̒_ get for now.
[look more false optimism that they may actually ever talk in person again. he must be having a productive day with leads.]
Do I h̴̳̖̻͆̎̓a̸̢̫̲͍͛v̶̛̬͉̮̼͠è̸͎̱̈́ ̶̢̯̤͎̇̕̚t̴̛͓̓̿͛ő̷̗̯̪͒̄̓ͅ handle you too?
[There's not much of a delay between the two messages. It's likely he only followed up with something concrete because he Knows Istredd Will Be a Problem otherwise.]
Kyle and Natasha a̡̛͇͚͚̞̤̼̼͚̫̹̱̮̹̍̇̋ͣ̎̂͑ͬ̾ͫ̿̎̌̋̍ͣͭ͘͘͟͢r̡̨̝̪̳̳̖̹͙̟̫̙̠͓̦̲̰̳̩̽ͪ̔ͮͫ̆̑̊͋̑ͧͭͭ̆̕͟͟͝e̷͓̦ "handling" it.
What would you do if an escape might be too risky?
W̨̡̠̹̙̃̒̄ͫ̈́͊͑͢͠͞ę̵̵̠͓͎͛̌̿̈́́̍͘i̵͍͔̜͔̤͎͠͞g̙̃͗ͮ̋h̴̺͕̥̎̌̑̓̂̂͊ͧ͘͘̚ pros/cons.
H̼͆_̰o̻̜̟̜͙̗̒̌̎͢͜͞͡w͈̒ͩ͐_̽̒ m̷͖̥̀ͅ_̡͓̘͎͔̋͂a̮̫̟͍̣̒ͧ͐͐ͤ͂ͮ̚ͅn̷̢̳̤͖̜̅̔̑̈͋ͤ͟y̟̰͉̮̎̋̏͆͘ still useful?
H̷͔̱̱̀͛ͤ̅o̶ͥͯ͝_̆͂w̬̤͖͡ many will you lose?
Will you lose them anyway if you wait?
M̸͇͚̼̉̅̚o̶͙͚͍̊́͛͂̓̽̊s̶̨̨̼̤̮̮̟̬̼̣̪͍̫̞̋̈́̄̃̈́͜ţ̸̨̧̖̼̼͙͈͗̿̒̒̇̿̓̔̑͝ ̸̧̊̌̀̑p̸̱͙̓͗͗̃̇͛̊̋̆͂̃̕͝͠e̵͍̰̜̥̖̊͗͑̔́̓ͅȍ̶͎̫̱̾͘p̶̧͙͍͎̫̫͔̥̟͈̎̅̂͒̽͑̎̕͜͝l̵̞͉̳̒̀͗̌̈͊͠é̸̡̩͈͙͔͉̗̗̭͓͒́́̏̃͗̆̚̚ are sick or insane.
[that's nice]
[that would be the word you're looking for]
Expendable.
[that would be the word you're looking for]
Can they really be saved? A̧͎̪ͩ̉͠͝ṛ̴͇̽ͬ̋̏̎̚͟͝ͅͅé̵̡̡̦̲́̅͝ ț̨̦̦̽͡_̮̪̗̿̋ͪ̒h̃̓̄ͮ͐̃̑̚e̶̼͙̲̞̝̯̍͝͞͝y̛̦͋̂ͧ̕͡ even themselves a̴̡̡̩̻̙̙̟̠̫̞͎͔̱ͬ̏̓͌͊͐ͧͪ̅̒͐͒̆̋ͦ̆͌͘̚ͅn̛͖̣̦͇͌ͧ͒y̶̶̡̘̳̝̯̥̯͎͉̱̤̦̳͎͐ͯ̎̃ͯͩͤ͊̕̚͞͝m̵̡̢̮͔̹̘͂͌_͔̦̙͚̻̣̹̾̍͌̏̔͝o̵͎̗̞͚̮̥̺̣̜̪͎ͨͩͭ̎̍̇͜r͓͖̒͟͢_̸̶̥͓̜̺͕̋̉͒̔ͯ͆̏ͣ́ͭ̌ͣ̆͊̕̕͟ͅe͖̮͍̻̽ͦ_͎̺̾ͮ ?
Is it worth it?
If it wasn't, you wouldn't be trying.
[yeah he's not going to tell Istredd the truth there]
Then don't make stupid choices.
I̴̥̳̬̹̣̮̘̟̥̩͙̋͊̃̈́̆̆͋͋̓͝͝ṱ̶̛̟͇̻̰̝͔̫̞̼̓̎̍́̿̍̃͆̑͝͠ ̵̨̨͍̱̻͕͕̗̤̦͖̲͍͔̲̈́͝m̶̳̝̙̤̰̣͙͎͓̬͙̲̟̬͗̓́̀̑̋̍̽͒̂̅͐͛̔i̶̧͈͑̈̓͊͗̈́͐̾͆͋͋̍͊́́g̷̨͎̲̤̰͎̤̳̯̖̘̟͓͎̉̄ḥ̴̨̧̬͕̆t̸̛͚̄͐̄́̈́͋̒͘ ̸̼̏̿̓́̓̄̉b̵͎̐͌̋̑̄̍͊͐͘͝͠e̸̳̼̥̤̱͈͕͗͊̊̈́͊ ̶̘̼͈͎̯̻͒̐̒̈̀͋͐͊̉̑̎͂̓̚ͅţ̵̽̂̄̽̇͘͘͝h̸̖͇̤͚̠̅̒̀̈́̋̓̿̐é̸̡̟̪͕̊̍̾ ̵̗̊͆́̽͋̔o̸͍̞͈̽̈́̊͂̏̊̂̈́̽̄͌̐̍̈̅n̷̹͍͇̳͖̤̝̎̈́͐͆̀̓̽̌̇͝ͅl̵͔̤͕̬̩͓͕̫̩̭̩͕̦͚̓̔͜y̶͓͖̥̝̐̑̂͗̀̽̅̆̆̏̕ ̴̝͕̙̯̣͊̿͛̀̊̓̈́̌̐͌͋͛̃̆͜w̷̦̠͓̩̞̜̖͐͋̐͑͑͒͐̒͂̐̕ḁ̶̧̮̖̗͓̝̤̙̹̗͙̅̄͋̈́̚ͅy̴̧̢͎̥͚̥̟̭̣̜͕͔̻̦͈͒̈́́̍̿̕̚͘.̸̡̧̥̭͈̱͉̳͍̞̥̞̯̑͆̉̈́̈́
Tell Thorne we'll ň̴̲͕ͅe̵̢̧͙̒͋ͅe̵̯̗̼͗̉d̵̢̫̱̘͌ ̶̧̈͊͝a̸̩̝̎͑͆̇ ̷̼̤̳̀͒͛̓l̸̡̡̤̭̚o̶͙͑̋̂͗t̷̢̰͚̾͒̿͘ ̵͈͍̭̍̐͛õ̷̰̹͊̍͠f̸̺͂̑͊ healers.
Tell Thorne we'll ň̴̲͕ͅe̵̢̧͙̒͋ͅe̵̯̗̼͗̉d̵̢̫̱̘͌ ̶̧̈͊͝a̸̩̝̎͑͆̇ ̷̼̤̳̀͒͛̓l̸̡̡̤̭̚o̶͙͑̋̂͗t̷̢̰͚̾͒̿͘ ̵͈͍̭̍̐͛õ̷̰̹͊̍͠f̸̺͂̑͊ healers.
Edited 2023-03-05 19:18 (UTC)
Everywhere knows w̧͔̯͙̩̟̳̪̝͔̤͍̋̅͌̆̍ͯ̿̿ͥ͊̚e̺ͬ ņ̷̛̛͍̜̥̲̼̙͔͈̥͖̆̄ͥ̔ͪͫͦ̽͡ȩ̡̎͡e̴̬̠̋͘͜͜d̫̤͇͔͕̲̬̖̫̼̯ͨͩ̽̓̿ͯ̎ͫ healers. Solvunn's esp̸̬̺̙ͭ͐ͤ̑͒̃̒ͧ̔ͩ̚͢_̟͉͖̙̂͟ę̷̷̵̢͈̺̺̱͈͌͗̔̑ͭͤͣ̄̌̿͟c̵̛̲̼̤͓̓́̀̑͗͆ͯͥ̑͘̕iaͤͨ́͋l̸̡̳͓̥̻̹̟ͤ̋̈̔͊̓̀ͮͬ̆ͅl̵̸̸̞̭̩̮̖̱͂̄́͒́ͩ̕͡y̸̪̞̠̘͈ͯ͑̇̒ͭ͋͊̿͆ͬ̇ͧ prepared.
Trying to heal someone
Ẃ̶̤͖͝ͅi̴̦̾͂ͅs̴̘̝̠͓̽͗̃̽h̴̡̯̗̫͛ ̶̥̲̤̈́m̸̱̑̑̋̿ë̴̙̭̣͍͒ ̵̣̞́luck
Ẃ̶̤͖͝ͅi̴̦̾͂ͅs̴̘̝̠͓̽͗̃̽h̴̡̯̗̫͛ ̶̥̲̤̈́m̸̱̑̑̋̿ë̴̙̭̣͍͒ ̵̣̞́luck
[why]
[well]
G ò̵̶̤͍͖̰̪̪̦͈̜̙̀̔͒ͣ͋͒̈ͦ̈ọ̵̧̤͍͂̈́ͨd̸͕͖̳̣̰̦̬̫͂ͨͯͮͥ̊͗͛́͐ͦͨ͠͝ l̵̶̢̨̞̲͙̯̯̳͓̃͒̎ͭ͒͗̃̕͝ų̵̸̢̢͈̳̯̘̗̟͐͜c̸͖̭̒̆ͤ̓̀ͫ̈́͒ͪͨk̵̸̵̛̦̰̣̠̗̰̱͔͔ͩ̋͛ͨ̿̽ͥͪ̾̚͜͝.
[well]
[it's good, really, that they're without the bond currently working. why? because Lucifer's mind is 1) a chaotic, mind-splitting mess 2) a constant repetition of I hate you.
it's hours until Istredd gets a response. he's usually responded even if he's been actively working. this long stretch is out of sheer, complete, frustration with everything.
some nobody probably died for it.
it's fine. they didn't have information, anyway. he's certain.]
it's hours until Istredd gets a response. he's usually responded even if he's been actively working. this long stretch is out of sheer, complete, frustration with everything.
some nobody probably died for it.
it's fine. they didn't have information, anyway. he's certain.]
what
happened
Istredd
It worked. Kell's back mentally.
W̷̪͍̍̑͗͊̒i̶͍̮͌̆ṫ̷̡̩̦͔̔̑́̇͜ḣ̷͙̬̰̱̣͝ ̶͈͛ą̶̙̔̓̃͒͜͠ ̵̡̦̟̥̪̦͗̓́̉͌͊p̴̠͋̈̈̈́̌ŕ̵̢̨̛̊̈́̕̕i̸͉̮͑̈́ç̷̭̮̋̔e̸̡̯̤̣͈̮͂.̸͈͌̾͗͝
Upside to ritual, they can s̷̘̒͗e̴̪̗̍͘ȩ̸̛̎ ̷̢͔̾t̵̼̯̿ḧ̸̫́̀r̶̤̔ọ̶̝́ṵ̶̂g̷͕̚h̶͎̻͆ the illusions.
W̷̪͍̍̑͗͊̒i̶͍̮͌̆ṫ̷̡̩̦͔̔̑́̇͜ḣ̷͙̬̰̱̣͝ ̶͈͛ą̶̙̔̓̃͒͜͠ ̵̡̦̟̥̪̦͗̓́̉͌͊p̴̠͋̈̈̈́̌ŕ̵̢̨̛̊̈́̕̕i̸͉̮͑̈́ç̷̭̮̋̔e̸̡̯̤̣͈̮͂.̸͈͌̾͗͝
Upside to ritual, they can s̷̘̒͗e̴̪̗̍͘ȩ̸̛̎ ̷̢͔̾t̵̼̯̿ḧ̸̫́̀r̶̤̔ọ̶̝́ṵ̶̂g̷͕̚h̶͎̻͆ the illusions.
Mentally. What about--
[He broke that line of thought off for once, not the indiscriminate text corruption.
He shouldn't follow it up with anything but, well.]
I̧͎̫͍̭͙̹̖̗̳̙̣̭̤͍̎̍̇́͂̈́ͬ̒́̒̀͊̈́ͨ͑̇ͬͮ̍̽ͯ̽͜͜͟'̷̵̮̱̪̩̻̤̻̫̻͉͙̖̩̥̿ͨ̿̅̔ͭ̓̽̊́ͦ͆̏̏͊ͨ̌ͥ̅́͘͜͟͝m̸̘͎͇͖̯̹̩̲̺͔̪̔̅͂ͤ͊̒̆̓͂ͧ̏ͤ̈́͘͢͞ͅ_͓̹͚̤̯̔͋̍́͢ so tired.
YOU'RE TIRED?
[ Yes he is message shouting essentially. He is much more tired and fucked up thank you very much.]
[ Yes he is message shouting essentially. He is much more tired and fucked up thank you very much.]
Edited 2023-03-08 22:56 (UTC)
Your exhaustion d̴̷̸̠̫͉̘̥̖̮̼̬ͩͨͮͤͤ̅̋̉ͩ͒̌̚̕͠ǫ̴͙̞̜̣̳̲̬̗͒ͤ̒̔ͥ̈́ͩͥ̈͆̄ͫ͟͠ͅȩ̭͓̏̿̍ͦ̊͌͐ͅs͎̘͆͌̎̇ͤͪ̽̑̎̾̎ͭ̈́͟͜ͅn̶̴̵̸̡̧̢̡̛̜̥͍̙̠͔̙͇̺̫̘̫͓̱̙̻̓̅͑ͯ̎̆ͬ́͐̾͆͋ͯ̅͂ͧ̚͟'̸̷̴͕̘̤̯͚̬̾̿̿̾́̔̋ͦ̕͢͢͠͝ͅţ͖̩̙̺͍̻̙̖̥̘̘̥͑̄̈ͥ̾̎̒ͦ̓́ͧͮ̑ͯ͢͝ͅ m̛̘̱͎̺̦̭ͯ̒͋ͅā̴̠̥͈ͩ̐͝͠_̴̗͎̻͓̤͚̠͐̍̓̄́k̬͆͛ͪ̃́̉́e̚_̸̢̠̙̤̠̻̘̙̫̬̪̣̼̐ͨ̓̂͐̿́̌́͐͗͑͑̓̿̀͋̽͂ͪ̚͢͟͢ͅͅ mine any less important.
[aka: bite me]
Try getting between two ș̶̕ṳ̵͆̇p̴̠̾̚e̷̳͌r̶̡̖̄n̴͎̊a̷̳͗t̶̺͂̏ŭ̷̥r̸̳̤̒a̸͙̽͂l̴̺̹͛ ̸̲̿̅p̸̻͆͛e̵̞̿o̵͈̼̓̚p̵̦̏l̶̼͌̂e̴̦̗͋͊ fighting to the death out of d̸̞̣͆r̸͔͛ù̵͕g̴̛̹g̶̺̑ę̶̟̇̏d̴̰̩̓ insanity. After being psychotic f̸̖̬͝o̵̦̯̿r̶̺̀ ̵̭̅̈́h̵͔̀õ̸̢̆u̸̼͂̇͜ŕ̴͕̎s̴̛̫because the cure had consequences!
[ He is very stressed out. ]
[ He is very stressed out. ]
What consequences, I̡̢̛̛̭̪̞͋ͪͥs̷̴̝̻t̷͓̝̼̟̬̗͇̟̰͖̝ͩͥ̍̑̐̓̍ͦ͟͝_̶̜͇͖̰̗͔͈̂̋ͯ͋͊̉ͫ̽͐͜͠͠ŗ̟͍̯̯͚̬̥̥̖̄̄ͥͧ͑̑͐̕e̎ͥ͒̈͌_̫͔͕̦̻͒ͮͯ̀̇͘͟͜͞͡d̴̡͙̪̭͈̺͔͎̲̘ͨ̅͗͌̾͋̐̊͢͟d̶̘͙͓̩͚͙̖̞͖ͧ̊͛̅̄̈ͯ̒͆ͩ̑ͮͯ͋̊́̽ͥ͐̓̉ͩ͘͡͝ ?
I took his sickness into me.
Lucifer, I h̵̲͑́a̵̡̤̅v̵̝̇è̷̗͝ ̷͎̼̈́ť̵̮͓͝ő̸̙ ̴̜̪̂̏ḅ̶͗̚ͅe̵̙͒ strong for everyone but I̷͎̊̓'̶̻̥̿m̵̾͜ ̸͈͔͠n̷̝̼̎͝o̸̜͗̀ẗ̶̡͎ ̷̞̄s̸̮̚t̷̲͔͐̔r̶̞̮̍ȯ̵̢͗͜n̶̮̄̑g̸̻̬̈́.̸͖͊ I'm nobody.
Lucifer, I h̵̲͑́a̵̡̤̅v̵̝̇è̷̗͝ ̷͎̼̈́ť̵̮͓͝ő̸̙ ̴̜̪̂̏ḅ̶͗̚ͅe̵̙͒ strong for everyone but I̷͎̊̓'̶̻̥̿m̵̾͜ ̸͈͔͠n̷̝̼̎͝o̸̜͗̀ẗ̶̡͎ ̷̞̄s̸̮̚t̷̲͔͐̔r̶̞̮̍ȯ̵̢͗͜n̶̮̄̑g̸̻̬̈́.̸͖͊ I'm nobody.
[Really, he doesn't know why he even asked.
Goddammit he's not built for platitudes and even if he could manage to fake it Istredd probably wouldn't believe it coming from him, so he gets something that he just might listen to and accept.]
Goddammit he's not built for platitudes and even if he could manage to fake it Istredd probably wouldn't believe it coming from him, so he gets something that he just might listen to and accept.]
So now you're sick but maybe not insane, great. Guess what. Nobody is one of the only sane ones they've got, then.
It's more than they have. It's more strength any of them have.
That's enough.
[ He was fairly close to having a panic attack, it's been a hard twenty-four hours on top of a terrible week and a half, but Lucifer does surprise him. And then, as per usual, when it shouldn't be possible, he makes him smile. ]
Look at you, being comforting.
[ Lucifer may not be able to sense his feelings anymore, but he can probably read the tone in his words sometimes. ]
Look at you, being comforting.
[ Lucifer may not be able to sense his feelings anymore, but he can probably read the tone in his words sometimes. ]
İ̴̭ h̢̛̭̣̦̼̰̖͖ͣͩ̈́̏̄͂̒̒̋͒̇̄ȃ̵̸̸̱͔ͥ͋͋v̴̦͕̘̮̪̗̜̹̈́͊͢͢͞_̯̦̦̯ͮ͆̕͝e̵̪̞̳͕͚͎̩͙̝̎͂̈ͭ͒͊̓̒̄̋ͧ͗̌̉ͪͬ̕͟͠͞ g̴̡̺̖̠͚̭̲̪͔̥ͬ̈́ͬ̿̀̋̃͠ọ͒̔̎͗́ͥ̈́ͧ̓͘͟͡t̡̡̛̻͕̣̯̻̝ͭ̾͗̓͒ to be nearing a quota a̹͙̹ͥ̄͝t̝͔̟̀ͪ̌ͨͫ̂̓͢͠ t͛̎̀̚͜h͖͔_̢͉͉̳̤̭̣̺̰̳͗̄̀ͨͨͨ̄ͧ͆̉̄̎̊̅̕i̳͇̺̐̄ͩͣͅs̫̜̤͙͉͒ͦ̔̒́ͨ͡ point.
I r̷̩͎̈̋e̵̪̮̔ȧ̴͠ͅĺ̸͓ḻ̵̟̀̐y̶̧̿ ̵̖̖̌a̷͈͍̽n̸͕͙͠ḓ̷̈́̒ ̸̛̞͓t̶̤̯̎͝ŗ̴̛͍u̸̹̔l̷̼̝̆ẙ̴̦ miss you, Lucifer.
[ He's allowed to say it. He's too fucked up to care anymore. ]
[ He's allowed to say it. He's too fucked up to care anymore. ]
[When you just want to stop responding to a slightly crazed-out person but you also know it's dangerous not to.]
Ĩ̙̳̟͔̙ͤ̐̒͑̐ͬͤ̌͗̀̐̀͜͝ͅͅ saw an ad for burial plots, a̳͓͒n̷̵̛̛̫̙̠̖̲̯͚͓̤͕͖͍̬̥̺ͫ̿̄̉̅ͨͬ͗͆̃̌͒̅̃͘͜͡͡͞_͇̈̐d̳̟ͯ̂͜ I thought... "That's the last thing I need!"
[ It's okay, he didn't expect a reply. If puns is all he can offer, so be it. ]
Dark humor is like food. Not everyone gets it.
Dark humor is like food. Not everyone gets it.
If only you could sustain yourself off it j̡̗̞̟̤̥̹͆ͫ͒̒̿ͮͪ̑ͥ̑͜͟͡ṷ̷̸̴̲̝͕͔̙̱̰ͦͥ͂͗̌͌̓ͭͮ͒͢͠ş̩̤̣ͤt̵̴̢͍̹̳̜̲̣̦̳̾̽̈̄̈͌ͧ̿ͨ̌̀̎̍̎ͧ͞ t̥͕ͪ̀ḩ̸͈̥̮̟̾ͥ͡͠e̵͍ͬ́̈͝ s̷̸͔͔̰̲̙̀͐́͒̈́ͯ̅͛͆͐͆͘̚͡a̱̩͐m̵̶̢̯̜̯̜̮̝͚͔̑̃̌̆͌̈ͭ̅ͬ́ͮ̃̏͞ḙ̵̶̩̲̬̗̲͖̤̣̦̲̜͙͉̊͂̋͗̊̽́ͤ͛͒͑͗̕͢͝ͅ.
Tell me something frỏ͕̰̭͔ͦm̘͎͚ͦ̓ t̙̿̅̓̈ȟ͕̾͊̿è̳̖ outside.
[I got thrown in the dungeons for trying to get at Ambrose.
I got a fisherman eaten by a sea creature on the lake.
I've gotten to torture prisoners for information.]
I got a fisherman eaten by a sea creature on the lake.
I've gotten to torture prisoners for information.]
Rhy and Kyle are currently my roommates. W̴̴̗̤̲̰̰̣̺͊̃̿̉͋͐̅͛͑̚͡͝h̶̷̷̺̹̮͉͉͙͐̀̏̍̀̀̾ͬͬ̌ͬ͆̆̄̉͠ḛ̺ͨ͆̅̐̉͑n͙̬͂ w̷̠̣̦͚̫̦̹̟͉̤͒ͥ̈̽̋̈̄̀̐̚͠͠͝e̝'͡rȅ̹͖̭̄ͅ ņ̡̞̆͌ͣ͟ò̵̶̦̭͔̝͚͌̾͛͒̐_̶̢̳̲̤t̶̸͕̣̝̮̼͓̻͕̩ͯͩͯͨ̿̋̓̓̾̿ͭ͛͘ ru̻̙͂̉̂ṉ̶̴̢̜͈̪̅͐ͩ̽ͮ̚ṇ̸̂i̧̢̱̙͇̪̯̞̠̊̀ͦ̍͑̏̒ͮͦ̈̅ͦ̐͘͝ņ̶̴̹̖̣̳͍̂ͦ̾̈́ͦ̐̌ͤ̓͊͛̋͗͠ͅg̸̡̡̳̥͍͂͊̔ͥ͟͢ a̴̬̦̳̠̺̬͑ͧ̒͘b̀ͯo̸̦u̢̖̞̗̮̗̐̎̓̄ͪ̽t̘̬͓ͦ̾ͩ́.̵̸̷̛̜͇̳͈̭̹̃ͮ̓ͮ̎͊̓ͣ̈̚͘ Some semblance of safety for them.
Well I was only a rooommate placeholder.
Y͈̲̝̤͊͗ͥ́͘͝ṑ̡̮̣͈͈̹͚̩̠͇̈̅̾ͩ͌ͨ̓̄̆ͣ́ͣu̸͔̣͚̗̬̺̙̬̹͖̒ͣ̀͒̿͌͜ ņ̟ȅ̢̢̛͚̫͙̝̼͓̯͉̥͍́́̏ͣ͒̇̄̓̋ͫ͐̀ͬ͢͝v͖̥̼̏̓͞ẹ̷̶̢̨̛̖̣̳̯͕̹̻̠͎͙̳ͣ̂ͤͯ͟͜͡ͅr̴̴͇̺̟̯̗̩͉͖̀̔͋ͭ͋̔̃̽̆ͨ͒_̷͕͕̿ͣͤ̏̕͝ f̴̷̡̙̙̘͊̈͌̅͒̇o̷̸̤̪̫̓̽̈́ͨ͝r̆̎͑͞_̘̫̹͈̳̺̅́́̒̈́̊ͦ̿ͩ͘g̷̶̩͉͓̞͔͇̞̮̪̅̑̓̉̀̂ͮ̈̿͌̉̚ͅȅ̛̮ͥ̕ẗ̶̛͙̺͕͓̯̮̺̈ͬ̅̌̆̾̽̇̏̓̚͢ y̬̝͎ͫọ̶̶͚ͤ̋́_̷̵̴̴̪̦̔ͫͪͥ̆́̄͑͑̚͠u̯͎̍̐ͬͅr̴̰̂ f̭̜̝̦ͧ̓ͨ̽̉̈̾ͬ̕̚͝i̧̧͍̦͎͍͓͈͔̞͈̠ͬͭ͊̉ͪ̋̃ͨͭ̽̃́̽͡r̵̭͚̤̰̪̹̤͒̿ͮ̒̋̃͒ͮ̅ͥ̃͆͐̎ͯ͊ͣ̀̕͘͘͠s̟̞̙̮̹̤͍̲͌͌ͦͤ̈́̏ͬͦ́̆̃̓́̈ͩ͊͘ţ̶̸͖̩̺̪̻̪͙͈͑́̿͌͐ͧ̂̓ͬ̊̅͟_́ͫͬ.̸̨̠͓͕̫̭̖̱̀̈́ͤ̓ͣͯͥ͐_̗̠̂͌̇
They're terrible replacements.
I'm extremely picky!
No one's even sleeping! Just blackout passing ȏ̷̵̫͕̫̣̬̹͍̱͆̋͑̄ͥͣͫ͡ͅu̗̟̪ͤ͠t̝̠̃̓́_̷̶̞̥͔̪͓͔ͤ̋ͫ͆̈́ͬ̔̽̑͂̾ͧ̌́͆͢͞ ẉ̸̴̢̖͕̻̠͉̞̫͖̯͇͇̓̓͋̔͑͆̇̄̾ͨ̄̏̚͢͜͝͝h̛̻͖̱̝͉̯̫̹̜́͐ͮ̄̉ͧ̇̊̒͟͞ě̷̵̴̛̻̘͚͂̀̀ͮ̋̓ͨ͛ͯͨͪ͊̇͘͟͞͠͡͡n̥̞͓̺̒̉ͩͥ̓ͧ͒̚̚_̟ we're not trudging a̬r̛͙͓͙̺̗ͫ́ͧ́͒ͩ͟o̵̵̶̡̠͎̺̤̼̜ͦ͆̅̇͑ͪͪ̀̐́̍̕̕̚͝ư̵̦̺̹͇̥̅̊̉̐̾̾̚̚̕_̢̲ͤ͌n̢̧̯̣͉̮̮̼͉̳͇̬̝̟̼̖̟ͩ̉̾͗̀̔̌̂ͥ̄̑͊͐͘͞͠ḑ̷̵͉͖̰̯ͧͬ̌̓̈́̓ͬ͠ Thorne's territory! Fake it 'til you break-it, it's great. Super.
Same. Hard to sleep. T̃̌_̡̔̿̋͢ö̜̺̘́͒͐r̛̟̭̓ͧ̊̑͢t̷̹̟̟̓ͬ̄͛́͠ú̦͙̅͊_̸̣̼̾̕r̴̢̻͍͖̩̳͖̊ͯ͐ͯ̉̈e̴͎̽̔̀_̨̲͚̟͐͑͜͡ Ḭ̺͎ͧ̓͐͡ ṭ̛͍̹ͬͧͧ́h̸̟̻͔̔͐ͬ̊̑̉̿̚ͅī̧͈̻͎͛ͮ̑̆ͣ͑͘n̈̀ͨ́̂̈́̈̆͝͡k̽͝ Ground moves, shrieks. Vines strangle.
If I g̿ͥͫe̍t̷͓̳̳́ͬ́͊ͯ́͝ ỏ̹̪͈̏u̒t̆ oͯ͂f̸̞̰̘̹̗͂ͣͧ̽ͤ this, we're locking the door and s̸̝̠͓̉̍́ͩ͠ḽ͖͚ͥͫ͘e̩̍́ę̸͖̪͈̉̊ͮp̨̥̹̯͆́ͣ̽̓̊ͤ̿ͩi̮̳ͫ̅͊͊ͮ̌̏͊̚n̖̟̘ͭ̔̒g̖̎̃ for days.
If I g̿ͥͫe̍t̷͓̳̳́ͬ́͊ͯ́͝ ỏ̹̪͈̏u̒t̆ oͯ͂f̸̞̰̘̹̗͂ͣͧ̽ͤ this, we're locking the door and s̸̝̠͓̉̍́ͩ͠ḽ͖͚ͥͫ͘e̩̍́ę̸͖̪͈̉̊ͮp̨̥̹̯͆́ͣ̽̓̊ͤ̿ͩi̮̳ͫ̅͊͊ͮ̌̏͊̚n̖̟̘ͭ̔̒g̖̎̃ for days.
[what's he going to do with his Roommate Situation when Istredd doesn't make it back, he wonders
he's sort of used to Kyle
Jack sleepwalks so he's probably never sleeping normally anyway
he maybe shouldn't imply. right now. when Istredd doesn't come back.]
he's sort of used to Kyle
Jack sleepwalks so he's probably never sleeping normally anyway
he maybe shouldn't imply. right now. when Istredd doesn't come back.]
Deal.
[ Neither of them think it's likely he's going to survive. And they both probably know that. At this point his only goal is to keep the kids alive. ]
You got s͑e̷̳͂̾̒ḙ̦̈́ m̤̎̾̅ͩ_̎or̡͙̬͔͆̀ę̰͇ͩ͆̅͡ ôf͓̰̖̽͂̎͢ Thorne? Anything good?
If you went to Hayle U̴͔͒̌n̩̘̐͘͢i̟̬̥ͭ̈́ͅv̱͛e̖͔ͧrͫ_̽͗̄̾s̸̭̗̯͛̇̍i̱t̘ͦ̈̔y̅̓̄ I̵͆̎͢'̞̓́m̥̟̔ g̏o̲͙̫̿̍̒̈́i͖̠ņĝ͉͔̯ͅ t͇o̵̠͙͢͞ b_͎̼̱͍̄̽e̠͘͢͝ pissed.
[ Istredd desperately wants to visit there, okay? Think of all the magic books. ]
You got s͑e̷̳͂̾̒ḙ̦̈́ m̤̎̾̅ͩ_̎or̡͙̬͔͆̀ę̰͇ͩ͆̅͡ ôf͓̰̖̽͂̎͢ Thorne? Anything good?
If you went to Hayle U̴͔͒̌n̩̘̐͘͢i̟̬̥ͭ̈́ͅv̱͛e̖͔ͧrͫ_̽͗̄̾s̸̭̗̯͛̇̍i̱t̘ͦ̈̔y̅̓̄ I̵͆̎͢'̞̓́m̥̟̔ g̏o̲͙̫̿̍̒̈́i͖̠ņĝ͉͔̯ͅ t͇o̵̠͙͢͞ b_͎̼̱͍̄̽e̠͘͢͝ pissed.
[ Istredd desperately wants to visit there, okay? Think of all the magic books. ]
Haven't p̵̧̠͈̖̥̤̯͇̹̙̞̏̀͢_̷̛̯͎̪͗ͮ̀̎̿͑͟ǎ͇̮̚͡i̘̙ͯͧͭ̈̿͋́̍̈͞d̶̶̢͙͕̤̣̮̞͚̥͆̀̊̋͋͌̓͊̋ much attention. Lots of woods.
Hayle would've been worthless. Out oͫf̵̵̩͕̩͉̭̠ͧͧ́̋̑ͩ̿͘͢ ț̭̭̂̉́̓ͯh̷̨̛͈͙̦͇̟̜̜͉̓̂̉ͭͬ͊̈͗ͦͧͯ̚͠e̷̴̟͔͔̓͠ way. We're narrowing in. W̴̩ͬe̵͖̻̱̭͈͙̭͇̦̖̿̍̏ͣ͒͆̃̌̆͂ͬͯͬ͐ͮ̔͘͢͟͡ a͍̖̝̽_̷̝͓̭̩̄́̿̀ͤ̚͝͝ͅr̵̶̨̨̡̖̣̙̼̻̟̱̼̘̤͚̗̹͎̝̟͔̀̽̈́͗́ͬ̆̐͆̃̓͛̓̐ͩ͘͜è̶̡̛̙͇̘̲ͮ_̢̨̧̯̘̗̯̤̰̜̜̰̳̝̝̫̥̐̾ͤ̿ͤ̊̓ͯ͐͝͠͞͡͞ͅ.̴̢̣̺͉͇̬̖̯͔̟̲̤͍̗̝̹͕͖̞̺ͥ͒ͭ͗ͥ́̒ͧ̃ͯͯ͗ͣ̇͌̑̅̚͟͝͡.
Edited (right there was a question there) 2023-03-10 04:16 (UTC)
Ļ̱̀́ͭu̪̰̟ci͈_̏̐̍̅̊f͔͊͒̉ẻ͙̺̍̑͘r̖̱͓̽͘ i̍́͒ţ̴͍͗̀ͩ w̢̟̋̃̓̿o̷̧̟͇̝͐u͆l̦ͦ̅d͎̹̭̿̍͋̓n̮̐'ț̠͌ͧͣ̈́̄
[Something in him cracks a little and because their minds aren't connected anymore, he lets his thoughts stream uncontrolled.
It wouldn't be your fault if you can't find us. I know you've done everything you can. If you don't make it in time, I'm afraid of what will happen to you. That it'll break something in you, when you thought there was nothing left to break. I'm afraid Yennefer will rage and damage her image, the only thing she'd have left without me, Geralt, and Ciri.
I'm afraid I'll never see you again, not even to say goodbye. I don't want this to be the end of my life, failing other people.]
There's ąͮ̓̍ cr̬̈̆̐ë̮͔͍ͭ̉äͭ͊ͦ̈́ţ̞̟ͩu͔̬͇_̀r͎̭͇͊́̽ͦ̚ë̴̲̼͇͍̜̖͛ͧͫͬ̚_̚ held by the shrines. Maybe a god. I have a key to the last one.
[Something in him cracks a little and because their minds aren't connected anymore, he lets his thoughts stream uncontrolled.
It wouldn't be your fault if you can't find us. I know you've done everything you can. If you don't make it in time, I'm afraid of what will happen to you. That it'll break something in you, when you thought there was nothing left to break. I'm afraid Yennefer will rage and damage her image, the only thing she'd have left without me, Geralt, and Ciri.
I'm afraid I'll never see you again, not even to say goodbye. I don't want this to be the end of my life, failing other people.]
There's ąͮ̓̍ cr̬̈̆̐ë̮͔͍ͭ̉äͭ͊ͦ̈́ţ̞̟ͩu͔̬͇_̀r͎̭͇͊́̽ͦ̚ë̴̲̼͇͍̜̖͛ͧͫͬ̚_̚ held by the shrines. Maybe a god. I have a key to the last one.
Gods don't typically repay being free with kindness to w̙ͬ͆̽ho̧̪̱̣̿ͬ͂̍͗ f̮͊̉̕r̗̗̗̠͙͔̈̾̃̂͜ę̸̫ͨ́́ͪ̏̅̚ͅę̸̸̲͈̯̟͓̑̽̎̓͘d̷̶̨̛͈̬͍͉̜̖̾͂̈́̕ t̴͍̞̼̎ͭ͋̆͞_̘̐͝h̢̗͑͆̂ẽ̢̛̞̭̺̯̞͙̥̝̓̔̊̅̔̔̒̓͗ͨ͠m
I̷f̶̵̷̺̞̯̖̩̘̮͎͎ͣͨ́̈́̒́̃͠_͎̗̻͗ͮ͢͝ y̴̸̸̨̨̡̧̛̪̯̪̦̥̲̦̦̣͋̿̃̑ͨ̀ͦ̏̓̑͌̈̋̇ō̷̧̨̼͖̟͈̘̲͙̤̫̖̖̏͛ͫ̐̊͗̉̈̀̔͘͢u̓͜ d̡͍̼̥͛ͪͦ̆̔͟o̠̬͡͝ í̥͓͈̦͙͈̖̣̦̝͒́͌ͪͫ̌̆̈ͩ̿͞_̌̏̔͝t̶̢̗̣̮̤̯̳̥̅̈ͫ̇ͫ̇̐̚ make sure there's someone ỏ̥͌r͚̖̽ͮͦ̊̀͒͆͌̂͐͟ ş̴͚̞̩͉̖͍̮͚ͥ͐̾ͨ́̾̔ͧ͗ͪ̋̑ͭ͗ͭ̚o͔͛́̀͟mͮ̋̈͜e̮͈̬̗͕̖̩̝̮̺̝̪̲̎́ͨ̊́̂ͮ̌ͥ͋̑̎ͅthing else to get in its path.
Ţ̧̣͚͍ͦ̽̇̈ͪ̒͜͝r͔͍̠ͤu̩̙͖͉̫̾̈ͭ͊ͪͧ͗́ṡ͇̍̒͛ͧ̃͝ṯ̡̤̘̰̇̄̐̈́͊̂_̸̈́͗͝ m̮ͩͬ̚͡ề̡̦̥̩ͅ I planned on putting the acolytes r̛͔̈́͞i̶̶̴̢̢̤̯͈̖͎̙̟ͪͧ̇̽̒ͤ͡g̳̖̝̜̤̙̈ͬ͐̈́͜ͅh̛̗̤̞͚ͯͦt̨̥͊͝͝ i̯̓̿͡n̨̖̹̑́̇̍̇ͩ́̚͠ its path.
But it's a last resort. We may have found something. Illusion m̏a͂ͪgi͋͠cͮͩͭͅ d̮͖͇̅͞ǫ̛̱ͭ̐̄e̻͕ṡn't work on the others now. They can see something I can't.
Frustrating. Can't dispel it with n̻̉̌̾͜oͧ m̝̱̃ͤ́ͯͮͩ͡ä̬͖̭̭̂ͩ_̴̄ͥ̆g̻̗̈́̌̃i̧̼̘ͣ̑č̷̹̦̣ͦ́͢.
But it's a last resort. We may have found something. Illusion m̏a͂ͪgi͋͠cͮͩͭͅ d̮͖͇̅͞ǫ̛̱ͭ̐̄e̻͕ṡn't work on the others now. They can see something I can't.
Frustrating. Can't dispel it with n̻̉̌̾͜oͧ m̝̱̃ͤ́ͯͮͩ͡ä̬͖̭̭̂ͩ_̴̄ͥ̆g̻̗̈́̌̃i̧̼̘ͣ̑č̷̹̦̣ͦ́͢.
Edited 2023-03-10 04:58 (UTC)
Churn out a̴̷͍͔͓̺͚̝͎ͪ̂̓̽͊̄ͪͨ l̖̬̫̻̽̀͐̄̓̒ͥ͡ittle rage for me.
[As though that would be enough for Lucifer to pull across the continent. As though that would break through their block.]
Only t̞͒͗ẃ̈ͬ_̐ǫ̈́ tḭ͙̩ͫ̓͘͜͢m̛̠͙̭ͥͮͧ̚͝ë̢̻͕́͋̿͐͝s̭ͧ I've felt rage. At Stregobor and your father.
[ So both of their fathers, essentially. Apparently neither of them are too old for daddy issues or likely to be past them any time soon. Istredd's just much more subtle about his.
He does the old college try of really attempting to reach out for Lucifer's familiar mind. He knows it well now, their connection so strong it lasted in the Singularity. He didn't tell Lucifer that the depth of bonds depends on the people, that not all of them are like theirs. And the obnoxious thing is he can almost feel it. It's more like feeling goosebumps out of no where, like someone stepped on your grave. As if something was there and he could reach out but somehow miss.
That in itself makes him angry because it's one of the things he should be good at. This stupid situation.]
I have to try and cure someone else.
[ So both of their fathers, essentially. Apparently neither of them are too old for daddy issues or likely to be past them any time soon. Istredd's just much more subtle about his.
He does the old college try of really attempting to reach out for Lucifer's familiar mind. He knows it well now, their connection so strong it lasted in the Singularity. He didn't tell Lucifer that the depth of bonds depends on the people, that not all of them are like theirs. And the obnoxious thing is he can almost feel it. It's more like feeling goosebumps out of no where, like someone stepped on your grave. As if something was there and he could reach out but somehow miss.
That in itself makes him angry because it's one of the things he should be good at. This stupid situation.]
I have to try and cure someone else.
[He'll fuel enough rage for the two of them. These two weeks are the strongest he's felt in his entire time in Abraxas.
Oh, it's been swell.]
[Fail. Again. What happens.]
Oh, it's been swell.]
If you
[Fail. Again. What happens.]
Who do you need the most? Not w͇̻̻̅h̹̊́͂̏o d̴͓͔̠̫̬͓̾̒ͮͧ͑͛͛͑͢͢͜o̷̢̮̒́̓̒ͪ͒͋̕͢͢ ỷ̨͖͍̪̻͉̇ͪ̔̏̂͢õ̡ų̩̭͙͔̑́͌̉̈́̀͌̅ͣ͘͘ want. Who do you need. Focus on that.
I already know. Steve Rogers. S̶̸̸͍̺͠ả̸̷̸̜̮̜̤͎ͪ͘͠me w̝ͯ̅ͧoͤr͉l̷̢̥͓̱̩̜̬̗̓̾̏̀̏͛̽̕͟͟d͛̕͡ as Stephen, Wanda, and Natasha. Natural leader. Important.
[... He's pretty sure he knows that name. Little tidbits would make a lot of sense if he wasn't focused on other things. Nor does it, frankly, matter to him, ultimately.]
[What? 'Good luck' didn't exactly help last time now, did it?]
W̧̩̩͍̑̔͒̄͛̓͘͞ͅȩ̛͚͕̻̳̮̝͊̓̾͑ͦ́̂͋̔ͯ͛͒̃ͯ̿ͣ͢͞͡l̨̝̭̻̲ͮ̊̽̂ͥ̀ͬ͞l̗ͪ_̼̝̂,̤̘̳͇̞̳̰̰͗ͧͥ̉̋̔ͥͬ̏̆͜͡ y̤ȯ̵̪̠̹̞̲͈͍̫̺̭̭͙̉͊̓ͮ̏̕͟u̘̹̘̪̲̘̼͖̣̩ͦͪ̊͜͠ probably can't make it a̡̧͇̪̜͙̝ͥ͑ͬ͂̀̂ͨͭ͠n̴̢̟̻̞̿́̊̚y̞͖̠̙ͪ̒͛͋͝ worse.
[What? 'Good luck' didn't exactly help last time now, did it?]
anyway
L U C I F E R.
The kids are out, go and find them!
The kids are out, go and find them!
['Kids are out' means Istredd is not.
Absolutely predictable.]
Absolutely predictable.]
On it.
Lucifer knows avoiding the Horizon isn't likely doing Istredd any good, but it's Necessary. For Lucifer. Because right now? Right now he's mentally stable and one of them has to be, even if their connection must be near-to-nonexistent (sure as hell feels that way, anyway).
And if Lucifer sees Istredd he has a funny feeling he's going to lose what little hold of himself he currently has.
It's necessary.
He heads back to his room. Closes the door behind him and thumps his back to it, arms folded, expression blank as he looks to Kyle.
"So?"
And if Lucifer sees Istredd he has a funny feeling he's going to lose what little hold of himself he currently has.
It's necessary.
He heads back to his room. Closes the door behind him and thumps his back to it, arms folded, expression blank as he looks to Kyle.
"So?"
Kahlil hasn't been to this room before. Lucifer's presence makes it feel even smaller than it is.
He stays near the doorway as he recounts his brief conversation : how Jack and Urianger are with him, the kidnapped natives, the masked captors, the underground environment and other details Istredd had been able to give him before he lost his connection.
His arms cross over his chest.
"Others have gone missing in the Free Cities as well."
They might not be in Thorne at all, if this is widespread.
Kahlil has been watching his expression, his body language.
He stays near the doorway as he recounts his brief conversation : how Jack and Urianger are with him, the kidnapped natives, the masked captors, the underground environment and other details Istredd had been able to give him before he lost his connection.
His arms cross over his chest.
"Others have gone missing in the Free Cities as well."
They might not be in Thorne at all, if this is widespread.
Kahlil has been watching his expression, his body language.
Edited (html is hard) 2023-02-21 05:58 (UTC)
It's the first time he's heard another faction being involved.
For all that Lucifer is typically in motion and a flow only he moves to, he is stone. This is the most angel in him that Kyle would have ever seen. Straight, to the point, focused.
And just a little shutdown from the tedious things like emotions. Those things that have hit him like biting mosquitos. Annoying, constant, and really... why do they exist?
"Anything from Solvunn?" Is it preferred that they would be? Which is better, all three factions (and then some) being hit, or just Thorne and Free Cities, with Solvunn again looking like the fall guy?
For all that Lucifer is typically in motion and a flow only he moves to, he is stone. This is the most angel in him that Kyle would have ever seen. Straight, to the point, focused.
And just a little shutdown from the tedious things like emotions. Those things that have hit him like biting mosquitos. Annoying, constant, and really... why do they exist?
"Anything from Solvunn?" Is it preferred that they would be? Which is better, all three factions (and then some) being hit, or just Thorne and Free Cities, with Solvunn again looking like the fall guy?
The stillness is unnerving. But he's known for months now that this is a holy being wearing the flesh of a man.
"Nothing yet, but it's early."
There's only so many Summoned in Solvunn. If they were struck the same way, there might not be anyone left to tell them what happened.
He pauses, considering something for a moment, then discarding it.
"I'm getting assigned a guard to do my deliveries. I should be able to shake him long enough to take a better look around Nott." He'd prefer to go farther, and he's contemplating whether that's worth the risk. He doesn't care much for whatever consequences Thorne will throw at him at this point, but he's not yet to the point of throwing himself at those outer wards and ending up shredded to pieces.
He can't help anyone if he's bleeding to death again in the Gray Space.
"What are you going to do?"
"Nothing yet, but it's early."
There's only so many Summoned in Solvunn. If they were struck the same way, there might not be anyone left to tell them what happened.
He pauses, considering something for a moment, then discarding it.
"I'm getting assigned a guard to do my deliveries. I should be able to shake him long enough to take a better look around Nott." He'd prefer to go farther, and he's contemplating whether that's worth the risk. He doesn't care much for whatever consequences Thorne will throw at him at this point, but he's not yet to the point of throwing himself at those outer wards and ending up shredded to pieces.
He can't help anyone if he's bleeding to death again in the Gray Space.
"What are you going to do?"
Find someone to murder is the answer on the tip of his tongue, but also not currently helpful.
"I think you're one of the few that have a viable reason to leave Thorne," Lucifer says, a tad twitchy. Even under guard for his "own protection" or whatever they're spewing, without a genuine lead or a real reason to leave, they're more likely to tighten Lucifer's leash than let him do what he wants. Trapped, trapped, trapped. "Keep communication where I can; work on their damn wards around town." Not the castle.
"I think you're one of the few that have a viable reason to leave Thorne," Lucifer says, a tad twitchy. Even under guard for his "own protection" or whatever they're spewing, without a genuine lead or a real reason to leave, they're more likely to tighten Lucifer's leash than let him do what he wants. Trapped, trapped, trapped. "Keep communication where I can; work on their damn wards around town." Not the castle.
He nods slowly. Another pause, then - he speaks again, something almost awkward in his tone.
"Istredd will keep them safe. Whatever is going on."
He says this aloud almost as much for his own sake.
They don't want them dead yet. is what he's thinking, though. Yet. As much as he's hyperaware of Lucifer's temperature, he can't completely shelve his own anxiety.
"Istredd will keep them safe. Whatever is going on."
He says this aloud almost as much for his own sake.
They don't want them dead yet. is what he's thinking, though. Yet. As much as he's hyperaware of Lucifer's temperature, he can't completely shelve his own anxiety.
Kyle says it like that's supposed to help.
Because sure, Istredd will keep them safe, but Istredd is going to do it to the detriment of himself.
So sure. That's fine.
"If they can keep getting some form of communication out, hopefully it'll give us something more to work with. Natasha being the switchboard with the other factions will make all the difference."
That he does believe.
Because sure, Istredd will keep them safe, but Istredd is going to do it to the detriment of himself.
So sure. That's fine.
"If they can keep getting some form of communication out, hopefully it'll give us something more to work with. Natasha being the switchboard with the other factions will make all the difference."
That he does believe.
Natasha seems competent. He doesn't know the details of what she was back in her own world, but he's suspected that they have overlapping skillsets.
He doesn't know what he was expecting here with Lucifer. An explosion, something more decidedly fiery. Instead the unnerving calm persists, until the unnerving part starts to dissipate. Not relaxed, not his own anxiety pacified, but at least not exacerbated.
They are, oddly enough, a functional pair. For now.
"I'll check in with Solvunn and keep her updated."
That's really all he has for now. Unless there's anything else, he means to head back out.
He doesn't know what he was expecting here with Lucifer. An explosion, something more decidedly fiery. Instead the unnerving calm persists, until the unnerving part starts to dissipate. Not relaxed, not his own anxiety pacified, but at least not exacerbated.
They are, oddly enough, a functional pair. For now.
"I'll check in with Solvunn and keep her updated."
That's really all he has for now. Unless there's anything else, he means to head back out.
[super weird that he ignores this
too bad, so sad]
too bad, so sad]
hey
are you still alive
[no reason]
About you? No.
B̸̝̬̖̃ũ̷͈̰̗͔ț̸̢̛̼͖̱̤͐̊͋͐̕ ̸̲̙̱͈̀̋̈́͐́͒ͅ you're a resource.
There's t̶̛̮͍͌̀̈́̎h̵̟̀̎̃́̔r̴͎̐ę̵͖̞̼̈e̷͂̈́͒̕̚ͅ ̴̥̻͑ kids from Thorne. Teenagers, young adults, whatever, it's all the same. A sad and pathetic one, a redhead with a w̶͕̃ê̵̞ǐ̵͜ŕ̷̮d̷̻̿ ̴̦̇e̸̛̗y̶̪͒é̷̼, and one with a mop of black hair.
You're too charitable to let them die.
And you're extending concern f̸̡̦̥̟̤̺̳̜̬͕͍̳͑͋̉̍́̽̒̐̀̀̒͗͐͠ͅȏ̵̧̡̗̲͈̺̝̈́̆̓́̽̐͗͌͆̍͠͝͝ṙ̶̢͓̆́̎̚̕ ̸̨̢̡̞͉͔̼̱̜̤͓̩́̈́̌͜͝t̴̖͉̜̹̪̆́̾̈́̕h̵̤̥̻͖̳̠̺̮͓̊͆̀͐͒̍ͅē̸͉̣͚͖̜̺̉͆̌̃̽̒̚̕s̶̨̜̔͛̀̄́̇̉̍͑͂͘͠ē̵̪͖͙̠̣̖̲̯̯̤͖̦̭̅̆̑͒͂̓͆̀̔́̅͝ kids? Wonders never cease.
[ annoyingly, lucifer is right. there's no way in any universe that cas won't look out of them. fine, we're doing this. ]
Their names might b̷͇͉̱̟̳̽̒̅̒̏͘̚e̷͕͔̙̰̪̩̔̀̀͒͆̆͊͆̕͠ ̴͇̤̳͎̝̽̈́̀̍͒̆̓̋̊͋ͅu̷̯̤̬̿͐̏̀̽͒͜͝s̶̲̼͚̋͛͒̈́̅͝͠ͅe̸̲͎̠̜͐̌̀́̐̔̉̈́͘f̶̧̡̩̞̹̤̳̙͇̻̟̻̝̺͚̔͐͛̏́̀̌̑̑̋̓͆̈́̀ǔ̶̬̲̞̮̜͎̝͈̥̬̥͌̉̾̑ļ̸̡̡̬̙̲̥̖̗̰̈́͆̈̋̔͂̏͋̃̚͝͝.
[ annoyingly, lucifer is right. there's no way in any universe that cas won't look out of them. fine, we're doing this. ]
Their names might b̷͇͉̱̟̳̽̒̅̒̏͘̚e̷͕͔̙̰̪̩̔̀̀͒͆̆͊͆̕͠ ̴͇̤̳͎̝̽̈́̀̍͒̆̓̋̊͋ͅu̷̯̤̬̿͐̏̀̽͒͜͝s̶̲̼͚̋͛͒̈́̅͝͠ͅe̸̲͎̠̜͐̌̀́̐̔̉̈́͘f̶̧̡̩̞̹̤̳̙͇̻̟̻̝̺͚̔͐͛̏́̀̌̑̑̋̓͆̈́̀ǔ̶̬̲̞̮̜͎̝͈̥̬̥͌̉̾̑ļ̸̡̡̬̙̲̥̖̗̰̈́͆̈̋̔͂̏͋̃̚͝͝.
[Any other day he'd say something asinine to his brother, but he needs some form of cooperation here.]
[He's not adding Istredd to the list. Istredd can't take care of himself but maybe if more than one person is looking after the kids for certain, it'll help.
Honestly he's shocked himself to putting Mat into the mix. Mat is like Castiel, a Resource. Valuable, maybe important, but not a necessary concern for Lucifer.]
Unfortunately. B̶̘̲͍̀̄͌ë̸̢̺͝l̶̡̯̝̓i̵͎̮̯̇̊e̴̺͛v̸̢̎͛̄ẻ̵̖͘ ̷̗̬̩̈́m̴̞̚è̸̲̺̑̊, I truly hate this moment.
[He's not adding Istredd to the list. Istredd can't take care of himself but maybe if more than one person is looking after the kids for certain, it'll help.
Honestly he's shocked himself to putting Mat into the mix. Mat is like Castiel, a Resource. Valuable, maybe important, but not a necessary concern for Lucifer.]
Wilhelm, Kell, Mat.
It’s disturbing to see you making friends.
[ youth friends. Despite cas’s suspicion than these kids are a means to an end for Lucifer, it doesn’t negate the dedication to keep them alive. So, off he goes.
About half an hour later: ]
I found one - Wilhelm. Tell the others to expect me.
[ youth friends. Despite cas’s suspicion than these kids are a means to an end for Lucifer, it doesn’t negate the dedication to keep them alive. So, off he goes.
About half an hour later: ]
I found one - Wilhelm. Tell the others to expect me.
[YEAH, HE KNOWS, CASTIEL, THANKS. You don't even know the half of it.]
I'll let them know.
[ another several hours later, cas sends a third, exasperated report. ]
Can you expand on "a mop of black hair"? There å̶̡̧̨͖̮̲͇̪̘̉̔̓͜r̴͔̾̐̒̄̂͝͝e̴̱̼̯̼̣͖̻̼̹̲̟͕̼͒̃ ̷̖͒̿̓̌̌̎̊̄ǻ̴̦̮͈̟̙̥̜̺̠̪̜̿̀́́̔͗͜͝͠ͅn̷̯̭̫̱̜̩̥̳̼̊̕ͅ ̷̨̛̬͙̼̖̬̖͙̑̽͘ͅẹ̷̢̡̝̳̼̦͚̫͔̭̫̮̘͛̓̔͆̅͗͗̅̀̇͝͝ͅx̶̢̳͇̺͕̗͇̜̣̳̫͛̿̅̋̊̐͆̀̚͘͠͝c̸̗̠͍͈̹̄͌͆̒̃͗̆̐͋͑́̕͜ȩ̵̞̳͕̞̠̝̻̹̖͔͎̼̳̊̈̐̀͜͝s̶̲̙̻̲͈̤̘̲̓͑s̴̬̜̮͎̫͕̝̯̫̀̒̾̈́̋̆́̑͑͛̌̑́͜͝ ̷̧̛͖͙͙͚͎͎̪̣̔͌̓̾̿̽͛͊̌̐̎̕͝ͅǫ̸̨̡̧͕̺͔̘̙͈͚͎͓̹̀͆̌̅͌͜f̴̧̜̥̩͕̠̠̮̍ ̵̡̹͖̹͖͎̼̀̀̈́̽̃͒́͗̔̚͝ youths with black hair here.
[ and what even constitutes a 'mop' of hair? Enough that, if you turn them on their head, you could clean a floor with them? this is frustrating. ]
Can you expand on "a mop of black hair"? There å̶̡̧̨͖̮̲͇̪̘̉̔̓͜r̴͔̾̐̒̄̂͝͝e̴̱̼̯̼̣͖̻̼̹̲̟͕̼͒̃ ̷̖͒̿̓̌̌̎̊̄ǻ̴̦̮͈̟̙̥̜̺̠̪̜̿̀́́̔͗͜͝͠ͅn̷̯̭̫̱̜̩̥̳̼̊̕ͅ ̷̨̛̬͙̼̖̬̖͙̑̽͘ͅẹ̷̢̡̝̳̼̦͚̫͔̭̫̮̘͛̓̔͆̅͗͗̅̀̇͝͝ͅx̶̢̳͇̺͕̗͇̜̣̳̫͛̿̅̋̊̐͆̀̚͘͠͝c̸̗̠͍͈̹̄͌͆̒̃͗̆̐͋͑́̕͜ȩ̵̞̳͕̞̠̝̻̹̖͔͎̼̳̊̈̐̀͜͝s̶̲̙̻̲͈̤̘̲̓͑s̴̬̜̮͎̫͕̝̯̫̀̒̾̈́̋̆́̑͑͛̌̑́͜͝ ̷̧̛͖͙͙͚͎͎̪̣̔͌̓̾̿̽͛͊̌̐̎̕͝ͅǫ̸̨̡̧͕̺͔̘̙͈͚͎͓̹̀͆̌̅͌͜f̴̧̜̥̩͕̠̠̮̍ ̵̡̹͖̹͖͎̼̀̀̈́̽̃͒́͗̔̚͝ youths with black hair here.
[ and what even constitutes a 'mop' of hair? Enough that, if you turn them on their head, you could clean a floor with them? this is frustrating. ]
Edited 2023-02-24 02:19 (UTC)
[You likely could use him as a mop.]
Tall and slender. Unshaven.
Always looks like he's up to something. Fidgets a lot.
I don't know, ask one of the other two į̶̢̡͇̭͈̙͍̩͍̤̳͕̱͐̉̓̅̔͛͑͜f̧̡̧̛͉̯͇͙͚͈ͧͣ̊ͩ̀͐̌ͦ̍̒͂̋̋̎̕̕ͅ y̸̧̡̖̟̫̯͖͔ͫ_̴̢̡̦̼̞̠͍̥̣ͫͣͣ͐̌̂ͣ̕o̴͕̭̯̿ͨ͌͋͠͠u̍ h̡̟̫̱̟̬̪̞͇̆̔̅ͩ̉͛̌͐ͩ͂ͧ̐͗͆̃̒̿̐͛́̋́̌̋͘̚͞͠å̮̘̣͉̥͕͇̼͔̊ͧ͛̓́̊̈̊̑ͬv̬͘ę̶̢̱͙̙̰͎̠͕̦ͯ̂̀͒͑ͣ͐͊͢ ẗ̫̳̣̠̲̙̬̟͇͈̫̥̙́̂̓̄ͭ͘͢͡ò̸̥̹͕̜͈̕͝. They know him.
What? You were hoping for an I won't do it again?
Thanks for throwing my own words to other Summoned back at me.
I know, alright?
I know.
I'd rather them suffer the same eternal suffering imprisoned as I have been.
But I also just want them gone. Wiped away.
Because take it from my experience, kid. There's always a way for the damned to break out, eventually.
Your royalty not serving up executions on a platter?
[that's supposed to be a joke
it's probably not very funny]
Either choice you make you shouldn't have to see them again.
The bloodhounds of the Summoned will hunt them down until there's not a scrap left.
I wouldn't mind the sport of chasing them down through Abraxas, but no.
If they get out they'll pass on their corrosive ideas to others, like any religion. Instead of having less of them, we'll get more.
Zealots rarely do. It's the way of their life.
They killed people. There were a ton of bodies down there, just left around like...like it was nothing. We were just tools for them to use, it didn't matter what happened to us.
I don't fucking get it. How can they do all that and not feel a fucking thing?
Maybe because they believe they're just.
Maybe because they believe they're doing their "gods'" work.
Maybe they even believe they were doing it all in the name of the "greater good." To ultimately save people by any means necessary. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
It is all the same, Wilhelm, it doesn't matter the faith. Doesn't matter humanity, angels, demons. It's all the same.
I know you don't want to hear it but there's nothing you could've done to keep their poison out. You can't be blamed for whatever happened with it. The mind is always the target, maybe whatever happened with the fungus was just a side effect, I don't know.
If you want to explore ways to get control for yourself from here forward, we will. I don't know what that would look like for you since the rest of us might just be closer to faking it, but there must be something.
[yeah sorry to burst your bubble buddy]
You know at least two telepaths, Wanda and Istredd. Istredd said something about a telepathic vampire but I don't think they're in Thorne. I know mental defense in the innate sense but those two would be your best bet. I imagine Istredd would have the logistics of it and I know Wanda has given you sigils in the past to help with your mental fortification.
Maybe if we were back home.
This place opens up options that wouldn't previously be open to us. Learning types of magic we shouldn't be able to. I'm sure mental defenses could be included in that.
You have your fire, forced upon you.
Have you ever considered trying to learn something else, for yourself?
That's fair.
I've been busy trying to not set metaphorical things on fire.
It's gone about as well.
Any particular magical aspect calling your attention? There's quite a lot. I've been focused on Enchantments.
No one "knows shit" about magic. Even if they knew before coming here, it's different. This place operates differently, and we can't even access certain types where we are. Heck, we can't even access certain types of Academic magic without Thorne getting all fussy.
But yeah, it's all about just... simplest, putting a fortress up around your mind.
Istredd could about teach you anything you wanted.
Except I don't actually know how he is with offense spells. But mental defense? Yeah, it's is ballgame.
There's likely other teachers specialized in it though if you can't stomach him.
He's roomed with me for months and he hasn't gotten sick of me yet.
You're fine.
None taken.
I've actively tried to break our friendship and he hasn't gone away.
He cares about you, don't worry about it.
Macaroni salad, put-together, award.
... Hm. I think there's something wrong with that sentence. Isn't there some 'homemade' Earth custom involving macaroni? I don't know.
Point is, yes, continue your lessons. For both you and him. He needs something familiar.
God you're young.
[that's the only explanation for how THE DEVIL knows about macaroni art and this wisp of a teenager doesn't
(or you know. cultural differences.)]
Maybe with the 'recent' addiction to phones and technology and the internet that's not a 'thing' anymore.
Yes, it really did.
Try several billion, but I get your point.
And I get where you're coming from, about Istredd. I've certainly felt that same annoyance.
So when he is shaken, trust me when I say it's not........ great.
[don't @ him kid]
I didn't think he was coming back from that pit because of that.
[the reply takes long enough it might seem like he isn't going to answer.
but eventually]
but eventually]
Yeah.
Me too.
[ This probably gets sent to Lucifer the next night. ]
I never learned much about your story. All I know is what little others have told me.
[ Others as in Jack and Wilhelm. ]
Who are Castiel and Michael to you?
[ Was he creeping on Castiel's group message a few weeks ago? Yes. ]
I never learned much about your story. All I know is what little others have told me.
[ Others as in Jack and Wilhelm. ]
Who are Castiel and Michael to you?
[ Was he creeping on Castiel's group message a few weeks ago? Yes. ]
It would be handy if I knew what others have told you, but I assume it's in line with me being the great evil responsible for every sin of the world.
[he'll admit to the things he did and have no regrets but everything that came after isn't his damn fault, Dad and humanity just needed a good fall guy]
Michael is my older brother, an archangel like me. We were destined to fight each other.
We're... on tolerable terms at the moment, perhaps.
Castiel is one of our many younger siblings, just a footsoldier. He's an irritant and I hate him and I've killed him twice but he won't stay dead, although he only knows the first time.
Because our asshole of a Father wanted a good story and didn't care how he got it. Had Michael throw me in a cage in Hell for millennia, took off, while percolating a prophecy about Hell and Heaven, prized fight, war, to square off. Yada yada.
So basically I screwed over humanity and "broke apart the family" or whatever and our Dad ups and leaves and I get blamed for that being my fault.
[he was really going to stop talking. writing. mentally vomiting. but. see. the thing is.
he has a lot of Issues with this topic okay. even just cracking the lid open means it's gonna all burst out.
to be fair. to be fair. he had mentioned abandonment issues during their....... dance. so really he's just filling in those blanks!!]
And then, best part. Fast-forward beyond the failed Apocalypse, Dad's back, in a real shit situation. Life or death for God. And you know what? We talk it out. Good, solid apology from the old man.
And then he flounces off again without another word. Got what he goddamn wanted from me and just left.
Evidently he created multiple worlds so I'm sure when he got bored with one story he just made another. A bunch of copies of my family. Again and again.
I know they still blame me, that alone is reason enough for them.
Some of our problems... mine, theirs... Some of it might be petty. Who's wrong and who's right. Grudges.
It's long, tedious, and complicated, and isn't about to just go away and Castiel
[nope it cuts off there]
Kyle.
I will answer any question you ask.
But I cannot talk about this.
It's... not for my sake.
[ Huh. ]
Sorry.
[ Look at that, he can do it too. ]
We have nothing like you in my world. No angels, no archangels. No divine devil to blame everything on. The priests consider some people sinful from birth, sins and tainted blood carried on from our parents, their parents.
How much are you actually to blame for?
Sorry.
[ Look at that, he can do it too. ]
We have nothing like you in my world. No angels, no archangels. No divine devil to blame everything on. The priests consider some people sinful from birth, sins and tainted blood carried on from our parents, their parents.
How much are you actually to blame for?
Got humans kicked out of Paradise, created demons, waged war on Heaven.
Useless. Pitiful, pathetic. Flawed and broken. Cancerous. The death to the universe, nothing of beauty like the old man thought.
That's what you were before.
Funny that now? As low on grace as I am, all of that applies to me.
[ He doesn't respond to that. Lucifer's free to continue, if he wants, but otherwise he'll get nothing more from Kahlil tonight.
Not at all because it hurts to hear. It doesn't, not in the way he was hurting the night before.
Lucifer's only telling on himself right now, and he doesn't have any good way to respond to it that would be sincere - or worse, wouldn't be insulting.
He feels sorry for him. ]
Not at all because it hurts to hear. It doesn't, not in the way he was hurting the night before.
Lucifer's only telling on himself right now, and he doesn't have any good way to respond to it that would be sincere - or worse, wouldn't be insulting.
He feels sorry for him. ]
Edited 2023-04-25 04:47 (UTC)
[he avoids any indication that he does know]
Oh, great, so he's a demon now.
I never trust that that's going to be the same forever in the Horizon.
Which one and why.
[He could make an argument for both and he Doesn't Want to for either.]
I'd have been more surprise if they weren't.
Unfortunately.
Seems like he's doing a World Tour of the Horizon, which begs the question of where's his body so someone can drive a holy-infused blade through him? I don't care if it doesn't kill him.
Typical demonic threats. Carve up me, Castiel, and exactly the person I was protecting that he shouldn't be able to connect to me, but here we are.
You know, standard, really.
So, nothing of use.
Edited 2023-05-19 21:28 (UTC)
[so sorry Geralt you're the one who's probably on the same section of the continent as the guy!]
What?
No, the kids are fine. I don't think he knows about them.
If I had something useful I would've told you already. Cheap threats from someone I expected to still be alive is useless.
You asked me, don't be bent out of shape because I don't have your answers.
[you can be on the move all you want and ignore him but he's still going to be an asshole because HEY]
To think I trusted you, out of any of them, to be able to ever take care of this.
In case any of the knuckleheads think to pass it on because it might 'hurt Dean' and they 'can't do it'
Holy water.
He's a demon now it should have an effect, but it might just piss him off.
[ He did mean to ignore it, but Lucifer catches his attention with the last part. Oh, mm. Couldn't have mentioned that ten minutes ago? This is the first time anyone has even thought to inform him that Dean is a demon, either because they do not realize or they assumed he already understood it is the case.
Which, upon reflection, he should have, but his knowledge of what demons are and do in Dean's world is not the firmest. ]
And the devil traps?
Which, upon reflection, he should have, but his knowledge of what demons are and do in Dean's world is not the firmest. ]
And the devil traps?
[to be fair he also just kinda figured Geralt knew the demon part because of Castiel, but time and chaos]
Should be able to hold him.
Your senses are better than most, I don't know which will come through stronger, but on top of the burning would be the smell of sulfur. It's like rotten eggs if you're unfamiliar.
Jack disappeared. No longer connected to the Singularity.
[ Not kidnapped disappeared. The certain comes from Sabine.
He's mostly telling you because he thinks you and Istredd are two of the handful of people Jack interacted with on occasion - and between you both, you're not likely to express sympathy. He doesn't want any. ]
[ Not kidnapped disappeared. The certain comes from Sabine.
He's mostly telling you because he thinks you and Istredd are two of the handful of people Jack interacted with on occasion - and between you both, you're not likely to express sympathy. He doesn't want any. ]
forward dated to about a week after new arrivals start showing up idk like the 11th or something
notrunninganymore
2023-08-07 07:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[Gabriel may have turned over a new leaf when it comes to standing up for himself, for others, for the greater good, and all that boring heroic nonsense, but that definitely doesn't mean he has to like it. It also doesn't mean he isn't still petty as hell about some things.
So he did consider just not contacting Lucifer at all, and simply waiting until they ran into each other somewhere. Seemed like a very appealing idea, honestly. But no, he's going to be an adult, and he's going to tell Lucifer's he's here before someone else happens to pass the info along.
And of course he's going to do so in the most obnoxiously casual way possible.]
Hey Luci, how's it going?
So he did consider just not contacting Lucifer at all, and simply waiting until they ran into each other somewhere. Seemed like a very appealing idea, honestly. But no, he's going to be an adult, and he's going to tell Lucifer's he's here before someone else happens to pass the info along.
And of course he's going to do so in the most obnoxiously casual way possible.]
Hey Luci, how's it going?
[...]
[Smooth. Covers up his very-much what the hell scrambling.]
[A lie but what does Gabe know.]
Oh, hey man.
[Smooth. Covers up his very-much what the hell scrambling.]
You know. Just chillin'. Catching some sun, enjoying beach life.
[A lie but what does Gabe know.]
[Everything is super cool on both ends of this conversation. No tension or awkwardness or emotions at all.]
How's the beach volleyball scene out there? Hotties or notties?
[Everything is totally n o r m a l.]
How's the beach volleyball scene out there? Hotties or notties?
[Everything is totally n o r m a l.]
Eh. But the spa scene, now that's where it's at.
And I suppose the massive warships.
Pick your poison, really.
You know there's no question which one of those is more my speed.
But here I am, stuck in goat land with the most well-behaved pagans I've ever seen. Not a single public orgy since I've been here, can you believe it?
But here I am, stuck in goat land with the most well-behaved pagans I've ever seen. Not a single public orgy since I've been here, can you believe it?
[OH SOLVUNN, HUH. THAT'S FUNNY. THAT'S REAL FUNNY.]
Well, Mikey's there. His sheer presence draws all the 'fun' outta the pagans.
They can probably sense the judgemental looks before they even happen.
[Though isn't Michael always looking judgemental by default anyway? Whatever. This stupid banter doesn't matter anyway, it's just a way to try to navigate this situation until they inevitably have to be serious, something which Gabriel is not enthusiastic about. So he keeps stalling.]
Heard you're all alone over there on your side of the continent.
[As far as representatives from their world go, anyway.]
[Though isn't Michael always looking judgemental by default anyway? Whatever. This stupid banter doesn't matter anyway, it's just a way to try to navigate this situation until they inevitably have to be serious, something which Gabriel is not enthusiastic about. So he keeps stalling.]
Heard you're all alone over there on your side of the continent.
[As far as representatives from their world go, anyway.]
He's developed some new Judgement™ looks these days.
[Gabe's heard. Lucifer's heard nothing.]
But we're all one big family in our hearts!
[you could make a feast off his text-based sarcasm]
Good to know he isn't getting complacent.
[And okay, yikes, no missing the underlying tone of that next message, so of course Gabriel just ignores that entirely.]
We sure are. Should we take bets on how long before Raphael shows up?
[And okay, yikes, no missing the underlying tone of that next message, so of course Gabriel just ignores that entirely.]
We sure are. Should we take bets on how long before Raphael shows up?
Michael wouldn't know complacency if it crawled into his vessel with him and redecorated.
[sorry gabe sorry but]
Oh, I don't know, Raphael might actually stay dead, unlike you. Not that we seem to get a choice for who's alive when they should be dead here, I mean, look at Castiel.
[Alright fine. We're gonna be like this, then.]
Wow, don't sound so disappointed, bro.
Wow, don't sound so disappointed, bro.
Awwww, it's good to hear from you, bro. Really. So much.
It's been, ohhhhhh..... boy, I think under a decade, so pennies to us.
[...Wait a moment. Having already spoken with Castiel, he realizes what's going on, but decides to be sure first.]
I saw you way more recently than that. As in, seconds before I got here.
I saw you way more recently than that. As in, seconds before I got here.
What?
Meaning I just killed you?
[if they were actually talking there'd be no maliciousness to the tone. but that has to be what he means it doesn't make any sense otherwise.]
No one's been here from that early...
No, meaning you didn't kill me, because I'm not an idiot. Surprise.
[He's rolling his eyes so hard right now, but he's genuinely annoyed, which is probably obvious when he adds--]
Nice to know your disappointment about me being alive was from that particular experience, though. Must suck that the brother you tried to kill wouldn't stay dead.
[He's rolling his eyes so hard right now, but he's genuinely annoyed, which is probably obvious when he adds--]
Nice to know your disappointment about me being alive was from that particular experience, though. Must suck that the brother you tried to kill wouldn't stay dead.
Oh. Of course.
Well great to know he lies about and to all of equally.
Yeah, don't get me started. But we can bond over how bad of a father dad is later; you're not off the hook here.
What? Oh, congrats, you survived? So what, so you could run away again? Where'd you go this time while Mikey and I were in the Cage and Raphael was dead?
[Just gonna avoid the main answer to that question, to instead go with--]
You tried to stab me; sorry I didn't feel like sticking around for more of your pleasant company, and didn't see the need to come back once everything was under control.
You tried to stab me; sorry I didn't feel like sticking around for more of your pleasant company, and didn't see the need to come back once everything was under control.
Oh please, I've killed Castiel twice and we're on neutral-ish terms, grow up.
By what definition of under control, exactly, are you going with? Because Michael had a stick up his ass but at least there wasn't a civil war and the angels eventually being ejected from Heaven and becoming an endangered species.
Edited 2023-08-10 05:15 (UTC)
Comparing me to Castiel is almost more of an insult than trying to kill me.
[He is not serious, but what else is new.]
And don't pretend like you're worried about what was going on in Heaven. You can't turn this around on me.
[He is not serious, but what else is new.]
And don't pretend like you're worried about what was going on in Heaven. You can't turn this around on me.
[but he can literally turn everything back to Gabe (right now). it's a skill.]
[and yes, obv he doesn't care about Heaven]
Must be real shitty then that Dad brought him back and didn't care to even look for you when Amara was sprung.
[
I can be real pissed at dad and also still be happy my little brother's alive.
[Unlike some people, apparently.]
[Unlike some people, apparently.]
I mourned you.
[which. didn't happen until he came here. but it still happened.]
And for what. Screw you. Screw you for getting involved on a whim that absolutely didn't change the course of anything. I sure hope you thought it was worth it.
What I thought was that you might listen to me. That maybe, just maybe, your grudge against Michael, and against dad, and against humanity suddenly wouldn't seem as important when you had to go through me to get it.
But I guess I learned my lesson. So yeah, maybe it was worth it, just not in the way I was hoping for.
But I guess I learned my lesson. So yeah, maybe it was worth it, just not in the way I was hoping for.
You had no chance of me listening to you back then, Gabriel.
You'd have a better chance now.
[Maybe not a lot. And maybe even it'd still play out the same but even if he had the means to do so Lucifer isn't about to go through Michael for anything and he's sure as hell not going through Gabe. And maybe there's just a fraction of him that would give pause because he's trying to see the inner workings of anyone that can look at that planet and see some piece of those apes that isn't just contamination because a few other worlds seemed to have produced some that aren't shit, so how come that one is so screwed up?]
[Gabriel is... Not sure how to respond to this, because he didn't expect it at all. And although he's initially inclined to be skeptical--and he certainly is skeptical--it would've been so easy for Lucifer to double down on the previous jabs and defensiveness, rather than offer this. Just two statements, but ones that simultaneously hold some sense of admittance, and some sense of hope.
But Gabriel's been burned more than enough, and it's no secret that Lucifer can and will appeal to anyone he feels a momentary desire to get on his side. And as much as that's a part of his brother that he accepts, it's also one that he would be very stupid to fall for.
Then again, he's also been stupid when it comes to his family. That's what got him into this situation.]
Well, you know how much I love a gamble.
[It's not forgiveness; not even close, not yet. But even though Gabriel had told the Lucifer in his time that it was too late for him, he also knows that had Lucifer somehow decided to truly turn things again, to consistently and genuinely change, Gabriel would've been okay being proven wrong.
He's okay with it now, too, but that doesn't mean it won't be an uphill fight. Still, the door is open.]
But Gabriel's been burned more than enough, and it's no secret that Lucifer can and will appeal to anyone he feels a momentary desire to get on his side. And as much as that's a part of his brother that he accepts, it's also one that he would be very stupid to fall for.
Then again, he's also been stupid when it comes to his family. That's what got him into this situation.]
Well, you know how much I love a gamble.
[It's not forgiveness; not even close, not yet. But even though Gabriel had told the Lucifer in his time that it was too late for him, he also knows that had Lucifer somehow decided to truly turn things again, to consistently and genuinely change, Gabriel would've been okay being proven wrong.
He's okay with it now, too, but that doesn't mean it won't be an uphill fight. Still, the door is open.]
Edited 2023-08-10 19:03 (UTC)
[Lucifer's never looking for forgiveness. For that he'd have to be sorry for the things he's done and he's not. He's just perpetually upset with how things went down, some of what he sometimes-vaguely sorta-maybe considers as being a fraction of His Fault.
He'll take this, though.]
He'll take this, though.]
Odds have improved so there's that.
Keep Michael on his toes, would ya?
[Even though he's now more willing to stand his ground and put up a fight, Gabriel can't say that he doesn't prefer when things are peaceful, or even just a tentative truce. This feels like the latter, even if it's just for now, and that's a relief.]
Even better.
You know I will. He's had it way too easy here in goat land.
Even better.
You know I will. He's had it way too easy here in goat land.
[HEY BRO]
So this guy on the network is pulling off a very audacious prank and I'm going to be simultaneously impressed and embarrassed, right? You're not actually dating someone here?
So this guy on the network is pulling off a very audacious prank and I'm going to be simultaneously impressed and embarrassed, right? You're not actually dating someone here?
[hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggjmk]
If I knew you finding out from Nero was going to be an option I would've told you myself.
I didn't expect one punk ass idiot to give me this much of a headache.
Okay now you're pranking me too, right? All part of the plan?
[He's in denial. But not actually, he just really wishes he was.]
[He's in denial. But not actually, he just really wishes he was.]
You're not going to believe anything I say so why should I waste the energy?
Oh you are serious.
[As if to confirm his intuition, he gets a message from Castiel, and oh boy. Okay.]
Well, tell me everything. Who's the lucky guy?
[As if to confirm his intuition, he gets a message from Castiel, and oh boy. Okay.]
Well, tell me everything. Who's the lucky guy?
Yeah, no, I'm not telling you anything. Goodbye now.
[HE'S NOT TELLING YOU SHIT.]
[BETRAYAL]
What, you're going to make me find out details from Castiel? You're going to do that to me?
What, you're going to make me find out details from Castiel? You're going to do that to me?
Truly it saves me a lot of time that way.
You know I think I actually miss the days where all the gossip about me was about how I was evil incarnate.
Yeah, it sucks when people figure out you have feelings. Take it from me, it's all downhill from here.
Thanks. Swell. Super late on that warning, Gabe.
You're welcome, bro. That's what I'm here for.
Oh, it's music to my ears.
Aren't you being a bit dramatic?
Poor you. Having people that actually trust and support you. It's awful, isn't it?
What're they gonna say? They didn't step up, you did. If they're for some reason disappointed, they should've done whatever they wanted themselves.
[but they're not going to be disappointed because Wilhelm is trying but ugh!! he's!! not going to say that!! :|]
If you did everything I have ever said I'd be dead or worse, imprisoned, by now.
[what is that not the point. sorry.]
You gotta fill the daily minutiae somehow. You can regret it after your term's done.
[Lucifer had a (brief) period of time where he was in-tuned with social media but it mostly went through his assistant at the time so 'fr' just escapes him as some incomplete though from Wilhelm.
But it. Well. Wilhelm likely doesn't know how much his words impact Lucifer because it's the first time he really, genuinely, the kid won't throw him under the bus--even if it's the wisest play.
So, of course, he's going to deflect. His modus operandi.]
But it. Well. Wilhelm likely doesn't know how much his words impact Lucifer because it's the first time he really, genuinely, the kid won't throw him under the bus--even if it's the wisest play.
So, of course, he's going to deflect. His modus operandi.]
Fine, fine. I'm amazing, I know. Devious, and amazing.
But I'm sure they'll appreciate the assistance. They both take on more than they likely should.
For you? Oh, I suppose.
[translation: always]
Met your demon pal, or maybe your demon pal from your perspective of what it was, I don't know.
I know. I knew it wasn't you the moment you spoke.
You got your control back. You destroyed it--that version of it. And patched everything up.
[He did imply to her possessed self that he's never lied to her, so... Sigh.]
[because it's not fair to keep saying 'you']
Well Chthon
[because it's not fair to keep saying 'you']
took up redesigning my domain, slung a lot of insults around about me, Hell, ect ect--really quite stereotypical, honestly. Some low-grade torture, got real pissy at my exceptional motivational speech.
And, you know, I
[actually this is harder than he expected it to be]
I got you to fight back against it by using the memories I had of your kids.
You've freed me from a nightmarish cage.
[of course he was going to do the same]
[oh their idea of recently is very different
to be fair, 'recently' for Lucifer and Michael is 'within the last two months'
but she doesn't know that]
to be fair, 'recently' for Lucifer and Michael is 'within the last two months'
but she doesn't know that]
Same pain in my ass.
I'd just blame Gabe. It's easier that way.
Yeah, because he ran away from family and hid with mankind for, I don't know, centuries.
[there are very few times where Lucifer is dead certain where Michael stands on a subject]
Yes.
[There's a very long delay, but there's no fooling her so he really shouldn't bother fooling himself.]
Thanks.
[ He is so utterly confused. ]
What is smutty fanfic and what does that have to do with a faction war?
[ He's been talking to Jack. ]
What is smutty fanfic and what does that have to do with a faction war?
[ He's been talking to Jack. ]
"Hey, you don't know, pineapple pizza could save us all."
"I would love to read your fanfiction interpretation on how exactly that might happen."
It's fiction.
Written by fans.
[duh
:D]
About other fiction.
Usually.
Sometimes real people too.
[ Istredd reads all of that, considers. He's starting to think this is actually very funny, but he has to be sure.]
What is smut?
What is smut?
Erotica, filth, obscenity, porn, adult material, sexual material, explicit material, X-rated, indecent language or publications.
But really, I went light.
[ There is a second or two and then he just bursts out laughing mentally. ]
Share!
Share!
[ Still laughing. ]
How dare you share your erotica with Jack and not me. I'm betrayed!
How dare you share your erotica with Jack and not me. I'm betrayed!
Oh, I know, so tragic. But alas, some things must remain kept between two people.
[he'd probably share but giving Istredd a hard time is funny]
Lucifer, come on. I'm your partner, you're supposed to share everything with me.
Oh, I had considered it, but now I'm definitely not, because we both know that isn't true.
[The switch from Lucifer using Horizon Text to using their mental link wouldn't likely usually be a shock except Lucifer's voice is so very low, almost like it should be right behind Istredd's ear, a near ominous purr.]
Because you want it and I can't give you everything you want.
Because you want it and I can't give you everything you want.
[ Damn Lucifer and his purr, it's been tormenting Istredd for a year at this point. He does actually look behind himself, that's how close it feels at the moment. ]
Yes you can. And I think you want to.
Yes you can. And I think you want to.
[He only hums a discordant tune and does not seem to be paying attention.]
Lucifer. I never ask for anything.
[ Whines. ]
[ Whines. ]
I'll write you the more fun version sometime.
You conjured the words 'pineapple pizza' out of the ether.
Right.
Well.
I'm still of the mind that you are correct and that the Crown will enjoy it.
Hmmm.
Truthfully that Dante's even here is impressive. I don't think he typically comes to these, but then I'm not here much myself.
[Istredd leaves a network note for Lucifer, not through their bond, I added something in my study. Istredd's personal study in his library is only accessible to Lucifer and Yennefer if he's not there. In it there is a giant canvas that seems to be a detailed painting of Dersti, until Lucifer is there and then it turns into an extremely detailed and beautiful illusion/painting of Lucifer's true form.
Written underneath is the title 'The Most Beautiful Thing I've Ever Seen.' If someone sees the snake they probably assume it's an inside joke. Only Lucifer will know otherwise.
He's also spelled a set of Lucifer's clothes to be much better for hunting in Nocwich with enchantments to keep from the blood soaking through and unable to be torn in a fight. There is an extra enchantment that makes him harder to see in the night too, if he feels like sneaking up on a beast. ]
Written underneath is the title 'The Most Beautiful Thing I've Ever Seen.' If someone sees the snake they probably assume it's an inside joke. Only Lucifer will know otherwise.
He's also spelled a set of Lucifer's clothes to be much better for hunting in Nocwich with enchantments to keep from the blood soaking through and unable to be torn in a fight. There is an extra enchantment that makes him harder to see in the night too, if he feels like sneaking up on a beast. ]
[the package is non-descript, but it's definitely big enough to pique the curiosity of the recipient as to open it as soon as possible. it's been checked through, tied up back into its box after the fact. inside, an amount of homemade goods have been stacked atop each other: candles, soaps, and moisturizing lotions. this would already spell out who it is from, if a similar package has been received, in the past.
a neat box lies at the bottom, though, and once unwrapped, it'll reveal a stained glass contraption, meant to be put to the light to reflect its many colors. maybe something lucifer can get himself lost in, as the colors are reflected upon surfaces.
a small note sits under the box.]
a neat box lies at the bottom, though, and once unwrapped, it'll reveal a stained glass contraption, meant to be put to the light to reflect its many colors. maybe something lucifer can get himself lost in, as the colors are reflected upon surfaces.
a small note sits under the box.]
Happy Winter Solstice.
𝓦anda 𝓜aximoff
Dearest Lucifer,
I hope that this Dimming gift will add a touch of luxury to thy napping at the back of my lectures.
Warmest wishes,
Urianger Augurelt
( Lucifer's package contains a cushion, but not just any cushion! One of the corners has an inconspicious gold tassel hanging from it. The attached note explains that the cushion is enchanted to shrink down to fit into one's pocket when the tassel is tugged, and will expand to its proper size when tugged again. Now Lucifer can be comfy wherever he feels like perching! Happy Dimming! )
backdated a little to a few days after angel radio chaos
notrunninganymore
2024-01-01 04:21 am (UTC)(link)
Hey bro.
So what's exactly were you aiming for with the babysitting mission to the island? Any specifics?
[He's both genuinely curious and wants to hear if there's some sort of gossip.]
So what's exactly were you aiming for with the babysitting mission to the island? Any specifics?
[He's both genuinely curious and wants to hear if there's some sort of gossip.]
Check every nook and cranny.
The Trauma Crew there didn't do a thorough enough job.
I do NOT want any of that bullshit to blow back again. Bad enough that acolytes didn't get executed.
That's a lot more work than I thought I was signing up for.
Then make sure anyone doesn't anything outright, obviously stupid, Gabe.
What did you think you were 'signing up for' then?
I figured you wanted me to play guardian angel for few specific people while you were shadowing one specific person, and all the rest was just to make the whole thing sound less personal.
Do whatever you want, just don't make anything worse, how about that?
Sounds like it's hard to make the place any worse, but sure. I think I can manage that.
You'd be surprise.
Don't let anything try to hitch a ride with you back.
During Nocwich, you do not have to respond to this
magicalarchaeologist
2024-02-07 12:42 am (UTC)(link)
My friend Triss is here, she was Summoned into Solvunn. She's the redhead she would have seen in my memories. I'm letting Yenna know. Apparently the Summoning spell truly likes my sphere. I'll be in Nocwich a little longer than planned so I can catch her up on everything.
[ ooc: not to add to our things lol, just putting this here so it is official knowledge IC.]
[ ooc: not to add to our things lol, just putting this here so it is official knowledge IC.]
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