maskormenace | 001: first prayer, voice-video

001: first prayer, voice-video

"If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone." Poor baby.

The prophets wrote that Jesus, having resurrected, first presented himself to Mary Magdalene, who did not recognize him. Well, that's a classical telling. 'The women' is a more accurate translation. So I did that. They had cookies. [ A thoughtful clucking sound is attached to the disassociated voice. ] Then he came down upon his disciples, and broke bread with them. Would you be surprised to know just how many Satanists there are in Florida? They were very accommodating.

[ The camera is turned upwards. Here, at last, is an (unfortunately) familiar face for those who have been here for a while. Lucifer doesn't look like much otherwise, just another steely eyed, rough featured imPort making his introductions. There are wounds healing on his - admittedly pale - face that look like they might have been some kind of deep tissue radiation burn. Still, he doesn't seem to be in any pain--he looks kind of cheerful. ]

I really don't know what I did to deserve a military escort, but I'm more than happy to know that I've engendered such respect in the human population here. Well--respect; fear; one is so very much like the other.

Now then, why don't we start with some introductions. [ He tapped his lip with one finger, considering where to start. ] I have a number of names, most largely unnecessary, but Lucifer will do. For the uneducated amongst you, that means I'm an archangel. For the heathens--well, sucks to be you; you have fun with that. [ The amusement is clear in the crinkles about his eyes. ] Furthermore, I'm delighted to announce that very soon I'll be usurping the airtime of a televangelist near you. Television exposure, a sponsorship from DRV Games, the adoration of my fans-- [ He drawls, it's difficult to tell whether or not he's being sarcastic: ] It's like a dream come true.

Oh, and Dean? Hello darling. Let's have a little chat, shall we? Happy belated Easter, chickens.

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I don't know what those are. Is that why you think people should fear you? Because you're an "angel"?

[She definitely picked up on that mention of fear there.]

It must be exciting if you're dodging the question. Whatever did you do?

Archangels are avatars of the divine; we represent God. Represented in my case. Now I am the master of the abyss, the Pit, the place where the souls of sinners go when they die to be tortured for all eternity. It's fear of that which keeps the rest of the Flock in line, and yes, ultimately a fear of me.

[ An explanation is easier than carrying on this conversation without at least that simple understanding. ]

Oh, I'm hardly your favorite. I believe the sentiment is...something something feathered young upstart? Who do I think I am?

But you're sweet to suggest otherwise.

Oh, do. I'll be waiting on the edge of my seat.

[ No he won't, but it was worth a try. ]

Well, how very sad for you. Imagine what I could do for you if it were true.

[ Eternal patience right here. ]

You know that whole hooves and a tail thing is a crock, right?

Just checking that you were listening.

[ And of course the first part was rhetorical. The idea that Lucifer wouldn't be able to see that design was ludicrous in many ways, except that - as he'd very rapidly discovered - his ability to see into the future and past, into the wicked winding web of fate, had all but been ripped from him on his arrival here.

But if people still thought that he was omniscient then all the better. ]

Time you can have. Patience is a virtue I all but invented myself. [ And he has been patient. ] But I'm always in a more generous mood if I'm not kept waiting too long.

Ooh, I haven't been called that in a while.

[Inappropriate, borderline flirty responses are a defense mechanism for her, one that's automatic after so many years.]

But that's all relative, isn't it?

Didi. Oh, he is never going to live that down.

[ Haha live it down, get it? ]

I suppose you could call it popularity. Really, though, it just pays to know which side your bread is buttered on, and then suck up. Suck up with all your might. Life on Earth is short, but Eternity is another thing entirely.

Sinners know that better than most. Sinners and Jehovah's Witnesses.

[ It's always fate. Even Lucifer must bow to that, as frustrated as it makes him sometimes. Other times, though...

His expression remains implacable as he waits for Abduxel to find his courage. His spellcasting had failed last time, backfired, and now he had to prove himself, not just in general, but in front of Lucifer himself. Of course it made him nervous--it would have made any of his demons nervous. What if they weren't good enough? He had unearthly expectations after all.

But Abduxel held his nerve, even with the stammering, and then showed him - if not the spell he'd asked for - but his shapeshifting ability. Lucifer tilted his head like a teacher acknowledging a correct answer. ]

Very good.

Edited (wow, jumbling my threads up) 2015-04-16 11:32 (UTC)

I am old. What was it that gave me away?

[ Oh Jeff it's just the natural order of things. Don't be mad. ]

Relative--with you much closer to one end of the scale than the other.

[ He approached her slowly, carefully picking his way through the bottle maze, and came to sit uninvited on the edge of the bed. ]

How did you get in there, I wonder. Spellwork?

Well, there are some people who would disagree with you, but raining fire and brimstone is really more Uriel's thing.

[ He falls still and quiet, watching her. Terrified, but awed, approaching none the less, like someone who wanted to reach through the bars to pet the tiger beyond them. Except Lucifer isn't a tiger. A tiger would run away from him and hide.

But he waits, to see where her approach will lead her, if she'll come all the way up toward him, or if her survival sense will kick in before then. ]

I always forget how soullessness can stunt a conversation. It's like talking to somebody who's forgotten how nuance feels. But nevermind; we are both on the same wavelength, aren't we, Dorian?

[ He waves the waitress over with a flick of his hand, never so much as taking his eyes from the other man in the process. ]

Would you like anything?

[ He can tell that he's rattled her, and by extension that she knows more about this than she's admitting, but there's always time to pull at those frayed edges some other time. For now, he's content to let her go. ]

I've given you very little to think about, but perhaps next time we talk, we'll know a little more about each other. Sound good?

Not this time. It wouldn't be a valuable learning experience for either of us.

And talking of learning experiences--how's that going for you?

[ His reaction was slight surprise, a quirk of his eyebrows, a touch of sarcasm: ]

I'll do my best.

[ Because his intention was to be anything but irreverent of Crane's possessions. Certainly they were only human creations, but how could he blame him for wanting to twist such a thing into a form of power? Corrupt it into a manifestation of fear itself. Lucifer had done much the same thing, when he'd taken the first of God's creations and manipulated them to his own ends, twisting up their purpose into something more sinister. Crane was, if anything, only demonstrating how much like him he was. A little devil in him.

He was very gentle. He gathered the burlap sack up, caressed it with his thumb as though touching skin, slid his hand inside to feel out its innards, almost intimately. There was something almost sexual about the whole display, and when he laid the mask back down on the table, he gave it one last gentle pat, as though to say 'you did good', before turning back toward its owner.

Down to business. ]

What would you need to diversify your delivery methods?

[ So he knows. He does know about the soullessness. Which is more worrying than Dorian wants to admit. ]

In my defense, I rarely get to talk about this with anybody. Most people are simply oblivious to my soulless state, so I take what I can get.

[ As the waitress walks over, Dorian turns his attention fully to her, giving her a winning smile as he orders. ] I'll take a cafe Americano please, no fancy additions like vanilla or extra foam, just the coffee. [ He turns back towards Lucifer, waiting to see what he'd order. Did the devil even drink coffee in the first place? ]

Same ol', same ol'.

How much have you caught yourself up on from your prior jaunt through this corner of the multiverse?

Well, that would be telling, wouldn't it?

Is there something you want to admit to, before I find it?

Yeah, yeah. Dawn of time or whatever. Hey, maybe you can answer an age old question:

Did Jesus ride dinosaurs?

[ Lucifer barely looked at her, however; he was watching Dorian, because without his ability to read his soul, there really wasn't much to pick up on--like looking at a frame that had once held a beautiful painting, only the ragged edges of the canvas still clinging on where it had been cut away. ]

Bring me something I haven't tried before. [ He instructed, simply, and waved the woman away again. ]

But they must find you unnerving if they spent too long with you. That empty thing flopping about, nothing really real inside of it. Even the most inept idiots must eventually notice the difference.

Do you have many friends, Dorian?

[ your hubris is stifling, Lucifer. ]

Ah? Er—noooo, but I am up for an interesting show.

[ there's a bit of curiosity in his voice. ]

After all, there was another you here before. A very much you. In a place that's pulled by fate, I have to wonder if you'll spiral down into the same boring old patterns that you did before.

I've seen some demons like that. [She shrugs. Pretty sure she doesn't want whatever he's selling regardless.]

My dad's more widow's peak and a suit than goatman, anyway.

[ After Lucifer approves, the cat changes again, shrinking further into a four-winged three-eyed hairless black bat. He's definitely a contender for the Miss Demonic Universe Pageant. The bat takes off and circles over him, and speaks, his voice still sort of Abduxel's but bizarre, the quality distorted. ]

I mostly work with memories. Perception. They re-live their sins or most shameful memories, and I get to see them too. And making them see what isn't there: monsters, false memories. I'm still working on the last part.

I can do more, too, I know it. [The 'lands' upside down, hanging from the ceiling light.] With practice. I think I could make them feel things, without touching them. Pain - excitement - whatever. But if I do it wrong I might kill them, make their hearts race too fast... and they aren't interesting dead.

Edited 2015-04-16 17:49 (UTC)

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001: first prayer, voice-video

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