Set my sights on the setting sun

[thedevilwhorose]

Who: Lucifer
When: July and August
Where: Thorne, Horizon
What: Catch-all
Warnings: me apparently not being able to label prompts correctly alphabetical




Heaven talks, but not to me
'Cause Heaven knows that nothing good comes free ♫
[Will match style.]

Comments

OTA / Thorne

[thedevilwhorose]

A. Combat

[The early-morning dawn hours are no one's favorite time to get snapped at by the devil. But on the castle grounds at a certain period, outside of the normal, official combat training for guards, that's what happens. He's walking away from a guard who is face-planted on the surface, Lucifer tapping the blunt end of a practice spear to the ground like a cane.] Come on, go again. I told you to fix that weak spot last week, and you came back, still? I thought you wanted to impress Natasha, this is just sad.

[If anyone approaches he'll toss a look over his shoulder, snorting.] Don't just stand there in gawk. You're either here to learn or you're wasting my time, so get moving one way or the other. [He snaps his fingers with his other hand, focus already drifted away. Ándale!]


B. Schooled

Lucifer is sitting in the back of a classroom later in the afternoon. It might seem like, to anyone unfamiliar passing by the room, that he's clearly just playing at the bad-boy student. Just there to be somewhere.

There's not a lecture going on, currently. It's an intermediary class, but they're in sort of a free-study moment. But upon closer examination Lucifer is, apparently, also just as much at work as the other students, holding a piece of paper up to light that has scrawled symbols sketched over it, some doodles at a lower end.

The door to the room is propped open. There have already been students from various fields and levels wandering in and out between other open classrooms. He seems to be frowning, fixated, annoyed at his work until the paper flutters down to his desk out of hand and he just sprawls back, making an aggrieved sound.


B. Rifts

[He's out in an area he's never found in, near-to Thorne's stables to check out the horses. He doesn't have a lot of coin but maybe he could make a decent bet for the races and get a bit extra.

The venture backfires, wherever he is along the trip.

The flashes of lightning don't throw him completely off guard like they may've in the past. It helps that he's been studying lightning for his enchantment spells. He's not immediately sunk into to Cage memories by the sparks.

And it's not the same rift as what he's already encountered from his world. That matters. Those little details.

He'd heard rumors about this phenomenon, but... ] Ah. Great. Just what I need...

B

[a_better_man]

...That can't be good.

[Mat spends a fair bit of time by the stables himself. He just likes horses. He hasn't bothered with one of his own, but there's certain castle mounts he's particularly fond of and borrows often.

He's on his way back, to get in his theorbo practice for the day, when he witnesses the same sight as Lucifer and stops up short. He knows he's not the source of this.]

You alright?

[He raises his voice to call out, not inclined to move from where he stands.]

[thedevilwhorose]

Alright in the sense that I haven't been eviscerated by a portal. [Less great when he sees the meaty paw of a hound step out and the flair of red eyes, but the red ears and white fur sets off what Lucifer is expecting.

Hellhounds aren't white.

Hellhounds are also invisible to most entities, so he calls out as he backs up slowly.] Can you see them?

[The rumors he's caught didn't include hounds. And the rift closes after two more paw out behind the first, before Lucifer could even consider shoving his face into it. But he's been stuck on another side of a rift before, he likely wouldn't risk it a second time.]

OTA / The Horizon

[thedevilwhorose]

[Rare that Lucifer is in his own domain, typically at Istredd's tower, or Wanda's woods, but he does have work he wants to do here from time to time. His primarily place to work out of is along the beach of the red lake, lately shifted to just a patch of out-of-place snow under him.

The last time he really worked at this a demon in the form of Dean Winchester showed up and ruined his day.

So really any other visitors should be better.

He's surrounded by sketched lines and weaves around him that have no meaning, no harm to anyone that may arrive.

Just Lucifer, oddly focused and hard at some kind of unseen 'work.']

[takeatrip]

[For as much time as he's spent in the Horizon overall, Jayden hasn't actually done a huge amount of exploring others' domains. Partially it's because he hasn't had much motivation or desire to do so, content to just mess with his own Horizon and also sulk a bit, but since he's started feeling a little better the urge to explore has gotten a bit stronger.

It's rewarded when he ventures into Lucifer's domain, because this place is really cool. Very, very cool, if somewhat ominous, and that sense of foreboding helpfully balances out his sometimes reckless curiosity, preventing him from getting too close to the water of the red lake. Instead he stops well safe of the waterline, looking around at the place, before catching sight of someone on the beach.]

Hi, uh, am I intruding?

[It's asked in a mix of hesitance and politeness as he approaches close enough to be heard, though still keeping a bit of a distance just in case he is indeed intruding and it's not taken very well. Also because he feels like someone--or something?--is watching him, and so his attention is now split to focus on that as well.]

[thedevilwhorose]

Unless you plan on stepping through one of my lines then no, you're not. [He is going to be undoubtedly annoyed if he has to correct one of the woven symbols, even if it is as simple as clicking the domain back into place, but he's got thoughts all up in his head that he doesn't want to have to go over something a second time.

He leans forward, dragging a hand through snow to sand.

He doesn't recognize the voice so really that's immediately a point in the stranger's favor.]

Jonathan Crane / Horizon

[thedevilwhorose]

[He did, actually, book an appointment. He never introduced himself to the man, but that hardly matters. They talked on the Horizon network. That left Lucifer's name as an automatic signature.

But he can be polite from time to time. So he books with little details (Name, Time, No Reason For Visit) and he's prompt at the man's gate right on time, dressed in modern clothing.] Nice place you've got here.

[restingstitchface]

Well, I thought a decaying slum was inappropriate for the kind of business I do here.

[The Narrows. The edge of a spider's web with his asylum in the centre: but that doesn't mean he cannot entangle people here. All manner of intruders who think him small and defenseless...

Two eyes flicker over his latest visitor and size up everything, from height and hygeine, to manner and clothing. The man's confidence is almost infectious - but he doesn't need it.]

But I am glad you approve.

[thedevilwhorose]

Honestly it might be the exact right level of appropriateness. [Look Lucifer isn't here for Crane's profession.

He has other needs for this man.

He holds out a hand to gesture at the entrance, brows raised, partially hoping that Crane actually let him in.] Shall we?

Wanda Maximoff / Horizon

[thedevilwhorose]

[Soooooooooooo........... "Soon" is a relative term.

The last month was..... busy. For Lucifer. Both Complicated Busy and Political Busy. He'd always make time for Wanda and yet here he is, awfully late.

But he does finally shoot her a message quite like 'uh is now a good time?' before wandering over to her neck of the woods.

Hey, better late than never?] Sorry, it's been... [He waves a hand.] Lot going on.

[carmesi]

[lucifer is certainly lucky that wanda takes no offense to his ‘being busy’ and his ‘being awfully late’. things in abraxas move at their own pacing, and sometimes that’s just how it is.

wanda observes him from the deck of her cabin, arms pressed against the wooden railing as she leans over, watching him take the last couple of steps up to the house.]

Like I’d ever be angry about it.

[small mercies, to know that you have someone that wouldn’t get upset at you for otherwise trivial things.

she motions to the side with her head.]

I want to show you something. It’s around the back.

[further into the garden area, around the house, that is.]

[thedevilwhorose]

[She was truly his first 'friend' in all of existence and she continues to feed into reasons why that is the case.

That isn't why he dutifully follows her though; curiosity and interest are far stronger in this moment.]

Istredd / Feywilds

[thedevilwhorose]

[magicalarchaeologist]

Istredd manages to keep it pretty level throughout the party. Despite the intensity of meeting Jaskier and Lucifer almost getting into an actual fight, Istredd was focused on keeping calm and steady and getting them through the masquerade. As much as the Fey thought they wanted a fight, he knows they didn't, and that the evening could have gone poorly. This may be their only chance to give the Fey an impression, and who knows if they'll allow them to come back. It had to go well.

But it means that he held in a lot of emotions and pushed them all down. It was, overall, a success he believes, and he thinks his costume went over well. The Fey did seem pleased, and that was the point. As they walk into the room assigned to them, Istredd pulls the mask off and hooks his cape up. Even in a state of emotion he likes to take care of the rare clothes he gets here. What people didn't realize when they saw his galaxy of stars suit was it is more or less an actual simple fabric suit, all black, that illusions were placed upon.

They still are on him at the moment, the ones hooked into his clothing displaying the glow of lights, but they aren't as bright or shifting as when he intentionally was adding his power to it. As Lucifer is used to seeing these days once Istredd gets back from a public engagement where he really needs to be on, he seems to wilt in energy almost immediately, tired and taking a seat, even more so exhausted after all of that.

Istredd is flushed and annoyed, too many things going through his mind at once. There is anger simmering under the surface but not something he actively wants to address, as per usual. It's not aimed at Lucifer in the least though, he has already said the fight was not his fault. He rubs hands over his face.

"I think I need a long break from social engagements. Although Wanda and I were talking about potentially a Summoned Horizon meeting."

[thedevilwhorose]

"Four months until the next Dimming."

He says it because he's awfully sure it's going to end up more of a problem than the last one. And the one before that. Although maybe then it won't be a social-engagement problem and instead just a flat-out capital-P Problem.

He ditches his partially-dented mask but he continues to rock the rest of the outfit, sitting on one of the small beds.

The bedding is going to end up on the floor, pooled in the middle, no doubt, instead of them dealing with these beds.

If Istredd has any hopes that Lucifer is going to let that anger continue on forever, unacknowledged, then he really is quite the fool--something Lucifer knows, but man, come on. You're trying to stamp down something that falls on the Wrath Spectrum, far as Lucifer is concerned. Anger on one end, Wrath on the other, Rage somewhere in the middle, maybe.

It's all levels of him regardless.

Count your blessings that he let Istredd have his way about it during the party.

Istredd may think he has a reprieve though, as Lucifer is fixated on Istredd's illusory stretch of stars, constellations so very different from Lucifer's own world.

Lucifer sighs. He doesn't know how he feels about that large of a meeting, but he says, "You are aware by now that any meeting of that scope requires all parties to not be stupid about how they enter the Horizon en masse." Although I don't know if the other factions pose as much a potential risk as Thorne.

He isn't playing into a big role for that meeting if it goes off though. No way, no thanks. The Thorne Summoned know him, see him, accept him.

Nationwide is not on his side.

Elrond / Thorne

[thedevilwhorose]

[It's not that he's avoided the elf, per se, he just always seems to be in a Complete Different Location any time the elf is around.

Less so on purpose in recent months, but a lot has happened. A lot since even they talked in Luna itself.

Those negotiations changed a lot for Lucifer.

A lot.

But he's seen the elf around; he's Wilhelm's roommate, it's impossible not to.

When he catches him now it's the first time he's really stopped, however, backpedaling and peering Elrond's way.] What wrecked your sunshine composure? [He just barely avoids asking if it was Wilhelm's emotional-transfer ability (again).]

[politicians]

[ elrond blinks. sunshine composure? yes, he had been rather withdrawn of late. the loss of galadriel is a hard one to bear. ]

A dear friend of mine returned to Middle-Earth.

[thedevilwhorose]

[Ah.] How long had they been here for? [Because he's been keeping a bit more introverted than usual he doesn't actually know who the 'dear friend' in question is.

Whoops.

But also not important in this current moment.]

Yennefer / Thorne

[thedevilwhorose]

[He has not interacted directly with Yennefer since preparing potions in Nocwich.

He has not talked to Yennefer, spoken or Horizon Text, since....... well.

Yeah.

Not one of his finest moments but he still stands by it needing to be done, just not to anyone else's faces.

So to say that he's been avoiding Yennefer? Extremely Accurate.

There's no quite saying 'sorry I was a moron' to Yennefer. She'd likely accept the moron part but scoff at the apology. Words were meaningless, actions had staying power, yada, yada, yada it all somehow still connects back to Wilhelm eventually, doesn't it? Learning how-to people in a way that wasn't just to manipulate.

He doesn't say anything as he comes into her workspace, just approaches her table holding a rather hefty bag, and depositing it on an empty space. Thankfully, the bag only moves because of the shifting of its contents to a new surface. Also thankfully it doesn't ooze; although that would have been mildly satisfying for Lucifer, she'd ruin him for that alone.

He knows better than to mess with any workspace.] Alchemical ingredients from Nocwich's Hunting Grounds. Some fauna, some flora. All labeled, separately packaged. Minor enchantments to keep some of it 'fresh' so I would move it to a proper containment sooner rather than later.

[vixening]

[ truthfully, if there was anyone that lufcier could have continued to attempt to manipulate who wouldn't really fault him for it, it would be yennefer. so much of her life had been learning to be and move pawns across the board that is the continent, knowing that every single exchange, every word, every look was just someone else trying to move forward. and really, if she was feeling cynical, there could be something to say about how that's all anyone really does - say things, do things, accomplish things, to meet an end they desire.

all this to say, yennefer hasn't really noticed; or rather, she has noticed and hasn't really cared, that lucifer has been avoiding her. she knows she has istredd whenever she needs him, regardless of lucifer's position in the matter, and that's all she really needs. their last conversation had been...well, with some distance, it was mildly entertaining. a laugh at istredd's expense. but she didn't really need anything else as far as her and lucifer's interactions were concerned.

which is why, as he enters into her workroom, she barely glances up from what she's working on. ] Classes aren't until fourth bell. [ she says, dismissive - except that she should know it wouldn't work, and as he drops it onto her desk. it does grab her attention, so in that way it does work, and yennefer sits back from her notes - eyes moving from the bag, to lucifer, a what the fuck is this supposed to be? hanging in the air as he answers her without the question even being asked.

alchemic ingredients he says, and yennefer can't quite help the way her interest piques. she sits up a bit in her chair, looking through everything she can see from where she sits, before her eyes shoot back to him. ]

How very...charitable. [ there is obvious suspicion in her voice, but even that can't overwhelm her curiosity.

(though, that does beg the question - if he'd been in the woods when she and geralt had has their 'talk'. she isn't about to ask as much, so that will have to be a question unasked, and unanswered.)] What is it you want in exchange, then?

[thedevilwhorose]

You don't teach my lessons. [Which is a good thing because he's hit his trickster phase and is currently irritating one of his usual classes.

He'd say he wanted nothing from her but that would only likely get him a derisive scoff, so he opts against it. But it's still not anything big he's asking for. Simple transaction in the form of peace offering.] Did you have the misfortune of being bestowed those butterfly pins on you from the Feywilds? I'm interested in using them as spell anchors.

Kyle + Istredd / Borrel

[thedevilwhorose]

['Three conspiracy theorists walk into a bar...

You can't tell me that's just a coincidence!'

That was a pun he had told to Istredd during the poor pit times. And they owed Kyle a drink for awhile now.

This is maybe not the best place for it but he needs an added distraction, or maybe someone else to suffer in solidarity with, for. Well.

Istredd.

So you're getting your drink Kyle!! At some cheap pop-up drink shack (not an actual bar) near a beach (thankfully free of giant turtles, and even birds--isn't that nice, Kyle?). This is what friends do, right?! Commiserate together?

Please don't abandon him here, Kyle.]

[magicalarchaeologist]

[ Lucifer is being dramatic, as usual. Istredd is completely fine.

Grumpy, but fine.

Dissatisfied, but fine.

When talking about running away to Aquila, he had painted the beach concept as one that could be fun, but in reality he is not a fan of them. Istredd has brought one notebook with him in case there is anything of interest here, although he doubts it. (He's being cynical. There will be plenty to take notes.)

He has made it the entire trip so far not commenting on how they didn't ask for Borrel. Or thinking about Hayle. It is much more likely his thoughts are twisting around to problem-solving. How is he going to get them to Hayle? How to persuade Anastasia? ]

Okay what do we talk about if not conspiracy theories?

[ He breaks the tension, see he can actually talk about something other than Hayle, it is possible. Istredd has the drink and he knows logically what people are supposed to do in these situations, but this is not normal for him. He sniffs at the drink and doesn't have any yet. ]

Almost a year for me here and there are still many blindspots in my socializing skills.

Michael / Horizon / ~Aug. 11th

[thedevilwhorose]

There's a devil in the church.

Sprawled out up front like he owns the place, as one does. Or, as one fallen archangel brat of a younger brother does.

He hasn't seen Michael since the Feywilds (by choice, because, well, screw that entire thing, not going there), so it just figures that what gets Lucifer to breach communication again is another brother, and more anger. Standard fare. While Lucifer's... discussion with Gabe went as fine as it could--maybe even better than it could--Lucifer is unsurprisingly Displeased. But that shouldn't be a surprise! It's so easy for Lucifer to reach that state, after all.

It still gets him sending a message to Michael with the usual Horizon methods, because as much as he wants to just wait around for Michael to show naturally, he doesn't know how likely that is.

Visiting your domain. I wonder what it's like to start mental fires? I mean I know you can just reset it so easily, but heeeeeey maybe you should come by, anyway.

Isn't that how normal people ask for things?

Regardless, Michael will be "pleased" (neutral, annoyed) that when he does show up, there are no fires except Lucifer's mood.

[familysucks]

Threatening to break something for attention is very recognizably Lucifer. It may not be especially normal, but when have they ever been normal? They're archangels. Conforming to a standard is for the lower ranks.

Michael makes him wait. Twenty minutes, then thirty. Long enough to make it clear that he doesn't come running when called on for frivolous chit-chat.

Tell him you saw their Father. Maybe then he'll get the lead out.

Eventually, though, he does make his way into the Horizon. He appears just inside the church with his usual flutter, but he takes the long way up the central aisle: step by step, making a show of slowly checking the windows, walls and pews for damage. It's only a marginal surprise to find none. He's sure Lucifer has more fun breaking his stuff in front of him.

"No flaming bibles, not even an upside down cross. You really are on your best behaviour."

A statement can be both true and dripping with sarcasm. When someone's 'best behaviour' is not smashing the decor, that isn't saying much.

Arriving at the front of the church, Michael takes a seat in the first row of pews and crosses his arms like he's part of an audience waiting for the show to start. That's what he's here for, isn't it? So Lucifer can have attention while he throws a fit about something?

"What is it you want?"