abraxaslogs | Set my sights on the setting sun

I only fish when I think it's necessary.

[Lucifer acts like every place in someway belongs to him. Short of rubbing up against everything, he's almost like an animal marking its territory.

But the longer he is in this space the more he just paces and keeps his attention to Crane instead of their surroundings.] I'm not looking to fish, I'm looking for an associate. You can't observe Thorne, I can. I can't observe Free Cities, you can. [He spreads his palms.]

[Observation brings knowledge. Knowledge is information. The circular logic is deliberate - but the man is confident at pretending otherwise. Evasive. Arrogant. Manipulative.

His temper remain unaroused. Everyone manipulates each other in some fashion. He's got better things to devote his energy towards.]

An exchange of information, then.

[He is not afraid of holding to his opinions.]

Though it begs the question why you haven't found an associate there already.

Most of those I've met from Free Cities are 'associates' from 'home' and while we... [He hums.] May finally have found an... agreement, as it were, they are not going to be particularly helpful, aside from being out of my way.

[He shrugs.] I'm not the most socialite of individuals. I don't actually know many outside of my own faction. [But he knows the majority of his faction.]

Edited 2023-07-19 04:56 (UTC)

I see.

[Asocial. Antisocial.

Most criminals are. Many people are. Maybe he ticks the diagnostic criteria, himself. Not that he follows other people's standards. Perhaps they have that in common.

His hands reposition in his lap. This man is sharing what he wants but offering little in return. Thorne doesn't interest him. What fascinates him are its people, especially those in their position.]

Well, I suppose one question is how much are you willing to share?

[This man doesn't strike him as the kind to identify with his nation as much as his fellow summoned. Should he claim he will share everything then, well, that certainly smells like lying.]

Value to match value would be nice, though wrangling information outta Thorne isn't always easy and a risk to my well-being. But I do have the means to pay you for your services if what I have doesn't suffice. [Sorry Kell. It's what he was aiming to use the funds for, just... different people.]

What are your interests? What do you value? I know you were potentially curious about the different societies and how they functioned outside of Cadens alone.

[The offer gets his attention - not for the promise of resources but the potential for development. He glances over his shoulder at the entrance, a bit of conspiratorial theatre. But when he leans forward there is an intensity behind his calm and cold facade.]

I value my work.

[It's neither societies or nations that matter. Not the structures nor the people. His moral integrity might be dubious to others, but he will always remain true to what matters.]

There's nothing more frustrating than awaking in a world without one's purpose. Nothing convenient about losing access to years of research. Love's labours lost, indeed.

[He speaks so quietly, so softly, that one could find it hard to imagine him frustrated.]

We all do. [Value their work, left behind. Cast away to dust likely after they're gone, no one to 'properly' uphold anything.] Mmmm, those with the determination and ambition, I suppose. To lose everything you carved out for yourself and come here to shambles... [A scoff.] To have that need to create something anew while the rest of this place just sees us as chess pieces, or shields to their natives, or whatever role they need us to fill...

[He shakes his head, turns, leans against a wall. His arms are at his sides, scratching a fingernail from one hand idly at the surface behind him. Some part of him, Crane will find, is always in motion, even the smallest twitch.

If he's ever completely immobile, stone, that's the ultimate danger.]

What those in charge believe is irrelevent.

[It is a blunt and harsh assessment. His experience of education and employment taught him to fashion his way in life. To remain loyal and integral to his ideals and refuse to accept those of others.

He notices the restlessness - the scratching and scoring of his domain - and finds it curious not bothersome. Why fret? He can always replace the brickwork.]

They can believe we were summoned for a purpose but cannot replace our ideals with their own. Not without a significant amount of coercion. Or, I suppose, medication.

[The one thing he knows is how to blunt the mind and make it pliable.]

It's not irrelevant we're bound to what they hold over us. We're nothing. [So nearly a snarl. Passionate? Sure, it's passionate.

But he doesn't have the power that he should to pull all the control he wants back to himself.

He's a puppet.

He shouldn't be, but he is. Dancing to another script, out of his Father's hands. The question is: would it be better if his Father was involved, or not?] Maybe your 'Free Cities' holds up to its name but I sincerely doubt it. Summoned are just pawns, no matter the territory they're brought to. The factions don't have to 'replace' ideals. They don't need that much effort. We'll always be less. Citizens with no voice. Silenced when they wish. Speak when directed. [Does Lucifer have issues playing to Thorne's game? Noooooooooooooo of course not, where would you get that impression.] Thorne says we're Summoned because their world is in 'peril' and our 'exploits' heard across the universes--there's some free information for you. It only takes some time with them to realize they're likely batshit insane.

[Oh, it's always nice hitting a sore spot.

He listens, with attentive focus and a calm expression, to a passionate speech that back home would be labelled as delusional. But those standards are hard to apply here. This strange world with laws that deny science and physics - but not the knowledge behaviour is universal.]

If you are bound to whatever power they hold over you why would they ever permit you to be capable of recognising it?

[He had been in that position. He understands the anger that comes with realisation and feeling stuck. But he had carved his way into a new life. He had convinced some patients he was their confidant: offering comfort and council. Others he had drugged enough they entirely lost their ability to function.

The point? This man still has freedom of a kind. Realisation.]

Now will you take a seat?

I know. [He sighs, drawn out. He can still be annoyed about it, thanks.] Thorne, while 'allowing' its Summoned to take up work in town, 'discourages' it. They provide everything we need in the castle! [His voice sings, but his expression is piercing.] What would we possibly need money for? I mean, they even give us an allowance [deliberate cough] I mean stipend when we got to other territories for the first time.

[Eyeroll.]

No.

[He will not sit down. The fact that Crane asked him means even more so he won't take a seat.

If Crane was having some issues with some guy that has the devil's name, the offbeat childish behavior might lend nicely to that.]

[Fine. Let the manchild stand against the wall.

He listens, patiently closing his eyes to think, calmly tapping his nail thrice against the table, before bringing his fingers to his lap.]

I thought a man like you [ha ha] could withstand a little pressure.

[Is he going to end up offering a man who believes himself the devil therapy? Wouldn't be the first time.]

[He shoots him a dull, no-nonsense look, voice flat.] I've been on lock-up for billions of years, exponential courtesy of the flow of time, with only recently surface-level in fits and starts, until I came here. [He folds his arms. There's a hiss then to his voice, a coolness that frosts at Lucifer's back that surely must be some Horizon power, or Abraxan magic, not just him. Whatever words he says can't possibly be true, mm, Crane?] I'm tired of being under lock and key to something I can't control.

[So actually no. He's not great at withstanding pressure. Actually, just ask anyone from his world or anyone from Thorne: he's always on a hair-trigger, contents-under-pressure, always about to blow.] I ask you again: what do you want, that I may be able to provide? The Summoned are off-limits. [He doesn't trust this guy a lick and he's not providing him information of his only actual allies, even if many of them aren't in that category.

It's the constant mantra of what comes down on one of them, comes down on all of them.] What information does your 'work' need or are you just going to take the coin? [Providing the guy is willing to give Lucifer information, that is.]

Edited 2023-08-09 03:49 (UTC)

[Words are words. What fascinates him is the mind. Perhaps this man has a fascinating case buried underneath all this dirt: but unfortunately he's met Zsasz. One fool of fifty who pretends he is the devil. God knows how many exist in the world. God knows how many exist in this world.]

What I need is money. What I want are people.

[Perhaps they are at an impasse. The Summoned are off the table. But one pattern of behaviour is similar to another. There are hundreds of thousands in Thorne who fit the bill. Will the authorities notice if one or two undesirables go missing?

And were there to be a little war, well... prisoners would have to be taken, wouldn't they?]

I have no allies to any of the natives in that territory. [Except Mildred, he likes Mildred.] I certainly have no loyalties to the Court. We're trying to push for more of a reach outside of the castle town. Nott we have already, Borrel we just gained some semblance of access to. Hayle is a constant fight. One lick and we can't get a full taste. We're blocked from it, currently.

[He finally, finally takes a seat, leaned forward, fingers laced together, the first time he's really been something close to serious.] Nott is the bottom of the barrel. Borrel is the military center. Hayle is the gem.

[Take your pick of people.]

I am more than aware you are unwilling to offer our community in our bargain, but I would welcome cases more interesting than the depressed waiter down the street.

[He will take his pick of people. He will not play the political game nor bore himself with mundanity.]

Well, perhaps we can make people interesting. How many live in Hayle?

Military stooges likely have higher levels of Academic Magic than your average waitress, which means they can't all be idiot jugheads. [But of course he picks the one Lucifer can't get to himself. Hm.

But no matter where is being pulled from, Lucifer might have a wildcard in the wind that he can pay, who's loyal to coin.

The asshole is already well-familiar with a particular Creed trade route. If Lucifer can find him.] Hayle has the largest population in Thorne. It's home to its most-prominent university, so-called having the greatest mages. [Slight eyeroll. Because ugh. Prestige.]

I believe I have a resource I can lean on to get in and get out of locations. [With the occasional plus one.] But I cannot get to Hayle to observe anyone necessarily interesting for your picking. However, many alumni come from Thorne and Borrel, and return home post graduation.

[Crane closes his eyes and listens intently to every word. Facts and figures are commited to memory, informational tidbits are swallowed and chewed. Everything is processed and come the end he has a productive outcome.]

Perhaps. But targeting individual cases requires greater time and expenditure. Perhaps were the situation were ripe to analyse everyone together...

[War is good for business. Nothing like a good war, right?]

You're not going to get your mass uproar easily, especially from Hayle. They barely reacted to what Solvunn did. [Which was really teeth-grinding, actually. To have a city so up its own ass. Must be real nice to turn a blind eye to the rest of Abraxas, huh.

Nothing like a good war when they actually have replacement options for Thorne that aren't going to ultimately get them completely outright flattened by Free Cities and wherever Solvunn decides to land.

There's a reason he'd prefer the fey just to raze the continent because he does not want Free Cities coming out on top.

Ugh.

Why can't he just want war why does he have to care about strategy now?

What a joke.] You're not going to get what you're looking for until Free Cities acts or has something to 'fear' up their sleeve. Thorne has no reason to make the first move, believing themselves impenetrable and on top of the world, as they always have been.

There's yet to be a real breaking point between the factions. It should've been Solvunn, but Solvunn is like the middle child. 'That's nice, you did a bad thing, now go back to your room.' Ignored even for its antics. It's Free Cities and Thorne and all they've accomplished is throwing fire back and forth at each other and sidling back under the banner of begrudging 'peace.' [Lucifer will not be the one to encourage anyone to pull the trigger, not without a damn good reason--or excuse, as Thorne would likely see--to do so. He's in no position to either be listened to without consequence.] I need information to use in order to give you what you want, mm, so we really are at a standstill, aren't we?

[Or rather, take the damn payment, IOU people in the event that information procs genuine wartime.]

[Crane says nothing for a moment. He permits discomfort to hang on the air - savours it for a second - and thinks of possibilities.]

Until someone pushes the button, yes.

[Be it for nuclear war or dropping the bomb? Neither country has the technology for either - and accomplishing that is a fascinating thought. So what if the path for getting them there has a few diversions along the way?]

I knew a man who enjoyed trading in favours. You scratch my back, I scratch yours. That kind of arrangement doesn't fascinate me. [But he can tolerate it.] Less so when people want favours that hold too high a cost.

[So what if he only offers information relevent to forwarding his goals? That's fair if he's not getting paid in advance, right?]

[And they're all waiting for that button press, hung in suspense just as that discomfort.]

Well maybe I'll find something along the way that will fascinate you until then. [He'll keep an eye out, anyway.

But he does wonder what a man like this sees as a favor being too high a cost. What that looks like.

Doesn't really matter to Lucifer. He expects any information he gets to be something that ends up being useful to Crane, one way or another. That's how most minds should work: selfishly. But the selfish ones are more likely to get shit done than those being weighed down by morals and legality. It's why while Lucifer sees some value in the information they have gotten from other Summoned, it doesn't feel like it's enough.

He's bracing for war. Why are others just hoping the problem will go away, or it'll be outside of their time? (Maybe an inaccurate assumption of Lucifer's, but he hasn't met these sources.)] I think it's something to work with, anyway. Or work towards.

[It is thrilling, isn't it? Plotting in the dark, planning a bleak future. He shows nothing of it and sits upright, lacing his fingers beneath the table.]

Of course. Never question a present.

[Or a parent. Or a grandparent.]

But as a scientist questioning is my nature. Though I prefer cooperation instead of mutually assured destruction.

[Another consequence of nuclear war. But he'll survive and thrive. He always does.]

[You should probably actually question a present sometimes, but then, Lucifer is King of Paranoia.

So.

Yeah.]

How far do you go with questioning? Tell me you're not fool enough to find an end-point and risk taking action?

[He knows he's trying to seal a deal but what's he going to do if some moron asks too much and gets the answers Lucifer needs and then decides to do something about it... ugh. Maybe he doesn't need this guy.]

[Of course one should question it! But not publically: not in the face of a person who - at that point in time - is more powerful than you.]

Well, in all honesty I never find such an end. The one where I can hang up my coat, so to speak.

[He is speaking of his work. But when it comes to taking action? Well, sometimes one must do that.]

But I know how to manage my affairs and those of others. You are hardly the first influential figure to seek my assistance.

[Hi, Ra's.]

Death is the end of our work and even then some people keep going. [It's really not a morbid thought if it's coming from him.] So I hope that means your assistance is valuable, not just all smoke and mirrors of an intriguing personality. [Or sensible, rather.]

Set my sights on the setting sun

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)