abraxaslogs | Set my sights on the setting sun

A clock is right twice a day.

Even conspiracy theorists gotta get one on occasion.

Nocwich has been all about filling Solvunn's 'neutral territory' gap. And you know how I felt about when Solvunn had the role.

Which, surprise surprise, look at a cult leader comin' out of Solvunn. And he still doesn't trust whatever was up with them wanting the Badlands. Maaaaaybe they just wanted to be a good little faction keeping that section of land out of Free Cities' hands and less for Thorne.

Or maybe the 'just want to keep things the way they are' faction wanted a stake near the Singularity lands, too.

Point is, Lucifer doesn't trust Nocwich isn't trying to get all nice and comfy before things potentially go wrong--with the Fey or anyone else.

It is funny because one of the people Istredd theorized this was the Feywilds with was Michael. And they both seemed pleased about being right. Istredd had never seen lights like that, but he had a hunch, based on a few observations. Part of the Feywilds is exactly what he expected, but not all of it. You can't guess at culture like this.

They have established themselves as the center of neutrality. The place we can all go safely to meet up in person, and then the place we could recover. It's very smart, it means we rely on having that outlet.

Lucifer likes the hunting grounds and so do many others. And it would be unfortunate to lose the option, if Nocwich decided to pull it back or hang it over their heads as a threat to take it. They'd all live, obviously, they didn't used to have it and could go back, but there are aspects of it that would be missed by the Summoned. It's an ideal option for cross-faction meetings.

They have some power over us. Solvunn never really did. Only the Summoned there and the threat of joining one of the others in the inevitable war. He leans over to kiss Lucifer's shoulder and rests his head there momentarily.

I don't blame them or Feywilds for watching us. If the factions go to war, the winners will turn their gaze there. The vampires and Fey are long-lived, they probably see it big picture. Not unlike the long-lived Lucifer and Istredd.

He shifts, gets his folded arms out from where they've been pillowing his head, and throws an arm over Istredd, half rolling atop him. "Who needs proper bedding when I've got you instead," he says, amused. It's mighty comfortable for Lucifer. Potentially less comfortable for Istredd, being wedged more into the floor with Lucifer's weight.

If the factions go to war ('when' is only left unsaid because of Istredd's use of 'if') the others have an opportunity to slip on underneath. For whatever they may want, may seek, that's the time to do it. When everyone else is distracted.

He trusts no one, he made that clear to Rhy. He sees nefarious purposes at all corners because he has to. If he doesn't, one of these days they're going to be caught flatfooted. The risk is still there even if he is prepared. They have the freedom to only do so much.

"I'm your heater and your bedding." Istredd smiles and lets him take up his own space. He never minds when Lucifer does it, even if it isn't the most comfortable, because the closer they are, the better it feels. He slides his own arm around Lucifer's middle and leans in to kiss his cheek.

Istredd agrees it's a when not an if. It is surprising they backed off for now considering the attack on Libertas, but he suspects it's just so they can make bigger plans and bide their time. It will explode again. I can see Nocwich making a play for the Feywilds given the chance. This used to be their territory. Thorne almost annihilated the Fey and they occupied this part of the land on purpose. He assumes people always want their land back.

I know they want us to play a part, just not sure how they're going to wield us. They can use us against each other, the connections we've made. They both know what the other is willing to do for them. Anything. And yet, I still like it better here. I have something that can't be replaced. This angel of his.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? a hummed question, with a quiet mental thump that it isn't a serious question, sorry Istredd, you should be used to this by now. Who actually had the totality of the Nocwich lands first? Were the fey among those that fled once the eternal darkness spell was cast? Maybe the fey should be trying to make a play for Nocwich instead of the reverse.

History is written by the victors, after all.

A shiver, not at all from Lucifer's natural body temperature, though he snugs in closer to Istredd regardless.

The wise move would be to use them against each other, not even cross-faction. Just in-faction. Get them to cooperate easily by just threatening the livelihood of those connections. Dance to a whole 'nother script, how pathetic.

"I suppose 'here' isn't so bad," he says aloud, because Lucifer's thoughts are currently the maudlin ones.

I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted Nocwich, no. Although I don't get the sense of wanting bigger conquest from what we've seen so far. They seem to have made plenty of the land they took for themselves.

Not everyone want to rule the world, in Istredd's opinion. If anything he could see them considering it more of an attack back before they're exterminated. They'd have their reasons, just like the elves did. It doesn't make it okay, just understandable. This is why Istredd never wanted to be a court mage. He couldn't see these political moves as games.

He runs his fingers gently through Lucifer's hair when he comes in closer, nuzzling his nose into the crook of Lucifer's neck. Istredd's body heat is pretty high, especially skin to skin, it must be the chaos flowing through him.

Who knows where we'll be in a hundred years, love? This may all be a blip to us long term. Lucifer's lifespan will be longer than all of theirs, but they would still have hundreds of years together. And Istredd does picture all of that with him. Maybe way too romantic an idea, but he can't see it any other way right then.

Territory isn't always about 'bigger' conquest. It's just... taking back what might very well rightfully be theirs. The eternal war over ancestral lands. He scoffs. He knows that one. He's definitely not getting involved if it all turns out to be another holy-land problem. No thanks, not interested.

He's not dismissive of Istredd's idealism if only because they both do have their long lifespans and if Lucifer hasn't shook Istredd away from him by now then he's likely not going to dislodge him. Metaphorically.

And the reverse happening is laughable at best.

Maybe we'll be living in the bottom of the ocean.

I don't know that the Fey thinks the whole continent is their ancestral lands. We don't know enough about them outside of Thorne's opinion. It'll take more than one visit. They would have to get to know the leaders more too. This is a preliminary situation. Although Nocwich has been open for a while and he doesn't think they've gotten any closer to those officials. He wonders if he should try.

Istredd's already accepted that he is not someone who falls out of love. At times it was painful considering his long break from Yennefer, where he wished he could shake her, but then when they were together again he realized he was glad it didn't stop. Lucifer's so close to him that he's an extension of Istredd's own heart. It's a forever kind of feeling.

He laughs into Lucifer's neck and kisses right below his jaw. How in the world would we do that? Do you think we'll mutate gills somehow? Well they do keep getting random gifts, maybe that would be one of them. It might be in a few hundred years we get seen as gods.

Thorne's opinion on anything can suck it.

Earth's phrasing in any regards is an Experience.

I think they'll let us come back, regardless what the Thorne officials do or not do. Lucifer would like to think he offered a decent impression, both to the High Priestess--receiving her blessing--and his absolute dragging of Thorne through the muck to his mysterious fey dance partner.

So he wants (the) Thorne (officials) to burn, what of it. Not a surprise there.

We'll get back and maybe you'll learn more of their language.

Istredd and his Damn Books.

"I don't know," he says aloud, about gills, 'Magic', Istredd. Sheesh. The Lost City of Atlantis and, I don't remember--something something Tornado?

That is Incorrect.

Also Istredd doesn't know Atlantis.

"But it doesn't matter. Give me a decade and I'll be seen as a god, thanks."

Agreed. Fuck them.

Istredd swears more than Lucifer does, it's his land that seems to have perpetually fallen back on that lingo, but when he does use it, there is precision in the reasons. Istredd's better at hiding his dislike, but it's no less severe than Lucifer's. He would probably be fine with letting the officials burn too. They've given no reason to like them, quite the opposite.

I'm good at languages, I think I can do it. I have to understand their alphabet that's all.

Unsurprising that the nerd seems to absorb languages easily. It's because he has to read books in all kinds of languages, often dead ones that he has to scrape together knowledge of. But it's worth it. And it will be worth it when he learns the Fey language too.

He nips Lucifer's shoulder when he 'sheesh's at him.

Atlantis? And if you're talking about here, it's Tornis. The lost city, the one the turtle on the ship survived, he remembers hearing about it.

"If you manage that, my love, I will be very impressed at achieving the impossible." At least in Thorne! Solvunn he'd have better luck in.

"I never had to deal with learning languages, I just knew all of them." Insta-knowledge dump, inherent. "That doesn't translate to non-Earth languages, apparently."

Sucks to be him.

Now he has to work at something, what gives?

The nip will never dissuade him.

Eh. Some ancient city of sorts that got swallowed up by the oceans. I don't know more than that. He was busy creating the Princes of Hell before it had been sucked down.

And okay, yeah, Thorne would be difficult. He'll aim for Nocwich or something. Bunch of flashy lights and some effects and really, it doesn't take much. He just needs the power-boosted stamina to back it.

"They're not that difficult, once you get the foundations down for each one." Alphabets or a version of them, stemming from the same series of letters or in some cases images. Istredd likes things that make him think, obviously. He doesn't mind when it takes time.

"Although we got something like that when we arrived here. All the native tongues. All of the same languages as one another, despite being from other spheres." There probably are other languages happening at all times since they came here. A common tongue, certainly, but others too, and yet they all sound the same to him. It is what sets the Fey language apart in a way. They can't just know it.

I'm not god material. I think I prefer it that way. Istredd just can't see him taking on a role like that, even if it is three hundred years from now. Unless what the king told Kyle was right about the corruption of the previous Summoned, then he may not have a choice. If there is a god of knowledge though, that would be something he'd lean toward.

I suppose I'd have to be your high priest or whatever.

Kyle was learning Ancient Thornean at one point. Lucifer wonders how he's done with that. There's no demonic-bird app for that here.

"Oh, I don't know, you could be a God of Books," Lucifer suggests. Yes, there's dozens of Gods of Knowledge. He said books. He's sticking to that. He holds up a hand and drags it across the air as though pointing out to a title, saying with a deep voice, "God of Introverts." He drops a hand and adds, unkindly, "Damn Egyptians and their gods," the implication of 'lesser gods' is heavily implied, "likely had a God of Breathing."

At least some of the other deities saw reason and served Heaven. Lookin' at you, Anubis.

Which is funny since Lucifer killed his Mom, but then, Lucifer's only associated with Heaven when it makes someone's day worse than when he's associated with Hell.

You mean High Priestess, he corrects, hypocritical as someone who's only recently accepted his stupid arcana. But it's enough acceptance that he'll poke at Istredd's.

"God of Knowledge. It's not about the books, it's what's in them." After a beat, he follows up. "Okay it's also about the books." Istredd is a typical nerd in that he loves having them in his hands, he likes the smell, he likes turning pages, he likes being engrossed with information. Technically he could make the knowledge in his library look like anything, but he does choose books every time.

He bites Lucifer's shoulder again because he can hear the implication of lesser gods and doesn't like the comparison. He turns onto his back and tugs Lucifer partly with him so he can keep draping if he wants, stretching out as best as he can on this makeshift bed. He's long-limbed and has been hitting his head on too many things, forgetting how tall he is. It's not something that comes up frequently.

Yes, the arcana sign of knowledge-seekers. Not books. Istredd's just joking at this point, smiling as he looks up at the ceiling. He likes it here, even if they can't fit in any beds. It's interesting. He likes exploring new cultures. And the Devil arcana is about individualism. Also, drama.

Edited 2023-08-04 01:11 (UTC)

Lucifer's typically the bitey one of the two of them but he's certainly getting behind Istredd for it. Or seated on top.

"The books are vessels of knowledge, come on, Istredd." Get with the picture. Who needs to be of Knowledge when you can be the divine conduit of that knowledge. Who needs to seek it when it rides on through you?

He unfolds his hands over Istredd's chest, spreading them over ribs, fingers pressed between. "Crack you open like a book," he hums. Ahhhh but they already spoke about having No Hayle Repeats and he breaks away from his current 'seat' to sprawl down over the man again.

The essence of my identity spiraled its way across universes and took root.

That is the kindest thing he's ever said about him and his arcana, whether or not he's truly the original of Abraxas' Devil arcana.

"Is that what you picture me as? A vessel of knowledge?" Istredd laughs quietly and he's learned the biting from Lucifer. He's never actually had this much freedom with someone. His lovers in the years between Yennefer and now did want it, but he couldn't let down his guard. There is no guard left when it comes to Lucifer. They're practically in each other's veins at this point, the psychic bond good as.

Istredd puts his hands down on top of Lucifer's on his ribs and pulls them off, putting them safely to the side as he sprawls back down. It's not that he has a problem with it, he just knows that they're avoiding a Hayle situation. Or trying to. He hums contently when Lucifer lies down on him instead, putting an arm around his back, petting his hair.

I'm in love with the devil, so I think rather fondly of it. Symbolically, not the other people with the arcana. Certainly not! Considering Cirilla is one of them! What kind of god would you want to be?

"Aren't you? I mean, look at your domain."

No domain is like Lucifer's, but no domain is like Istredd's, either.

I've only met one other, that I know of, with the arcana. Some punk kid.

So.

Checks out.

Hilariously though he has interacted with two others. But announcing your arcana to the world isn't a thing that's done, and Lucifer could hardly blame anyone, as he certainly doesn't.

God of Lost Socks, he says plainly, but a joke nonetheless, which means he doesn't have a real answer. He always strives to be so different from his Father and yet some story beats he just keeps brushing up against. Castiel sure flubbed the God role. Lucifer wants to say he'd do better--he only had the briefest of time to the throne, not a chance for anything, and boy was Dad super impressed with that bid (he wasn't)--but was there really much chance? Better to not try at all than try, and fail miserably, right?

"True. I've always been this way. I may not remember where I'm from or any details about my life as a child, but I have always wanted to learn." It's strange to not remember details like his parents or if he had anyone else, but know that he was reading young, that his mind has been curious as long as he's been breathing. But some things just matter more in the big picture.

They might not have had to force him to come as a child, he might have willingly done so, craving magic as much as he did. He still steps carefully around Brotherhood topics, but there is no wistfulness in his tone for a family he lost. The other mages are more like fellow soldiers than siblings.

(He may feel differently about that later.)

Istredd hmms in response to the joke but he understands, truly. Lucifer's feelings about these things are very complicated. Everything to do with God would be. He tightens his arm around him in a gentle hug, tilting his head down to nuzzle his mouth into Lucifer's hair.

Maybe God of Change. Change in itself isn't good or bad, it simply is. The good or bad depends on the person doing the changing. He taps his fingers along Lucifer's spine. And that's what you wanted and that's what you did. He told Istredd all that time ago that he wanted the ability to change. It seems like it would be the right word for who he's turned into.

You have ten years to figure it out, I'm timing you.

Oh you're timing me, are you? that infuses him with humor again because thinking change makes him think of his High Magic lesson with Michael, soured by Lucifer, and then thinking of Michael gets him--

He's not thinking of Michael.

He focuses on the humor. Ten years for me to earn my elevated deity status with you as my High Priestess, yes he's still on that, you are not going to shake him from it. Abraxas, thus far excluding the fey, rock the arcana. If he's to be a deity they gotta lean into that, obviously. "So what's your decade goal, eh?" Not just putting this on him!

I am now. You're the one who set the goal at ten years. Istredd was the one who gave them a hundred! Lucifer is highly ambitious in comparison. He doesn't know about the Michael parts, so it's still just a matter of humor to him. He smiles about the High Priestess part because sure, same thing.

That would be a very intimate relationship between god and priest. He trails his fingers against every vertebra in the vessel's back not unlike how Lucifer did it to his ribs. I might worship you a little bit. He pinches the skin playfully.

As for his goal hm. "Hayle." Don't @ him. He will fight for this. "The anchor."

Welcome to religion. Probably. It's what he expects of religion. Tantalizing forbidden romance (and other problems, but that's not the 'current' topic), though Lucifer is always the rule breaker. He'll do whatever (whoever) he (god)damn wants.

Well now you're just teasing me, he says in response to the worship comment.

"We had better get access to Hayle in under a decade." Istredd had better get them access to Hayle in under a decade, Christ. The anchor though, alright. "The anchor's a fair trade-off."

No thank you, I've avoided religion on purpose all this time. Istredd has already dealt with it more here than he expected thanks to Solvunn, High Magic, and the cult. He's not into any of it. He is no atheist, he believes facts when they're in front of him and that is all true, but it's the details he doesn't bother with. It's part of why it's laughable to him to hold anything Lucifer did in holy books against him.

Me? A tease? That can't be right. He chuckles, his chest shaking below Lucifer in the process, and he trails his nails instead of only his fingers against Lucifer's skin.

He is going to get them to Hayle if it's the last thing he does. In ten years they should have their own damn summer home in Hayle. That's where he's at with it. "The Singularity and anchor are my priorities." Istredd won't be at peace until he doesn't have to fear Lucifer's fate. "You are my priority."

If I become a god I'm creating a religion. He deserves a religion where he's not the villain! He seems extremely put out by the prospect of not having one, and adds, At least a holiday in my name, he compromises. Eventually.

Not in the ten-year god-plan.

So basically, Lucifer is going to end up with a cult.

It's honestly not the worst possibility for Istredd to have to Deal With.

Hey, at least he's thinking of the future, Istredd!

And then Istredd has to go and get all... him, and Lucifer wriggles just enough so that he can bury his head against Istredd's collarbone.

You are such a problem, he says, not in the same tone as Istredd has said the words, but the same as Istredd calling him a menace.

You're creating a cult you mean. Not that Istredd entirely understands the difference. He thinks it may be about structure. Or the behavior of the people within it. He knows that Lucifer wants to be adored and worshipped and given the attention he felt he was owed but not rewarded with. Fine, I'll sing your praises.

He'll always have Istredd's love to fall back on.

I know, I'm annoying. He tucks his head down to kiss his hair and simply holds him for a few seconds, tightening his arm around him, treasuring their closeness. And everything that they are. He relaxes and writes spells on Lucifer's back. None that are real, just wanted.

Lucifer .... He starts and then pauses, trying to gather his thoughts. If I am taken from you, I don't want you to self-destruct or cut off everyone else. They both know it's possible. There is no guarantee of their time here. And Istredd would be in agonizing pain and withdraw, and he has to tellin himself not to, but he is far more worried about Lucifer.

I'm in love with this you. And I don't want that to be lost. Do you understand? It seems like a good idea to say that, in case the worst did happen.

"Cult, religion, same diff. Just different levels of fanatical worship."

Clearly that's the only difference. It must be, right?

But they can go back to the ways Istredd is annoying, that's a far better conversation than this, he's not about it. Talking about, what is this, loss? Possibility and control, already were great topics for Lucifer that last time they came up.

Sure, I don't need you, I'll be fine, he says snidely.

What the hell did you expect him to say, Istredd! That Lucifer hasn't jerked away is a miracle. But he is head-to-toe tense, taut wire.

"And that you think I'm so poor with multitasking!" I can self-destruct and keep the others close. They need me too much to take the hint and leave!

He came out of his cage and he's been going just fine, thanks.

Set my sights on the setting sun

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can wrap here or on yours :D