abraxaslogs | Set my sights on the setting sun

"You have to say that because you regrettably fell for me and can't turn it off now. Poor thing." Istredd thinks that is a very nice thing for him to say, but Lucifer is also generally a show not tell person. He is saying nice things to Istredd all the time with his feelings and actions. The fact he doesn't often open his mouth to form the thoughts doesn't matter.

"He didn't do it for Nero either." Well, maybe a little for Nero, but mostly in a general way. "He knew just as I did that having the two of you play who is the more dangerous person in the middle of a party was going to be a disaster. As fun as it may have been for you both."

And Istredd does think they probably would have ended up having fun. Two destructive super powerful people letting loose? They may even have ended up friends if they both survived the encounter. The rest of the people there though, that would have been the problem.

Istredd manages to make a nice little nest of pillows and blankets, the only way for the two of them to enjoy sleeping here, and strips off the rest of his costume to put it on top of one of the beds. He might use it again some day too, now that he figured out how to do the illusion the right way. Lucifer's seen him naked plenty by now so it's not a concern.

"And then they definitely would not invite us back. Which would be a problem as this might be a great place to hide out some day."

"Trust me, I absolutely don't have to say that."

Geralt may be smarter than he looks but now Lucifer thinks Istredd is giving him too much credit. No, he's pretty sure Geralt did it for Nero. Something something white-haired men stick together. Or whatever.

Istredd has a nice nest and Lucifer is literally tossing bug exoskeleton pieces into that bed and Istredd's space.

"They've been underground for thousands of years with just each other," Lucifer says, "they would've invited us back even if we blew a crater in the middle of their party, just with different precautions."

And as Lucifer tosses his pieces, Istredd picks them up out of their makeshift bed and puts it on the bed. He is even nicely stacking it in a very easy to pick up way, organizing both their costumes next to each other. He is neat that way. It's a credit to how long they've been sharing a space together that he isn't even thinking about it, he just automatically starts doing it.

"Maybe." Istredd concedes. "We still know too little about them to make a decision, but is there anything jumping out to you as an absolute not about the place?" Nocwich has an absolute not, it's a good question to start with. They still have to build relationships and what have you here, but it does seem like the potential best spot to hide from Thorne.

With the understanding that this would be a choice by the Fey. The Summoned aren't going to force their hand, at least not Istredd himself.

Istredd's far-too accustomed at cleaning up Lucifer's messes, purposefully made or otherwise, that it likely should be a sign of... something. An omen to come, maybe.

"The trades they were making," he says. "Currency that none of the other locals were using or bits only the person themselves could give. Some of it wasn't weird but I caught one vendor trying to get hair from Rhy for a piece of jewelry."

It's entirely possible that it didn't mean anything, but...

I don't like willfully giving over something someone could use as tracking spell components.

It's voluntary. Istredd would swear up and down that when they snuggle down on this makeshift bed together, he'd do just about anything in exchange. Besides, he truly doesn't think of this fight as a Lucifer mess. Nero is who overreacted. Most people can hear something vaguely insulting and move on with their life.

"It was definitely all a test of some kind. I didn't give them anything physical of mine." Istredd is far too used to potions and magic to do that. He is suspicious as soon as those requests are made. He doesn't blame them though. They were clearly in research mode, trying to understand these strangers they allowed in their midst. He suspects all of their reasoning is solid, but it means they're currently the specimens.

Did you visit the tree? Something about it ... reminded me of the Singularity.

With all the leg and arm pieces off it makes detaching the entire chest piece that much easier and that thumps next in Istredd's near vicinity.

It reminded me of Heaven and I hated it. So maybe it's best he doesn't visit the Singularity. Anakin's presence made it tolerable. He likely would've immediately left had it been just about anyone else there, Istredd included.

"They don't practice the arcana as literally everyone else in Abraxas seem to--which isn't off-putting so much as why were we pulled into this world and stuffed into an arcana box." He's gotten better at sucking it up and dealing with the Devil slapped to him immediately upon arrival but turns out there's other options!

Istredd picks up the chest piece and neatly puts it down with the others. Without thinking about it he has even organized it in a way that if for some reason Lucifer wanted to put it all back on, it would be in the order that would be optimal to do that in. It's how his brain works.

Heaven's like that? Istredd doesn't actually know much about Heaven outside of what he's been vaguely told and read. I can't put my finger on it, outside of thinking it may be connected. Which makes sense, the Singularity is connected to everything. Some areas maybe more than others. Maybe it feels to him the way he imagines it feels for Rhy and Sabine and whoever can communicate with the Singularity. Something he longs for but can't make happen.

"No idea, I would say it might be because they're not human, but neither are the vampires and werewolves.." Istredd is used to carrying the High Priestess sign everywhere he goes. It doesn't have connotations for him like it does for Lucifer. "Maybe we'll get an answer some day, if we get closer to them."

A gnawing, get-inside you, forced relaxation and yet extraneous all the same.

Don't uh. Use Lucifer's viewpoint to understand Heaven. Don't use Michael's, either. Castiel might be just the right level of 'just right.' Not completely tainted and still wanting to go home.

Lucifer's view is completely tainted (but he still wants to go home).

"Wouldn't it be nice if we had more answers than questions for once," he says. He waves a hand at Istredd. "You can find new things to ask about but getting some of our big ol' honking pile down would be a real treat."

I'm glad Anakin was there to make it less bad then.

Istredd is not extremely interested in heaven just like he isn't extremely interested in hell either. Curious the same way he is for other spheres or for other locations in Abraxas, but he does find the snippets he gets from Lucifer fascinating. The afterlife isn't something he's given great thought to. Too absorbed in the past, his books, and the possibilities.

"We're going to have to be here longer than a year before we can hope for that. Two years now for some of them, and still no answers." Although for the two of them, what is a few years? Lucifer with his billions, and Istredd with his eventual centuries.

Istredd waits until he has every piece of Lucifer's costume so he can keep it in one place and then he fusses with the bed to make certain Lucifer has the maximum amount of blankets for his comfort. Only when that seems acceptable does he lie down.

"If we're looking at the potential rest of our lives here, that really is reasonable."

What the angels and demons perceive of Heaven and Hell is far unlike the actuality of the afterlife of humans.

Best that way.

Lucifer wouldn't like Heaven's afterlife. Trapped in memory, regardless of it being his best memories, is still being trapped.

"Maybe they haven't been asking the right questions," Lucifer says.

Lucky for Istredd the last bit of costuming comes free and that's the only piece he hands over instead of tosses, as it's the back with the slightly-more fragile wings. Istredd can read too much into that if he likes but Lucifer simply doesn't want them damaged.

"And I want all the questions if hiding away to here is at all a possibility."

He does leave his seat to thump down carefully besides Istredd, on his stomach--careful because this is only a workshopped bed. He does not want to test Istredd's craftsmanship.

"Maybe," he allows, "there aren't many. And one of them is Geralt." Who they know by now is not always helpful. He is very careful with all of his costume but he can tell the wings are of importance. The reason why is obvious. The thing about Lucifer is that Istredd has always known he's not human. It didn't require him to read his mind. There is an otherworldly energy to him, a quiet power. It's always been about the details.

He makes room for when Lucifer joins him and cuddles up next to his side, kissing his shoulder affectionately. Istredd tucks the blankets around Lucifer in case his body heat isn't enough. This is why they can't be trusted when dancing together. The lack of personal space is constant.

"It will take time, a building of trust. And that requires them letting us return so we can make firmer connections." Just as they have in Thorne. It's starting from scratch again. "I suspected awhile ago that the people who released the Summoned to the Free Cities and Solvunn were hiding here. If it is true, I wouldn't know who to look for." No one described them as Fey.

And Yennefer was busy trying to climb the ranks. As one does.

They're both rather starved for touch and unlikely to ever admit it--Lucifer wouldn't, anyway. In private it's hardly surprising, but it does overflow in public at times no matter how much either of them police themselves.

Lucifer half rolls and calls to the ceiling, "Hear that, guys? We want to build something with you!"

Yes Lucifer still believes all walls are listening and nowhere is secure even if Istredd did slap together some form of temporary warding, so y'know might as well acknowledge that paranoia and any potential ears to leave 'em alone.

He resettles, arms folded beneath his chin. "My senses can't pick them out," he says, slightly annoyed by that. But he can pick out barely-there demons! Yay.

Istredd doesn't question Yennefer's focus on being at the queen's side. That is what the mages were trained for. Serving royalty but for your own purposes, finding power and cultivating what it can do for you. As if Istredd won't do the same with Ambrose, if it got him closer to what he needs.

"Yes, we want to be your allies, please help." Istredd smiles. In Thorne he's confident of his wards, but the Fey have Seelie magic. Completely different. No way of knowing if his Chaos can in any way combat it. Maybe with experience he could learn how, but not now. If they are snooping, there is nothing he can do.

Istredd runs his hand down Lucifer's back and up again, a casual caress. I think I could, but it's too risky of an offense. It's not that he would read their minds, he has a suspicion that would immediately be responded, he does think he could pick out human vs. inhuman minds. He's done it before. Lucifer, for example, he picked out that way.

If they are here, it could be why they reached out. Maybe they've been interested in us from the start.

He'd like to think himself better than Seelie magic, but thinking himself 'better' than many things has gotten him into quite a lot of trouble in the last year and he's.... well, he's never been great about learning lessons, but he's gotten better.

He could make it so they'd prefer not to snoop but for all he knows they'd like a particularly invested show.

Besides, they don't need a Redux Version of Hayle.

They've already discussed how they literally can't afford it.

Of course they've been interested, he says knowingly. He did have a conversation with the High Priestess. He repeats, echoing her cadence, Humans are the same across this plane, all born of the same blood. Until now.

Istredd's fairly certain that is the kind of show these people wouldn't mind. Not that it would stop him. Not that anything would really stop him. But he is the first to admit Lucifer makes it impossible for him to think straight. His want is a sort of blind constant mood.

But he is content running his fingers through Lucifer's hair and making slow caresses along his back. He never gets tired of the permission to be casually affectionate, it's all he truthfully needs. It was what he was missing, all those years without Yennefer. It was his fault too, never allowing anyone to come this close again, until Lucifer.

The Mestyr said the Fey believed that we should be judged on our own merit, separated from humans in general and the people of this world. Which of course is something Istredd believes strongly in general. Nocwich is going to be worried about all of this, more so possibly than our own factions, they're the ones on the border.

Lucifer may've dragged Nocwich a little just as much as Thorne.

He had to... establish how open he was to getting more out of what the Fey had to offer. They'll have to see if it comes back around to them later in time.

All in all, aside from the ahem fight, it was a decent party. Lucifer will find something to do with all butterfly pins he acquired, if they're allowed to keep them. He could etch symbols into them. Mmmm.

Regardless, Lucifer is in not only a good mood but a relaxed mood, and that permeates between them, Lucifer outwardly enjoying Istredd's simple touches.

It's no wonder how often he's referred to as a cat, for multiple reasons.

We know nothing about Ikorr. Luna's been the one most to act as our intermediary between the factions. I should start a betting pool for how long it takes for Ikorr to give us an invitation.

Istredd is frank about Thorne everywhere but in Thorne itself, but he didn't speak much of any of the others. He was mostly focused on the Singularity and then on what they knew here about the Summoned. It helps that Istredd knows that Lucifer and Kyle will report what they found out to each other. They're a very good team that way.

He knows that Lucifer likes to be pet like any feline so he is more than happy to indulge, drawing patterns on his back with warm fingers.

At this point it would be stupid not to. Unless they don't share everyone else's interest in us. But it would be strange to allow Luna and Feywilds to make a claim on us without question. Istredd would have expected them to do so soon after Luna, but they must have thought they had more time. And no one thought the Fey would come out of no where for the first time in centuries.

(Except for the conspiracy theorists. Sometimes they're right.)

I plan on giving Thorne the very barest details, to play along, but I wonder if Nocwich would be so bold. And if Thorne would allow them to speak to their Summoned. Things have changed since the Pit. They did help us recover after the Pit. And that may make him waver a little.

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.

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