Locked to readvondaniken

[azazael]

Azazael always found joy in his duties. These kind, the gifts, were always the best. The King had sent him to fetch a human who was to receive the blessing of the court. He waited patiently in the Nexus Plaza for the human he had met only recently. It occurred to Azazael as he waited that few angels in the Nexus walked with exposed wings. Maybe only those of his creation did? He was watching the people in the plaza. Palmer's shop was somewhere around, nearby but Azazael wasn't sure where. Instead of looking, he sat on one of the benches in the plaza enjoy the sunny autumn day, people watching while he waited.

Comments

[azazael]

"The angels usually don't mind most things, except Celestial Angels. If I was bringing Balthazar in I'd need guards or we'd have to fly fast because it could make the angels mad."

That was going to take time for the other angels to get used to. Probably why the king hadn't invited him yet.

"I don't know what he has." Azazael shrugged. They were starting to get to an area where paths started branching off every which way, and there were braziers lighting the pathways. They were also getting to an area where there were other angels walking or flying about on their own errands. It's quick to see that the wings, especially, of each angel are very unique, like fingerprints.

[readvondaniken]

"I have the sense there was some, well, drama back home, and I kinda guessed Balthazar had somethin' to do with it. It must be a little better if it's safe enough for me to visit." Palmer observes the angels and their wings. "So I guess not everyone approves of the relationship?"

It's not too surprising, unfortunately. Palmer had the sense politics in Lucifer's world are...complicated, for lack of a better word.

"Gotta say, though, I like surprises. 'Pologies if I get too excited."

[azazael]

"It wouldn't surprise me. I don't think you could be an angel and like Lucifer without being a little rebellious." Azazael pauses thinking. "It's not easy. You got to remember that God and the Heavenly angels hurt a lot of us during the fall. They blinded Belial, cut off Lucifer's wings. So many of the angels walk because there's quite a few of us that have been hurt so bad that they can't fly any more. I know that's not what Balthazar's like but not all the angels are forgiving or happy."

The politics were complicated but that was only part of the problem, maybe the smaller part. "It'd be like someone telling you to live with that monster that cornered you in the closet. It'd be scary and probably make you mad."

"I don't think Lucifer'll mind excitement. I mean, that means the person likes the gift, right?"

[readvondaniken]

"That makes sense. There'd be a lot of bad blood there. Sometimes people get hurt so bad they aren't willing to trust other people, especially the people who hurt them first. For example, if one of those aliens who attacked us this winter turned up and wanted to make friends I probably wouldn't trust them - even if they weren't with the group that hurt us."

He can't really think of a better example.

Palmer nods, then smiles. "Well...here's the funny part. I kind of made up with that monster in the closet, or close enough. Bob's not the Thing that attacked me, but he is still a Thing and he's, well, not a friend but we're on good terms. But if it was the same Thing, yeah, I wouldn't want to live with it."

[azazael]

"Some of them are coming around though. " Azazael's usual hope came out bright as they started walking up a slight but very long hill. "They're getting curious, especially since the court all went to the Nexus. It's just gonna take time."

He nodded. "I think that's exactly what the angels got to learn. That Balthazar's still celestial but not the ones that hurt them."

[readvondaniken]

"That's good. That big party you guys all had was really somethin'. I didn't wake up until the afternoon. I blame all the boar I ate." Palmer laughs. "But yeah, people getting to know each other as people first can help deal with that kinda thing. It's nice that some of them are willing to try."

He agrees with the angel's assessment. "You might want to meet Bob sometime. He's a shapeshifter, like all Things are, so you don't see him very often as himself. He can be a dog, or he can be an alien. Blue skin, three red eyes."

[azazael]

"That was a tame party." Azazael giggles because the angels were tame a few nights ago.

He's curious about the appearance. "Is that what they look like or is the blue three eyed thing just a different shape they adopt?"

The sulfur smell is starting to get worse and there's a rushing sound. The horizon at the top has the wavy look like a hot road in the desert at midday.

[readvondaniken]

"Better than the human parties I've been to."

Palmer considers himself something of an expert on parties. He sniffs, regretting it instantly when his nose catches sulfur. Well, this was hell.

"According to Bob, that's what Things in his world really look like. The Things in my world don't have a true form, though. The one I saw looked like a messed-up dog."

[azazael]

"It's the sins." Azazael informed his companion. "We don't experience the things that prevent humans from being so wild."

"There's an angel here that kind of looks like that. He's an ophan."

They came up to the top of the rise and there was a churning lake between them and the far cliffs. Sulfurous smoke rose off the lake that glowed an eerie pale red, like a fire seen in the distance. Even with the protections it was a bit hot at the top of the rise.

Below on the bank was a massive sea serpent looking beast, partially coiled and seeming to go on forever like some great basking dragon. There were other serpents in the fire, moving about but completely ignoring the two up above.

"That is Leviathan." Azazael pointed out. "No one knows when it arrived but it is an ally of Lucifer."

He took a moment and looked around, off in the distance there was a bridge across the lake to the cliffs on the other side. "Should we fly across or do you want to walk to the bridge?"

[readvondaniken]

"Sins, huh?" Palmer grins. "Well, lemme tell you. Those sins of yours really made that party. Reckon Furiosa enjoyed it, too. She doesn't come 'round as often as she used to."

He likes Furiosa, but knows that she has duties in her own world, and the last time she stayed the winter she had been locked out. So he can't blame her for being more cautious about staying in the Nexus for too long.

"So that's Leviathan." Palmer looks at the creature. "So it's a friend of your king." He bows slightly to the serpent, even though he's pretty sure Leviathan doesn't notice him.

It's enormous. He's impressed by the great beast, both because of its size and the air of mystery surrounding the creature.

"I think I'll take the flying offer."

[azazael]

"I think Lucifer and Bee were going to take her some gifts for her people."

Azazael looks down at the snake. "Leviathan is one of the biggest things in creation but nobody knows where it came from. Lucifer didn't make it and neither did God."

The angel stretches his wings and nods. "They have an understanding. I've seen Lucifer talking with it before but Leviathan doesn't really like the rest of us. If we go down there it retreats into the fire."

Once Palmer is ready Azazael will fly him up to the front door of the Palace which is at the top of a very large staircase which leads down to the bridge they had seen. The door is open and there are angels here, a lot of them, like one would imagine any government building to be honest. Some of them do stare curiously at Palmer but don't interfere.

[readvondaniken]

"I'm sure she'd appreciate that. I'd suggest they do it before winter comes. She's probably going to stay home this time to protect her territory and people. The last time she stayed, she got stuck."

Palmer might have stayed home himself, but he's got nowhere to return to.

"So it's kinda shy 'round crowds." Palmer's surprised, but clearly Leviathan is an intelligent creature if it talks to Lucifer and chooses to avoid everybody else. "I can get that."

He's a little nervous around the angels, but he stays close to Azazael. They can't be too far off, he thinks. He kind of wonders what his crew would think if they heard this story, but he's decided he won't tell anyone back home a word.

[azazael]

"I've heard about the bad winters. I wonder about Lucifer. He doesn't like the cold." Azazael isn't worried Lucifer would leave the Nexus, more what he might do if the winter got that bad again.

"I don't know if it's shy. I think it just doesn't care. When you're that big who can bother you?"

Azazael leads Palmer into the palace. The first section is a large room with mostly open walls of Greek columns. There are Angels around in groups talking among themselves. Another door and pair of guards and they enter silence. The interior of the palace is all black stone with braziers lighting the space. Despite the ceilings disappearing into the dark above there's an oppressive, closed in feeling. From the main entrance room there are quite a few halls going off in different directions. Azazael pauses to make sure Palmer is close.

"You'll have to stay close now. The palace is a maze and it's easy to get lost."

[readvondaniken]

"Well, hopefully Reynard'll go easier on us this winter. In his season he sets the rules. He's tried that kind of thing before - I was told he once tried to make it Winter in the Nexus forever. I'd kinda assumed he was part of the natural order there, but I'm pretty sure that's going outta bounds by any stretch."

Palmer's not sure what to make of what he was told. He's heard so many conflicting stories about Reynard, and wonders why a spirit who's part of the balance of nature would want to break that balance. But he trusts the person who told him the story.

He stays close to Azazael as advised. It's a big palace, he observes.

"The seasonal spirits are, well...I'd be careful around them. They're a lot older than humans, and they've got different priorities."

[azazael]

"Things in the natural order don't always get along. God and us angels are the natural order and look what happened."

They start down the hallways and it becomes obvious prety quick that you could get lost forever and maybe never find your way out.

"I think that's true of everything. They all have priorities. It's how you make friends sometimes. You find people with the smae priiorities and then get to know each other."

[readvondaniken]

"That's true. The trouble is that what's good for Reynard isn't really what's good for the rest of us. If it was winter forever, nothing could grow. People and animals in the Nexus would starve, or have to leave."

The palace is certainly impressive. The mechanic whistles softly.

Palmer nods as he listens. He can't disagree. "Most people wind up making friends here, eventually. The Nexus is good for that kind of thing. I was kinda skittish when I first showed up, and now look at me."

[azazael]

"That happens a lot. What God wants isn't good for us either." Azazael smiles a little. "If that happens again it might be easier with us around, especially Lucifer, he can grow things here in the fire. I'm sure the snow wouldn't be harder?"

"I've made a lot of friends." He confirms. "Though I think Lucifer's made out the best so far, but that's expected because he actively tries to make things better all the time."

A couple more hallways and the come to another open room. This one definitely looks like a group meeting space with stools and tables.

[readvondaniken]

"Maybe." Palmer worries that would run the risk of angering Reynard, and he wouldn't want to be caught in a fight between Lucifer and the Winter Spirit. Especially since he's chosen a side. "Hopefully Reynard won't cause too many problems this year, and we have a ceasefire with the aliens' Baroness so she won't bother us either."

He's hoping there's not too much trouble, though part of him would like seeing somebody stand up to Reynard. He just doesn't want the Nexus to be caught in the crossfire between them.

"This looks like a meeeting room," he says as he looks around. "Where does Lucifer want to meet me, anyway?"

[the_rebel_son]

"In his meeting room." Azazael paused. "He's not going to look the same as he does in the Nexus. He's different here."


Azazael waited to ensure Palmer didn't have any more questions before leading him through a large stone door. Inside there's a basalt throne that looks to have gold veins in it. Lucifer is sitting there waiting. His skin and hair nearly white, eyes dark almost black blue and glowing. His wings, all four are in their sunrise colors, glowing. He's got a black and silver spiked crown on his head, flames curling around the metal. His dress is different too looking more like a Roman emperor in a red long tunic and crimson half cape clasped at the shoulders with a golden suns. If it is possible for Lucifer to look more imposing that normal he does now.

Lucifer was lost in thought when they entered. It takes a moment to notice and slowly look over to them. He smiles and stands to greet them. "You walked here?"

Though he can't blame Palmer. It isn't often humans get to see the realm of angels.

[readvondaniken]

"I did. Couldn't resist a bit of sightseeing."

The machanic steps forward, hoping that he doesn't look too nervous. He smiles when he approaches Lucifer.

Palmer's impressed. He'd been told Lucifer can change shape, so he's expecting him to have a different form. He bows. Palmer's not usually known for his good manners. It's the polite thing to do, though, and he's talking to to the King on his territory.

"James Palmer, your majesty, here as you asked."

[the_rebel_son]

The formality gets a head shake and a laugh. "It is unnecessary."

Ettiquetette was appreciated but friends certainly didn't need to bow. Humans were rare if non-existent visitors to his realm and he asks curiously. "Did you see anything interesting on your walk?"


Azazael excuses himself for the moment to attend to other duties, leaving Palmer and Lucifdr to thier meeting.

[readvondaniken]

"I'm...not usually called for meetings like this."

Palmer stands up again, relieved formalities were unnecessary. He's not good with those, anyway.

"There was Leviathan. 'Least I think that was its name. Azazael said he was a friend of yours, but kinda not good with crowds. Biggest snake I've ever seen in my life."

[the_rebel_son]

"No, most do not come to this kind of meeting."

Lucifer is more formal himself in this situation, if only because he is acting as King and not merely a friend. "I have befriended the creatures that arrived here after the angels. Behemoth is also around but they are smaller and more like a sea serpent or dragon."

Lucifer was very fond of the few animals that inhabited Chaos, partially because he sorely missed his own creation.

"I invited you here because the council has decided to grant you a gift."

[readvondaniken]

Palmer's not usually one for meetings, either.

"Behemoth? I didn't see them, but they must've been down there in that lake somewhere. There were a lot of snakes. It's not often I see so many." Palmer's not used to big animals outside of zoos, as someone raised in urban California.

He smiles when he's reminded why he's here.

"A gift? Azazael mentioned that. I'm, uh, honored, sir. My thanks to you, and the council."

[the_rebel_son]

"They are often in the fire."


"If you are going to serve as our spy we have decided it is prudent to provide you with an assistant." Lucifer is being formal with his speaking because this is a courtly duty and he's fallen into his role as King. "We know that immortals may be dangerous and among those you wish to observe. Belial along with several other angels have created you an assistant."

Lucifer raised his arm and something that looked like a shadow or dark smoke landed on his arm. It was nearly transparent in flight but as came to a rest it solidified. It's definitely a bird of some kind, the size of a roadrunner but red eyed and black with a more blackbird looking profile to the head. The edges of the bird are hazy, wispy and shift as the bird moves leaving trails of dissipating smoke. It's really hard to tell where the back and tail of the bird end, they just fade out into the surroundings.

"It does not yet have a name, but it can watch for you." Lucifer held his arm and the bird out to Palmer. It had only a few abilities. It was mostly non-corporal, could follow directions, remember what it heard and saw, then report back to it's owner. The bird itself had been fashioned out of the smoke of the fires in Chaos which could unnerve those sensitive to it. In many ways it was merely a homunculus of sorts.