Re: A Missing Dean

[graceful_descent]

Amazing, the things that happen when you take a brief vacation. Apparently the security and communications division of Hell are extremely lacking if HE'S out again and it took me until my return to know of it. Why I wasn't notified the very second someone crossed the border vexes me deeply. Believe me, someone(s) will be paying for this in flesh and sinew and I most sincerely hope you weren't involved, Alastair.

I find myself very, very unhappy today.

Dear minions, if you want to get on your favorite charming Lord and Master's good side, bring him back. Immediately.

And if I find out who opened the door, well, they will only wish my payment was taken in flesh. God may forgive even the most grievous of sins with a smile but I do not take half so kindly to those who defect and disobey. There are far more than humans on the racks in my kingdom.

Comments

[techygoddess.livejournal.com]

She knew the others would be mad if they knew where she was at the moment, but she had to talk to Luci. Knocking on the door she leaned heavily against the wall, still unable to fold her wings back up. At least they were bandaged, so she wasn't dripping blood all over.

"L...Luci? I'm at fault for the Angels okay? Only two came. I made sure we stayed away from most of the population." She entered the room, still dressed in the clothes she had been wearing when she had been taken, She hadn't thought to change yet, both shoulders had blood stains, and her wings were bandaged, looked like they had been badly cut.

[grace-descends.livejournal.com]

You'd think the office would be completely ripped apart and burning in a giant bon fire in the middle of the room but it is, even almost surprisingly to Luci himself, completely spotless and organized. He's standing by the back window when Skuld comes in, turning to glance at her as he lowers his cellphone and presumably disconnects a call. "YOU, Skuld? You let them in?"

There's so much he wants to say. So much he wants to DO. Accuse her of betraying his good will and 'trust', torture her for doing it. Still, there are larger thing than his temper to nurse, and a relationship like this is one he's not quick to lose. He gives her a quick once-over to take in the state of the damage but he can't find it in himself to manage sympathy. However, he can manage to fake it enough to lace the barest hint of it into his words. "You don't look well."

[techygoddess.livejournal.com]

She can feel his anger and steps back, looking at the floor not daring to look him in the eye. "Yes. Gabriel was... He was trapped, I don't know how he got in honest. Castiel and Raziel came with me to free him. Please, don't be angry with them. They did that task then left, I made sure of it."

"Two who follow Fenrir caught me, and repaid me for killing their brother. They... Luci, they were going to kill me for it, to... to try to free him prematurely." She looks up a little. "I was weak, they trapped me in a place I should have been safe. I should heal though." It was just going to take a while and hurt like hell until she was healed. The look she gave him showed the spark of ancient intelligence, like she was trying to read him, but she was both too weak, and his future changed too much for her to keep track of.

[grace-descends.livejournal.com]

"And yet I'm quite certain not all were left unscathed in the act. My dear, I don't hold grudges against many of my siblings but I do not appreciate them being let in without my permission and certainly without my knowledge." He's managing to curb his anger and remain perfectly and surprisingly civil.

"I shall tend to any other manner of cur sniffing around for you, Skuld, but I think you would be safest in my kingdom for the time being. So long as I am here, they will not pass without my knowledge. Even so, I would suggest you stay to your room until you are healed."

[techygoddess.livejournal.com]

She nodded biting her lip. "I'm sorry. I won't do it again." She still didn't move forward.

"I..." He did have a point, staying there would be a little safer than traveling between realms. "I'll stay, and the damage really isn't that bad. My wings got the worst. I hate flying down here, so it's no big loss for now. Not the first time they've been damaged."

[grace-descends.livejournal.com]

"Good girl." The hostility is backing off thought he's still not presenting himself with the usual personable, approachable manner he tends to have.

"I'm glad to hear that. I'll also visit after I finish my business calls to clean and re-dress the wounds, granted I have your consent?"

[techygoddess.livejournal.com]

That's okay, she's been running in warrior mode the last few hours.

She gave him a small nod. "It'll help, I can't wrap my wings on my own. Really... I must have been out of it, I don't remember who did it for me in the first place."

[grace-descends.livejournal.com]

"Then I'll make sure to take care of it for you, Skuld. Whoever did it the first time has my thanks in any case. Did you want accompaniment to your room? If you need anything or need anything changed, you simply need to let me or one of the demons around you know."

[techygoddess.livejournal.com]

"Only if you wish to go with me. And, do you think you can remind them that I don't need people checking in on me every five minutes? Makes it hard to get work done. I still have my project, and whatever work you want me to do. I can't sit around doing nothing. I'll go stir crazy."

[grace-descends.livejournal.com]

"I'd feel a bit like an overbearing older brother following you to your room. You'll not be bothered on your way there or once you're inside. You aren't being detained so there's no reason for it. You're welcome to venture as you like on top of whatever work you wish to do."

[techygoddess.livejournal.com]

She gives a faint smile. "Thank you. And don't worry I'll stay within your lands if I do venture out of the building. And I'll take an honor guard with me."

[grace-descends.livejournal.com]

He actually manages to return one. "Good idea. Apparently there are more traitors in Hell than I original estimated. I know almost everyone hates everyone else down here, but I didn't think they were that stupid. A guard would be wise."

[techygoddess.livejournal.com]

"I'll even let you assign them how's that?"

[grace-descends.livejournal.com]

I have a good one in mind. You don't have any issues with insects, do you?

[techygoddess.livejournal.com]

After a moment she shook her head. "As long as you're not having a large spider watch me. They freak me out just a little."

[grace-descends.livejournal.com]

"Well, I could assign you a couple driders, but they're more useful where they are." He smiles and shakes his head. "No, this is more like a giant grass hopper. ... or is he more like a praying mantis? Hm."

[techygoddess.livejournal.com]

I'm okay with mantises and grasshoppers.

[presidingangel.livejournal.com]

Gabriel is tired. Well, beyond tired. He's soul-tired and heart-tired and he doesn't have the stomach or will for another fight with his brother. But he knows he owes him some answers and better he hear it from him than the grape vine. If Lightbringer hits him, well... Gabriel will take it. And probably not put up a fight, either.

So he taps lightly on his brother's door, forces a half-smile and says, "Hey, Lightbringer. Got a minute?"

[grace-descends.livejournal.com]

A fist fight wouldn't quench his mood this time; he's looking for something with more finesse, something a little less temporary and a little more heavy-handed. Something that would command the respect he's losing.

Skuld's been taken care of by now and he's sitting at his desk, writing things down in a little book while holding the cellphone to his ear with his shoulder. He looks up at Gabriel, though for once his expression remains neutral instead of looking happy to see him. "Yes. Why?"

[presidingangel.livejournal.com]

He doesn't even try to joke, which should give some indication of how he's feeling. Instead, he enters, closes the door behind him and sits down.

He's silent for a moment, gathering his thoughts, his expression gloomy. "Need to bring y' up to speed, brother. Then 'm thinking of permanent retirement." Yes, that statement does mean what you think it does. Gabriel's mood is black, unlike any he's ever had before.

[grace-descends.livejournal.com]

He knows he's not the only one feeling out of his normal mood the moment Gabriel walks in. His eyes fix on him, watching him silent as his sits and collects himself.

What he says next actually catches Lucifer by surprise. The sentiment doesn't reach his features as he finishes jotting down a number and then disconnects from his voicemail. "Retirement? I wasn't aware we had the option. What has caused this decision?"

[presidingangel.livejournal.com]

Rubs his face with one hand, even as he pulls out his cigarettes. "May I?" The fact he's asking before lighting up and living is another sign of how out-of-sorts Gabriel is.

"Sure we do. Read one story that has you retired to a beach in Perth, Duma an' Remiel takin' over down here. Highest bidders for prime psychic real estate, the story put it." Shakes his head. "I'll get to that in a moment - let me get the business taken care of." Pauses. "Long story short: Asmodeus tried to kill me in Afghanistan an' Abaddon gave it a red hot go in China. They kinda split the scene 'fore we could get past bangin' swords. What else... oh. Group of renegade demons from the Spanish Inquisition have taken over a part of the seventh level, cordonned it off, hidden it in a sorta bubble. Found it totally by accident, 'cos I came down to grab the Daggers of the Archangels that were pinched from us just after Eden. They invented an Archangel/First Ones trap. Drew it for you." Hands over a piece of parchment.

"Lessee... Shem an' Penemuel are out, don't ask how, I don't know, Shem took a swing at me then ran. Two other punchups, pregnant women bein' stabbed by barbarians from Dad knows where, no provocation, nothin'. Ruby - the angel - her Dean got tricked an' dragged down here, I brought him back up, bit of a mishap on the way, 'cos he ended up as a rabbit." And oh, that was fucking hilarious, but Gabriel doesn't even crack a smile.

"Skuld's been badly hurt by wolves of Fenrir. Couple o' low-grade demons were lookin' to switch teams an' pantheons, I left 'em by the tar pits, tied up in barbed wire."

[grace-descends.livejournal.com]

"You're asking me if you can smoke in here?" He raises an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. "Light up."

He nods slowly as he lists off everything he's managed to miss while he was relaxing in Lux. "Interesting. That increases the numbers of demons I intend to flay personally, then." He sounds surprisingly calm for saying that.

"I still intend to offer my assistance with Shem but I'm not going to pretend I'm pleased with you coming down and pulling Dean out."

Finally he nods. "I am aware. I've tended to Skuld and she will heal."

[presidingangel.livejournal.com]

"'m having an off day. Thanks." Lights up, offers the pack to his brother.

"There's another matter I keep meanin' to pass on, seein' as how it breaks Hell's Law as well as Heaven's. Frankly, I'm not too sure what to do 'bout it. One of the Fallen, name of Rosier, has stolen the Grace of an angel. This angel - Ecanus - has been living human lifetimes, dying then being reborn, over and over. Never knowing what he really was, until recently. Rosier's got the Grace hidden somewhere, an' he's offering it for sale to the highest bidder. He's been using it to hide himself from us - Archangels and you - an' is currently masquerading as a girl-child." Long drag of his cigarette.

He nods then, looking Lucifer in the eye. "Understood. Would it erase the debt if I put m'self on your rack for a time?"

[grace-descends.livejournal.com]

"I think it's more than that," he murmurs, watching him as he folds his arms across his chest.

"... Well that's interesting. If we've identified the vessel, why haven't we started interrogating?" He inclines his head in thought, seeming to lose track of his surroundings for just a moment before his attention focuses on Gabriel again.

He shakes his head, meeting the gaze. "No. I don't want you, Gabriel, and I'm quite sure your bondmate would have something to say about that if I accepted." Not that he'd really listen to any Dean that wasn't working completely and entirely for him.

[presidingangel.livejournal.com]

"Aye, this is why you're smart." Shrugs.

"'cos every time one of us gets close, Rosier vanishes. With an angel Grace plus bein' Fallen, he's practically untrackable. Seems to think bein' in a kid's gonna stop us, but... so very wrong." A snarl crosses his face for a moment before clearing. "He's been tauntin' us by sayin' he's more powerful than us, than you, than Dad."

"Angelic business isn't part of the bond, an' this is as ultimately angelic business as it gets. The offer's on the table though."

[grace-descends.livejournal.com]

"Observation leads to survival. I'm going to push to see what exactly the problem is, you realize?"

Lucifer mulls this over for a moment. "Then we have to set some sort of trap for him, won't we? Even things as slippery as him can't get through ALL nets. We'll see who's more powerful then."

He shakes his head. "As appealing as your blood sounds, it's not what I'm after."

[presidingangel.livejournal.com]

"I'd be surprised if you didn't."

He nods. "Aye. I can't think how none of us noticed before, 'cept for the use of that stolen Grace. An'..." hello to mangling of canons into a new and improved multicanon! "There's two new players. One's a... fuck. I don't even know. Raz calls him Funshine an' that about sums it up, but he goes by Beelz an'... well, he's Funshine. The other, more serious is an insane Lucifer has risen an' is on the way to makin' everything burn. Here. Earth. Upstairs. Everythin'."

Wearily, calmly, "What are you after?"

[grace-descends.livejournal.com]

"It's my nature, isn't it? So should I pry or will you indulge me?"

He scoffs, looking perhaps even a bit more perturbed. "Of course. One would show up to make everything more difficult. It's disgusting how little tact some of my incarnations have; the apocalypse should be subtle- a statement, not just OH NO I AM ANGRY BURN EVERYTHING." Oh, the things he'd gladly do to some of his incarnations.

He folds his fingers together, resting his elbows on the desk and leaning forward. "My property."

[presidingangel.livejournal.com]

Shrugs. "'s not that big a mystery. 'm tired. 'm tired of fighting, 'm tired of war. 'm tired of just about everything."

Butts out his cigarette as he nods. "Yeah. 's all a bit fucked, really."

Another sigh and he rubs his face with one hand. "You're not gonna like the answer to that one. Firstly, he's an angel's now, has been for a while. An' secondly, he was hauled down here through force, not a deal, not behaviour, jus' Aly bein' pissier than usual."



Is that icon from D*Con?

[grace-descends.livejournal.com]

"Sort of the nature of business but I don't blame you for wanting out. I'm sure the Host isn't going to approve, however."

That actually gets a dry, but slightly amused chuckle. "That's the theme lately, isn't it?"

"That's incorrect. He belongs to me because his soul was sold to me and just getting out of Hell doesn't change that. An owner's dog slips the leash and someone else takes it in, ownership is still officially to the previous owner, especially when he can produce the papers."

[presidingangel.livejournal.com]

"Don't particularly care." Shrugs. "Yeah, well. Shit happens as they say."

Sighs heavily and stands up. "I guess I'll see you when I see you, Lightbringer. Be well, my brother." Nods once and blips out in a rustle of feathers.

[grace-descends.livejournal.com]

To say he's shocked at his brother's sudden disappearance would be a mild understatement. He didn't expect him to go out in a conversation. Even so he shakes it off and goes back to making business calls.