Owner	Pose
Lucifer	Lucifer has returned. Though he is definitely not happy. He is also not particularly angry. He calls upon his sister, Asrael. Lets Nathaniel know he needs to share some news with her and there's also a text sent to Nick. Something short and pointed asking him to come to the Penthouse if he's free. There's food. Lots of it. Steak, mashed potatoes, kippers, toast, broccoli and cheese, mac and cheese, potato salad - like a regular buffet. Also cookies, brownies, and brookies. Tea, coffee, juices, and whiskey. Honestly, Lucifer seems to be wanting to feed an army or something. Either way, he's sitting outside on the balcony at the moment even after calling people. Sipping whiskey and looking out over the city. Some of Azazel's last words ringing through his mind over and over again.
Nick Drago	Short and pointed is an understatement. And in hindsight 'We need to talk' is not a message ANYONE wants to see on their phone. Even if they know by looking at the sender that it's not that type of chat. We've all had that talk. We know what it's like. Those four words is a summoning spell for anxiety. As the elevator doors part ways and Nick steps inside, his steps slow as he sees the spread of food. "...Oh no." Whatever the discussion may be. It's WORSE.
Sinister	Yes, Lucifer cooks to take his mind off of things. It's a strange sublimation for partying and orgy, but sort of in the same Country, if no longer quite the same County or township. Asrael isn't late to the party, she always arrives when she has a moment to, her job is one that never ends until Judgement day, after all. But she arrives in a flutter of sparrow wings, perching on the railing of the balcony without thinking about it, the cloak and her blade shimmering from shadow to ordinary as she hops down and gives an exaggerated, if mildly playful sigh. "I'm just going to make myself a hot chocolate. It's like a comforting blanket in a mug," she notes to Lucifer, smiling at him in a vague and almost apologetic sort of way, before giving an enthusiastic but high-speed wave to Nick as she makes her way into the kitchen. Oh yes, she's observing the spread, but not commenting on it at the moment. Sometimes, it's best to just let the brain distraction sit and be what it is.
Lucifer	Lucifer glances over to Asrael as she arrives, and only gives a nod when she mentions she's going to make herself a hot chocolate because it's comfort in a mug. She'll likely need all the comfort she can get as soon as he walks in and tells the tale. It's a lingering moment later before Lucifer shifts to stand from his seat and walks into the Penthouse proper. His steps are slow, like his very legs are heavy, even if the burden is actually on his shoulders. He glances to Nick, giving the man a curt nod of greeting, before he continues towards the kitchen - stopping at the outside edge of the island counter. "I fucked up." Is all he says at first. Then he goes into the tale. About how he went to the cave, saw the state it was in. The cleanliness of it, the echoing voice of Azazel's words, his chuckles. How it was never really an argument put passive aggressive comments to each other. He admits to not knowing if he screwed up the wards, or if they were already weak enough for Azazel to find a way out. How he used his own magicks to get himself out of the wards that Azazel set off. Followed. Argued. Made a deal. "He was killing people without a care. All because..." The words trail off and he sighs. "Point is. He's free. I don't know his game this time. Just that at some point in the near or far future...he's coming after me. And I'm sure he's coming with a vengence in mind...."
Nick Drago	Nick's wave back to angel of death is not as high speed but it is present as he manages a smile for her benefit. The head tilts up in note of her comments which lead to his own decision. It is a good thing that Asrael brought up hot chocolate as it prompted Nick to go straight for the brownies. Ohhh so it's going to be THAT kind of discussion. And some coffee. Sitting himself down, Nick braces for impact with a bit of a chocolatey bite. The chewing pauses as Lucifer talks, taking in some of the detail. When Lucifer finishes there's more silence. Mainly because Nick has to finish his bite of brownie first. "Well..."Nick pauses, "Um." Ok so it wasn't Shakespeare being put out. "For what it's worth. I don't think all the blame for the situation falls on you. I think most anyone would argue incarceration for that amount of time would be considered cruel and unusual. And that wasn't entirely your call."
Sinister	Asrael managed to acquire a couple of butter cookies too, for the chocolatey dipping. She ends up curls up in her ordinary brown cloak, in the less ostentacious 'throne' chair, legs all tucked up and curled under her as she dips the biscuits and nibbles their soggy edges. Cleaning the edge of her lips with her pinky finger, she just watches Lucifer as he works his way through it incrementally. "There was a good deal of confusion from those souls, I'll say. They had no idea what had happened to them and there was a bit of pleading from one or two..." she sighs, shakes her head a little. "...I imagine though, if I had a thought in mind for vengeance, it would be against more than just you, Lucifer. I imagine that it's going to be extremely interesting upstairs," she glances up at the ceiling with this, then clucks her tongue softly, dunking another biscuit. "So, I can't help wondering what you intend on doing about it. I can't stop murder, famine, pestilence or tragedy from happening, I can only... be there." There's a pause, with lips pressed. "Erm."
Lucifer	"I'm going to do the only thing that I can do." Lucifer begins. "Nathaniel doesn't have to eat to survive. The club can manage on it's own for a while. Most of my affairs are in order and even if he manages to...." Words trail. "I have to go after him. I think even Father would agree that this is one of those moments where we both have an enemy greater than our own issues loose...because I may need a little help from on high for this one." He finishes saying. Normally admitting he'll need help is something Lucifer does not do. Admitting he'd need Heavenly help. Absolutely uncalled for. This is a different circumstance. There's a glance over to Nick then. "You're gonna have to help keep him sane. He'll want to come after me. To help. To save. I don't know. Likely both.... this isn't his fight. Literally. Even for who and what he is..." A glance is given to Asrael then and he shrugs. "We confront Azazel before he can confront us."
Nick Drago	Nick... Keep Nathaniel sane. ...Well, weirder things have been accomplished before. "I'll do my best." No promises of success, but of an attempt at least. "...Would it be possible he just wants you to know what it was like for him?" The musician asks, "-or at least acknowledge it or just allow him to be?"
Sinister	Asrael shifts her attention between the two men in the room as statements are made and the questions are asked. She looks at Lucifer, then gets very busy with her hot chocolate. A long sip is taken before she even murmurs a response. "It's possible, Nick. Anything is possible, in the scheme of all things." Another sip and she peeks up, meek beneath mousey waves of brown. Mild and unthreatening, that's Asraael's daily modus operandi, because she's terrifying when she's taking a stand. "Azazel isn't a seraphim, but that really makes very little difference in the end. He's a little like me, I'm not one either, but my responsibility sort of crow-bar separates me from everyone else. I am a Horseman, after all. Azazel was sort of... well, if Lucifer was the Field Marshal, Azazel was the Adjunct at the rank of Major General. Extremely resourceful and he's... well, he was one of the Forgemaster's of the Host. I feel I ought to remind you about that at this juncture, Luci." Because he could make a weapon that will hurt. Quite a lot of weapons that will hurt.
Lucifer	Lucifer sucks in a breath - even though they aren't needed for him - and then he lets it out slowly. "I have weapons that can hurt him just the same..." He offers cooly towards his sister, shifting his gaze towards her as well. "I doubt he'd be open for a discussion. He's been caged up so long, and who knows what the bloody hell he's doing now that he's free. I don't know if he'd work in the open or not...likely not...but maybe so if he doesn't want to be found." Not to mention, Lucifer promised to stay away. Right? Was that part of the deal? Honestly, he can't really remember and that bothers him as well. "Any other suggestions? Comments? Snide remarks? Honestly, at this point, I'll take anything..."
Nick Drago	"Well... I'm not an an-" Nick pauses, furrowing his brow, "Well. I don't know exactly what he went through but I know how I felt when people cut off my options. I got angry. Lashed out. Got into a lot of fights and-" He pauses, "...Uh I won't say it was an immediate change but things improved When I was given a chance to get out of that situation. Well, minus the part with the terrorists. "
Sinister	"I don't do snide remarks, I quip. And usually only to Uriel..." Asrael sticks her tongue out, playful. But she turns serious again quickly enough, fingers holding onto her hot chocolate mug like an anchor. "As to open to discussions," licking her bottom lip, she peers over the rim of her mug at the Devil. "I think that probably depends on if you antagonized him or not. I usually only have to pull out the angry eyeballs if people have been knocking heads like they just hatched five minutes ago..." She looks sidelong to Nick, ducking her regard after a moment or two. Another sip of cocoa. "Nick, you've been brought in here and then not really been asked for your input. How would you handle it? My brother is prone to making the plan before he discusses it, it's a thing he's always done." Small smile "We sort of have to do things retroactively."
Lucifer	There's a -look- from bother to sister before he sticks his own tongue back out at her. "I don't think I antagonized him. He probably didn't like that I followed him but I was not trying to upset him any more than he already was.." Saying that much and then he listens as Asrael looks to Nick for advice. Though it's the quips she makes that has him rolling his eyes a moment. "I would like to point out that I am still here. Talking. It's not like I've suddenly gotten an idea and zoomed off into the nether..." No. This isn't the time for WTWTCH... or flying by the ass of your pants. This WILL take planning. Listening. Perhaps even waiting - as much as that might pain the Devil.
Nick Drago	Nick frowns. "Well...not knowing how he'd react, I'd... probably treat it like if I came across a PTSD dream. Observe. Listen. Be present. Interact where needed. Sometimes people just need someone to yell at."
Sinister	Asrael kisses the tip of her finger and turns it toward Luci, blowing on it. She takes her last biscuit after that and dunks in the cup, listening keenly to Nick. "Often, that's the case. Or someone to confess to or confide in. I've had that all my lifetime," she tucks her feet further in, adjusting the robe she wears over it and makes a very solemn affair of soggy bickie consumption. "You're doing -very- well, Luci..." a soft tease "...Actually I am rather proud of how far you've come. Healing can take a very long time... But. Uh. I digress." Another pause. "I know you want to keep your lover out of the family business, but how do you actually plan on doing that? I don't know, but I've got a feeling he's probably not going to sit on the sidelines willingly."
Lucifer	Lucifer glances to Nick and gives a nod. "I mean... if I could get Azazel to listen for one moment and not be a smart ass about it...and believe that I just want to listen. I'd do that. I'd be his punching bag. We're not living in Old Testament times any more... and while forgiveness isn't in the cards..." He glances upwards for a moment and shakes his head. "I haven't a clue what Father's plan is for this...but I'm willing to find out." When Nathaniel is brought up, Lucifer smirks. "I'm actually surprised he hasn't busted in all ready to argue with me about telling people to keep an eye on him. Or that he hasn't barged into my head with the same sentiment. Perhaps it'd be good for him to come along. For Azazel to see some of the possibilities...so long as he agrees to live a sort of...quiet...ish....life."
Nick Drago	To the mention of forgiveness. Nick tilts his head. "What if you are the plan? He might not want or be able to forgive... but why can't you? It's your area of control. You could call it parole, contingent on good behavior..."
Sinister	"I don't think it's his forgiveness he's meaning," Asrael side-eyes the other areas of the penthouse without commentary. And indeed, the mental landscape is rather quiet in there. The dark geneticist might be listening in like a parabolic radar, for all they know. "You know, for my part, I've forgiven everyone for everything a long time ago. I didn't have the time to hold grudges. Everything seemed rather trivial by comparison to the never-ending cycles. That and ... the foreknowledge. It makes things rather less stressful." After all, there are rituals and rites, magics and myths that speak of Death knowing the answer to all things, if you can summon it and compel it. Sharing a mantle may have some merit to it.
Lucifer	Lucifer shrugs his shoulders. He really doesn't know what more to say about the matter in all truth. Though the last bit of what Azrael says and he shrugs. Then he thinks. He's already used a favor with her, however, and he's not about to press his luck. "We could hash it out and I could forgive him. Why should I hold grudges? I have no reason to. He may think it was me that imprisoned him too... cause he followed and then he did things and then he got stuck between a rock and a hard place." It's a joke. Sort of. But this is all Lucifer knows to say further. Except, "I just wonder where he's hiding...if I can figure that out then I - we - can sus out a plan."
Nick Drago	Nick considers the situation. "Was there anyone who'd still be around that he was particularly close to before things went down? Or a particular interest he was known for?"
Sinister	Asrael's eyes turn down to the empty mug and back up. There's a gently handwave over the rim of it and a wiggle of fingers and lo and behold, the cup is once again full. She sips. Here, she keeps quiet, perhaps testing Luci's memory in its entirety, though she does look distant and thoughtful, perhaps recalling the events of the moment at the site of the first Temple. She sucks her cheeks in then sips again, slowly. And nobody comment about the fact that she missed her mouth on the first try for the thinking deep. There's a bit of hasty rubbing of cocoa off her brown robe. At least it hides the chocolate stain.
Lucifer	"Weapons." Lucifer offers. "As well as introducing the people to pride and vanity. Which you would think was my doing but no. That was all him..." Adding that bit in before he shrugs his shoulders. Did he see his sister miss her entire mouth with that first sip of cocoa? Likely. Does he say anything? Absolutely not. But there also might not actually be a chocolate stain on her cloak if he has anything to do with it. The fact that his sister is quiet now speaks volumes to him. The last thing Nick had suggested has him shaking his head. "I don't know of anyone in particular he had any interest in..." Then he sighs. "Who could we use to sus him out, sister? Anyone you can think of?"
Nick Drago	Nick's brows lift to the mention of Weapons. "Ah...right. General. But even soldiers have things they do outside of fighting. I know a few who like to do sketch work." Heck, he first met Bucky in an art supply store. "But... Ok other than the stuff he got condemned for. Are there other interests? What did he do for fun when he got bored?"
Sinister	"Back then, Lucifer was not precisely the gregarous type he is now, focused on desires and the people that have them. Back then, he was considerably more martial and took to his job like a duck to water. When you're leading the armies, you don't notice the personal occupations of your soldiers so much..." Asrael explains that little bit, but the brown on brown would be hidden anyway. Mostly. Stainfree robes would be a fantastic thing, nevertheless. "He had a few mortals he cared for, mostly very beautiful ones, or the kind that shared his interests and could be flattered into falling by the way side. They're dead obviously. Which does put a slight downer on that notion." Even if they ARE talking to the angel of Death. She sniffs, her brow creasing as she sips on her cocoa, staring out at nothing as recollection hangs over her. It's about then she notices the rings on Luci's hand, staring at them for a long moment. She uncurls, setting her cocoa aside on the coffee table and approaches, crouching infront of the devil and gazing at the antiques. "Where did you...?"
Lucifer	Lucifer shrugs. "Back in the time of the falling, the blinders were on tightly. It was all about either taking over Heaven or ceasing to exist while trying. Father had other plans. Like he always does. We fell. I put some on Earth as Watchers - and who else to lead them but my main General." He explains it in as simple terms as he can consider using. About to say more when he sees his sister rise and approach him only to crouch in front of his ringed hand. "Those? Off a mummified arm I found inside Azazel's tomb. I meant to remove them when I got here... thinking they might be... important somehow. But I got distracted after the second confrontation with Azazel so I honestly forgot I was wearing them." He looks between his hand and his sister's gaze. "Why?"
Nick Drago	As Asrael makes mention of the new jewelry, pale eyes look to the rings. When there's a mention of taking them off of a mummy there's a visible wince to that revelation. "I may not be fully invested in all books and movies on the topic, but a general theme amongst most if not all of them is- It is never a good idea to take from mummies."
Sinister	Asrael stares at the rings, stares hard. "They're really familiar," she murmurs, but with a puzzled expression. "Mummified hand?" There's a silent moment, then she straightens with an "excuse me a moment..." before she's taller, shadowier, her blade is a scythe and she's gone in the blink of a blink's thought. Of course, this leaves musak playing, so to speak.
Lucifer	Lucifer glances over to Nick and grins. "Well...usually that's because they're tied to a pharoh. Or a cursed object. I'm of the mind to believe that the hand maybe belonged to someone who had really good taste in jewelry..." Though he pauses. "But you might also be right...but I am never one to leave a nice trinket behind." It's when his sister repeats what he says and then seems to go a little baffled over the notion. Then she excuses herself, and in a blink she's gone. This causes Lucifer to raise his brows and then he looks down at his hand. "Well... that doesn't really tell me if I should or shouldn't keep them on..."
Nick Drago	Nick's lips press together into a thin line as he looks to the rings with an assessing glance. If the assurances had any effect it may be hard to tell. But Nick relents a little. "Well- at least you didn't eat them." This time.
Sinister	Maybe a minute or two goes by at this point, when Asrael reappears in the middle of the room with a skeleton in her arms with tattered finery and clothes and bits of mummified flesh on it. She has rock dust on her robes, but otherwise seems unbothered. "Luci... this is the corpse?" she asks, knowing that it is and sets it on the ground. She then turns it over and gently pulls away the tattered remains of cloth from its back and steps back from it, to show there's signature ... anomalies on the shoulder blades, where perhaps wings might manifest or disappear when given the calling. She's staring at it profoundly. "I think Azazel might be undead." She states, in absolute disbelief.
Lucifer	"That was ONE TIME..." Lucifer chides and then gives a bit of a chuckle. "These are too pretty to eat anyway...plus...they may have some properties to them that will be useful." To himself or to Nathaniel isn't clear in that statement. Science can use rocks, damnit! When Asrael reappears in the middle of the room, holding the skeleton Lucifer robbed, he blinks. "Yes that's...that's the one..." He steps closer to it as it's turned over and notes the very clear anomaly of the shoulders. Fuck. "How?" He asks this. "There's no way. We can't truly die. He would have gone back to hell if he did...." Wouldn't he?
Nick Drago	When Asrael pops back in with a skeleton, Nick's attention is justifiably redirected to the corpse. The words spoken next earn a blink. "Undead?" Nick repeats, "...You mean like, killed and just pops up all fine in another place-" And because they were talking mummies earlier and it IS October.. "-Or more kind of transferring between people like a spirit?"
Sinister	"If he was... I mean..." Asrael is flustered, it's clearly obvious. She looks up with a blank expression, then gestures frenetically at the corpse with a few utterances of sound with no words, then puts her hands on her hips irritably. She looks like everyone's mother right now. "I could give him such a thick ear for pulling this kind of dirty trick. Yes, like a spirit perhaps, or possession. But he... /he/ isn't dead. I would have known... that's the sort of thing I definitely handle personally." Wait, she does proxies? "But that is definitely a messy thing I had to clear away, just in case some lowly mortal wanders in there, sees it and asks all kinds of awkward questions. You don't leave angelic corpses just lying around, willy nilly!"
Lucifer	"To be fair..." Lucifer begins his protest. "I didn't take a look at the corpse. I assumed it was some holy person who had gone in to clean the cave or something. You know how they get about their holy areas...." Then again. "That does explain how he was able to ... I didn't think about possession ... maybe mind control or something cause - well even I can do that. Sort of." Kind of. Not really. "Okay. So. We have an undead angel possessing at least one body so that he's now able to walk the earth...in between realms. Soooo... how do we find him... and more importantly... how do we stop him?"
Nick Drago	"I think that complaint was more directed at him and not you." Nick replies. He glances over to Asrael. "Right?" The musician pauses at the questions. "...If he's not in his own body...does he have all of his usual abilities or is he limited by the capabilities of the body he picked?"
Sinister	"Right, sorry. I was having a bit of a hissy moment, is all...." Asrae looks apologetically to the devil and sits herself down on the floor, reaching over and collecting her mug of cocoa once again. It is definitely a thing as needs to be had and it is drained, as some would drain whiskey. "I can find the dying. I know where the dead are, but the undead, well... there's a reason they're an annoying plague that I can't do much about. They break the rules." She admits this, then stares at the corpse a while. "Do you know any good psychics with some skill in psychometry? Or a necromancer?" Hey, it's a thing. "If you were asking that about a regular demon, I would say that the body can do things beyond what it should be capable of. That is documented throughout time. But it would be quite something else, for an angel."
Lucifer	"Maybe? Once upon a time I had a few regulars who might have been able to help...but I haven't seen them in a long while..." Doctor Strange being one. Dean Winchester another. He doesn't really know Harry Dresden that well - more his brother Thomas and the demon within. So he looks to Nick. "What about you? Anyone in your bank of people that might be able and willing to help us find the undead?"
Nick Drago	Nick frowns, "Harry has some tracking ability but he's currently having trouble tracking Willow as it is so I'm not sure how he'd be with an undead angel. But when he asked me for suggestions for tracking, all I could think of was maybe Nathaniel or Millie." He pauses. "...Is Saint Anthony an option?"
Sinister	Nathaniel, eh? Oh that might be an interesting conversation to have, given the potential stay-at-home nature of this particular mission. Which may or may not be an argument won. So far, that's a probability hanging in the balance. "Sometimes, tracking is a matter of what and how, where and who. I imagine, anyway..." Asrael sighs a little. "And if the worst comes to the worst, you -do- know the rites, Lucifer. Although I doubt you'd enjoy compelling me." Which is an awkward subject for the Angel of Death. But such is the nature of the mantle.
Lucifer	Lucifer blinks and then swallows back a lump in his throat. "...I already had to use you for something once in my life...I don't know if I could truly attempt to compell you again..." He offers these words to Asrael, and they're a bit low - almost a whisper enough for only her to hear. Then he sort of perks up. "I suppose I - we - could ask Nathaniel. And I wouldn't mind even maybe talking to Harry and getting an idea from him if not his actual help..." This as he glances back to Nick. "...I just want to know HOW he fucking pulled it off...."
Nick Drago	Nick hrmms, glancing around the room for another figure before he sighs. "...Some forms of magic can be wielded by sheer will. If someone has a strong enough motivation and access to a strong enough form of energy or power. Well- it can sometimes be enough reform it to what is needed." "...It could also explain why the songs aren't something I can use when I'm using the regular Phantasm abilities. I might just be reforming the energy from that to provide at least the general base of it." Nick glances over to Asrael, "...I uh, do some independent study at a place that has some interest in those sorts of things." Small explanation aside, Nick glances to the foods on display. "...Well. I think HE probably checks the boxes. There's likely a great amount of will. And the desire for freedom is a strong motivator."
Sinister	"I think I might be able to answer that one," Sinister emerges from the lab at this point. He ... was giving some space for family discussion to occur, but some of the emotional rise and fall that is being experienced out here was enough to draw him from his stoic ignoring. THere's a nod toward Asrael, who nods back, before she looks down to the corpse and leans down to whisper in its ear, hands placed on either side of the skull. With a yank, it's pulled free and of a moment later, is clean as a whistle and polished to purest bone. It's set on the coffee table. "I'm going to take the rest of this and keep it safe where only I know.." she looks to her brother, smiles at him and bows his head with just a hint of bittersweet sorrow in her smile. There's also a sigh. "Botherations, getting all sentimental... I shall probably be back. At some point." And she, with the rest of the skeleton, vanishes utterly. No body on earth or in heaven can track her, when she wears her cowl. She may only be summoned or called, after all. Sin clears his throat, nodding to Nick's words. "It's also documented in the mythology and theology of several religions of the region, culture and folklore. A true Dybbuk style of demon, is supposed to have no body, but the power to possess any that draw breath. Even the most pious of souls." Pause "It may well be, he's had his freedom quite a long while, but nobody knew until he /wanted/ them to."