13816/The Experiment: VII

The Experiment: VII
Date of Scene:	15 September 2021
Location:	Somewhere in Hell - The Inferno
Synopsis:	Time passes different in hell. Two hours on Earth is nearly a year in Hell. LOts of time to learn just how much you are your own worst enemy. And how much people actually mean to you.
Cast of Characters:	Sinister, Lucifer

---

Sinister has posed:
It seems like only yesterday that the lads packed up their things and went on a nice little jaunt to where the skies are gloomy and it's always warm. Setting things up and getting comfortable and aquainted with the locale really didn't take long. On Earth, it might have been a matter of a few minutes, it might have been an hour. Time passed. Several days of research and evenings spent elsewhere, in the imagination of mansions or the actual pathways through a dimension of punishment and redemption, in fact.

Then Lucifer received a brief call to deal with a delivery issue of a sensitive nature. One call. No more than a minute or two to sign off on things and return. Nothing more.

The lab is quiet and there's a very faint layer of ash over everything. Very fine ash? No, it isn't ash, it's dust, sucked in by the static of electrical machinery that hums along with its own powersource. Overall, there's perhaps a millimeter or two in the otherwise clean room. Machines are still doing a lengthy and protracted tissue analysis, spectrometry and something else that got set up for a recombinant DNA analogue or somesuch thing. The cylindrical coffin is empty however and Sinister is curled over his desk, arms on top, head resting on them folded beneath himself. He looks asleep, but that's probably not the case, given that he too, has a layer of that dust settled on his neck, hair and shoulders...

Lucifer has posed:
Time is fluid, like liquid, but also it's a wobbly ball of wibbly stuff. Lucifer enjoyed the time down in Hell for what was done during it and above, on Earth, it was merely hours perhaps. Maybe a day at most. When the call comes for him to handle a sensitive delivery, he goes to do just that. Doesn't take him long, really, and he's back again in a short amount of time.

Coming into the lab, he notices the dust that covers everything. Steps, slow and cautious, take him further into the lab. "Hello?" He notes the empty coffin, the machine that's still running, and the man who looks like he's sleeping at his desk. Though Sinister is covered in a layer of dust himself and that causes Lucifer to wonder. Sinister would never...not consciously...allow himself to be so dirty. Another glance around as he tries to determine what's making all the dust in an otherwise clean room. A shift as he places a hand on Sinister's shoulder, giving him a little shake to see if he can awaken the man. "Is anyone here?" A glance around again, but it seems he's alone in the room with a mindless Sinister.

Well that can't be good.

Sinister has posed:
Warm and alive, but nope, the mind is roaming. The sense of where he is is a little confusing also, given that he's both here and not here at the same time. But this is the lord of Hell, right? He couldn't lose someone in his own domain, that would be ridiculous.

The time on the computer is a little pointless, but perhaps also helpful as the chronometer ticks by the time, regardless of how much has passed on earth, because it isn't bound by the concept of value assigned by anything other than its own truth; it says that it's almost a year later than it was when Lucifer left, give or take a few days. Ohhhh, dear. And time is a very tricky thing in hell, isn't it, because it's also personal, unless it's shared. That would also explain the dust.

Lucifer has posed:
Vlad's heart doesn't beat unless he's fed, and with the hunger Vasi had...could it be sustained down here? The time on the computer, Lucifer blinks, and then curses under his breath. Shifting, he moves to leave the lab, and then he pauses to collect himself. Eyes shut, he focuses and he takes a long breath of Hell's air. A place for everything and everything in it's place. Unless it's roaming. He's like a homing beacon looking for the needle in the haystack. Only the haystack is his home so it shan't be that difficult right?

"Did you leave the lab? Go for a walk? Get a little lost? Come on little lamb...where are you?" Lucifer whispers into the darkness of Hell and then turns to begin walking while scenting, thinking, and feeling. Hoping something sets him off into the right direction.

Sinister has posed:
It does arrive after a bit and it comes across as a sinking sensation. No, wait... down. A downward sensation. One of the lower circles, or perhaps a spot in between the two. Passageways down are erratic and sometimes change with the influence of the minds around them, or open when someone's liable to slide to a lower level because of some other guilt that manifests itself. Those passageways tend to self-contain, after a while. Stable ones were written about by mad scholars....

This is one of the spirals down, through pocket of caves where the shadows contain a person's nightmares and the truths that they wanted to run from and beyond it... Oooh, well, that makes sense now. One of the lakes of blood, where some are tormented in the circle of Violence by nearly drowning day in and day out, in the blood that they spilled. He's here somewhere.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer thinks on it a moment when it comes by, like a wafting breeze of sense and then his eyes narrow a bit. He then sighs and shifts to make his own way down into where he thinks the sense is coming from. Down. One level...maybe a level and a half. It seems the creature has gotten itself stuck into a perpetual loop hole of self contained catacomb-like mazes. Which can happen. Then he considers. <<Can I talk to you this way?>> Considering Sinister has to be roaming as Vasi..right? Otherwise...well he isn't sure how good demons taste to be honest, and nothing else after that but bodiless souls....

Oh wait. It all clicks after a moment and he redoes his tracking. Opening ports until he's at one of the bigger lakes of blood, where the rivers feed into, and gives a look around. Squinting, to see further and perhaps try to better pinpoint where Vasi happens to be.

Sinister has posed:
The mind is sharp as a tack and sharpened, like a razor's edge. Keen. Predatory senses.

<<....>>
Shock and surprise, followed by sudden elation can be a heady jumble.
<<LUCIFER!>>

Suddenly, the beacon is a lot stronger, like he'd been quieting his mind deliberately and now can open all the channels up. Along the shoreline to the west, near a set of shallow caves and rocks that overlook areas of the lake. One of the tributaries funnels in there and that's a VOOM happening. Fast movement, leaps and runs, followed by a dissipation into a cloud of crows that fly considerably quicker.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer blinks a moment as the mind opens, sharp as a razor and strong but also blank for a moment. Then, suddenly still, there's that elation and his name is shouted within his mind.

<<Oh my love...>>

It's offered even as that beacon points him west but he doesn't have to really move. Sinister is already VOOMing towards him, and then becoming a cloud of crows - a whole murder! - and flying closer. He waits, for the moment, smiling all the while. It's only when Sinister (Vasi?) is whole again that he approaches. "Well hello there. Seems you've been learning an awful lot this last...year?"

Sinister has posed:
Indeed, a whole murder all intent on one destination only: Right there, infront of the Lord of Hell. They swirl together in a cloud of wingbeats and all fly into one another to form the pale figure of the vampire Sin, who seems to have aquired slight transluscency of skin in the last year. Veins can be seen in spots through the pallor of his complexion and he's distinctly sharp edged, but otherwise seems undamaged. The large black sombrero has a few little singe spots, but keeps the man beneath in shadow, as does the leather long-coat he wears. Very Vampire Hunter D if one knew such cult anime, if one substitutes cloak for coat.

"After a week or so, I guessed time had done something subjective on me. I tried to find the Van Kempe loop, but couldn't find it without opening my mind. After two weeks I decided to try finding it a different way -- senses are sharper, as you know. And oddly, the denizens don't look at me the same way in this body as they did when I was attempting to explore in the other. It seemed... practical."

There's a tremendous stillness to him, movement only done where necessary and he barely blinks. "I have missed you."

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer looks over the being in front of him, the subtle differences on their own are nothing, but put them together and he is one hell of a beautiful creature. A smile comes and then he nods his head. "So you were never able to find the Van Kempe loop?" He asks this gently before tilting his head. "I almost feared...well. I went to the lab first. There's dust everywhere, even over yourself. So I figured you'd had to be somewhere...do you know how much time has passed?" Asking this, because only Sinister knows when he left the lab - but likely nothing since.

A smile forms slowly after and he steps closer. "I missed you as well...but sense of time is off. I was only gone a little while. Few hours at most? Where as here...well.."

Sinister has posed:
Sinister shakes his head almost infinitessimally. "No, I found it," he replies and holds a single finger up, gesturing with the other hand to the shoreline to raise a single bloodstained rock. "I was the rock. The loop was..." the rock is set to spinning rapidly around the finger, moving so much faster than the static digit which he lowers slowly. "I think the loop may have been aware I was there, but subjectivity of time around the loops seems to be very varied and random and my own time, well..." he exhales, looking down at himself, turning the hand about and lifting it up to contemplate the pallor and sharp, sharp nails, harder than they look to be. He lowers the hand, meets Lucifer's eye, then leans in, to softly inhale. Left. Right, from shoulder upward, parallel to the cheek and with ooooh-so-subtle flares of the nostrils.

"It had been over six months the last time I was there. I ran through the data I'd set in motion, set new things up after taking selective samples, then went out once again. It seemed hmm... an opportunity." He gestures to the lake with an elegant Dracula-esque grace of wrist movement. "I could smell this clean across the corridors and alleys."

Lucifer has posed:
"Based on the date on the computer in your lab, it's been a year. I knew time moved differently between here and there but..." Lucifer trails off, shakes his head. "I cannot fathom being without you for that long of time. Not even something like a week at this point..." And there's no way for Lucifer to have made that any shorter. Time flows as it does, and there's not much he can do to stop the differences between the two planes.

As Sinister continues to explain things, he nods, listens, and keeps a smile. "Well, you've still got a tissue sampling in the lab, and...I am glad things have worked out for you here." Still...there's a part of him now that feels horrible. "I almost feel like I owe you a years worth of time..."

Sinister has posed:
"Owe me? That's exactly what you gave me. But as we know, there's a price for everything at the price for that was absentia," Sinister's face comes closer, leans in so he's millimeters from Lucifer's ear, the rush of breathe from speech felt. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but the ache of separation can rob the mind of sensibility." He places a hand on the devil's chest, over the beating heart there and watches the limb, a painfully slow movement rubbing over the clothing there, drawing downward until the hand falls away. It's ALMOST like he's trying to convince himself that this is real.

"I had plenty of conversations with you, but I'm afraid you didn't answer me. I even saw you a number of times, but I am quite aware that I have a fabulous ability to confabulate myself convincingly. We went dancing. They played the charleston and oh, did we cut a rug. You were wearing that sharp pinstripe number with the spatz." His head tilts sharply, eyes closing, chin lifted in memory.

"And we went on a cruise down the river Danube, saw all the old castles, turned eyes, made them all whisper. You arranged for us to dine with the Captain's table and we joked and laughed... then I woke up."

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer does that thing he always does. He listens. To all of it. As stories are told and memories are shared. He shifts a hand to gently grasp the one that covers his beating heart and his other hand moves to press over Sinister's heart against his chest. Perhaps more proof that this is really happening and not just some strange dream.

"All of that sounds amazing. We may just have to do all those things. Go dancing. Make sure they play the Charleston. Cut rugs. Go on a cruise. Dine with the Captain..." Lucifer smirks, then lifts his shoulders in a shrug. "Or could just let the memories, dreams I suppose, live in your head. Up to you."

A beat then. "Mmn... shall we go back to the lab?"

Sinister has posed:
A sudden movement and the vampire is up close and personal, pressed along Lucifer's side with one leg outside of the thigh, keeping anchorage, planting so that it is hard to be knocked back and bowled down. His lips tickle the ear as he breathes the next words. One arm is around his love, bringing the devil closer; the very soft 'snikt' of fangs dropping is a tease, but does not preface a bite. At least not yet. The fingers curl and bunch in fabric. "I'm not letting you leave this time. Take me with you. Don't fade away. I can't wake up again. I've forgotten what coffee tastes like..." the fangs brush brief, a sting and he takes a breath. "The lab. Yes. Please. I am not letting you go, my dear. Please... be real this time..." that last is nothing more than a whisper.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer blinks a couple of times as he's wrapped up in arms and limbs, pulled close, curled against in so many ways. It's the words that catch him in that moment and he holds just as close and tight, trying to nuzzle where he can even if there are fangs threatening. "My love. I am here. For real. This is no dream. I promise you." He offers and then he wraps arms and in a shimmer - for this is Hell - they are no longer entrapped within the lake. They are back in the lab where dust has settled and machines still run. "Are you done here then? Shall we away back to our other home?" He asks gently, taking his time to do such and fearing what Sinister means by he can't wake up again.

Sinister has posed:
Sinister clutches at the shimmer, as if doing so will prevent a mirage from slipping away into his own mind. When nothing such as this happens, he releases, peering like a cautious wolf, around the lab. It's here, they're back. He's here, in this form and the other. Abruptly, Lucifer is bereft of the physical contact, as Vamp Sin has voom'd over to where his other self is recumbant on the desk, covered in dust. He stares, mouth parted and fangs visible, then inhales deeply and looks at the readings. One, two, three, four, five... all the things still spinning along. And after hovering his hand over his own /actual/ head, he is back at Lucifer's side again, at a right angle and leaning in, looking oooooooh so close at that beautiful profile. "I don't think I'm finished. Besides, there are promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep. Van Kempe, for one..." He leans back, looking at that face, that skin, that shape of existance with a gaze that ignores all barriers. "But I think I do have a rule. If you are called away, take me with you this time. Shared time does not appear to follow the same rules. I /missed/ you."

Lucifer has posed:
"Well that's all fair then. Staying here. Going back if I'm needed, cause you have things handled...I do not." Lucifer says this with a nod and a smirk before side-eying the fanged one next to him. "You no longer need to miss me, my love. I am right here. I promise." He offers and then shifts to nuzzle close a bit, though he's a little hesitant because his is VampSins body, right? The real Sinister's form is hunched over a desk 'sleeping'..so while the mind is talking to him, the body is different and ... well he's trying not to say anything for sake of emotions and such but it's all a bit weird. "Think you could put the vampire to rest for a bit?"

Sinister has posed:
Sinister finally blinks. Actually blinks. And now that the mind thinks about things... he's closed his eyes but when they were open, not once had that action actually happened. He looks askance at his real body, then back at Lucifer and steps three steps back very quickly, looking away. Hands flex and unflex, then he nods and simply walks to the coffin, laying down inside of it and pulling the lid shut without a single word.

Moments after, the real Sin stirs, sits up and similarly... doesn't blink. He's had one long one of those for a while now and so he simply looks about at all the dust with a growing look of disgust. Of a sudden, all the dust whirls into the air, forms a condensed ball and rushes out of the door, which opens and closes rapidly. He rises a bit stifly. Six months without moving will do that. "Ow. Bugger. Dammit..." things pop, and with a shake of arms and legs, the surface of him ripples as he realigns things, standing there fleetingly lost. Eyes travel to various pieces of equipment in turn, with a glance to Lucifer in the midst of it all. Another visual catalogue and he settles on looking sidelong.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer watches in those silent moments as the vampire is put away and Sin's mind goes back to his real body. More moments pass as Nathaniel sits up, comes back to reality in so many ways, gets mad at the dust covering everything and that's taken care of promptly. "Suppose after being alive for several centuries, a rest like you had in such a position would cause plenty of things to be...stiff." He offers, noting that sidelong glance to him and he tilts his head. A shift so he's facing Sinister proper, stepping up to him to glance up at him. "Hello my darling." He offers gently, lifting a hand so fingers can touch skin. "I promise, I'm really here. Not a dream. And I am not going anywhere anytime soon. Even if I was, you'd be right along with me." Still trying to bring that back to mind so Sinister fully believes it and knows it to be true.

Sinister has posed:
"Oh, my nursey, you -are- naughty," Sinister replies to the innuendo that probably wasn't intended as such. Nathaniel flicks a hand in dismissal of the actual physical discomfort, at the approach, his gaze drops down those few inches, holding steady in his position until Lucifer is right there. Right in front of him. "Lucifer doesn't make promises he can't keep, doesn't lie. But my mind is a clever little mousetrap, it likes to corner me and feed me cheese. It's covered in mold though. Sharp and nasty when it wants to be."

He takes half a step forward, lifting hands to Lucifer's face, then puts index and middle finger to the devil's temples staring into those eyes -- what follows is particular perverse, in that it's invasive in the extreme; the feeling of predatory thoughts pushing in, hunting through. Not a wolf or a bat, the sharp intellect will ever be a raven, but the slippery edges and the knack of winnowing in, well, it isn't ferretlike, but serpentine. His mind strikes through, finds the similarities, the differences, but honestly doesn't have far to go in its cobra-strike invasions to know that this isn't his mind playing tricks. The flavour is all different, the feel is unique and the vastness tells its own story. Fingers drop before 'venom' is inserted and he gasps. "Oh, buggerations..." what was invasive is gentled, hands to cheeks. "It really is you. You're really here. Not ..." he doesn't get any further, because suddenly he's become a limpet in a kiss and cling. Overall, the whole test and taste took less than ten seconds. That affection takes quite a bit longer.

Lucifer has posed:
"You're right. I don't. And that's not a lie, nor is it a promise that will be broken..." Lucifer offers, a bit of snark in his voice. He doesn't like being doubted, and it's a sharper kind of knife when it comes from the one he loves. Moldy bitter cheese indeed.

Then there's that invasion of the mind. The strike of a serpent like raven that pushes quick, sinks deep, slithering around as if to find the truth behind lies that weren't muttered. He takes it, even if he is a slight bit annoyed at the idea, and perhaps that's something else felt in a moment. Then Sinister finally seems to fully catch up to everything and it all clicks. About to say something in response, but he's caught by that kiss and cling. Those affections given as soon as the man realizes. Course, it's been a year since Sinister's known Lucifer's touch and all... so the Devil gives as much as he is receiving. Holding close what clings with a strong desire to not let go for a long and lingering moment.

<<...I love you...>>

Sinister has posed:
I didn't mean it -- Yes you did.
I am sorry -- No you're not.
I had to be sure -- That at least is truth.
I don't trust myself...

Affection is only broken by a peppering of more, over and over again and a hard, solid hug. A cling, in fact. More peppered affections, then stillness. "I hate my mind, sometimes," is not justification, but it IS a reason. No more words, just holding tight and just when it seems it can't get tighter, squeezing just a bit more. The limpet will clamp down to a rock and cannot be pried off, except with a chisel, an action that usually kills the little creature. Go figure.

"I love you, so much. Take me home. I want to not be here for a night. I apologise... I just..." a year. Time is an absolute asshat. "Please, take me home, beloved."

Lucifer has posed:
"It's alright, my beloved." Lucifer offers after the peppering of more affection which he tries to return as he can. "Our minds can be our best friend and worst enemy...often at the same time." This much more as he's clung to and then he hears the almost plea-sounding words from the man. "Alright. Home." And he does just that. There's a moment of smoke, that scent of sulfur, but then they're standing within the bedroom of the...cottage?

"Here. Where you can see and smell the ocean. Take a little time to center yourself again. Tonight, we are together, and on the morrow you will remember coffee. And other things." Still. "I just want to sit with you a while. Come. We'll go listen to the ocean for a little bit." And he leads them to do just that, and then lets the night lead naturally until the morrow.