15745/Alright, Nathaniel, Let's Talk

Alright, Nathaniel, Let's Talk
Date of Scene:	28 October 2023
Location:	Lucifer's Penthouse, Melville
Synopsis:	Lucifer finally opens up to Nathaniel, and then the mind is entered again. The trip find the root to the Devil's mental issue and give it a good Office Space-style ending.
Cast of Characters:	Lucifer, Sinister, Phantasm (Drago)

Lucifer has posed:
If Lucifer is going to have to delve into things with one person, he might as well do it with both of those who were present that night. So he's extended an offer via text for Nick to come join them in the Penthouse because Nathaniel has some things he wants to go over with Lucifer. He already tried to do it once, but Lucifer was not in the mood to talk. He asked for some time, but not a lot of time, and since Nathaniel can speak Luciferian there was an understanding made.

And then a lot of drinks made.

Well one drink that was re-worked a few times and then a shot that might be served on Halloween night. Either way. The lights in the Penthouse are on, there's a fire lit to stave off the cold settling into the city, and Lucifer sits on one of the puffy chairs, nestled down as if trying to be both present and hidden at the precise same time.

Sinister has posed:
Sinister meanwhile is preparing. A miriad of candles are set on various shelves, adding to the firelight's glow. Even the windows are dimmed and made opaque, to remove the distractions that the great city lights can produce -- he's dressed all in black, but simple. Cotton shirt, jeans, leather waistcoat, with the sleeves rolled up past the elbow.

Currently, he's setting up one of the coffee tables to be in the midst of the puffy chairs, which he's angled so that they form the points of a triangle... Atop the table, he sets a zootrope, the shadowcaster with its high walls and moving images within, cath the light from inside and the flicker of the candles all around.

"Are you quite sure you're ready?" he asks, obligatorially.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
In most situations the elevator door sliding open would probably be the first announcement of Nick's arrival. But most situations do not consist of those of considerable telepathic ability being already at the destination. For them, perhaps the consistent rollercoaster of disorganized thoughts that have little to nothing in common with the chosen topics at hand would be more expected.

However, after a visit from one Dr. Essex, the hints of the entrance are not the elevator or ramblings. But instead the clear mental sounds of a violin going into Toccata and Fugue. With a bit of a rock twist to it as a full orchestra and rock band kicks in in accompianment.

Well, at least he's practicing.

The door opens at around the point when the music comes to a break, moving into yet another solo portion. Nick's eyes open, seemingly have been closed for the ride up. Pale eyes look to the open doorway before he shifts forward, stepping through before the door closes. "Evening." Nick greets, looking to the set up. His attire is once again simple in comparison to Sinister's. It should be expected by now that the musician opts for comfort over style when he's not working.

"Followup to the ... fieldtrip?"

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer watches as Nathaniel sets up things as he wishes them to be. Sometimes there's a reason for ritualistic placements even if they do nothing but add to the ambiance. As he's about to answer Nathaniel's question the elevator dings sounding another arrival. An arrival that comes with it's own musical accompanyment. As if the man now has his own living soundtrack.

"Interesting."

There's a pause and then he offers, "Something like that. Nathaniel wanted to try and do a little digging into why it happened in the first place. Perhaps find something else in my mind that made me susceptible to what happened." He offers and then glances to Nathaniel properly. "I'm as ready as I think I want to be for this. As discussed."

Sinister has posed:
"Well, not only that, but your brother has the power to create a gaslighting situation, causing fear and doubt in your own recollections. I want to make sure that he didn't tamper with your mind in ways you are not yet aware of." Sinister looks up at the elevator before Nick's arrival, for entirely different reasons than before. He grins at the man. "Nice choice," his only comment to the inner concerto -- it's got to be italian if it's a classical piece. Concert just doesn't quite work.

The placement of candles is in fact significant. Not in a ritualistic kind of way, although it could easily be perceived as that; Nathaniel's staggered them and placed them unevenly on purpose in some instances, to make the shadows that they cast and the light sources asynchronous and asymmetrical, whilst also ensuring that every angle around the triangle of seats, has a light source -behind- it.

"Come in, take a seat. Or if you want a libation before we go on in, that works, too. This time has to be a little more subtle than an immediate deep delve, so I have to bring contact in a slower fashion. We can't miss things because we charged ahead. It could be dangerous."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Getting a general explanation from Lucifer, Nick nods, "Ah. Considering what little I've seen, that does seem like a good idea. I'm also wondering how often he does something like that."

This probably would be time for some random thought process that provides stuff that is relevant to the conversation and yet also not. But instead the song set has shifted over to something else. Something most definitely not classical.

\'... I'm a little bit off today, something down inside me's different
Woke up a little off today, I can tell that something's wrong
I'm a little thrown off today, there's something going on inside me
I'm a little bit off today, a little bit off today
(I'm a little bit off today, a little bit off)
See, I'm a little bit off today, I cannot put my finger on it
Got up a little off today, just to play that same old song
I don't really wanna try today, I see nothing in my reflection
I'm a little bit dry today, feel like I could die today'\</span\>

The musician listens to the general intent of the process and gives a half smile. "So, what I'm hearing is maybe don't immediately tell the constructs to 'fuck off' if they're being overly critical." Nick surmises, moving over towards the seats
\
.... 'Feel like I could die today'\</span\>

Behold the perils of not planning songlists ahead of time.

\'... Hey yeah, hey yeah
Hey yeah, don't ya know? (I'm a little bit off)
Hey yeah, hey yeah
Hey, you gotta let it go (I'm a little, just a little bit off')\</span\>

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer lifts a brow and then he nods. "I would like to make sure anything he has done to my mind is cleared out. I would also like to figure out a way to keep him from being able to do that again." Admitting this much before taking in a breath slowly and letting it out just as slow. "I don't know what you're planning on doing, but it sounds like it's another trip inside my mind... so... that should be fun." There's some teasing there, but Lucifer is also slightly...skeptical. He doesn't want them running into whatever the fuck it was from last time. Either way...

Sinister has posed:
"I doubt we'll have the same kind of dramatic critic trap, but then I could be giving Michael way too much credit for being cleverly manipulative. Either way, probably not. Now..."

Sitting in the third seat, he gets comfortable, then spins the zootrope, so that the pattern of light and shadow becomes mildly mesmeric. Add the asymmetrical shadows to that and the idea of ambient calm and the purpose of it all becomes a little clearer. Perhaps.

"Now, then..." looking at each of them, he settles on Nick a moment. "I'm terribly pleased that you're working on your mental megaphone, but could we perhaps not think of movie mood music right now?" -- but it wasn't... oooh. Pink elephants -- "Less disraction that way. So... altered memories, unless the person is exceptionally good, are a little like glitches in the Matrix. They're not completely smooth and integrated. A real professional mind-hacker, can seamlessly blend them, but I doubt that's what we're working with here. Again, I am going to be relying on the two of you to actually examine what you're seeing critically, because I'm going to be a little busier with creating a mindscape in the here and now. So. If you spot something that needs precise mind surgery, please point it out to me?"

That all said, he smiles, taking a slow, deep breath.

...And stares at the zootrope. Not so much for Lucifer, as for himself, it seems. Gradually, the images playing like an early principle of picture shows, grows taller, moves beyond the boundaries of the simple spinning device and starts playing out into the room, a little like the slow release of a hologram. Except that Sinister is fully capable of doing surround sound, full sensory illusions, plucked from the nearby conciousnesses or from his own. And it's LUCIFER's mind that is the source right now...

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick frowns. But the music dies completely, along with a bit of the mood.

Gee.

Replacing the noisy thoughts with a full out concert in the brain is too distracting?

Who'd have thought?

Oh well. It's a bit exhausting to have to keep that up all the time anyways. Like spinning plates.

...Probably. He has no experience with that, but he has seen people do it. All the constant monitoring, running around to keep up the momentum on the sticks.

Focus.

Time to play hidden pictures.

Lucifer has posed:
The scene sets easily enough. Ireland. When they went to go meet Nick for the first time there. The bar...whatever it was called...Nick was playing with another musician on the stage. Wade sitting at a table nearby watching and cheering his friend on happily. Lucifer and Nathaniel had just arrived, went to go find Nick and Wade only to notice the mini-concert being put on. The crowd in the pub enjoying the show.

Nick is holding a guitar. The other woman is holding a viola. Wade is a portly man, and the two tables he's sitting at has all sorts of pub staples on it - food wise. Plus a sandwich for Nick.

There's another fellow at the bar who is watching Nick. Long blonde hair, cordoroy hat, smoking on a pipe. He nods his head to the music, clearly enjoying it. And then Lucifer and Nathaniel join Wade, sitting down to catch the tail end of this mini-concert before Wade tries his best to bring Nick back to the table to eat.

Sinister has posed:
As when he took the trio on a deep dive, Sin's eyes are on fire, the red glow licking his eyebrows and cheekbones as well as glowing from the ruby in his forehead. He remains rather still as the painting of memory plays out around them all, his hands curled lightly over the arms of the puffy chair he sits on.

But his attention does shift to the images of recollection, the music, the perspective of Lucifer on that event. And it's helpful in its own right, that this recent memory doesn't match his own perception, even with his concentration.

"Huh," because the portly Wade is bloody obvious and the instrumental swap stands out proudly. But those details, they still LOOK right, even if they're recalled wrong. He slowly shifts his attention aware, looking for the Elephant in the room, if there is one. It may lie beyond this.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Settling into the seat, Nick does what he can to focus upon the forming scene. The location does come across as familiar. And while some of the details upon the decor might be off, the general approximation is enough to determine it to be the Castle Vaults. Being the view is from a different angle than Nick is used to, he does end up focusing more on the details he would remember.

The amount of contradiction is... concerning. "Is this on purpose?" Nick asks, "Like a practice round of sorts?"

A glance over to Wade causes for the musician to tilt his head curiously. "Was that change even necessary?" A hand reaches up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "The other person playing was male. We were both playing violin. There was no physical stage, just a cleared area where the instruments could be placed. Also that's way too much food at our SINGLE table. I think Wade and I got the same thing."

Lucifer has posed:
As things are pointed out, the scene slowly shifts. The corrections made. No stage. Males playing violin. The ambiance shifts to the more correct vibe. Even the subtle changes make a lot of difference as the physical Lucifer shakes his head some. Making sure to correct other things as well. Every change helps Lucifer correct the other things that Nick couldn't have made because this wasn't his point of view.

Something in the background fizzles in a sort of shimmer like it's upsetti spaghetti that things are correcting themselves. It's gone before anyone can really make out who or what it is, but the traces left behind likely point it out to be a shadow of Michael's presence in Lucifer's memories. Not that he's here, now, trying to change things but more like an echo of his presence left behind that needs to be ejected from Lucifer's memories. That could well be the bridge that Michael used from the beginning.

It just needs to get burned.

Sinister has posed:
"You know, the interference here seems remarkably amateur. But that could just be to give false impressions," Sinister turns his mind-focus on the squiggle. So far, his work to bring them to the semi-hypnotic state has been gentle, it's nevertheless a reminder that the feather can also be a jackhammer, as the upsetti-spaghetti feeling is seized like a vice as it attempts to poof out and is brought 'forth' into harsh light.

Or rather, frozen in place, the moment of thought-remenent held in position as the 'light' gets shined on it.

"Now then, what are you, when you're at home, hmmm?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"I'm curious why it would be with this memory." Nick comments as he watches the corrections start to be made to the memory. As he glances around, the musician pauses as the corrected blond comes into view. His head tilts to the familiar face.

Sinister's dragging forward something that most definitely should not belong here. Frown deepening, he looks over to the remnant.

Lucifer has posed:
It was actually with several memories. A trail of breadcrumbs, as it were. From the moment Michael was upset by everything he learned concerning Nick's musical choices and aspirations. The jealous twin, the darker spirit...Michael tries every way he can to finally gain some recognition. Some sense of accomplishment. The trouble is, he always goes about it ass-backwards and ends up in more trouble than anything else.

The echo pauses, as it's held in place, but it's likely very quickly apparant that this one cannot communicate. It simply gestures with it's arms, wanting to be let go. This one likely won't be worth anything, and surely not able to help.

Lucifer, who is there because he can be, and lucid now because he's got more of his self back. "Not this one. There are more. I can almost feel them now...like they want out of the vice they're being held within...but this one was just something Michael screwed with to further dig his claws into his purpose for making me doubt everything in the first place."

Sinister has posed:
Sinister looks to Nick, as the mental entity comes sharper into focus. Mute. "Well, aren't you just helpful..."

He tilts an ear to the observation made by the man reclaiming his own mind and nods faintly. "Still have a use for this one, though. You want to be let go? Well, very good. But first..." holding a finger up as if to address a lecture hall, the ruby glows brightly in his forehead.

The figment, the little 'peripheral program' of Michael's, is literally pulled apart into a half dozen and more transparent layers of psychological residues, whether arm-flailing or not. The finger held up is twirled, twisted and with a slow curl and pull movement of the hand, the transparent layers snap back into place. Around the neck of the thought remnant is a dog collar, with 'hunter' written upon it.

"Right then. You know what YOUR job is. They're all part of you... sniff-sniff, chopchop. Lead us."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The whole reveal ends up being an odd one. Nothing really told out loud but- An older relative disapproving of a younger one's career choices.

...

The shock.

What. Are. The Odds?

And what is the likelyhood of Nick picking up ANY of that unspoken stuff?

Yep.

Oddly the performer doesn't pick up that aspect.

But he is VERY much aware of the entity being pulled apart and shifted every which way. And there is a part of him a bit concerned on whether or not the entity can feel anything. But upon it's reformation, the wise words of a Hannigan are spoken upon observing the large breed that now stands before him.

"Ooh."

Doggy.

Lucifer has posed:
Don't worry Nick. No shadow entities were harmed in the pulling apart and re-shaping them into something that might actually be helpful.

With Lucifer now here in the present, things might get a bit more...interesting. The image fades as the shadow-wolfhound jumps into...well...the shadows to disappear.. The bar fades away as does all the occupants and ideas now corrected.

The new scene that forms is from the moment Lucifer and Nathaniel went to go look at the castle property they purchased. Nothing seems out of the ordinary for this one. Everything is in it's place. Unless you look at the details. There are eyes in the windows. Especially of the parts of the castle not open to the public. They watch for a moment, then disappear. THe shadow-wolfhound jumps out of the shadowy edge and begins to sniff at the snow-covered ground (okay THAT may be out of place) and then begins to head in the direction of the non-public portion of the castle.

Sinister has posed:
Yes, Irish wolfhounds, great grey lollopy things of surprising smiles and savage teeth.

And this one hunting its compatriots is doing its job splendidly. The castle in winter has Sinister looking up at the sky with thoughtfulness, at the windows of the historic piece of stonework with narrowed regard.

"The Boleyns are in," he comments to Lucifer, for this particular castle once belonged to the OTHER Boleyn girl and her brother, spared the executioner's axe. But not a fate bound to this place, it seems.

"Maybe this was all practice...." he murmurs, reaching a hand up to the windows and the unoccupied wings of the medieval keep, pinching finger and thumb upon a parapet above and with a pull, bringing it to them. Or them to it, take your pick.

"There might be more aggressive surprises in here, depending on what got left behind." With a clear, commanding tone: "Hunter. Find."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
With the first puzzle of sorts done, Nick watches as a new scene appears. While the grounds look familiar, Nick isn't sure to the context of the memory. But he certainly knows that the castle was recently purchased and it hasn't snowed since then. "...Well the snow's an obvious one." Nick comments, watching as Sinister does the finger pinch method of extracting distant dreams giving the following eyes feeling to those who trek in.

Yes. It's a technique.

No he didn't just make it up.

Totaly a technique.

...Really!

Lucifer has posed:
The hound doing it's job sniffs around long enough and suddenly, from the shadows, another entity comes. It's a languid being, but identity of shadow creatures does not exist as it simply is an extension of the shadows themselves.

It comes with seemingly a vengeance at first until it notes the ones who are with Lucifer - as it would seem Lucifer was it's target - and then it sort of just...stops.

Violence isn't the game here. This is all a mental excercise.

<<You are not the one who came before...you look like them....but are...different....>> It speaks in a rasp, as shadows would, and then looks at the hound that continues to sniff at it, reaching a lithe limb down to stroke the hound on the head.

<<...Why do you come here?...>>

Sinister has posed:
Sinister raises one hand, no other grand reaction to the appeance of the shadow being than that, everything else about him calm, composed and indefatigably present. The limne of red energy around that limb that formed, snaps off with his open palm closing loosely into a fist. The limb is lowered and he regards the hound, the being and with a slide to the side... Lucifer.

"Hmmm. Curious," murmured, he looks to Nick, tilting his head a fraction. "Do you see this one any clearer than I do?" he inquires, looking back to the tableau.

"We're tidying up." It's a simple, but fundamentally accurate statement. "You would seem to be a sentinel."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
The movement was the first thing noticed. And with the general prospect of something approaching rapidly, Nick's posture shifts. Somewhat defensive and a quick glance to determine where the figure was heading. As the being stops, Nick stills.

To the posed question, Sinister answers first to which Nick contributes by giving a nod of confirmation. "Considering the response, I take it you too were not pleased with the other one poking around." Nick comments to the creature, head tilting.

Despite the entrance, he's not getting any sense of 'not belonging' with this one. "...I wouldn't take kindly to those popping in uninvited either. Fortunately, we were invited."

Lucifer has posed:
<<Good. He left behind a mess.>> The shadow speaks. There's no way to tell who it is referring to. As there are no features to give away where it is looking - if it's even looking at all. <<We tried. He was a foul one. We can only fix so much...It is up to the Main to correct everything.>>

"By Main, do you mean me? It took a moment to free me from whatever he had done..." Lucifer says this much and then he blinks. Then blinks again. "Did he have something with him? Why didn't I think of this before... that rotten little shit..."

<> It speaks. <<Find the Penthouse. From the last night he visited.>>

Sinister has posed:
Sinister arches an eyebrow. Very interesting indeed. Find the penthouse?

He clicks his tongue to the hound, proffering a biscuit that looks like it got formed of the reddish energy that Essex usually manipulates. He palms it to the figment, looking from it to the gentlemen within this mind of Lucifer's.

After the exchange has been given, both of mental treat and words with... his own Non-lights? "You had a thought. What thought did you have, because if there's something that was brought that we should know about, now's probably the time to share and care."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
From the night he came.

Well, considering the general context of the conversation, Nick can assume which event that was. Assuming that the remnant of Lucifer didn't have to specify beyond what was given.

Nick tilts his head, looking to Lucifer. "So he's only been to your penthouse once?" He asks.

That's so weird to him.

Even if siblings don't get along, one would assume they'd visit more than once if able at least.

Lucifer has posed:
"No. Michael's been over more than once. Penthouse, the Club, he's shown up a few times. He's even shown up for Nathaniel's sake rather than my own. I cannot be happy... not in his eyes. He wants me miserable... as if I should be consistently suffering because I'm a fallen angel turned devil." Lucifer laments a bit and then shrugs. "He might have had a Memory Talisman. I don't think Michael would have had the ability to do this on his own. So the fact that he was by himself when working his way through my memories and seeding doubt...that'd of been the thing to use to do it."

The hound takes the treat, ravishing it down before it goes nose to ground again. Then it hops into the shadows once more, on the hunt for another of his kind. Or something similar to this. Lucifer looks around a moment and then wiggles fingers to correct the few changes made here. "He won't come back again. I'll be sure of it. Michael will sorely pay for this as even this is a step too far..."

Sinister has posed:
"A memory talisman. Just when I think I have a relative adherance to the mystical principle, I have to try and work out how -that- one works. No doubt I'll explain it to myself," Nathaniel mutters that, with a grim smile. "Oh, I shall make sure that there's a surprise welcoming him if he ever does try such a dirty trick again -- he has -such- an enormous chip on his shoulder, doesn't he? And according to the writing on the wall, one day you and he are going to smack it down bigtime. I don't know who'd win at this point, all things considered."

Watching the hound lope off, there's a grumble from Sinister and raising both arms up, he explodes into a flurry of ravens, each heading off in a different direction, except for the one, which perches on Lucifer's shoulder and broods.

"Saves time," says the one remaining, in the exact same educated english tones. "There'll be stragglers. The main event though..." nibbling the hair at Lucifer's ear, the Sin-bird shifts talons to inch closer.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Okay, so at least there's still some sibling like behavior in this. "So, which time when he came do we need to go to?" Sure the hound will show them. But Nick's still kind of hung up on the partial information given by the Luciferemnant.

The talk of a memory talisman makes Nick consider another concern that got brought up. Nick looks over to Sinister. "Talisman...Do you think the guy you encountered in your dream had an equivalent of that?"

Lucifer has posed:
"It does precisely what you see the effects of. It has the power to change memory, manipulate it, block certain things from being remembered. For Michael...it was the thing he used in order to make sure I had doubts manifest strong enough to fuck with my very being." Lucifer explains. Loosely.

"I believe it's referring to the time Michael visited while you were at the penthouse, Nick. That's likely when he used some sort of trick to enter my mind when we weren't paying attention. Using an argument about you to distract enough." Further explaining this as he finds a Sin-Raven on his shoulder. One hand shifts to stroke fingers through the feathers while he lets the scene around them fade once more.

The Penthouse. Night of. The three of them discussing things. Michael showing up. Shadow beings, a few of them, trying to decipher truth from fiction. There are too many things here that are manipulated. Michael appears brighter, like HE is the Lightbringer, and Lucifer-memory is shrouded in darkness. The hound who led them here is hunkered down and growling. Ethereal voices surround, but it's not clear what they are saying. It's not the dark, meloncholy cacophony as from before. This is more the beings are trying to save what is there, preserve the truth of the memory. Darken Michael to brighten Lucifer.

"It won't be here. Likely Michael still has it. Which means I get to have a talk with someone who can enter Heaven and rip it from his person...."

Sinister has posed:
"I don't think so. The one that entered my head was skilled. He just wasn't as skilled as I am..." Sinister says blandly and matter of fact. "It didn't appear as if he had any device. But then again..." it could be possible. Feathers ruffle as they're stroked, the beaky snoot leaning against ear and cheek for a moment into the affection.

The tableau of chaos in the mind though, it causes the raven to have to look as it myopically, with a beak click.

Strangely, it's quite quiet!

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick squints at the misassignment of light levels. "...Of all the things he changes, that was his main concern?" Nick wonders aloud. He starts to look to the rest of it, seeing if there's any change to the positioning, attire, or possibly what was said. Or at least what he remembers of it. There has to be something different beyond the cosmetic, right?

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer is busy trying to see what else is out of context here so he can fix it, while also wondering if he needs to confront the memory of Michael. Though that likely doesn't make sense in his mind right now. He'll have Michael in memories where the brother visited, surely. So for now he's just trying to make sense of things and perhaps a part of his mind is trying to think of who to talk to from above.

But those with clever minds, and perhaps a tendency to see the shiny thing, might notice something hanging off of Michael's belt. It sparkles in an ethereal sort of way.

Sinister has posed:
"Nick," Sinister says the man's name very softly, but it carries. Distractions being what they are, nevertheless the bird's eye for the shinies wins a moment of clarity. Hopefully the Phantasm will follow the line of beak and black eyeballs.

There's also the helpfulness of a third recollection of the scene, superimposed transparently over the one that's here, by Sinister's mind. And because he's a man that is exceptional with the hyperfine details, the exact angle of the punch to the jaw is shown, the precise positioning of each individual in the tableau, even a jacket that was tossed over the back of the couch, all little additional things.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Hearing the nickname, Nick turns his head to look over to Sinibird. Watching the glance of the bird, he turns his head to look over to the shiny.

Ooh.

He doesn't recall Michael wearing THAT when he showed up.

Nick's contribution to the third recollection ends up being more a view of the back of Lucifer and Sinister's wings. Along with the crouching of Michael trying to look around Lucifer.

He does recall mentioning rather forgetting Michael's song rather than dealing with that behavior. But was the exchange still the same?

Lucifer has posed:
The item didn't show up in real time because Michael had already gotten into Lucifer's head. There's no telling when that happened but it's very likely that getting there and then being around for this point was the catalyst for Michael the Archangel to bring his plan into full motion. The fact that the talisman is still here means that when Michael was kicked out of Lucifer's mind the other night, he didn't take it with him. So it could be used for Michael to continue to fuck with Lucifer's head in the future.

Lucifer is trying to keep the memory as close to what really happened as possible, which means he's missing some of the changed details. The threat to Michael from Nick still exists, and Michael is still angry about it. As the memory continues to play out, it's coming up on the moment when Michael gets punched in the face.

Sinister has posed:
"I have a feeling the roles are going to be reversed here," Sinister observes, then leaps in a pin-winged dive toward the shiny on the belt of Michael's memory. At the lowest point of the dive, he flicks wings out, swooping up and banking right, making a snatch for the talisman with his talons.

....And winging it the heck out of there, if he missed. Memories have a habit of packing a punch if you mess with things too much.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick is admittedly surprised that Michael kept the exchange between them, albeit, the order in which it was said in relation to the face punch is a bit out of order. Perhaps to help justify Michael's reaction to the situation. Considering the situation had caused for a bit of a slow motion processing of the situation as it unraveled, Nick clearly recalls it was face punch, Lucifer wings out, Michael side step. Sin's wings out, THEN Nick trying to establish some boundaries.

"There is some stuff out of order." Nick agrees, watching as the bird goes for the talisman.

Lucifer has posed:
The talisman is snatched and easily pulled from Michael's belt.

But that doesn't make the get-away all that easy. While Sin-Raven makes an effort to wing away, a part of Michael separates from the memory, a shadow of the Archangel who looks around for the one who took his trinket. "Damn to the depths all of you! Why can't you let me win. Just ONCE!"

"Because this isn't winning, brother. Not that you care. But this...this is arrogance. Pride. Gluttony. You should find it in your heart to seek the forgiveness you need before Father finds out..."

He then looks to Nick. "There is, but as soon as that talisman is destroyed...it will be alright...wish I had thought of that sooner. Come on. We need to get out of here and join Sinister in the real world."

Sinister has posed:
You know, this was a long time coming. Multiple taunts and failures to actually connect. Spinning free, a swift right and a turn all the way about as Michael curses him, Sinister comes at the Archangel's face, beak a'cawing and wings a'flapping.

But at the very last second, Raven swells up, the black shadowy shapes of all the others he sent off to do the hunting work for the other anomalies racing back along neural pathways to crash into him. By the time his talons connect or would connect, they're mid-way between avian and human, gaining boots and biosteel toes, the wings have got a lot larger and the backwing adds extra momentum to the "BOOT TO THE FACE!"

Yes, he actually yelled that. Then he kicks off the far wall with his momentum and races back, gaining inhuman speed as he dives out of this memory and presumably, to the real world.

Leastwise, the Sin that's sitting in the puffy chair breaks out into a broad grin, complete with dimples. Oh yes, that was satisfying.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"Despite appearances, you don't really WIN by cheating." Nick responds to the complaining Michael, with a bit of a disappointed look upon his face. Remnant or not, it feels like it needs to be said. "Any perceived victory will just come off as cheap as the plays you made to get there."

Seeing the booted bird bap the brother of the bird's beau bringing the bounty of a bespelled bauble, Nick bobs his head back. The suggestion to leave posed by Lucifer gets a nod. "Alright."

Falling back, he finds himself falling out of the memory as well. Similar to dreams or not, Nick's certain Sinister helped with the exit.

Lucifer has posed:
"Damn you back to the depths, Samael!" Michael yells just after getting a boot to the face from the Raven-Sinister bird-man combo.

"At this rate I may see you there!" Lucifer comments before he, too, jumps out of the dream world and in the real world is wide-eyed and then laughing. "Boot to the face. Good one, my love..."

Once the dream world completely fades away and Lucifer has seemed to collect himself a bit more, he stands and moves over to Nathaniel, holding his hand out. "The talisman, my dearest? We shall rid this world of it post-haste..."

It could include stomping the ever living shit out of it. It could include burning it with hellfire. It may include both things, and allowing Nick to have a go at it as well until it is naught but dust and mire.

Think Office Space, but with a holy talisman rather than an office machine.

Sinister has posed:
Sinister doffs a bow over his hand, rolling forth in the chair. "I could not resist. It might not have been the real thing, but I will never forgive him for pretending to be you."

And lo, the destruction of talisman is watched with that grin still in place, getting more and more wry by the moment as the montage of banging, bashing, conflagration, stomping, dropping in coffee, hitting with an umbrella, playing hockey with, bathing in a vat of office bleach and generally venting the frustrations on a mystical doohicky.

"How doth thy head feel, oh glorious lord of damnation?"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick doesn't partake in the laughing but simply smiles to resolving the issue that was going on. But as Nick's turn with the talisman is given with the express intent of cease it's functionality, he doesn't turn down the opportunity. Considering matters, this seemed like as good a chance to try something. And an appropriate target is present. Quietly he sets the battered talisman on the counter and holds a hand over it.

Eyes closing, he takes a breath.

\'Sometimes things made in goodwill
Experience times of pure ill.
With the ticking of the clock
In a poor loop we find it locked.

We understand that all things must end
And with this you lend a helping hand.
Let this action spun anew,
Complete its course, moments few.

With your blade we ask you to cut
This item out of its neverending rut.
Of its ending we need to tell,
With your help, Azrael.'\</span\>

Considering the topic matter, one might expect a dreary display but, there are hints of a prism of light escaping from the sides of the downwards facing hand. If it's any consolation for the talisman, it is likely treated to a beautiful show before there is the sound of something cracking.

When the light dies away, Nick lowers his hands upon the remains of the object.

Lucifer has posed:
At least Lucifer was able to let out most of his frustration before Nick picked up the trinket and performed a song over it. Though when he hears the name being beckoned within the song, he smiles a little. "Azrael will be pleased with that, no doubt..." He offers this up and then shifts to plop down into the chair next to Nathaniel. A glance over to the man before he takes a little breath.

"Honestly. A lot better. The mind is slowly clearing...I can almost feel the shadows lifting one by one...it may take the night to clear them all...but they're clearing out none the less." He looks between the both of them. "Thank you. Both of you."

Sinister has posed:
"You are welcome, my dearest," Sinister says the words quietly, as he accomodates the devil in his lap, as these poofy chairs are really not designed as love-seats. Arms enfold and he leans himself back, face protracted and casting the ruby glow down the sides of his nose and along his cheek as he gazes down toward the fire.

"You took me to heart again, Nick. That's twice now... thank -you-." For listening.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick lifts his hand from the talisman, not quite to look at it but, someone DID bathe the thing in some pretty strong bleach. He's not keeping his hand near that much chemical for long.

Ok, maybe he looks a little. Best to know what it is you're doing. Hearing the comments, Nick smiles slightly. "I hope they do like it." He looks to Sinister, "And I appreciate the suggestion. Probably one of the more challenging suggestions."

He looks to the trinket's pieces, "If it worked on this, do you think it could work on the feather if needed?"

Lucifer has posed:
"What about the feather? Which feather? Who's feather?" Lucifer is a bit confused. Since things are still a little muddled but slowly becoming clearer. It's also a possibility that he's unaware of certain feather-type things. Uriel's was used to power a battery. His own just heal people. There's no need to protect people or Angels against all of that.

Aside. However. Lucifer settles in the lap of his lover and just curls there a moment, letting the events from the last several days sort of ebb and flow their way out of his mind. "Contemplating eyelids may be a bit interesting this evening..."

Sinister has posed:
"Azrael is very kind. She should," death is a woman? She definitely is female, is the Last Kindness. Sin might be watching what's going on with Nick and the talisman, his gaze is hard to pin point without subtle eyelid clues. "Creativity is the daughter of innovation and the bane of a challenge, I'm still thanking you."

Pause.

"And it might, at that. There might be an upper limit on how powerful the intial force is, directly correlated to the cost. I think it's probably a very-sparingly kind of song."

And to the last and the snuggles, the man buries his face between shoulderblades, where wings would be and inhale-exhales. No reply, but sometimes actions speak louder than words, ne?

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
"Very sparingly." Nick agrees, giving a tired smile. There's a lingering pause. He'd taken his time with this one. Mulled over the various phrases and potential implications. He can't deny that Azrael deserves a song. Probably one of the hardest gigs to be assigned. But the very reason why they're deserving is also why he had to be careful with the lyrics. To craft it to where it couldn't be turned against people...or angels for that matter. Objects? Spells? Those seem fair enough.

Nick looks to the couple, picking up on the tired, comfortable looks and makes his own decision. "And on the general theme of things coming to an end." He states, getting up and away from the bar, "This night has reached one as well. And so, I wish you two good night." He starts to step towards the elevator before he spins on his feet, facing them as he backs to the button, "And sweet dreams."

15745/Alright, Nathaniel, Let's Talk

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