Owner	Pose
Sinister	Relax, they said. Put your feet up, they said. Unwind, they said. You've achieved the undoing of things, you deserve to kick back for a while and enjoy life. All of this is actually pretty damn accurate, except that it takes no genius and only a cursory understanding of how a particular mind works, to be able to tell that there's a bee in Sinister's bonnet. The first night, all was good, but then dawn breaks and he was up with the crack of dawn, making a light breakfast to enjoy with Lucifer, along with his own experiment with coffee with a touch of chickory to it. And then came a day of looking over the papers, looking over notes, looking over inventory, getting frustrated and remote viewing security cameras, none of which showed him very much. Because if HE was going to steal from himself, he'd make sure HE covered his tracks really cleverly. So by the late afternoon, when fat flakes are painting new york city with a patina of clean, he's pacing about the penthouse like a caged tiger. Ironically, he also turned the TV on which is in the background, playing David Attenborough as he narrates life on the serengeti.
Lucifer	Breakfast was lovely, and the coffee experiment was well received. Likely one to add to the list of flavours they serve downstairs. He uses his customer base as guinea pigs to see if there is a market for each flavour type. While Sinister takes time to look over papers and data and runs himself into the ground - Lucifer is not keen on this for a time as he has to go and do his own thing with his business. Making sure all his own little ducks have stayed in a row while he was gone. Queue him coming back upstairs in the late afternoon to find Sinister pacing a path through the Penthouse. He takes in the background noise of the television, the crackling of the fireplace and then looks to Nathaniel himself. Perhaps trying to pin any emotional or mental distress the man might have worked himself into. "I'm going to have to call someone to re-do the floors to make up for that path you're making.." He attempts to joke as he sheds his coat and then walks in further. "What's on your mind?"
Sinister	Sinister stops in his tracks, looks down at the floor where the metaphor might have had some actual traction and snort-laughs softly. He also looks at the state of daylight that's fading down into oncoming dark, before looking over to Lucifer with his mouth pulling contortions as words fight for what ought to come out first. He schools his expression though, taking a moment to center himself and close his eyes, before offering "Good afternoon, love. Everything in order?" A glance to the TV has it switching channels to some gameshow which he stares at as if trying to figure out the point of it all. Another look, this time more squarely placed on the devil and he glides on over in order to greet with a proper one-two kiss and a touch to the elbow. "I reckon you could probably guess, but I don't like puzzles with missing pieces and no box art as a frame of reference. The more I think on it, the more I feel I'm going to have to go deep to extrapolate just how the bastard pulled it off. Also, I may have to terminate a good deal of my livestock."
Lucifer	Lucifer raises a brow at that greeting. There's a bit of emotion somewhere behind it but it also feels a little...mechanical. Still, he knows that when Nathaniel's mind is going places there's a bit that sort of pushes away the emotional so he can logically explain happenings. So it's thought on and then forgotten. The kiss of greeting is surely returned, and that touch to his elbow brings him to smile. Then he listens, and he nods his head with a frown taking over after. "You think this might have been the work of several, and just implemented by the one?" He asks, carefully, and then shakes his head. "I know you don't like puzzles, especially ones that have no rhyme or reason. Last resort is always to go and see if he'll talk...but if he's stubborn as you that may be difficult.."
Sinister	Sinister actively laughs again at that last statement. It's a way to puncture the tight tension he's gotten himself to, for sure and certain and seems appreciated as he shakes his head, stepping in for a far more meaningful and squeezable hug. "I don't know. That's the fundamental issue with this, is I have no idea at all, if it was one or many. That in and of itself, to me, is disturbing my calm. That's the problem with being hell-bent on keeping control over your grand design, I suppose." He looks over those devilish features though, eyes altering shape a little with the focus of where he's looking, then to smile and give a tender kiss. "Well. I'm sure we can figure out how deep this rabbit hole goes, no?"
Lucifer	Smiles again as he hears that laugh and watches as some of the tension drains away from Nathaniel. That is always a good sign. That hug is returned, the man squeezing a bit tightly, before he pulls back and listens further to what Nathaniel has to say. "So is it that unknown factor leading you to believe you need to...shed some weight...so to speak." Then he considers. "Could it have been someone from that tower of free thinking Sinisters?" Then he sees that smile and returns that newly given tender kiss. "Mmn. I'm sure we can figure out the depth of it, if we want to. This is your deal, my love. However you wish to handle it, I am with you."
Sinister	"Bar Sinister, you mean? It's possible. There are so many faces of me, they are all Sinister. That loop does -tend- to be self-contained though. But yes, the unknown factor makes me wonder if an entire batch is tainted, perverted from the blueprint, so to speak. Really, I need a tissue sample from him, to find out which batch he was grown in. You can tell by the isotope markers in bones, where they originated Geographically, which will tell me more." Breaking the full-on hug to adopt a side hold, Sin walks himself and Lucifer to the couch, looking at the TV to switch it to an old movie. It just so happens to be a Hitchcock Film Noire. The presence of Cigarettes becomes obvious in the next motion, as he settles and gives Lucifer undivided attention. "He's been down there a while. What have you been... having done to him?"
Lucifer	"Nothing. We caught him in that state of ripping apart and coming back together again. That's how he's remained this entire time. Just stuck in a time loop, that particular time loop." Lucifer offers after being led to the couch and sat down. A Hitchcock movie turned on and cuddling with his love. Cigarettes are obtained, so he brings over the cognac...only this is the bottle they were gifted from John. "A tissue sample wouldn't be hard to get...you want me to just cut off an ear or something? I can add that into the time loop too you know...."
Sinister	"Cut off a hand, or a finger. Or a toe. Bone carries the markers, there's almost nothing that can be done about that, even my bones have isotopic hallmarks." He dwells a moment on the fate of his clone, knowledge creeping in at the edges of his demeanor. "You may have to get a little more creative with him, I'm afraid. I feel no pain, unless I choose to -- you may have set him to being bored to tears, though. Or you may have given him plenty of time to think about how he could possibly wrangle his way out of there. That, though, may be folly." The bottle is considered and smiled upon. He opens the mixer fridge and floats over an ice-cold 7-up and a couple of slices of lime.
Lucifer	"I'd like to see him try to wrangle out of there..." Lucifer offers, his expression and tone a bit dark suddenly. "So safe to assume that if one clone dies, none really feel it or anything? There's no sudden loss to the hive or something like that?" Asking this for a reason, he is, because if the trapped Sinister tries anything, Lucifer may very well kill him. "Still, I'll get you bone." As Nathaniel floats over mixers and such, he seems to think, and almost seems like he's itching to go do that real quick. Like running a short errand. But he doesn't move. "Shall we order in?"
Sinister	Sinister's eyes close. Every so often, he sheds what he became and resumes what he was once, which happens now. There are tiny details, details that could only really be known to the one that they originally belonged to, which don't make it to every clone; the marks of a life lived, how the crow's feet are shaped, the depth of lines about labial folds, a little fade of a scar on his chin. And those blue-grey eyes, which look sidelong to Lucifer thereafter. "The only one that knows when one of them is gone, is me. And that depends on if I have dilated my power out to them, to keep a connection. Hive minds occur because I set them to occur, usually. Occasionally, I will have a hook in one of their minds and the rest will amalgamate." He explains, watching the darkness on Lucifer's face, accutely. "Also, he's in hell. I don't think I can reach him there. I can just about tell when you're there, certainly can when you're not. So. If things happen in Hell, they'll remain there." A pause, for thought. "I'm not particularly hungry, but I could nibble on something. Did you have anything in mind?"
Lucifer	Lucifer watches as Nathaniel changes, all those subtle things that show who he truly is beneath all the genetic mutations. Lucifer turns more to face him, lifting a hand to cup Nathaniel's cheek and perhaps even try to turn that face so he can better look upon it. "...You're quite handsome..." He offers this at least and then listens to the explanation given which has him giving a nod of his head. "Alright then. I will keep that in mind." He doesn't really want to kill the...okay he can't even finish that thought because he very much does want to kill the clone. "Well if you're not hungry, I'm not really either. Can just order some nibblers from Lux..." He offers this much as well. "Or just enjoy a drink, a smoke, and each others company.."
Sinister	Nathaniel doesn't fight the turning of his face, eyes roaming about as they do when he's memorizing. There's a smile for the quasi compliment. "Thank you. You're very handsome, so I feel I got the better end of the stick there..." in british humour, he quirks his lips to the side, the dimple showing. Of course, destroying the pretender means that there isn't a false face out there, making mockery of all that he feels. "You know, a few of those bratwurst cut into pieces and shoved onto cocktail sticks would work. With cheese cubes and a side of calamari. Bar food tends to end up fatty, out of necessity." He bows his head though, reaching to Lucifer's left hand to fiddle with Lilith's ring and the serpent and raven-egg that sits on the ring finger and curls behind that lustrous black signet. "I was in my early thirties when I gave in. Sometimes, I feel peculiarly drawn to compare how poorly we used to age. THis centuries obsession with youth has become quite profound. I after all, look closer to forty, compared to those that were of the same age I used to be."
Lucifer	Lucifer nods his head at Nathaniel's request for some finger foods, trusting that someone will send them up to the penthouse once they're ready. He smiles as his rings are played with, touched upon, and listens to what Nathaniel has to say. "I suppose I never take it into account. The aging of man. People are born, some grow old and die, others grow older without death. You're right though. They have turned looking young and beautiful into a game...and not everyone can play." He pauses then, considering. "I don't know where I was going with that thought. Lost the end of it..." Saying this last bit with a chuckle.
Sinister	"In the end, part of that game is decided before they even roll the dice. Ninety percent, if not more, is genetics." Nathaniel grins, a contagious expression. He considers, eyes closing, then shakes his head and hair out, jostles his shoulders and all the lines are tightened up, passing quite easily for a man in his twenties, fresh of face, taut of skin. "Even that, was genetics." He chuckles, looking askance to the floor. "All the young things, they flock to your light, flitter within it like moths. I watched you within the crowd on several occasions and marvelled -- you are the epitome of a gracious host, which I cannot say the same for myself. But I also ended up gloating sometimes and pitying other times, that all the plumage, the mating displays, the flirting and the face offs were irrelevent. Or maybe the word is irreverent. I'm not always sure."
Lucifer	Lucifer chuckles a little and nods his head. "Well you have really good genes... I like them anyway." He offers this with a smirk and then grabs two cigarettes to light up, offering one to Nathaniel. "Well I try. Though I sometimes do wonder if they all just act a certain way around me because I am me." There's a shrug however and a lean in to kiss lips and then a cheek. Soon the food ordered arrives and all is set up for the lovers to take the evening and relax with food, drink, a movie and each other.
Sinister	"It is because it's you. But also not because it's you. The vast majority are flies to the honey of power and money, not to what you are. But, for all of that, occasionally you get lucky. Someone's here for who you are, instead." That with a wink into that kiss, where nibbles of bar food can compliment a movie. Let there be disturbia on the morrow.