Owner	Pose
Askante	It was eventually going to happen, that Askante discovered repositories of knowledge. And frankly, though it -can- read, touchy feely things are far more up its alley at its current state of intellectual growth. Not an idiot by any stretch, it has nevertheless spent eons learning by observing in a physical sense, being taught here and there when someone took the time, or practicing something until it got the hang of it. And so, the museum of natural history, when it realized what it was... it's been back here ever day for a week, if not more. Nobody pays it any mind, because of its natural Eye of the Beholder power. It is currently walking through the Human Body from the inside, sitting in a chamber that emmulates the heartbeat, where red blood cells on a projector flow through the video on the ceiling and walls, as if INSIDE the heart. It seems incredibly content, though school kids mill and the occasional small child sees it exactly as it is. You can tell, by the fact that the lack of filter that the child possesses has it wide-eyed and trying to tug on parental sleeves, to the tune of "...Leave the man/woman/oldfella/kid alone." Boogiemen, even calmly contented ones, don't exist.
Lucifer	It doesn't take Lucifer long to figure out where Askante is. Not that he has a bead on it or anything - though he just might - but when feeling for it, he simply knows. Since it's business hours for the museum, he's not just going to pop into the middle of the heart where everyone can see him simply appear, but he walks in through the front door. His attire is jeans and a tee shirt, very casual, and he's simply welcomed in - no admission needed for the Devil apparently. Walking through, following the 'scent' as it were, which leads him to the over sized human body. He smiles as he sidles up next to Askante, chewing on a piece of gum in a way that mimics the heart pumping blood through it. "Fascinating isn't it? And to think. The moment that one muscle stops working...it's the end for the mortal that encases it." He offers casually and then side-eyes it. "How have you been?"
Askante	Askante exhales, smiling. It looks very different when it smiles peacefully. For an alien lookin' critter, it's quite aesthetically pleasing in a Geigeresque androgenous way. It looks up at the opening and closing of the tricuspid valve, then after a few moments of gazing with black eyes, looks at Lucifer Morningstar. "I can be Ice, I can be Stone, I can be Strong, I can be Known, but my true nature is to be lost, to be found and to follow blind, my taste of bitterness and honey." It gestures around the video walls, settles both sets of hands in its lap and give a contented purr sound. "I found this place last week and I've been here every day since. In here, all I feel is wonder and occasionally bordom, it's amazing. They've discovered so very much and compiled it in so many ways. How did I miss all of this?"
Lucifer	"I do not know. Places like this didn't really exist until they were deemed necessary. Used for people to learn." Lucifer offers and then shrugs. "You came back to a very different world. Still learning about it all. I am not surprised you finally found a place like this.." Then he smiles, softly, and looks around the heart again. "So I have a bit of news, and a gift, for you. We can talk about it here, or walk around and talk or...however you prefer." He offers this and then shrugs. "There's an amazing view of the stars if you go to the planetarium which is somewhere in this museum..." This and then, "So. News or present first?"
Askante	Askante gets up slowly, unfurling itself really. The stiff, battered old duster adjusts as it does, looking about one last time. "I heard that they put the stars of the sky on a dome in here somewhere but... I wanted to look at the brain and watch the neurons firing, but I got distracted by the heartbeat. I don't know why I find it comforting, but I do. Neither you, nor I, were ever carried in a mother's womb." It reaches out, touches Lucifer's nearest elbow, then points onward through the Human Body experience. "And the guts, which is where I was yesterday, make the most surreal sounds. It's all so squishy." But as they walk, the electric pulses of nerve endings simulated in the information banks, it tucks all its hands in the small of its back, looking attentive in the way that the devil often does. "Business should always be done before pleasure, I learned that a long time ago. What news do you have that you want to share?"
Lucifer	"Oh we can go to the brain if you haven't been and want to experience it." Lucifer offers as it unfurls itself to be able to move. "Probably just the dull sound of white noise, it can be comforting to many a person, I find. Though others can find it...bothersome." He offers as he feels that touch to his elbow and smiles. "Business before pleasure. I appreciate that. So..." He walks in time with Askante to remain by it's side as they move and talk. "I haven't been able to find much about most of your...we'll call them kin. Though I do have a few ideas on trying to find them still and am working on that. However.." He begins. "I happen to be the owner and keeper of Pandora's Box. It was bequeathed to me as payment for a favour I did to the person who kept it previously...after it was opened...and what I didn't know until a few days ago...they had apparently been charged with returning everything to the box." He explains this much and then, "However, Hope...still remains. As Hope always has. I had a chat with Hope...having opened the box to see just what would happen because - well - it was a guess that perhaps they knew of you or your kin. Anyway... the news is that. I have Hope, in a box, in my penthouse. They are apparently quite lonely - which was something else I never knew - and have extended an invitation to you to come talk. If you wish."
Askante	Askante listens. First to the white noise of the soft crackle of brain, but it is mostly a silent thing, a light-show of electrical impulse at least until you get to the eyeballs, ears and nose. It's an immersive experience, dontchaknow. But then, it's listening intently to Lucifer. A nictating membrane comes to partially narrow over its black eyes as the devil speaks, its spines raising on its head and making it even taller, but then it relaxes and seems to deflate a little bit, hunching in the way it does when trying not to be seven foot tall. Which is most of the time. "I apologise about that. It somehow does not surprise me that Hope was trapped by magicians in the past. They have... they have trapped me once or twice. But it is good to know that Hope still lives. Very good!" It even sounds excited at that prospect. "I would like to talk to it. It was always a frail little thing, but resilient, despite that. I haven't seen it in so long. Can I see it?"
Lucifer	Lucifer shakes his head. "You do not need to apologize, my friend. You did not know, and I really have my partner to thank for even reminding me I had the box. Which is what led to the aforementioned story." A soft chuckle then as he listens to Askante speak, and even get excited. Happy perhaps? This causes Lucifer to smile, and perhaps relax a little. "It wanted me to ensure that it would be safe if it came out of the box. I think it is scared to come out, like it's comfortable within? And I don't know if I can put it back if it becomes too dangerous." He explains, and paraphrases the conversation that was had. "Perhaps if you were there, it would be more encouraged to come out..." A pause. "But, yes. By all means. You can certainly come to the penthouse with me and visit it. You could meet Nathaniel too."
Askante	Askante tilts its head a bit. "Strange that your partner is so named. It seems almost ironic, to me. After all in old hebrew it means Gift of God." There's a musical little giggle there and it nods afterwards. "I would like that. I will come in the morning. Hope always liked the first light of morning, it put great stock in there being promise in every day." Though it does come to a realization then. "Maybe I should investigate the magi. See if any of them are guilty of enslaving any of my other bretheren. Though I do not know what I'd do if I found out..." and tangent aside, it brings palms together and bows over those clasped hands. "Thank you. You have brought me good news! I do not know that you can give me a greater gift than that!"
Lucifer	"I think it will like that, and you will be surely welcomed. Actually, if you want, why don't you come tonight and that way you can surely greet it with the break of day and a conversation?" Lucifer offers this much more, smiling broader as it seems this has given Askante a bit of pep in it's otherwise sort of...melancholy existance? "Well, it may not be a greater gift at this point, but I was looking for books to give you, as promised. Nathaniel chimed in with the idea of giving you a set of the Encyclopedia Britannica, but the junior edition. It has pictures and...easier to follow paragraphs explaining things. We think you'll learn much from it, and as you continue to learn you can expand your resources. If that makes sense." He smirks. "I guess in some ways I'm giving you the gift of reuniting with family - of sorts - and education. Which is the least I can do for a friend such as you."
Askante	"Tonight?" It looks thoughtful at that suggestion, then nods. "I do not think I will be missed in my nest. SOmetimes, I think there's a rat that likes my company, sometimes it curls up in my coat and eats my peanuts and hotdogs. Maybe I shall get it a little harness, like I see humans putting on tiny dogs. But it won't miss me for an evening!" It grins, then again, bows over its clasped palms. "Do I need to worry over your partner? Or will he understand?" And then the next great wonder of the night is revealed. "You are giving me books??" Even though such things are far easier to come by in this day and age, back in the wild west, books were still a rarity and that... well! You had better believe that the Daemon will read the entire encyclopedia collection from cover to cover, because nobody will have told it that it isn't supposed to. "Education is the greatest of gifts. You are as ever, a gracious Host."
Lucifer	"He'll understand. I promise. He knows of you, and I am sure he was expecting something like this." Not to mention, Lucifer is likely keeping Nathaniel in the loop via their telepathic connection. No surprises between them, surely! "A little rat as a pet? I think that suits you..." This offered to Askante and he motions. "There's a lot of corners you can just curl up in and I'll even let you hold the box so you can have the chat at first light." "Yes. A whole set. So it's perfect that you're coming to the penthouse cause they're there...it's a lot of books..." He chuckles then. "It is good to see you all happy and excited. It's a good look on you."
Askante	"I am sure it will happen more often. New world, everyone that I knew before... well." It shrugs, because that's the nature of mortals. "I am just not quite there yet and ... I think I'm just about getting the hang of the paranoias." It glances about at a few people heading through the brain to the less dull sensory organs. "Maybe the rat can help. I see people with their little dogs in the parks all the time and people talk..." One day it will be LESS weird. Assimilation into the sponge takes time and much wringing to refill with knowledge. It proffers its hand then, held out to Lucifer. Yes, the devil can teleport, but it walks the worlds. It's a toss up which way that will go.
Lucifer	Lucifer nods slowly. "Slow steps. You'll speak with Hope tomorrow. We'll investigate the magi. Hopefully some more good will come out of that in the long run." Lucifer says this much, trying to be optimistic and such. "I've seen people walking with all sorts of pets. If you decide to do that it will be fine. Though it might gain you unwanted attention as well." He then takes the offered hand and - after a quick glance around - he deems it safe enough to teleport them. A step, another, then a quick envelope of black and the step after will have them within the penthouse. Lucifer will give introductions, offer Pandora's Box and then likely holds conversations and such for a while before contemplating eyelids with Nathaniel.