Post by Bene Elohim on Feb 8, 2024 13:55:15 GMT -8
The beautiful Malibu home of Xaria Linette was a flurry of activity as everyone moved to gather once again in the War Room Lucifer had built. The large room with the beautiful mahogany table lined with chairs and a map of the United States unfolded on the table top. The Children, their Harbinger, and their God all sat around the table as Ashley Kenyon and Aerynn Maguire filled them in on the events of the P.D.
Even though one of their number was anything but happy. The blue-haired Maiko Adachi sat back in her chair with her arms crossed over her chest and her eyes narrowed on the table in front of her. Not only had he betrayed Pool, but he had failed her God utterly. Neither Maiko nor Asmodeus were fond of their new guest.
Finally, it came time to actually introduce the newest guest to those here who may not actually know him. Christoph Christen had to duck his head as he crossed the threshold to keep from smacking his big bald head on the door frame. Once inside the room, he rose up to his full seven-foot-one height and watched the room a bit tentatively.
Lucifer leaned back in his chair and opened his hand toward the door, causing all eyes to shift to the doorway and the hulking figure standing just inside it. Maiko’s arms uncrossed and her hand dropped to the table, grabbing the grip of a small survival knife sitting in front of her. It twirled around in her palm until the blade pointed in and she began to rise.
Ashley was quick to bring her open hand down on Maiko’s forearm, preventing her from rising from the table. She looked over at the blue-haired woman and shook her head. Maiko growled unhappily and released the blade with a clatter before settling back into her seat.
Lucifer watched the exchange with a little smirk before lifting his gaze back up to Cronos.
Lucifer: “Many of you know him, but for those of you who do not? This is Cronos.”
Zachary Sears stared at the huge hulking figure in complete shock, while Xaria blinked, unable to process what she was seeing. It was one thing to see tapes of someone, but to be in their actual physical presence was quite another.
It was Aerynn, however, that broke the silence.
Aerynn Maguire: “We all saw whot happened t’him in th’ war games! Whot makes ye tink he would bae even remotely resourceful?!”
Lucifer turned his attention from Aerynn to Cronos again and opened his hand, telling him to go ahead. The big man began across the room to the wall behind Lucifer and the rows of televisions that sat on it. While waiting for him to show them all what Lucifer already knew, he spoke to his Children.
Lucifer: “War Games was different. A unique situation that I mistakenly thought Cronos could be something he’s not. Cronos is not a wrestler. He’s not someone meant to step foot in a wrestling ring…”
Behind him, the televisions all flared to life, each one of the six screens showing a different scene of men punching Cronos in brawls or underground fights and barely moving the behemoth of a man. Others kicking into his chest and finding no give to the point they were thrown backwards. Another who tried to kick him, but with a single swing of his arm, Cronos took their leg out from under them. Another where Cronos literally power bombed someone with such force, blood erupts from their mouth.
Lucifer lifted a hand above him, motioning to the scenes playing out on the televisions behind him without ever turning.
Lucifer: “That is why he’s valuable. Sathanas is unlike anything we have ever faced before. We need to stop fighting him like we would fight anyone else and fight him as he needs to be fought.”
Ashley Kenyon: “Does that mean you’re finally going to approve live fire?”
Lucifer drew in a deep breath and shook his head softly, much to Ashley’s annoyance.
Lucifer: “Look, I know you wanna do it that way, Ashley. It’s the Arsenal way, but there is too high a risk of collateral damage.”
Ashley slammed her hand down on the table in anger.
Ashley Kenyon: “How much more collateral damage do you need?! What’s the toll at now, Lucifer? Two dozen? Three? Plus Twoey and what those pieces of filth did to her?! The collateral damage is stacking up all around you!”
Xaria looked over, slowly locking eyes with Ashley. When she spoke, her voice was low, dangerous and threatening.
Xaria Linette: “Watch how you speak to God.”
Aerynn Maguire: “She’s bae spaekin’ th’ truth!”
Zachary Sears: “She’s being an insubordinate is what she’s doing.”
Maiko’s head snapped around and locked those cold eyes on Zachary, her lips pulling back into a feral snarl as the Demon reared her head.
Maiko: “DO NOT SPEAK OF HER THAT WAY, DESPOILER!”
Lucifer could see the fractures beginning. No formation of his Children had ever been under this much pressure before. They’ve never had the fight taken to them in a manner like this before, but it wasn’t Lucifer who acted.
Beside him, Sariel’s body tensed up. On each side of the woman, the Twins slammed their fists into the table with such force the table shook and the group stopped bickering. They soon turned their eyes to the three.
Sariel: “We will win this war together, not separated. We need each other. Every one of us.”
Ananiel: “The Storm Bringer…”
Ramiel: “...Speaks true…”
Ananiel: “...We need each other now…”
Both: “...More than ever.”
Sariel: “If Lucifer thinks that Cronos is the answer? Then we will back him without question and without hesitation. That is what we do. We are his Angels.”
Zach took a deep breath and gave the smallest nod.
Zachary Sears: “She’s right. Ve all knew vhat ve were signing up for vhen ve all agreed to stay und fight Valdemar und Anthony. Ve all knew it vasn’t going to be easy.”
Ashley and Aerynn gave each other and Maiko a quick look before nodding, albeit begrudgingly. Lucifer gave Sariel a faint little nod and the Storm Bringer bowed her head in reverence.
Lucifer: “All of you leave us… except for Cronos and my Harbinger.”
One by one, they all rose from their chairs and filed out of the room. Cronos took a seat in the chair Sariel had just been sitting in after Lucifer offered it to him. Xaria looked on quietly, curious yet studious. The Children’s God removed the glasses from his face and set them on the table before turning to regard Cronos.
Lucifer: “Can you do it?”
Cronos: “...The Storm Bringer couldn’t do it, Lucifer. I doubt I can either, but I have a more pressing question. Why should I?”
Lucifer had expected this question and his lips curled into a small smile.
Lucifer: “I’ll overturn your exile, Christoph. You can come back to the Children... and to add a cherry on top? I’ll double what you were paid to watch Arsenal.”
Cronos’s eyes went wide as he leaned forward to whisper.
Cronos: “T...Two million? For this one guy?”
Lucifer smiled again and gave the smallest little nod.
Lucifer: “Upon confirmation of his death.”
Xaria sat back in horror, listening as Lucifer put out what amounted to a hit on his first Child of Nephilim. The first person Lucifer ever cared about.
Xaria Linnette: “This… is why winning the HYBRID Grand Title and the Duality Tag Titles was so important. Three huge bonus checks to pay for this…”
Lucifer glanced over and gave only the smallest of nods to give confirmation that this had always been his plan. Xaria bit her lip but said nothing, while Lucifer looked back at Cronos.
Lucifer: “Well?”
Cronos: “...Uh...Yeah. Consider it done.”
Xaria continued to say nothing, sitting in stunned silence. Before anyone else could say anything, the doors flew open and Maiko and Zachary came running into the room. The two stared at Lucifer, breathless from the run before spitting out.
Maiko: “She did it! Maya did it!”
Zachary Sears: “She’s being taken to Sathanas’s home tonight!”
Lucifer surged from his chair and pointed from Cronos to the door. The huge hulking behemoth rose without a word and moved to join the two near the end of the table.
Lucifer: “Take everyone and I mean everyone. Watchers. Demons. Angels. Everyone. We end this tonight!”
Cronos, Maiko, & Zach: “Yes Sire.”
Rising from her seat, the Harbinger reached over and took Lucifer’s hand in hers. She looked into his eyes and took a deep breath.
Xaria Linette: “What about the kids, my Lord…? I can’t leave them here alone…”
Lucifer: “You and I are staying here. We need people manning the home in case this goes wrong.”
Xaria Linette: “Oui, mon Seigneur…”
As a devotee, she bowed her head. As someone dear, she leaned in and kissed Lucifer. There was a part of her that was terrified, but she had to be brave. If not for herself, then for her children.
Even though one of their number was anything but happy. The blue-haired Maiko Adachi sat back in her chair with her arms crossed over her chest and her eyes narrowed on the table in front of her. Not only had he betrayed Pool, but he had failed her God utterly. Neither Maiko nor Asmodeus were fond of their new guest.
Finally, it came time to actually introduce the newest guest to those here who may not actually know him. Christoph Christen had to duck his head as he crossed the threshold to keep from smacking his big bald head on the door frame. Once inside the room, he rose up to his full seven-foot-one height and watched the room a bit tentatively.
Lucifer leaned back in his chair and opened his hand toward the door, causing all eyes to shift to the doorway and the hulking figure standing just inside it. Maiko’s arms uncrossed and her hand dropped to the table, grabbing the grip of a small survival knife sitting in front of her. It twirled around in her palm until the blade pointed in and she began to rise.
Ashley was quick to bring her open hand down on Maiko’s forearm, preventing her from rising from the table. She looked over at the blue-haired woman and shook her head. Maiko growled unhappily and released the blade with a clatter before settling back into her seat.
Lucifer watched the exchange with a little smirk before lifting his gaze back up to Cronos.
Lucifer: “Many of you know him, but for those of you who do not? This is Cronos.”
Zachary Sears stared at the huge hulking figure in complete shock, while Xaria blinked, unable to process what she was seeing. It was one thing to see tapes of someone, but to be in their actual physical presence was quite another.
It was Aerynn, however, that broke the silence.
Aerynn Maguire: “We all saw whot happened t’him in th’ war games! Whot makes ye tink he would bae even remotely resourceful?!”
Lucifer turned his attention from Aerynn to Cronos again and opened his hand, telling him to go ahead. The big man began across the room to the wall behind Lucifer and the rows of televisions that sat on it. While waiting for him to show them all what Lucifer already knew, he spoke to his Children.
Lucifer: “War Games was different. A unique situation that I mistakenly thought Cronos could be something he’s not. Cronos is not a wrestler. He’s not someone meant to step foot in a wrestling ring…”
Behind him, the televisions all flared to life, each one of the six screens showing a different scene of men punching Cronos in brawls or underground fights and barely moving the behemoth of a man. Others kicking into his chest and finding no give to the point they were thrown backwards. Another who tried to kick him, but with a single swing of his arm, Cronos took their leg out from under them. Another where Cronos literally power bombed someone with such force, blood erupts from their mouth.
Lucifer lifted a hand above him, motioning to the scenes playing out on the televisions behind him without ever turning.
Lucifer: “That is why he’s valuable. Sathanas is unlike anything we have ever faced before. We need to stop fighting him like we would fight anyone else and fight him as he needs to be fought.”
Ashley Kenyon: “Does that mean you’re finally going to approve live fire?”
Lucifer drew in a deep breath and shook his head softly, much to Ashley’s annoyance.
Lucifer: “Look, I know you wanna do it that way, Ashley. It’s the Arsenal way, but there is too high a risk of collateral damage.”
Ashley slammed her hand down on the table in anger.
Ashley Kenyon: “How much more collateral damage do you need?! What’s the toll at now, Lucifer? Two dozen? Three? Plus Twoey and what those pieces of filth did to her?! The collateral damage is stacking up all around you!”
Xaria looked over, slowly locking eyes with Ashley. When she spoke, her voice was low, dangerous and threatening.
Xaria Linette: “Watch how you speak to God.”
Aerynn Maguire: “She’s bae spaekin’ th’ truth!”
Zachary Sears: “She’s being an insubordinate is what she’s doing.”
Maiko’s head snapped around and locked those cold eyes on Zachary, her lips pulling back into a feral snarl as the Demon reared her head.
Maiko: “DO NOT SPEAK OF HER THAT WAY, DESPOILER!”
Lucifer could see the fractures beginning. No formation of his Children had ever been under this much pressure before. They’ve never had the fight taken to them in a manner like this before, but it wasn’t Lucifer who acted.
Beside him, Sariel’s body tensed up. On each side of the woman, the Twins slammed their fists into the table with such force the table shook and the group stopped bickering. They soon turned their eyes to the three.
Sariel: “We will win this war together, not separated. We need each other. Every one of us.”
Ananiel: “The Storm Bringer…”
Ramiel: “...Speaks true…”
Ananiel: “...We need each other now…”
Both: “...More than ever.”
Sariel: “If Lucifer thinks that Cronos is the answer? Then we will back him without question and without hesitation. That is what we do. We are his Angels.”
Zach took a deep breath and gave the smallest nod.
Zachary Sears: “She’s right. Ve all knew vhat ve were signing up for vhen ve all agreed to stay und fight Valdemar und Anthony. Ve all knew it vasn’t going to be easy.”
Ashley and Aerynn gave each other and Maiko a quick look before nodding, albeit begrudgingly. Lucifer gave Sariel a faint little nod and the Storm Bringer bowed her head in reverence.
Lucifer: “All of you leave us… except for Cronos and my Harbinger.”
One by one, they all rose from their chairs and filed out of the room. Cronos took a seat in the chair Sariel had just been sitting in after Lucifer offered it to him. Xaria looked on quietly, curious yet studious. The Children’s God removed the glasses from his face and set them on the table before turning to regard Cronos.
Lucifer: “Can you do it?”
Cronos: “...The Storm Bringer couldn’t do it, Lucifer. I doubt I can either, but I have a more pressing question. Why should I?”
Lucifer had expected this question and his lips curled into a small smile.
Lucifer: “I’ll overturn your exile, Christoph. You can come back to the Children... and to add a cherry on top? I’ll double what you were paid to watch Arsenal.”
Cronos’s eyes went wide as he leaned forward to whisper.
Cronos: “T...Two million? For this one guy?”
Lucifer smiled again and gave the smallest little nod.
Lucifer: “Upon confirmation of his death.”
Xaria sat back in horror, listening as Lucifer put out what amounted to a hit on his first Child of Nephilim. The first person Lucifer ever cared about.
Xaria Linnette: “This… is why winning the HYBRID Grand Title and the Duality Tag Titles was so important. Three huge bonus checks to pay for this…”
Lucifer glanced over and gave only the smallest of nods to give confirmation that this had always been his plan. Xaria bit her lip but said nothing, while Lucifer looked back at Cronos.
Lucifer: “Well?”
Cronos: “...Uh...Yeah. Consider it done.”
Xaria continued to say nothing, sitting in stunned silence. Before anyone else could say anything, the doors flew open and Maiko and Zachary came running into the room. The two stared at Lucifer, breathless from the run before spitting out.
Maiko: “She did it! Maya did it!”
Zachary Sears: “She’s being taken to Sathanas’s home tonight!”
Lucifer surged from his chair and pointed from Cronos to the door. The huge hulking behemoth rose without a word and moved to join the two near the end of the table.
Lucifer: “Take everyone and I mean everyone. Watchers. Demons. Angels. Everyone. We end this tonight!”
Cronos, Maiko, & Zach: “Yes Sire.”
Rising from her seat, the Harbinger reached over and took Lucifer’s hand in hers. She looked into his eyes and took a deep breath.
Xaria Linette: “What about the kids, my Lord…? I can’t leave them here alone…”
Lucifer: “You and I are staying here. We need people manning the home in case this goes wrong.”
Xaria Linette: “Oui, mon Seigneur…”
As a devotee, she bowed her head. As someone dear, she leaned in and kissed Lucifer. There was a part of her that was terrified, but she had to be brave. If not for herself, then for her children.
