maskormenacelogs | (no subject)

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: Jeopardy -> Heropa
WHEN: Nov. 19
WHAT: A resolution and a swear-in
WARNINGS: Please label threads

Somewhere, in a place that is and is not Jeopardy, time has passed. To some, it may have felt like mere hours; to others, days. For time doesn't truly touch this place. Only fate exists here, for imPorts to change or allow to proceed as it will.

Somewhere, the sisters look into the hearts of those with the power to decide the fate of this entire world and know their choice. A blinding light grows, forcing even the strongest to close their eyes, and as they do so, a vision of what could have happened appears in their minds. A world wreathed in flames, fire and screams echoing ceaselessly as they depart; a peaceful world, healed and whole and well—and a certainty that another world has paid a heavy price.

And then there's the sensation of three powerful forces leaving, two taking an unwilling third with them to wherever they are going. This world will be left as it is now, and its future will be whatever the people here make of it.

MEANWHILE, IN HEROPA

One week into the mysterious storm that has enveloped much of Jeopardy, citizens across the nation are losing hope. The government continues to monitor the situation at a safe distance, but cannot enter the affected part of the city, though one SEAL team did make an attempt, only to become lost in the wind for hours before emerging without ever making it through. While the storm hasn't grown, neither has it shown any sign of changing.

The heroes who bravely charged into the storm have not officially been given up for lost, but with no news coming from Jeopardy, few believe they will emerge unscathed. To honor their sacrifice (?) and offer sorrowful natives a means of coping, a candlelight vigil kicks off outside Heropa City Hall at 4:30 PM EST.

Speeches are given. Commemorative t-shirts are sold. It is at this point that a large portal of light opens up in front of the building and deposits all imPorts who entered the storm, as well as a confused but unharmed Layla and Sally Clapp. A stunned silence falls over the crowd — followed shortly by an eruption of cheers.

Organized chaos quickly reigns over the occasion. Medical personnel are quickly called in to aid any imPorts who might need it, and government officials quickly descend, one thing on their mind: what the heck happened, heroes?! ImPorts are asked to state, for the record, exactly what they experienced — which leaves a lot of room open for the more creative among them. Just what each imPorts is willing to confess to or lie about is up to them, but there are other imPorts at hand to refute or support all statements.

While imPorts are technically free to go, all are encouraged to enter the building for a debriefing with government officials. Those who care to share their story begin to paint a picture of what happened, and a flurry of transportation begins to move between City Hall and the local porter outpost, as Jeopardy will certainly require some aid now that it is fully accessible. Reports begin to filter back that while there have been some casualties and collateral damage to the city, it is far less of a disaster than the government anticipated during the storm, no doubt due to imPorts' efforts. Additionally, news from other porter cities begins to arrive; with the dissipation of the Jeopardy storm, all dimensional anomalies elsewhere have ceased.

Following the briefings, ImPorts may go home and get some rest, although they may have trouble shaking off the crowds — which are largely ecstatic that the people who apparently saved the world are in front of them.

While imPorts were occupied with the post-disaster debriefings, locals have used the time to launch an impromptu celebration of their defense of this world. Local restaurants, breweries and nanas have hustled their finest wares over, and free food and drink are flowing for the homecoming heroes. A local party & events organizing company has strung up some lights and tents in the park across the street from City Hall, lending a festive atmosphere to the area. T-shirts being sold to honor the assumed-fallen heroes have been 'edited' with permanent marker, going from 'FALLED HEROES' (there was an error in the print run, given the notice of less than a week) to 'RISEN HEROES' and are, regretfully, being given away for free.

For those who stay, an impromptu party breaks out, and the occasion quickly becomes the latest swear-in, albeit with a more casual emphasis on the actual swearing-in than usual; a card table is set up with the usual seals and documents, but it's a bit haphazard.

Along with tasty libations, local musicians start jamming on acoustic guitars in the park's gazebo, setting up some cheerful background music—or maybe you're not too tired to dance? A local physical therapy school has rolled in multiple portable massage tables, with free sessions for sore heroes!

The locals who haven't dispersed yet are also around, likely to seek autographs from the world savers, while podcasters, BlueTubers and regular nosy nellies might lean in with a recording device, asking for the real story of what happened. For imPorts who become too intoxicated or exhausted to porter home, many locals are offering couches to crash on — although the pillows they use may later show up on ePay.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Gabriel doesn't look exhausted when Lucifer says that. He wraps his arms over his chest and thinks.

About Lilith nearly burning him alive and the tilting edge of oblivion.

About the constant, constant, constant fucking nagging over this issue (and it's 50% Beelzebub's blessed fault.)

And Lucifer just looks so ...so - secure.

"Because it's what I was told to do!" The words burst out, "I don't know why I was told to do it, I just do it. Thinking for myself scares me all right?"

It's a command so enormous he obeys and- and -

"And you don't get it. Alright? Or- or maybe you do." He gestures, a few people shying away from him in surprise, "Sure. All right in the time I've been here, you get it. But she's all I have and I can't and won't say no."

He deflates, and one can practically see him wither, "I just...then there's the anger. The absolute deep deep rage when I think about what the traitors did. It's overwhelming and I want to beat them because they shouldn't have done that. Ending the world is just...a means to that and making it go away."

He just listens with a passive look on his face. 'Just doing what I was told to do' is a familiar refrain to him, from his own family for the last six thousand years (not that he's seen most of them in that time). But by the time Gabriel's done, Lucifer has the tiniest trace of a smile on his face.

"So. You don't know why someone else wants it, why someone gave you the order to do it, but you seem to be aware of why you want it. In this case, the two things just happen to be the same."

Which is a start. At least Gabriel had come up with somewhat of an explanation.

He considers that and remembers the storm, the trial. YOU want to do it and when he speaks he sounds angry.

"Are you saying. That she's using me and using my hatred for demons - to...to test me and see if I can resist the urge to want to kill your people because I'm supposed to-"

Awe floods him. It's like a light clicks in his mind.

But he's learned. learned and he's tired

"...Is that right? Did I get it?"

"Is she testing your loyalty by telling you to do the opposite of what you want to do to see if you'll follow orders or do what you want to do deep down inside?" He pauses to let the question sink in for a moment, although he doesn't need to think about it. "Probably." Welcome to his world, Gabriel.

"Giving in to what you wanted probably would have gotten you kicked out, so you might have made the right choice there, assuming you don't want to be kicked out." Which he obviously doesn't.

This just reinforces the idea that she protected Aziraphale and Crowley because they were both giving into what they had wanted - he and Beelzebub.

What if he already had been? No, He would know. He would know and it was clear she loved him because he was still an angel he was just...here.

Still. She was testing him. He was supposed to have turned the other cheek.

He had failed.

His head visibly droops but he can get it back.

"We tried, she just protected all the parties involved. So -" he exhales, "My course is clear. I have to...curb those darker impulses and work to earn back her favor which must mean appreciating and protecting mankind."

"Weren't you already protecting mankind?" That is kind of the point of angels, although everything they do they're supposed to do from afar. "That does sound like the reason we're here. Or at least the reason we're told we're here." He's learned by now that he can't take things at face value.

"So maybe she did send you here as a test." If that's what Gabriel wants to believe. Lucifer doesn't care one way or the other.

"Yeah but...it wasn't the kind of thing...I mean they're - I always thought of them sort of like those things humans keep ants in. The glass cases? It was a means to an end. But now..."

"I like them."

This is everything wrong with his worldview . He rubs at his wrists and looks away, "I must be far too tired to function. To think like this. Am I?"

"I like humans too." If that helps, but it probably doesn't, because what angel wants to agree with the Devil on something? "There's nothing wrong with protecting them because you want to instead of because you were told to." The problem isn't choice. The problem is blindly following orders.

"Nor is there anything wrong with liking humans. There's plenty to like about them."