maskormenacelogs | - then put him back again -

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- then put him back again -

WHO: Lucifer, monsters, and you.
WHERE: Various places around the country, NOT in Heropa, Cape Canaveral, Nonah, De Chima or Maurtia Falls.
WHEN: Saturday 16th - Sunday 17th
WHAT: Lucifer tried to go home. It didn't work out as planned. Now there are monsters! Looks like America is in need of some heroes. See the ooc cut below for more information.
WARNINGS: Violence, monsters; things that happen when violence and monsters are in the same place. Please tag your threads if anything extra is needed.

Over the past month Lucifer had been systematically making his way through Northern America, stopping in specific locations and making sacrifices. Neither the people he had killed, nor the places he had chosen had been random- and the evidence of this was that he now stood in the center of a spell which spanned most of North America.

The center was, as luck would have it, a graveyard somewhere near Lawrence, Kansas.

There was something about this world that limited Lucifer- the encounters he had had with heroes so far had shown that he was neither as durable nor as powerful as he was used to. He had no desire to stay here any longer than necessary. He had been told that what he was trying was impossible- and honestly, that was probably true for humans. But if people were being brought here there had to be cracks in this world that he could tear open to escape.

Since the full moon had risen on Thursday he had been in place in the cemetery- summoning the spirits of the sacrifices he had made and one by one using them to power the spell. He took his time, confident that no one would interrupt him, and careful- doing this twice was not an option.

The eastern sky was turning grey as the final soul was put in place and Lucifer started on the words of the spell proper. It was complicated, designed to seek out weak spots in the fabric of the world and rip them open so that he could slip through. It probably wouldn't break this world- not that Lucifer cared much either way.

The spell almost immediately began to slip out of his control. The power contained in the souls of all the humans he had killed tried to pull the spell apart, fighting him as he attempted to unify them and force them to do his will. Slowly they came together, and anyone sensitive to such things would have felt him testing the limits of the world.

The world held together.

Lucifer was not the kind to explode with rage. His anger burned cold- and the knowledge that he had been wrong- that even this would not get him home- made him seethe. Very well. If he was to stay here, then he might as well put all that power to good use. Make his captors regret they had ever thought to bring him here.

He worked quickly, to avoid losing the power he had spent so long to build up. Resurrection was a simple spell, comparatively speaking. Transformation was a little harder- but turning humans into reflections of their true natures was a speciality of his. He spoke the words and the spells were cast.

The sun was just clearing the edge of the horizon when he was done. Across the country people would be waking up to a pleasant surprise- ghouls and ghosts raised, corpses resurrected and transformed into creatures who would seek out and kill any humans in their way.

Lucifer stayed in the cemetery, gathering his strength.

[ooc information]

Characters can:
- help wear Lucifer down (reply here)
- search for and destroy monsters either together or individually (make your own thread as a reply)
- get turned into monsters themselves! T'Challa can turn them back, or they can be killed (which will need mod approval)
- keep track of where monster sightings are and direct heroes to them (either here, or make a network post)
- stay at home and watch it all on tv!

Monsters are:
- Zombies: your standard walking dead, rotten, smelly, groan a lot.
- Vampires: blood-sucking, pale, sharp pointy teeth, able to go into sunlight, ~~the boss vampires sparkle~~.
- Werewolves: not the nice kind, shapeshifting, eating/biting people, very hairy.
- Ghosts/Ghouls: typical ghost type creatures, cannot be hurt by physical attacks, can possess people, all of them jerks.
- Wendigos: monsters that specifically eat only people, creepy eyes, their spines shouldn't really bend that way. omnomnomnom
- Chupacabras: blood drinking, animal shaped, extremely creepy howling, keep your goats and children inside.

See the full plotting post here!

Have fun!!

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Somewhere along the line of this hot, violent mess Loki had realized that not only was Lucifer's megalomanic ambition bound for a few hiccups along the road, especially with the problems that both he and Gabriel had caused. Loki's still a little sore that they really served as nothing more than pranks, but it saved a few lives in the process. Unfortunately, those lives were just mounted against others in the fight toward the cross. (There was a part of him that was a little uncomfortable with the prospect—and he wishes he could just brush it off his shoulder and be done with it. It wasn't just the loss of mortal life, but it was the way that Lucifer regarded it. It struck close enough to home to be cause for defiance.) After he had pried a little further he had found that whatever power they were given was probably not enough to break through (even for America Chavez, but he had yet to test that theory), contrary to Lucifer's grand scheme.

Despite the brand on his wrist, he wasn't much of a hero, and didn't exactly claim to be (registration was funny that way). The monsters and other merriment would be taken care of soon enough by ... well, heroes. There were plenty of them here, and he didn't need to play the part. His presence would be good for anyone he knew off-hand that needed him to vouch for them (oh, the irony, Loki vouching for someone) as vigilantes.

It took a simple spell to track Lucifer again, and he put himself not far from the action. For someone like him, it was easy to side-step a few of the more ambitious beasts that decided that he looked like a bit of Loki-jerky. They were unpleasantly surprised. He wasn't exactly here to fight, and he wasn't really here to save anyone, really—but there was action, there was closure, and at the point of chaos, there was no where else that he would rather find himself.

Edited 2014-05-16 14:08 (UTC)

Oddly enough, finding Loki here wasn't much of a surprise. If anything, it was expected, seeing the trickster god right here in the middle of all of this. Monsters everywhere, supposedly caused by the man himself, and Tony didn't land from midair, instead arcing around, taking the long way.

As if it wasn't a surprise that he'd be here anyway as well. He was drawn to these sorts of things just as readily as anyone else, needing to be in the middle of it, and to mire himself in the violence and chaos that was fighting off trouble.

For some reason -- for a guy who didn't always solve his problems by punching them, he found himself in these kinds of situations pretty readily. When he finally landed, he actually fought his way to Loki, making a point of taking down the monsters on the way -- mostly werewolves, and some things that seemed to move in a way they shouldn't, before he was close, broke the line between where Loki was, and the creatures.

Odd, that they were staying away. "There's something to be said about the guy who doesn't help everyone out, but just sits back and watches," he pointed out.

A chaos god amid the chaos was probably not a big surprise.

That Loki had to do with anything was probably a not a bit surprise. When he wasn't acting as an instigator, he was acting as a catalyst, watching the dominos fall in whatever fashion he decided to tip them in. Though he found himself much more akin to the call of the calamity as the next deity, this wasn't his fault. (Which is surprising to him! something that's not his fault!)

"There's also some kind of saying about too many chefs in the kitchen, have you heard that one?" he counters smoothly. "Even you decided to make it. We do have to keep up with that whole registration thing, don't we?" Two hits, two sentences, he almost looks a bit too satisfied. There was more to it, of course, there always was with him.

"For what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Well, I'm honestly trying to figure out what you're doing right about now," he said simply, sidestepping the entire jab about registration by doing what he did best: pretending the offenses didn't exist. Tony Stark was great at fighting -- he excelled at it, but he also picked his battles.

In the middle of this? Not so great an idea, and even he knew that.

"I mean, you'd think that someone who was making an honest effort would be doing something. I'm pretty sure I scanned some people back a bit away that had just found a safe place."

Tony Stark still didn't believe Loki, it was true. He also didn't disbelieve him, if he were honest with himself. He knew the need to become a better person, and while it was still Loki, that gave him cause to be wary.

After all, he'd been burned by some reformations -- or forced reformations -- before. "You could be doing that, if you're worried about crowding the kitchen."

That's one diverted jab side-stepped. Impressive.

He quirks his head back, still easy when he spoke. "I very famously excel at making things worse by trying to make them better, I'm sure you're well aware of it enough that I don't have to provide examples. Lucky for you, it seems that you've all arrived just in the nick of time. Was the mortal media following?" of course, he had other ambitions. He always had other ambitions. "I'll leave that work to the heroes, and take a greater look at the bigger picture."

There's a sigh, and he continues moving to where ever it is that he's moving. By foot, even, be grateful.

"You know, the one that makes sure events don't fall into that terrible little cycle that we all hate? It's kind of what I do."

"Oh really? Is that what you do?" he asked, his voice edging on bewildered. Really, Loki, please. "I didn't realize that's what it's been, for all these years," the eyeroll said enough, didn't it?

Well, it would have, had his eyes been visible, but as it was, he followed, footsteps somehow near-silent on the ground, even sporing the metal and armor that he was. It was always surprising, to people, when they figure out that he was lighter on his feet than he ever really sold.

"And how are you doing that, by the way? By standing around and watching? That sounds like a heck of an easy job."

"One of the things," it's said off-hand enough to be said to himself. "Sometimes more nefarious than not."

Loki continues on his way by foot, as if he's trying to pinpoint something and his normal means of travel (teleportation, of course) would be a bit moot in the process of doing so. Sometimes locational things were a bit useless, but Tony could go without that knowledge with all of his mortal science stuff.

"While there is merit in observation—no, that's not what I'm doing! Good guess, though." He holds up a hand and clicks two dark-nailed fingers together as if he's doing something—

And no, no it's just for show.

"Have you seen the proprietor of this megalomanic bender? I'd like to speak with him."

He would have blinked, in surprise, if it weren't for the fact that Loki had said he was supposed to be doing something good with his time her. He actually Did stop. Although he watched his fingers, running through scan after scan, as if it were important.

To him, it was, honestly. He knew it was paranoid, but watching carefully was in his blood. What Loki didn't know wouldn't hurt him. Suspicion hurt nobody, when they didn't know it was there.

"I'm actually looking for him myself, if I can be honest with you. There's a center to the vortex, but I haven't had the chance to investigate it yet."

What Loki didn't know but suspected and did for the funsies was definitely one thing.

"I know where I'm headed." Loki puts his hands on his hips and then looks over at Tony over his shoulder. "What a mess this has turned into. Really, started as something simple and—" He waves his hand dismissively to indicate. "I suppose this is what happens when certain theologies runs rampant. Especially when mixed with some fun, inter-dimensional travel.

"Who can really blame him for wanting to go home?"

"Nobody can blame him for wanting to go home. We've all experienced that, and tried to get home," his tone of voice suggested that perhaps he knew a bit more than most people about that. Oh there'd been the occasional attempt, but Tony Stark really believed that he'd gotten the closest of anyone.

Especially when Lachesis had told him there would be only one.

And how wrong she'd been -- or perhaps intentionally misleading.

"The problem comes in when there are people dying, or is that not as important to you?"

Of course he'd be talking to Tony Stark about this, of all people. Loki notes the tone of his voice, but doesn't push—no, not yet. Then again, Loki didn't want to go home. Running off to a new place with a new start? That was his jam. A new Loki in a new setting, fresh ink on a fresh page.

"You're thinking about this wrong," he says, in probably the most annoying way possible. He makes a flippant gesture with his hand, and then looks toward the vortex, perhaps a bit more serious. "There are plenty of chefs in the kitchen if we'd like to get into the whole people are dying thing. The real question is 'how do we stop more people from dying and keep the people are dying option to a minimum?' Aaaaand that question is answered," he points toward Lucifer.

"Spoilers, right there! The going home bit? I knew that already. Did you know I can feel out the dimensions around us? Of course you didn't, but I can with a few in-tune magic words and some funny smelling candles. Bigger problems come with people who may try this again.

"For now the imPorts save the world from themselves and we can all pat ourselves on the back until the Porter brings through another unfortunate god-like manifestation that takes it upon themselves to throw this party again."

"Except noobdy's telling them that they can't get home," he said simply. Of course, he could. It didn't matter what kind of porter it was -- whether it was Lachesis like he suspected, or not -- it was the fact of the matter that he couldn't tell them that he'd already made the attempt to go home. That he'd built a porter, and done it.

Lachesis wouldn't permit it. She had too much going on.

"So we sacrifice a few people, and he never does it again, good job for us, right?" he asked, and while Tony Stark had always been...liberal with how he handled human life, if the greater good was involved, that was him. Justified. This was someone else, out of his control, and element he hadn't set into place, and now their lives were sacrifice to something that was -- in essence: worthless.

"It's not the same. This isn't the sacrifice they should have to make."

Oh, he could talk the talk, but he would do the same, sacrifice lives, if he thought it would result in them going home, or a better future.

The difference was, of course, that this wasn't him doing it, and that's what mattered to him.

"No, this is the backlash," Loki says, looking around them at the chaos. "This death isn't intended for any sort of battery power source." He looks at him and puts it plainly, perhaps just to be a thorn in his side. "You know, he messed up. Failed. And now there are consequences, and unfortunately he's not the only one to deal with these terribly unpleasant consequences that he's unintentionally unleashed upon an unsuspecting populous."

There's a curious lift of his brow, and he sounds unusually serious.

"There's always a price, you see."

"Yeah, and everyone else has to pay the price. Just great," he mentioned, his voice souring. "You don't seem bothered by that."

And that was at least something. Something to poke and prod at what Loki was, a puzzle he was still trying to figure out while he asked more and more questions, more and more angles to look at this with. It said a lot, that he was willing to do this, even though there was chaos all around.

"This is the problem with magic. There's always that damn price, and look what it does to people. This isn't the first time it's come through like this, and it won';t be the last, but everyone seems to think it's the way to go, the easiest solution when it's the costliest."

(no subject)

selfimage - 2014-06-14 15:09 (UTC) - Expand

Someone else was enjoying the action and enjoying the chaos but not enjoying the fact that there were monsters and creatures trying to kill him. He only came here to see what was happening, to see what it was going to be like. He had already been eaten once and didn't want to be eaten again.

So, as he saw Loki sitting back, staying away from the action, Starscream decided to join him. "This is certainly not something I was expecting," he said, gesturing towards a couple of zombies on the horizon.

Oh, look at that.

Well, not so surprising, being approached by a giant robot and all. Loki gives him a curious glance, he looks more surprised at being approached than he does with the whole robot-reception thingie. "The whole thing did screams a bit too much of the apocalyptic genre for my taste," he says, like this kind of thing happened every day. "But those are very 28 Days Later," he says, pointing to follow the gesture. "The movie might have done it a bit better, but it would probably be best if we kept that to ourselves.

"I don't think Lucifer is up for receiving some constructive criticism at the moment."

He seems easy for one that's in the middle of a monstrous war ground.

It turns out that almost getting eaten for a third time is enough to discover (mostly) how exactly your robot powers work. Or, at least, how they turned on. Who knew?

Of course, now Starscream could turn into a jet and start to help fight off those zombies...but that implied he gave a damn to begin with. And spoilers, he doesn't. Watching and eating the metaphorical popcorn it was.

It's a bit of a surreal sight, with 'pretty huge Starscream' talking to 'not as huge Loki.' At Loki's reference, Starscream can't help but frown, obviously confused.

"28 days later from what?"

There were some things that Loki had in mind, but surveying the damage and the conditions of the spell were definitely one of them. He does, however, carry on with his movie analogy. "It's a moving film ... you know, one of those apocalyptic zombie flicks. Quite popular, not nearly as cheesy as most of them. A bit lacking in some departments. I did mention the constructive criticism."

Starscream has absolutely no idea what Loki's talking about. He knew what a film was, but there were apocalyptic zombie films? And they were apparently cheesy? Was this a human thing? It was probably a human thing.

As such, Loki's clever response about this apocalypse's comparison to zombie films is utterly lost on Starscream. Still, not like he's going to admit it.

"Well, I suppose if you're planning an invasion, sometimes you need to take what you can get. But you're right. It could be so much better."

They were cheesy and it was a human thing—it was all the more charming that way.

"Despite that, I'd call this an unintentional accident more than a direct invasion," he looks thoughtful, holding his forefinger to his lip. "Though there is always enough megalomania to go around in this case." It's like he'd forgotten that he was talking to a giant robot.

Another day, after all.

"Pity," Starscream remarked, with a frown. His frown then turned into a small little smirk. "This has such potential to become a good invasion."

"Perhaps if it was done with a little more finesse." But this really wasn't his scene anymore—and he found himself enjoying the chaos, but feeling a little out of place during the violence. "The chaos is there but ... there's something missing."

By time Kate spots Loki, it's obvious she's been at it for a while. Her uniform is covered in blood splatters, her arrow collection has been restocked with ones that aren't all trick arrows, and more importantly, the look on her face tells it all: she's pissed at him. The lack of immediate moment on his part frustrates her, and there's very little she can take from that except that it's distasteful.

Instead of announcing her presence with a scowl or a few choice words, the next time Loki moves to dodge a wendigo, an arrow flies quickly by his face to snag the creature on the throat, making it fall back from its virulent attack. Another arrow follows, fully discouraging it (and just as narrowly missing Loki, this time slipping underneath his arm, close to his arm pit).

"Too bad none of the rest of us can dodge everything like you," she says as she moves closer, only her movement is purposeful and angry. Even if she's communicating with him, she's still ready to fight. "Then again, that's not a very accurate statement, is it?"

He can actually feel the glare before he feels the breeze from the arrow as it barely misses his ear and gives him a slight haircut.

"Kate!"

Whoops. He immediately puts up his hands, as if he was stopping just about anything he was doing to put his attention on her. There's a barb in her words, but she's still willing to play on those words.

He's taking a step back to get his footing. There were plenty of heroes around, and for someone like him? Well, getting in the way usually meant some kind of mess-up, so he kept his sights on the bigger problems at hand. That one was Lucifer.

"People. Are. Dying," she says slowly, each word carefully enunciated. Kate knows that someone like Loki doesn't always grasp that, that his sense of morality is so chaotic and skewed that he might not give a damn. But she's here to remind him. She's well-aware that some of his resources might be distorted in this world, but that doesn't mean he can't help.

"What the hell are you doing?"

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