maskormenacelogs | don't know what i want but i know how to get it; i wanna destroy the passerby

[They can't help but laugh again, low and much more genuinely amused this time.]

It wouldn't be the first time I fought with a ruler of the underworld, and I really hate to let go of people I've become fond of. I'd have to fight her for you, but I think she'd understand. She might even think it's fun too.

Understand? You already forgetting the number she did on me face?

[ It's only half-joking, but seeing Inanna slightly less miserable is a small victory, at least. A little bit of fuel for the belief that John won't actually ruin what's left of their life. ]

Then again, s'nothing compared to what I've done to the version of her from my world. Should tell you sometime.

I mean she'd understand if I wanted to fight her. We're both Morningstars, after all. There are things about me that only she'd understand.

[They just...quietly ignore that offer. After the last slideshow they'd gotten about John, they aren't very excited to see more. just yet.]

Thought you weren't the warfare sort.

[ There is a pointed effort in how he's using snark to cover up that big, gaping pit of internal turmoil. To make matters worse, he's much better at it than Persephone is. So they might not even notice that's what he's doing. ]

What if she wins, though? No offense, but my money's on her. S'a the joke in there 'bout the Devil you know, somewhere.

I don't see the point in helping humans out with warfare when they're so good at it already. I never said I wouldn't go to war for someone. [Honestly John, pay attention.]

And if she wins... Well, then I'd have to play dirty. But I don't think she'd want to fight me badly enough to keep you.

[ There's a roll to his eyes that seems juvenile, even for John's standards. It's still a terrible amount of effort to go through, going on the warpath with one of your best mates just for his raggedy rubbish heap of a soul.

Not that he hasn't done more dramatic things over less gain. But if he points out that he's not worth it, Inanna will insist he is, and just start back into their bloody affirmations and how much they liked him, which John is in no mood for. ]

Not that I don't approve of playin' dirty against the Devil, but y'saw less than half of why Luci n' me aren't, uh, mates.

[ He shifts gears after a beat, just to keep Inanna from fussing any furthur. ]

Where'dya go, anyway?

And you don't know how fond of each other Luci and I are. [Inanna has some genuine doubts that it would even come to blows. It's certainly a distinct possibility, but if it were their Luci they could just try to play it off as a favor.

Their amused grin slips away rather suddenly at the question, however.]

Nowhere. ...Home. I suppose.

[ It's not that John enjoys posing an obviously uncomfortable question to them. But it does, hopefully, help prove that yes Virginia, this man really will throw just about anyone under the bus for his own benefit, basically whenever. He'll never not be convinced that he can't find some way to make even the crummy hand Inanna had been dealt worse.

But he sits up, coat sliding off him again and at least allows the tone to be a bit more conversational. John somehow manages to be skinny and out of shape at the same time and his limbs are all too long and awkward, too hungover to put on his usual charismatic airs. ]

Maybe I shouldn't give you pointers if you'd want to actually stay mates with her, then.

[Ugh... Inanna's going to have to start remembering to bring food along whenever they visit John. It couldn't hurt anything, and maybe a little meat on his bones would actually help.]

I know you hate her, so I wouldn't take advice from you about her in the first place. I like you, but I'm not stupid. [Not that stupid, at least.]

[ He always forgets just how much energy he burns during spells, and besides gets most of his fuel from various liquids. So good luck with that, kid. At least he's nice enough to give Inanna a somewhat thoughtful answer. ]

Not even sure it's her, it's jus'... what she is. But if I know the Morningstar, pitying her is exactly what they'd want. Or don't want. I've an odd grey area to work with, really. Can't let 'em play me nor piss 'em off too much. Not an enviable job, mine.

[ At least there were some upsides to this one being the nice one: they were decent enough to open up to a bit. Even someone like John needed someone to confess his sins to sometimes, and Inanna would, literally, take whatever he told them to their grave. Not a bad arrangement. ]

Oh, she'd hate to be pitied. [That sounded like the quickest way to piss her off, in fact. Sympathy, sure, Inanna was certain she'd take that. But pity? Too tasteless.]

Have you ever thought about just avoiding her? I doubt she's interested in seeking you out for whatever you think she wants from you.

Thought 'bout it, sure. Trouble is, it'd still give 'em too much satisfaction.

[ Maybe it wasn't right, putting all of Hell in the hands of a teenage girl. And maybe obliging her to play out whatever grudge he'd had with his own world's devil was a little tacky. But she played the role so willingly and beautifully, it was practically a treat to have the up-close view of it that he did. ]

I'd be much more bored without her, really. An' everyone else is much more imperiled when I'm bored.

You really don't know her well at all if you really think that.

[Then again, maybe Inanna was the one who was wrong here, but the way they saw it Luci would much more enjoy staying under his skin, keeping him from actually managing to break away from her. Inanna could certainly understand the appeal—having that kind of control over someone— even if it wasn't quite for them

At that last quip a lazy, teasing grin spreads over their face.]

Could you really stay bored with me around? I'm sure I can think of plenty of ways to keep you occupied.

Only thing worse'n ignoring the old Serpent is paying 'em attention.

[ He pads through his pockets and the surrounding area for a cigarette. Not like his various piles of relics leave him much chance of finding things. At least he got 'em for free with the wretched adverts he'd been roped into. One saving grace of that whole stupid gig. Although now it's John's turn to do another one of those eye-rolls that Inanna is so very fond of, still too hungover and guilt-spiralling for their line to really have effect. ]

Or the other way 'round. Can't really remember.

Edited 2017-02-09 16:41 (UTC)

[Inanna definitely doesn't pout about their line being ignored. That would be unbecoming of a love goddess.]

I think it depends on if you've been noticed by her already or not...

[ Commiserating on trauma is a pickup line that works once. Occasionally, John has standards. ]

Well. S'too late to not be noticed by her, innit? And didja' see where my smokes went?

It is, so you're better off not ignoring her.

[Their eyes flicker, changing to the brightly burning stars as they scan the room with a cursory divination. After a moment they snap their fingers (and grimace faintly), and a crumpled packet of cigarettes floats up from some corner of the room.]

Thanks, mate.

[ Though he doesn't sound like he means it, a certain tiredness as he sticks a smoke in his mouth. Then he begins the process all over again, poking around for his lighter this time. ]

Mind you, I still reckon my timeshare idea could work.

[This time Inanna just reaches into their pocket for their own lighter. They don't even smoke, but keeping a spare on hand is important when all of your friends have a habit. They flick the flame on and hold it out for him.]

Well I can't stop you from trying it if you want to.

[ The sad part is probably that now he's actually putting thought into it, his cigarette hand motioning to scratch his scalp in thought, shaking warm ash into his own hair for the trouble. ]

Mostly I've kept to disrupting the business of monotheistic heaven, so might be time to expand my horizons anyways. Luci can take me on weekends, maybe make me parta' the set for her masses again. 'Twas an experience.

[For fuck's sake John.

1-2-3-4—Inanna snaps their fingers again, extinguishing the ash just in case.]

Oh—is that what you meant? Well now you just sound ridiculous. We don't like to share that much.

[ A long, long pull on the cigarette and an awkward silence as he exhales the fumes. If there's recognition of the thoughtful and conscientious trouble that Inanna goes to for John's wellbeing, he doesn't show it outwardly. If anything, he might acknowledge it to deny it. ]

You've a bad habit of overestimating how much trouble I'm worth, y'know. Even the people who like me don't really.

Edited 2017-02-12 07:33 (UTC)

[Inanna rolls their eyes with a fondly exasperated sigh.]

I'm the one who gets to decide how much trouble you're worth to me. Not you, and not anyone else who knows you.

[ 'Fondly exasperated' about covers it, although he's still responding with a dead tired sullen-ness that would put Persephone to shame. ]

Noble intent, kid. But y'might be trying to pull me outta something I can't be. Or, won't.

[Ah... Whatever smile they'd been holding onto slips away.]

That sounds like something Persephone might say. I can't leave her behind either.

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