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Of course I will, but what do you mean, you messed up?
Are you alright?
Are you alright?
(( He should try to stop Horus. He really should. It's not safe for Horus to wander alone... Even with so many inhuman things pouring into the city. He shouldn't be alone... But is Emmanuel the best person to be with him right now? No, probably not. But that look in Horus eyes, the absolute, abject horror so plain on his face... Someone definitely needs to go to him.
Emmanuel doesn't get out of the car. He just climbs into the driver's seat and turns it on. He turns up the radio, whatever station he can tune into first. He blasts the air conditioning the points the vents directly at his fact to cool him off. Does it matter that the passenger side window is still down? Not at all.
Then, he takes his phone out of his pocket and texts Osiris. ))
Emmanuel doesn't get out of the car. He just climbs into the driver's seat and turns it on. He turns up the radio, whatever station he can tune into first. He blasts the air conditioning the points the vents directly at his fact to cool him off. Does it matter that the passenger side window is still down? Not at all.
Then, he takes his phone out of his pocket and texts Osiris. ))
(( The little dots that indicate he's typing appear, vanish, then appear again for at least a solid minute as Emmanuel types too much detail. Deletes it. Too vague. Deletes that, too. Finally when the dots vanish, text replaces them. ))
We kissed. I took it poorly. He took that poorly.
We kissed. I took it poorly. He took that poorly.
I assume you've been as clear with him as you have with me about the restrictions you wish to keep in place.
(( Once again with the dots. Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak will have little meaning to someone unfamiliar with his faith. Oh, what a time to be having a momentary crisis of faith. What's the point in saying I'm only human, an imperfect being created in the image of perfection itself? If these gods aren't perfection incarnate, what sets his apart? ))
Less clear than I should be when temptation presents itself.
Less clear than I should be when temptation presents itself.
[Ah. Now this makes more sense.]
Then when you say "poorly," you mean regret in your case and guilt in his.
Then when you say "poorly," you mean regret in your case and guilt in his.
(( Guilt might be more appropriate for Emmanuel, as well. Though for a wholly different reason than Horus's. ))
I think... He thinks he's done something far more untoward. And I think he is carrying the full weight of the blame and denying me my share. Please. How can I convince him he's not some sort of monster?
I think... He thinks he's done something far more untoward. And I think he is carrying the full weight of the blame and denying me my share. Please. How can I convince him he's not some sort of monster?
[There's a stretch of silence on Osiris's end before:]
I'm afraid you're right. What he just described to me sounds more like an assault.
Emmanuel, you're a very perceptive person. I'm sure I don't need to tell you that Horus uses his anger and hatred of Set to mask much more complex emotions about his uncle.
It isn't easy for any of us, having a genuine monster in our family, but what he did to Horus complicates things even further.
And none of that has anything to do with you.
When his fear subsides, he'll hear reason.
I'm afraid you're right. What he just described to me sounds more like an assault.
Emmanuel, you're a very perceptive person. I'm sure I don't need to tell you that Horus uses his anger and hatred of Set to mask much more complex emotions about his uncle.
It isn't easy for any of us, having a genuine monster in our family, but what he did to Horus complicates things even further.
And none of that has anything to do with you.
When his fear subsides, he'll hear reason.
(( That's exactly the fear he thought he saw. Having it confirmed by an unbiased... less biased a party does nothing to set him at ease. Perhaps he hoped in the flare of emotions his mind exaggerated what he saw. No, there's no perhaps. He really did hope that. ))
Will you tell me when it's okay for me to speak to him in person? There's somewhere I need to go before I come back. I won't trouble him until I hear from you.
(( He actually types out you have my word and promptly deletes it with a derisive snort. What good is his word? ))
Will you tell me when it's okay for me to speak to him in person? There's somewhere I need to go before I come back. I won't trouble him until I hear from you.
(( He actually types out you have my word and promptly deletes it with a derisive snort. What good is his word? ))
Of course I will.
Until then, don't you try to shoulder the entirety of the blame either. I sincerely doubt that either of you have earned any blame at all.
[Kids.]
Until then, don't you try to shoulder the entirety of the blame either. I sincerely doubt that either of you have earned any blame at all.
[Kids.]
(( Osiris, please. He's Catholic. He's already metaphorically engaging in self-flagellation. He might even be considering the merits of the literal act at this point. No, no, that thought will pass quickly enough. Deserving though he me be of it, he can't willingly weaken himself when Set could lash out again at any moment. ))
Thank you.
(( For taking care of Horus. For letting him know Horus made it back safely. For not asking where Emmanuel is going and to what purpose. (Don't fret. It's just to Church. He's tried to go every week since all this began but it hasn't always been possible. He's sure the local priest is getting sick of him. ))
Thank you.
(( For taking care of Horus. For letting him know Horus made it back safely. For not asking where Emmanuel is going and to what purpose. (Don't fret. It's just to Church. He's tried to go every week since all this began but it hasn't always been possible. He's sure the local priest is getting sick of him. ))
Edited (typo) 2025-05-13 02:08 (UTC)
[From what Osiris has come to understand about how prayer is used in Emmanuel's faith, he assumed as much.
About an hour later, after he's had a long talk with his son and they've hugged a few things out that probably should've been hugged out much earlier in Horus's life, Osiris steps aside to send Emmanuel a text.]
All is well here. I'm sure Horus will be glad to speak with you now. He's still emotional, but sees the incident far more clearly in his own mind from what I can tell.
About an hour later, after he's had a long talk with his son and they've hugged a few things out that probably should've been hugged out much earlier in Horus's life, Osiris steps aside to send Emmanuel a text.]
All is well here. I'm sure Horus will be glad to speak with you now. He's still emotional, but sees the incident far more clearly in his own mind from what I can tell.
(( It's a bit longer before Osiris's message is seen. Maybe 40 minutes after he sends it, he'll see it marked read and those little dots pop up. They're not there for long. ))
I'm on my way.
(( He at least spared the local priest the details and kept his thoughts between himself and God today.
And then he's another 15 minutes before knocking at Osiris's door (where he assumes Horus is also). ))
Sorry... Lucas caught me in the lobby.
(( Emmanuel probably doesn't need to tell them how prying that one can be. But, while leaving out the romantic details, talking with him about matters of faith, however brief, did prove helpful. ))
I'm on my way.
(( He at least spared the local priest the details and kept his thoughts between himself and God today.
And then he's another 15 minutes before knocking at Osiris's door (where he assumes Horus is also). ))
Sorry... Lucas caught me in the lobby.
(( Emmanuel probably doesn't need to tell them how prying that one can be. But, while leaving out the romantic details, talking with him about matters of faith, however brief, did prove helpful. ))
[Horus is faced away from the door looking out the window when Emmanuel knocks; the sound of his voice pulls Horus halfway across the room in two long, quick strides before he forces himself to stop and maintain a respectful distance. All he wants to do is scoop Emmanuel up in a huge hug but everyone in the room knows that wouldn't be such a good idea.]
Hey. I'm - I'm sorry I worried you.
[Osiris's eyes dart from one of them to the other and back. Absurd as he knows it to be, he suddenly feels like a third wheel.]
Please feel free to stay here and talk as long as you like. I'll be down in the cafe.
Hey. I'm - I'm sorry I worried you.
[Osiris's eyes dart from one of them to the other and back. Absurd as he knows it to be, he suddenly feels like a third wheel.]
Please feel free to stay here and talk as long as you like. I'll be down in the cafe.
[Horus has no goddamn business being here. Just because the enemy of their enemy is currently their friend, that doesn't make Lucifer's bar an acceptable place for him to spend his time. Not when he's ostensibly so head over heels in love with his priest kind-of-boyfriend that he's determined to respect said priest's religious convictions - which would definitely not agree with him chilling at Lucifer's bar.
This was Sobek's idea. Of course. And to Bek's credit, what he said wasn't wrong: Wolf is charming and entertaining company, as well as easy on the eyes. He keeps the drinks and the lighthearted conversation flowing, flirts in a casual way that Horus can choose to latch onto or let drift past him, and Horus is half-convinced to take him up on the unspoken offer in his rosy-lipped smile when a wall of ill will suddenly smashes into him from a door that opens across the bar.
No - no, that's not actually ill will. Or not necessarily. It's just a bad feeling, one that seems to come attached to a petite, well-dressed man headed straight in Horus's direction. Doesn't take a genius to figure out what's happening here.]
You must be Lucifer. [Horus says once the man is within earshot. It's oddly disconcerting to Horus that Lucifer should be so much shorter than him, and even more disconcerting that he should be so attractive.]
This was Sobek's idea. Of course. And to Bek's credit, what he said wasn't wrong: Wolf is charming and entertaining company, as well as easy on the eyes. He keeps the drinks and the lighthearted conversation flowing, flirts in a casual way that Horus can choose to latch onto or let drift past him, and Horus is half-convinced to take him up on the unspoken offer in his rosy-lipped smile when a wall of ill will suddenly smashes into him from a door that opens across the bar.
No - no, that's not actually ill will. Or not necessarily. It's just a bad feeling, one that seems to come attached to a petite, well-dressed man headed straight in Horus's direction. Doesn't take a genius to figure out what's happening here.]
You must be Lucifer. [Horus says once the man is within earshot. It's oddly disconcerting to Horus that Lucifer should be so much shorter than him, and even more disconcerting that he should be so attractive.]
[AND he's being fed? Maybe Inari should hang out with Enma more often...
Dressed casually but stylishly as if he's here for a date, Inari sits with a clear line of sight to the door and scrolls through social media as he waits for Enma to arrive. Inari tends to draw a fair amount of attention wherever he goes and today is no exception - several pairs of eyes keep darting over to him again and again, the people perhaps wondering if he's someone famous that they should recognize. He flashes some of them a quick smile just to watch them blush and quickly look away.
Ah, it's fun being among humankind. And he's sure the combination of himself and Enma will draw even more curious attention.]
Dressed casually but stylishly as if he's here for a date, Inari sits with a clear line of sight to the door and scrolls through social media as he waits for Enma to arrive. Inari tends to draw a fair amount of attention wherever he goes and today is no exception - several pairs of eyes keep darting over to him again and again, the people perhaps wondering if he's someone famous that they should recognize. He flashes some of them a quick smile just to watch them blush and quickly look away.
Ah, it's fun being among humankind. And he's sure the combination of himself and Enma will draw even more curious attention.]
(( Lucifer means it when he says the bar only has one rule: don't draw unnecessary attention. Other than that, he doesn't usually care much who comes and who goes. All manner of monsters, human and inhuman, pass through his doors. Some looking for something not on the menu. Some just looking for sin. Whatever it is, if they're not causing a fuss for Lucifer and his staff, he doesn't rightly give a shit.
Usually.
But with all that's going down right now, he takes note when he feels the aura of a god in his bar. He didn't plan to stop in tonight, but now he can't resist. He slides into the seat beside Horus, giving the god a sidelong glance. Lucifer is dressed in what appears to be a black suit, but the jacket is closed up in such a way to suggest there may not be anything beneath it except the layered choker around his neck. ))
And you must be the son. What brings you to my bar?
Usually.
But with all that's going down right now, he takes note when he feels the aura of a god in his bar. He didn't plan to stop in tonight, but now he can't resist. He slides into the seat beside Horus, giving the god a sidelong glance. Lucifer is dressed in what appears to be a black suit, but the jacket is closed up in such a way to suggest there may not be anything beneath it except the layered choker around his neck. ))
And you must be the son. What brings you to my bar?
Horus. [He manages not to sound prickly, thanks mostly to the drinks Wolf has already served him, but his pride is still obvious in the way his chin shoots upward at being called "the son."
In answer to Lucifer's question, Horus gestures to Wolf with a crooked grin.]
It's been an especially shitty few days, and my cousin said your bartender supplied the best drinks and company in town. [Never mind that Horus is just drinking whatever beer is on tap. Never mind that.] He wasn't wrong.
In answer to Lucifer's question, Horus gestures to Wolf with a crooked grin.]
It's been an especially shitty few days, and my cousin said your bartender supplied the best drinks and company in town. [Never mind that Horus is just drinking whatever beer is on tap. Never mind that.] He wasn't wrong.
(( His cousin? Ah! Yes! A smile that one could easily mistake as fond if they don't look too closely at Lucifer's eyes turns up his lips. ))
The little crocodile. I'm glad our run-in didn't sour him to my sweet boy.
(( But when speaking of Wolf? A fond warmth that can't be faked creeps into the edge of his features. For the sake of Horus's compliments to Wolf, Lucifer opts not to point out that he's merely drinking beer and not any of the best drinks Wolf's capable of making. ))
Wolf's the real star here.
(( ba-dum-tiss ))
The little crocodile. I'm glad our run-in didn't sour him to my sweet boy.
(( But when speaking of Wolf? A fond warmth that can't be faked creeps into the edge of his features. For the sake of Horus's compliments to Wolf, Lucifer opts not to point out that he's merely drinking beer and not any of the best drinks Wolf's capable of making. ))
Wolf's the real star here.
(( ba-dum-tiss ))
(( He should've brought something to take notes since very few of these names are familiar to him and he wants to do his due diligence.
But very early into his explanation of who's who, Emmanuel's eyes sharpen. He honed in on something Osiris said and... Well, because he always works alone doesn't mean he hasn't read up on history. ))
Are we going to approach this like a pre-modern battle? I'm sure we have plenty who can fight up close and personal. Do we have anyone who can attack from range?
(( Yes, he's thinking of those old movies with a rain of arrows descending to weak the enemy line. If the cultists have a potential sniper... They need to be able to pick off some numbers from a distance, too. ))
But very early into his explanation of who's who, Emmanuel's eyes sharpen. He honed in on something Osiris said and... Well, because he always works alone doesn't mean he hasn't read up on history. ))
Are we going to approach this like a pre-modern battle? I'm sure we have plenty who can fight up close and personal. Do we have anyone who can attack from range?
(( Yes, he's thinking of those old movies with a rain of arrows descending to weak the enemy line. If the cultists have a potential sniper... They need to be able to pick off some numbers from a distance, too. ))
[You know what, Horus actually knows enough about pop culture Lucifer to get that joke. Sure, it only gets a sniff and a twitch of his mouth, but like he said - he's had a rough few days.]
I'm sure Bek loves being called the little crocodile. [Another twitch at the corners of his lips.] He did mention that he hasn't had much of a chance to get to know you, but turning on his dad probably put you in at least his neutral books, if not good.
[Is the same true for Horus? Conversation is coming easily enough at the moment thanks to liquid courage, but the state in which Emmanuel returned from their big summit still lingers in his mind. The only opinions his father has voiced since then were "cunning, to an unsettling degree" and "constantly on the verge of outright lechery." Sobek was apparently terrified of the guy from second one but has a grudging respect for him now.
Horus doesn't know how he feels yet, so he doesn't elaborate. But kicking Set out of his life and making sure more than the door hits him on the way out certainly doesn't sour any opinion Horus may develop of him.]
I'm sure Bek loves being called the little crocodile. [Another twitch at the corners of his lips.] He did mention that he hasn't had much of a chance to get to know you, but turning on his dad probably put you in at least his neutral books, if not good.
[Is the same true for Horus? Conversation is coming easily enough at the moment thanks to liquid courage, but the state in which Emmanuel returned from their big summit still lingers in his mind. The only opinions his father has voiced since then were "cunning, to an unsettling degree" and "constantly on the verge of outright lechery." Sobek was apparently terrified of the guy from second one but has a grudging respect for him now.
Horus doesn't know how he feels yet, so he doesn't elaborate. But kicking Set out of his life and making sure more than the door hits him on the way out certainly doesn't sour any opinion Horus may develop of him.]
(( Well, that's a start to breaking the ice. How he loves his stupid little jokes (must be an angel thing). Lucifer waves at Wolf who scampers over and sets a glass of wine in front of him. He checks the level on Horus's beer and moves back over to the other end of the bar to work while they chat. Lucifer leans his elbow on the bar and rests his chin on the back of his hand with sigh. ))
He didn't catch me at my best.
He didn't catch me at my best.
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