unknownballad | Hybrid Kingdom PSL

[There's no wrong or bad reason to take down someone like Setekh, Conor thinks, but he just nods. Honestly, the way Lucifer insists on his own selfishness is kind of funny.

Sense of humor regain: +1]

I'm not the same person I was then. I don't know who that was or who I am, but they're not the same.

I've been watching it for the last half an hour. I'm sure. At first I wanted some popcorn, but now it's just too much to watch you be oblivious. So, after I leave, send a drink over to him. The server will tell him it's from you. He's definitely not going to make the first move or he would've by now.

(( Cue Dae-hyun laying some cash on the bar. ))

My treat. Go get 'im.

(( And now he has to go find somewhere else in this bar to be so this guy and the other guy can at least meet without further delay. If Dae-hyun stays much longer, he may ruin the opportunity. ))

Good luck.

Hey, what - [David reaches after him but nope, the guy's already on his way. Hand dropping limply back onto the bar, he mutters to no one:] - what's your name?

[Well, nothing's ever been clearer than the fact that his first attractive stranger was in no way interested in him. As for the second... David can't deny that he is attractive, but there's something so intimidating about him that the idea of trying to flirt with a man like that makes him want to crawl out of his own skin. He feels like it can only end in the most catastrophic sort of disaster, like getting too drunk and throwing up in his lap or accidentally causing him grave injury.

If that would even be possible, because even though he can't quite say why, David's almost certain he's not human.

Here goes nothing, he supposes.]

Hey - hi, could you send the guy who's kinda lounging back there - yeah, him, could you take him one of whatever he's drinking and let him know it's from me? [His awkwardness earns him a pitying smile, but the bartender brings the drink over as asked. David doesn't even dare turn around and make eye contact. Your move, mystery man.]

(( Sorry, David. Dae-hyun is an International Man of Mystery™. You'll ~~probably~~ never know who he is. He doesn't even look back, just waves as he heads elsewhere to enjoy his night.

Back in David's immediate vicinity, the bartender nods and mixes up whatever high-end cocktail Lucifer's been nursing. The timing is good because the Devil's just finished his drink when the new one is brought to him. Lucifer perks up, eyebrows up first above his now round eyes. Then he hauls himself up from the couch, then climbs to his feet to sashay right over to David, slipping into the spot still warm from Dae-hyun's butt. ))

Aren't you sweet~ What's your name?

(( He looks a little offended by the question, wrinkling his nose before he answers. ))

That's disrespectful. You humans are modest.

(( A pause and then he looks at the door then back to David. ))

Are you naked?

[Oh, he's really good-looking up close. Not big and buff like the gods, but this beautiful little creature with sculpted features and enough natural charisma for ten men. Here's hoping David hasn't made a terrible mistake with the help of his mystery man.]

Ah - David. Hi. [By sheer force of will, David manages to keep his smile from looking sheepish, though it's still shyer than he would've liked.] So I didn't misread that look you gave me, huh?

[He'll do this guy the favour of omitting that it was apparently a half-hour long look since David didn't even notice.]

Kinda seems like you're picturing it now.

[Excuse him while he milks this for all its worth. David so rarely feels like he's got the upper hand with Lucas when it comes to this particular topic.]

(( gentle push push push on the door. ))

Why won't you open it?

[Aaaand ducking further behind it.]

If you want a peek that bad, just tell me so and I will.

(( Such a coquettish move, David! Geez, Lucas is going to begin to think he's being flirted with.

WAIT.

Is he being flirted with? ))

I just want to have a laugh with you.

[Ugh, David could've sworn he was getting somewhere, but Lucas really can ruin any mood. He steps out from behind the door (in a t-shirt and jeans) and throws it open with a loud huff, retreating into his room.]

You suck so bad sometimes. C'mon in.

(( David seriously hasn't noticed how Lucas spends like 90% of his free time with or around him, has he? Well, maybe he wouldn't since Lucas has already characterized himself as David's protector. It makes sense in that context. Oops. ))

Do I? I'm sorry.

[Yep, Lucas has accidentally covered all his bases and made it totally impossible for David to know if there's any real interest behind what he does. And the more invested David gets in finding out the answer, the more it distracts him from the fact that he really likes Lucas a lot.

Inside David's suite, all the monitors on his computer setup are alive with various loading bars and wheels and different processes doing their processing things while some old edited-for-cable movie plays on the TV. He crouches down and ducks his head to peer into the bar fridge in his kitchenette, a process that looks a lot like a crane lowering.]

Forget it. Did anyone else see the monitors while you were there?

(( Emmanuel doesn't always stay in the hotel. He actually has a home that he, occasionally, returns to. He still has his obligations as a hunter, as well. And, despite his departure from the Church, his contacts within it still funnel jobs his way. Not exorcisms, per se, but... well, they know what he's capable of.

Coming back to the hotel feels more like home these days. Since Sobek's partner bought the place, it's not like they have to check in or out anymore unless they want something from the concierge. He has a suite and its always available when he needs it. Not everyone stayed after the war was decided. Many had their own duties to return to, just as Emmanuel. But unlike them, he keeps coming back to see specific familiar faces.

What he doesn't expect at all as he rolls his suitcase across the lobby is that shock of of fire engine red hair. By now, the blinding hot hatred Set inspired in him has cooled to your run of the mill every day kind of hate. It's bitter that he has to swallow it because of who he is as a person. He can't forgive Set, not ever, but even Set deserves this second chance.

Does that stop Emmanuel from stalking over to him and hissing? Not at all. ))

What are you doing here? Get out.

[Well, of all the people Set could run into first, Emmanuel is probably the worst. At least this icy greeting makes for a good test of his determination to make things right, and will provide ample evidence of the same if he takes it with grace.

And that's exactly what he does, even if an old part of him would like to sneer at the priest who has succeeded in so many places where Set failed.]

Hello, Father Yoon. [Set lowers his head in a respectful nod.] My employer granted me three days leave to come here and see if there's any hope of - well, "making things right" would be asking a bit much, but at least having my apology heard.

(( His modesty would be far less of a problem if he didn't harbor such carnal desire for Osiris. There are plenty of exceptionally good looking men and women around this pool in what would also be described as being in nearly naked states that aren't causing Emmanuel any distress. It's not Osiris, it's absolutely Emmanuel.

Once the god is more covered (a relief!), Emmanuel moves beside him, but doesn't lead them more than few steps when he judges Osiris's shoulder with his own. ))

Push me, please.

(( Into the pool. He really needs to cool down in a way he doesn't think the hotel's air conditioning can help with. ))

(( Well. There's a bit of reassurance in hearing he holds the same belief in redemption as an angel of the Lord. The spike of pride is short lived, replaced by a curious peering into the display case of baked goods. ))

Black tea and a croissant.

(( Barely have the words left him and he's already looking around for the most advantageous place to sit. He doesn't even realize it's something he does, casing every place he plans to spend more than a handful of minutes in like that. ))

Shall we sit over there?

(( He nods toward a specific table he's picked out for the ease of a potential escape route in case of an emergency. ))

[Osiris blinks at Emmanuel in surprise, sure that he must be misunderstanding. Push him into the pool? But there's still some heat in his cheeks that hints at the possible reason, and again Osiris finds himself fighting a smile that would definitely be considered rude.]

If you insist...

[Luckily, the act of pushing someone you care about into a pool tends to be lighthearted and teasing by its very nature, so Osiris is able to let his smile loose and even burst out laughing without looking too mean-spirited when his shove does the trick and Emmanuel topples into the pool.]

[While David may not know exactly what Emmanuel's doing, the intensity of his gaze as he scopes out the cafe doesn't go unnoticed. It's got to be exhausting, David thinks, living every second of every day at the steady burn this guy does, but he can also see why it makes Emmanuel so appealing to some people. Having his steely eyes fixed on you even for a second does do something strange to a person's heartbeat.]

Yeah, sure. [Looks as good as any other spot to him. He pays the barista, who says she'll bring their orders out in a moment, and then goes to sit at the indicated table.

Once they're both seated, David suddenly remembers that he's been holding onto something he wants to tell Emmanuel:]

Oh, hey! Your family name's Yoon, right? So's mine.

[It takes a moment for him to notice the havoc he's wreaked after he resurfaces, but Nephthys's glare bores so deep into the back of his skull that eventually he has to look over.

And burst out laughing.]

(( Anubis isn't the only early riser amongst them. He may have noticed Ianuaria also at the cafe for the last few mornings. She's certainly noticed him and his quest to try different things. This morning, she noticed that he ordered something she herself tried earlier in the week. As she walks by, she pauses near his table, her own items in hand. ))

That's good. I had it a few days ago.

(( Emmanuel has no reservations meeting the others involved in their side of the conflict. Maybe he should after his run in with the devil but... no one else seems to have that awful kind of effect on him so, why not?

He noticed Inari when he arrived, observed how he interacts with others. This god seems a little friendly, possibly flirtatious, but in a harmless kind of way. That's good to know going into a one-on-one meal with him. Emmanuel can be prepared. ))

A mistake.

(( Wait. That probably requires some context. ))

I mistook our enemy for a common demon and I came here to deal with that.

[He's been meaning to introduce himself to Ianuaria, he really has. Even he's not sure why he gets so quiet whenever she arrives, except that he's never seen a girl that looks quite like her and it makes him feel extremely shy. Maybe the first inklings of a crush?

When she suddenly stops to talk to him, his heart jumps into his throat and he finds himself touching the back of his hair to make sure it's all neatly in place.]

Oh! Really? I'm glad! But I haven't had anything really bad here yet, so I'm not surprised...

[After a brief, uneasy silence, Anubis finally works up the courage to ask:]

Would - you like to join me?

[While Father Emmanuel Yoon may be a Catholic priest, and he may not act overtly romantic with anyone else at the hotel, Inari's heard from more than one source that his heart already belongs to someone else here. Maybe even multiple someones? Scandalous!

He gives the impression of a cold fish at first, but there's definitely heat of some kind simmering beneath his chilly demeanor and Inari's intrigued. His eyebrows shoot up at the answer and he sits up straighter, chin lifting off his hand.]

That's quite the mistake! And yet you've stayed to see the battle through to the end, have you?

(( David's no slouch in the looks department either. Up close it's easier to admire those dark, soulful eyes and the unique shape of his mouth. ))

Oh, you noticed? (( He's teasing, then letting his smile turn more intentionally sheepish: )) I was feeling a little shy.

(( There. Maybe David will feel less shy now. ))

I thought I may have lost my chance when that other guy sat down.

Hybrid Kingdom PSL

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