Whatever it takes

Here

[recklesseeker-x]

"I do have a pretty great life, thanks Val." Mimi said in reply to Valak as she leaned on her palm, resting it down on the counter top behind her as her other loosely twirled a strand of her curly hair around one of her fingers. As Persephone then started also playing with Mimi's hair, Mimi dropped her own hand and, tilting her body towards her friend to give her her full and undivided attention, Mimi looked to Persephone with a big smile. "Oh, so get this -- I found out that one of the angel's on the council is like, totally cheating with another council members wife. And they think we're animals." Rolling her eyes, Mimi picked up her glass of Glyft and took a sip as she said. "Don't worry about Val, you know what boys are like."

"When did you get here? Missed all the fun." He said to Valak, David now leaning back in the creaky chair he sat on as he simply took a large mouthful of his drink and watched both of the chatting girls for a minute. Tilting his head towards his old, childhood friend, David then asked. "Your father here too? I heard Malbonte offered mine a deal." Considering David had yet to see Azrael, his own father, he hadn't known the details of the deal just yet -- while his father wouldn't tell him even if he asked, David could only guess. His father's unwavering, undying loyalty for his freedom and his apparent rightful place back on the throne of their level of hell.

[theimprovteam]

"You're most welcome." Valak says as he raises his glass to Mimi a smile upon his face before taking a drink and then he was looking to David when his old time friend asked his question. "At my father's side of course. Listening to him preaching on how much this wasn't our fight and to stay out of it." He mutters while shaking his head. "He did? Did your father take it? I'm not sure if my father got asked, he seems to find himself on the outs of battles." Valak says with a venom tone in his voice, very clear on what he thought of his father. "Thought I'd at least get some fighting in, but like my father I turned up late for that. How was the battle? Angels put up a fight?"

A scoff was leaving Persephone's lips hearing Mimi telling her story. "They're such hypocrites up here aren't they?" She asks her now, blue hue looking over Mimi's hair before her eyes connected with Mimi's. "I know. People tell me I'm too uptight." Which if they knew her mother they'd understand why, didn't mean that Persephone liked that kind of talk when it came to herself. She didn't care if he was teasing David, but she didn't like that talk pointed at her. "How's your family, Mimi? Hope they're not getting caught up in this." She always envied Mimi and the family she got. Sometimes Persephone had to leave Mimi's house because it got too much.

[recklesseeker-x]

As Rogue was slightly pushed aside by Dame Aylin, her dark eyes eventually shifted to the carnage before her -- she didn't know any of their names, none of their faces being remotely familiar to her; but she didn't need to know anything, know anyone to feel the overwhelming and crushing sorrow that immediately spread through the streets of Minrathous. Hearing Hades words, causing for Rogue to fall out of whatever small trance she had found herself under as she stared at the pale faces hanging before her, Rogue snapped her head to the side. Before she could ask her friend what she had meant, her dark eyebrows slightly knitting into a frown on her forehead, a more than familiar voice then pulled her attention off of Hades -- she would have to come back to this later, like most things right now. Seeing Yuxi, Rogue grabbed Hades hand and pulled her towards her long-time and very trusted friend. "What are you doing here? Is Whitestone safe?" After promptly flicking her eyes over the entirety of his body, clearly gauging if he had any injuries, she finally let go of Hades hand with a barely audible sigh. "It's good to see you."

[theimprovteam]

What was Yuxi doing here? Oh yes, he was here to find Rogue, and he hadn't let her know that. His eyes were taking in everything now before he was turning them onto his dear friend, a small smile gracing his elvish features. "I'm here to see you." He says to her before he was nodding his head. "Whitestone is fine, for now. There seems to be some sort of weird disgusting stuff growing down there. And growing demonic ugly things." He says, of course he didn't know what it was for he had never seen anything like it himself, he just knew it was gross. "It's good to see you're safe. You left before I could catch up with you. What is happening here?"

It was clear that this angel wanted to take the body away from here, but Rook didn't want to leave Neve. Of course the mage came from Minrathous, and Dock Town was her home, but still, Rook couldn't leave her here, she didn't want to walk away. "Rook." Neve says which has Rook looking down at her now before kneeling down beside her, because she felt weird looking down at Neve. "Go. I'm staying. I want to make sure The Viper and the rest of them know what happened here." She says to Rook who was looking around the others now, before turning her head back to Neve. "No. I'm staying." She says before standing, though she keeps a hand on Neve's shoulder. "Rogue, you're alright leading the others back to the Lighthouse right? Neve wants to help her people, and I think one of us should stay behind in case something goes down again." She says to the other woman, though it seemed like she seemed a little preoccupied, but Rook trusted that Rogue wouldn't do anything reckless on the way back to the Lighthouse. "Maybe also, show Dame Aylin where we are hiding out?"

[recklesseeker-x]

"The gang's all here." Mimi said softly upon hearing Valak's words, one of her hands sitting on her chest, directly on her heart as she slightly jutted out her plump bottom lip into a small pout. "Yes, very sweet, anyway --" she then promptly said as she began to push the overflowing glasses of Glyft in different directions on the bar top in order for the others to be able to reach them, clearly more interested in finally drinking with her friends than anything else; welcome to Mimi's world, where stress was low and nothing seemed to truly matter. "Yeah, you'd be bored too if you were me." she then said to Valak with a slight frown, one he knew wasn't anywhere near serious as she eagerly picked up her cup and began to take a large drink of it, the liquid immediately warming her insides as she rounded the bar and eventually opted to sit on top of it, ever so slightly swinging her legs. "You guys were all fighting for your lives and shit and I was just the cheerleader."

"So nothing new for you then, little Mimi?" David then jested as slightly bent over in order to sip some of the overflowing Glyft from the cup, earning a glare from Mimi and a roll of her dark eyes, something all of them saw often. Smiling, David then was able to pick up the drink that had been poured for him without any of it now spilling down his arm or making his hand sticky. "I wanna rewind back to Persephone's earlier comment, though." He then said, pointing at her with his free hand as he walked across the room in order to take a seat next to Valak, someone he hadn't seen in a very long time. "I do smell good, don't I? See, P -- You and I, we're like this." Using his free hand, he then pointed between both he and Persephone, as if proving they just had something.

[theimprovteam]

A soft laugh leaves his lips as he watches Mimi and listens to her. "I highly doubt I'd be bored if I were you. You live an interesting life without the fighting." He points out to her now, his eyes then going to David as he sits down, and all Valak does is give him a pat on the back before he was finishing up his drink in one go that Mimi put down. "By the sounds of it Mimi, I don't think these two did any fighting either. Sounds like all they did was flirt with each other the whole time." He says now, before pulling out a smoke from thin air and lighting it. "Should we give you some space so you can get to the exciting part of your new found relationship?"

Persephone moved from her seat and sat up on the bar with Mimi, her legs dangling off the edge while a finger was playing with Mimi's hair as she listened to Valak's words now which had her rolling her eyes, after she scanned the room of course. The soldier in her making sure the place was secure that no one was hiding here that shouldn't be. "Men." Was all Persephone said to Valak before she was shooting David a smile. "It's like we were always meant to be." She says before turning her attention to Mimi now, her hand dropping from the woman's hair. "What have you been up to while we were out there? Anything exciting?"

[recklesseeker-x]

Minrathous erupted into absolute chaos as soon as the bodies were strung up before them for all to see; humans and even angels that no longer bothered to hide their identity stood around with open mouths, stunned into silence as they saw the identities of the dead in front of them -- and while some of Minrathous' best were strung up out in the open, only one barely alive being gained the attention of Abaddon; Selûne. Darkness then engulfed the gallows in which the bodies were hanging on, a singular figure emerging from the deep depths of his shadows to eventually appear before the Goddess. Dark and impossibly empty void's of eyes locked onto the Goddess before him -- taking a step towards her, Abaddon then reached a pale and slim hand out to touch her angelic face in a surprisingly gentle manner, one that Abaddon wasn't known for. "You poor angel's always put your trust in the hands of the wrong people, don't you?" He all but whispered, his words only being for her to hear -- and like his touch, his words were also surprisingly gentle, lacking any sort of sarcasm or malice; it was as though he was simply stating a fact. And as their eyes locked, Selûne still fighting with every last bit of her strength, Abaddon's darkness slowly began to engulf the gallows once more as screams could begin to be heard from behind -- and from all around; and with her last bit of strength, Selûne whispered back. "Please.. don't let her see.." Putting her faith now in Abaddon, he simply nodded as the darkness began to engulf her body, leaving only the back of Abaddon able to be seen by the crowd that was now running towards them. He never once turned around, never once took his eyes off of Selûne as they eventually began to sink into the ground below, his darkness completely engulfing them as they disappeared from every other living being's eyes -- now leaving behind Selûne's dead body.

[theimprovteam]

Neve was leading them through the Shadow Dragon's hideout, though no one was here, which had Rook on edge. Shouldn't there be people here? Even Neve seemed to be on edge, so Rook continued to follow her, stealing a glance to Rogue and Hades, Rook shrugged her shoulders, before they were heading out into the sunlit streets and rain. Dock Town wasn't what Rook would expect. There were homeless on the ground begging for coin or perhaps food. Rook stopped at each one and offered them money, and she could hear Neve's prosthetic foot tapping with each movement, which meant that the mage wasn't waiting on her to catch up. They were then being lead into a small courtyard where people were gathered, but the shops doors were closed, which had Rook frowning as they walked past them still. "I don't like this." Rook muttered before she heard flapping of wings and Rook was quick to bring out her staff along with Neve who was doing the same.

"I am not here to hurt you. You'd be dead already if that were the case." Aylin says now, which was earning a scoff from one of them, but blue eyes were staring at the young woman with a skeleton staff pointing at her. "I am Dame Aylin. I was sent here by my mother to aid those that are standing up against the evil of this world." Aylin tells her, watching as the skeleton staff was being put away right now. None of them say anything as the woman with a snake leg began to lead them away. Aylin was following behind them, that smile still upon her face. She didn't know if these were the people that were standing up against Malbonte but she'd follow them to find out at least. Gasps and murmurs could be heard from ahead of them. Aylin standing taller than the rest of them could see people had been strung up in the square, where once humans were putting on shows for money, selling papers, and just enjoying a good conversation. Now they were all standing around staring at these corpses. The snake leg woman ran ahead and soon the dead staff one was following her. Aylin continued to walk slowly, before her eyes caught the sight of shadows around one body. She could only see the back of the male, and before she could get a closer look he was gone, and there where everyone could see her was Aylin's mother. She pushed the tiny beings out of the way before taking her mother's body in her arms, and began to wail as she noticed there was no life in her eyes. She had told Aylin to get out of heaven so why didn't she get herself out? Her wings drooped behind her as she held tightly onto her mother's dead body now. So many questions swirling through her mind. "This was Malbonte's work." Aylin found herself saying as she lifts her mother's body off the ground.

These were her people that were being hung up. As she got closer she could see Dorian Palvus. One of the magisters now with a rope around his neck, and the other was Tarquin, The Viper's best friend and another Shadow Dragon with a rope around his neck. She felt her legs give out as she was looking up at them. Where was she? Why didn't she save them? What had happened here that had this happening? She couldn't hear anything else as she just knelt there looking up at those two faces, faces that she knew, and even worked with. "Neve, we can't stay here. It's not safe." Neve hears Rook say to her now, but Neve was just shaking her head. She didn't care if it wasn't safe, these people died and Neve couldn't leave them here.

Hades couldn't help the scoff that escaped her lips hearing the Angel blame Malbonte. There wasn't even a reason to blame him. None of them knew what happened here, none of them saw him. "Course you'd blame him." Hades says to the Angel now, not able to hold back her anger. Halfbreds always getting the short end of the stick, they were always getting blamed for something that they never did. It was always the same ole story.

Yuxi noticed the crowd of people just standing around, but he was too busy fighting these Venatori to really figure out why they were just standing there. There was only two of them, and he knew he could take them down easy. He wasn't really here for the city or it's people, he was here to find Rogue. He had vital information for her and nothing would stand in his way until he got that information to her. He had cut down the Venatori like they were nothing, but then again the cult could never fight properly anyway, they could never withstand him. Flaming sword was put away and light on his feet, the Elf made his way toward the crowd of people. "You're welcome." He starts to one of them, who seemed to be upset about something, he wasn't paying attention to that.

[recklesseeker-x]

6 minutes, that's all it took, though even David knew that to Persephone, it would have felt like a lifetime -- he even inaudibly laughed to himself about that very fact as he eventually lowered himself in the ground, his red and devilish wings flapping on either side to kick up the dust around them. "Since when do I leave you? We've known each other two seconds and I'm already your right arm." He now said with his usual smile, so very charming that he didn't need to try, it just simply came naturally. After taking her smaller hand in his larger one, David pulled her slim body to his as they now both hovered in the air, his hands immediately resting familiarly on her waist as he held her close and flew back up into the air. After flying past broken buildings and even flying through some of them, David finally put Persephone's feet back on the ground as soon as they came into contact with a ruined bar -- which was already occupied.

"What the hell is that smell?" Could be heard from the black haired demoness now behind the bar, the one picking up old glasses with her fingernails while looking at the place the angels frequented with undisguised disgust. "Oh, it's the smell of victory." She then said as she outstretched her arms into the air above her, wiggling and jiggling her body as she stuck out her tongue -- her very own victory dance, despite the fact that Mammon hadn't allowed for Mimi to fight at all in the battle for the Citadel. "No, actually, David -- I think it's you." Earning a scoff from David as he approached the bar, Mimi then began to pour the four of them a very large glass of Glyft in order to get them well and truly wasted, if only for a couple of moments.

[theimprovteam]

It felt like a lifetime before David came back to her. She had moved from her position from sitting down and began to instead pace around. She knew she could fly if she wanted to, but Persephone was terrified of what that would bring. She wasn't afraid of anything except the power that was residing in her. It was why she didn't use it. She was a capable fighter given the layer of hell that she was brought up in. "It's because we have so much fun together." She says before giving him a wink. Her arms wrapped around his neck as they flew into the air. Given that she barely knew David, she became quite comfortable with him. He was just easy going didn't seem like he didn't take anything too seriously, or himself for that matter. Everything with David was free and fun, it was hard to imagine doing this with someone who didn't know the meaning of the word fun. As they settled into the tavern Persephone let a smile grace her features seeing Mimi. Mimi's dance got a laugh out of the demon and a shake of her head. Her eyes glance to Valak who seemed to be sitting on a stool at the bar, waiting for Mimi to pour their drinks. "I don't know, David smells quite nice actually." She says giving David another wink as she found herself sitting on a stool on the other side of the bar.

Valak had just been sitting at the bar, watching Mimi do her dance and pouring drinks while asking questions that Valak didn't actually have the answers to, like the smell he didn't know what she was smelling. It wasn't until she mentioned David that Valak turned around to see his old friend in the doorway with Persephone beside him. "Seems like the ole gang has found their way back to each other once more." Valak says, his voice deep and raspy his suit didn't even have one crease in it. Not that he even fought in this war, his father telling him it wasn't their war. Didn't stop Valak from coming here to see what was happening and taking down a few not in his father's name, but it was a good way to release some anger. "Mimi here was getting bored."

[recklesseeker-x]

Dark, almost fox-like eyes lingered for a second longer than necessary on the large angel that had began to back away from the group -- Both Neve's and Rogue's eyes lingered on him, both girls having their own long list of questions; but for now, other matters were far more pressing. After feeling Hades very gently nudge her arm, Rogue finally tilted her head to her friend and simply gave her a small nod to indicate that everything was fine. After grabbing her sword and sheathing it, she then grabbed a few more of the equipment she had worn for years now, it being somewhat of a good luck charm for her now. After pulling on her gloves and skin-tight top, she pulled her black hair out of the back of her shirt and followed both Neve and Rook. As of right now, both Rogue and Hades knew very little of the lighthouse and crossroads they had found themselves in; all Rogue could really do was look around in absolutely awe when they did, in fact, enter the crossroads in order to find what they were looking for. As Neve took point, it being clear she knew where she was going, Rogue and Hades brought up the back of the group. "I've never seen an angel before." she mused aloud to Hades as the pair walked a little slower than the others, the makeshift group still not quite trusting each other just yet.

[theimprovteam]

After getting her weapon and her armor, Neve didn't hesitate to step through the Eluvian. She didn't stop to have a look around, not when the job was leading her back home. She hadn't seen Dock Town since they had interrupted Solas' ritual. She wondered how the Shadow Dragons were holding up, and if they found out anything themselves. If Malbonte and Shaara were doing anything in Minrathous the Shadow Dragon's would know. First they needed to find an Eluvian that would take them there. Neve knew what Minrathous looked like, so she was leading while Rook was beside her being very quiet which Neve would thank her silently for later. Neve didn't trust people easily, she tended to take a step back and just observe others. Cain definitely had her watching him, and it seemed that Rogue was also. Neve didn't have an opinion on Rogue or Hades, but for now they didn't give Neve a reason to put their names in her book. For now.

Hades followed Rogue through the mirror, and for a moment she stopped walking as she took in the place. The trees were dead, but the place was beautiful, it was like a dream except they weren't dreaming. Hades never gave a thought about the fade, let alone thought about exploring it, but looking around them, seeing all these mirrors that could take them anywhere they wanted to go, it seemed like a good place for them to settle down in. She had to look behind her, and through the mirror she could see the Lighthouse just right there waiting for them, but the further away they got, the mirror just looked like it was dormant. Perhaps it was to hide the Lighthouse so no one would just walk into it, but then again; if you didn't know about the mirrors you couldn't just stumble into them. Her feet carried her down the stairway toward one of the many mirrors that were surrounding them. Her golden hue glances to Rogue now hearing her words, and Hades had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing. It was ironic what Rogue had just said, but she didn't know about Hades, and Hades wanted to keep it that way. It wasn't because she didn't trust Rogue, it was the simple fact that Hades was being hunted. She didn't want Rogue to be caught in the crossfire. "Probably for the best. They tend to have an ego of looking down upon people like us." She says, keeping her words vague, but it wasn't like they weren't truthful. Angels definitely thought they were better than the rest of them.

"This one." She hears Neve say, before two woman in front of them just head into the mirror. "Wonder what we're going to run into here." Hades mutters to herself, before following suit.

[recklesseeker-x]

"Thedas." David told her, a surprisingly melancholy tone to his usually sarcastic and light voice -- it was a tone Persephone had never heard come out of him in their short time being allies, now turned friends. And as David's hidden feelings became rather clear, the demon eventually pushed himself off the dirty ground beneath them. After dusting himself off and making an audible groan at the fact that he had a small rip in his expensive black shirt, David waded through the ruins -- eventually finding a bottle of Glyft; a drink known to get immortals drunk, if only for a couple of minutes. After tearing off the lid with his pearly white teeth, he downed a very large and much needed gulp of it, his large and long arm extending out beside him to offer her some. Wiping away any remnants that might have still been on his rather full and plump lips with one of his dusty sleeves, David looked around at the ruined Citadel, one that would promptly be rebuilt to house all of those on Lusacan's side. "I need more to drink than this." And with that, his large and red wings stretched out on either side of him before he took to the air, looking for a pub that hadn't been ruined in the battle.

[theimprovteam]

His tone had Persephone looking at him thoughtfully, before bright blue hue was taking in their surroundings before landing back on David. She wasn't sure if she should press him for more information or if she should leave things be for right now. Then again, despite not knowing much about the demon before her, she already felt like she could trust him. "What were you doing in Thedas?" She asks, her voice low and soft as she reaches for the bottle and finishes it off, just as David was taking to the skies and leaving her there, swinging her arms up in the air, before dropping them at her side. She could fly if she wanted to, she could spread her wings from her back and take flight, but Persephone vowed to never touch into that side of her, to never feel her power coursing through her veins. "You're just going to leave me here then?" She calls out to him before sighing and sitting on the rumble that was once under her feet now under her butt.

[recklesseeker-x]

A storm raged inside of him, a whirlwind of emotions that couldn't possibly be spoken about -- they could only simply be shown through rageful actions, one's he would most likely commit soon in order to release, maybe even process what he was thinking, feeling. Fuck, he hated feelings so much, hated the fact that every single person had been right about him the entire time; he was exactly like his father. David frowned upon hearing her question, the demon immediately beginning to dust off his expensive suit, particles of dust flying around them as he did -- despite both Persephone and David seemingly deciding to stick together throughout this entire ordeal, neither one of them were the kind to be all that open and honest about their dark and gritty past, at least not right away. Looking back at the direction Malbonte had gone, David then asked her. "Where were you, before this?" Because, in reality, the pair had simply stuck together because of their attraction and how well they seemed to get along; they still knew very little about each other, only the things that everyone around them already knew.

[theimprovteam]

She was picking at her nails, or rather cleaning them when she hears David's question. It wasn't like Persephone didn't trust David, it was just that she didn't trust anyone. Malbonte could get in her head at any time, so Persephone did her best to keep things light with everyone, and her mother wasn't exactly someone you could confide in either. Demons and Devils were never trustworthy you show a little weakness and they would exploit it and hurt you for centuries. "I was clearing my head at some old ruins." Persephone tells him a shrug of her shoulders were given now like it was no big deal. It was, but she wasn't about to explain why, not when she didn't know where Sage was, and Malbonte was around here somewhere also. "What about you? What were you doing?" It was hard to ignore a call in your head, no matter what you were doing or where you were.

[recklesseeker-x]

Slender fingers very slowly began to subtly curl into fists at either side of him, a barely perceptible bead of sweat slightly dampening his forehead -- his entire body stiffened even more than it already had been. One set of fingers then uncurled and quickly pushed into one of his pockets, the angel immediately pulling a cigarette from it's pack and pushed it between his lips. While their was no real reason why an immortal needed to smoke, it was clear it was more of a distraction for the angel before them -- after igniting the cigarette, he took an apparent much needed drag from it before answering. "It won't be easy for even Malbonte to release Lusacan -- there will be many needed rituals, some he'll have to do himself here on Thedas." Upon hearing Rook's question, asking if other demons were working with him, Cain nodded as he exhaled some of the smoke from his lungs. "They're already praying on the weak; they're even holding mass in his name all across Thedas."

"Already?" Rogue asked without too much thought, something she did often, dark eyebrows softly shooting upwards on her forehead as she rolled her dark eyes, mostly talking to Hades as she grumbled. "They're quick, those holier than thou nutcases." Another day, another end of the world it seemed, both Rogue and Hades being far too used to this sort of thing by now to freak out and accept defeat -- they'd overcome the impossible before, they could do it again. "So everyone that was an asshole before is going to be an even bigger asshole now? Got it."

[theimprovteam]

None of this was good, of course it wasn't. Malbonte was released and he wanted to release Luscan which wasn't a good thing either, and they had no idea where to find Malbonte. Sure Cain told them that he was in Heaven right now, but there was no way they could get there, and it wasn't like they even had the power to take down Malbonte. Neve didn't know where they could start. They could take out a few Venatori for sure but there were too many of them, and if they were already giving their allegiance to Malbonte, well it would be hard to cut them down. "I need a coffee." Neve mutters to herself which just has Rook looking over at her with a concerned look in her eyes but Neve was shaking her head telling her with that she was fine. "Where exactly do you think we should start?" She asks Cain now, knowing for right now, all they had was nothing. They had nowhere to start let alone for now no way to stop it.

"So. As Rogue so elegantly put it, we need to find these little assholes, to hopefully find Malbonte? Or to stop him from gaining more power? I'm just starting out here, so don't judge me for not knowing how to do these things." Rook says though her eyes drift to Neve, knowing this no where to start would be bugging her. "Maybe we should hit Minrathous see what the Venatori are doing there? That seems like a good start, right?" She asks, hoping someone would agree, and point them in the right direction. She didn't want Neve to lose sleep by trying to figure this out on her own.

"I can see how you failed at the ritual." Hades says her golden hue staring at Rook as she says this before she was turning her head to look at Rogue, a slight smirk appeared on her face hearing her mumbled words a small nod of her head given as that smirk disappeared. "Didn't help that they had help from the supposed good guys." Hades says to Rogue under her breath her eyes still staying on Rook. "Just as well as they have us. We're very good at getting things done."

[recklesseeker-x]

Having spent his entire immortal life deep down in the dungeon with Lusacan, too long for Malbonte to have kept count, his age even being a mystery to him, he wasn't used to people or touch. He didn't look at Sage when she talked, he didn't look at anyone as black vein's began to slowly disappear from his golden skin, leaving only his eyes the color of his power. Malbonte then removed his arm from Sage's grasp without a word, none was needed, black and empty eyes looking around at the Citadel around them, a place he had only seen in Bont's memories when both of his counterparts had been rightfully put back together again. As his eyes stayed on some of the now ruined buildings around them, Malbonte's low and emotionless voice filled the mind of Persephone, an unknown connection they shared -- Malbonte could read her thoughts, able to speak to her through his mind; Persephone simply needed to think in order to talk back to him. The floating islands -- tonight. Clearly, it didn't matter much to him if she knew where they were or if she could even get there, but he then finally looked to Sage, speaking out loud for the first time since he was set free from his prison. "I need time to regain power." Which could be seen as surprising to some, considering just how much power oozed off of him still, apparently not even at full strength just yet. "Take David and Persephone to Thedas tomorrow -- some traitors need dealing with. Make a scene." Large black wings then stretched out on either side of him and with a large gust of wind, Malbonte flew into the air and disappeared inside one of the large and somewhat now ruined buildings, needing space and time in nothing but his own presence.

A usually relaxed David stiffened beside Persephone, his own dark eyes on Malbonte's fleeting figure as his words, his orders, echoed through David's mind momentarily, completely clouding everything else. Traitors need dealing with. The vivid images of his colleagues, friends, entered his mind, not all of the Astrean's having fell in the battle before this -- the battle that had made David bow instead of becoming a traitor like the others. Cassiel and Raphael, two others from Astrea's Detective Agency on Thedas where David had worked before now, before what was being deemed the apocalypse, hadn't knelt, hadn't given in like he had. Eyes flashed red, then seemingly cooled as best as they could as he looked to Sage -- he only nodded when she gave them the necessary details they needed for the mission, simply when they were expected and where to meet.

[theimprovteam]

Blue hue stay looking out at the Citadel when she hears Malbonte in her head. It had always been something they could do, she didn't know why they could do it, but they could. His voice sharp and straight to the point entered her mind, and Persephone's eyes blink slowly hearing it, before it was disappearing. "As you wish." She says softly, before he was telling Sage to take them to Thedas. She loved mortals, of course she'd never say this out loud but all of them were covered in Sin, and it was a delicious scent, even if Persephone tried her best to not linger on the scent. She heard him leave and then did she turn to his bloodmage now who was giving them orders. Persephone nodded her head though her eyes glanced to David a raised eyebrow giving to him, a silent question before turning back to Sage. "Are you staying to watch the show?" She asks, though the bloodmage just turned and walked away making Persephone chuckle to herself. "She needs to let loose sometimes." The blonde muttered before turning to look to David now. "You're being very unlike yourself. What's on your mind? Or would you wanna skip the small talk?"

[recklesseeker-x]

It was almost funny how quickly everything changed, even the very air around them became thicker, almost suffocatingly so as a figure suddenly appeared in the sky of the broken building both Persephone and David were currently fighting in. Malbonte had arrived and wherever Malbonte was, Sage would follow -- whether or not you could see her was the real mystery. Impossibly large, intimidatingly so, wings lightly flapped as the half-demon, half-angel immortal hung in the air, somewhat lifelessly for a second. Small black veins then began to slowly spread throughout his body, turning his already black eyes completely the color of the blackened sky around them. David's hand then quickly, without even a second thought, grasped at Persephone's hand, pulling her to his chest as his own wings stretched out and David flew into the air, wings rapidly and easily fighting against the wind as he got them the hell out of there -- just in time. With a deafening scream, Malbonte's arms flew to the side as nothing but black aimed down on the building David had just flew away from moments ago, Malbonte's power immediately engulfing the entire building -- screams were heard momentarily, from both enemies and allies, horrifying and deafeaning. Soon it all stopped, almost as though nothing had even taken place, leaving only a black cloud in it's wake.

Both David and Persephone crashed to the ground below, thankfully doing absolutely nothing to hurt either of the immortals -- David rolled onto his back, allowing for his curly hair to mix with the dirt below it as he looked up to the sky, the one that now had began to lighten. "Phew." Leaning his head to the side, looking at Persephone, he added. "Probably the closest I've been to actual death in awhile."

[theimprovteam]

He definitely had his entrances down, and luckily Persephone was very good at keeping her reflexes sharp, so when she felt Malbonte grab her and thrust them both in the air. She had her own wings, but Persephone wasn't like David or Malbonte, she tended to keep that part of her locked down, and she knew that her lord ( though she'd never call him that to his face, maybe once or twice she has just to see how he reacted to it ) wanted her to tap into those gifts, but Persephone would never allow herself that. She could feel his power hitting everyone down below them, and then she was landing beside David, a smirk upon her face while she listened to him speak. "Well there was that one time, we decided to blow up that ridiculous tower full of those ridiculous mages." Persephone says to him before she was pulling herself to her feet now. "That was fun though. We should do another like that." She says before her eyes then cast a look at Malbonte seeing if he was going to say anything or just vanish into the ether to continue on his crusade. She needed a fuck.

Sage just appears from the darkness, an arm looping with Malbonte's while she listens to David and Persephone talk. She loved seeing Malbonte work, who wouldn't? "My dear, I already have a few followers for you." Sage purrs to Malbonte now, her dark eyes trailing over his beautiful skin as they stand there, in the aftermath of what they had accomplished. "They've already started to spread your name through Thedas." She says with a grin upon her face as red painted nails push her hair off her shoulder. If Sage could die, she would die for Malbonte, but she couldn't and he didn't need anyone to die for him. No one could compare to her counterpart, and anyone who tried, well. They'd soon find out why he was caged for as long as he was. "I can clean our home up, once we're done admiring the view."

[recklesseeker-x]

"He'll want to release Lusacan." Cain told her almost immediately, it being the obvious answer to any other immortal that would have remembered the stories they had been told long ago, stories they had all thought were simply being told to keep the angels and demons segregated from one another. "If the books are correct, and they have been so far, then Malbonte's release means the prison holding Lusacan has weakened and more rituals across Thedas will begin." Wings finally stopped stretching, though it hadn't been to show off or to try and intimidate in any way -- though they didn't know it, Cain hadn't quite been in a position to stretch his wings out at all before now. "Heaven is hard to get to, the Citadel is even harder -- he'll regain power faster in Heaven, all of his immortal allies will as well." It was clear that taking the Citadel meant Malbonte and his forces held the majority of the power in Heaven, while some of his forces already began to make their move on Thedas. Upon being asked if he was hungry, Cain looked back to Rook for the first time, since his words had been directed to Neve, the angel ever so slightly frowning as he said. "No."

[theimprovteam]

"Venhedis." Neve mutters under her breath. She'd heard the stories, who wouldn't have? Venatori definitely talked about him from time to time. Not a lot recently, but back in the days they had, and if anyone knew the Venatori it was Neve. She'd have to go to a library and see if she could find these books that Cain had mentioned to see if she could get some notes from them, an indication on how screwed they were. She was nodding her head listening to him explain that the heavens were hard to get to, and he'd regain power faster there. Made sense why he would attack there first then. "What would have him leave the Citadel would you know?" She asks, her voice not so harsh and neither was the look she was giving him, though it didn't mean that she trusted him, because she didn't. Everyone wanted something for the information that they gave you, he just hadn't played his hand yet which still irked her.

Okay this was bad really bad. Rook only went up against Solas, and that had them losing a dear friend to them because of it. How the hell were they supposed to go up against a half demon half angel along with their allies? Seemed impossible, but Rook definitely wasn't the type to give up, she just came to realize this was much bigger than what she had signed up for. "So he has other demons working with him, correct? Probably would also need other followers, maybe those that are also looking for power?" Fucking Venatori always hanging around them like leaches.

[recklesseeker-x]

Having already been famous since the very second he was born, his fathers reputation staining the entire demonic line that David came from, he was more than used to leaning into the reputation others had decided to give him -- you're like your father, they said, as though they were just waiting for the whispers to jumble his brain like they had done to his father. It was for this reason that David followed Malbonte's call as soon as he heard it, even though he did have a secret of his own that also kept him around. Eyes flashed red, black and expensive suit being stained with blood that wasn't his as bare hands pushed into an angel's chest, ripping his heart out, David then turned around in the midst of the battle for the Citadel to show Persephone. "They don't have any brothels in heaven, they're all too vanilla for that. They probably get off on just holding hands." Upon being propositioned for sex right then and there, David quite literally dropped the heart and began to walk over to her, clearly willing to take her up on her offer, he was a demon after all -- David then audibly growled as he was flanked, sighing dramatically as he mumbled. "Fucking cockblocks." before finally getting back into the fight.

[theimprovteam]

David and herself had one thing in common, both of them were destined to rule a layer of hell once their parents die or stand down. Persephone didn't want that. It looked boring and honestly, it just wasn't in her nature. She had her own reasons for following Malbonte, some of it was from her mother demanding her to be there, another part was due to a connection that made her feel important to him. Not that Malbonte ever let anyone believe they were important, he had his own agenda and Persephone was there to follow and help him. Didn't mean that she didn't find her own fun of course. Sometimes sinning was better than killing. Angel's bled around them, while they fought screaming in agony. She loved the fear in their eyes when they realized they're dying. She saw the heart in David's hand now, and once again her body was thrumming seeing it, bright blue eyes turning red as a growl left her lips before she was controlling herself, locking that side of her down once more, as a smirk appeared on her face. "We'll the mortals have brothels and their fear is delicious." She says, knowing it was quite sickening how turned on she got on other people's fear but you can't help who you are, no matter how much she tried. David was walking toward her now, and she could feel that tingling in her back as she began to approach him also, only for more angels to show up. "The more blood we spill, the more I just want to tear your clothes off." She was saying to David.

[recklesseeker-x]

"And you like to point out the obvious, don't you?" The angel told her, the one who looked like she was ready to rip him to shreds -- the angel still stood tall, unwavering and unmoving as blue eyes then went to Rook as she talked a little too much for his liking. He didn't do well with even other immortals, but mortals were an entire different being that he seemingly had had very little interaction with before. Soon, after the angel allowed a moment of silence to engulf them, as though waiting to see if anyone else could possibly have something else to add, he said simply. "Cain -- and I never said I was here to do all of the work for you." White wings then did stretch out on either sides of him, Cain stretching every single muscle on them and showing just how big, how monstrous they were as he now continued. "In Heaven, it's forbidden for an angel and a demon to be together -- there hasn't been a single instance documented. Malbonte was a myth as old as time, a child fathered by both a demon and an angel.. both angel and demon, with powers no one could even imagine, powers that scared even the oldest Arch Angel." Upon seeing the gravity of the situation slowly sinking in, Cain continued as he now opted to lean against a ruined statue. "He was split into two beings, one angel and one demon; the demon counterpart was thrown into Lusacan's domain and he's stayed there this entire time." Blue eyes then went to Rook, his expression still blank and neutral. "Until the ritual that you interrupted merged both of his counterparts together again, releasing him."

[theimprovteam]

Despite wanting answers, Neve did listen to Cain intently, taking note of everything he was saying. It might not be the information she wanted, but it was the information that they needed. She wasn't going to get sleep anytime soon with what he was telling them, but that was the job and Neve was used to having no sleep. "What does he want?" They all wanted something, and Neve didn't want the answer because usually evil wanted to rule the world. She did take a step back when his wings showed themselves a bit more, not that she was afraid more so she ( would never admit it out loud ) in awe of them. She was still weary, because she didn't know what Cain wanted. She supposed she could file that away for now. "Do you know why he decided to take over the heavens?"

Okay maybe she should take some responsibility for what happened when they stopped Solas, but Rook didn't know about this Malbronte person, not until just now. All the information they had was that Solas wanted to destroy the world, have demons walking free to bring it back to the old ways, right? That's what they got told. "I get that I messed up, but what were we suppose to do? Allow demons to kill thousands of people?" She asks, though the question was rhetorical. Neve clearly had better questions and Rook was letting out a deep sigh, shaking her head. "I guess we're going to have to do some research to try and figure out what his next move is, and see if we can stop him from succeeding." Rook tells the rest of them, grey hue looking around them to see if they all agreed with that for a start, then her eyes turn back to Cain. "Are you hungry? We've got food being prepared."

[theimprovteam]

The Citadel

@recklesseeker-x

The Angels put up a fight but they were no match for them. Angels also had a habit of sitting on their asses and not keeping up with their skills because they believed they were better than everybody else and couldn't be touched. How fucking wrong they were. Persephone despite her conflicts at times was a ruthless fighter; she didn't play games, she preferred a body count and was running through angels like they were nothing. Devils were different, they fought battles in the hells to keep their layer of hell running the way they wanted it to run. She liked fighting, she didn't like who she was, at times. Times like these made her bloodthirsty though; and who wouldn't want to knock the angels down a peg or two? "We should get some drinks after this. Maybe find a Brothel also." She says to David as she blocks an attack from another angel, getting kicked in the back by another before decapitating both at once. She might not tap into her gifts, but Persephone knew how to fight. "Or, you and I can do it right here right now in front of these virgins." She says as she turns to David bright blue eyes sparkling as her pink tongue runs across her pink lips, blonde hair mattered in blood.

[recklesseeker-x]

Impossibly blue eyes only momentarily shifted to the scepter in her hands, something that the angel before them didn't seem too concerned about -- actually, he didn't come across concerned about absolutely anything. An eyebrow very slightly, barely perceptible to most, arched on his creaseless forehead at the woman's questions, which only made him roll his eyes as he replied. "There's more important questions to be asking first." The angel said, his voice still void of any emotion as the large wings on either side of him slightly moved, as if he was stretching them just a little. "Malbonte." He then repeated to one of the many woman in front of him, the angel only taking a small breath before he continued. "He's already stormed Heaven and taken the citadel." Unfortunately for the angel, he had mortals standing in front of him -- upon seeing one of them tilt their head slightly, it being Rogue who had no idea about most God's, he sighed and looked at her. "It's the capital of Heaven -- he's already killed a God."

While Rogue, apparently like everyone else around her, didn't know who he was or where he came from, she didn't like the information that was being handed to them. Why it was being handed to them was also a different story, one they would surely have to uncover. For now, Rogue looked to Hades, a silent and short conversation happening between the pair, before they both looked to the immortal in front of them. "Is this the part where you tell us how to kill him?" A smile then came from the angel, one that looked strained and had Rogue's dark eyebrow arching ever so slightly as he answered. "No -- but I can help."

[theimprovteam]

Well his answers were giving her absolutely nothing, which irked Neve. He was being cryptic, clearly not giving them anything about himself. No one just gave out information for free, not when going up against someone who just took over the Heavens. "Depends on what you think is important of this moment. We can't exactly get to Heaven to find this Malbonte. You're here though, and avoiding questions." Which didn't go unnoticed by Neve. "And you believe we can go up against this being who just took the Heavens?" She was powerful, but she didn't think she was that powerful.

"Wait. Point of order. You're here to tell us about this Malbonte, who took over the Citadel up there, yeah? But, you don't have information for us on how to kill him?" Rook asks, her grey hue darting around to see if anyone else was as lost as she was. Neve was more pissed and Rook knew it was eating at her that she couldn't figure this guy out. Rook on the other hand didn't care about that, well a little, but not enough. The conversation seemed more pressing. "Don't you just wish for once, that when someone comes to you with information on some big bad, they'd have all the information for you? Like what is this guy vulnerable too? And how are we supposed to get to him? Or. Are we pawns?" She asks him now, raising a perfectly manicured eyebrow. "Also I'm Rook, and you are?"

[recklesseeker-x]

Both Keyleth and Pike followed Harding up the stairs, following her to the infirmary that was thankfully in the Lighthouse, a place that immediately fascinated Rogue -- she'd have to ask more questions later, a mental note she made herself as she and Dusk followed both Rook and Neve, the rest of Vox Machina either getting themselves comfortable or dealing to the wounds themselves. "So we're safe here then, in the lighthouse? Even from a God's favorite pet?" Rogue asked, dark eyes scanning the area around them as they walked up the stairs and, eventually, out of one of the buildings they had been in to, instead, find themselves in a courtyard of sorts. For a moment, Rogue stood in awe of what she was seeing -- as if the very space around them that they seemingly floated in was endless, other buildings being attached to the courtyard. Rogue then arched a dark eyebrow as she took in a form she was sure hadn't quite been there a second ago when she had looked, this causing for Rogue's voice to quieten ever so softly as she spoke to both Rook and Neve, regarding the Angel that was clear as day standing in front of them. "He with you?"

Monstrous, feathery white wings stretched out on either sides of the immortal, who wasn't shy about hiding what he was -- an Angel stood before them, well over six foot tall with not a single inch of fat on him. How he got there was anyone's guess, considering he hadn't come from the Eluvian room they had just been in. Impossibly blue eyes looked to the group before him, silence engulfing them before the angel spoke, his voice low and gravelly, without even a single hint of emotion -- what he said, however, piqued all of their interests. "Malbonte -- his name is Malbonte."

[theimprovteam]

Despite what Rook said about the Lighthouse provided, she was leading them toward the kitchen. It would be no point staying in the library if Taash was cooking. Apart of Rook was proud of the awe look that was appearing on Rogue and Hades' faces right now. The Lighthouse was probably more of Rook's home than the home she had in Minrathous. She slowed down her movement allowing the two women to take it all in, which gave her time to check over Neve, fussing over her despite the Detective swatting her hand away. Her eyes then darted to the male that had just appeared out of nowhere now, seeing the wings that were on his back. Which Rook hadn't seen anyone have wings before not even Solas had wings. That she was aware of? "Uh." Is all Rook could say before the male was then speaking. "Mal....Who?"

She was close to having words with Rook right here in front of these strangers about her inability to be on the defensive sometimes. Luckily for their leader, Neve would always be untrustworthy. She took a step forward her scepter in hand her magic flowing as ice began to cover her hands while her brown hue was staring down the male in front of them now. "No one can just appear in the Lighthouse like he just did." She points out to Rogue now, her voice low while she was getting ready to attack if this male took one step toward them. "Who are you? How did you get here?" Neve asks now, her knuckles turning white against her scepter not letting her guard down. She really wanted to ask about this Malbonte person, but he wasn't here, this person was. "Mind telling us who you are?"