[The Casino is always a dull roar even when it's largely uninhabited, but that can't be helped. Fitz has settled at the a long bar that will eventually house smaller slot machines, but is currently a convenient place to store sampler dishes for snacks. He's bent over some paperwork, but looks up at her approach, sliding a seafood platter gently as an offer.]
Thanks for coming out here. You've been settling in all right, yeah?
It is. The staff is working on a proper menu to give to the kitchen when things open back up. I made them promise not to use any proteins that humans can't stomach.
[He reaches for an enormous shrimp and dips it as they talk.]
There's better housing to be had here. It's mot for everyone, but you're hardly just everyone. You've been nice to the demons, yeah?
Likely that the carnival vendors deserved to be yelled at.
[There's no judgment in his tone; the carnival is an absolute pox on the community.]
But the ones who tend to the moving tend to have access to more personalized comforts. I'll introduce you to N'grolq next time he comes round the lab.
[There's a particularly guttural noise that seems to pass for a name. It's nothing particularly human, but what's the point of being in Hell for two years if one isn't going to pick up some conversational Demon?]
[ he wrinkles his nose. That's almost definitely offensive. ]
We can work on your accent. It'll be easier to communicate with the demons who have differently-shaped mouths if you don't expect them to speak in human tongues all the time.
[ he stops to make a note of it, scribbling. ]
But before we get into why I've asked you out here, I need to confirm the secrecy of the project.
That extra bit of underworld bureaucracy? Seems about right that he'd be wasting his time with correspondence instead of doing something useful. [As far as Fitz is concerned, the new figure is Lilith's assistant at best, and at worst another barrier between the inmates and their goals.]
I doubt he'll be helpful with our larger goals. If he was interested, he wouldn't be assisting with the intake process in the first place. It's more likely that he's a spy.
Your expertise is in monitoring cosmic rays, yeah? I think you'll be able to help streamline some of the processes that keep this place operational without devolving into calling it "magic". This building is our line of defense against celestial interference.
You're correct, but it tends to annoy the sorcerers when you say that within earshot.
[Jane Foster is a collection of good points in the shape of a person. He has a very high opinion of her.]
But I think I should be particularly clear. The task isn't without danger. Barbas was summoned here because we've blocked access to Lucifer's usual oversight. [That's how he understands the situation, at least.] It would tear Lucifer apart to have to generate enough power to sustain the barrier on his own. Tending to this isn't without risk.
The purpose of this facility is to share the burden of power generation to the next most populous resource. You can imagine how well that would go over if we were more upfront with the residents about that.
[Not all dangers come from the outside, after all.]
The wording they use isn't the best, but the currency used during the betting process taps into a person's energy reserves. It's controlled, and as safe as I could make it, but Lucifer claims that it's siphoning souls.
[Which is ridiculous. "Souls" aren't real. Energy is energy, subject to all the normal scientific rules.]
I thought it best to not advertise the particulars of the process, but I'd rather not leave as many variables up to Lilith and Loki alone.
[Or succubus?? She doesn’t know if there’s a gender neutral term fo soul sucking sex demons. Seems like their should be. Surely some of them are non-binary.
But that’s beside the point.]
Our energy replenishes itself, though, right? It must or else we’d get drained completely eventually and the casino would lose power.
[Because of course he's going to assume that literally.]
But the energy is safe. It'll never go quickly enough for a player to be in any genuine danger. They'll always fall asleep before reaching a dangerous level.
[He flips through his paperwork to get her the metrics he's taken about usage thus far.]
I've noticed some behavioral quirks in practice, but nothing I'd consider permanent or worrisome.
[His cheeks burn faintly as she suggests that she considers gambling to be a sphere that excludes intercourse. The games Jemma plays don't always match with the way normal couples engage.]
It seems as though they're more easily overtired. They'll be louder, and much more eager to behave in unhealthy ways. Lucifer says it's because losing their souls strips their morality, but he's an unreliable narrator on the best of days. [And also, that sounds ridiculous.]
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sasstrophysics) wrote2021-04-07 08:41 pm
after the return from Mammon's place
Thanks for coming out here. You've been settling in all right, yeah?
no subject
No problem. I kinda miss the plush beds from Mammon’s castle but I’m doing okay…
Ooh, is that lobster?
[Yes, she did get distracted by the seafood platter.]
no subject
[He reaches for an enormous shrimp and dips it as they talk.]
There's better housing to be had here. It's mot for everyone, but you're hardly just everyone. You've been nice to the demons, yeah?
no subject
[She takes one of the lobster claws and dips it in butter.]
I, uh, yelled at a couple of vendors at the carnival. But besides that I’ve been getting along with the demons, I think.
no subject
[There's no judgment in his tone; the carnival is an absolute pox on the community.]
But the ones who tend to the moving tend to have access to more personalized comforts. I'll introduce you to N'grolq next time he comes round the lab.
[There's a particularly guttural noise that seems to pass for a name. It's nothing particularly human, but what's the point of being in Hell for two years if one isn't going to pick up some conversational Demon?]
no subject
[Did she just butcher the shit out of that name? She absolutely did.]
no subject
We can work on your accent. It'll be easier to communicate with the demons who have differently-shaped mouths if you don't expect them to speak in human tongues all the time.
[ he stops to make a note of it, scribbling. ]
But before we get into why I've asked you out here, I need to confirm the secrecy of the project.
no subject
[Then again maybe demon memes would still need to be in a demon language. Oh well.
She takes a bite of lobster and savors it before replying.]
Sure. You've bought my silence with lobster meat.
no subject
That extra bit of underworld bureaucracy? Seems about right that he'd be wasting his time with correspondence instead of doing something useful. [As far as Fitz is concerned, the new figure is Lilith's assistant at best, and at worst another barrier between the inmates and their goals.]
I doubt he'll be helpful with our larger goals. If he was interested, he wouldn't be assisting with the intake process in the first place. It's more likely that he's a spy.
no subject
[geeze Fitz, way to take the joy out of shitposting.]
So how do you want me to help?
no subject
no subject
[Jane had a point there, she’s pretty sure.]
But, yeah, that’s more or less what I did in New Jersey. Some of my equipment even made it to Hell with me.
no subject
[Jane Foster is a collection of good points in the shape of a person. He has a very high opinion of her.]
But I think I should be particularly clear. The task isn't without danger. Barbas was summoned here because we've blocked access to Lucifer's usual oversight. [That's how he understands the situation, at least.] It would tear Lucifer apart to have to generate enough power to sustain the barrier on his own. Tending to this isn't without risk.
no subject
no subject
[Not all dangers come from the outside, after all.]
no subject
no subject
[Which is ridiculous. "Souls" aren't real. Energy is energy, subject to all the normal scientific rules.]
I thought it best to not advertise the particulars of the process, but I'd rather not leave as many variables up to Lilith and Loki alone.
no subject
[Or succubus?? She doesn’t know if there’s a gender neutral term fo soul sucking sex demons. Seems like their should be. Surely some of them are non-binary.
But that’s beside the point.]
Our energy replenishes itself, though, right? It must or else we’d get drained completely eventually and the casino would lose power.
no subject
It's got nothing to do with intercourse, Darcy.
[Because of course he's going to assume that literally.]
But the energy is safe. It'll never go quickly enough for a player to be in any genuine danger. They'll always fall asleep before reaching a dangerous level.
[He flips through his paperwork to get her the metrics he's taken about usage thus far.]
I've noticed some behavioral quirks in practice, but nothing I'd consider permanent or worrisome.
no subject
[She pauses, frowning.]
What behavioral quirks?
no subject
It seems as though they're more easily overtired. They'll be louder, and much more eager to behave in unhealthy ways. Lucifer says it's because losing their souls strips their morality, but he's an unreliable narrator on the best of days. [And also, that sounds ridiculous.]
no subject
[Because that sounds a bit like getting drunk.]
no subject