[ And that's all the answer she gets, until she's in her car, settled down to drive home, when an archangel materializes in her passenger seat, rolling his eyes about his surroundings. Like his siblings, he still doesn't quite get automobile travel. ]
[ Raina waits maybe a minute, half expecting him to pop up beside her. And when he doesn't, she simply gets in the car and turns on the engine. But Lucifer is always one to make an entrance, and Raina should have known better than to expect the expected!
Momentarily surprised, she turns to him. And then she relaxes with a smile and a shake of her head, putting the car in reverse and backing out of the space. ]
It went well. Several people bled for me and my research this past Saturday, so we've had plenty of fresh samples to look at.
[ And of course, she isn't going to be doing anything good with those samples. ]
Should I drive us somewhere private? Or will the drive itself be enough?
[ He does like to make an entrance, it's true, and with Raina it's always more important to maintain his sense of prestige--he'll come when he's ready, thank you very much.
But he does come. For her. ]
I don't know. Is it easy to multitask when you're driving one of these things? Do you think you can handle a little proposal without taking us off road?
[ Well, coming is always the best part -- no matter when or if he had to make Raina wait.
But. She spares a glance over at him, eyes trailing his profile. ]
I could boast about handling all sorts of things while I'm driving, but I'll cut the teasing. You have me intrigued.
[ Her eyes are back on the road and she takes a detour from the route that would lead her home, finding a nice, dark parking garage that is emptying out steadily as people leave their jobs and headed home. Finding a space away from the rest of the parked vehicles, she turns off the car and then faces Lucifer. ]
[ He sat patiently, one hand on the handle above his head, the other on his knee, as they took the gentle turns through the emptying garage. It was nice and dark, no CCTV, very private--which was perfect. She might want to deny his influence.
When the engine cut and the hovermachine slunk back down into its parking place, he turned in toward her, taking a small jewelery box out of his right pocket and offering it out toward her in his palm. ]
It's traditional to celebrate new business ventures with gifts--particularly when the associate is an attractive young woman. I aim to mix business and pleasure, myself, and this is most definitely both.
[ Her attention immediately landed on the proffered box, staring at it in wonder. She looked up at him as though to confirm it was really okay to take it before gently plucking up the velvet box. She thumbed it open and caught sight of the ring contained therein, studying it thoughtfully. ]
Oh, Lucifer...
[ She uttered in delighted awe. ]
I'm going to guess this is no ordinary ring. Is it okay to try it on?
[ It's very good that they're not driving, considering the awe afforded to the gift. He sat back slightly, let her appreciate the ring inside, and then very gently accepted it back from her hand. ]
I have to warn you, it has ways of making you feel...hungry. But that's its charm. It's magic, if you will.
[ He removed it from its box, and laid the tips of his fingers under the other hand, guiding it into place, sliding the ring into place. It adapted to fit perfectly - of course. ]
[ Raina watched as Lucifer bestowed her the honor of the ring, feeling the cool metal slide into place and as soon as it adjusted itself to her, an odd tingling sensation surged throughout her body. She could sense the power and it felt exciting, exhilarating.
Her fingertips traced the dark stone at the center, stroking it fondly. ]
Famine? So I'm to deprive the community of its food?
[ She looked over at Lucifer with a smile. The comment lighthearted. But even as she said it, she knew that wasn't the purpose of the ring. The hunger. It wasn't literal hunger. She could feel it starting to lick at the edges of her insides, filling her with a yearning to plunge this world into deep chaos. ]
[ He knew that she got it, that the feeling would be rushing down on her even now, the need, the hunger of it, deep and yearning. He knew, the way that he knew what romantic love was supposed to be. A helpful description in an angel dictionary. Magical weapons and relics fascinated him; the older the better, particularly those things that had been formed by Heaven. The rings had come into being with their namesakes, after all.
He dropped his hands away slowly, and smiled. ]
Everything people hold themselves back from every day. Every desire, smothered, for one reason or another. For common decency. For chastity. For Godliness. Any hunger left to fester under the skin of the strong and the weak alike. The floodgates will open, and the need will overwhelm them.
It'll be beautiful. But it won't be easy--the Winchesters will be hunting for it by now. You'll need...a distribution plan.
[ Raina was nearly breathless at the prospect. To have that much power, that much control over the whole of the imPort population. It was an honor, a privilege and everything she wanted in her time here.
Her eyes were back on the ring, housing more appreciation than ever before. ]
Flowers. [ She said, looking up at him with a grin. ] Who doesn't like flowers?
[ She held out her palm, producing a single dianthus blossom. It materialized in the hand bearing the ring -- its sweet and somewhat spicy scent flooding the car. ]
Would it work? Would the Winchesters suspect? Well, Sam might. He knows my ability.
Well famine... It's having its effects on you even now, in its own way. The Winchesters can't possibly blame you for that, and I--well, I tricked you, didn't I? The charm of a powerful man come bearing jewelery.
[ He reached out for the flower with both hands, taking it in one while gripping her palm with the other. He raised the flower to his nose and sniffed it, then set it in his lap and brought his finger to his mouth, biting the tip of it, drawing blood.
And then he laid the tip on Raina's hand, drew two parallel circles, and then a hat fixing them both together; the chemical symbol for lodestone. It glistened for a moment, shone, then vanished, and Lucifer raised his eyes toward Raina. ]
The magic will bind the ring's ability to yours. It's up to you now.
[ Raina watched Lucifer, taken by him. His charming words and his solution to the dilemma -- keeping her protected and out of harms way as long as she did his bidding. And there was an almost insatiable desire to do his bidding. She knew what he meant when he said the ring was having an effect on her, and she didn't mind at all. It felt right. It felt as though this was something she should have been doing all along.
She bit her lip when he bit his finger and drew blood, and then she held her breath, watching him draw the symbols. As he explained what he just did, a grin stretched across her face. ]
Thank you.
[ Holding up her hand, she looked at the ring, mesmerized by the newfound power she had. ]
It's only right, isn't it? To awaken everyone's desires, to keep them from depriving themselves too much. We'll be doing them a favor.
Precisely. And if it brings a little chaos to the world then it's their own fault. Holding all that back...
[ He smiled slowly, healing his finger with but a flicker of his own grace, then propped his hands on his knees again, looking away from her, peering up through the windshield thoughtfully. ]
We're going to be having fun, you and I, in the next few days, and I certainly hope you'll remember to ask for my help, should you need it. [ He raised his eyes toward her once more, smiling through the corner of his mouth. ] I'll send Abduxel along to help you with your distribution.
[ Raina brimmed with excitement and delight. Opportunistic and power hungry, that's what this pretty girl was made of. And Lucifer had just provided her the opportunity to end all opportunities. ]
It's a shame I'll have to surrender the ring eventually.
[ Though she knew that she didn't have the power to wield it for long. This was the famine ring. Famine meant steady, all-consuming hunger and deprivation. Raina would likely drive herself mad keeping it. She was logical and scientific enough to realize that. But still, the power...the chaos. Pity. ]
Abduxel? I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting them?
There will be other, better things, in time. There's magic in this world, and spirits, and I am a determined collector of...interesting artifacts. Don't you worry about anything.
[ Worry lines, for one thing. ]
Abduxel is a servant of mine. A demon. Better quality help, per se. He enjoys his work too.
[ A servant serving her and her distribution of flowers. Ohhh. Raina approved! She smirked and nodded. ]
I look forward to meeting him. And...
[ The hand housing the ring found Lucifer's knee -- Raina was ever the one to push her boundaries, especially under the subtle influence of the ring. Why hold back? ]
I hope when you see how well this turns out, you'll consider me for more of your future endeavors.
[ He reached down, winding his fingers through hers and lifting them from his knee, to his lips, where he could kiss each of those fingers one at a time, leaving the one with the ring until last. He kept her gaze. It wasn't as though he didn't know how to dance this dance, how to be seductive and charming. If anything, she learned her best skills from him.
All of them did, in the end.
He kept her hand in his. ]
I have absolutely no doubt in your...ability to perform, Raina. I have the utmost confidence in you. And trust. I wouldn't put this power in your hands if I didn't believe in your ability to make the best of it.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ And that's all the answer she gets, until she's in her car, settled down to drive home, when an archangel materializes in her passenger seat, rolling his eyes about his surroundings. Like his siblings, he still doesn't quite get automobile travel. ]
How was work?
no subject
Momentarily surprised, she turns to him. And then she relaxes with a smile and a shake of her head, putting the car in reverse and backing out of the space. ]
It went well. Several people bled for me and my research this past Saturday, so we've had plenty of fresh samples to look at.
[ And of course, she isn't going to be doing anything good with those samples. ]
Should I drive us somewhere private? Or will the drive itself be enough?
no subject
But he does come. For her. ]
I don't know. Is it easy to multitask when you're driving one of these things? Do you think you can handle a little proposal without taking us off road?
[ Rude. But also fair. ]
no subject
But. She spares a glance over at him, eyes trailing his profile. ]
I could boast about handling all sorts of things while I'm driving, but I'll cut the teasing. You have me intrigued.
[ Her eyes are back on the road and she takes a detour from the route that would lead her home, finding a nice, dark parking garage that is emptying out steadily as people leave their jobs and headed home. Finding a space away from the rest of the parked vehicles, she turns off the car and then faces Lucifer. ]
So, a gift? What's the occasion?
no subject
When the engine cut and the hovermachine slunk back down into its parking place, he turned in toward her, taking a small jewelery box out of his right pocket and offering it out toward her in his palm. ]
It's traditional to celebrate new business ventures with gifts--particularly when the associate is an attractive young woman. I aim to mix business and pleasure, myself, and this is most definitely both.
no subject
Oh, Lucifer...
[ She uttered in delighted awe. ]
I'm going to guess this is no ordinary ring. Is it okay to try it on?
[ And then flirtatiously: ]
Do you want to do the honors?
[ She held out her hand and the box. ]
no subject
I have to warn you, it has ways of making you feel...hungry. But that's its charm. It's magic, if you will.
[ He removed it from its box, and laid the tips of his fingers under the other hand, guiding it into place, sliding the ring into place. It adapted to fit perfectly - of course. ]
It used to belong to a friend of mine; Famine.
no subject
Her fingertips traced the dark stone at the center, stroking it fondly. ]
Famine? So I'm to deprive the community of its food?
[ She looked over at Lucifer with a smile. The comment lighthearted. But even as she said it, she knew that wasn't the purpose of the ring. The hunger. It wasn't literal hunger. She could feel it starting to lick at the edges of her insides, filling her with a yearning to plunge this world into deep chaos. ]
What is it capable of?
no subject
He dropped his hands away slowly, and smiled. ]
Everything people hold themselves back from every day. Every desire, smothered, for one reason or another. For common decency. For chastity. For Godliness. Any hunger left to fester under the skin of the strong and the weak alike. The floodgates will open, and the need will overwhelm them.
It'll be beautiful. But it won't be easy--the Winchesters will be hunting for it by now. You'll need...a distribution plan.
no subject
Her eyes were back on the ring, housing more appreciation than ever before. ]
Flowers. [ She said, looking up at him with a grin. ] Who doesn't like flowers?
[ She held out her palm, producing a single dianthus blossom. It materialized in the hand bearing the ring -- its sweet and somewhat spicy scent flooding the car. ]
Would it work? Would the Winchesters suspect? Well, Sam might. He knows my ability.
no subject
[ He reached out for the flower with both hands, taking it in one while gripping her palm with the other. He raised the flower to his nose and sniffed it, then set it in his lap and brought his finger to his mouth, biting the tip of it, drawing blood.
And then he laid the tip on Raina's hand, drew two parallel circles, and then a hat fixing them both together; the chemical symbol for lodestone. It glistened for a moment, shone, then vanished, and Lucifer raised his eyes toward Raina. ]
The magic will bind the ring's ability to yours. It's up to you now.
no subject
She bit her lip when he bit his finger and drew blood, and then she held her breath, watching him draw the symbols. As he explained what he just did, a grin stretched across her face. ]
Thank you.
[ Holding up her hand, she looked at the ring, mesmerized by the newfound power she had. ]
It's only right, isn't it? To awaken everyone's desires, to keep them from depriving themselves too much. We'll be doing them a favor.
no subject
[ He smiled slowly, healing his finger with but a flicker of his own grace, then propped his hands on his knees again, looking away from her, peering up through the windshield thoughtfully. ]
We're going to be having fun, you and I, in the next few days, and I certainly hope you'll remember to ask for my help, should you need it. [ He raised his eyes toward her once more, smiling through the corner of his mouth. ] I'll send Abduxel along to help you with your distribution.
no subject
It's a shame I'll have to surrender the ring eventually.
[ Though she knew that she didn't have the power to wield it for long. This was the famine ring. Famine meant steady, all-consuming hunger and deprivation. Raina would likely drive herself mad keeping it. She was logical and scientific enough to realize that. But still, the power...the chaos. Pity. ]
Abduxel? I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting them?
no subject
[ Worry lines, for one thing. ]
Abduxel is a servant of mine. A demon. Better quality help, per se. He enjoys his work too.
no subject
I look forward to meeting him. And...
[ The hand housing the ring found Lucifer's knee -- Raina was ever the one to push her boundaries, especially under the subtle influence of the ring. Why hold back? ]
I hope when you see how well this turns out, you'll consider me for more of your future endeavors.
no subject
All of them did, in the end.
He kept her hand in his. ]
I have absolutely no doubt in your...ability to perform, Raina. I have the utmost confidence in you. And trust. I wouldn't put this power in your hands if I didn't believe in your ability to make the best of it.