Plans Within Plans (Jophiel/Lucifer)

[Lucifer]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,padding:0; margin: 0; background-image:url(http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y353/shockwavesyndrome/thisiswar.png);background-repeat:repeat-y;width: 450px;height:600px;] Getting bolder, that’s what Lucifer was doing, or he might not be striking three angels in the same city. The thing is that he was fairly certain that Nichole didn’t speak to any of the other angels and his little sister Sariel didn’t worry him much, it was time to check in on the other guardian angel who was near his true vessel, he had heard on revelation that Jophiel was about and so why not try to fit in another meeting with this brother, see how the wind blew with him, see if perhaps he could find an ally in this guardian of the apes. His plans were moving less slowly then he would like but they were moving. He knew that if he did what he wanted to, which was go to visit Sam Winchester and that pitiful brother of his Adam, that he would lose sympathy with those he wished to gain support from. Eventually he would have to face Sam again, he needed his vessel and he needed it before Michael showed himself and was able to convince Dean Winchester to consent, the truth in his mind is that both brothers always were meant to and would be saying yes sooner or later, it was fate. So yes he would have to get Sam to say yes again or he’d have to look for an alternative, perhaps Adam or another Winchester, just something fitting. For now though he moved himself to an empty room in the Bellagio, adopting Nick’s face again, he knew eventually his illusion would be seen through but for the now the older vessels image would be his mask to protect his new one. Besides he couldn’t let such a pretty face get damaged now could he? As soon as the illusion was in place he stepped out to the balcony and took a seat at the patio table outside, looking out over the city, and concentrated a moment to pick Jophiel’s mind, speaking directly to it. ”Brother Jophiel, I wish a word in person, please feel for where I am and join me. I mean you no harm and you will leave from me as you have come, unhurt. I just wish to speak with you.” He then sat back and waited, fingers coming up tip to tip as he looked out over Sin City knowing that still this city had some hope for him in it. Lots of words | Jophiel | Hello brother this template was made by ZOE of caution 2.0 !

[Jophiel]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=valign,top][atrb=style, background: #0a0a0a url(http://i56.tinypic.com/adm9sg.jpg) center bottom no-repeat; outline: 4px double #937869; border: 0px; width: 500px;, bTable][atrb=style, padding: 0px 20px 0px 20px; color: #937869;] Jophiel was absolutely not hanging around Vegas because Malaki Amherst was here. Definitely not. He was just sticking close to the city because there were so many important people here, and because Henry Koch was on his way here and Henry was one of Jophiel's particular projects. The proximity of a particular dark-skinned hunter with hard hands and a clever mouth was sheerly coincidental. But when he felt/heard Lucifer's call, there was a moment when Jophiel seriously considered manufacturing some errand that would take him to another continent. Not because he thought the Morningstar would hurt him. If Lucifer wanted to hurt or kill him, Jophiel wouldn't be able to stop him. The cherub was a Power, a Throne, but he was no archangel and all his legions wouldn't help him if the Second Son set himself against him. But then, if Lucifer just wanted him dead, Jophiel doubted he'd have bothered with a polite Call. And so after a few moments of consideration, Jophiel teleported himself to the balcony of Lucifer's room. "What is it you want, brother?" He couldn't imagine that Lucifer would be contacting him for any other reason other than that he wanted something from him, otherwise Jophiel ought to be beneath the King's notice.

[atrb=valign,top][atrb=style, height: 290px; padding: 10px 240px 60px 30px;] Location: The Belaggio, Las Vegas NV Music: Death Letter Blues - Son House Outfit: Jeans, a t-shirt, vest and a certain air of self-satisfaction. Notes: Trying for some context.

[Lucifer]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,padding:0; margin: 0; background-image:url(http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y353/shockwavesyndrome/thisiswar.png);background-repeat:repeat-y;width: 450px;height:600px;] He looked over at his brother, sizing him up a moment, then gestured to the seat across from him. How easy it would be to reach into this cherub’s mind and take what knowledge he wanted and use it against him, but no he would have to be restrained in this as he had been with his two sisters before this one. Patience he could do when he was building up to something, it was when that thing was so close he could taste it that the patience would ebb away and be replaced by demands that he expected to be met, much like his older brother. Gesturing out to the city, to the expanse of humanity in the desert, he turned is head to the side in thought. He hadn’t yet met an angel who had spent time among the apes enough to be able to adequately honestly make him understand their strange habits fully. “Remember when humanity used to build cities such as these, more temples than places to live, to Father? Now look at what they are glorifying, sin.” An observation perhaps, also Lucifer’s way of seeing where Jophiel stood where it came to a few subjects. “I want to talk brother, are you so busy as you cannot spare some time to sit and converse with me?” Lots of words | Jophiel | Hey, you got a shirt on, bonus this template was made by ZOE of caution 2.0 !

[Jophiel]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=valign,top][atrb=style, background: #0a0a0a url(http://i56.tinypic.com/adm9sg.jpg) center bottom no-repeat; outline: 4px double #937869; border: 0px; width: 500px;, bTable][atrb=style, padding: 0px 20px 0px 20px; color: #937869;] Jophiel didn't light a cigarette so much as caused one to appear between his fingers. He'd been 'smoking' this same Players since the thirties, and he'd yet to get tired of the memory. He looked out over the city stretching below them and smiled. "They're only joking when they call it 'Sin City', you know. This place is a temple of sorts. To hope, to the possibility of a life that's better than what could be reached the normal way. They come here and spend a few days living the life of pageantry and pleasures that they want to imagine is how movie stars and royalty live all the time. And then they go back to their lives, to their jobs and responsibilities, and return to the harsh Calvinism that the American Dream expects of them." He remained looking out at the cityscape, still with that affectionate warmth on his face as he considered all that humanity stretched out below. "And you never much expressed an interest in sitting around talking before, Lucifer. I was beneath your notice. Metatron's lackey, remember?" Though he didn't sound resentful or sullen about it. Amused, again, and still affectionate though that was for the thought of the Voice. His cranky, intractable brother, the Voice was thought of as difficult even among the Host but Jophiel had always adored him.

[atrb=valign,top][atrb=style, height: 290px; padding: 10px 240px 60px 30px;] Location: The Belaggio, Las Vegas NV Music: Death Letter Blues - Son House Outfit: Jeans, a t-shirt, vest and a certain air of self-satisfaction. Notes: There's a reason Jophiel is so close with Metatron. Because I'm that kind of dork that I think these things through.

[Lucifer]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,padding:0; margin: 0; background-image:url(http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y353/shockwavesyndrome/thisiswar.png);background-repeat:repeat-y;width: 450px;height:600px;] Chuckling softly he rose to his feet looking off out to the city, he didn’t agree with the little ones estimation of the human beliefs but that was neither here or there. There were other more important things to deal with. “Am I to remain the same as I was century after century, unchanged, unending, never to want anything more than just too simply be? Time in the cage has given me time to think, time to come to a realization that I perhaps miss my family. Is it that so hard to believe? Look at what I’ve been for centuries? Come now do you have some other pressing business to see to or can we sit and talk? Perhaps you can tell me of what is going on with our brothers and sisters beyond the whispers across revelation?” He closed his eyes a moment, listening to the voices, some confused, some joyful, some in pain, all their family crying out still for a father who had turned away from them. He knew the pain of that same father turning him out into the cold and now the whole of his family knew as well, maybe there could be some sort unification, something to build on, a shared connection. Lots of words | Jophiel | Dogma? this template was made by ZOE of caution 2.0 !

[Jophiel]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=valign,top][atrb=style, background: #0a0a0a url(http://i56.tinypic.com/adm9sg.jpg) center bottom no-repeat; outline: 4px double #937869; border: 0px; width: 500px;, bTable][atrb=style, padding: 0px 20px 0px 20px; color: #937869;] "Do you seriously expect me to gossip with you about the family? Maybe mention a few weaknesses, point out a few people who are having a rough time right now and might be vulnerable to persuasion?" Jophiel shook his head, never losing the smile. "Brother, I love you just as much as I ever have, but I haven't gone stupid in the intervening centuries." Still, the curiosity was there, and maybe that tiny hint of vanity that made him wonder if he could ever bring the Morningstar back into the fold. It was enough that he turned and looked back out over the city and asked, "Do you still resent them?" A gesture at the world below, indicating the teeming humanity that breathed life into this desert place. "Do you still hate them?" Jophiel had his own problems with humanity. Despite those who accused him of being a 'monkey-lover', whatever that was meant to imply, there were times he resente the humans, times he was frustrated with them. But there'd never been the hatred, he'd never even really understood what it was that his siblings resented so desperately.

[atrb=valign,top][atrb=style, height: 290px; padding: 10px 240px 60px 30px;] Location: The Belaggio, Las Vegas NV Music: Death Letter Blues - Son House Outfit: Jeans, a t-shirt, vest and a certain air of self-satisfaction. Notes: Cautious, but he's still curious.

[Lucifer]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,padding:0; margin: 0; background-image:url(http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y353/shockwavesyndrome/thisiswar.png);background-repeat:repeat-y;width: 450px;height:600px;] “Do you think that if I wanted to know all of that it would really be of any problem for me to find that out? I’ve no issue with any of my brethren, none, not even Micheal. I love you all, you are my family no matter what has passed between us all.” His hand waved across the table and a glass with clear liquid appeared, vodka, his fingertips resting on the edge of the glass as he looked back out across the valley, trying to really think about the question posed to him. It had been a good while since he’d thought of the apes really, or at least given his own feelings towards them a good though. “My problem with these…humans is that they were given so much by Father, so much that we were all denied. We were and still are his faithful children, why are they loved first then? Why should any of Father’s children placed above the others? Why couldn’t he have said that we are all his instead of how we had to serve them? What I want to know and have always wanted to know is why Father hated me so much, in the end he wanted me to do what I did didn’t he? He wanted to banish me to hell and make evil of me, why did he do that to me?” Lots of words | Jophiel | Hate is such a strong word this template was made by ZOE of caution 2.0 !

[Jophiel]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=valign,top][atrb=style, background: #0a0a0a url(http://i56.tinypic.com/adm9sg.jpg) center bottom no-repeat; outline: 4px double #937869; border: 0px; width: 500px;, bTable][atrb=style, padding: 0px 20px 0px 20px; color: #937869;] "Because they're better than us." He said it simply, and with profound conviction. "He exalted them above us because they're better than us. He was right, we should bow to them. Serve them. It's blasphemy that we don't." He turned to Lucifer, his expression was calm but there was ferocity in his eyes. "All we are is perfect. Perfect is easy. Perfect is static. They have potential. Imagination. They strive and grow and battle their own base natures to find their redemption. They falter and fail and overcome and acheive and they learn. They learn. It took me centuries to even figure out how huge that is. That they learn, not just over their lifetimes but over generations." Jophiel turned back to look out over the cityscape below. "Face it, brother. You and me? We're flawed prototypes. He made us as practice while He was getting ready to make them. We're pets and tools and rough models. They're His masterpieces." "The loyalists, the ones who think they're following our Father's plan but who don't want to get down and grubby with the monkeys, they think we should feel compassion for them. That they need our love. It's crap, they don't need a thing from us. They're the top of the food chain, or at least the creatures who will evolve into it." He took a drag of his cigarette, not looking away from the city stretching below. "It doesn't matter how we feel about them. Love them or hate them, they're better than all of us. Even you."

[atrb=valign,top][atrb=style, height: 290px; padding: 10px 240px 60px 30px;] Location: The Belaggio, Las Vegas NV Music: Death Letter Blues - Son House Outfit: Jeans, a t-shirt, vest and a certain air of self-satisfaction. Notes: He's been with them since the beginning, he's had a lot time to develop his opinions.

[Lucifer]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,padding:0; margin: 0; background-image:url(http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y353/shockwavesyndrome/thisiswar.png);background-repeat:repeat-y;width: 450px;height:600px;] Lucifer reached a hand up and brought it down as a fist on the table, shattering it from the blow, Jophiel’s words making his anger rise in such a quick fury that he had no time to react in any different way. In a moment he was up on his feet, next to Jophiel and staring at him, eyes full of fury, the illusion of Nick flickering and daring to fall as his concentration was waning. It was that, his fear of showing his new face, of giving up his new identity, that forced him to regain control more than anything else, that and his promise to Jophiel of safety. Of all things Lucifer was convinced that he never was untruthful, his own truth of course was up to individual interpretation but for his part he never consciously told a lie. Of course the fact he promised Jophiel safe passage would not keep him from going after what the angel valued most and he now searched Jophiel’s mind for what that was. “Father does not make mistakes, you dare blaspheme?” He was keeping his anger in check, but barely, the area around both angels shaking, a tremor from the fury of the Archangel. He would not be called lower than the apes, he was the Morningstar, the most beautiful of all of God’s creations, the second born son of the Father, how dare anyone tell him he was lowly? “I could eradicate them in a heartbeat, entire nations wiped out under my fury. They aren’t better than me, then any of us, we are the Hosts of Hosts, serving the most high, and most of them shit all over Father. Brother you are wrong.” With that Jophiel had perhaps made the an enemy, perhaps one of the most dangerous enemies he could have ever made.. Lots of words | Jophiel | Ohhh pissed Luci this template was made by ZOE of caution 2.0 !

[Jophiel]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=valign,top][atrb=style, background: #0a0a0a url(http://i56.tinypic.com/adm9sg.jpg) center bottom no-repeat; outline: 4px double #937869; border: 0px; width: 500px;, bTable][atrb=style, padding: 0px 20px 0px 20px; color: #937869;] Jophiel would love to be able to claim that he wasn't frightened when Lucifer stepped up on him, that he didn't want to quail back. But this was the Morningstar, of course he was afraid. Fear, though, wasn't enough to make him change his mind. "Yes." And his voice wasn't wholly steady on the first word, but it evened out almost immediately. "Yes, you could eradicate them. You could wipe them from the face of the earth and then remove every evidence that they ever existed. That wouldn't make what I said of them less true." He took a drag of his imaginary cigarette and was a little proud that the smoke he exhaled came out in a steady smooth plume. "What makes them extraordinary isn't their power, Brother. It's their potential. You and me, right now we are already everything that we will ever be. We will never get smarter, or stronger, or better than we we were the day we were created. Because we're perfect. Powerful and beautiful and exactly suited to our purpose and our place. Created specifically to fill our roles." He shook his head. "Static. Stagnant. Finished. Whereas they will continue to grow. Year after year and generation after generation." "You can disagree with me. You can think I'm wrong. In the end, we'll probably be around to see who's right. If you don't kill me and nobody kills you, we can check again in ten thousand years. See how far they've come, and see how much we are still the same."

[atrb=valign,top][atrb=style, height: 290px; padding: 10px 240px 60px 30px;] Location: The Belaggio, Las Vegas NV Music: Death Letter Blues - Son House Outfit: Jeans, a t-shirt, vest Notes: He's not going to change his mind about this.

[Lucifer]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,padding:0; margin: 0; background-image:url(http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y353/shockwavesyndrome/thisiswar.png);background-repeat:repeat-y;width: 450px;height:600px;] Slowly curling his neck to the side he just barely kept the urge to pull his blade and stick it in Jophiel’s chest at bay. He was aware that there was nothing the lesser angel would be able to do about it but his death might be one of a martyr, one that may bring others to take up arms against Lucifer, and he couldn’t deal with more enemies right now so there wasn’t anything he was willing to do to light that spark….yet. Additionally, he never lied, well he never said anything in a way that he would not be able to twist some truth from it and he had promised Jophiel would leave as he had come, unharmed, a smart manipulator like Lucifer knew that promise could simply be used to say that he’d be healed after beaten, but then again why should the Morningstar show his full hand so soon on? “Who is Malakai?” In that simple question, a name picked out of the lesser angel’s mind he wanted to see what kind of reaction he’d get from his younger sibling. He had no intention of going after Jophiel’s charges and those he cared about yet but gathering up names and faces for later would be helpful, just in case he decided revenge would be something he’d want to peruse. “You anger me and still you continue on, did no one teach you about wrath?” Lots of words | Jophiel | Ohhh pissed Luci this template was made by ZOE of caution 2.0 !

[Jophiel]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=valign,top][atrb=style, background: #0a0a0a url(http://i56.tinypic.com/adm9sg.jpg) center bottom no-repeat; outline: 4px double #937869; border: 0px; width: 500px;, bTable][atrb=style, padding: 0px 20px 0px 20px; color: #937869;] Unlike Lucifer, Jophiel did lie. He did it all the time, it made his job infinitely easier and he truly believed that it protected people not to be forced to deal with truths they weren't ready for and which would do them no good. And so, not unique among angels but not a common thing either, Jophiel actually had a decent poker face. It wasn't perfect, but it was better than, say, Sariel's. His sister was so innocent that any time anyone started throwing questions at her too fast she got all flustered and burst out with things she had no intention of telling. And so when Lucifer threw that question at him, Jophiel didn't flinch and didn't immediately start shouting at the Morningstar to stay the hell away from Malaki. He just looked vaguely confused for a moment and answered. "He's a hunter. Specializes in monsters, though I think he's taken out his share of demons." The urge was there to toss one little jibe about the demons but he didn't do it. He'd already antagonized Lucifer quite enough for one millenium.

[atrb=valign,top][atrb=style, height: 290px; padding: 10px 240px 60px 30px;] Location: The Belaggio, Las Vegas NV Music: Death Letter Blues - Son House Outfit: Jeans, a t-shirt, vest Notes: Pushed his luck as far as he's going to push it for today.

[Lucifer]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,padding:0; margin: 0; background-image:url(http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y353/shockwavesyndrome/thisiswar.png);background-repeat:repeat-y;width: 450px;height:600px;] Placing a hand on Jophiel’s shoulder, perhaps squeezing a little more than was necessary, still an attempt at some sort of sign of affection even though he’d rather honestly punch that calmish look off his brother’s face simply because he was annoyed and needed to show he was the stronger one. Lucifer had never learned the lesson that Michael had, that strength wasn’t something you had to prove, it was a simple fact that people accepted because of simply who you were. Then again he was always given to a horrid temper as well so when he was truly upset he’d not be given to thinking, only acting. “A hunter, you know I know about another hunter who I really should be paying a visit to soon brother, so tell me are you going to stand in my way if I go to my true vessel and ask for his consent?” Of course by ask he meant torment into submission, but the ask word was so much nicer. He would much rather just show up to Sam and have him immediately say yes but he knew that was not likely, that damned man was as stubborn as the Morningstar himself, of course having things in common with his vessel was expected. Now if his brother would not stand by him he needed to find out if he was going to stand in his way. Lots of words | Jophiel | Ohhh pissed Luci this template was made by ZOE of caution 2.0 !

[Jophiel]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=valign,top][atrb=style, background: #0a0a0a url(http://i56.tinypic.com/adm9sg.jpg) center bottom no-repeat; outline: 4px double #937869; border: 0px; width: 500px;, bTable][atrb=style, padding: 0px 20px 0px 20px; color: #937869;] "Would it matter if I did?" It would have been more flattering if Jophiel could have managed to sound intimidated, but mostly he just sounded tired. "No, I'm not going to try to keep you from contacting Sam Winchester." He would absolutely try to keep Sam from succumbing to Lucifer's persuasions, but he figured that went without saying. Or at least, the fact that he'd phrased it as he had would make his position clear. Jophiel looked out over the lights of Vegas again, seeing beauty in the same scene that had seemed to fill Lucifer with contempt and disgust. "Why do you want to do this, Lucifer? After so many years, after the time you and Michael just spent locked in the same prison for the same mistakes, is proving your point really so important any more?" He felt unutterably weary all of a sudden, probably at the knowledge that he was wasting his breath just saying it. "They're not grubbing in the mud and eating raw oats any more. They've created laws and governances as fair as anything our Father could have hoped. They've written music that could make you believe that He's standing at your shoulder and whispering into your ear. They've come so far, and may yet go so much farther." Softly, without hope, "Do you even actually hate them any more? Or are you just so used to doing it by now that you've gone fifty thousand years without reexamining your position?"

[atrb=valign,top][atrb=style, height: 290px; padding: 10px 240px 60px 30px;] Location: The Belaggio, Las Vegas NV Music: Death Letter Blues - Son House Outfit: Jeans, a t-shirt, vest Notes: He'll make one try at it, and take the lumps when they come.

[Lucifer]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,padding:0; margin: 0; background-image:url(http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y353/shockwavesyndrome/thisiswar.png);background-repeat:repeat-y;width: 450px;height:600px;] “It matters to me brother, look for a moment, are you denied a vessel that won’t eventually deteriorate under your power? Why should I not be allowed the same comfort? Father made them to house us, if he loved them so much why would he have done that? Father made humans tools for us.” Thoughts like that were always ones that baffled Lucifer and he rarely voiced them, of course he was using it here to make a point. So many things God did confused the Morningstar and he wanted answers, perhaps that is what God intended him for, to be an example to all the other angels as to what happens to the hosts if they question anything. Again another thing that God had been unfair and cruel about, God made him like this, it wasn’t as if Lucifer had a choice to act and react the way he did, he was meant to. “I do everything I do because I love my brothers and sisters. I am as Father made me brother. All I know is I want this stupid war between myself and Michael to end, I want my brothers and sisters back, but in the end I won’t ever be accepted back so what is the point really?” Lots of words | Jophiel | Hello brother this template was made by ZOE of caution 2.0 !