Lucifer (lux_ferre) wrote in the100, @ 2016-02-17 19:46:00 |
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Entry tags: | !log/thread, lucifer morningstar, wanda maximoff / scarlet witch (mcu) |
Who: Lucifer & Wanda Maximoff
When: February 16, after this
Where: The hallways near 505-N.
What: Lucifer and Wanda go for a walk and talk about vengeance, justice, and mercy. Oh yeah, and there's some demonstration of powers as well.
There were things that were incredibly disconcerting about this world to Lucifer. The fact that this wasn't a world that he and Michael had created was chief among them. It was thoroughly unnerving to be in something he had no hand in. Apart from that, the story of this other Lucifer and God abandoning heaven was worrisome. Not that heaven was his problem anymore. But there were good things about this world too. Succubi, vampires, magic users, that strange raccoon like card player.. So many intriguing individuals and desires to explore and experience.
Including the young woman at the moment with some type of power that he could feel and not yet define. It was curious to say the least. And while curiosity might have killed the cat, that wasn't a danger for Lucifer.
He knocked on the door of her room.
"Miss Maximoff? It's Lucifer."
Logically, Wanda knew that if someone showed up claiming to be Satan himself, it was probably best to stay away - but she’d never been a very logical person. Emotions had always warred inside her, though she kept them inside, instead building up a wall to keep others out. Pietro had been the one whom everyone liked, and she’d only been Pietro’s sister, at least until he’d died. Nearly every night, she could still feel that same, sudden loss that had stolen her breath and crushed her heart only a short time ago. While she’d begun training with the Avengers, no amount of their offered friendship had helped with the torrential pain she still felt, even now. During the day, during training, she managed to brush it aside and ignore it - but in this place, she’d started to feel it more poignantly, thanks to the fact that the job she’d been given was monotonous at best, and allowed too much time to think, and remember.
She didn’t know why she had agreed to meet with Lucifer - why she’d, in fact, offered the meeting herself - aside from the fact that he was different, and interesting, and he offered something that she might not be able to get anywhere else: release. She kept a tight reign on her powers all the time since she’d begun her training, and here she’d done the same, which meant also keeping a tight lid on her emotions. Letting them out meant people would possibly get hurt, and she didn’t really want to hurt anyone innocent.
When the knock came, she looked up from the book she’d been leaving through, and set it aside. Standing, Wanda walked over to the door and opened it slowly, dark eyes studying the man who stood there. Despite her strict control, instinct had her power stirring, brushing at the edge of his mind, though far more tentative than she would have done in the past, while under von Strucker’s thumb.
Lucifer smiled as she opened the door, charming as ever. He felt her at the corners of his mind, exploring. Well, she certainly was the equivalent of power in a small package. Intriguing. He relaxed the barriers, allowing her to explore. If she was going to be scared away, better to get it over with first. He took her hand and brought it to his lips, brushing them against her fingers.
"Are you still up for that walk? Or are you having second thoughts because of what you see in there?"
As he let her in, her eyes glowed red just for a moment, and as she realized what she was doing, Wanda abruptly withdrew mentally, eyes falling a little. She’d seen some confusing images, and enough to believe that he was who he said he was. At the question, her eyes had fallen to their hands, and after a moment of indecision, she looked up at him and stepped out of the room, pulling the door shut behind her.
“I do not scare so easily.”
"That speaks in your favour," he said with a smile, making room for her as he set off leisurely in the direction of the outdoors. He didn't care much for the tunnels and being underground. Sunlight was a marvelous thing, even if it was cold outside.
"Such power, though, I can see how people might have some difficulties with that." His own powers were formidable, but some aspects were misfiring here. But even without using his powers, there was much he could do. "So tell me, Miss Maximoff, what is so horrible that you don't wish to discuss it in front of others? You know what I am. You can't shock me."
She didn’t really care they walked to, so long as it was somewhere at least somewhat private. Wanda wasn’t sure why she was so willing to discuss this with him, aside from the fact that he seemed somewhat unbiased. He didn’t know her, or the things she’d done, or anyone from her world, as far as she could tell, and he also wasn’t claiming to know her in some alternate universe, which she liked.
“It is an uncomfortable topic for me, and for others,” she started off by saying, voice thick with her Sokovian accent. “I...caused some very powerful people to see disturbing things - it’s a large part of the nature of some of what I do - and I caused them to hurt people, and destroy places. Innocents died,” she said quietly. “I have no wish to cause destruction here, which is why it is best to keep my...gifts...more contained.”
Looks were definitely deceiving then, if what she was saying was anything to go on. Mass illusions, mental manipulation, oh, he liked this girl.
"You feel guilty about what you did," he commented, the observation easily drawn from her words and tone of voice. Ah, consciences, what pesky little things - causing all sorts of problems.
"Contained or repressed? Are you afraid people will think differently once they know all of what you can do? You shouldn't fear your power. It's a gift, like you said. And gifts are meant to be enjoyed and used."
He took a step forward in front of her and met her eyes. "Tell me, what do you most desire?"
“Does it matter which?” She shook her head a little when he asked if she was afraid, but then she paused, considering the question. “I don’t fear it, but...I...it isn’t right to make others feel uncomfortable.” That was a result of Steve and Natasha’s influence.
When he stopped in front of her, she stopped as well in surprise as he caught her gaze. “I…” Wanda hesitated, clearly uncertain about the question. “It...it doesn’t matter.” But why did she want so badly to tell him, this stranger?
"Oh, on the contrary, I think it matters much. I think you're trying to please other people, hiding who you really are. Is it because of them that you think you don't matter?" HIs voice was sweet and encouraging. "It isn't right to hide your desires and suppress your feelings. What do you want, Wanda?"
She stared at him for a long moment. “What I want...it doesn’t matter compared to what I did, but…” Wanda shook her head, then found herself telling him anyway. “I want Tony Stark to feel the same pain I live with every day. I want my brother back - I want him alive and here.” There was more vehemence placed on the second part than the first, but the admission of either left her a little breathless, and oddly somehow weak.
Lucifer's hands went out to her hips, steadying her. This much power and this.. broken. Oh, this was tempting. To help her with the desire for vengeance, to see her unleash her full power. But why did he hear Chloe's voice in his head?
"I can't bring your brother back." His voice was filled with honest sincerity. "Can't seem to control anything between dimensions here which is incredibly frustrating."
He could try praying of course, but he wasn't sure it would do much good. "What did this Tony Stark do? Did he kill your brother?" Murder was simple, he could mete out punishment for murder with a clear punishment.
Grateful for the support, Wanda leaned into his hands a little, her own resting on his arms in some small attempt to regain her sense of calm. Hearing the sympathy in his voice brought tears to her own eyes, and she looked up at him. She’d never considered asking for him to bring her brother, all she could honestly hope for was that whatever force had brought her there would choose to do the same for Pietro.
“Nyet...no. He tried. He killed our parents. He made weapons, and sold them to anyone with the money. Barely a decade ago, when we were ten, one of those men who’d bought his weapons attacked our city - it happened sometimes. My mother and father were killed immediately - and Pietro and I were trapped with a missile pointing at us that had not exploded. It took three days for our people to dig us out as we watched it shift in the debris, waiting to die.”
"Ah, a mercenary. I'm familiar with their kind." Straightforward. But this, well, this was a tricky trail of responsibility and what did justice really look like in a scenario like this. And why did he think that Chloe wouldn't agree with his version of justice. He had to stop thinking of her. Wanda's story, though, served as proof that there were worse things than death.
"Death would have been a mercy." His tone was soft and lilting. "For you and your brother when your parents were killed. For you when your brother was killed. Death is easy. Living, that's the harder thing. And let me guess, He didn't listen to your prayers for mercy."
“Yes,” she agreed softly, straightening at last and removing her hands from his arms, albeit somewhat reluctantly. “I wanted to die, particularly when Pietro died. But I didn’t...it was a month ago,” she told him, her eyes dropping again, and she shook her head at his last. “No mercy for the wicked - isn’t that what the saying is?”
Wanda raised a hand to push some of her hair out of her face, looking at him again. “How did you do that?” There was no accusation in her voice, only curiosity, aside from the pain and sadness their conversation so far had roused.
"No rest for the wicked, I think it goes, but my darling, you aren't wicked. Hurt, certainly, and grieving, but not wicked. No, wicked would be if you wanted to cause pain and destruction for no reason." One hand stayed on her hip as the other tucked her hair behind her ear.
"One of my own gifts you might say. Allowing people to tell me their deepest desires."
"I won't lie to you. Death might have been easier, but you don't always have a choice in the matter."
“Oh yes - that sounds correct.” And she blinked at his words that she wasn’t wicked, but didn’t really have a response for that. “I only ever wanted to save my people, and to take vengeance for them...I didn’t mean for so many others to be hurt in the process. It’s why I’ve joined the Avengers, to try and atone.”
She met his eyes again. “I see - where as I can see into minds, and so often I see their fears...not their desires, unless they are tied together.” Her voice softened, and she looked away again, only nodding a little in understanding.
"Saving your people is very noble. You wanted vengeance, so you join a group called the Avengers to atone? What type of atonement is possible in a group named after vengeance? Of course, that assumes that atonement is even possible - and that you need it, which I don't believe you do."
Wanda shook her head. “No, it’s...they protect people. They help them - and save them. They helped to save what people of my city they could, and offered me a place afterwards, and I accepted. I’ve been training with them…” Otherwise, she’d have no where to go...or would probably be locked up. Or executed.
"But you're not happy with them…" Lucifer suggested. Oh, the poor girl, so much power, so much pain. The things he could do with her. The things he could show her. "They swoop in at the last minute, take credit for saving the day and then what? Do they offer you justice? Do they admit their role in causing the conflict in the first place?"
“I...what I wanted, what I did - that wasn’t justice. It - “ She frowned a little. “I’m putting all that behind me. I know nothing Stark does will ever bring back my parents, and nothing I do will ever bring back my brother, so all I can do is simply...go on. Use my powers to help people.” She tried to say it more firmly, but the words actually seemed rather hesitant. “It’s the right thing to do.” She had to keep believing it.
"Ignoring it and pretending Stark isn't responsible isn't justice either. Seems to me, they're just punishing you, making you keep your powers in check, denying you justice.."
He reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear, his touch soft and gentle. "No reason you can't have both. Help people and get justice. Seems to me, the right thing would involve justice."
“They’re not - they wouldn’t. Steve Rogers isn’t like that...and neither is Natasha. Or Vision, or any of them,” she told him, somewhat earnestly even though she was finding it difficult to concentrate at the moment.
Wanda nearly tilted her head against his hand, but looked down at the last moment to contemplate his words. “Maybe there...but here? Under a mountain? There is little I can do aside from the job I was given.” She frowned at her hands absently, noticing they were still slightly wrinkled from the dishwashing she’d done at breakfast. With barely a thought, a hint of her power appeared, sliding between her fingers, easing the skin again.
"Your talents are being wasted then." Voice like silk with an almost lyrical quality. He ran his fingers over hers, the magic prickling at his skin.
"You can't hurt me," he said softly. "No matter what you do."
“I didn’t know what to tell them when they were asking me questions - and I never had a job, before.” Her eyes stayed on their hands as her power trailed across him as well. “You don’t know that. Like everyone is saying - different worlds and dimensions and universes.” Looking up, Wanda met his eyes. “I don’t want to hurt people.”
"I'm immortal, Wanda. You can't hurt me. There's only one being here who might be able to hurt me." Her power was like a teasing tickle, dancing over his skin, but he had an inkling of what it could do to humans. It was beautiful, really. The red power danced over his skin.
"You have no idea how beautiful this is. How remarkable you are. What are you to these Avengers? A weapon? A tool? Do they think they can manipulate you because of your pain when you could take them all down?"
He brought her hand to his face, kissing her palm before leaning into it. "You should not be contained, Wanda. And we should find you a job more suited to your talents."
Despite her misgivings, her lips curved into a small smile. “The man who did this to me called me that. I wanted to be a weapon, for use in protecting my people.” The red glow had drifted up to her eyes, brightening them as well. “I know I must face the consequences for what I have done, even if others do not.”
The kiss drew her eyes to his lips, before she lifted them again to his. “What do you have in mind?”
He let his own eyes flicker red, not the full on demonic powers of hell, red, but just a hint of the power that hid beneath this form. "But no more.. you want to be more than just a weapon used by others, don't you?"
His lips drew into a smile. "Ah yes, consequences. I don't know this world well enough yet, but it seems someone with your skills would be better suited to working with me in law enforcement."
“I’d rather make my own choices than let others choose for me. I’ve followed too many mad men - and machines.” Seeing his eyes change caused her to tense just a little, somewhat in awe. And since her hand was already against his cheek, her fingers brushed his skin just a little.
“No, thank you - I have no wish to enforce laws I am not familiar with or had any part in creating.”
He let his eyes close at her touch, enjoying the new experience. "Don't worry, I believe firmly in free will. You should do what you want, not what someone else wants you to do. I'm sure there are better uses for your hands than washing dishes though."
As his eyes slid shut, she smiled again. “Perhaps there are - maybe I’ll look into some of the other jobs.” Her hand drifted down from his cheek so that she could study her own fingers thoughtfully. “I’ll put some consideration into it, at the very least.”
"Good. You're amazing and talented and powerful. And if you're willing, I'd love to see a demonstration of them sometime," Lucifer said, opening his eyes as he intertwined his fingers with hers, the air around their hands vibrating with a barest hint of his power.
Contemplating his words, her eyes glowed a little more while looking up at him. “I can do many things, so you may have to be a little more specific regarding what sort of demonstration.” Even as she spoke, tendrils of her power began to wrap around both of them, and with barely a flicker it began to lift them both into the air several inches off the floor, with no hint of strain in her whatsoever.
"I would love to see everything you can do, my dear, but somehow I think we'd have to take that away from any structures or bystanders." It was thrilling, really, to feel another's power, especially one he hadn't encountered before. She was neither angel nor demon, just an exceptional human.
“I can control it so that they would not be affected, but of course.” And they were set back down just as softly onto the hallway floor. This was all rather intense to be discussing in a place where anyone could turn the corner, after all. “Shall we continue walking, Lucifer?”
"Control can be useful, but I don't recommend hiding one's light under a bushel as it were," Lucifer said, offering her his arm so they could continue their walk.
She missed the touch of his fingers on hers, but slipped her hand into his arm, smiling softly. His words rang in her thoughts, and a part of her wondered if that was what she was doing, but who could say for sure? “I understand,” she said instead, and started to walk with him once again.