InsaneJournal

WHO: Emmanuelle and Lucifer
WHAT: A necessary chat between two very unlikely sources.
WHEN: Immediately after Lucifer arrives in Colligo.
WHERE: The steps of the Grand Library.
RATING: PG-13
STATUS: Log; COMPLETE

Sometimes, being the Almighty had its perks. The ability to create new life merely by thinking about it. Always seeing the best in someone, or something, no matter how bleak the situation. Knowing that things happened for a reason even if it wasn’t always obvious. All of these, and many others, were perfect examples of why Emmanuelle rather enjoyed being who she was. Then there were the days when it wasn’t so great. Like, for instance, the day that Lucifer had decided to throw a temper tantrum to end all temper tantrums and attempted to take over Heaven because he didn’t like humanity and couldn’t understand why he should bow down to them. That had been a rough day for everyone, but none moreso than Emmanuelle herself. She loved her son. She did. He was simply full of far too much pride and not nearly enough common sense. It was her own fault, of course. Children were only as good as their parents taught them to be. Or, in this instance, had created them to be. However, it had still all but broken her heart to see the most beautiful of her angels in Heaven become the ruler of Hell. She had even held out hope, right until the very end, that he would choose to beg forgiveness rather than attempt full-scale war. He hadn’t, though, and the rest - as they say - became history. And then there was the day that her younger brother decided that his dear nephew Lucifer really did deserve a chance and that he was going to bring him to a privately created, fully functional reality known as Colligo. As far as Emmanuelle was concerned, his idea was about as smart as Lucifer’s had been to take on the Throne so very long ago. However, much like with her wayward son, no amount of discussion was able to sway her brother from doing what he was going to do. She had, though, made it quite clear that she, personally, would be laying down the rules that Lucifer had to follow lest he be sent back. Asaph hadn’t liked it very much but he had ultimately agreed and that was why, the instant Lucifer arrived in the Grand Library, Emmanuelle made good on her word. She was waiting on the steps when he was escorted out by the guards. Clad in a simple light blue dress, long hair flowing down her back, and hands clasped loosely in front of her, she didn’t look like any sort of deity. She certainly didn’t come across as God Almighty incarnate. Yet she was fairly certain Lucifer would sense her immediately, and knew that his reaction would likely be a mixture of many, varied emotions. But, just in case he didn’t spot her right away - because it really was quite a shock to the system, even for an archangel, to suddenly be in a place as mystically complex as Colligo - she cleared her throat lightly the moment the library doors swung shut behind him. Then she held up a hand, with the faintest of sorrowful smiles upon her face, and gave a small wave in his direction. Caged, confined, locked away with little more to do than mess with someone who didn’t even want to acknowledge he was there, Lucifer was more than willing to take the victories as they came. Getting Sam to acknowledge his existence in more than just an offhand way, to accept his presence, and allow him in, one, that had been one which he was quite happy to savor. And then, he suddenly found himself dragged out of the darkness and dropped into someplace that clearly wasn’t the cage that he’d been locked in mere moments before. Not that he was complaining, far from it, since this was a much better way to experience existence than piggybacking in someone else’s consciousness, but there were a number of things that should be happening that weren’t. Like the fact he was obviously in a vessel that he should feel degrading around him, and yet, he felt just fine. The sudden and unexpected escort from the building by walking tinmen added a whole new level of confusion to the situation. At least, until he’d stepped outside and the lightest of sounds caught his attention. “Of all the places, in all the worlds,” He drawled, stepping slowly away from the door and pocketing the item that had been shoved into his hand to investigate later. This was much more important. “I just start having some fun, and you bring me here for a little chat? Stepped out of my bounds again, did I, Daddy? Or, well, I suppose it would be Mommy now,” He said, taking a deep breath and casting his gaze around the place. Where on Earth were they anyway? No. There wasn’t quite right. Because this wasn’t Earth. It didn’t feel like it. Although Emmanuelle had known that Lucifer hadn't changed, not really, she had to admit that a small part of her was disappointed at his reaction. She would never admit it to anyone, of course, but she still held out the faintest of hopes that, eventually, someday, he would realize that she was not his enemy and would see that she really did just want what was best for all of her children - him included. However, today did not seem to be that day. Of course, that was also neither here nor there, really. The entire point of coming to the library hadn't been to try and sway him back to the side of Light. No, she was here for one very specific purpose and was going to follow through with that no matter how much he might try to goad her. Unfortunately, she couldn't really speak openly with him in the city without risking any humans in the vicinity, as her True Voice would destroy them on the spot. So with a slight tilt of her head, she simply willed the two of them to just beyond Colligo's city limits. Now standing beside an ocean that wasn't of her own creation, with no other living souls around, Emmanuelle turned to Lucifer and, at long last, spoke to him for the first time since she had cast him from his home so very long ago. "I'm not the one who brought you here, Lucifer." Best to get that bit out of the way, first and foremost. She didn't specify who was responsible. They would get to that in a moment. For now, she focused on her reason for being there to greet him at all. "However, I have agreed to give you this opportunity," she said, her tone gentle and loving, while still managing to be hardened enough to make it clear she was not willing to back down from what she was about to say. "Provided you follow the rules I've decided upon." Rules. Opportunity. She was talking like she was doing him a huge favor by letting him stretch his legs without him having to go through all of the rigmarole that had let him out the first time. Which wasn’t surprising considering just how tetchy she must still be about that whole war thing. “I don’t really have much a choice here, now do I?” He asked, gaze shifting out over the ocean as he took in a deep breath. Wherever they were, he had to admit that it was glorious. Perhaps more so since there didn’t seem to be a single pathetic ape in sight to spoil the view with their flip-flops, umbrellas, and volleyballs, no boardwalk with kitschy little shops littered up and down the coast, or all of the trash that came with each of those things. It was just pure, unspoiled, unsullied beauty. “I’m guessing I step out of line, and it’s right back to the cage for me. Am I right, mommy dearest? Harm one little hair on your precious little pets, and I’ll be back blowing on the old harmonica and beating on the bars with my little tiny cup by lunchtime. Am I close?” Emmanuelle smiled. It wasn't a pleasant smile, necessarily, nor was it mocking. It was, however, a bit disconcerting considering the response she gave. "No, Lucifer," she said slowly, shaking her head as she continued to stare at him with that same small, knowing grin. "If you choose to disobey me here, I'm not sending you back to the cage only for you to find yet another way to get out again." She sighed softly, the movement causing a light breeze. Sand danced across the beach, glittering in the sunlight. Emmanuelle watched them for the briefest of moments before looking back to the archangel beside her. "If you disobey the rules here, I'm going to personally end your existence once and for all." It wasn't easy, saying those words. She knew he wouldn't believe that. She knew he likely thought she hated him, even if she could never be capable of such a thing. But it didn't matter. She meant what she said. If he went out of his way to harm the people in the city of Colligo, she would make sure he never harmed anyone else again. "But," she tacked on after a second, "it isn't all bad. I'm hardly going to make you sit in a corner the entire time. You're welcome to have fun. Just with certain provisions attached. That's all." End him. She was going to end him, like he was the problem in all of this. It wasn’t as though people didn’t deserve what he laid upon them, more so than the reputation they’d given him which had been twisted to suit their needs, and the tension in his expression made it obvious that he had a great number of objections that he wanted to voice. But it wasn’t as though he hadn’t said them all before, and they had fallen upon deaf ears then. What would make it any different now? “I shouldn’t be surprised,” He said, his tone even but annoyed. “You always did care about them more.” Allowing the silence to linger for a moment, just enjoying the peace of the landscape, Lucifer was able to reign in his temper enough so that he didn’t feel like leveling the city they’d just left simply to spite her insistence that he behave. “The provisions where the definition of fun is warped to the point where it’s really no fun at all? Or provisions that might actually seem reasonable?” Although she knew it wasn't actually possible, Emmanuelle could swear she could feel a headache beginning to form behind her eyes. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his grumblings, letting him take a moment to compose himself and finding that she was pleasantly surprised when he seemed to actually manage it. That was the thing about omniscience that most didn't realize. Yes, she could see everything, knew outcomes before they ever came to pass. However, she didn't just see one specific path that led to any particular outcome but rather all of them, at all points, each variable dependent on the one before it. To her, their conversation could end a countless number of ways. So far, though, it seemed to be moving forward in a relatively decent direction. She just hoped, for his sake, that it stayed that way. "All this time," she murmured softly, more to herself than to him, "and you still don't understand." She didn't elaborate on that bit, not wanting to reopen the discussion of how she felt about her beloved angels compared to how she felt about humanity. Instead she refocused both on him, and on the topic at hand. "This place isn't mine," she admitted, even if it wasn't really an admittance at all. He would find out soon enough, one way or another. "Therefore, the beings that are from here also aren't mine. They are not under my protection." She paused. "Not that I expect you to listen," she said mildly, "but I do urge you to tread carefully in what ways you toy with them." She didn't elaborate more on that, but instead added, "However, insofar as those who are here who are from my Creation..." And here was where her tone turned serious once more. "You will not begin slaughtering them, Lucifer, not without a very good reason. Such as self defense." Her lips twitched slightly in the faintest of amusement. "And by that I mean they have both the means as well as the ability to truly cause you harm in the moment, not one of them tried to punch you and you worried for your well being when we both know they would only succeed in breaking their fist and arm for their efforts." A brief pause. "You also will not attempt to destroy this planet or try to rule it." She studied him for a moment then sighed softly. "Of course, as I've given humanity free will, those who have been brought here do possess it. And, as such, they are free to choose which side they would prefer to place their faith in. Just as you are free to tempt, manipulate, toy with, and trick them here as you are there. Any questions so far?" “I don’t trick,” Lucifer said, feeling rather insulted by the very suggestion that he would sink that low. Tricks were for people who didn’t have the backing of the situation, who couldn’t provide people with a much more reasonable evaluation of their circumstances, and give them the tools that they needed to overcome it. All right, perhaps his way of overcoming things didn’t yield rather pleasant results, but in the end, it worked. “I just tell them the truth,” He said, glancing sidelong as his Mother with a skeptical gaze. “More often than you do, at least.” That said, though, he didn’t have any particular issues with what she was saying right now. Even if quantifying self defense in those terms really did cut down on his ability to actually fight back since both were unlikely to each up in the same place, at the same time, in the same individual’s hands. “What about this?” Lucifer asked, spreading out his arms to indicate the vessel that he was currently wearing. “Shouldn’t I be falling apart, or is that something you’re going to tell me I should be grateful for during your next set of qualifications?” "I do not-" Emmanuelle caught herself before she could fully respond to his rather blatant insinuation that she wasn't truthful with humanity. Practically gritting her teeth, brow furrowing slightly, she took a moment to recompose herself. "I will not have this discussion with you, Lucifer. I would not do so then and I will not do so now," she said decisively. Then she paused, letting him ask about his vessel. Her gaze turned out to the ocean as she truly tried to decide the best way to respond. On one hand, she could simply say that he wasn't deteriorating as doing so would leave him no choice but to ultimately burn through the body and either return to the cage or force Sam Winchester to agree to be his new vessel. It wouldn't be a lie, really, and was part of the reason he was able to maintain the form he was in without having to consume demon blood to do so. However, Emmanuelle knew that wasn't what he was really asking. He didn't want to know why he wasn't falling apart, as he'd put it. He wanted to know who was responsible for it. Whether she had granted him that small privilege out of some sense of kindness or as a way to keep him in check. The truth was, she wasn't the one responsible at all. And, after a few seconds, she decided to simply tell him that much and be done with it. Let him react as he saw fit. It could go a number of ways, yes, but at least it would be done. "Yes," she agreed finally, looking back to him with a carefully neutral expression. "You should be burning through your vessel at an alarming rate. However," here she paused for a split second. "My brother decided to do such a thing would be counter productive to the work he put into bringing you here. And, as it is his reality, ultimately it was his decision to make." Lucifer had nearly managed it. There was a small hint of pride of his features in almost getting God to lose her cool even if it hurt that the way to do so was insinuate that she was less than kind to her little pets. Of course she’d care about how she acted with them even if he could have easily said that she was just as cruel with all of her children and not gotten even half of the same response. Not that he had much of an opportunity to even think about doing that since her next statement was enough to knock his thoughts from where they had been previously focused. Brother? Her...brother had decided? Staring at her, trying to gauge exactly how serious she was in that statement, he couldn’t sense or detect a modicum of deception. Her brother had brought him here. This was a reality created by an uncle that he didn’t even know he had, one who seemed to be at least far better at limiting the population of the world that he was in charge of. “I see,” Lucifer finally said, looking out over the ocean before a slight smile quirked the corners of his mouth. “So, you’re not exactly in charge anymore, are you, if we’re not in your world?” He asked, offering her a sidelong glance. “I’ve got somebody else on the top of the hierarchy to deal with. Some who, from the looks of things, is far more capable and a lot more forgiving.” A deep breath of sea air sucked into his lungs, and Lucifer turned, leaning forward until he was very nearly in his Mother’s face, a cheeky grin on his features as his hands locked behind his back, “Oh, how that must grate.” The things that Lucifer was saying hurt, far more than she would ever let on. It was true, after all. She wasn't in charge in Colligo. This wasn't her creation and, therefore, her ability to interfere in events was seriously hindered in a great many ways. To say that was frustration for her was quite an understatement. However, what hurt her wasn't necessarily that it was all true. No, what hurt was that Lucifer was glad for such a thing. She couldn't really blame him, if she tried to look at it from his perspective, but it caused her heart to ache to know that he really did despise her so much that he was pleased someone else was calling the shots for once. Of course, Emmanuelle didn't let that fact show. No, she knew better than that. Instead she simply stood there, peering up into his face from her diminutive sized body, her expression wholly unreadable. Then, rather abruptly, she smiled broadly and in a move that would make most people become rather convinced they had lost their minds were they to witness it, she calmly reached up and tweaked his nose. "You always were too quick to judge," she said simply, dropping her hand back to her side and arching an eyebrow ever so slightly. "You haven't even met him and, yet, you've already made up your mind about him. Tsk, tsk. You, out of everyone, should know better than to do such a thing." She sighed and shook her head slowly. "He is not forgiving, Lucifer. Far from it. He is simply bored. That is all. Eventually, he will come to find you tedious and will send you back, washing his hands of you as he has so many others he has borrowed from my Creation." There was a touch of sorrow in her tone and she looked back out to the ocean, forehead furrowing ever so slightly in worry of what was to become of a place so many of her own had begun to call home. "All too soon, this place will be nothing more than a forgotten playground of his; a distant memory of a time when he tried to emulate my own Creation and fell far short of the mark." She paused then shrugged, turning her head to look at the fallen archangel with a small, sad little smile. "Make no mistake. My brother is not your ally. He is your jailer. He is not one to be trifled with and, should you cross him, not even I can guarantee your survival... even if I would try my very best to ensure it, whether you choose to believe it or not." There was a familiarity in the action, a fondness that very nearly unbalanced him before he was able to shut himself off to it. She was just doing it to taunt him, nothing more, nothing less, and there was absolutely no sense in being moved by it in any direction. At her words, he turned away, feet shuffling in the sand before he looked back over at her, “Jailer or not, at least his cage is more pleasant,” He said, a certain wistfulness in his voice before it turned playful. “And besides, who would EVER get bored of little old me? I’m a bundle of fun wrapped in laughs topped with kittens,” He said, flashing her a brilliant smile before turning to look back at the ocean. “And I have no intention of challenging him. Not if he’s going to let me be as I am instead of forcing my hand on a situation which I cannot abide,” He said, allowing the silence to linger between them before speaking again. “And you don’t have to patronize me. I know what you mean. It’s so irritating to have to stand by and let another destroy me when that’s supposed to be your job.” It tore at her heart to know that he truly believed she was merely taunting him with her words of caring when that had been the furthest thing from her mind. Part of her wanted to tell him that she did still love him, that all he had to do was admit he was wrong and she would gladly accept him back into her arms. However, Emmanuelle knew that such claims would fall on deaf ears so she didn’t bother. Perhaps later, after he’d had some time to acclimate to his new surroundings in Colligo. Not now, though. So instead of correcting him, she simply allowed herself the small act of being truly, if still somewhat faintly, amused at his statements about himself. A bundle of fun wrapped in laughs topped with kittens, indeed. She even snorted softly at the comment, giving a slight shake of her head and gazing back out to the ocean just as he did. “Actually,” Emmanuelle replied quietly, a sorrowful look in her eyes as she peered up and over at him once more, “that’s supposed to be Michael’s job.” Not that Lucifer needed any reminding of that fact. It also hadn’t been the point she was intending to make at all. But she could see that he wasn’t willing to accept anything less than what he had come to believe she would do should they ever be face to face again. It hurt, but she would deal with the pain as she always did. And, in the end, she would survive because... well, she had no other choice in the matter. Drawing in an unnecessary breath to steady herself, she finally turned back to fully face him once more. “I would ask that you take heed of what I’ve told you, Lucifer,” she smiled faintly, “but there is every possibility that would merely cause you do to the opposite. So I will simply remind you that, despite all of our differences as well as our new location, you are a part of my Creation. Do keep that in mind should you choose to give in to temptation to harass the Winchesters, as well as others, here.” And with one last, small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes due to the sorrow shining in them, the scenery around them once again reverted to the steps of the library... and Emmanuelle was gone. Back in the city once again, Lucifer wasn’t surprised that he’d been left on his own. It wasn’t like his dear Mother to let anyone else have the last word when it could be avoided. But he couldn’t see any sense in dwelling over the things which he couldn’t exactly change at the moment. He was out. He was free. The ability to stretch his legs was not something that he intended to squander on standing around and brooding. There was so much to see and do, and, as always, boundaries to push to their very limit. After all, she’s said the Winchesters were here. Time to go find out what definition of harass she was using.