Who Astarte/Astaroth & Ba'al Where Astarte's room in the palace What Delicate news and foreshadows of Hell's minds at work When Feb 9th Warnings None Status Complete
cuzZIMcares: Ba'al had crossed the Ninth Circle. Not all demons could do it. But, he was part of the Unholy Trinity after all. He was big "pals" with Satan himself. He and Belial formed a unity no other demons had. He'd just come from his urgent "business meeting" and thought he'd stop by Limbo to check on some acquaintences in the palace. He had just "poofed" in by astral travel, teleportation so he was still cold from the icy depths of the devil's homeland. He was chilled and his skin bore frost still, his clothing, modern but debonair, sported an icy glaze. Even his breath was seen on his first few puffs of lung. He started at Astarte's door and knocked with a musical tap, shave and hair cut, two bits. A classic knock, cliche but recognizable.
Star Inagawa: She was all but dancing in front of a mirror when the knock came, and it broke the way she was concentrating on her image. The gown she 'wore' seemed to melt off as if it had never been, the illusion breaking with ease while the music she'd been dancing to dwindled to nothing. Astarte, tiny and trim, naked of all contrived appearances, folded her wings and turned away from her mirror, and walked to the door. Already she could feel who was there, and truly - she was pleased by his unannounced visit. She had not had to go to him. It was. . unusual. A treat, truly - or perhaps he had come with some news she did not wish to hear? The thought was like a cold blade, and it was Astaroth who wielded it. Astarte's hands went to the belly they shared, and Astaroth laughed softly inside while she stroked over the space where a precious thing was growing. They were certain then.
"Hush. I am sure there is no grim news." She breathed out loud as she went to open the door. Astaroth, for his part, pulled back inward yet again - and when Star opened the door, it was so that she was 'dressed' only in a smile and a nearly demure fold of wings while she looked up at her favorite mate. The Father of a possible new child.
cuzZIMcares: Ba'al still with that chilled frozen stature canted his head as a greeting. He didn't say a cordial hello. He wiped a hand through his damp thawing hair and said, "I do have some gifts for you next time you happen by my room." He said it rather informative and not fraught with lots of feeling or excitement, or even pressing fun at her as he often did. "May I come in?" He asked without a lot of hoopla or to-do. "I wish to rest my feet in decent company." That was as complimentary as it was going to get at the moment. He really had a lot on his mind and he was trying to settle it out, not to mention the stinging in his hands and feet and the tips of his ears and nose that felt felt aflame from the sudden thawing and change in the weather. Zipping around such extremes was side-effect nuisance, but not one he wasn't quite used to. As he took a step towards her and an icicle crashed to the floor from the side in his elbow he hadn't even realized was there.
Star Inagawa: "Oh?" She asked, raising a brow as she took in his appearance fully. Her chin was still lifted up to him, and then she gave a soft shrug and reached out her hands to him. There was nothing else which needed to be said with the gesture she made of welcoming, of pulling him in by way of his hands with her own touch. Astarte smiled while she did so, while Astaroth watched from their shared eyes and took in the clues which were apparent upon the person of the guest to their rooms. Inside of the shared shell, there was some conversation going on, but never once did it reach the surface where Ba'al could see. Most of it was in reference to where he'd most likely been, and what that might signify for all of Hell, if there was anything to signify in the least. Still, as Astaroth reckoned, there most likely was. Astarte did not even flinch at the cold which radiated off from him, but she tried to use her smile to give him some emotional warmth if he wished to receive any. The icicle crashed then, but she didn't seem to notice it - at least not directly. "Come and sit, then, darling." She stated, and led him towards a chair which was more in Astaroth's style than her own.
cuzZIMcares: Ba'al nodded as he preceded on in. He was instinctively flexing and fisting his fingers in and out trying get the blood flowing again. "Yes, You were so quick to compliment my tastes in clothing before, and I know you like to create your own, but I found some items I was hoping you might make use of, if you so desire." He informed as if it meant nothing and her decision to use them would be neither here nor there if she chose to use or not them. But, truly he'd spent quite some time searching around and shopping just for her. But, he wasn't really going to just come out and say so. That just wasn't how Ba'al did things. Nor was he in the mood to explain his goings on. But, he did follow in and take the offered chair. He closed his eyes when he sat down and took a deep inhale through his nose. It had to have been so obvious to double-demon that he was clearing his thoughts, de-stressing per say. His skin started to color, the olive tone becoming alive again as he heated himself back up. Ba'al was one to spontaneously combust if angered but he could control it as well and it was taking a little effort to thwart the arctic freeze of the Ninth Circle off of him. Within moments though all the frost seemed to disappear, leaving him a rather damp mess. A few moments after that and the vapors could be seen of the moisture dissipating as floated upward towards the ceiling. Once he was dry again he opened his eyes and waved his hand, motioning Astarte towards him, as if to ask her to come sit in his lap. No words were spoken there. But, it was becoming more obvious he had just been through...something.
Star Inagawa: When the motioned forward came, Astarte went to him. She placed herself upon his lap with ease, and wrapped her arms around his neck and gave a gentle kiss to his cheek. Before that, while he'd been. . getting himself back to 'normal', she'd commented on the description of the gifts he'd picked out. Positively, of course. Even if she could not wear them, she could immolate them perfectly in her illusions, for her body always seemed to . . melt. . anything which could pass for clothing. Blankets and the like? She could wrap herself in. It was strange, really, how her skin reacted to things. It wasn't something she liked to think deeply upon, though she was certain it was some 'divine purpose' towards her actions during the Fall, and those closely afterward. For that moment though, she was silent - taking in his appearance, taking in his nature, taking in the actions which had come before she'd been invited to sit in his lap. There was nothing said towards him having been through any ordeal. Instead, she leaned her face close to his, and felt her lips draw back in a slow, slow smile.
"I have a secret for you as well, Ba'al." She whispered, her eyes half closed while she kept the thrill of her words near to her heart so he couldn't feel it warm its way through her. Inside, Astaroth continued to watch, wondering what it was that had occurred before Ba'al had joined them in their room.
cuzZIMcares: "I'd like to see that. I found some elegant things I think would accent you quite well." There was no sarcasm or haste or cruelty in his tone. He was being very simplistic. Very... "normal" just not quite so normal for him. Astarte knew the affectionate side that even the great demon Beezlebub could be, but it wasn't so often on easy display even behind closed doors. But, as her face drew near and goaded him with a secret he began to smile again. "Are you going to make me guess? I'm not sure I have the energy. Tell me this great secret so I'm not kept in suspense." He looped his arms around her waist rose both brows. "Astaroth? I know you're in there. Don't let her torment me with guessing all night." There was a slight air of playfulness to his tone, but it still held an air of monotone to it, like his attenton wasn't fully there, but was trying to stay present and fully in the moment.
Star Inagawa: "I shall be pleased to model for you at any time, darling." She purred the words softly in his ear, her fingers then going to toy in his hair while she spoke. The subject changed to her secret, of course. She wanted to giggle with the effort, but knew better than to tease him for very long. Astaroth, of course, was rolling his eyes. When he was called forth, of course, he came to the forefront, the shared face still close to Ba'al's. "This is for her to say, milord. It is not my place. . ." And that was a very strong hint, for there was very little which Astaroth would not go trumpeting about when asked of it by the one in whose lap they were then perched. He gave up claim of their lips to Astarte once more, and as the feminine came back in to the forefront, she took one of Ba'al's hands and led it to her belly. She placed it there, splayed, so that he could feel the trim flatness which masked over the secret, and gave it room to grow. With her other hand, she touched his cheek, and made it so she was looking directly in to his eyes. Without saying so, she was trying to reach in to him and pull all of his attention to her. Whether or not she succeeded was beside the point, for the words were going to come regardless due to the mood he seemed to be in. "He grows already. . . or she. . perhaps both in one?"
cuzZIMcares: Ba'al really was feeling a might bit distracted. It was quite possible that his distraction was Star's gain because it was leaving him without his defenses up for snarky comments or control freak Lordship while she was trying to convey something in a very tender manner. His very first thought was 'when in the world do you care about what your place is?' but before it actually managed to roll off his tongue his hands were being pulled and placed quite specifically. The hand to his cheek brought up his eyes. But, it was Astaroth's words that put every piece of the puzzle together. He grasped the concept quite easily as they'd shared in children many many times over, quite uncountable by Ba'al's mathmatics, but he was almost sure Astarte would know every single one. "Well that didn't take long." The tone was monotone yet again and seemed like he was still far distant, but his eyes shifted and he started to get that old sneer back twisting his features. "Guess my work here is done. I guess I'll take my leave then." Oh that Ba'al, his old personality zipped right back up through his spine and came out splicing. The humor in his expression trying to keep a straight face was so obvious.