keep_nothing | IC Contact

[Inanna pauses smoothly for her, worrying at their lip while they consider how best to explain this part of the problem. There really wasn't any way to dance around it, but knowing that didn't actually do anything for the unease they felt about it. What if she just agreed that they couldn't be trusted to keep to a truce? The nervousness and uncertainty are clear in their tone no matter how confident they try to sound.]

It's...a complicated story, and to be honest we only know some parts of it. The rest we learned about based on what your sons told us.

The first part is a bad experience that Miles had with my friend, Persephone. We each have the power to spread inspiration to people—a message, of sorts. It brings out something different in each person, something that's already there in them. When your son heard Persephone's Song, it...went badly, to put it lightly.

He wasn't hurt, but it was very upsetting for him, and he's blamed her for it since it happened. She and I are both sorry his experience with it was so bad, and I've checked in on him a few times to make sure he's alright. [And a little bit to needle at him, but that was a minor point as far as Inanna was concerned.

There's a long pause here and a muffled sound; a bit like an intake of breath to steel themselves before continuing on. The nerves in their tone tick up a notch.]

The next part is... It really isn't about us personally. It's just—we...understand that your family had a...horrendous encounter with Lucifer—a version of Lucifer that was here before. We know it was...something that we can't put words to. Saying it was awful isn't enough, but that Lucifer is gone.

Now...our friend is also Lucifer, but she isn't the same person. She's my friend, and I've never even seen her hurt someone unless it was to defend herself or a friend. I know that people have every reason to dislike her. I don't expect anyone to change their mind on that, but it won't change that she's my friend, and I'm going to worry for her safety first.

So—your sons, understandably, are upset just by her presence. She was making an announcement for a show she's planning to hold, and Miles turned up to insist that we promise she wouldn't repeat what the last Lucifer did. I stepped in to explain that we'd just like to be left alone, that we didn't want to fight or have any intention to repeat anything, but they... Miles and your other son—I'm sorry, I don't recall his name. They insisted that I "stake something" on Lucifer's behavior as a guarantee. As if I should hold her responsible for something she's never done and never would do, and I— [They cut themselves short with a frustrated sound and a soft sigh.]

I admit that I lost my temper... I told them that if they came at us with force we would meet them with force—but only to defend ourselves. We don't want it to come to that. I don't think any of us do, but they're... [There's another soft sound, more uneasy than the last.] I'm worried that they think they need to guarantee it. I'm worried that they might do something unnecessary out of fear. I just... We just want to perform for people.

That's why I called you. I want to make sure this doesn't go any further so we can all relax.

Edited 2016-12-27 00:55 (UTC)

[ Cordelia listens quietly the entire time they talk, not wanting to interrupt during the pauses since she can hear the nerves in those breaths.

But then she remains silent for several beats after they finish, long enough to think she might have even been disconnected at some point. Just before it gets to where they feel they need to ask if she's still there, she says with quiet bluntness, ]

To be honest, based only on what you've just told me, I'm not sure there was a reason you needed to call me. Unless you think I have the inclination to ground my somewhat adultish sons and send them to bed without dinner, which frankly won't happen.

[They're not sure what they were expecting. Someone who might have been on their side? Someone more understanding? Or, more realistically, someone as frantically alarmed and aggressive as Miles and Mark were. Somehow this is worse—like having the floor yanked out from beneath them. Had calling been pointless after all? Had they just made the situation even worse? For a sickening moment they find themselves wondering how Ananke would've handled this.

They bite down hard on their tongue to banish the thought, swallow thickly in a sad attempt to clear their throat, and grip the phone tighter.]

No, I'm just—I told you I'm just [scared] worried. I've never had to deal with anything like this before.

[ Much to his surprise, Cordelia actually laughs lightly at that. It's not unkindly at all, just amused. ]

Don't misunderstand, I'm glad you did call. It shows you're really trying to de-escalate the situation by trying to bring in a third-party for negotiating or maybe just a neutral perspective. Not sure if I count as neutral though, but I was serious about the grounding part. Even if I did ground them, I doubt it'd stick. [ A beat. ] Well, it might for Mark, but he wouldn't be the problem.

[There's an audible sigh of relief.]

Yes—that's exactly what I want. I didn't think a true neutral party would work as well with them, and trust me, I know you were. Besides, Miles would probably find some way to blame me if you did ground them.

Probably, knowing him.

[ She gives her own sigh. ] I can talk to them and see what their side has to say, but I think it best if everyone came to the table at the same time. Doing the "he said, she said" won't get us anywhere.

I don't know if that's a good idea for a first move... Eventually it would be for the best, but right now I'm worried about them lashing out first.

But other than shouting, how else would you expect him to lash out? From what I'm guessing, there's not much we can actually do to you, right? And I'd ensure that everyone understood that the meeting would be a deliberation.

You can't hurt us physically, no, but blows aren't the only way to hurt someone. ...He treats her like she's a monster.

[ She raises her hand in concession, even if they can't see it over a call like this. ]

... Alright, I'll speak to him first.

[There's another small sound of relief.]

Thank you. I can speak with Persephone and Luci in the meantime.

I'd like to also speak with you, in person.

[ The tone of her voice hint at it not being a request. ]

Name a time and place and I can be there.

IC Contact

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject