maddest: (whatever shall we do)
maddest ([personal profile] maddest) wrote2011-08-22 12:20 am

[video] star light star bright

Dear Adstringendum,

I'd like to hold a contest.

You see, we have a starfull of skies, pardon, sky full of stars, but no lore to fill it with. The constellations in my world all tell stories about heroes long fallen, about Gods and Goddesses and immortals and divinity.

I propose we make a little bit of the same for ourselves here!

The rules are simple. Find a constellation from the nighttime- be it the summer or winter sky- and remember and recount for me a 'legend' about that cluster. You can find images of the nighttime skies in old PCD video posts, if you look back.

We're talking about legend here, so any stories you tell should either be a year old at least, or should focus on events surrounding people who are no longer with us, or whose memories have been lost since the events themselves. That, or events that happened a year or so or more ago. I only want secondhand retellings. The stars are about myth, after all.

The winner will get the package of cookies I salvaged yesterday.

I'll start.



Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was an event in Adstringendum where the streets were patrolled by mean, crusty creatures called gnomes. These dreaded gnomes bossed, and bullied the city dwellers into living in buildings like dormitories for the better part of a week.

Weep and wail as they might, a curfew was strictly enforced, by the dreaded gnomes with their teeth and clubs. Enemy was planted abed next to other enemies, conflict started afresh, and by the end of the week the city was in such cranky, over exhausted turmoil, that the animus in their infinite wisdom flung the gnome creatures into the sky, never to be seen again.

The citizens of Adstringendum were released from their dormitory prison, and all that was left of the gnomes was a small cluster, just there- of stars. If you look close you see the outline of their little pot-bellies.

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[identity profile] painhumbles.livejournal.com 2011-08-26 03:53 am (UTC)(link)
It gets old being the protector, especially when everyone wants you to pick a side. I don't do sides. And I'm gonna be the one eating them, so let's just say they're for me.

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[identity profile] mister-hatter.livejournal.com 2011-08-26 04:02 am (UTC)(link)
Especially since both sides tend to see walking down the middle as being in the enemy camp, hm?

Although Lucifer's reaction seems like it was born of fear rather than reason. You think that cookies aren't enough- but once the terror of being confined again subsides, he's still going to love you as a little brother. As the wound heals, the perceived betrayal should too.

Whoops!

[As flour puffs all over the counter.]

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[identity profile] painhumbles.livejournal.com 2011-08-26 05:25 am (UTC)(link)
He did make the first move, but, uh... I guess the whole adage, "It's not him, it's me" holds true. He may be sore about me betraying him, but my Grace is bruised. That's my damn hurdle to jump. [He ignores the flour in favor of staring out the window.] Besides, he's got Jinx. And what an adorable couple, they are. [Gag him. This event sucks.]

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[identity profile] mister-hatter.livejournal.com 2011-08-26 05:31 am (UTC)(link)
I actually yelled at him for Jinx. He nearly put me through my kitchen wall, but it was worth it.

[He pads over, and offers the spoon he'd used to mix the batter to Gabriel. That'll help.]

He knew I was right. How is your Grace? Healing? You don't seem as badly off as Raphael was when she came by for tea.

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[identity profile] painhumbles.livejournal.com 2011-08-28 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
Really? Worth pitching a fit over a bed that girl's willingly lying in?

...Okay, maybe it is. Whatever.

[He huffs] It's fine. And Raphael got the worst of it. She had to go and play the hero on me. ]A beat] Are you just collecting angels?

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[identity profile] mister-hatter.livejournal.com 2011-08-28 06:41 am (UTC)(link)
I just think he shouldn't break his own rules, that's all.

[He smiles at him, beatifically.]

I'm going to get the whole set.

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[identity profile] painhumbles.livejournal.com 2011-08-29 05:34 pm (UTC)(link)
His own rules?

...[That earns an eyeroll] Nice. Omnipotent beings reduced to beanie babies.

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[identity profile] mister-hatter.livejournal.com 2011-08-29 06:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Lucifer doesn't like to lie outright. Humans have a lot of lore about deals with the devil, losing your soul due to a tricky bit of wording here or there... but if you pay attention, for whatever reason this incarnation really doesn't indulge in such things. He'll take everything you have and burn you to the quick, but he'll do it to your face, and you'll see it coming. 'Enough rope to hang yourself' springs to mind.

I told him that what he was doing with Jinx was uncomfortably close to outright deception, and that I had lost a great deal of respect for him.

What's a beanie baby?

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[identity profile] painhumbles.livejournal.com 2011-08-29 06:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Forget it. [This is more important.] Wait. So even you think he's playing her?

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[identity profile] mister-hatter.livejournal.com 2011-08-29 11:53 pm (UTC)(link)
I did. But I talked to him, and I watched them a little closer- and honestly? I think they're playing us. Every one of us.

She knows what she's getting herself into, his peculiar ethos would mean she'd have to. The nuzzling and cooing not only isn't him, it isn't much like her, is it? They need something from each other, and they're playing lovebirds while they get it.

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[identity profile] painhumbles.livejournal.com 2011-08-30 03:31 am (UTC)(link)
Except they're playing chicken with emotions, and that's a game no bratty archangel and a teenage girl with daddy issues can play for very long without one of 'em actually starting to believe it. I mean, assume she falls in love and Lucifer's only placating her. Or worse- assume he falls in love and she's not interested in playing for keeps. D'you really wanna be the guy on the bad end of that kind of emotional fallout? 'Cause I sure don't.

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[identity profile] mister-hatter.livejournal.com 2011-08-30 07:46 am (UTC)(link)
After the last few weeks, do you really think he's likely to fall in love with anyone right now?

[Shrugging.]

And honestly, the fallout won't be so bad. Adstringendum has survived worse. The scales have a way of balancing themselves.

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[identity profile] painhumbles.livejournal.com 2011-08-30 04:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Right now, maybe not, but this too shall pass, and she's the only one he's confiding in anymore.

[He scoffs.]

You haven't met Lucifer scorned, Break. He gets downright apocalyptic.

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[identity profile] mister-hatter.livejournal.com 2011-08-30 04:56 pm (UTC)(link)
No, she isn't.

And I don't think we have to worry about that just yet.

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[identity profile] painhumbles.livejournal.com 2011-08-30 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
...Who? You?

Not while she's useful to him, anyway.

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[identity profile] mister-hatter.livejournal.com 2011-08-30 09:27 pm (UTC)(link)
You're really worried about her well being.

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[identity profile] painhumbles.livejournal.com 2011-08-31 04:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[Gabriel glances away.]

She's a stupid kid.

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[identity profile] mister-hatter.livejournal.com 2011-08-31 04:42 pm (UTC)(link)
-you're pulling her pigtails!

[Break will be laughing. Forever.]

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[identity profile] painhumbles.livejournal.com 2011-08-31 05:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey! [Gabriel huffs.] If I am, it's because she's an easy target. Have you seen that girl? She's got a hair-trigger on her temper. Other than that? I don't like watching stupid teenage girls destroy themselves.

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[identity profile] mister-hatter.livejournal.com 2011-08-31 05:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh no no, Gabriel, Break isn't having any of that. He's still laughing to himself.

Fortunately, he's also taking the cookies out of the oven, so there's good reason not to smite him for impertinence, etc.]

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[identity profile] painhumbles.livejournal.com 2011-09-02 02:30 am (UTC)(link)
[Thank goodness angels cannot be burned by scalding hot cookie, because Gabriel snatches a still-gooey cookie and pops it into his mouth, sulking.] Your cookies are better than your jokes anyway.

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[identity profile] mister-hatter.livejournal.com 2011-09-02 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
Also, better than your taste in women. Coincidentally.

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[identity profile] painhumbles.livejournal.com 2011-09-02 02:50 am (UTC)(link)
I've dated goddesses, thank you. My little black book looks like a college mythology textbook.

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[identity profile] painhumbles.livejournal.com 2011-09-03 05:38 am (UTC)(link)
[He glowers and goes to fetch it.] Just saying. My dating pool is an ocean.

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[identity profile] mister-hatter.livejournal.com - 2011-09-03 06:17 (UTC) - Expand

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[identity profile] painhumbles.livejournal.com - 2011-09-04 00:30 (UTC) - Expand

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[identity profile] mister-hatter.livejournal.com - 2011-09-04 00:42 (UTC) - Expand