Off Duty [Open]

[GABRIEL]

Gabrielle Winters walked down a narrow alley, in the darkness of the night. The full moon was, ironically, high in the sky illuminating any passers-by. Most of those strangers were either Angel or Demon. She already heard the music pumping from the end of the alleyway.

By the time she reached the door, the bouncer, was simply an animated gargoyle statue to accept the likes of Demons and Angels. To keep as much of a truce as they could. She walked through the black iron doors, to the sound of blaring music. In the alleyway, she was Gabrielle Winters; a contemplative, quite bartender at the end of her shift. Through the doors of N.O.V.A, she was but the Archangel Gabriel - Angel of Mercy, Revelation and Truth.

Still in her Mortal form, adorned in a tight fitting blue metallic dress cut just above her knee, started to walk towards the bar. A few of those were in full angel or demonic form, simply engaging in the drinks, music, and conversation. Not that it ever ended well.

Ordering a glass of martini, she scanned the large club for any sign of a familiar face. The supernatural sense of enities were overwhelming to her. They were everywhere. If they were not doing their job of preserving order and justice, or simply murdering helpless children, they were here partying. It did make her seem unseasy at the fact, but at least she could enjoy herself while she was still alive.

[LUCIFER]

When Lucifer first entered N.O.V.A., the entire place went silent for a moment. The Demon of Pride tended to have that effect on those who knew who he was. But even though he they weren't speaking with t heir voices, they were far from silent. Lucifer could hear their thoughts and feel their emotions, when he chose to, just as easily as spoken words. There was some fear, apprehension, and a tiny seed of hate from most of the Angels. And from the demons...more or less the same feelings, with a healthy dose of respect.

Things went back to normal in a few moments. Lucifer took his usual table at the private room in the back. He was far too good to mix with the common rabble. A few demons dared to come and speak to him, mostly about their petty concerns or just to gush empty praises, but the majority knew to keep away from him. It seemed it did not matter how many times Lucifer reminded demons that he was all knowing. They still insisted upon telling him who they were and what their problems were. He already knew, as soon as they came before him, what they were thinking and feeling, and if he cared he would have already dealt with it.

Not to say that Lucifer preferred to be alone when he was drinking. There was a female demon with him. Only one. Though Lucifer could, between his powers of persuasion and his reputation, had his pick of any or all of the demon women at N.O.V.A., his vice was Pride, not Lust. One was enough for him. For the time being.

He was sipping a Prussian Cathouse when Gabriel entered. He knew she was there as soon as she walked in. He would have known earlier, had he been paying attention. He considered sending the woman with him to fetch Gabriel to him but knew that she would not simply come. He would have to go himself.

Lucifer left his private room, not bothering to explain to the woman where he was going. When he saw her, he spread his arms wide almost as if he was going to embrace her. He walked confidently towards her. "Gabriel. How long has it been?"

[GABRIEL]

So far, Gabriel had not seen any of her fellow Archangels. A few of them specifically told her to stay away from this place. They did not believe in mingling with the enemy. Gabriel on the other hand, knew that there was a pact between both demons and angels to keep the peace. Sometimes the demons followed it, sometimes they could not give a shit.

But she believed that both parties could benefit from this, whether they knew it or not.

Gabriel took another sip of her martini, when she felt another presence in the room. It was feeling of dread, and it was one person that it could only be. The Prince of Darkness. Well, one of them anyway. She glanced around the club with her peering blue eyes, until it rested upon a smug-looking face known as Lucifer.

She had to refrain from chocking on her drink, but set it down on the bar just in case. "Well, well, well. Lucifer. What a pleasant suprise." She hesited on the word 'pleasant', and they both very well knew that was not the case. Just because they mingled together at N.O.V.A, doesn't mean they were buddies.

[LUCIFER]

"Surprise?" Lucifer chuckled slightly. It was a hollow sound, like someone mimicking a laugh. "I have not had one of those in two thousand years. You are welcomed to try to surprise me, though. It just might amuse me. Perhaps you would like to join me for a drink? A table is about to open up."

Lucifer directed his telepathy towards two demons seated at a table nearby. Leave. Now. He also reached out with his empathic abilities. They were already just a little afraid of him. He took hold of that fear and fed it. It grew from a slight worry in the backs of their minds into an overwhelming dread. The two demons bolted. Lucicifer nodded towards the now-vacant table.

"Very convenient, wouldn't you say?"

[GABRIEL]

Gabriel raised her eyebrow, and studied the man before him. Demons. All the same, especially this one. The Prince of Darkness. Who would have thought they were both in the same room without trying to kill each other.

She folded her arms across her chest, with a smug look on her face, "Yes, very convenient. Let's put this as a celebration of sorts. The revival of our powers...our souls. And the beginning of a war that will cease to suprise me. Especially you, Lucifer. You haven't changed a bit."

She glanced at the table, then back at the demon, until she finally decided to take a seat at the now vacant table. There will be no war here. The blood pact says otherwise, and it will be her wings on auction. She would not risk her soul for a pesky demon. Especially one with the likes of Lucifer.

"So..." She leaned on the table with her elbows, and her head propped against her hand. She bored her blue eyes straight into those hollow ones of Lucifer. "How were your past lives? I'm guessing being a beggar and a thief might count well for something in your life." She knew it wasn't true, but she loved provoking him. Who knows? Maybe one of his past lives was a beggar or a homeless person. A powerless mortal. That would never fail to amuse her.

[LUCIFER]

Lucifer chuckled at the first thing she said. "The revival of our souls...No one mentioned that you took up comedy, Gabriel. As for me not changing..." Lucifer gave her a smile. "Why change what was already perfect?" The demon downed the rest of his drink and directed his mind towards the bartender.

Pour me a glass of the most expensive vodka you have. Add one cocktail onion and serve it to me in a coconut shell. As an afterthought, he added, If you get it wrong, I will stop your heart.

Lucifer leaned against the table, waiting for his drink. "Oh, my lives really weren't to terribly interesting," he said offhandedly. "I spent a few lives ruling some small little countries. I had a great deal of fun in Rome and Egypt. China, too. Perhaps you heard of Liu Xuangde? No, I doubt it. I suppose you might call those empire rather large, but compared to the whole world, they're really just villages. I once had an interesting career as a public speaking instructor. Perhaps you remember one of my pupils. A shy young boy named Adolf? He learned well."

The bartender brough Lucifer his drink. The demon sipped it for a moment. You get to live. Do not grow accustomed to it. He turned his attention back to Gabriel. "And what of your past lives, Gabriel? I would guess you enjoyed several promising careers as a prostitute, if you are fond of this particular appearance."

[GABRIEL]

Gabriel arched an eyebrow at Lucifer's smug look. She always found him to have an enlarged head. She didn't doubt him, because his past lives represented him rather well. "Ah, Adolf Hitler. Doesn't surprise me, really. Funnily enough, I thought you might have been his servant. Well..." She cracked a smile, looking a sweet as an innocent child. "I see that war went well. Pity." Adolf under the tutelage of Lucifer, and they still failed to take world domination. Must have been heartbreaking for him...If he had a heart.

Her smile remained at his comment on prostitution, "You would have loved that, wouldn't you? You missed me."

She downed the rest of her drink, and the smile wiped off her face. "I was an Archaen in the Trojan War, half-sister to Queen Helen of Sparta. Of coarse, you know how that ended. I was a servant to Queen Elizabeth during the Golden Age, and provided inspiration for her success. That war needed to be won. I was a well-known nurse in World War two, and saved the lives of many veterans. We won the war, sending Adolf out of his mind. Between that...I was a lawyer, a medium and a spokeswoman several times." It had indeed been quite an interesting lot of past lives. She watched the uprising and downfall of many significant mortals. Watched helplessly at the destruction of cities, and the rebuilding of new ones. And still, she was still living, now finally, as the Archangel she once was thousands of years ago. Now, she can provide holy inspiration.

[LUCIFER]

"Oh, I would say that young Adolf was a brilliant success. Surely you did not think I would allow a mortal to be the one to conquer the world. Gabriel, I thought you knew me better than that. I used Adolf for what he was worth and then, when he had served his purpose, I allowed you and your kind to clean up my mess. I really should thank you for saving me the trouble." Naturally, he did no such thing.

He smiled in amusement at the thought of Gabriel as a lawyer. "I invented the concept of the lawsuit. One of my finest ideas, I think. Humans arguing over nothing, their greed devouring their reason, their anger overpowering their logic. Forgiveness bought and sold, given or taken by words on a piece of paper. Again, I really should thank you for contributing to that. Perhaps it is best that you did not join me so long ago. You have been just as useful when left to your own devices."

Lucifer's smile had faded by the time he was done speaking. "You are right, Gabriel. I have missed you, in my own way. You always were the one who did my work without being asked. So considerate of you."

[GABRIEL]

Gabriel cracked a grin, "Well, it was no wonder you were the influential being set to guide those hopeless rulers of the mortal word. We both know you vied for success. I'm sure a Prince, such as yourself, wanted much more than just being a guide the worlds most hated individuals. What a boring life. Live as a mortal, guide those men, and watch them fail. Under your watchful eye." He must have been a bad guide then. The Archangels were doing their work silently, but effectively. Whether he knew it or not.

"Or maybe you got stuck in the body of a pain in the ass," Go figure, for a big-headed demon such as himself. She sighed, "Law is a tedious thing. Not everyone gets justice. Some just relish in the concept of lies, lies, and more lies...Just to fool those around them. Me join you? An arrogant bastard such as yourself? Oh, please. I'd rather commit heartless murder than do that. But then again - It's all the same with you."

He missed her? It's not just personal, but she was sure the feeling was mutual. She hated him with a passion. Despised him. Loathed him. His very existence annoyed the hell out of her. Gabriel was not one to loath someone like that. But with Lucifer...it was a different story.

"Things havent changed, I see."

[LUCIFER]

"Live as a mortal, guide those men, and watch them fail. Under your watchful eye." she had said.

Lucifer almost laughed at that. "Why, Gabriel, that is exactly correct. I do believe you've just managed to summarize the whole plan in a few short sentences. Assume mortal form. Lead mortality in the direction I want, and then watch as they fall. That is it precisely. I wonder why it has taken you so long to see it."

]"Nothing ever would change if you had your way about it," Lucifer continued. "Yours is the way of unthinking stagnation, faithfully maintaining the status quo.. But things are changing, Gabriel. The balance of power used to be in your favor. Now, it has shifted to mine. I wonder...do you know the true purpose of the half-breeds?

Lucifer decided to answer his own question. "No, of course not. You are just as long as the rest of them. But I know why they are here, the reason for their existence. Maybe I'll tell you... He gave her a long look. "Of course, you will have to give me something in return."

[GABRIEL]

Gabriel smiled, rather darkly for her taste. "Who says the balance of power have shifted in your favor? We are, in actual fact, equal in this war, whether you agree to it or not."

She began to tap her fingers, impatiently, on the tabletop. Her nails, clicking as she did so. There were Archangels as opposed to their evil counterparts, the Demonic Sins. How equal could it get? One wanted power and dominace, the other wanted justice and peace. An eternity-long war which apparently got both sides, nowhere.

Leaning back in her chair with the smile wiped off her face. "And what, Lucifer, could you possibly desire from me? Preferably other than your usual sexual desires. Not that I will stoop down to your pitiful level. Those half-breeds are simply your abomination, and your blame for their existence. They should not have to be torn between sides, and are stuck in the middle. Who knows what sides they will turn to."

[LUCIFER]

"Now, now, Gabriel, I think we can both agree that my sexual desires are anything other than usual," the demon leered. He reached out with his empathic powers, searching her for any hint of lust or passion. He was sure there was some, lurking deep within her. And once he found it, he would enflame it. Then they would see how strong her will truly was. He spoke about other matters as he spoke.

"You truly believe that the Half-breeds are torn or somehow in the middle, and you are sorely mistaken. They are like mortals, but with powers beyond the others of their kind. Of course a few will be turned to your cause and use their powers to help others of their kind, defend mortals, et cetra, et cetra. But by and large, they will see themselves as what they are: something superior to other mortals. They will use their powers for their own gain, at the expense of those who are less than they are. They will all do my bidding, without me having to lift another finger. Gather what few Half-breeds you can. It will be as a drop in the ocean."

He took a long sip from his drink before he spoke next, still searching inside of her. "Of course, there are some Half-breeds for whom I have special plans. You think we are balanced, for now. You might be correct. But that balance will soon do more than shift in my favor. All traces of it will be completely obliterated. This long war of mine will be over very soon, Gabriel. I wonder if you will still be around to see it.

[GABRIEL]

Gabriel narrowed her eyes, "Your hollow words bore me, Lucifer. I'd thought after all these centuries, you would have developed some sort of intelligence. "

She knew, in fact all beings knew, Lucifer had sexual desires. What else would a demon with power want? More power, and dominance no less. To him, woman were made for only one thing. But he was sadly mistaken if he was to even try and seduce her. She knew him rather well, despite their opposite positions in war. She hates him, and he very well knew it. But for him to sit here and tell her she was powerful, enraged her to no end. Most of the Archangels knew she had a bad temper, and low tolerance for anything. But like Lucifer, she did not kill for the sake of it. And she will give him no mercy.

"Those Half-breeds decide their own fate. You, nor I, control them. Whatever your ghasty plan is, I assure you, you will be powerless when we destroy those plans. I'm sure Michael is sharpening his sword right now. Even I, an Angel, will relish in your demise. I am the Angel of Truth, Revelation and Mercy. My truth, is that one day, you will perish in the very flames you were born in. And I pray that I am there to witness it."

Lucifer seemed to have no idea that even Angels can become wrathful. In God's name.

[LUCIFER]

Lucifer actually did laugh at that."You truly believe the Half-breeds choose their own fate. They have no more power over their fate than you do, Gabriel. You still don't understand how this works. You have no power over your decisions. Michael has no power over his. The Half-breeds have no power. Your fate has already been decided by Him. You are His slave, Gabriel, His unthinking, unknowing lapdog, jumping when He says so without even knowing why it is you are jumping. He has His plans for you and for the rest of them. The only ones who are free of His control are my people. And I intend to free the others, too.

"As for Michael," Lucifer continued after a pause, "He is nothing to be afraid of. He's an idiot, a mindless brute smashing what he is told to smash. You exalt him because once, long, long ago, he defeated me. But he could not stop me then and he cannot do so now. He delayed me. It will not happen again. There are ways to kill an immortal, and if Michael inconveniences me again he will learn of them firsthand."

He couldn't find any lust in Gabriel; at least, not for him. But there was hatred in her. A lot, directed at him. Lucifer stroked that, increasing it. Maybe he could get her to snap and attack him. It would be very interesting if it was an Angel who broke the truce. "You forget, Gabriel, that I was once an Angel, too. I know you far better than you could ever know me. And I know exactly what it would take to make someone like you turn into someone like me." He sipped his drink. "You'll bepleased to know t hat you're already halfway there."

[GABRIEL]

Gabriel took in a deep breath. All their conversations ended up the same. Lucifer became to boast about his plans, whilst Gabriel tries to defy them. "You're such a typical demon, Lucifer. You must be wearing out your speeches by now. I have power over my decisions, like you have with yours. I work in God's name, while you work in your father's. He is very much pulling your stings as his little puppet, I assure you. Having father issues, are we?" She almost spat that out, with her patience wearing thin.

She cocked her head over to one side, and examined her enemy closely. "Yet Michael, the supposed idiot, silenced you centuries ago. You must be pretty pissed."

Again, there was no reasoning with him. She simply wanted to put him on the spot. Force him to feel rage upon her, not the same old 'gentleman' persona. It sickened her. Slowly, yet gracefully she rose from her seat, with her eyes locked on that of Lucifer. In a flurry of white orbs, two large silvery wings materialised on her back, and remained folded behind her. Her eyes, with the small transformation, grew a shade brighter and more mystical. Her metallic blue dress remained the same, however.

"It seems you have forgotten that I am an Archangel. That means, I am unlike other Angels - " With that, she turned her back and headed for the doors to the outside world. She had better things to do, than listen to the rants of a demon lunatic. She knew her position in the war, and by God's command, she will silence him one day.

[OOC: Whether you want to post your last one, or leave it as is, it's totally up to you. It was an exciting thread ]