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[dejabrewed]

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closed to Makoto | lost chances, new opportunities.

[dejabrewed]

[ He can't believe he was stood up.

No, wait, he can believe it. There was only so much he could speak about to others without said person almost deliberately making him angry. He decides that the date was just a waste of time as he sips on his coffee.

Hey, even if he was alone, he wasn't about to waste coffee. So there he sat at an empty table, almost angrily sipping away at his drink.

Someone, please entertain him. ]

time to actually do this also do you mind if it's Our mako since this is private

[eternallytired]

[ Makoto can't help but just wander around aimlessly around town while the crew is stopped there for supplies. He's still wet behind the ears, after all.

Before long, he comes across a small yet vibrant cafe. ... come to think of it, didn't one of his closest friends begrudgingly mutter something about trying his luck?

Sure enough... ]

Sandalphon? What are you doing here alone?

[ Well, he had an idea what he was doing here. But Makoto wasn't about to say anything. ]

yee

[dejabrewed]

[ Sandalphon looks up, seeing the newest member of the crew right in front of him. ]

Oh, Makoto. [ Another sip. ] The crew thought it funny to set up a date for me. However, the date was a no-show, so I'm simply enjoying some coffee.

And you? What brings you here?

time for a d e n s e m o t h e r f u c k e r

[eternallytired]

[ He grins sheepishly, trying to hide his nerves. ]

Honestly, I've just been trying to find something to do... everyone else seems to have their favorite things to go do, but I just... don't know what I like.

[ Suddenly, he perks up. ]

But you're here! And we're friends, right?

dense indeed

[dejabrewed]

[ He isn't exactly sure what to say to that. ]

I suppose so...

[ He might as well give this a shot. ]

To be frank, we've barely spoken, but that doesn't mean that can't change.

sandal be like "i don't need friends" well good thing mako is too thickheaded to care

[eternallytired]

[ He grins enthusiastically. ]

Exactly! The first step to being friends is saying you're friends.

[ not exactly but he's determined ]

Oh, I should probably get something, too.


... but I don't have any money.

[ He slumps over onto the table. ]

he be like that

[dejabrewed]

Right….
[ He’s still unsure about using the word, so he just continues on as if nothing was wrong. ]
Did you forget your money on the ship? [ He raised an eyebrow at Makoto’s slump. ]

… Regardless, just order. I’ll cover for you.

[ He’s trying though. ]</small

closed to luvien | baking and coffee

[dejabrewed]

[ sandalphon had spent an ample amount of time looking over the recipe book, running his hand through his hair in confusion. it was strange-- how come he could never get a simple recipe right, and yet he's following instructions to the letter? he tries to search for an answer by running through his actions in his mind as he stares at the bitter tasting muffins that now lay on the table.

he sighs as his memories provide no answer, deciding to simply try again by pulling out the needed ingredients. despite his frustration, he looks over at lucifer with a small smile. at least he looked like he was having fun. ]

I don't understand where I'm going wrong. I'm following everything in the book...

[luvien]

Fascinating, isn't it? Two individuals who follow the same set of instructions may still arrive at two different conclusions.

[all the techniques omitted from the text come across not as bugs points of frustration to him, but as ample spaces for expression, creativity, and learning. when their gazes meet, lucifer is in the process of getting another slice of the muffin they sampled, looking quite content. having a burgeoning sweet tooth doesn't prevent him from enjoying bitter flavors. that said, he takes his time in pondering over this particular puzzle as he chews, and hums.

it is not from incorrectly measuring ingredients. as always, sandalphon applies his meticulousness to both scale and cup. in that case ---]

Baking soda is a base ingredient. [sodium bicarbonate. who would've thought the chemistry lessons he received from lucilius would be used in such a manner?] An acid is required to neutralize its natural bitterness.

May I see the recipe? Perhaps it can be remedied with a small amount of lemon juice.

[and, yes. he's going for a third slice with the thought that something intentionally bitter may compliment one of sandalphon's sweeter concoctions.]

[dejabrewed]

It's an interesting phenomenon, indeed.

[ while he understands that lucifer was trying to show that there was still success in his work, that he can always alter a recipe until it's perfect in his eyes, but...

sandalphon isn't sure he likes the sight of lucifer enjoying what he saw as failures. his smile turns wry as he turns his attention to the ingredients once more, starting to mix all the dry ingredients. when asked for the recipe, the angel slides it over without thought. ]

... Lemon juice will have to do. I think we ran out of baking soda. [ a fact he knew he caused, with all the baking they've done recently. ]

[luvien]

Thanks.

[he takes the list and reads it while taking another bite, unaware that a few crumbs have stuck to the corner of his mouth.]

In that case, lemon juice won't be necessary. The acidity is simply there to counteract the baking soda.

Baking powder will suffice.

[he reaches for a nearby pen and, after computing the other dry ingredients, scribbles the required amount and passes it back to sandalphon.]

The general recommendation is to have one teaspoon of baking powder for every cup of dry ingredients.

[dejabrewed]

[ when lucifer speaks next, the angel spots the crumbs littered across his lips. while he does listen to his partner's words-- they do indeed have baking powder-- he can't help but stare at them for a couple seconds.

as lucifer scribbles down his notes, sandalphon fetches a napkin. he then dabs away the crumbs with a gentle smile. and when the recipe is passed back, he reads it over. ]

Thank you so much. It should be easier to make right this time, thanks to you.

[luvien]

[now it's his turn to stare, lips slightly parted as his gaze goes from the paper towel to sandalphon.]

Ah.

[this isn't the first crumb incident, albeit it's far neater than the time he encountered powder-coated corn snacks.]

You're welcome. Although it seems that I, too, have things to improve upon.

Thank you.

closed to luvien | side by side fighting

[dejabrewed]

[ he didn't expect fighting otherworlders to be so annoying.

he had called for backup as soon as he feasibly could, but it already felt as if years with how quickly they managed to multiply their numbers. but he knew he couldn't stop-- not when there were so many lives at stake. a populated island that housed nothing but farmland and defenseless people wouldn't have survived even a couple hours had he not intervened at the captain's request.

(he would have intervened regardless of the captain, but gran had just given him a perfect excuse.)

all he had to do was hold the line he had managed to create until backup arrived. that was all he had to do. ]

They better get a move on... [ he grumbled under his breath as he fired off more of his swords, making sure the otherworlders stayed back as much as possible. ]

[luvien]

[otherworlders, then and now, prove to be tricky foes.

as soon as the call for help arrived, a grave lucifer had taken flight, six wings beating with a prayer for sandalphon's continued safety. better that the two of them act above here with the bulk of the main force while any willing hands take charge of defense and evacuation, if necessary. and, notably ---]

A disadvantageous position.

[so he murmurs to himself, mouth pressed in a thin line the closer he nears a dark cloud of chaos and malice, and grips the hilt of his sword.

a cut. ten. fifty. a hundred precise strokes of light that sear through the legion with a flurry of feathers until, finally, he sees a much loved set of twelve.

for the first time since the grandcypher received the request, lucifer briefly breaks out into a genuine smile as he maneuvers to hover behind his partner to cover his back.]

Sandalphon.

You've done well.

[to have held out this long. to be mindful of the island they are protecting. to know when to call for aid, and the tip of a white wing brushes against sparrow-brown.]

Now. Shall we show them out the door together?

[dejabrewed]

[ sandalphon had seen what the otherworlders were using to summon more of their kind into the sky realm-- the target was ever clear, but getting there was the obstacle he needed to cross. he couldn't exactly play offense when defense was the priority. holding the line was getting tiresome with the lack of progress.

he grits his teeth. he mustn't falter, and he knows that. he readies his sword to play defense again, taking in the sight of the sea of otherworlders as he does. he's about to launch into battle before he feels the ever-familiar presence of white wings. he lets go of a breath he didn't realize he was holding. ]

Lucifer. [ what a relief, to see his call received safely, and to see such a familiar face. the wing touch was a welcome gesture as well. the grandcypher was probably at work rescuing others, so any help sent was appreciated, but to see lucifer? sandalphon felt as if he could take on anything.

the praise given would have sent his younger self into a self-deprecating frenzy. now, it only gave him the confidence to continue the fight. he nods, turning to face the enemy once more. ]

Gladly. Cover me! [ he sets off into the hoard, using well aimed cuts of his sword to eliminate several otherworlders-- all for the sake of the sky realm's continued existence. ]

[luvien]

Understood.

[without hesitation he follows, slicing through a group coming in from the side.

while he has far from forgotten how to engage otherworlders in combat, fighting next to sandalphon is a recent experience. nonetheless, lucifer is a quick study, and from behind it is easy to see how sharper his partner's movements have become since they last sparred in the garden. far beneath several layers of calculations and predictive combat maneuvers, a seed of brightness grows.

confidence is something strengthened through experience. but here, where the immediacy of action requires the discarding of self-consciousness, it is evident that before him is a highly capable supreme primarch.

and so he flies where sandalphon directs him, his partner's location and safety ever at the corner of his eye as he slashes through the incoming waves, mouth pressed in a thin line.

until they are able to close the passage and every last opponent is slain, they cannot rest easy, and not a single one must be allowed to slip through to get to the isle.]

[dejabrewed]

[ it felt as fluid as water, fighting by lucifer's side. he remembers how it was like sparring with lucifer-- always one step ahead, never being able to best him in a proper match. he could chalk it up to his inexperience at the time, but sandalphon knows it was a lot more than that. now, it felt like they were dance partners, timing their steps (or in this case, their strikes) to an invisible beat. just as lucifer kept an eye on him, sandalphon did the same, making sure nothing drew too close.

it may be a new experience, but sandalphon hopes this won't be the last time they fight like this. then again, he notes, the otherworlders never learned when to stop, surely this might be a continuous affair, even after the singularity's inevitable passing.

he doesn't waste time in clearing out the hoard, making a path directly through the hoard towards the opening with a clean quick draw and thrown swords. the shortest path is straight ahead, after all. once he makes it, he makes haste in closing the distance with a flurry of feathers. ]

[luvien]

[combat is necessary for the fulfillment of their roles and the regulation of order. over time, he has come to understand it as an expression of will and the dedication towards a cause: another method with which evolution guides its course.

as far as protecting the skies goes, lucifer wishes that those who dwell in both the skies and the otherworld find a different manner to resolve this age-old conflict. unfortunately, it is unlikely that they may come to terms with one another any time soon. he, as with most of those who dwell within the skies, is still missing the pieces to fairly assess the full nature and extent of the otherworlder's grievances, and the omnipotent is not as forthcoming as he would like. (isn't the latter quite the transgressive thought? moreover, doesn't he, in equal measure, dread the possibility of the complete cessation of all forms of conflict should that prove to be a death sentence for existence itself?)

for now, these are matters that must be set aside to handle the urgency of the threat before them. lucifer darts where he will to keep their backs safe, reducing the otherworlders surrounding them. the closer they get to the gate, the faster their foes are able to replenish their ranks, and the greater this trial becomes.

(in spite of himself, he cannot deny the curious freedom that accompanies their dance and the motion of swift wings. a ghost of a smile still shows on lucifer's lips whenever they near each other in spite of reminders to himself that he cannot be so cavalier.)

where his partner carves a path, lucifer rises above and brings down his blades to keep it clear, following with a burst of speed. they have but a scant few moments to accomplish their task, and the measured beams of light he sends to pick off stragglers aiming for the isle can only do so much.]

Sandalphon!

closed to luvien | in which sandalphon tries life

[dejabrewed]

[ while sandalphon thought being the supreme primarch meant making sure that the world was in order from time to time, he had not considered other responsibilities at the time. it wasn't even due to lack of wanting knowledge. it was due to being locked out of said knowledge, forced to spend years upon years locked up and never knowing. he doesn't fault lucifer for not letting him know- the reveal of his true purpose was something he didn't expect either. but even so, he was supreme primarch now, and despite lucifer's presence, he had to learn what the role entails... by looking at whatever remnants of notes the astrals and lucifer left behind.

it wasn't a lot, but it had been something. it was better than nothing. he spends countless hours digging through mountains of paperwork just to understand... and then he finds out he has to be in charge of core production and maintenance... which meant being in control of new primals. ah. this would have been easier if he had the foresight of actually asking the tetra-primarchs for assistance. but he didn't, and now he had to figure out how by himself.

he scours over his work for eons in his room, trying to find the calculations necessary to at least start to create new primals... asking new primals for assistance felt wrong, even though he knew they were probably older than he was. so alone he sat, figuring out things on his own... but boy was it tedious. ]

It has to be important if they found the need to write it down...

[luvien]

[sandalphon might not blame him, but that doesn't stop lucifer for feeling guilty about leaving his partner unprepared to deal with a burden neither of them expected to be passed on millennia ago. there is much the supreme primarch must do and is capable of --- some things that lucifer hadn't given himself permission to explore to their fullest in his first life --- and these abilities aren't to be taken lightly.

if there are things he can console himself with, it is the knowledge that sandalphon is not tied to the elements as he once was, and that the other primarch has a naturally different perspective on where evolution must lead, if there is a "must" at all. from his understanding, these changes allow for a greater degree of movement, and hopefully more breathing room for sandalphon to settle into becoming the supreme primarch in these uncertain times.]

Sandalphon..?

[this may be their shared room, but lucifer will always knock. he was away for most of today, checking on how the tetraprimarchs are adjusting to their new lives. spending time with them outside of planning how to manage the flow of the elements and battling otherworlders is a nice change of pace, to say the least.]

[dejabrewed]

[ the knock at the door surprises him, but the emotion is quickly replaced by calm once he realizes who it was. he debates on putting away the work before going to let lucifer in, but he doesn’t. in the end he decides to leave the papers on his desk and continues to study as he lets out a distracted ‘come in’. no point losing his place in the book he was reading. it’s only when the other angel settles in is when sandalphon nestles a bookmark in between the pages. ]

Is something the matter…? [ he looks up, curious as to why lucifer didn’t just say something. was he being cautious for a reason or…? ]

/shamelessly borrows from the current event

[luvien]

Nothing so alarming.

[he enters, a tray bearing a sizeable insulated flask, two bowls, and wrapped bread balanced in one hand.]

Rather, I had wondered if you were busy.

[and from the looks of things, his partner was. with a curious glance at the stacks of paper on the desk, lucifer strides to the round table where they usually have coffee and sets down the tray.]

Uriel has generously provided us with stew for dinner. It will keep until you're ready for a break.

no shame only love

[dejabrewed]

Not so much busy as much as it is entertainment...

[ a dry laugh escapes his lips. does he consider this entertainment? maybe, since literally anything can be entertainment after the years spent in pandemonium. there was always a silver lining to things. he takes a peek at what lucifer has brought him, eyes widening a little as he realizes. ]

Ah, Uriel's had wonderful progress in the realm of cooking since he's picked it up. It's possible he's always had a knack for the art. [ a lot luckier than he was with his craft, but he isn't complaining. he doesn't regret the work he's put into it. he stretches with a hum. ] I don't mind taking a break right now.

\o/

[luvien]

I am pleased to hear it.

[lucifer's expression softens with fondness. indeed, reading may be pursued for its own sake, although he has yet to find the fine line between pure enjoyment and his own method of perusing written works for information. how sandalphon and the other primarchs continue to grow by leaps and bounds! there is much to be thankful for during their travels with the singularity.]

It suits him.

Uriel has a keen eye for such things and in looking out for the welfare of others.

[brimming with contentment, lucifer nods and gestures at the table in welcome, setting out the bowls and filling them with stew. he sighs softly, briefly closing his eyes to analyze the scent.]

How wonderful. For all that the sense of taste is linked to olfaction, it's not easy to discern what ingredients he used until one samples the dish.

Have you had the chance to visit his establishment before?

[prior to lucifer's unexpected reemergence in the sky realm, that is.]