2 | Video | Day 58

[villainized]

[ It's a very unimpressed man's face that addresses the town from the tiny little device strapped to his wrist. He looks largely unremarkable for a town now filled with a variety of supernatural and fantastical creatures, almost boringly ordinary. When he speaks, his voice is dry and sarcastic. ]

I'm told that my family now runs amok, and while I generally prefer to let them sort themselves out, it appears as though someone needs to take responsibility. And as the only remaining archangel in the vicinity, I suppose the burden of babysitter falls on my shoulders.

To those who can't claim kinship, aren't you fortunate, I suggest that you contact me if one of my siblings becomes difficult to handle. Otherwise, you may find yourself in a bit of an existential quandary. Angels have a tendency to react poorly to free will. Think Spring Break with more carnage.

And to those of you who've forgotten what you are, I suggest you remember. Having an unfortunate bout of humanity, or whatever malady afflicts you now, is no excuse to act uncivilized. Personally, I don't give a damn what you do, but I don't want to hear the moaning later, when you've come back to yourselves and realize that you've slaughtered half of the population.

[ Assuming they come back to themselves at all. But Lucifer will burn that bridge when he gets to it. ]

Comments

[video/private]

[afallenstar]

[ When she responds, it's quiet, but undeniably heartfelt. She appreciates this, so much more than she can express properly, so instead she just settles for two words. ]

Thank you.

[ There's an awkward pause though, because she's not quite done yet. There's more, but she has to tread carefully with the information. ]

I...found out what Balthazar is.

[villainized]

[ He doesn't say "you're welcome," but he does nod in acknowledgement, which is close to the same thing for him. ]

A mess?

[ No, that's being flippant. And Lucifer has suspicions. ]

Tell me.

[afallenstar]

[ She would have been happy with nothing at all, anything more than that is a plus. She's all too aware that he didn't have to agree, but she's even more aware of the fact that he didn't have to go to those lengths. ]

Well, you're definitely not wrong.

[ Seriously, he's really not. She smiles, all wry and followed by a sigh. ]

He's a leviathan.

[villainized]

[ He isn't particularly concerned about the presence of a Leviathan, but the humans and other creatures here might have cause to be. What's the phrase? When it rains, it pours? ]

I may not be able to return him to his proper form, but I can try to keep him occupied.

[ And if not, well, at least he tried. ]

I'll see what I can do.

[afallenstar]

[ It's such a relief to have some of the responsibility taken off of her shoulders, even if it is as simple as 'I'll see what I can do'. It's something, and that's already so much better than where she had been before.

Besides, Lucifer is far better equipped to deal with this particular problem, that's not hard to see. He's still in possession of his Grace, one of the strongest beings in their universe, and Anna?

Anna is a human and lets herself get bitten. ]

There's...no chance you can get him back, is there?

[ It's supposed to just be a statement, but it comes out so much more questioning than it's supposed to. She just has to make sure, that's all. ]

[villainized]

[ He could evade the question, or he could tell her plainly. There's no advantage to concealing the truth that he can see, so he doesn't try. ]

It depends on the cause of the transformation. At the moment, I've no idea what that might be.

[ But he intends to find out. One way or another. ]

Have you uncovered any leads?

[afallenstar]

[ Right, of course. That makes sense, and she can't help but chastise herself for even considering the notion. None of them have ever been able to evade the things thrown at them, much less fix them before the time is up. ]

As far as I can tell, it is running much as every other roadblock that has been thrown at us by the captives. The vast majority of us are affected, and it seems the only ones who haven't been have been...strategically chosen.

[ She seriously doesn't believe that it's coincidence that Lucifer of all of them is the one left with his Grace intact. It's a test, just like everything else that's been thrown there way. There doesn't seem to be another explanation for it. ]

It's likely that it's temporary, most things so far have been, but people are dangerous right now. If things keep going this way, there's probably going to be casualties. As for what's powerful enough to affect archangels this way - your guess is still as good as mine.

[villainized]

Chosen for what purpose? There must be one, otherwise there's no point.

[ If that's the case at all. Lucifer isn't convinced that there is one yet. It's possible that all of this is simply random. Though of course, he isn't foolish enough to discount the possibility that it's not. ]

Who hasn't been affected?