( visiting Hadassah )

[errours]

There's a long moment, entering Hadassah's apartment, when everything looks disarmingly normal. Richly furnished, yes—dark walls accented in gold and painted with murals that depict flowers and fruit (pomegranates, split figs, branches of olives) entwined with serpents; chaise lounges and deep-cushioned chairs upholstered in wine red velvet; a mantle over a vast fireplace, hung with actual branches of olives; the fireplace itself, in which sticks of incense are slowly burning, filling the room with the gentle haze of spiced smoke—but all of it is within the bounds of the real. From somewhere in another room comes the slightly staticky sound of an Édith Piaf record playing.

Step inside further, though, and there's a feeling of vertigo. The walls and ceiling seem to stretch away impossibly far—as though sinking down to a cavern at the center of the earth, gazing up at the too-too distant stars, vast and claustrophobic all at once—

Then the feeling ends, and the apartment is its original incense-and-velvet self once again.

Comments

for D.va // hell maintenance event

[errours]

[ The address she's given takes D.va to a vibrant and bustling part of Liar Hell, everything so bright and shifting that it would be really quite beautiful if it weren't also somewhat headache-inducing.

Her destination is a glossy high-rise building where the demonic doorman seems to know to expect her, and she rides a gilded cage of an elevator to the top floor, which Hadassah evidently has entirely to herself.

And, of course, Hadassah is there waiting, that knowing smile on her lips. ]

[420blazeit]

[ she has kind of gotten used to the bright lights of liar hell by this point, though they're still something of a bother. a bit of reprieve now and then would be nice, but ah well. she'll count her blessings and be glad that she's not stuck on the other side. here, at least, she's in good company. ]

[ she's changed into this, having decided that making a continued good impression on hadassah is of the utmost importance. d.va smiles at the doorman and moves into the gilded cage, riding it to the top in silence. ]

[ she steps into the apartment and, as to be expected, the atmosphere and ambiance is beautiful. her lips lift into a smirk, parting to make a comment about how it rivals that of her gracious host when she stops dead in her tracks. the strange feeling leaves her momentarily reeling... but it's gone as fast as it'd come. ]

[ ??? ]

[ she's still a bit confused, but she manages to brush it off. she'll consider what the hell happened later, when she's not leaving someone waiting. with a mental kick in the ass she straightens up and lifts head, meeting hadassah's gaze. ] I told you I'd come. [ she smirks. ] I would miss this for the world~

[errours]

[ Hadassah watches that slight falter in D.va's step, smile unchanging. ]

I knew you wouldn't.
I've been looking forward to this too, you know. So rare that I get to really be myself—and to think I'm getting this chance with a celebrity!

[ She steps up to D.va and loops an arm around her waist, walking them both back to a velvet loveseat; indeed, D.va finds her feet moving along with Hadassah's whether or not she wills it. ]

[420blazeit]

[ that earns a smile. she really should slow her roll. this is dangerous, but that's, perhaps, part of the appeal. not to mention there's hadassah herself. curse her and her charm. ]

[ o- oh. flattered, her cheeks color. ] It's a treat for me too, getting the chance to see you behind closed doors. No one here but us, Hadassah, so, please, [ she turns toward her, pressing close. ] let me see.

[ she leans up to drop a kiss on her cheek, but startles to find she's moving along with her... somehow. it takes a moment for her brain to catch up as she instinctively presses closer to hadassah. some sort of ability? maybe?? ]

[errours]

[ Her skin is slightly cool to the touch—not icy, but close to room temperature. The way she presses to D.va could almost be for warmth.

She sits them down together; passes D.va back the reigns to her own body. ]

You'll see so much, I hope. Whether you like what you see is the question, now. In for a penny, in for a pound, though, right?

[ She leans forward to the low glass coffee table and removes a clear amphora full of water from its brass stand and pours them each a glass of water. As it hits the glasses, the liquid changes to that same dark wine she favors. ]

summoning hadassah // day 170.

[420blazeit]

[ there were a few problems with what she wanted to do and the first of which was that she had no real way of contacting hadassah. without her phone number she was left to try to summon her, but since she hadn't been able to find anything specific to her, well... that just meant she was going to have to tailor an "ordinary" ritual to the serpentess. ]

[ she takes her bike to a far was building and leaves it outside. since she had taken a snapshot of the summoning circle from the book back at the libraryshe's able to draw it to perfection after she uses her switchblade to slice at her tail. ]

[ was it necessary to draw it in blood?
p- probably not,
but it seemed like a nice ( if not excessive ) touch. ]

[ she sets a couple of candles down and lights them, taking a few steps back to kneel down with her head bowed. alright, here goes something. ]

Delphyne, έλα σε μένα, parakaló. Χρειάζομαι τη βοήθειά σου.

/several

[errours]

[ Nothing.

The draft in the building goes still and silent, though, smoke from the candles gathering heavily in the air. ]

[errours]

[ ...heavy, and scented like the burning of green wood, along with something floral: oleander.

Breathing it creates a dizzy sensation, like she might fall. ]

[errours]

[ The swirls of smoke grow denser, starting to form a coiling pillar of white that twists across the whole expanse of the empty room.

The smoke coils around D.va, filling her nose, making it hard not to faint— ]

done.

[errours]

[ —and then resolves itself into the familiar shape of a red-haired woman.

And, despite her earlier position, D.va finds herself sitting on a bronze tripod. ]

The Greek is a charming touch, though you've gotten the era wrong by a few millennia.
[ a smile, warm but teasing ]

You called, χρησμαγόρης?

[420blazeit]

[ as the floral infused burnt fumes quickly fill the building d.va tips forward in a daze, though she still ( somehow ) manages to be quick enough to set both of her hands down to avoid colliding with the pavement. she shuts her eyes, taking a shallow breath as the thick swirls of noxious smoke fill her lungs and clouds her head. ]

[ a minute is all she needs, she tells herself. she'll have her thoughts in order in no time at... all... ]

[ it's as if she can feel her presense, so as soon as hadassah takes shape she opens her eyes to see her there. she has to refrain from standing up, her body still reeling from the strangeness it had just endured. not to mention the sudden change in positions - the bronze tripod is such a nice touch~ ]

I'll have to see if Duolingo is available on my phone for purchase in the points shop, since the books in the library seem to be a little outdated. [ a chuckle. ] I thought it would be a nice touch though... glad you liked it. I'll keep practicing. [ winks. ] Just for you.

Mm, I did, [ she leans forward. ] I wanted to talk about Heaven and Angels. We touched on it last time we spoke, but it seems like things around here are escalating pretty quickly. I imagine you saw that broadcast, yeah?

[errours]

Oh, you want more outdated text, not less, to appeal to my tastes—but really, there's no need. There are plenty of other ways to impress me, after all. [ wink! ]

As for the rest...... [ Hadassah laces her fingers together, then tilts her head, looking at D.va askance. There's a pause. ]

...Yes, I saw the broadcast.

[420blazeit]

And I get the feeling you're going to be coy about them. [ an airy bit of laughter. ] Not that there's anything wrong with that. I'm having fun figuring you out. Or trying... [ her tail sways to and fro as she tilts her own head, eyes lazily combing over hadassah as she smiles. ] at the very least.

Is there a problem? Isn't the angel the key to getting into Heaven? Shouldn't you be happy, [ a pause. ] unless he's the one that got his hands on it. If I'm not mistaken that broadcast did come from inside his home.

In any case, Hadassah, I want to help.

I am your Oracle.

If Heaven is what you want, then it should be yours. As I mentioned very briefly I have plans of my own and they include usurping a different "throne".

day ???

[420blazeit]

[ as an ode to the nightmare given to her during the button game she's going to grab her sports car and head out to a beautiful far away garden... though it's beauty is certainly going to be up for debate once d.va spills her blood on all of the, once, perfectly manicured lawn and the pristine bed of flowers. ]

[ the smell of oleander fills the air as she drops to her knees, closing her eyes and taking in the intoxicating scent as she doesn't bother to remove the knife from her chest. nah. she leaves the it sticking out of herself, because, as always, she's got to be dramatic; putting on a good show for her gracious host. ]

Hadassah, [ she takes a shuddering breath. ] Hadassah, can you hear me?

Re: day ???

[errours]

[ They're two of a kind in that fashion: why do something any way short of dramatically?

Hadassah makes her wait for it, blood tracing a ripe rivulet between her breasts and pooling on the moss at her feet while the smoke from the burning oleander forms lazy spirals in the fading light of dusk.

Time slows and stills, and then at last the smoke is condensing into heavy white coils that wrap around her body before finally resolving into Hadassah's human form. D.va is sitting on a bronze tripod again. ]

Hello again, χρησμαγόρης.

Re: day ???

[420blazeit]

[ at least someone gets it. ]

[ gosh, it's like no one here can appreciate the things she does... but she puts all of those other people out of her head, at least for right now, and instead just concentrates on just. one. person demon. ]

[ she swallows thickly as time ticks on and on and on, until it eventually slows to a stop. opening her eyes as she feels her wrap around her she smiles, almost lazily, as she sits up a bit straighter. ]

[ focus, d.va, focus. ]

Hello, and thank you for joining me. [ she removes the blade and lets it fall to the wayside. ] I've missed you.

Re: day ???

[errours]

Have you really?

[ The languid tilt of her head makes the question seem almost rhetorical, but the soft, low tone of her voice suggests otherwise.

Hadassah crosses her legs, taking a seat on some hidden chair—or perhaps she's just settling her weight on her own hidden coils. ]

Re: day ???

[420blazeit]

I have no reason to lie to you.

If I didn't think it'd be a bother I'd certainly call more often. [ her lips lift into a smirk as she sets a hand to a chest. ] But I do have something important I'd like to discuss with you. A little something that's... close to my heart, as it were. [ an airy chuckle follows. ]

day xxx, evening.

[420blazeit]

[ she liked the charming little garden she had found to perform the ritual in the last time so much that she takes her lamborghini and, once again, drives out to it. she lingers in the entrance-way and reminisces about their last encounter. if only she'd known what she was asking for. ]

[ she heads to a fruit bearing tree at the back and kneels. it doesn't take long to set things up and soon the sweet smell of the flowers is being dwarfed by the intoxicating scent of the oleander. d.va shuts her eyes and braces one hand on the trunk of the tree as she takes out an ornate dagger and starts carving a snake into her arm. it's a touch crude, but it's not hard to tell what it is, ...at least before its painted in her pink blood. she chuckles to herself and turns it on the tree, pressing firmly, like a stamp, to try to mark it as she calls for the serpentess. ]

Hadasssssah, I'm... here.
Are you?

Re: day xxx, evening.

[errours]

[ OOC summary of meeting results:

D.Va provided Hadassah with the following information:

• Exael was seemingly aware that she was vulnerable to attack, since her reaction to the attack was to call security rather than to use her own powers.
• Corollary to the above: what happened to Exael must have happened beforehand.
• Exael was getting "too close" in how much she was helping the idols, and apparently somebody didn't like that.
• D.Va theorizes that the other side sent assassins to try to stop Exael's meddling.
• According to one of the audition idols responsible, they weren't given details, but were simply "tool[s] in the hands of another."

Hadassah and D.Va also discussed whether it was possible for D.Va to regain her ability to die, as D.Va assumed that status was intended by Hadassah as a boon. Unfortunately, this is not the case, and is instead a side-effect of D.Va's soul being held by Hadassah "out of bounds" of Imeeji, which includes being out of bounds of game effects which would normally de-activate her HSS lich status.

For the time being, D.Va decides to consider her options rather than ask Hadassah to return the ring or use another, potentially more permanent, way to bind the two of them together. ]

day 371/2.

[420blazeit]

[ it sure seems like she's taken a liking to this quaint little garden, because not only is she back, but she's taking a few moments to admire just how gorgeous it looks in full bloom! ] Hadassah ~♥, it sure has been a while... [ she murmurs as she approaches the tree stained with her blood. ] I want to talk. [ setting the oleander down she reaches out to brace herself against it, summoning her heart weapon. ]

[ she's never been one for subtly so she uses her scythe to carve the korean word for snake ( 뱀 ) onto her wrist, pink blood dripping onto the fragrant flowers as she continues calling for the demon. ]

Hadassah, please, I want to see you again.

1/2

[errours]

[ D.va can feel the change before she sees it—a certain heaviness in the air, that shifts to a certain headiness, and then to rivulets of smoke pooling at her feet.

The perfume of oleander blossoms in the air is overwhelming—because of course it is. ]

[errours]

[ ...And once again, the smoke thickens to coils, swirling around D.va's body in a way that might almost be called teasing. ]

χρησμαγόρης.

[ Krissssmagor, the sibilance extended into a languid hiss that seems to reverberate in her very bones—and then the smoke congeals the rest of the way into Hadassah's form. ]

It's become so easy to hear you call, little one. Why, someone might even think I like you.

[ She winks. ]

[420blazeit]

[ because of course it is! ]

[ gasps! shuddering as she does, in fact, feel that in her core. she doesn't seem to mind all that much though, as a smile plays easily on her lips, and she starts looking around for where hadassah will physically manifest. ]

I like to think you like me, Hadassah~ [ her smirk broadens just a little bit. ] Remember what we talked about the last time, my... predicament... [ she idly drums a few fingers over her chest. ] I'm not nearly as concerned about that anymore; however, there is something else I'd like to ask you.

[errours]

[ Hadassah tilts her head, the gesture almost catlike. ]

—Oh? I know you suffered a great deal from this union.

[ It's spoken more like an observation than a drawback, but still—something in her expression might qualify as concerned. ]