ic The Meadows Of Plenty

[Supercape]

Lament

 

Luther had never even seen a demon before, let alone fought one. Unless this was one big trick, of course. Never believe anything totally, for you will be totally wrong.

 

This was a high stakes gamble - the Void have him an entropic power, but what would that power make of demons?

 

He climbed in the car.

 

Surely a knife or a gun would soon be pressed to his gut, or his skull. Would they say some parting words, or would they just fire? 

 

"Does Joy rob people of their senses?" smiled Luther. "It hasn't mine, sir. I want a steady stream of Joy, and I won't get that in prison. Well, maybe one day you guys will expand your market there, too. But not soon."

 

"But why don't you take it?"

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

No one seemed interested in putting Eric out of his misery. They drove him and Zander over to the terminal, and then they got out. The terminal guards didn't check them, they opened a back door, and they were in LAX, one of the most well known airports in the world. Even late at night, there were people everywhere. And there was a bar that Xander casually wandered into and sat down, having a nice chat with the bartender. The guards followed, posting up at the entrance to the bar and making it clear it wasn't available for use as long as Xander was in it.

 

"It's not supposed to rob you of your senses, but it's supposed to make you not so concerned about the little things. A Joyhead would be cheerful to go get a drink, not concerned with the little things like not having a passport, or asking about how such and such is going to be transferred. It should be go with the flow. Maybe you're resistant." he mumbled.

 

"As for me. I can't get high off Joy. I have anhedonia. And demon blood." he said, left hand right hand. "Never really got the feeling of enjoyment. Still don't, really. The blessing of having one of his kin as father, or mother, not sure which. I have a little bit of the power and all of the downsides. He doesn't really get joy either. Not like it's poison to him or anything, but he can't enjoy anything. It's why they're all like that. They don't know how to have fun, they can't feel pleasure or enjoyment. What's there to do but suffer."

[Supercape]

Lament

 

"That's bleak," said Luther, lost in thought. "I mean, I'm no psychiatrist, but that's depression, isn't it? Can you not get treated?"

 

Luther wasn't a psychiatrist, or psychologist, but since bonding with the Void, he had done a little lay reading on the science of mood. He didn't understand the fancy papers and brain imaging, but he knew a bit about anhedonia - the lack of joy associated with depression. 

 

"I mean, how do you or... him... have the energy to do anything? What's the point? Share the misery? Rage? Fury?"

 

He caught sight of the glinting bottles of booze at the bar. "Or just try and make it hurt less?"

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

"It depends. For some of them, it's about being near those strong emotions. The biggest highs and the hardest falls; that at least lets them pretend to have something when they watch them, like they're surprisingly empathetic. Others only get emotions through others more directly. Taking them away, things like that." He shrugged and drank. "Some of them are definitely straight up monsters; the kind that can't be happy, so no one else gets to be either."

 

"For me, I get it when I carry out a job. I can at least feel success, failure, that sort of stuff. It's not pure happiness, but it's what I get."

 

[Supercape]

Lament

 

"Taking emotions away? Sounds terrible..." said Luther, acutely aware of the void in his guts. 

 

He couldn't help but think of sympathy for the devil, by the rolling stones. He even't started tapping his foot, humming it aloud. 

 

"Pardon me for asking, but you see you are the first demon I met," he said with a polite bow. "And I am... intrigued. Man don't get to do this very often. I may never again."

 

He cracked his knuckles. "It sounds like you are happy slave. You get told to do something, you do it, gives you an echo of happiness?"

 

It was provocative, but then this was a provoking time, a provoking place. Luther was very interested, and knew that sooner or later something violent would manifest. So why not ask?

 

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

"I'm not a demon." he corrected. "If I was a demon, I'd be more than a part time drug dealer scraping under a real Demon from the Goteia. I'm a cast off little piece of a demon, without much to my own." he, again, didn't seem upset, just a statement of fact; it seemed the only thing he really could get was mad, given what was his likely outburst at the convention center.

 

"As for being a slave. Well. Most people are slaves, Eric. Slaves to their bosses. Slaves to their nations. Slaves to their obligations, their jobs, their religions, their families. Life isn't freedom, your life isn't yours, your freedom isn't yours, your existence is only validated by how much time others take away from you doing what you want. Those moments where you think you're alone, where you're relaxing, where you have no obligations? Those moments only exist because every other moment of your life is owned by another; they'd be nothing if they weren't contested by the weight of your obligations."

 

He laughed, shaking his head.

 

"So yeah, maybe I'm a slave. But so is everyone else."

[Supercape]

Lament

 

"Not a demon, eh? But perhaps not entirely, you know, human?"

 

"Mmmm. Slavery. Well, maybe its a relative concept," said Luther, although in his heart he had pretty clear ideas of what slavery was. Chains featured quite heavily in his image. "Like freedom. Nobodies really completely free, are they?"

 

"But.."

 

He paused. 

 

"Doesn't mean we might want more freedom. Yearn for it. Grab a pair of sunglasses, a gas guzzlin' motorcycle, and ride into the sunset like a cowboy? I even heard of some superhero demon doing just that down South."

 

"Look, I'm jus' saying seems you are in a bit of a rut. Can I get you out of it?"

Edited November 29 by Supercape

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

Zander sighed and took a drink. He mulled it over, rolling the glass around by using his wrist to watch the liquor swirl in a vortex. He was quiet again, thinking. Pondering.

 

"...Alright Eric. What are you suggesting?" He finally asked. He cut his eyes at Luther, smoldering red orbs that seemed to be trying to drive daggers into his flesh. "Stop bouncing around, stop casting line. You've got the fish on the hool, reel me in. What's the net." He asked. "And don't jerk me around. Give it to to me straight."

[Supercape]

Lament

 

"On the hook? Sounds like another chain to me, but I catch your drift. Just... I'm not a fisherman, eh? I don't eat fish. Never like the taste..."

 

He cracked his knuckles. 

 

"Truth is, I'm not a good man, but I'm not a bad man either. All I am is a free man. I don't play by nobodies rules, you get me? Sounds like you don't either, or at least you don't want to."

 

"So what do you want? honestly? Me, it seems you in a vice, and Ronove is turning the screw. Walls closing in kinda deal. So what about I help you out of the vice?"
 

"Now, you probably thinking that I'm just a two bit hustler. How do I help you out of your rut? Well, I help you by taking down Ronove. That man got too big for his boots, in my opinion. And how am I going to do that, you ask?"
 

In a flash, Luthers face was engorged in shadow, his eyes hollow and black, endless pits of despair and melancholia. 

 

"Because I'm not just a two bit hustler. I am the Lord of Lamentations! The Sultan of Sorrow, the Duke of Despair, the Marquis of Melancholia!"

Edited November 30 by Supercape

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

Zander looked at him.

 

Silence echoed through the little bar. 

 

Anyone who tried to peek into what was going on in the little bar in LAX was quicky sent away by the guards flashing steel. 

 

Zander thought about it.

 

The guards discussed something quietly.

 

"...Alright." Zander finally said. "Let's take out Ronove, me and you. Maybe that will get me out of the rut. Or maybe I'll get to ascend into a full demon. Let's give it a shot, I got nothing to lose." He smiled. "I'm hoping that's more than a party trick."

 

"What's the plan, Lament?" 

[Supercape]

Lament

 

"Right on!" said Luther, giving the man a grin. 

 

The eerie shadows fell from his face. 

 

"And its not just a party trick. Think of that like the tip of an iceberg, if you catch my drift. Now, if we are going to take out your boss, well, we gotta know the where and the how. I never run from a fight, but I like to stack the dice in my favour. Its like any good soldier; a brave coward. Brave, cos they fight, coward, cos they do everything they can to stack the deck. Right?"

 

"What do you know about him? He don't look like the guy who melts at the sight of a bottle of holy water. Whats his achilles heel?"

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

"I..." he frowned at Lament. "I figured you had an idea. It's not like my boss goes around telling me his weaknesses." Zander said in concern, having already thrown his hat in with Luther and realizing he couldn't go back on it, and finding out The Duke was just winging it made him wary.

 

"Okay, well..." he swore. "...It man, I hoped you had an idea. Okay. Well, the way I see it, he was sort of lying to you. I think the Joy is what kept him locked down under the city. It was when the wells started getting too deep and siphoning the Joy is when he got out. I think he sells the stuff to keep it from building up and trapping him down back below." He explained, concerned.

 

"I don't know if it's true or not, but that's my best guess; bring the Joy back, break the oil wells to avoid the Joy being siphoned off his seal, then shove him back down into the pit and hope he doesn't come back up."

[Supercape]

Lament

 

"Oh I have ideas. Plenty of them. It's just that the more I know, the better my ideas get!"

 

Luther mulled over the information Zander had given him. Joy was the cork in the bottle - if this was true, could joy put the demon back in the cage? In which case, Lament was the worst hero in the universe. But maybe Luther LeGrasse could do the job?

 

"Right, right. So we can lock him up again. Look, we can find joy a hundred ways. Maybe rig some slot machines in Vegas? Maybe put on a charity concert. But the big issue is - if we can get the prison working again, how do we get the prisoner back in the cell? Will he just float there magically, or does he need to be strongarmed?

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

"I'm pretty sure he has to go back in the pit. I don't know why he sticks around the place that he can also be shoved back into, but maybe I don't understand how demons and magical seals work; maybe he can't get too far away until it's fully broken." Zander frowned, running his fingers around the rim of his glass.

 

"So...what do we do? How do we get him back in the pit, and seal him up down there? You don't happen to secretly be like, a member of the Freedom League or something, do you? Maybe Velocity or Gaian Knight could put down a half-awake demoon before he gets all the way woken up and starts causing havoc. We're trying to patch a hole in the bucket and then fill it back up to full, and get the Spider that was in the bucket back in it. And we're just two people and a few gangbangers, so I'm not exactly liking our chances."

 

He looked behind him in the mirror above the bar at the guards shadowing the entrance to the bar.

 

"And that's assuming everyone likes me more than the current boss, and I think we both know that's very unlikely.  So uh...yeah. Really hoping you canc put together an idea. Not opposed to rigging some slot machines or whatever, but how are we going to do that and get him in the hole at the same time. And turn off those wells in the building, because if we don't they're just going to pump the Joy back out and leave him free to crawl back up."

[Supercape]

Lament

 

"Ayah, I don't think the Freedom Leauge would have me," said Luther. "I have certain - problems. And to be honest I am not sure I would have them. All of em got sticks up their backsides, only difference between them is the length. If it comes to handlin' demons I heard of one one crazy chick down south. But I don't have her number."

 

He shrugged. 

 

"But I can suck out the juice of any man, and demon too..."

 

I hope...

 

"Just need some strapping man to carry the body. You look like you got the strength, right?"

 

He tapped his finger, raised his eye brows, pondering. 

 

"Would your boss come to an improptu show? Does he seek out natural joy? If we do that, we can trick him."

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

"I think if you throw a show FOR him, he'll come. He like listening to himself talk, likes other people knowing he's important. You offer the chance for him to have both of these and he'll probably come; like I said, they don't really get 'joy' or 'happiness' like us, so stuff like that is about as good as he can hope to get; having other people worship or acknowledge how cool and good he is. You know, some sort of gala in his honor or something like that." he explained.

 

"Especially if you're distributing Joy at the place; then he'll get to see his own prison being weakened while everyone honors him for his contirbutions to the art, and I'm sure that'll puff him up high and mighty." Zander paused to think about it.

 

"If you can do that, and drain him down, then I can throw the body into the pit at the least. If you keep him occupied, my guys can smash the oil wells in the building while he's out, so the Joy stops getting pumped out."

[Supercape]

Lament

 

"A show FOR him, eh?"

 

It wasn't what Luther had in mind - for in his mind, he was always the star of the show. But it took a narcissist to recognise one. 

 

"Yeah, I think we can do that. A bit of advertising, a bit of showmanship. How about AN AUDIENCE WITH THE DEVIL!"

 

He gazed into the distance and spread his hands wide, unfurling an imaginary caption. 

 

"That would fly, right, in Las Vegas?" he asked. "Some stand up, some music, some memoires. Leave people guessing if he is the real deal or not? Dressed up in a sequinned red suit? Do you think he would go for that?"

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

"I don't know about the suit. I think he likes his look. But I bet he could put on a good show as a devil. But of course he'd need an Emcee. And I'm not exactly the best at showing up and showing out. So I think that falls to you." he says. "After all, he's not gonna be quite as good at leading the show as you. So you're gonna be the star, and he's the attraction. I think that's how it's gonna work anyway. You get him away from the area, you keep him happy, then drain him down on stage and we'll take it from there. And if you mess it up, well...we'll probably both get tossed down the pit instead. No problem, right?" he asked.

 

"You think you can manage that? Emcee an interview with the devil, with a real devil, without people knowing he's a devil? And at the end of it drain him dry? I sure hope so."

[Supercape]

Lament

 

And so...

 

A phone call here, a phone call there. Luther had plenty of contacts within the wonderful world of showbiz. True, he needed to pull in a favour or two, and splash some cash, but for the most part he did it via charm and reputation. 

 

For one night only! A stage show of ZOMBO AND THE DEVIL!

 

Luther made sure he had a good stage director. Pyrotechnics, fireworks, smoke machines, all at the ready. Light and darkness would be at his disposal, including a massive spotlight to shine in a face (to dazzle them). A trapdoor, to leap in and out of. And a couple of dancing girls dressed up as sexy zombies. 

 

The trick was juggling identities. This was going to be complicated. 

 

The public knew of ZOMBO, and, if they dug, Luther LeGrasse. 

 

But nobody knew the real identity of the shadowy LAMENT

 

What of the demon? He knew ERIC ZANN, and Zander knew ERIC ZANN was LAMENT. 

 

But pulling this off, Zander would know that ERIC ZANN was ZOMBO. And therefore ZOMBO was LAMENT. 

 

All in all, Luther was taking a gamble with his secret identity. And he had four identities to juggle. It would be a perilous card trick...

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

Someone was taking a chance on Zombo. Or maybe Ronove really wanted to be on the show and had been wanting to push some up.

 

Zombo and The Devil, One Night Only, was at The Sphere.

 

The giant addition to the Vegas Roofline, the newest construction, operating at a loss year over year, but also utterly inescapable. People flying into Vegas, people taking the Monorail, people walking the streets would see the advertisements on the screens on the outside for Zombo and The Devil. Posters went up and tickets were sold, and every day that Luther and Zander prepared for this event, Zombo's own face was plastered on the giant screens. Ronove was keeping what he looked like under wraps; it was good to keep it a surprise, after all. But the promise was music and showmanship by Zombo, and, of course, The Devil Himself. 

For some people, it was impossible to not buy tickets, and for others, they wanted to go and see if it was true. Before long, the Sphere was reaching a capacity show, and Zombo was setting up his wonderful show with an experienced stage director; parts of the Sphere's inside had been renovated specifically for Zombo's show. 

 

And during all of this, a familiar person  made their appearance one day, not quite so happy, not quite so full of Joy anymore. The Pianist he had been sharing the much smaller stage wiwth before, who found his way into the Sphere while Zombo was working.

 

"Hey, Zombo." he still had his easy grin, but he wasn't taking as much Joy, so it was much less happy through and through. "...You think I can maybe get a spot on your show? I don't mind the little stages, but this is a once in a lifetime sort of thing, yeah? Surely you can use some backing piano tunes to play while you and the Devil are having your conversations or whatever; some ambience."

[Supercape]

Lament

 

"Of course!" said Zombo. 

 

Something about being in his stage gear made him more confident. He would be fighting the devil, but at least it was on Zombo's turf. 

 

And the pianist? Well why the hell not?

 

Literally, why the hell not. 

 

Luther paused a moment, then patted the man on the back. "I think you can cook up a few tunes for the devil, right? A few ominious bass notes, and the devil's chord. Ta da! Oh, and see if you can have a word with makeup. Your choice, but a skeleton or zombie face always looks good. My zombie dancing girls are a sight to behold! Spoil you rotten!"

 

Now, Luther did not entirely trust, or distrust this pianist. But he had a sense the man might be on the chess board. So, whilst patting his back, he slipped a tracker on him. 

 

 

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

"You got it." He said as he grinned. He didn't notice the tracker at all as he went to get changed in the back. 

 

And like that, the preperations for the show continued without a hitch. Zander confirmed that Ronove was going to show up, tickets were selling fast. A few more rehersals, a little bit longer to weigh on the back of it, a promise from Ronove that he'd show up right on time, and the show was ready to go.

 

The outside of the sphere at night flashed with advertisements. At times it reflected the stage; for those who couldn't get tickets to the sold out show, they would be able to watch the outside of the sphere. The inside was packed, ready for production, a full audience of civilians in their seats, ready to watch, excited to view. On the stage, a few dancing zombie girls danced to the music of the piano man as he warmed up the crowd. In the back, Zander and Zombo were standing in the backstage, and Zander looked concerned, but ready to carry out his own plan.

 

"This better work, Eric. Or we're gonna have a whole lot bigger problem then a subpar show." he said quietly as the time quickly approached for Zombo to get out on stage himself.

[Supercape]

Lament

 

"The show must go on, Zander!"

 

Luther cracked his knuckles and adjusted his tattered purple jacket. 

 

"Look, I think you are having a bit of stage fright. Its normal. Its good, in fact! It keeps you on edge, that little worm in your gut, that eel around your neck, garrotting your vocal cords!"

 

He hopped from foot to foot. 

 

"Tell you what, why don't you get in costume? We can do you up as a mafia goon - who is a ZOMBIE! you get to hold your gun, wear a cool hat, and if we need you on stage, you can come on without being recognised! What, never dreamt of the limelight?"

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

"...Yeah, okay." He mumbled as he went to sit in a makeup chair and the artists descended upon him. "I don't know if he's weak to bullets though...be a lot easier if he is though." He finished his thought as he moved on to getting all set up.

 

Meanwhile, the piano man played a few more licks on the ivory and brought the microphone up to his face.

 

"Ladies and Gentlemen. I know you're tired of me tickling the ivory at this point. We have an actual main event here, an Interview With The Devil, so to speak. So let's get our real performer out on stage here."

 

And he started playing for Zombo's entrance, as the lights in the Sphere went dim, and Zombo was being called to stage.

 

To execute this plan, to hopefully seal away a Goetic Demon back where he belonged.

[Supercape]

Lament

 

The Great Zombo scuttled onto the stage, face a mask of white paint, ragged purple coat flapping behind him. Eyes wide, hypnotic. 

 

From a hunched pose, he sprang up straight, arms wide, to a fanfare of demonic music. 

 

"Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight, I, the great Zombo, master of DEATH, bring you the SHOW of a LIFETIME!"

 

"Take great care of your souls! For there is something in the air...."

 

The smell of sulfur poured through the ventilation. 

 

"There is something in the ground..."

 

A rumbling tremor reverberated. 

 

"There is something from... HELL ITSELF!"

 

Cue pyrotechnics. 

 

"BEHOLD! THE DEVIL HIMSELF!"

 

Cue the devil rising from a stage trapdoor!

 

"WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN? WHAT QUESTIONS FOR THE DEVIL!"