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[lilith-qliphah.livejournal.com]

Monday, October 19th
Day 141
Night

It has not been that long since I have last walked the streets of the town, I don’t think, but Ooh just look at the changes that have taken place. The death of a god never ceases to bring a smile to my face; my Djinn did a wonderful job with that one, and with the pretty witch too, pity it had to end so soon. Her gifts were magnificent and her death was also a gift that few ever receive, an end of their own choosing, and she chose well. I could say I am disappointed in her use of her gifts, but that would be a lie. I did have such high hopes when we loosed her on the town, but then that’s one of the more interesting things with free will, you never know what they will choose to do.

I have returned to the carnival this evening to see what interesting things the night might bring, if any. So far the only thing of remote interest is the increased whispers of my name on the wind. I find it both intriguing and amusing that here, my name is accompanied with suspicion as well as greed. ”Who is she really? Is she dangerous? Who cares? Thank god she’s back, we’ll make more money again.” That last one is my personal favorite. Even before I begin to dance, I send out a silent call to those who are hungry for what we offer here and smile as I see them begin to filter in. Some even stare around in wonder, trying to figure out why they felt as if they needed to be here tonight. Then my dance begins and the confusion fades, they know why they’re here and happy they came.

Born in lust, turn to dust - Born in sin, c'mon in.

OPEN TO IBLIS  CLOSED

Comments

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

I can sense Lilith on the move, and tonight I am in a whim to follow her. I can feel her call from the carnival, the lust she raises in those around her, and I smile. I remember the last time we played at the carnival, and so I slip on the Conley body. This time I give him a beaten up denim jacket to wear over a worn grey t-shirt and jeans. Hands in my pockets, I stroll across the bridge, then walk through the carnival. I hand the woman outside the tent a wrinkled bill and she holds open the flap. Inside the air shimmers with lust, and Lilith is dancing. I move forward through the crowd, and look up at her and wink.

[lilith-qliphah.livejournal.com]

The song is nearly done when there is a shift in the air, and a pair of familiar spark kissed eyes wink up at me from the crowd. The song ends and I smile, sinking into a low bow as everything goes dark.

I had wondered when I would see him again. I do grow so bored of always going to him. And after what I saw in Marbas, I have been in no mood to see either of them. Let them keep their secrets, and I'll tend to mine.

Rough breath catches in the throats of those I brush against as I pass through the crowd, the dim lighting allowing me to go mostly unseen. "You should know better than to bring that thing out unless you plan for me to use it," I say, tongue running over my lower lip as I look over his boyish form. Perhaps I'm more in a mood to play than I thought. I kiss his cheek, letting my lips linger at the corner of his mouth as I ask, "To what do I owe this pleasure? Or did you just miss me?"

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

Lilith sees me, of course, and sashays over. She does wear the human form well, although what I have always found attractive is the fire beating just underneath the surface. It is just a shell.

"You should know better than to bring that thing out unless you plan for me to use it," she says, and I smile.

"You do like us teenage boys, don't you, miss?" I say, raising my eyebrows and grinning.

"To what do I owe this pleasure? Or did you just miss me?"

"Just calling in on an old friend. Am I interrupting anything?" I ask, putting my arm around her waist, which elicits frowns from the men around me.

[lilith-qliphah.livejournal.com]

"You do like us teenage boys, don't you, miss?"

Look whose decided to play too... "Oh, don't be silly, I like everyone," I laugh, "I'm just a friendly sorta girl like that I guess," I shrug and smile.

"Just calling in on an old friend. Am I interrupting anything?"

"Not at all," I say, leaning against him, smile widening as I hear the groans behind us. "I always have time for old friends." "Hey, can I be an old friend too?" ask another young man as he's pushed away by a group of his friends. There's one in every crowd. Laughing, I tell him there are plenty of girls in back that will be happy to be his friend. At my suggestion the boy breaks free from his friends and runs through the door leading into the back.

We leave the tent and head out onto the midway at a strolling pace. "Speaking of old friends," I say, giving him a sidelong smile, "I saw one of yours not too long ago. I made sure to give him your... love. Have you seen him recently?"

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

"I'm just a friendly sorta girl like that I guess," Lilith says with a smile. I give her a look that suggests I remember that quite well.

We walk out, brushing off Lilith's suitors. The air is cool, and I keep my arm tucked in Lilith's. Men stop what they are doing when she walks past them, and I grin.

"Quite the impression you are making tonight."

"I saw one of yours not too long ago. I made sure to give him your... love. Have you seen him recently?"

Ah, of course we come to Tez. I arch my eyebrows.

"I have indeed," I say. "He is looking..." I pause, thinking. "Like a god," I settle on at last. "He is not happy with you, my dear, not at all. But I am sure that was the point." I give her a small smile. "Saying I love you was really a masterstroke on your part," I say. "My poor Night Wind."

[lilith-qliphah.livejournal.com]

"Quite the impression you are making tonight." he says with a boyish grin, yet one that's still completely him. The detail he puts into those forms always amazes me. I would say too much attention and detail, given they're only human and will never compare to what he really is but he does enjoy his disguises and he does it well. And he knows exactly what I'd like to do with this one in particular, which is why he wore it. Always the tempter, at least that hasn't changed.

"Don't I always?" I giggle, flashing him a coy smile. Though in this instance he is actually right. Tonight, I'm not cloaking quite as much as I usually am when I'm in the presence of humans. Not that anyone around us would have any idea of what's going on. They simply find that until I pass by, they don't want to look away. I smile again when I hear the angry tone of a girl, trying and failing to get her lovers attention as we walk by.

Iblis says Tez looks like a god, and I wonder how else is he supposed to look? Perhaps like the slimy human he's been for all this time? As long as he insists on clinging to my Iblis, that simply won't do. "He is not happy with you, my dear, not at all. But I am sure that was the point."

I shrug and tilt my head, musing at the fact that he couldn't be farther from the point. "Not really, No, that wasn't the point at all. Whether he is pleased or not means little to me and given the taste he's already displayed, I prefer to take that as a compliment," I laugh, arching a brow, "Present company excluded of course," I wink, smile widening when he mentions the words I said and I nod my head in a slight bow. "Well, I couldn't have done it without you." I suppose he knows that too. I'm guessing the little god wasted no time with his incessant whining. Though I do look at him curiously for a moment, wondering how much he really did enjoy my using one of his forms. It wasn't the first time, and he of all creatures knows that I will use whatever means necessary should the need arise. But still, its always interesting when I find something new that gets under his perfectly crafted skin.

"My poor Night Wind."

I roll my eyes at his words, beginning to wonder why I bother with him or Marbas at all. Except in the case of Iblis, I have less of a choice in the matter. And as for Marbas... my eyes narrow remembering our previous conversation... I'll think about that tomorrow. "Poor indeed, in many, many ways," I say coldly, biting back a laugh, "So you are not pleased then? And I was so hoping you would be," I pout, as if his pleasure was my motivation or care. I cannot recall a time when either of those things motivated him when it came to me. Especially in the early days. Why should it matter to me now? I think my last visit with Marbas irritated me far more than I thought.

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

"Well, I couldn't have done it without you."

"Quite," I say, arching an eyebrow, but I feel that sadness again of sitting in front of the tower in Danika's pale body, listening to Tezcatlipoca, seeing his dreams.

Lilith seems quite piqued at my fondness for Tez, but that is hardly new.

"Poor indeed, in many, many ways,So you are not pleased then? And I was so hoping you would be," she says, doing her customary sulky face.

"I am both pleased and not pleased," I observe. "Now stop whining. You know you did it without caring how I felt."

I guide us along to the ferris wheel.

"Tickets for two, please," I say in a cheerfully enthusiastic tone, squeezing Lilith's waist. I am sold the tickets whilst the carnie gives Lilith a bemused look, and we get into the seat. In a moment we are slowly travelling up above the town.

"Speaking of things you do without me caring," I say, now we're in a place Lilith can only escape if she wants to let the carnies see what she really is, "I hear our old friend Marbas has been out and about lately. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

[lilith-qliphah.livejournal.com]

"I am both pleased and not pleased, Now stop whining. You know you did it without caring how I felt."

I laugh, “Fair enough,” I say, face resuming its smile as we walk toward the ferris wheel and Iblis buys tickets for us both. The worker who runs the ride is the very same one that was here when Marbas and I went on this ride; he had the same look on his face then too.

"Speaking of things you do without me caring, I hear our old friend Marbas has been out and about lately. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?" he asks, once we get to the top of the wheel.

It appears Marbas has been going out on more outings than I thought. The fool, he should know better.

I laugh and shrug, “Of course I know. Did you think such a thing as that would remain a secret?” I smile, “And what does that have to do with me? From what I understand, you were the one who put him there.” I’d still very much like to know why.

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

Lilith does not seem at all perturbed when I mention Marbas.

“Of course I know. Did you think such a thing as that would remain a secret? And what does that have to do with me? From what I understand, you were the one who put him there.”

I raise an eyebrow.

"I just thought perhaps you had been... encouraging him. He has become boisterous. He raped the redhead the doctor is engaged to," I say. "Which is interesting, since he was not meant to be conscious at all. Did his awakening have anything to do with you?" I think perhaps Lucien's body is simply not strong enough to contain him forever, but I will see what Lilith has to say.

[lilith-qliphah.livejournal.com]

"I just thought perhaps you had been... encouraging him. He has become boisterous. He raped the redhead the doctor is engaged to,"

Ooh, there it is, the reason for his visit and form. My Iblis, you forget that I am just as skilled as you when it comes to weaving deception and truth into one. I stare at him blankly for a moment before curiosity seeps into my face. "Which is interesting, since he was not meant to be conscious at all. Did his awakening have anything to do with you?"

"Mmhmm. Very interesting," I relax back at an angle against the seat, stretching my legs across his lap. I think what's more interesting is the fact that by bringing this up borders on admitting that something he has done has gone wrong. "You really need to get out more if rape is starting to bother you too," I tease. "Can you blame him? I would imagine he's bored and she was a convenient enough toy," I say neutrally, though I still do not approve of Marbass' method and he well knows why, but his intention was at the very least, acceptable.

I know I have not answered his question yet, not really, but if interrogation is the game he wants, I'll play. "Did I have anything to do with it...," I pause, pretending to give the question some thought. "Maaaaybe," I smile, "... Or maybe not. If I wanted him free, don't you think I would have done it by now?" I ask, trailing my toes down from the bulge in his pants to his leg. "Ripping him from that meat sack you stuffed him in would really be no trouble at all."

The weakness Marbas has for his doctor may work to our advantage after all. "Though, I might tell you who I know is involved," I pause letting flame heat my voice and form, "But you'll have to say, please," I smile, bringing flame to just under the surface of my skin as I slide my foot back up his leg again.

Unfortunately, we're fairly limited to what games we can play out here in the open as we are. Which is why he brought us here I assume. He knows I do not like being questioned.

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

I laugh.

"It's hardly if rape upsets me. But Marbas is not exactly being discreet, so I thought perhaps he knew he had a strong ally," I say pointedly.

"Ripping him from that meat sack you stuffed him in would really be no trouble at all."

"And why haven't you?" I ask. "It seems that you would object to your dear friend being trapped in a mere human body," I say. "Or has he upset you, hm?" I add, arching an eyebrow. It is curious; Lilith could easily extricate Marbas from Lucien, and so the fact that the doctor is not dead is certainly interesting. "Perhaps Marbas has become attached to his host," I continue. "How... sweet."

[lilith-qliphah.livejournal.com]

Of course he keeps talking, going on and on with his assumptions and questions while the wheel continues on its slow cycle around. Sort of like our conversation. How annoying, and I was trying so hard to be nice. Apparently he does not want to know about the trickster gods plan to free Marbas, though it’s probably best that he’s focused on me. It will allow them time to finish the task. "And why haven't you? It seems that you would object to your dear friend being trapped in a mere human body,"

“It would seem so wouldn’t it,” I say, rolling my eyes, “Why haven’t I done a good many things I could do? Perhaps I don’t care enough to, hm?” I say, mocking his tone. “Or..Perhaps I’m biding my time. So very hard to decide.”

"Perhaps Marbas has become attached to his host, How... sweet."

Ooh now that one really makes me laugh. “You would know wouldn’t you?” I say, giving him a faint look of disgust. I find it amusing that he would condemn Marbas for doing nothing more than he himself has done. Then I lean forward, whispering in his blonde girls’ voice from the dream, “I love you, Tezcatlipoca, love you so much.” And I laugh.

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

Lilith really is in a most sulky mood today. It is interesting, insofar as I wonder what has piqued her. It does make her irritating, however.

“Or..Perhaps I’m biding my time. So very hard to decide.”

I wave my hand.

"Keep your secrets," I say. "If Marbas is freed, then I will find another way to punish him for his gross inadequacies. You know that he had regrets?" I laugh and shake my head. "What a great disappointment he is. I am surprised you give him the time of day, diminished as he is."

“I love you, Tezcatlipoca, love you so much.”

I roll my eyes.

"Marbas's fondness for a human is hardly the same as my interest in a god. And Tezcatlipoca's interest in the Danika body is hardly more reprehensible than your liking for boyflesh," I observe, raising an eyebrow. "Tez wishes I loved him, but I do not love. You know that better than most," I say.

[lilith-qliphah.livejournal.com]

"If Marbas is freed, then I will find another way to punish him for his gross inadequacies. You know that he had regrets?"

"Regrets... what." I ask. My face remains impassive. I will not give him the satisfaction of seeing the anger that sparks inside. Even I cannot condone that. He regretted nothing when I left him that last time long ago. But I remember the argument we had and his face when he refused to explain why, and I know that with this, Iblis is telling the truth. What took place after I left? "Of course you will. If you did not, now that would be a surprise," I say dryly. "You should be grateful I haven't done the same to your toy for his... gross inadequacies, as you put it." Though I suppose it is to be expected from him, but from my Marbas... it most definitely is not.

Now it is my turn to laugh and shake my head. If you believe that, my Iblis, you are far more deluded than I thought. "When have I ever questioned his interest in you?" That part is obvious, the pathetic creature didn't stand a chance against his beauty. It is the fact that he is once again sharing a creatures love with a human is what bothers me the most. I wonder if he might bow this time. If he did, he would be better off dead. "I do," I laugh, remembering a time when that was all I wanted from him as well, "But you taught me how it could be used and twisted instead," I smile and wink. "So tell me, was irritation your only motivation in coming to see me tonight then?"

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

"Regrets... what."

Lilith keeps her face a blank mask, but I have known her too long to be fooled by that.

"Falling," I say. "What else?"

"When have I ever questioned his interest in you?"

I shrug and decide to light a cigarette. I feel the tar accumulating in my lungs as I breathe in. It is interesting, how many ways humans kill themselves.

We have reached the top of the ride, and I look down over the ride.

"It is so very small, is it not?" I say. "This town." I throw the cigarette over the side and watch the orange-red glow fall and disappear.

"I do. But you taught me how it could be used and twisted instead. So tell me, was irritation your only motivation in coming to see me tonight then?"

I remember when Lilith wished I would love her. But she moved past that; she gave up love as I did.

"Irritating you was not my purpose in coming here, merely a bonus," I smile. "I wished to ask you about Marbas, and now I have."

[lilith-qliphah.livejournal.com]

"Falling, What else?" he says, face and tone as blank as my own... was.

Flame leaps into my eyes for the briefest of moments, hand clenching on the back of the seat, slightly melting the steel of the car before I reign it back in. My expression settles into one of enjoyment and delight as I nod, vaguely listening to him jabber on about the town, waiting for the car to be lowered so we can get off. He Regrets...

So he regrets his choice in the fall and is punished, rightfully so, and then comes pandering to me for help? What Iblis allows the god to do to him is one thing, but I will not have it done to me. Ooh my Marbas, for that deception, I will gladly show you what it really means to regret.

"Irritating you was not my purpose in coming here, merely a bonus, I wished to ask you about Marbas, and now I have."

The car finally reaches the bottom and I give the man a nod of thanks as we get out. "You have been beaten to the punch yet again I'm afraid," I smile back, not bothering to hide from him the anger boiling just beneath. "By none other than that very same friend." I say, threading my arm tightly through Iblis's as we walk and instead of words, I show him exactly what I saw the last time Marbas and I spoke. He wanted to know and that's a good place to start, I think.

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

Lilith cannot hide her fury. I smile in amusement as she melts the back of the car, but I am not really laughing at her; I understand her disappointment well enough, after all.

We descend, and we walk through the carnival. She opens her mind to me, showing her conversation with Marbas. Oh, he really is out and about, is he not? Careless, careless Marbas. Sloppiness of that sort is useful to me. And now your lady turns on you, disgusted by your weakness.

"Lugh?" I say. "How interesting. That god never knows when to keep himself to himself," I say. "And all this for love of Wanda," I say, and I laugh. "How very amusing. Perhaps I will kill him." We walk out through the gate to the river. "I will let Lugh perform his exorcism, however," I say. "He is likely to do himself harm whilst trying the ritual, and that is always amusing, and if he gets himself killed, why, that saves me an effort," I say. "And then, my dear," I say, giving Lilith's side a squeeze, "you and I can... chat to Marbas, what do you say?" I smile. "It has been a while since we... worked on someone together," I add, raising my eyebrows. Torture and punishment is always such fun.

[lilith-qliphah.livejournal.com]

The mention of the trickster gods name makes me roll my eyes, still wondering how that's going to go. "He seemed a bit on the slow side to me," I laugh, wondering how his tricks will serve to get him out of this little mess he is in. "The ritual will likely be enough to put Marbas in a rage, he may well kill the god himself, as well as any others who are there." Though again, I wonder if that is the case, he would be just as likely to heal them and that thought only angers me more.

I agree with his line of thinking, let Marbas be freed just long enough to taste it and then be punished again. Let him see what it is to be betrayed by one he trusts, a lesson he evidently has a need to learn.

"you and I can... chat to Marbas, what do you say? It has been a while since we... worked on someone together,"

The thought of the pup does bring a smile back to my face and I nod, licking my lips and leaning into his side, "It has. He will come to me once its done, I'm sure," I say, feeling that same momentary sharp stab I felt the night when Marbas spoke of love. Then I think about what he has done and its replaced with disappointment and rage. "I can't tell you how very much I would love for us to have a chat." I smile, eyes lighting again. I do so love seeing my Iblis like this.

[al-shairan.livejournal.com]

"The ritual will likely be enough to put Marbas in a rage, he may well kill the god himself, as well as any others who are there."

"That is no great loss," I say cheerfully. Of course, if Lucien dies, it might send Wanda completely mad... But it might also give me the opportunity to own her completely, and that is good. Whoever Lugh plans to have help him will be no friends of mine, so their deaths would hardly trouble me.

"It has. He will come to me once its done, I'm sure," says Lilith, and I see the fury and desire in her eyes and I smile. "I can't tell you how very much I would love for us to have a chat."

"When he comes to you, you should pretend to be glad to see him, and then betray him to me," I say, smiling at her. "I think seeing us both work together against him will grieve his weak heart sorely," I say with a laugh. "Perhaps it will teach him to do better in future." I do not add that if Marbas seems to be a hopeless case I will kill him; Lilith is over-fond of him, and she might lose her stomach for a fight.

I turn her round and kiss her; in this body we are much the same height. I let some heat pass between us, and then I let her go.

"I will be waiting," I say. "After we punish Marbas, we shall all celebrate together," I say, my eyes twinkling at her. "For now, good night, my dear," I say, and let this body fall away so that I float as a hot vapour on the air.