Truth or Dare: Nexus Edition

[the_rebel_son]

Lucifer isn't quite sure how this madness started. The angels had opened up the council chamber for visitors and of course Beelzebub had started them drinking, then they got rowdy and people started joining them. Who had brought up the idea of Truth or Dare was unknown but it rippled through the amassing group to a uniform good idea, despite the objective nature of it being a disaster.

Then there was some vote that Lucifer missed where Galahad, Prometheus, and Belial were made judges to keep things in line. That might have been the most reasonable and sane thing since this conversation started. Chairs were rearranged to a big circle.. and all the chairs from the villa had been taken. It was crowded, specially when they decided the judges should have chaises to lounge on. This was some true ancient Greek style madness with the drinking and the topics that were sure to come up. Still, it was all fun and games, right?


Rules of the Road:
1. Top level with your character.
2. Note if you are opting this in as canon for Nexus. This may be done in top level or in individual responses (If there is any questions about this please seek out players OOC.. Discord, PM in Dw etc)
3. A character may only ask truth or dare of the same character once.
4. However, a character may ask as many different characters as they please.
5. Characters may ask questions without doing a top level. However the 1 per the same character applies
6. If your character is crossing threads for a dare, please link back to the original comment where the dare was issued.
7. When in doubt ask?

Comments

[lanceofwar]

"He has a sense of loyalty, twisted but loyal all the same." Abigor comments and then shakes their head. "No universe is simple."

"I'm surprised they are behaving, though I've seen a lot of kissing." They aren't perturbed, more amused by the mischief. "I haven't, but I will as soon as duties allow it."

[sohoangel]

"'The enemy of my enemy is my friend,'" the angel quotes. "Or, I suppose in this case, the enemy of his enemy is someone he's willing to tolerate." Although that begs the question of why Moloch bothers to speak to him at all. Aziraphale is only relevant in a 'We don't eat Lucifer's friends" sort of way.

He'll puzzle over that one later. For now, he's happy to chat with someone who appreciates a chance to enjoy a party quietly and responsibly.

"Of course there's kissing, it's the oldest dare in the book. I'm fairly certain I'm off-limits, though, not unless someone wants an angry snake in their face." Balthazar's nose kiss got a pass, but anyone who goes for the cheeks or the lips will have an aggrieved Crowley to deal with. Aziraphale can't say that he particularly minds, either.

"I hope you get the chance soon. The Nexus is an amazing, wonderful place. Not without its own dangers, of course, but worth exploring, certainly. Do you have any particular passions? Food, music? Clothing, perhaps? I could give you a few recommendations."

[lanceofwar]

"On the surface it is." Abigor's gaze turns to where Moloch is sitting. "He's more than he lets any one person know, except perhaps Lucifer himself."

The angel laughs merrily at the declaration. "I'm personally waiting for someone to approach Belial for one, preferably without warning." They were definitely in this for the mischief. "Though there are some I here I would avoid kissing if I were dared."

"Lucifer accuses me of being a homebody." Abigor looks to the angel beside him. "Unsurprising, I do like weapons work but more personally, horseback riding. Though, I prefer my own mount to mortal horses."

[sohoangel]

Aziraphale nods thoughtfully in agreement. "Before I met him, I assumed that he was like one of the demons on my world, but he's far more complex than any of them." He smiles at Abigor and adds, "I can see why you've been put in charge with keeping an eye on him."

"There's nothing wrong with being a homebody," he says definitively. Although his expression falls when Abigor mentions their interest in horseback riding. "Oh, I'm afraid I can't help you with that. I'm sure there are stables in the Nexus, but I haven't ridden a horse in centuries. They don't ever listen to me, not unless I impose my will upon them, which I hate doing."

[lanceofwar]

Abigor sighed and shook their head. "He's found ways around the anti-violence wards and the brand we've put on him. He nearly killed Galahad."

The angel figured that would explain the intellect and the current tension. Abigor doesn't linger on the subject though and turns to other, happier topics. They're glad the other angel understood the desire to stay in one place. Not many of the others did. "I can't stable Eligos with horses. She's..." the angel pauses. "Beelzebub made her for me long ago."

[sohoangel]

Aziraphale gasps, obviously alarmed. "You've closed that particular loophole, I hope? The Nexus is full of innocents."

It's a good reminder that Moloch is always dangerous, although the dye has been cast and he's unlikely to shun the fallen angel unless the risk becomes too great.

"What is she?" Despite not wanting to ride a horse, he is still curious. "Some sort of version of a horse like a hellhound is to a dog?"

[lanceofwar]

"Not fully. He's always found ways around wards and laws since the fall." Abigor admits. "Moloch should be stayed for now. Lucifer had to pull Beelzebub off of him when they fought or he might have killed him."

The angel hadn't been able to separate the two angels and had to call for help. There were reasons why Moloch always had guards when he ventured outside of Chaos.

Abigor considers. "Undead? I don't know that anyone knows. There's a place in Chaos that Beelzebub took the horses that died in Eden to bury them. He's a soft spot for the animals that serve in wars. When he was done two horses woke from the graves. His stallion, Kapnos, and Eligos. She has wings like mine and the stallion breathes fire."

[sohoangel]

"I suppose it wouldn't do any good for me to talk to him about it," Aziraphale mutters, twisting his fingers together. He'd probably get laughed at for his trouble. No, best to stay out of it. Although he has a feeling that Moloch would not have minded in the slightest if Beelzebub had been successful.

The story is touching; Aziraphale is already aware of Beelzebub's soft spot for animals, but the fact that he took the time to bury the horses in Eden speaks volumes to his character. "How fascinating! I suppose 'undead' is the technically correct term. I'd like to see the both of them someday, unless you're concerned that my ethereal nature will spook them."

[lanceofwar]

"It's his curse." Abigor shrugged helplessly. "Lucifer's seeing to mitigating it for now, but Moloch's always challenged change violently, sometimes."

It was relatively expected. Balthazar had weathered the encounter better because he had a fearlessness to push back. Being pinned on an icy lake by something supernatural wasn't an easy thing for a mortal. It was a different type of encounter.

"They both have human level intelligence. It won't be like meeting an animal that is pure instinct. We haven't brought them here, but I think Beelzebub is planning to bring Kapnos to the Nexus soon." Abigor cracks a smile. "I am waiting to see who he convinces to joust with him. My lord is obsessive about jousting and mounted combat."

[sohoangel]

"So I've noticed," Aziraphale comments with an arched eyebrow, before letting the subject drop. He has to trust that Lucifer will handle it somehow. Perhaps he should have a talk with him about it, but not right now. A party is not the proper atmosphere for a serious discussion.

That's a relief to hear. Aziraphale loves animals, even the very unusual ones, and he'd hate to get off on the wrong foot (hoof?) with one, just because of its origins. "I'll ask him to introduce us, then. I got along well with a small family of thestrals, it should be fine.

As for jousting, he chuckles a little. "Obviously. I've watched several of those in my day, but I managed to avoid participating. A few minor miracles and nobody asked why Sir Aziraphale of the Round Table stayed out of the ring."

[lanceofwar]

"Beelzebub has a way with beasts of war." Abigor offers realizing it was an understatement.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he miracled himself into extra ones." Their brow raises curiously and they have to ask. "Do you know Galahad?"

It wouldn't be a surprise the the angel if they did, but there wasn't any clues to say whether Aziraphale and the Galahad here were from the same creation.

[sohoangel]

Aziraphale chuckles a little. "Yes, I would imagine so."

"Not Beelzebub's Galahad," he clarifies, and though the phrasing is unintentional, he doesn't consider it inaccurate, either. "I was friendly with the Galahad of my world. He was very kind and brave, the epitome of chivalry. I'd say out of everyone in King Arthur's Court, I spent the most time with him and Merlin."

[lanceofwar]

"He's here." Abigor offers. "This is the first time Galahad has been brought among us. So far his presence has been well received."

The angel nods. "I've only spoken with him once or twice, but it speaks to his strength that his presence has calmed my lord to a degree."

[sohoangel]

"He's one of the judges, isn't he?" He had been sort of paying attention when the judges were selected. He already knows Belial, and the fellow with the beard and lack of volume control must be Prometheus, which makes the one who is Galahad rather obvious.

"So I've noticed. Galahad is not the type of knight to rush headlong into battle, or fan the flames of war."

[lanceofwar]

"He is." Abigor confirms, eyes turning to the blonde human speaking with Belial.

That last comment gets a jovial laugh from the angel. "I don't know about not fanning the flames of war. I think there's a meaning of those words he's definitely doing."

[sohoangel]

"That's a good choice. I can't imagine him approving any dares that are too outrageous."

It takes a moment to pick up on Abigor's innuendo, and then he's blushing and trying his best to stifle a laugh. "That's not what I meant," he replies, before leaning a bit closer to them and adding, "Although that does explain the change in Beelzebub's demeanor when he's around, does it not?"

[lanceofwar]

"I don't know the third judge, but Belial and Galahad will put a stop to anything too fun."

Abigor laughs and nods. "He's a peacock when the human's around. You should see Beelzebub and Lucifer start competing when Balthazar and Galahad are both here." The words are full of amusement because everything became a competition. Things that didn't matter, never mattered. Most of the angels just let them go and puff up, preen, prance at each other.

"Do you want me to introduce you?"

[sohoangel]

"Belial knows how to have fun," Aziraphale protests lightly, but then again, the blind angel's idea of fun is very similar to Aziraphale's. "The third one I believe is Prometheus, the Titan of Forethought. If there's anyone who would put a stop to a dare or an answered question that might get too far out of hand, it's him."

At the thought of Beelzebub and Lucifer out-preening one another, he just shakes his head and echoes Abigor's laughter. "I can imagine it easily."

"Oh! Well... yes, if it isn't a bother. I'd be delighted."

[lanceofwar]

"Fun is perspective." Abigor nods and looks over at the other judge. "I'm not surprised to see someone from the Greco-Roman pantheon here as Lucifer's guest."

"We all secretly watch from a distance when they play chess. It's a sight worth seeing." The fights that had erupted out of chess games were legendary among the angels.

"I don't think he will mind. He's been interested in meeting more of the family." Abigor comments and motions toward the human they had been talking about.

[sohoangel]

Aziraphale shrugs. "He probably feels right at home with the architecture."

"Oh, I'm sure they're both extremely competitive about it. I have a lovely set in my bookshop, but I don't play it much. I don't know if Crowley and I have ever finished a game." Probably because they spend the entire time talking and drinking and lose track of whose turn it is.

The angel looks confused a moment before he realizes that Abigor is referring to him as family. The idea of being accepted by a group of celestial beings is still so novel to him, and he smiles brightly without realizing it. "Well, then let's get to it, shall we?" He stands up and straightens his bowtie. "It will be a pleasure to meet him."

[lanceofwar]

"I like playing well enough. Beelzebub is fond of any game that requires strategy." Not that Abigor thought that would surprise anyone.

Abigor leads the way over to the human.

"Sir Galahad?" They ask politely waiting for the human to acknowledge them. "This is Aziraphale. He's one of the angels from another creation than ours, and a celestial."

Those few words covered most of the basics quickly. They knew Galahad was new to this and might need more background for now.