entrancelogs | + Your imagination can't hurt you! +

[His expression changes as she gets all up in his face, or as close as she can get. It's not the first time a stubborn and spirited woman has gotten angry with him, told him to take this seriously. None of these events have done anything to him yet, and he doesn't expect it to happen now, either.

If the Father Almighty can't tell him what to do, neither can Wonderland.]

That's right, I am. And I'm taking this very seriously. It's about time Wonderland showed me what it's really capable of.

[He turns away from her, shouting into the distance.]

Come on! Come and get me! Give it your best shot!

Edited 2016-11-13 21:37 (UTC)

[ it seems wonderland is up for the task, or at the very least, it's willing to try.

the wolf's howling grows deafening, and amidst the violent wind now wrapping them up in its arms, a whisper: home sweet home. the ground beneath their feet trembles violently, cracks spreading through the dirt and earth until lucifer and elena are firmly separated.

the chasm widens. soon enough, the feeling of falling.

a scream is ripped from elena's throat as they plummet downward into a sea of icy blue. her scream mingles with the sound of heavy chains being released. ]

Edited 2016-11-13 21:57 (UTC)

[Well, shit. Lucifer most certainly has regrets.

He hears her scream behind him as he falls as well, descending through the dirt into the ashen chasm below.

Lucifer hits the ground finally with a thud. It doesn't hurt, because of course it doesn't, and for the briefest moment he wishes he still had his wings, but it passes quickly enough.

Because he sure recognizes this place.]

Bloody Hell.

[No, really. Hell. He gets up off the ground, dusts himself off, and tries to ignore the creeping feeling in his spine.]

Elena!?

[She doesn't belong here, and while he rarely feels any kind of guilt, he might be starting to feel it right now.]

[ it looks like snow.

(it isn't snow).

elena doesn't bother removing the ash from her hair, wincing as she brings herself back to her feet. ] I'm here.

[ she does her best to sound steady, but their mettle will soon be tested. the walls creak and groan all around them. the path she has been set on is already pretty narrow as it is. ] They're closing in. [ it's only now her voice wavers with fear. ] I can't stop it!

[ so determined and focused is she on pushing back, she doesn't notice the riddle carved into the stone: You can have me but cannot hold me; Gain me and quickly lose me. If treated with care I can be great, And if betrayed I will break. What am I? ]

[He swears under his breath and starts to move. Without his wings, he can't teleport or fly or go as fast as he'd like, but he can certainly still haul ass, which he does toward the sound of her voice, coming upon her like a, pun intended, bat out of hell.

He sets his feet against each wall, followed by his palms, and tries with all of his angelic strength to keep them from closing further.

After another moment or two, it's pretty clear that he may be slowing it, but not by much.]

You've played Wonderland's games before. What are we supposed to do?

[He seems to have done a 180 on his stance of wanting to see what Wonderland is capable of. He's seen enough.

He looks around as if trying to find another way before his eyes fall upon the strange riddle written just off to one side. He tilts his head toward it, speaking through grit teeth.]

What's this nonsense?

[ futile though it may be, elena pushes up against the wall with all her strength in a feeble attempt to aid lucifer along. she isn't claustrophobic, but she's starting to feel enclosed, her pulse spiking as a result. elena's converse sneakers screech against the flooring as she fights the pressure.

only lucifer's voice stops her long enough to follow his gaze. ]

It's a riddle.

[ and she doesn't know whether to laugh or cry that he hasn't the vaguest hint as to what it could be. ]

It means trust, Lucifer. [ it means what she said: they have to work together, or they won't survive this. ]

Yes, well, I don't see what trust has to do with preventing these walls from turning you into a pancake.

[It hasn't really sunk in that he would probably be smashed too, considering he can't hold them open.]

How about this? I'm trusting you to figure this out, since you seem to think you're so much more experienced at dealing with Wonderland's practical jokes.

[He groans then, clearly laboring in his activity, growing increasingly angry about this little predicament.]

This is not what I wanted to happen today.

[ i'm trusting you to figure this out.

that's all it takes. no sooner lucifer has spoken, the walls shudder to a screeching halt. a good thing, too, considering elena's back is now pressed up against lucifer's, her face very nearly brushing against concrete. she sags back against him in relief, waiting for the walls to move back into place. ]

It's not about what we want.

[ the answer comes thickly, and with a lingering shakiness. ]

It's about Wonderland wants, whether we like it or not.

It rarely has been in my lifetime.

[But he kind of got used to doing whatever he wanted in the last five years. What a lovely reminder that his control has slipped away from him again.]

Yes, well, apparently what Wonderland wants is for me to give you a tour of my old home. Welcome to Hell. [He gestures down the now very thin hallway, considering there isn't even enough room for him to move past her just yet.] Ladies first. Do try not to trip over any bones or chains.

Edited 2016-11-16 04:40 (UTC)

[ a tightness pinches her throat, but elena's hands are still curled into vicious fists, and she has decided she won't let hell scare her. moments before her own death, she told her killer to rot in hell. she thinks about that now. steeling her spine, elena walks past him. eyes peeled. ]

My parents would take me and my brother to church when we were younger.

[ she'd even babysit the pastor's daughter. april, was her name? ] I just never thought ...

[ any of this was real. but then, she didn't think vampires were real. elena used to like everything in neat little boxes. things were only real if she could see them, prove them rationally and with logic. she was not a believer. her faith has always been rooted in people. now she walks with the devil. ]

Yes, well, dear ol' dad doesn't deserve anyone's adoration if you ask me.

[Bitterness slices through his tone as he follows after her, hands resting against the walls on each side, as if they're suddenly going to start moving again.]

With a little luck, we'll get ourselves out of this little mess and you'll never have to see it again, hm?

[And neither will he. Fingers crossed.

The chasm starts to turn, eventually hitting what looks like a stone arch decorating the mouth of an opening into a larger area. Carved into the curve of the arch is another riddle, which Lucifer reads aloud as he slows to a halt in front of it.]

"Tool of thief, toy of queen. Always used to be unseen. Sign of joy, sign of sorrow. Giving all likeness borrowed."

[A closer look at the roughly edged 'doorway' reveals something strange; the air seems to waver strangely, as if looking through the heat wafting up from a hot grill.

Lucifer sighs at the sight, reaching down on the ground for a rock before tossing it through the arch, only to have it ricochet off the nearly invisible wall that is apparently barring their passage.]

Wonderful. More riddles.

You can stop with the sarcasm any second now.

[ elena shoots daggers in lucifer's direction with her gaze alone. she wipes some ash off her face with her knuckles, footsteps steady and tentative as they both walk across the rocky floor. she can't help wondering — if lucifer is here in wonderland, with her, then who has taken his place in hell?

a mirror-like surface appears within the walls, and it forces elena to stillness a few feet from the doorway that isn't a doorway. ]

'Always used to be unseen.'

[ it seems like the most important part of the riddle, so she repeats it after him. elena ventures closer, only stopping when a mirror-like surface appears next to the black walls that surround them. elena's reflection isn't entirely human just then: veins scatter around her eyes, eyes that would be pitch black if not for the redness they drown in. blood drips from the corner of her mouth, tongue pressing into a fang. and then, almost as quickly as it appeared, it's gone. ]

I'm capable of a lot of things.

[Sorry, there isn't much of an off switch when it comes to his sarcasm. It's essentially his default mode of speech.

Strangely enough, Lucifer himself doesn't comment on whatever it is she sees. It's as if he...didn't see it at all.

Instead, he seems to be staring at himself in the same reflective surface, his brows furrowed heavily.]

Mask. That's the answer. And I'm guessing it wants us to take them off.

[It's the most serious he's looked since she met him.]

[ elena's eyebrows are drawn downward. ]

Metaphorically or ... [ her eyes widen as she turns to face him, searching his expression for something she doesn't find. of course. of course this must not be what lucifer really looks like. is the body standing before her some kind of vessel? it's not the time to ask questions.

she'd tell him he doesn't have to do this — but he kind of does.

swallowing thickly, she gives one lone, sobering nod. her tone commanding: ] I can handle it.

[He looks over at her, realizing quickly that he doesn't even need to shake his head. She seems to get it without any sort of hint or prompting.]

You say that, but I'm not so sure I believe it. It could momentarily drive you insane...or worse.

[There's a heaviness to his tone that he deliberately erases out of the majority of his encounters with people. But he actually likes this girl and he's not sure if he's ready for this.]

If I asked you to close your eyes, do you think it would still work?

[...He's pretty sure he already knows the answer to that.]

Something tells me the alternative wouldn't be so great, either.

[ she doesn't want to be stuck here any more than lucifer does. ]

We could try?

[ if it would make him feel better. elena doesn't scare off easily, despite his warnings, but she also doesn't want him to give more than he should have to. lucifer is a guarded person, and to expose him in this way ... it seems cruel. ]

Can't hurt.

[He watches her, waiting until she does as he's suggested before he moves up toward the arch. It's not until he's standing right before it that he drops the mask he uses on Earth, the one his terrible visage hides behind, and he reaches out to press a finger tip through the reflective surface which he attempts to not look at himself.

Except it doesn't pass through. Instead, he draws his hand immediately back at the sensation of an electric shock, his appearance returning to his typical handsome visage as he shakes the limb.]

Or maybe it can hurt after all. We've got a live one. [He looks over at her.] No dice.

[ elena covers her eyes with one hand for good measure, and it's only until lucifer gives his final verdict that she tentatively peeks through her fingers. his face is once again the handsome face she's become acquainted with. it's hard not to be disappointed, hand falling back to her side. ]

Then ... we have to do it.

[ she gains conviction once again. elena can believe in something, in someone, with a will that's almost terrifying. ]

Whatever happens. [ her hand finds his forearm, and gives it a light squeeze. ] I'm choosing to trust you.

[Lucifer pauses then to look at her fully. It's not often anyone says something like that to him, whether they believe in his existence or not. Considering the fact that they're literally surrounded by either Hell itself or a very good recreation, it's likely that she does actually believe him.

That makes it all the more surprising.

He swallows as if his throat his dry, his brows pulling together slightly before he finally speaks. Though the words themselves might seem flippant, his tone is anything but.]

It isn't as if I would hurt you, as I'm sure you're aware. [That won't stock her likely reaction, but she might remember that at least.] Let's just do this quickly shall we?

[And then he only hesitates a moment longer before his appearance shifts, and if anyone were to look beyond the hideous, painful, bleeding visage of Hell's most affluent torturer, they would see that he was afraid.

Without waiting for the rest of her reaction, he covers the hand at his arm with his own and starts to lead her toward the gate.]

Come on now.

I'm aware.

[ from the beginning, lucifer's been amiable, albeit also incorrigible and flippant. he met her compassion with sincerity and not disdain, like it was something unfamiliar to him. wonderland's events may be predicated on smokescreens and mirrors, but she remembers the young man who would've razed cities to the ground if anyone dared to hurt her. a young man who was capable of boundless emotion and deep loyalty, if not for the fear that surrounded him.

fear of being rejected and abandoned. fear of getting hurt.

elena keeps all this in mind as the human mask is stripped from him, layer by layer, until all she sees is blistering red. she draws in a sharp breath, lips parted in stunned and muted alarm. shock. she doesn't look away, where many others might, swallowing past the thickness (and bile) in her throat.

a tremor runs through her body, and then acceptance. this is still lucifer. nothing important has truly changed. tension saps and her shoulders droop. a nod.

she is not afraid, and she does not fight his pull, some of her dismay admittedly lingering. ] Where — where does this gate lead to?

[He was waiting for the press of her nails into his arm or pulling it roughly away, but it never comes. She simply shudders for a moment beside him and then...stills.

He's nearly shocked into stillness himself.

It takes a long moment for Lucifer to process that she's even spoken to him, formed a question that is totally acceptable and is simply waiting for his reply. He clears his throat before he answers.]

I'm not actually sure, honestly. I have a suspicion, but I'd rather see it confirmed first.

[And then they pass through the gateway completely unharmed, emerging from the other side to Lucifer's mask slipping back into place as soon as it's safe to do so, breathing a sigh of relief as he looks around.

There's a dark river up ahead as well as a shoddy old dinghy sitting at the shore. Inside is a humanoid figure dressed in dark robes, though it's impossible to see what the person wearing them actually looks like.]

[ elena's fingers curl into the sleeve of lucifer's suit, and she's only half-aware of how tightly she grips hold. she can't be sure if she means to hold him back or to reassure herself; it might be a combination of both. all elena knows is she has no shiny gold coins in her pocket, and no desire to step inside the dinghy. she knows what this is: the cloaked figure, the endless river. she knows just how vicious and unforgiving the bottomless waters can be. ]

It's going to want payment. There has to be another way.

[ if this is the final test, it means the test comes with a price. their own metaphorical coin.

and elena has learned in wonderland some costs are just too high. ]

[Lucifer is still mildly reeling from the fact that she's as calm as she is, isn't screaming into his face or hiding her own. Fight or flight is the usual response, and she's exhibiting neither.

It creates a strange wave of emotions he hasn't felt before.]

It does. I know exactly what it wants.

[He purses his lips as his hand dips into the inside pocket of his jacket, producing a coin, which he lets hover above his hand, spinning with each flick of his thumb.]

Something tells me we aren't going to be able to get a 2 for 1 sale, however.

[ elena's never seen anything like it.

her eyes follow the coin as it rotates right above lucifer's palm. she doesn't know why a coin, of all things, makes everything so much more real. her shoulders sink as realization sets in. it wouldn't be a test if the choice wasn't hard, and sometimes all you have are terrible choices. ]

You only have one.

[ one coin for one of them. ]

[He nods slowly, watching it as he speaks.]

It's my pentecostal coin. A get out of Hell free card, so to speak. Though in my case, it was meant to be for the option of coming back here should I desire to. I didn't realize I would be back so soon.

[His fingers close over it, nails pressing into his skin, before he turns to her. He takes a step towards her, reaches for her hand, and turns the palm upward so he can press the coin into it. He speaks again, voice quiet, as he press her fingers around it tightly, holding it for another moment.]

I found my own way out once before. I can do it again.

[Then he lets go, gesturing for her to move ahead.]

Go on, now.

+ Your imagination can't hurt you! +

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