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Hastur, Duke of Hell

December 2023

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thedukeofhell: (Default)
[personal profile] thedukeofhell
What looks like a speck of black dust on the floor of the mansion starts growing, widening, until there's a large pool of darkness on the ground. It bubbles and roils, as thick and glistening as oil. A low wailing that sounds like a thousand lost souls crying out comes from it -- and a figure slowly climbs its way out of the darkness. The smell of sulphur permeates its way through the room. It's all very stereotypical. A little predictable, some would say.

Hastur, a Duke of Hell, stands in the middle of the room. He is tall, dark, definitely not handsome -- and definitely not a sight for sore eyes. If one had sore eyes and looked at him, one would instead want to use one's own fingers to tear one's own eyes out of the sockets rather than continue looking at him. He's distinctly quite maggoty until he pulls his form together more, at which point he's only mildly maggoty. Mildly maggoty and pissed.

He knows he's here. He can smell him here, the unique scent of gloomy fall evenings, leather jackets, gasoline, and something very... ophidian. After that whole ordeal with the Apocalypse, the stupid demon, the upstart, the fool, the-- flash bastard1 just up and left, saddling Hastur with all of his paperwork! Car parked on the street, abandoned. That was the kicker. The real head-scratcher. Why would Crowley abandon his car? The only explanation is that he's out there getting into some sort of trouble he shouldn't be... Disobeying the Lord and Master's orders, surely.2

"CROWLEY!" He suddenly yells, turning in a small circle. There's no response.

"Crawly," he says, quieter and more sinister. He walks to the door of the room, peering down the hallway. "I know you're here. I know you've abandoned your position. We aren't happy with you. He isn't happy with you. You're in big trouble... and you know what that means. We've done this before and I'm still BLOODY PISSED from last time. I've been sent to fetch you and the sooner you see me, the sooner you come to me... the fewer repercussions you'll have to face." The unhappy smile on his face says otherwise.

Hastur, Duke of Hell, is angry and on the hunt for a particular demon. Apologies to anyone who gets in his way.

1Hastur's insults typically lack swear words, despite being a demon, because (due to being a demon) he is quite uncreative.
2 The concepts of trouble and disobedience are lauded in Hell in thought but not the practice-- and especially not against Hell.
Date: 2023-12-18 08:38 pm (UTC)

onthewillowsthere: (look down)
From: [personal profile] onthewillowsthere
Despite the height he has on Claudius, he feels very small. He smooths the placket of Claudius' shirt, rubbing his fingers against it, and is struck by a memory of doing the same thing some time before when he was someone else. It doesn't make him feel less adrift. He doesn't have the ability to focus on Crowley or the conversation he and Claudius are having, only the small movement of his fingers on cloth.
Date: 2023-12-18 09:22 pm (UTC)

aflashbastard: (Default)
From: [personal profile] aflashbastard
"Have you seen him?" Crowley asks Claudius. "Hastur said something about taking care of the two of you. Almost certain he was lying, but..." He lets the rest of the sentence hang unspoken. There's an intensity to his demeanor that's been rare since he arrived, so while he does give Galahad a momentary worried glance, he's looking towards the door as well.
Date: 2023-12-19 01:43 am (UTC)

wickedwit: (intent)
From: [personal profile] wickedwit
"And you won't be at ease until you see him again," Claudius says, and his tone isn't teasing, though it is knowing. "Go, find your angel. I'll be along to help look if it takes too long, but first," gentle, "I need to look after our hero."
Date: 2023-12-19 01:54 am (UTC)

onthewillowsthere: (look down)
From: [personal profile] onthewillowsthere
He trembles -- he's meant to look after Claudius, not the other way around -- but he can't protest.
Date: 2023-12-19 02:19 am (UTC)

aflashbastard: (Default)
From: [personal profile] aflashbastard
Crowley nods. He looks at Galahad -- and he's not sure if what he's going to say will register or not. Maybe Claudius can repeat it to him later if needed. It's important.

"I owe you one," he says, gently. You've more than evened the score, is what he means. And then he's gone.
Date: 2023-12-19 02:53 am (UTC)

wickedwit: (intent)
From: [personal profile] wickedwit
"Here, beloved," Claudius murmurs, and shifts to take Galahad's hand and lead him away. "I have thee. Thou wert a wonder -- thou wert more than a miracle. All on thine own, thou wert the answer to a prayer spoken nowhere but my soul ... and thou wert beautiful, beloved. Thou canst rest now, and come with me."
Date: 2023-12-19 03:01 am (UTC)

onthewillowsthere: (look down)
From: [personal profile] onthewillowsthere
He lets Claudius take his hand, saying nothing: his fingers are icy in Claudius' grip. He wants to ask about Gertrude, and what's changed now, but even more than usual words are impossible. The act of opening his mouth feels like trying to lift the weight of the cross; if Christ couldn't help but stumble under it, how can he hope to speak, even with Simon of Cyrene at his side?
Date: 2023-12-19 04:40 am (UTC)

wickedwit: (intent)
From: [personal profile] wickedwit
Claudius keeps Galahad's hand in his and lends his shoulder, as if to bear the cross of him. He asks nothing, not even with his hands -- he'd have to let go of Galahad to sign the questions, and his grip is still tight and grateful. Knowing himself, his fingers would flicker too fast, cycling possibilities, the way they do when one idea tumbles after another. They'd all be things Galahad might need: a bath with warm water to bring the heat back into his body, a change of clothes to replace his scorched ones, something soft to touch and ground himself. It's better to give Galahad those things, one by one. For now, he'll lead Galahad back to their room, all the while speaking soft praises.

Date: 2023-12-19 05:08 am (UTC)

onthewillowsthere: (in prayer)
From: [personal profile] onthewillowsthere
Once they're inside -- once they're safe, because it feels as if nothing can hurt either one of them here -- he allows himself to relax fractionally. Their room is the same. The world hasn't shifted monumentally under his feet and left everything askew.

He makes himself look at Claudius' face at last, which takes an effort, even with all the soft things Claudius has said to him on the way here -- he's still afraid to find out things have changed.
Date: 2023-12-20 04:19 pm (UTC)

wickedwit: (thoughtful)
From: [personal profile] wickedwit
His face bears all the same softness, eyes tender, expression open in a way he seldom shows outside this room -- the way he looks when Galahad sketches him when he's seated at his desk, or lying in bed and thumbing through a mystery novel. Even when Claudius is sincere, he still schools his expressions, studied smiles and exaggerated eyerolls. Now, with Galahad's eyes on him, he summons up a flickering smile meant to reassure, gentle in a way Galahad should know well. He draws their hands apart, with fingers still laced, so Galahad can touch his palm if he chooses. He leans in for a kiss.
Date: 2023-12-20 05:15 pm (UTC)

onthewillowsthere: (look down)
From: [personal profile] onthewillowsthere
Galahad kisses him, pressing his thumb against Claudius' palm, though he's still trembling and the kiss is less ardent than it is seeking comfort. He's empty and cold, and the smoke is lingering on his clothed and in his hair.

"Please--" quietly.
Date: 2023-12-20 05:20 pm (UTC)

wickedwit: (intent)
From: [personal profile] wickedwit
It's a precious thing, a please from Galahad, and Claudius wants to know what finishes it. "Ay?"
Date: 2023-12-20 05:39 pm (UTC)

wickedwit: (smiling villain)
From: [personal profile] wickedwit
Claudius smiles slow and glad -- it's an easy thing, and a pleasant thing, to touch and tend to Galahad's hair. "Ay. Let me wash it for thee first, and warm thee an I can." He turns his hand in Galahad's to be a guiding hand.
Date: 2023-12-20 06:21 pm (UTC)

onthewillowsthere: (look down)
From: [personal profile] onthewillowsthere
He nods. He would have asked for those things too, if asking all of them weren't too much right now. He wants to be cared for; he wants the tenderness of being washed, and reassured that he's still beloved.
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