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Of Lust and War NOW OPEN (See Character Thread)

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Cyrus sat upon his throne with a few papers in hand. It was a summary of the Lust Empire's status, military might, financial position, etc. As he continued to read he was impressed that the previous King was able to hold such a large empire together with little error. His expectations were very low coming in. He assumed that the Lust Empire would be in of complete reform but as it stood the only immediate problem he could see was their borders. The Empire of Lust was rapidly expanding due to its Golden Age and population control would be the end of it if he didn't find a solution fast. The easiest answer would be to conquer territory and expand borders. However if he did that the first month on the job it would be rather distasteful. His problems were only just beginning but he never regretted taking the throne.
 
On a large black silk cushion close to the throne the living treasure known as Argent lounged on her stomach, head resting on folded arms, bare feet swinging idly above her as she considered the virtues of taking a nap. She'd given up being the picture of repose and dignity as befit her station within about five minutes of sitting here and the minutes that had ticked by ever since had seen her progress deeper and deeper into boredom. Without anything more than her king reviewing papers she didn't even have anything more to consider than the various thoughtful and displeased expressions to cross his face. Deciding she wasn't tired enough to be able to nap she sat up on her cushion and looked to her king. "Your highness, I'm *bored*. Can I go to the garden? I promise not to ditch my guards or anything." Unlike many of the residents of hell she could nearly always be trusted to keep her word. It was a side effect of the whole pure-soul thing.
 
Cyrus had been deep in thought when when he heard the sweetly toned voice call out to him. Looking up from his papers he was quiet for a moment before getting up with a stretch. His silver eyes came down upon her with a hint of gentleness under their powerful gaze. Despite his title as King of demons his demonic personality traits seemed to disappear at times. And once you took that for granted you would quickly be reminded that he wasn't one to be tested or taken lightly. His voice carried confidence behind words. "I was just about to take a break from duty. If you'd like I can take you into the garden myself."

Things were awkward to say the least he had been raised in the human world so demon traditions and customs were a bit foreign to him even as he tried to learn them. Upon taking the throne he acquired quite a few things money, concubines, and even a physical soul. The latter was above all the most valuable. They were walking breathing conduits of raw power. One he still had not figured out how to tap into yet. Nonetheless he was grateful and wanted to know just what she was and what she could do. Taking the more humane approach he would try and get to know the girl and see if things worked out that way. He would have rather treated her as a sentient being than a weapon. He hoped that would be good enough.
 
Ardent had been prepared for a lot of different reactions. She couldn't precsicely remember much about her past lifetimes. Certainly she couldn't recall specific experiences or events. But eventually knowledge and understanding and patterns had a tendency to build up and she had a rough idea of what was normally expected of her by the past king. There wasn't a whole lot of frolicing in the garden and there was a good deal of her sitting still and trying to figure out something she hadn't counted a million times in a vain attempt to amuse herself.

She had been prepared to be told no. She had been mildly braced for the no to come less in verbal form and more in a slap and a reminder of her place. The fact that it was a yes and that not only was she permitted but her king was deigning to take her there himself? She smiled brightly at him, as always a beacon of light in the hells around them. "I'd like that very much!" She told him, gracefully climbing to her feet and adjusting the silver and white semi sheer robe she wore so it sat right on her light frame. "I don't know how anyone doesn't go mad with all of that..." She mimed holding a paper up to her face, squinting at it to indicate concentration. "For like. Hours. And hours. Or. You know. A half hour? Hour? Time is weird. I should know. I've been eighteen for like.... a really long time." She gave a shrug and rocked a little on her heels as she waited for him to either take the lead, offer her his arm, or call for a leash. He didn't seem to ever know what to do with her and she was quite okay with letting him work it out for himself. It had worked in her favor so far.
 
Cyrus didn't need a leash or any sort of restraint. There was no need to restrain her she had obviously been trained in obedience on some level. She knew what to do and when not to speak. It took one less thing off his plate since he didn't have to train her. However anyone would know just who she belonged to by the collar that was around her neck. It was made of silver one of the metals that represented the Silverra family as well as his family crest hanging from it. For style the collar was of course decorated in jewels to display his wealth. In some ways the hells had a sort of medieval traditions about them.

He didn't offer his arm. Not so much out of disrespect but it was one of the hells. There were no white knights here. Some demons had honor and he was one of them but their relationship was not yet one where he would have done so without any real thought or reason to. It they had been visiting another hell perhaps but it would have been more of a display of dominance. On the other side of that if she happened to grab his shirt or arm to hold on to as they walked he wouldn't pull away. "Time starts to blur together when doing those sort of things. It's easy to lose track of time." He stopped briefly to look down at Argent. "Besides I would like to know if my people are starving. The throne means nothing if you don't have the support of the people." He gave her a warm smile one that didn't come about too often. It didn't take them long after to reach the garden.
 
Argent had been trained well. She couldn't necessarily remember her training. She definantly couldn't have, even with a knife to her throat, recalled any specific moments from it. It had been many, many, lives ago for her. But it seemed to have settled into her bones. When to stand or sit or smile politely. When to speak and be silent. She had a certain amount of freedom as someone of her position and worth and even the last king, what she remembered of him, had been amused by the youth and playfullness that seemed to renew itself with each new life she lived. But she had been trained. She knew her place. One day she might flirt with her King if that was a thing allowed of her but she wouldn't initiate contact. She'd wait for it to be given to her first.

She did follow closely behind him though as they made their way down to the garden. Her place, she knew, even if she did often find excuses to go running off whenever allowed (and occasionally when not explicitly allowed but not told it wasn't permitted), was by his side. Even if he hadn't quite figured out how to tap all the power she could offer him yet. She would wait patiently. Until someone won her from him. It, afterall, wasn't a weapon's place to teach someone how to use it or prefer one wielder over another. Maybe one day she'd grow fond of her King but it was never even a thought in her mind to try to influence one way or another who owned her.

Upon reaching the garden she took a few experimental steps away from her king. If not called back she'd eventually drift from that place of hers completely, if only for a few moments, lithe legs carrying her racing and playing about the flowers to find fresh blooms and what joy she could find here.
 
Cyrus did in fact notice the girl drifting away slowly but he had no need to keep her at his side. there was no need to there was no one in the garden save for them, the fauna, and flora. The king instead wanted to check on the state of the latter two. While there were races that were considered sentient and given social status there were still creatures that were considered lesser beings as a whole by the demon race. Ones which in other circumstances would have been kicked around and mistreated. However under the last kings lengthy rule a lot of those lesser beings were given haven in the hell of lust. Some which called the rather large royal garden their home.

The nymphs and sirens were the care takers over these creatures. Among these creatures were will-o-wisps, kobolds, and there was even a Cerebus that could be found lounging in the garden from time to time. The plants were rather interesting throughout the hell of lust as well trees with red bark and purple leaves. Or flowers the bloomed a neon color. There were even plants that fit right in the hell of lust. Plants that took on shapes of genitalia or ones with sizable busts. If you got to close to one you would find out quickly that they had a very curious... Appetite. None of them were too harmful but you would come out nearly drained of all fluids over time and nearly starving. More or less Cyrus was quite found of the hell of lust and all of it's inhabitants.
 
Jay stands in the training facility, his black wings sticking out from his uniform, he lunges straight through one of the targets before slashing up another one, attempting to let out his anger with physical force. He had lived in heaven for around three years, which isn't all that long since time sort've flies up there before he had been accused of helping a damned soul into heaven, which he had done, considering the fact that he felt bad for the man, he had died early due to a mugging, and he refused to believe any of this way happening, and thus he refused to believe in God.

And now he was here. In Hell, serving the Army of Lust in order to someday make it back to paradise, where everyone can be, not just the few who actually believed in the Big Man. He slashes through another target before flying forward and destroying another. He does this for another hour before leaving, blatantly exhausted.
 
Li Xiu sat on a branch of a giant red tree, with purple leaves. A soft warm breeze blew across her face as her dark brown eyes watched the two below. It was him - of course it was him. Cyrus, the King of the Empire of lust walked below her, wandering through the garden with his thrall. While she yearned to dive off of the branch, slam down into the dirt, and plunge her Katana through his chest before lopping off his head...she restrained myself. She had trained for centuries for this. Surely, she could wait a few moments longer.

The Angel of Chastity was one of the most decorated angels of heaven's most prominent sect. She was a heroine in many regards. Both due to her time in service and her flair for excellence, she had found quite the following. While there were rumors several centuries ago to call for her coronation as the sect's head, she vehemently opposed. Her place was as a warrior, not a ruler or queen.

Tensions were rising in Heaven, as the demons of Hell gathered in more strength. There were prophesies about Cyrus - and everyone knew what his reign would mean. It was up to Li Xiu to strike him down before he had a chance to do so.
 
With no move to stop her from going about her way Argent took off to her own amusements and play, not looking back toward the King. She would know if he called for her. He owned her. More than just a physical ownership of the collar around her neck there were magical laws that governed how that kind of ownership worked here in the hells. She could be on the other side of the palace and know he called for her even if he only whispered the summons. She'd feel it in her bones and even if she tried to fight it her feet would take her back to him.

She wouldn't have the bad manners of fighting it though. She had been trained better than that. She knew better than that.

So she ran lightly between plants and trees, past creatures, each step sure and practiced and carrying her safely between the hidden traps and catches of the place. She'd known these gardens since each plant there was but a seedling. Maybe since the plants they had replaced before were seedlings. She didn't know. In her flight though something caught her notice. Something was out of place. Something that resonated in her own soul different than the many hells around her. She glanced around, not seeing her king, and then seeing it. High in the tree. Something that called to her soul in a way nothing in hell could.

She didn't move to go to it though, nor did she call out a warning. A weapon didn't warn it's wielder of danger or seek out a different warrior for use. She just stared for a moment then went back to chasing after the white puffy pollen spores a flower puffed out for her to play with. This was a matter above her.
 
"Ugh....stupid animal..." she muttered to herself under her breath, so quietly that even the keenest of ears wouldn't have heard her. Li Xiu shared the sentiments of most of the tenants of heaven. The demons inhabiting Hell were little more than animals. They were not viewed as anything close to themselves, and not the smallest sympathy was afforded to a demon's suffering.

The angel watched Argent move through the gardens, stupidly not running to tell her King the moment she saw Li Xiu. She didn't expect anything more from the pet, though. In fact, she fully expected that she could poison her just by telling Argent that it was candy.
 
Cyrus found the garden a place of comfort and relaxation. Of course the king of all incubi and succubae would find a lust garden nothing more than and interesting flower bed. It was as if the plants and creatures knew what he was merely by his presence some stayed out of the way out respect until called upon. Other ran close enough to fill their curious minds but not enough to be a hinderance. The plants that would feed on any of the lower demons kept their roots and vines to themselves. It was an unspoken authority that was embedded in their genetic code. He was the one that provided their sanctuary he was not one to be tested.

The king extended a band to a near by plant with giant leaves and the body of a woman. She extended her plant like body out toward the king. He leaves meshed together into a sort of reclining lawn chair shape. Her high pitched voice made a a sort of melodic call to her king as if alerting him that she was done. As he sat down he couldn't have looked any more relaxed than he was. Upon first glance it would even seem like his defenses were down. That was until his eyes moved to the Giant Red tree. His piercing gaze stared at the purple leaves. Could he possibly see the body hidden behind them from that distance?

In reality he did need to see anything he could feel the presence that didn't belong in his domain. Like a bright smudge on a dark painting the presence stood out to him. However in his nonchalant manner he just yawned and closed his eyes as if he didn't see anything.
 
Playful and nimble as a squirrel who might inhabit a human garden Argent went clamoring through flower beds and up the sides of smaller trees, eagerly chasing after her own game to catch the little puffy white pollen spores. Crushed and eaten they could have... interesting effects on one's mind and libido but she had no interest in that aspect of them. She was just interested in the game of chase and a reason to stretch her legs racing across the garden after a long dull period of waiting on her working King.

It was chance, really, that the game of chase with her spores led her toward the tree where that bright smudge resided. She hesitated as she grew closer, a sort of humming within her, that place where the pure but captive soul that manifested her form resided. There was something here that she had forgotten. Something lost in the years and ages spent in these halls. The seed of grace that might have spawned her into something like the being above her had fate, or hell, not intervened recognized itself in the oak tree of a being above her.

She let the pollen spores go, releasing them to float away, and asked (though not daring to look up to the bright sun above her). "What are you? You feel... like. Like something I cannot remember."
 
The angel of Chastity sat on the branch, patiently waiting for her opportunity to come. She wasn't all that worried though. After training for as long as she has, she was confident that she would successfully complete her mission easily. That's why instead of feeling fear or nervousness as the stupid young beast came back towards her, she just felt annoyance.

Li Xiu looked down on her, rolling her eyes as the stupid beast asked her who she was. "Go away, stupid little animal. Go back to your spores and chases. I am not here for you," she responded coldly. Xiu didn't want to kill Argent, not for any moral reason. She just didn't want to dull her blade on this piece of living garbage.
 
Argent was playful by nature. She was sheltered, in the way someone who manifested into existence periodically with little memory of life before and little chance to gain practical experience ended up being. She was also innocent in the sense that she was born of a pure heart and soul that died too soon and goodness was more or less the nature of her existance. It ended up showing in a childishness and wide eyed view of the world. What few took the time to realize was that beneath the girlish smile and questioning tilt of her head was a mind that had not the sharpness of fresh experience but layers and layers of only half forgotten knowledge and wisdom.

For all her girlish act Argent was far from stupid, but wasn't above playing into expectations for her own amusement. She was bored of chase anyway and she wasn't really afraid of death. It was more of an inconvience to her than anything. She risked a glance up at the being she could not remember but knew in her core was something different that did not belong. A joke about the thing up their not being very bright (pun intended entirely) if she couldn't tell the difference between a soul and an animal was on the tip of her tongue but if she lingered here too long someone looking for her might notice the bright smudge and that was controlling her fate in a round about way. That wouldn't do.

She sighed and said, with airs. "Soul's are not animals bright one. They're arachnids." And walked off to look for something more amusing. If she couldn't amuse herself with a new playmate she could at least say something weird and hope it confused the person. It was harmless fun, after all.
 
Cyrus lounged quietly with his eyes closed. He easily kept his attention on things by listening and waiting. There was hostility in the air he could feel. Not only could be feel it but even the creatures skittered away sensing the threat and hiding. The flora closed their flowers and tucked into themselves in fear. It was probably a worthy opponent coming for his head. He doubted the agents of heaven would be dumb enough to send someone weak to handle him. They knew to well what a white or black demon could do. And if that white demon happened to be a king it was probably better to send an army. His guess was that they wanted to handle things quietly. He would wait for the angel to make her move before he made his.

The plant the was supporting him at the moment was barely containing her fear. The lawn chair of leaves would shake occasionally. He felt bad... Sort of that she had to endure this but Cyrus has his own games to play.
 
"Ugh....stupid creature. That doesn't even make sense," she said, waving the foolish Argent away. Thankfully it turned to go off, surely to pester some less fortunate creature with it's annoying personality. She waited on top of the branch until Argent had moved away for some distance, before finally moving.

In a flash, she dropped from the tree, somersaulting as she fell to the ground. She slowly drew her blade, the metallic vibration carrying through the garden, the plants shirking away from the powerful angel. It was time.

She blinked once, twice - each second propelling herself through time and space towards the lounging Cyrus. There would be no monologues, no hesitation, no ceremony....only blood and death.

Thwwomb! Thwwoomb! Thwwomb!!! Each blink brought her closer and closer to her mark, growing louder and louder to his ears. His end was drawing near, Li Xiu had no doubt. She blinked into existence at his side, before stabbing her katana downwards, intending to sever the new ruler's head.
 
Cyrus let out another yawn as assassin dropped out of her tree. He waited patiently for her to get closer. As she ran with every second that passed he was itching to just take her out right there. She closed the distance between them. Closer... closer... a little more. Just before she was right on top of them. With a sharp inhale he flung himself backwards rolling right off the plant. As his feet touched the ground he was in a crouched position. All of the muscles in his legs pulled together tightly setting up for a great leap forward. He dashed forward with one step and with the next he was right on top of her. He had moved so fast that she was probably still back from her downward swing. Thrusting an arm out he aimed for her throat. With his speed he would have probably caught her off guard. When his hand made contact he would hold he up off the ground by her throat looking at her with a large grin on his face. Her little surprise attack didn't even faze him. His white tail flicked behind him like a cat that caught it's prey.
 
As her swing comes down, he's just suddenly not there... As fast as Li was, she barely even saw him. The angel spun around in a tight whirl, just as Cyrus grabbed her by the throat. He lifted her high off the ground as she spun her blade. She may not have been able to take off his head, but she figured she could definitely take his arm off at the elbow!
 
Without even taking his eyes off of Li his other hand stopped her swing by grabbing her wrist tightly. He added enough pressure to inflict some pain but not enough to break anything. "Oh? What is this? An angel attacking me in my home? I thought only us lowly dirty demons dabbled in those sort of dark schemes." Had he been any other demon that surprise attack might have worked. Had he even been a regular white demon she might have even been able to put up a good fight. But this battle was over before it even started. "I'm quite curious. Why would an agent of heaven come all the way down here into the depths of the hells to see little ol' me?"

Even as he handled this situation he would have rather had his treasure within sight. He was wary of any other tricks the Angels had in store for him. Without speaking a word his soul called out to Argent wanting to keep her close.
 
Argent had found her way over to a tree she hadn't climbed in this lifetime yet. The search for a path up the branches to a relatively new perch was far more amusing to her than observing a bad tempered bright spot and her King fight it out. Maybe some might find her zen about what might end up in her being taken by a new owner but somewhere over the many lives she'd lived the reality of it just grew a little tiring. And maybe she was just a little bit confident it would be difficult for the ruler of all hell this hell to be slain so easily. Oh, look, something was nesting up here. What co-

She more felt than heard the summons. The nest was only a few branches up, it would only be a moment more to see what kind of creature it was, but even as she tried to reason away the momentary delay in obedience to see her hands and legs were already moving to take her back down to the ground. Once her feet touched earth she gave up on thoughts of birds and went racing back across the garden in a stream of silver white silks, skin, and hair to reach her king. She came to a stop outside the reach of any stray attacks. "She wasn't nice to me when I found her earlier." Argent said, finally able to look at the bright spot since the King's darkness made it less blinding to her eyes. "She called me names. And she wouldn't play with me." Argent hadn't asked to play exactly but she felt the refusal was pretty much implied.
 
Li Xiu gasped as he gripped her wrist, holding her blade safely away from him. The King seemed to not feel he was in any danger at all, simply holding her at arm's length. She fought desperately for several more seconds to overpower him...but it just didn't seem to work. As she was trying to physically overpower him, the annoying stupid beast - Argent returned.

Argent seemed to be eager to tattle on Xiu, but she wanted none of it. "I told you to go away," she seethed, glaring at the other demon. She finally decided to abandon her attempts of defeating him by strength and blinked. Cyrus' hand which once held her neck clenched into a fist as Li teleported behind him. She stabbed towards his back, prepared to blink yet again with blazing speed.
 
Cyrus grew tired of these foolish attempts on his life with a sigh he released his wings. Magnificent white wings erupted from his smooth back knocking the sword away and pushing Li back some. He turned on his heels quick to attack her but she blinked away again. He no longer used sight but instead guided his body toward the source of light. With his right hand extend one more time he reached for her very soul this time. His hand was covered in a black flame. It would pierce her chest seeking to pass right through the flesh and grab hold of the pure ball of light that was her soul. He clutched his hand grabbing hold of it and forcing his dark aura into her body. It burned his hand to be so close to such pure light but at the same time he was leaving dark scars on her very soul.

"Your not very nice are you?" He was probably the last one that should have been saying that. However he viewed this whole situation as a game. If the agents of heaven wanted to play with him then he would gladly play their game. He would be taking their little pawn with him. It would take quite some time to corrupt their pawn but he would have fun doing it. While Li would be fighting for her life he would chain her to the hell of Lust. She wouldn't be able to ascend back into heaven until his spell was broken or he died. Neither of those things seemed to be happening any time soon.
 
As maybe a final insult to the injury done to the attacking angel her sudden disappearance and attempted back stab, and the subsequent beat down, was met by a small yawn from Argent. This wasn't the first assassination attempt she'd seen. Not even the first for this manifestation. She'd known how this would end from the beginning. Maybe, after some sufficient time here, the bright spot would turn darker and *then* maybe even be willing to play with her. Or at least know to be nicer. Everyone was supposed to be nice to Argent. She was the King's favorite. Unless he told them not to be nice but this one didn't seem to know he could do that. She wasn't going to tell him.

Still. While the King was starting to bind another soul to hell Argent sat herself down on the grass and gave another yawn. It hadn't been that much of an exciting trip to the garden but maybe a nap was still in order once the king finished up with this little bother. He'd probably want to go back to his reports soon and she'd spent enough energy that a nap by his side could do quite nicely.

Unless he wanted to play with his new prize. She frowned a little at the idea, indignant. She didn't mind so much when she liked the new toy but this one wasn't nice to her. She didn't deserve the King's attention.
 
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