un: a civil serpent. | audio

[inferus]

( Wrath has heard from his disciples Vannozza plans on summoning or exorcising- a special ritual spell. He means to look into it more, but he would prefer to have some idea of what he may be walking into. He knows the group is exactly that.

They are a team, and while he is not used to relying on others in such a way, this world is making him experience many things he is unaccustomed to. He means to speak to Vannozza himself, but first, he wishes to inquire about those who have already had dealings with her. In exchange, he would be willing to let them know what he has learned and what he will learn.

A Prince of Hell always knows how to bargain. )

Has anyone had interactions with Lady Vannozza thus far? I am curious as to what others may have learned or what their reading of her has been when they've interacted with her.

Comments

cw: mentions of rape threats

[gladiokinesis]

(diego is familiar with the feeling of being consumed by anger, by a desire for vengeance. after patch was killed all he wanted to do was kill hazel and cha-cha -- it had been five of all people to make him reflect on whether she'd want that to be how he remembered her or not.)

I had went with her to make a deal -- I thought -- I had been presented as one of the suitors, I thought if I offered to spy for her I would get on her good side. I was trying to be smart. But she asked what I cared about when she went on about how much she loves her city. And I said my family and since I knew Allison was the most...presentable of us, and had made a good name for herself, I thought mentioning her would help my plan. But instead she told me if I betrayed her -- she would make sure Allison was raped and beaten, broken in every possible way.

(it's the first time he's been specific in describing the threat, and it churns his stomach. how could he have been so stupid?)

cw: more mentions of rape threats

[inferus]

( wrath's gaze grows sharp as diego describes the threat in full, and the room shifts- the temperature plummets briefly. rape is not allowed in any of the circles of hell. the punishment is swift and merciless. in house wrath, the punishment for rape is death by wrath's own hand. in his brother's houses, the punishment is at the very least castration. wrath is just as likely to punish a demon for threatening rape, and here this prospective leader makes her threats with little thought to them.

he can feel the rage building that it is a threat which might be given so easily, but once again, he is not within his own realm. he has little political power here at all, and he is limited in what he can do. people can make whatever threats they wish in taravast, including someone who wishes to be the next ruler. his voice is sharp: )

I am certain you have now learned to never reveal your weakness to anyone, which includes what you care about, what matters to you, your ultimate goal. As soon as you do, you give them control over you, especially in an environment such as this one.

( a harsh but necessary lesson. one hell would teach mortals over and over again. ) When someone asks you what you care about in the future, you answer with something you can afford to lose.

[gladiokinesis]

Yeah, I get that now.

(and really, he should have known that...but that kind of thinking doesn't come naturally to diego. he's not as good at the political stuff as allison is. this was him thinking he was being clever.)