3392/Ice Palace: Do we have a plan

Ice Palace: Do we have a plan
Date of Scene:	16 September 2020
Location:	Lux
Synopsis:	The team discuss how to approach getting rid of the necromancer.
Cast of Characters:	Loki, Nessa Donovan, Sera, Melinda May, Thor, Siobhan Smythe, Lucifer

---

Loki has posed:
It is a beautiful and warm night in September. Any traces of chill from the remaining Ice Palace is nowhere near the Lux - a nightclub situated well away from the events of the Bronx. It is an entirely different feel, as well: the nightclub is modern, luxury, and a bit oversensualized in places. The Ice Palace, originally as beautiful as a church of ice, fell into a decrepit state, making it all the more different from the pulse of the Lux.

It is early in the night, but Fridays are big nights for the club. Lines are well out the door, and the patronage is very well dressed. Nessa was given cards for her guests, though, to flash, and to be shown in towards the bar - so there should be no trouble with the lines. The interior is not crowded in feel, but it is in actuality quite packed. Music is powerful, and a crew of six dancers are attracting many eyes with a dance that walks the line of questionable... and then puts toes over it.

Nessa Donovan has posed:
Given that plans needed to be made somewhere that, perhaps, the prying ears of a trickster god might not be, Nessa had chosen Lux as a good neutral ground. It was somewhere she considered safe that would also allow them to be aware if someone or something magical was just waltzing in. It seemed a logical choice, given that the owner was also a go-to for magical information and written resources.

So Nessa had sent out an invite to those who had been involved in helping thus far to meet her at the upscale nightclub, as well as providing cards for them to get in without a fuss. She did inform them that they'd need to dress as appropriately as their wardrobes would provide for: something 'nice' for a luxury club or, at the very least, something very business professional.

The ice mage had chosen something much more former than the latter. Her usual garb of long sleeves and jeans has been replaced by a dress of a much less conservative look. Nessa's in a long red dress of a velveteen fabric that reaches to her ankles. The upper part of the dress is held up by straps that mostly cover her shoulder but leave a good portion of it bare and the neckline dips just in to the realm of tasteful clevage, though it's certainly likely more skin than she's used to showing. The dress has slits on each side that reach up to her thigh, providing glimpses of legs whenever she moves. Paired with strappy black heels, black elbow-length gloves, it's finished off with her hair being pulled up and held in place loosely by a silver clip. She looks like she fits into the club--which is certainly /different/ for Nessa. She does, it seems, carry herself with confidence in it. Mostly.

She waits by the bar, a glass of whiskey in hand that she casually sips at it and keeps a sharp eye out, both visually and magically, for both her guests and potentially uninvited ones.

Sera has posed:
Sera swoops and lands in the alley near the club. The glow of her wings and her eyes fades away leaving only a nearly passed out drunk guy to have witnessed it. She smiles to him and then makes her way across the street to the night club. The card is shown and she enters the sensory intoxicating club.

All those people dancing, all that alcohol, the music thumping. "Wow, why hadn't I heard of this place before? This reminds me of Tel'tek Tavern." She's dressed for the location, black suit pants and a dark blue sequined sleeveless blouse. No quippy angel pun on this top. She wasn't looking for trouble though you never know where the fun will pop up.

Speaking of someone or something magical waltzing in, that does describe several of the people joining them for the Ladies Book Club this evening. She certainly cannot hide what she is from those with a good understanding of magical power. "Nessa, that's an interesting look for you. I like it," she says as she joins Nessa at the bar and orders a whisky for herself too. "A double," she says with a raise voice trying to fight the music. The bartender nods and passes over a glass. She leaves some cash on the bar top and asks Nessa, "Who did you manage to get the word out to for tonight?"

Melinda May has posed:
May enters, flashing that little card. She's dressed in manner befitting the club; she's played this sort of game often enough before. Her hair is loose, her dress low cut -- a whilte sheath with gathered bust, narrow straps, printed with a stylish black floral patern. Her jewelry is understated but classic and her black strappy sandals lend nearly three more inches to her height. And her clutch is small but big enough for both badge and small cal ICER.

There aren't many who've seen the SHEILD agent like this. She even smiles enough to make it look like she *wants* to be at the club. But not enough to hurt her face.

She makes her way towards Nessa and Sera. "Good evening, ladies," she says as she approaches. She glances between them. "Interesting place you've chosen."

Thor has posed:
    The Thunder God's arrival is neither thunderous nor obviously divine. For his approach is much as he would make under any other circumstance. Perhaps his garb is not quite as casual as he is wont to indulge in, for he seems to wear monochromatic slacks and a dress shirt, the lower dark the higher light. Yet he does get some attention at the door as he steps to the individual tasked with handling entry.
    Card presented it takes little time for the tall blond man to be seen through, less time for him to then be seen as he offers his smile to those nearby that grant greetings. Past them he walks, heading towards the direction indicated, which leads him in turn toward Nessa and the others.
    "Evening." He says in way of a hello. An inquisitive look is given to each in turn, perhaps expecting some form of explanation.

Loki has posed:
"When your party is ready, the room is prepared." That's from an employee from across the bar, after the bartender finished handing Sera her beverage. She smiles at Nessa in a very polite way: clearly doing exactly the letter of her job, and with said smile. She steps back a little, then - remaining behind the bar but prepared to take Nessa and the group when Nessa signals that she has everyone.

Then the employee's eyes move to Thor, and she really takes in the tall blonde man in a very lingering way with a smile that grows significantly.

Siobhan Smythe has posed:
For her part, Siobhan only really has one semi-formal attire to wear. It's not exactly fit for this club. She instead opts for a pair of her nicest slacks and a shirt that borders on 'formal' with its button up nature but uncuffed sleeves and a pair of black fingerless gloves at the end. She has her hair done up a wee bit nicer than usual but that's not saying much given her hair is so short. On her feet are a pair of boots, polished for the occasion and hidden under the pants, partially. She walks toward the table where they are meeting and blinks at the trio before shaking her head, "I knew ye said formal but ya should know not all of us have much of a wardrobe budget."

She then nods to each in turn, joins them and lets out a breath, "Sorry, I wasn't available for your last little adventure but I have some problems dat are hittin' a bit closer to home."

Nessa Donovan has posed:
"I thought I'd try on something a little different for once," Nessa says, flashing Sera a smile. "Still not /entirely/ comfortable with it, but sometimes it's good to at least try something a little out of your comfort zone." She takes a sip of her whiskey, glancing over the club before looking back towards the entrance.

"I sent word to as many as I could, didn't hear back from as many as I'd like, but I think we're at least looking at Siobhan, Thor, and Agent May from SHIELD. That should at least cover several avenues of approach." Speaking of approaches, she offers a smile as the Agent herself approaches, then gives a nod to Thor as he arrives as well.

"The locale is particular because it's somewhere that we can be made aware of the presence of anyone who might be quite a skilled sorceror who wasn't invited," she gives a nod to the Thunder God at this before continuing. "It also has easy access to someone I consider a valuable resource when it comes to magic. He's already been a considerable help with research thus far."

Nessa nods politely at the employee. "Of course. We're just waiting for one more--ah, there she is." She offers a wave in Siobhan's direction to direct her over, a sheepish smile offered in her direction. "You think I can afford this working for a diner?" She looks down at her own attire. "A friend of mine took pity on me. She said I dressed like 'math class'." She does seem to find that amusing, but the woman's given a bit of a nod. "I get it. This is the close-to-home situation for me."

She glances to the trio. "Feel free to have a drink if you wish." Following that, she turns her attention back to the employee. "This should be everyone."

Melinda May has posed:
"Nice plan," May says to Nessa. She's not really keen on bumping into Loki. Or any other sorcerers. She's kinda had it with magic. But this needs to be seen through. That kid needs her soul freed -- one way or another. She orders herself a drink and follows the rest of the group to whatever back room they're being corralled into.

Sera has posed:
Sera takes a sip of the whisky and stays with the group. She says to Nessa, not at all trying to be subtle about it, "Should we be at all concerned that there are demons roaming about in this place and that there's magic everywhere? or is that part of the appeal? This sorcerer you mentioned.. wouldn't happen to be in to demonic summonings would he?"

She flashes a grin, wondering if this place was chosen for a bit of fun demon vanquishing, or if they were part of the security against prying little Loki foxes. Still, if she can sense them, they can probably sense her. Well, this could turn in to a real fun night after all.

She offers a dap to Thor, "Big guy. Nice to see you here, didn't know you were in to ice sculptures too?" She nods to May, the last time she saw her she was getting sliced up by skeletons and she was very impressed by her grit. And then Siobhan joins them, she grins, "Hey there. Sorry to hear that, if you need help you should call. Looks like we have a good LBC tonight."

Thor has posed:
    Seemingly at his ease and cheerful, Thor gives the woman behind the bar a closed-lipped smile that is friendly and jovial even as he then gives greeting with a nod. But then his attention slips back to the others he's there to meet.
    A hand is lifted toward Nessa, acknowledgement and greeting combined. He takes a moment to consider the place and their surroundings, nose crinkling for some reason as he gauges the club itself before he sidles up to the seat near the others and waves off the offer of a drink.
    Sera does, however, get a dap. Though no flared fingers nor 'boosh' of explosion spoken. Since this is a formal meeting.

Siobhan Smythe has posed:
A smile is given to Nessa and then she shrugs, "I do have a more formal attire but it was for a Mardi Gras themed occasion so I'd likely stand out a wee bit more dan we might like." She nods her head before turning her head Sera and shakes it, "We were in space, fightin' some strange idiots and, well, lets just say we probably had too much help and lost too much in the process."

She then looks to the others a moment before shifting in her spot, "So, what has happened? I missed somet'in', I'm sure of it. I am not sure I offer much to the table utter dan myself but I started in on dis and wish to continue to help."

Lucifer has posed:
The group is led up one of the grand side staircases and along the edge of a balcony. There are patrons here at small tables, also overlooking down into the dance area below, and are ignoring the passing 'LBC + special guests' group for the moment. It's a great spot to observe the show below, a bit less loud. But they are led down and into a back passage, and then the employee opens one of the doors on the end and steps out of the way. She's clearly looking at their drinks as they file in, as if noting what they each have - possibly for refill needs later. Also Thor, she's inspecting him with a lightly demonic smile as he passes.

The room they're led into looks more like a space for couples to make out in than a meeting room. The lighting is moody and suggestive, incense scented but not visible. Seating is long and comfortable, the music very well muted - which will improve after the door shuts, no doubt. It's /suggestive/ entirely, this room, except that the back table having been pulled away from the wall and three stacks of heavy tomes are piled there. They FEEL like magic even to normal folks: as if touching them might elicit a tickle of something. Maybe good, maybe a curse?

The employee suddenly straightens and gets out of the doorway area after letting all the group inside; she's reacting to the arrival of another. It's not a grand entrance, but it is loud - as voice gets projected even over the music that mutes as the door closes behind him.

Lucifer is pleasant - nearly radiant. He's a little intense, but it possibly just reads like he might be a little high, perhaps. "Welcome welcome," Lucifer says, upbeat, eyes skimming the group with a sharp interest. It's quick, analytic, but not edged. Though he pauses in Nessa to grin more at her, with a pleasured surprise, clearly reacting to her dress. "/Well/ now. You've found a dress as ravishing as you; well played," he says smoothly. He lingers there visibly, but continues, "Glad to host your strategy session; anything said - or done - here is within the highest of confidences."

Lucifer looks over each of them in turn, with a curious look for each - for very different reasons, but keeps further current remarks to himself.

All in all, Lucifer is abundant in oozing a sort of unrealistic charm and an odd, deeper presence. It's just easy to believe him, for most people, easy to kind of lean into it. Lucifer, the sutble greaser of wheels. But he sets his eyes pointedly on Nessa at the end. It's HER meeting; he's the facility.

Nessa Donovan has posed:
While Nessa doesn't own the place, there's some clear comfort in the surroundings, as odd as they are. Maybe not to this particular room, though. "Do you normally use this room for..." She trails off, shaking her head. "Nope, I don't want to know." She glances back to the others, moving fully in so that she can allow them to enter and make themselves comfortable. She has, however, turned the slightest bit a darker shade of pink in the face at whatever look she's getting from Lucifer.

"Right, well then," she looks to the others. "This is Lucifer, he's our gracious host, font of knowledge, and someone I sincerely trust. Feel free to speak freely about the situation with him here." She trusts the others will introduce themselves as necessary, so she moves to take a seat, not wasting too much time in dwelling on their unique surroundings.

"The way I see it, we have three problems: getting a necromancer's soul out of where it's dwelling in a young girl's body, destroying or trapping said necromancer's soul... and Loki."

Sera has posed:
There's a ringing in her ears when she steps in to the relatively quiet room by comparison to the club proper. "This is a better place to~," she pauses and lowers her voice, "This is a better place to chat, for sure." Sera slums her shoulders a touch and says quite earnestly to Siobhan, "I love space."

She takes a seat in the ...love? booth. Her eyes peer at the tomes for a moment and then she mentions, "I wonder what Jason would think of this place.. heck what would John think?" Her attention though is then drawn to the charismatic .. yeah that's no 'man'. Her eyes widen with awe and confusion. Is this the guy who rules Earth? from a nightclub? Usually rulers of a realm sit on a throne.

Her mouth opens and then shuts and she lifts up a finger, "Thanks for having us.. er.. your majesty?" A raised eyebrow, Sera is out of her element. Her only intentions for the Queen of Hel is her death; and her only intentions for Odin is to not get locked up; meeting Lucifer was not at all something she expected. She shuts her eyes and tries to remember .. why can't she remember this guy? "You're not.... Hey so.... you know what, never mind." She stares off at the wall a moment and gulps down some whisky.

A mages sanctum seeping with divinity, filled with demons.. and what feels like may be the rightful ruler of Midgard. It's a party in here.. and it's chaos out there. Actually, that fits. That makes perfect sense. What better way to be as the ruler of Midgard than to be absentee and let the people run amok. She smirks with bemusement and barely catches what Nessa is saying.

"What now? Oh right, the necromancer. Destroying I'm pretty sure I can do. I've been practicing soul burning to oblivion. Well, okay, let me caveat that a bit. I don't know how strong a necromancers soul is, it may just wound. So, that's a may be on destroying from me, and a yes on hurting from me. Separating? not a clue, there wasn't much call for this kind of magic where I'm from. Trapping? again, no clue, not unless we toss it somehow in to the white space."

Melinda May has posed:
"I'm sorry," May says, having taken in the notable ambiance of the room, as Lucifer makes his entrance. "Who's this?" The Asian woman arches a sharp brow, her posture straight and head raised expectantly. Then, of course, Nessa introduces the man. She doesn't much relax at the name, but extends a begrudging trust when Nessa says she trusts the man.

Frankly, May will reserve her own judgement on that front.

"Your majesty?" Again, that sharp brow rises upward. "Lucifer. You're telling me that's not some sort of nom de guerre?" Oh for... cryin' out loud. She rubs the spot between her eyes for a moment and suddenly wishes she'd brought them all to a SHIELD safehouse instead.

Palamas could totally have warded it, right?

*le-sigh*

Her lips press together and, for lack of anything else appropriate to do, she takes a seat at the outer edge of the table... booth... whatever it is. "All I can tell you is the girl is safe, for now. She's in a medically induced coma and will remain so until we have a clear plan on how to deal with Vega."

Thor has posed:
    Stepping around the table with the tomes, Thor does take a moment, perhaps even two, to consider them with a tilt of his head and a gleam of curiousity in his eyes. He shoots a glance at Nessa as if linking them to her instantly for whatever reason but then gives a polite smile toward Lucifer. "It is fine of you to offer this aid, you enjoy my thanks."
    At least that is some touch of formality there, but for those aware of such matters he has not accepted food nor drink since he has entered. Which might be a strangeness to some, condemnation to others.
    He finally chooses a seat, settles into it with his arms folding across his chest. He looks to the others there, still a touch of intrigue in his gaze but he lets them take the conversational lead for now, content to rest there and listen.

Siobhan Smythe has posed:
Siobhan looks at the various people as they pass, glancing at the server briefly as she glances at Thor before looking again to Thor. She isn't sure what this place is all about. She takes her seat and listens to what is going on, blinking at the name. Lucifer? Wait, your magesty? She looks at Sera briefly and then at Nessa before looking to, uh, Lucifer again? She blinks at him before looking then to May's reaction and finally to Thor's reaction before she lets out a slow sigh.

She leans back in her chair slightly, crossing her legs at her ankle, crossing her arms and closing her eyes.

"I don't know anyt'in' about gettin' souls out of people, I don't know how to hurt or trap a soul, and frankly all I know about Loki is he's a tool and typically an asshole." She looks to Lucifer and then to Thor before debatin' internally, "Potentially the biggest asshole but we are standing in a room with Lucifer so I don't want to offend an expert." She states, "No offense." She nods to Lucifer, "But ye do have a reputation."

Internally, some might notice a slight stirring within Siobhan even as a voice she often hears whispers to her, <~I could help...~> And She grinds her teeth a little. Hardly wanting help from her other half in a situation like this.

Lucifer has posed:
"Yes Nessa, this is orgy room two; it can be used for that after the meeting if your party wishes," Lucifer agrees brightly with Nessa, and a grin that proves that he likes to elicit fun reactions. It's still honest: just a dose of directness. Someone like May who is good at reading people may get all sorts of things off of Lucifer really quickly: he's not hiding much of his personality. Lord of hedonistic central. Maybe eccentric, but no signs of intending to harm them. More that he's enjoying the visit and likes to host (orgies?)

"In the interest of respect to said unfortunate, possessed girl, I suggest we leave the /baggage/ around my name, reputations that should not be attributed to /me/, and all the questions it raises off the docket tonight." There's some irritation about the reputation, that may well suggest he's just a guy named Lucifer constantly getting treated badly. ...Maybe...

But Sera, he can't just leave that one: "However, I'm no King or /God/; I leave that to others to fight over..." Lucifer says serenely to Sera, with an oddly empathetic little half smile. "...m'lady Angel." There's a strong look there, maybe a bit much.

Lucifer smiles a bit more, moving into the room to slide onto one of the love-couches. He sets his arm on the back of the couch, and props his cheek against splayed fingers, attentive, other hand draped at ease against the ankle crossed over his other knee. It's all very relaxed, no real 'majesty' present in it.

"I thought you might want to do some kind of ritual to pull the spirit from the girl; these are related to that, and some safeguards against being the new vessel. Mind, this is not a library, don't walk off with these, if you please. It would be Bad." A gesture is given to the books.

Nessa Donovan has posed:
Nessa affords Sera a wry smile as she notices the derailing train of thought. "I haven't figured him out either. It takes some getting used to." She's very aware of the strangeness of whatever Lucifer is, it's just plain /different/ from everything she's seen and experienced. "Calling him 'majesty', though, that is just going to boost his already inflated ego, though." Her eyes go to May. "He's been nothing but honest in everything I've asked of him, more so than anyone I've met. He helped a great deal in clarifying that there's no real Vega worth saving. Without that, Tristan would still be hoping."

There's the tiniest frown from Nessa at the mention of the young mage, and the thought of the other young mage on the line. Tristan and Kaylee were both mired in the situation and they were /children/. There's certainly weight to that. It's just enough for her to let the orgy comment slide with simply a glare at the awkward suggestion.

"Right, okay, so we're looking at least a clear method of damaging Vega's soul. Got that on the table. That's part of problem two." Her gaze flickers back to Lucifer at the mention of the books. "That's the direction I was thinking might be a good route, some kind of cleansing ritual or something? Maybe Sera and I could get enough information to start something like that. Not my expertise, but I think between the two of us we might be able to work something out. Barring that I have a backup plan I'm not keen on using involving a demon who does some sort of soul contracts either tricking or forcing him out somehow. I don't trust said demon as far as I can throw him, but he's made himself available and is sort of an emergency resource in my book." There's a long pause before she continues.

"As for the Loki problem..."

Nessa turns her attention to Thor. "I don't fully know the extent of his involvement anymore, other than that he /is/ involved. Which means that, unless we want someone jumping in and potentally seizing the necromancer's soul for who knows what kind of purpose, we need Loki away from the situation. I honestly know no one better to simply keep him occupied or busy or whatever you think you can do to prevent him from meddling in this matter. I trust you know how to deal with him."

Sera has posed:
To say the look that Sera gives Lucifer after is 'I have questions' is an understatement. May be she can make some of the demons feel uncomfortable, but this guy is a smooth operator. She raises her eyebrow further and says, "Lucifer then." Now she's extra curious about the reputations this guy has on Earth. She's still so new to this planet and there's much to explore and learn.

Her eyes turn to the books, "Rituals.. rituals we can do." She becomes mindful of the ritual she's constructing in her basement, a set of magical chords to create music out of thin air. It'll be fun, it's just a hobby.. but that does turn her mind to the ice heart she still possesses.

She smiles to Nessa as she says she doesn't get Lucifer and says, "Oh?" glancing side long at the divine creature, "You may not know the half of it." She narrows her eyes and then does her very best not to touch the rest of the seating. Definitely going to throw these clothes in a fire when she gets home.

Sera opens up the first tome and starts to browse through the pages. So long as it's not the darkhold it's probably safe. "We'd need a third mage Nessa. I know you're still new to this advanced magic stuff - but I am reminded that we have a link to Vega already: the ice hearts. So, who should be our third mage for this ritual?"

Melinda May has posed:
May can read Lucifer's body language, yes. And he does seem sincere enough. But *she* can seem sincere enough when she wants to, too. (Though it usually makes her face hurt.) So, yeah. There's nothing about any of this that she likes anymore.

Anymore? No, wait. That implies there was something she liked to begin with. So, scratch that. She's just not liking anything.

IN other words: It's business as usual.

Consequently, she can sit back, take in the room beneath faintly knit brows and tight jaw, and pretend this will all be over soon. (She's totally hitting Chinatown for late night dim sum after this.)

Oh, and for the record? She's not touching those books.

"I'll take your word for it," she tells Nessa. Hey, it's mostly true. She'll believe that, as far as Nessa knows, Lucifer has been completely on the up-and-up with her. And it's not any religious proclivities that make the agent doubt the man. It's years and years of field tested cynicism and unfortunately fulfilled expectations.

"We *do* have a containment cell waiting for Loki," she mentions idly, as Nessa brings up that thorny part of the problem. A beat. "Just sayin'." She glances briefly at Thor and offers a not-quite-apologetic shrug. They've kinda had this debate already.

At least on an organizational level.

Her thoughts stray to Tristan, however. Wonder if the kid would like dim sum sometime... he seriously needs a break, too.

Thor has posed:
    Curiously, at Siobhan's condemnation of Loki, Thor lifts his voice and says quietly. "He is a Prince of Asgard." As if that revelation mattered in the esteem he should be held, or in the way he should be addressed. But then perhaps that sentiment is muted somewhat as he adds, "For now at the least." As if that status might change.
    Yet protocol matters. At least for him. And at least for right now in this moment and where they are.
    But then his attention is drawn to Nessa and he perks up at the line of her inquiry. There's a tilt of his head to the side as he ponders the situation and then murmurs. "I can be of some aid in that regard should he make an appearance. But he is crafty, and if it is possible to hide my involvement in some manner beforehand then that would be good to prevent him from taking precautions against it."
    A hand lifts to scritch at his chin thoughtfully as he murmurs, "If I sought him out during the time of the ritual he would instantly connect the two matters. Perhaps I could speak with mine father and ask him to call upon him to attend the court but..."
    The last word hangs there, anything further left unspoken as he flares the fingers of one hand. Apparently that's enough. Though he does nod toward May, since a containment cell might well be useful.

Siobhan Smythe has posed:
"Really?" She looks down at the chair she has chosen and then looks over at Lucifer, "I do hope ye have a good cleaning crew that uses lots of bleach." She states simply enough and then looks forward, "And as fer baggage? Well, assumin' ye are who ya say ya are, den ye probably have to pay a lot extra when boardin' a flight with Delta." Siobhan shrugs and looks to the others as they speak.

"As I said before, if you're gonna do a ritual, I'm not gonna be much help. I can offer hands and voice, but I'll have to be informed of what to say or do. What I do doesn't come with an instruction manual and I hardly know any real magic." She then blinks at Thor's words and looks to him briefly before rolling her eyes, "And I'm a Princess of Ireland." She nods her head, "Ye don't see me expectin' ya to hand over all your whiskey as soon as I walk into a room." She nods, "Where I come from, ye earn respect from actions and deeds, not from titles and attitude." She nods her head, "Your brother 's a dick, title or no title and shall be treated as so until such a time dat he proves otherwise." She then takes in a breath and shakes her head.

Lucifer has posed:
"/I/ think she should be given a chance to be third mage, if she's interested..." Because of course Lucifer supports Choice. But Lucifer has looked more at Siobhan now. Something's up with her, in his view. Where is her harshness coming from...?

"....Are you all right?" Lucifer aims quietly at Siobhan. It's quieter than the rest of the conversation, more of an aside to her. She's to his right, and he's oriented on her entirely, eyes widened with a sort of manic intensity. It's a depth of curiosity but also something else in it. He attempts to catch her gaze towards him with his question.

And then apply just a little bit of pressure. His 'aura' in the room fluxes a little to those that can sense magic: he's doing /something/. To those without that, though? It's just a very direct STARE with no blinking from the eccentric club owner.

"I hear it too," Lucifer says gently. And then with renewed directness, "What is it you're after, in this? Your.... deeper /desire/?" Lucifer asks Siobhan, probing, but his done is deep, /kind/.

Nessa Donovan has posed:
Nessa nods a little towards Sera. "John maybe?" She shakes her head. "As much as I'd be reluctant to have him there... Tristan is also a very solid option. He's powerful, a lot more than I think he might realize, but he just needs direction and he'd certainly want to help Kaylee. So he's an option. It may even be stronger with his tie to all of this."

She glances at the books, but doesn't pick them up initially. She's thinking of plans before she takes a real solid look at things. Her eyes move to Thor and she nods slowly. "Anything you could do would be helpful. I'm afraid if he doesn't interfere directly, he'd try to trip me up if nothing else. Pretty sure he enjoys that. He's done it enough so far." Really, she half expects it once she leaves Lux.

She looks between Sera and May. "Sera, since you know slightly more than me about rituals, is this something we need to do where Kaylee is located? Because the question becomes what sort of location we can use to do the ritual in." Which is why she's looking at May. "I'm not sure what kind of facilities SHIELD would have for something like this. Or if you know a location that might be safe to go to that we can get Kaylee to but keep the general populace away from?"

Her gaze settles on Siobhan. "Pretty sure if we're going with respect from actions and deeds as the case, /this/ Lucifer has a very different reputation than the one you're thinking of." She nods, however. "Really, being an extra pair of hands in a ritual is /never/ a bad thing. The more you've got going into it the better, from my understanding. It'll help." Her gaze slides to Lucifer, her attention drifting towards the interaction there. It's something she hasn't quite seen before and the feel of magic in the air is certainly something that's snapped up her attention. She doesn't move, just watching and listening.

Sera has posed:
Sera feels inclined to keep her whisky in hand away from Siobhan now.. just in case she does demand all the whisky. She takes a deep sip just in case. You've gotta protect what's truly important to you and this Earth alcohol is right up there. But then she begins to sense magic, almost a song. Something she can sort of understand but certainly hasn't seen before.

Her head turns slowly all the way across to Lucifer's intense stare at Siobhan. What the heck? well she shouldn't be too surprised, this is his sanctum and he has all that power. It's impressive. "Huh," she murmurs and takes another sip.

"Siobhan can do it, so could Tristram. John has one of the hearts though, so possibly including him is a wise choice. As for location, well it depends on what we find in these books. Some rituals require specific circumstances."

The way she says circumstances is oddly specific, like she means it in a most literal sense not a vague handwavy sense. "We can alter the circumstances in our favour though, which is most of what rituals are about. So, we'll need to look for things in these books that'll help extract a necromantic possession. I can't help but think this is John's expertise. It's sad to say but soul magic and necromancy just aren't in my usual field. We'll give it a good go though. Worst case scenario, Kaylee has to go with him. Absolute worst case. Promise." She flicks through the pages slowly again as she sips at her whisky. "Date, place, altitude, temperature, what objects are in the room, harmonics, attitudes, there's a lot of things we can manipulate."

Melinda May has posed:
May's eyes move slowly from one face to another, particularly as Lucifer quizzes Siobhan. She doesn't know much about Siobhan, but she has figured out the small Irish woman contains a large threat. She just doesn't yet understand how it works.

She's also not sure it matters in this moment. She doesn't know magic. Can't feel magic. But she can read body language really, really well. And, of course, pretty much everyone in the room now has some sort of SHIELD file developing around them.

Go figure.

"Id rather the boy not be involved." She speaks up when Nessa suggests Tristan as an option. "Constantine, I can accept. He's an adult."

She inhales a slow breath. "SHIELD has a division devoted to magical... problems," she admits slowly. "I am certain I can find an appropriate facility for this." A beat. "Failing that, I have a really fast plane and know several very remote, uninhabited spots you may be able to use." In other words: Yeah, she can hook them up. Just give her the wishlist.

And leave the kid at home.

Thor has posed:
    "In a place such as this, titles and protocol matter. You may not respect Loki. You may not disrespect Asgard." Then he rises from his seat and gives a nod toward Nessa with a tilt of his head offered. "If you have need of me, I am sure you can gain my attention. Until then."
    That said he starts to step around the table, walking back towards the door and the way they came in, footsteps steady and his gait even. Not a glance is spared for Siobhan for now, and once he reaches the door he draws it open and then moves out into the hallway.
    It likely doesn't take long for Lucifer to gain the realization that the Thunderer has departed his dwelling.

Siobhan Smythe has posed:
Whatever is said by the others is somewhat ignored as Lucifer draws her attention. He is, after all, charismatic for more reasons than just a pretty face and skill. She blinks as he catches her attention and she looks at him with a curiously raised eyebrow. It's already likely, given his power and skill that Lucifer suspects or somewhat realizes that the girl doesn't live alone in her own body. However, even as he works his 'magic' on her, she's blinking and there's a faint flicker of light across her eyes.

Then it happens. Everyone in the room can hear it. The distant scream of something. As if someone far away in an open field let loose a keen. It's the kind of thing that signals death. The feeling of loss. Then her eyes flicker again before the sclera of her eye is filled with black and her iris goes birlliant glowing white. Her skin tightens around her skull, lips pulling back briefly as a flicker of darkness flutters like a shadow over a sunken face and she stares at him with those dead lights.

"~Fear...and DEATH!~" The last part comes out like a scream that shudders the room and causes tables and glasses to shake. Glass objects in the room might even crack or break. Then, as suddenly as it came, Siobhan's face returns to normal and she is standing up, pushing away from Lucifer and even attempts a flailing backhand at him, though it is more of a shooing motion than anything as she glares at him, her breath coming out in a hyperventilating motion.

"Bastard!" Siobhan looks to the others briefly before looking back at LUcifer and then she looks at the room briefly before turning toward the door, "Call me if ya need me." She calls back and goes to make an exit rather similarly to Thor's though, she seems a great bit more angry about things than he did.

Lucifer has posed:
Lucifer is... /intrigued/! He watches Siobhan, with interest, brows up, as she melts between her different states. She doesn't move to actually hit him, and he doesn't need to dodge, so he doesn't. He does stop exerting any force. He weathers the snarl, and watches her go. There's a beat, to those still in the room.

"Fun!" Lucifer says, tone bright. There's no sarcasm at all.

"She could eat your necromancer, on toast, I'd imagine," observes the Devil, relaxing back onto the couch. And then kind of looking around at the other three ladies. "I was curious. Apologies. I don't want to say too much about that; it's her business." And he's not going to air other people's secrets, or what he saw from his little 'test.'

Nessa Donovan has posed:
"Let's go with Siobhan then, and John if we can get him." Nessa nods to Sera. "We can plan it out based on what information we can find in these." Her gaze moves to May, giving her a nod. "That being the case, can I ask you a favor? If Tristan's not with us during the ritual, can we get one of those agents with magic training to perhaps hang out with him during it?"

She doesn't continue right away, her attention on Thor as he leaves, a slight frown on her face. She watches the door for a moment more before looking back to May. "Loki was involved in all of this and regardless of how great Thor is with handling situations involving his brother, if we made sure Tristan was safe I'd feel a lot better about not being able to keep an eye on him myself. If Loki's not handled, I don't trust him not to mess with Tristan either."

Her tone is low as she speaks, mostly because her gaze is on Siobhan and Lucifer now, keeping an eye on the situation. Which is good because it certainly seems to turn into a situation. She's surprised, tensing up, and for a moment it looks like she might be about to start removing a glove for safety's sake. But as quickly as the situation comes up, Siobhan's on the way out and quite angrily. She's not entirely sure what happened, so her gaze just lands squarely on Lucifer as she studies him. "... eat him." She tilts her head to the side, then glances at the door. "I'll try and talk to her later. Perhaps when she's not likely to bite anyone's head off." She's not sure now if she means that literally.

Sera has posed:
A shiver runs down Sera's spine and she feels the goosebumps spread. Her mind has left this place, this moment, to the moment she died: There she is, amidst a great battle. She and Angela had been hired to help take out raiding bandits. Sera was younger then, brasher, thinking herself as great a fighter as Angela simply by proxy. The death rattle of Siobhan's other passenger has her placing a hand at her side, feeling that spear slip in to her body and press up to her heart.

Her heart beats heavily in her ears and she remembers waking up in Hel, before Hella, mocked that she is the latest to fall prey to Freyja's curse upon her people, to be a slave to Hel for the remainder of time.

When the voice disappears, Siobhan's face restores, she takes in a deep breath and feels a bead of sweat roll down her forehead. She furrows her brow slightly as Siobhan stands and storms out. "That.. was a thing," she says and twists her mouth in concern, or perhaps accusingly to Lucifer.

"Noted," she says wryly that she could eat the necromancer. How exactly that works she's not sure, but she takes out her phone and sends a text to Siobhan, <No jdgmnt Sio. Drnks my plac somtime?>

"So, we have our three mages for the ritual, if we can find one. I can wound it or kill it and failing that.. apparently Siobhan can eat it. Thor is dealing with Loki. The only problem left is finding something usable in these books," Sera tries to sum it up before someone else storms out. She starts reading the pages a little more closely as she turns them.

Melinda May has posed:
"Oh, shit!"

May. Not magical. And to her? Magic is not actually cool. No! Not fun. NOT *FUN*! It's unpredictable and weird and bloody freakin' dangerous!

(Crazy demon-something-or-other man.)

Moreover, any of the people she knows that transform into monsters... well, the monsters are pretty damned scary. And destructive. (*cough*Hulk*cough*)

So, when Siobhan starts to... what? Zombie out? She does look kinda like a zombie. Just sayin'. But if that's what's basically happening? Yeah, May is on her feet pretty damn quick, hand reaching for that clutch... even when the Irishwoman proves she has far better control than Banner.

The agent watches the woman leave and gives Lucifer a long, speculative, and flat look. Finally, nostrils flaring slightly and lips pressing together, she slowly retakes her seat. But she doesn't let go of her clutch.

Freakin' mages.

Bringing her attention back to the earlier matter, she looks to Nessa. Her expression is faintly angry, which, although is a fairly normal setting for the The Cavalry, isn't usually quite so evident. But it's controlled anger. Highly, tightly controlled... as evidenced by how even her voice is when she speaks. "Yes. I can make sure there's someone skilled around to be with Tristan." That's actually important to her. So, she won't let them down on that.

She looks around. "So, are we good, now?" Because she doesn't think she can help with the book learnin' on this one.

Lucifer has posed:
"I didn't expect quite that explosion," Lucifer says. Maybe apologetic, but he also sounds oddly encouraged by it all. But he is not tone-deaf to the room and a few harsh glares that went his way. He didn't mean to upset the meeting, though, and for that he does, indeed, seem to accept he did make a mistake.

"Right. Lots of /delicious/ homework here," Lucifer agrees of the books, though. "I can leave this room and these resources open to you, say, until... Tuesday?" Lucifer gestures to the stacks. "And I think I can narrow your scope a little, if I know more about your own approaches to magic." A slow look is given to Sera, and he attempts to reach across to insert a finger into the book's pages, and flip to a different chapter, to guide her there. And then smile broadly at her.

He leaves it to the mages to decide if they are, indeed, as good as May hopes.

Nessa Donovan has posed:
"I think Sera summed it up very nicely." Nessa notes, looking back over at May. "Sera and I will hit the books, see what's needed for the ritual, and then forward you on what requirements we might need in terms of a location." There's a tiny smile. "Thanks," she offers. It genuinely sounds like she's grateful in this case. "I'll be in touch." She's giving May her out.

She glances to Lucifer. "Tuesday should be fine, I'm sure we can come up with something by then." She glances at the books, looking honestly... a little excited. Lucifer's book collection has been something she's been secretly coveting for some time. She retrieves her glass of whiskey from where she'd set it, holding it up towards Sera in a 'cheers' motion.

"To the Ladies Book Club?"

Sera has posed:
Sera tilts her head and watches as Lucifer picks a chapter. "Mhm. Wouldn't that be a thing," she says playfully but accepts he probably just saved her a lot of time. She lifts up her glass of whisky and gives a little nod to May, "Yes impressive Agent May, I think we are good.. for now."

A new book collection, which is just as exciting as the forbidden tomes of Heven that she read for years. She reaches over to and tinks her whisky glass to Nessa's, "And to the Infinity Watch." She takes a sip and reads in earnest.

Melinda May has posed:
And May is is perfectly willing to take that 'out'. She rises to her feet again, picks up her drink and... well, she doesn't so much join the toast as she simply downs the rest of the alcohol.

"Good luck," she says to them, setting her glass down with a thump. "You know how to reach me when you need me."

With that, she takes her leave, not once looking back as she strides out of the room. Dim sum and Baijiu. Lots of Baijiu. Definitely.